Reviews (2)

2006-07 TX Bluebonnet Award Nominee
"With their parents in prison for embezzlement, Ivy and her younger brother, Ray, must live with the snobby heiress whose accusations sent them "up the river." Ivy and Ray discover secrets that prompt them to case the joint, get the skinny on what's really going on, and make plans to spring their parents." (summary by Texas Library Association)
Original New Novel for Middle Readers
Ray and Ivy are absolutely outraged when their two beloved parents (Dan and Carol) are sent "up the river" (to jail) for embezzlement. Sure, it sounds like fun for Ray and Ivy to get to live in the lap of luxury, but when you're living under Marietta Noland, and her decrepit, ancient husband, Lionel's rules, things take on a different light. Outward appearances make The Big House look like a wonderful place to live, but inside are strange things, like the strange, violent-looking tool Marietta uses to remove the shell from her egg every morning, or the shrouded portrait upstairs that bears a strong resemblance to Dan. And what about that small spider living within the frosting of the decaying wedding cake that Marietta has kept for all these years? Everything is just plain wacky, but things go from wacky to worse when Ray begins wetting the bed, and soon Ivy is coming up with a crazy, hair-brained scheme to get Marietta out of her life, and her parents out of jail.
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Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Crime    6. Family - General    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Siblings    12. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (27)

what jamie saw
what jamie saw was a book that made me realize that nobody is perfect and even if a person makes a mistakes there are eventually going to learn from them. the way that van threw jamie in the air in the beginnig of the story made the the story intereesting to read the book talks about people in general is very interesting. no ones the same and everyone have a different point of view of there life. i also have learned that all not adults are the same and they don't act responsible thety make mistakes like any other human being they all have done something wrong in the past and will continue to make mistakes till the day that they die.it tayght me that i should stand for what i believe and there is nothing wrong with that.
what jamie saw
What Jamie Saw was a book that made me realize that nobody is perfect and even if a person makes a mistake there are eventually going to learn from them. the way that van threw jamie in the air in the beginnig of the story made the the story interesting to read the book talks about people in general is very interesting. no ones the same and everyone have a different point of view of there life. i also have learned that all not adults are the same and they don't act responsible thety make mistakes like any other human being they all have done something wrong in the past and will continue to make mistakes till the day that they die.it taught me that i should stand for what i believe and there is nothing wrong with that.
What Jamie Saw
THis book has a lot of emotional fellings in it. THe mood is very powerful and and can be suspenseful at times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child abuse    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. Social Issues - Physical & Emotional Abuse    6. Adventure stories    7. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Physical & Emotional Abuse   

Editorial Review

On a two-week pilgrimage to South Africa from Rockville, Maryland,16-year-old Berry and her estranged father attempt to come to terms with the murder, a year earlier, of Berry's sister Laura when she was volunteering at a Capetown school. Angry, sour, and ferociously cynical, Berry struggles with the concept of "truth and reconciliation," both for South Africa and in her personal life. Her father's efforts to educate his daughter about the country's political climate in the wake of apartheid are met with cold resistance: "He makes whatever is inside me catch fire. I hate everything. And I feel ashamed, which, for all I know, is why my father brought me here--Mr. Expense Account himself..." The delicious oblivion she finds underwater when doing laps on the swim team back home--or kissing her boyfriend Josh--or in the comforting stones she likes to pile on her chest when she's in her room don't seem to help her move beyond her despair and anger. Read more

Reviews (14)

Many Stones
To be honest, I wasn't exactly thrilled with this book. I think that it lacked something very important: a good plot. This book just starts, and goes smoothly throughout the rest of the book. I didn't ever find myself wondering what was going to happen next or unable to put the book down.
an enthralling novel
in need of a subject for a book report, i came across this book while searching through my school library. little did i know the depth this book possessed. the author, carolyn coman, has an amazing ability to create rich characters that are extremely realistic. berry's struggles and changing attitudes toward her life make for a very interesting read. the novel is almost depressing in a way. while berry has to learn to live with her tragedy, the reader does as well, and its very easy to dive deep into this novel. it's rather short, and probably could have been longer, but power isnt always judged by size.

Quick but not Light Read
Many Stones by Carolyn Coman is a story about a teenage girl, Berry, who travels to South Africa with her estranged father to attend a memorial for her brutally slain sister.Just describing the plot makes for a long sentence yet somehow the book comes in at a slim 158 pages.This is my main criticism of the novel.It's hard to get into such a deep story about family tragedy so quickly.The reader kind of jumps right into the troubled lives of Berry and her family with little back story until a few chapters in. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Literature - Classics    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Death    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Death & Dying    10. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (5)

Beware of offensive language
Roz's mother died trying to rescue Nate.for a year Roz has been trying to figure out exactly what happened that day on the mountain.Finally Roz has received enough signs that prove to her that she should try to find Nate and talk to him.
ZzzzZZzz...
I personally feel that this book is exceptionally boring and has a very weak plot.I assume that the underlying theme of the book was to illustrate how the main character, Roz, copes and comes to terms with her mother's untimely death.While Roz is a complex character, I did not feel that most of her actions were rational or plausible.No matter how hard I tried, I just could not relate to Roz or even understand her actions/reactions.This is an extremely short book, however, I still had difficulty reading it without falling asleep.After I finished "Tell Me Everything" I was just happy that I was done.

The Greatest Book That I Have Ever Read
the book was great and it was moving and it wasnt one of those girly books either and i think that is great . and it had adventure in it to and if anyone was looking for a mystery book this is the one to read . all the charactors were great and even roz . TELL ME EVERYTHING is the greatest book that i have ever read . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Family - Parents    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Social Issues - Death & Dying    8. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Death & Dying   

Editorial Review

When Bee and her older brother Jacky were younger, they used to playa game in the woods near their grandparents' house. It was a war game in which Bee always played the wounded, and Jacky always played the savior: Bee "waited for Jacky to save her. Jacky called for more backup on his walkie-talkie, screamed out orders to the medics.... Then, after thrashing through the underbrush to get to where Bee had fallen, he dragged her to safety. He told her she would be all right, whatever wounds she had envisioned, however much blood had been lost." Read more

Reviews (7)

Very Confusing
The writer's way of telling the story was confusing .Like when Bee supposely sees jacky being mauled by a bear and then we find she imagine it.The book is very difficult to follow and at times very fustrating.For Me this was a very disappionting read

WHAT IS THE AUTHER TRYING TO SAY?
I AM QUITE CONFUSED BY THIS BOOK bee and jackie.I AM 25 Y. OLD, BUT WHAT IS SAID IN THIS BOOK IS NOTHING."AT NIGHT HE OPENS THE DOOR AND LAYS ON TOP OF HER COVERS MOVING".WHAT IS SHE TRYING TO SAY?SHE NEEDS TO BE MORE DESCRIPTIVE AND TO THE POINT, SHE KIND OF GOES WAY AROUND IT.THE BOOK IS WAY TO SHORT FOR READING AND IN THE END IT LEAVES YOU HAINGING THERE.

Uuum, Okay....
I'm not really sure what the author is trying to say, or to whom she is writing.The average 14-year-old, attempting to read this book, is going to be a little confused, I think.There is a lot of well-described pain,butvery little explanation as to how Bee's situation began, and how herfeelings became everyday enough for her to accept them as normal. Granted,the book is disturbing, and I admire the author's passionate understandingof an incest victim's pain and confusion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Emotional problems    4. Family - Siblings    5. Fiction    6. Historical - United States - General    7. Incest    8. Juvenile Fiction   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Jewelry    6. Lost and found possessions    7. Preschool Picture Story Books    8. Rings   

Reviews (1)

what jamie saw
the book kept me reading and excited ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Women