Editorial Review

It's 1906 and 16-year-old Mattie Gokey is at a crossroads in her life. She's escaped the overwhelming responsibilities of helping to run her father's brokedown farm in exchange for a paid summer job as a serving girl at a fancy hotel in the Adirondacks. She's saving as much of her salary as she can, but she's having trouble deciding how she's going to use the money at the end of the summer. Mattie's gift is for writing and she's been accepted to Barnard College in New York City, but she's held back by her sense of responsibility to her family--and by her budding romance with handsome-but-dull Royal Loomis. Royal awakens feelings in Mattie that she doesn't want to ignore, but she can't deny her passion for words and her desire to write. Read more

Reviews (109)

One of my top 10!
Okay, when I first checked this book out of the library, one of my teachers scoffed at me. Apparently he had scanned a page and had seen cuss words. But when I began reading it, I fell it love with it, and finished it within the afternoon. Mattie, the main character is growing up in such a hard situation, in a time when women still had little rights. Mattie battles between settling down and going to college. I'll leave the ending a surprise, but it made me cry, the reason being because it ended just as much as the actual ending. It's centered around the death of Grace Brown, who had given Mattie a pack of letters to burn. Mattie reads though, and solves a murder. Mattie is such a real person, and Donnelly's words are so poetic. It created a whole new world for me, and I'll never forget this book. Although I would not suggest this book for those under 13 because of language and adult sequences, but everyone else deserves to read this book.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE....
Matty Gokey is the sixteen year old narrator of this novel.With the 1906 murder of Grace Brown (also covered in Dreiser's "An American Tragedy) setting the stage for this tale that ultimately explores not only Graces murder, but the issues of poverty, racism, pregnancy, the perceived station of women in society, and the effects of death/loss on the human spirit.
Don't Miss This Gem Because of the YA Designation
I am not sure why this work is considered a young adult novel, because at the ripe old age of 55, I was intrigued by Donnelly'sauthentic, right-on-the-money, bulls-eye prose. The narrative chronicles the coming-of-age of young Mattie Gokey, who lives a hardscrabble rural life in the North Woods of the Adirondacks in the early 1900's. The novel functions as historical fiction, and it accurately pinpoints the poverty, racism, mores and gender issues of this era in this particular location.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Education    4. Farm life    5. Fiction    6. Historical - United States - 20th Century    7. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    8. Hotels, motels, etc    9. Hotels, motels, etc.    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Mysteries (Young Adult)    12. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    13. New York (State)    14. Social Issues - Adolescence    15. Social Issues - Death & Dying    16. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Reviews (6)

Riveting Story of Diversity
This is a companion book to the documentary about the Paper Clip project started at Whitwell Middle School outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the late 1990s.What began as a class to teach diversity to a mostly white southern group of schoolchildren evolved into a project of collecting 6 million paper clips (the clips are historically tied to the Holocaust) to represent the Jews who perished during that dark period.This book is a wonderful story that shows what can be accomplished when children are determined and how a relatively small idea can grow into something significant that can affect millions of people.This one is highly recommended for children of all ages.

Deserves 10 stars
I happened upon a review and ordered the book. When it arrived, I read it with a lump in my throat and my eyes tearing up.My 72 year old mother and I were driving to another town when I started telling her about it.I couldn't get that damn lump out of my throat and pretty soon my voice started quivering and I started crying. She just reached over and held my hand as I got my composure back.I was done, though, I told her she had to read it.She did. Afterward, she took it to one of her clubs and shared it.It's just a 10 minute read, but it sure provides plenty of emotion. I am so glad I happened upon it. A glorious story. Thank you.

The power of a symbol.
Those of us who are horrified by the murderous actions of the Nazis during the Holocaust pray that such a terrible event will never happen again.It is heartening to know that there are a number of middle school children in Whitwell, Tennessee who did their share to raise the consciousness of people from all over the world.Whitwell, a small town of white Anglo-Saxon Protestants with a population of only 1,600, is now internationally famous for its "Paper Clip Project."
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - History - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Ethnic relations    5. History - Holocaust    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust memorials    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. Study and teaching (Elementary    14. Study and teaching (Elementary)    15. Tennesee    16. Whitwell    17. Whitwell (Tenn.)    18. Jewish studies   

Reviews (2)

READ THIS
This book proves that M.T. Anderson is one of the most brilliant writers of our time, hands down. Read this book and know it; read this book and pass it on.

Don't miss it
Read this book and give it to everyone you know or love, whether 15 or 55. It's a stunning, extraordinary look at our own history through the eyes (usually) of Octavian Nothing, an African child slave who is, in this first of two books, the subject of experiments by a group of Boston rationalist philosophers. The purpose of the experiments? For the "philosophers" to learn whether Africans have the same capacity to learn as white children do. Because the Revolutionary War is about to break out, the characters' lives change in unpredictable ways.Every single page of this book, which is told in highly-readable and startlingly rich eighteenth-century language, is filled with brilliance and pain, and there are few characters in contemporary fiction that Icare about as much as I care about Octavian. You will, too. Furthermore, there are parallels, resonances, echoes, and consequences for all of us today---your brain will be unusually active as you read, and you won't be able to put the book down or stop thinking about it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Experiments    4. Fiction    5. Freedom    6. Historical - Other    7. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. Science    11. Slavery    12. Social Issues - Physical & Emotional Abuse    13. Historical fiction    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Other   

Editorial Review

A coming of age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, Read more

Reviews (257)

A War Story Chills You to the Bone
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers, is a deep, exhilarating war story about Richard Perry, a young recruit along with his fellow soldiers as they endure the horrors of war in Vietnam. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of war stories. This book is action packed, has a colorful cast of characters, and displays the horrors of war vividly.
Fallen Angels
The book Fallen Angles by Walter Dean Myers is a great book. Walter Dean Myers is one of my favorite authors. I have never been disapointed by any of his books. This one was about a young man drafted into the army. He was sent to active duty in Vietnam. It was all an errorthathe ended up in active duty he had a bad knee.The story brought you with the main character Richie Perry to the Vietnam war. Walter Dean Myers had you understand the fears and the feelings of the men in Perrys group. You met his new friends, sargents, and nurses. The book makes you feel like you areright there with them. You don't want to put the book down you were given more information about the Vietnam war. Its not as much the detail of the location and what was happening but more about the thoughts of the troops. You got the view from the people that were actually there in the trenches. They where trying to survive. There where men dying,they were friends there where feeling of loosing your friend to the war. Every one wanted to get out alive and well and start a new life. I recomend this book to anyone who likes war stories. This book will not only give you the war story, but the view from those who served. Not just the facts but the feelings.

Fallen Angels
The book Fallen Angles by Walter Dean Myers is a great book. Walter Dean Myers is one of my favorite authors. I have never been disapointed by any of his books. This one was about a young man drafted into the army. He was sent to active duty in Vietnam. It was all an errorthathe ended up in active duty he had a bad knee.The story brought you with the main character Richie Perry to the Vietnam war. Walter Dean Myers had you understand the fears and the feelings of the men in Perrys group. You met his new friends, sargents, and nurses. The book makes you feel like you areright there with them. You don't want to put the book down you were given more information about the Vietnam war. Its not as much the detail of the location and what was happening but more about the thoughts of the troops. You got the view from the people that were actually there in the trenches. They where trying to survive. There where men dying,they were friends there where feeling of loosing your friend to the war. Every one wanted to get out alive and well and start a new life. I recomend this book to anyone who likes war stories. This book will not only give you the war story, but the view from those who served. Not just the facts but the feelings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Military & Wars    6. Juvenile fiction    7. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (261)

Esperanza Rising
Esperanza Rising was a pretty good book.This book was basically about a Mexican girl who use to be rich but became poor.They lived on a huge ranch and owned a grape orchard. Sadly the night before her birthday Esperanza's father dies. After her father dies, her evil uncle takes over the ranch, and her and her mother become servants. The only way they could still live in their house was if her mother was to marry her brother inlaw. Esperanza's mother new that if she married him they wouldn't live a very good life. So now that they became servants they had to sneak from the ranch . They get in the back of a wagon and begin their journey to their new home. When they get there they go to their very small cabin. Esperanza and her mother had to work very hard and momma gets sick. Well I think that I am going to stop there so that I wont give any thing away. I do recommend this book though, you will enjoy it.

It made me cry!
It was such a great book!I could read it over again and again!I can't even imagine someone ever saying that they hated this book.I couldn't stop reading when I started the book.Sometimes I even read it when my Mom was talking to me.This book is very sad and exciting.It made it worth spending most of my time reading it!I would tell every one of my friends about this book and how I think they sould read it.If I was stranded on a deserted island and i could bring any two books in the whole world.I would choose Espeanza Rising and A Judy Blume book!If you like sad,exciting,and beautifuly written books, then this is the one for you!

Victoria's Review on Esperanza Rising
This book is about a young girl who is spoiled and has the best life that she can think of until some bad things start happening and her father dies.
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Subjects:  1. California    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Family - General    4. Fiction    5. Historical - General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Historical Fiction    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Social Issues - Homelessness & Poverty    10. Spanish: Grades 4-7    11. Spanish: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino   

Reviews (91)

Lyddie- a review by Kelsey
Lyddie is a very poor farm girl who has a crazed mother who believes everything to be a bad sign. Her and her brother Charlie are very close and will do anything for each other. When a bear intrudes on the family Lyddie's mother takes it as a bad sign. She takes her youngest children to her sisters house and leaves Charlie and lyddie to take care of the farm. They end up surviving the winter only to find out their mother has found separate jobs for them. The children reluctantly leave each other as they set out for their jobs. Lyddie is to work in a inn where she gets payed about fifty cents a week. While working at the inn Lyddie gets her chance to change her life. Lyddie goes to work at a factory. Lyddie is known as "close to her money and her friendships" but you will never learn of someone who works harder.
baandersonbookworm
For students in the middle grades or higher, Lyddie is a great read. It is a valuable resource for a social studies unit on slavery, the industrial revolution, the labor movement, yellow fever, or child labor. Lyddie is a symbol of strength, determination, and freedom. Paterson has created a strong central character and even though so much history is going on around her, it is on Lyddie that we continually focus our attention. I highly recommend book; very inspiring.

"we can still hop."
Paterson doesn't miss with this great historical fiction about a young girl's struggles. This is a great girl adventure book about dashing hopes and the strength and will to endure at all costs. The portrait of Vermont farm life and Lowell Mill girls and workers rights during the 1800s is dead on. This is great read and a great teaching tool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Factories    4. Fiction    5. Historical - United States - 19th Century    6. Self-reliance    7. Textile workers    8. Work    9. Historical fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (8)

encounter
this book is about when christopher colmbus came to america and first met the natives. It shows that they white explorers wernt really that great, and were not kind to the natives. I think that this book is ok, beacuse it shows the cruelty of the englsih exploers.

Not for childern.
This book was very descriptive. It had a theme, and stuck to it. It is historicallycorrect, but I don't think it's appropriate for younger kids. This book talks about dieases, and losing one's home and family. It's good for those kids in Kindergarden, but even then, that's pushing it. Overall, it's an okay book.

The True Meaning behind Encounter
The book, Encounter, was so astonishing because of it's vivid descriptions. Not only did it express the arrival of Christopher Columbus through another's eyes, but it was through a child that the story was told. No one believed him because he was so young and they believed that the dream that had been sent to him was just a nightmare. He could tell that they were evil and greedy ever since they set foot in his home. The new arrivers had treated his people like indians, believing that their gifts were to great for such lowly people. Their clothes were so colorful compared to the clothes that wore. After being accepted in a new territory they compensated by having people taken away from them to become slaves. But still no one listened to such a small boy. He escaped and that's how he was able to tell his tale to others, but it was too late. All the people he had once knew were taken away from him forever. I really liked this book because it was in the point of view from someone so young and innocent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Exploration & Discoveries    6. Historical - United States - General    7. Indians of the West Indies    8. Juvenile fiction    9. People & Places - United States - Native American    10. Taino Indians    11. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Exploration & Discovery   

Reviews (262)

Um, WOW!
an awesome book that shares my thoughts about most things. you'll love birdy's bitter sarcasm, her intellegence, and her independance. May she rock the thirteenth century! this book is so fun!

Great book for anyone.
This book was required reading for my up and coming 6th grader.She hates to read, but this book has been a riot.She is not into Barbie, pink or much girly stuff.Fortunately, neither is Catherine.She and my daughter have a lot in common.I would highly recommend this book for all girls.If the boys can get past the sprinkling of puberty stuff they will like her antics too.
Catherine Called BirdyBy: Ashley
When I first started off reading Catherine Called Birdy it wasn't very interesting, but after I read a little more it all made sense and turned out to be a funny and excellent book. It gives a lot of details and makes the story really come alive.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Diaries    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Medieval    6. Middle Ages    7. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Reviews (103)

A Break With Charity, Review by Christina Rizk
Susanna English, a fourteen year old girl who lives in the small puritan community of Salem, is torn betweeen two worlds as her family gets accused of witchcraft and is sent to prison.Susanna desperately wants to join the circle of the girls who meet at the parsonage every week, but what she doesn't know is that they're planning to make things interesting and sudddenly act "afflicted" by witches whom they accuse at random; and the magistrate's believe them. Susanna stays in Salem with the Putnams, as her family is in Boston, and soon falls in love with Jonathon Hathorne. Finally Susanna is faced with having to make the hardest desicision of her life: tell the people of the evil girls' plans and risk getting accused of a witch, or keep quiet and watch innocent people lose their livesfor no good reason.

A Break with Charity
A Break with Charity is an amazing and enlightening book. It brings you into the time of the Salem Witch Trials and makes you feel as if you were there. The perspectives given in the book are brilliant as you watch entertainment in a highly restrictive world go from seemingly innocent to powerful and deadly.
A Break with Charity Makes a Breakthrough in Young Adult Historical Fiction
Superstition.Boredom.Neighbor and family feuds.A circle of restless girls, trying to break free.Accusations. Hangings.The fine line between life and death, superstition and reality is tested in A Break with Charity by: Ann Rinaldi.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Historical - United States - Colonial    5. Historical - United States - General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Massachusetts    8. Rinaldi, Ann    9. Salem    10. Trials (Witchcraft)    11. Witchcraft    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General    13. Reading Group Guide   

Editorial Review

Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. As they sail up the river to Kit's new home, the teasing and moodiness of a young sailor named Nat doesn't help. Still, her unsinkable spirit soon bobs back up. What this spirited teenager doesn't count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle's stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople? Read more

Reviews (356)

A bewitching story
This is one of my favorite books. I first read this book while in middle school and have re-read it so many times that I can recite some of the passages! The story of the girl who leaves her island home and must adjust to the harsh New England environment struck a chord with me, as I was a military kid and always moving from place to place. This story is about a girl who finds herself in a new environment that goes against everything she has ever learned or experienced, and she must learn who she is in order to survive this new land. It's also a romance story, and an intriguing story that shows what can happen when people become so closed-minded about what is "right" and "proper" that they refuse to look past a person's supposed subversive actions in order to really see or understand that person.Highly recommended reading.

Good historical fiction...
I wanted to give this book 3 1/2 stars, but I don't think you can... Oh Well!!!
the witch of blackbird pond-elizabeth george spheare- by andra prior
I read the witch of blackbird pond.I didnt like or dislike this book.It had fantastic chapters an awful chapters. The most awfu scenes in this book are where everyone gets judgemental. The overall message in this book wasshard to figure out but i thought it was: never let someone judge you for who you appear to be.I would recomend this book to people who like adventurous historical fiction books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Classics    5. Historical - United States - Colonial    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / Colonial & Revolutionary Periods    11. Puritans    12. Witchcraft   

Editorial Review

The debut novel of Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series, Read more

Reviews (152)

REMINDS ME OF MY YEARS IN JAPAN

Across the Nightingale Floor
Enjoyed very much. Can't wait to start Book #2 (Grass for his Pillow), which I have already purchased (along with Book #3).

Amazing!!!!!!!!
This book was awesome. I was biting my nails waiting for the second one to come out.I can't wait to read it now that it is out.I have to buy it off of Amazon because the stores never seem to have it.I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fantasy - Historical    2. Fantasy - Series    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Fantasy    5. Historical fiction    6. Japan    7. Literary    8. Orphans    9. Teenage boys    10. Fiction / General   

Reviews (138)

Still Good After All These Years
I can't believe this book is still around. I read it when I was around 12 and fell in love with Mara. My copy still sits on my shelf,it was one of my absolute favorites. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much was because Mara was such a brave, spunky heroine without all the fainting, and helplessness that was so popular in girl's books at the time. She was clever and she could be tough, and I really admired that.
Fabulous book for teens and adults
Unlike most reviewers, I didn't discover this book until I was well into my 30s.I can't believe I missed it when I was younger and I can't believe it hasn't been made into a movie yet!!(Ah, for the good old days of the 1980s, when Hollywood was still making epic miniseries..."Mara" would have been a wonderful miniseries!)
MOST AMAZING BOOK EVER, by: halima
Mara daughter of the Nile is an excellent form of historical literature, it's a must be read book.I'm sure it would be agreed that romance is a very admired genre, however this book not only contains a suspensful espionage but also has just the right amount of romance added in. As I have said before this is A MUST BE READ BOOK and I highly recommend it to those who still have not read it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Egypt    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Ancient Civilizations    6. History    7. Thebes (Egypt : Extinct city)    8. To 332 B.C    9. To 332 B.C.    10. English literature: essays, letters & other non-fiction prose works    11. English literature: literary criticism    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (123)

Great book for kids with autistic siblings
...well, perhaps my title isn't entirely fair.This is a wonderful book, beautifully written, with a marvelous twist in the end.It deals with the discomforts of being different, of being related to someone who is really different. My son and my nephew BOTH loved this book, but only one of them has an autistic sister.Choldenko deserves huge kudos for writing about an autistic teenager with the compassion and knowledge that she does.But then, she herself grew up with an autistic sibling.

I guess you have to respect a can-do person.
Our family listened to the audio book and the story was very interesting with great narration.My 10 year old reluctant reader couldn't wait to hear more.
California Young Reader nominee for Middle School
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The family dynamics were easy to relate to and the angst of a middle school kid, new to a school is one all of us can relate to. I teach 8th grade and the reading level wouldn't be challenging for that grade level but the subject matter is engaging. I'd recommend it highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Autism    2. Boys / Men    3. Brothers and sisters    4. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Family - General    8. Family - Siblings    9. Family problems    10. Fiction    11. Historical - United States - 20th Century    12. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Law & Crime    15. Social Issues - General    16. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (102)

THIS BOOK IS PAINFUL TO READ!!
This book is the worst book ever. I didn't know there could possibly be a book this bad. If you are required to read this book like me, i feel bad for you. Do NOT read this book for pleasure because it is not a pleasant book. It is painful to read. If you are STILL thinking of reading this bad book, DON'T READ IT!! take my advice.

Golden Goblet Exerpt
The Golden Goblet is about an Egyptian boy named Ranofer. After hid father, Thutra dies he has to live with his child-abusing half brother Gebu. Gebu always beat him up for no reason and feed Ranofer very little. Ranofer's dream was to be a Master Goldsmith, but Gebu messes it up when he makes Ranofer a Stonecutter. Soon Ranofer suspects Gebu is stealing. So, his friends, Heqet and the Ancient start spying on Gebu. But If you want to knows what happens then read Golden Goblet! If start getting bored between Chapter 1 through 2, then keep going because in Chapter 3 things start to get a little exciting. But if you are still bored then have fun burning the book.

KCS The Mystery
The Golden GobletViking Penguin Inc., 1986, pp.248, $6.99
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Egypt    5. Fiction    6. Historical - Ancient Civilizations    7. Mystery and detective stories    8. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (27)

Ashes of Roses
Ashes of Roses is a very interesting book. It has lots of historical reference to the Ellis Island immigration period, and is very well written.
Ashes Of Roses is one of the greatest books out there
Rose is the main Character of Ashes Of Rose.Rose is the oldest of 4 kids in her family Maureen, Bridget, and the Baby boy Joseph. Yes of course sense she's the oldest she had to take care of the all of the kids when her parents are gone or even there but and busy. When they get into America they have to go to through test and the baby Joseph has a dieses called Trachoma and Pa has to take him back to Ireland to live with the grandma and when he's better that they can come back and bring him to live in America. Pa and Joseph come back a moth later. Rose is 16 and works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. She has to have a job to help keep the house and everything they had by getting the money and the family needs. Rose hasn't been living in America for a little while now but still misses everything from Ireland. Just to add on to missing everything and wanting to go back the Triangle Factory catches on fire and everything inside is gone. Rose is strong enough to realize that she couldn't have done anything about it and that she has to go on with her life and just remember all the good things that happened in the time of her life. So Rose goes out and try's to find a new job. Rose and her family are getting back together because her baby brother and dad are back in the United States and back to see them, because when they came to America Joseph couldn't get in because he had a dieses called Trachoma. Realizing it has only been a month they can't wait to see Joseph and Pa. Now knowing that the family can come back together Rose is happy again and is glad to still be living in America. If you want to read a great book and feel like you have gone through and the stuff Rose has then I would recommend the book Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch.
Ashes OF Roses
A 16 yr old girl, Rose, faces chalenges in her life, starting with a long jouney to america, then learning to let go of her little brother, who has an eye infection. after a terible time in her uncle's flat, her mother goes back to irland, while Rose and her sister stay behind in america.many other things come up, also.read the book to find out why her only friends in america died. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Emigration and immigration    4. Fiction    5. Girls & Women    6. Historical - United States - 20th Century    7. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    8. Immigrants    9. Irish Americans    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. New York    12. New York (State)    13. People & Places - United States - Other    14. Social Issues - Emigration & Immigration    15. Social Situations - Emigration & Immigration    16. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (5)

growing strong
how you can feel with a little boy's hardship in a boarding school and how you hope for his stamina and how you love his intense friendships that bring him on his way.
A powerful story of courage and change
If Bryce Courtenay's The Power Of One sounds familiar, it's because this represents a young reader's condensed edition of a prior hard-hitter which became both an adult classic and an acclaimed movie of the same name. It's great to see such a powerful novel condensed with youth in mind: grades 8-12 will find compelling the story of 1930s South Africa and a boy who faces apartheid and prejudice in a country where his childhood is marked by loneliness and dreams of changing lives. A powerful story of courage and change evolves.

Great Novel - but CONDENSED
I have read the Power of One, the unedited version and it is brilliant, inspiring, and brutal - one of the best books I've read. However, this edition that is being sold here, is the Young Reader's edition, which isn't immediately obvious from Amazon's description or the picture. It does say so on the cover, but it's very small unless you enlarge the picture. So, my review gives it a 2 as it may be an unpleasant surprise for those who want to read the actual novel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boxing    2. Conduct of life    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Historical    5. Historical - Africa    6. Historical - General    7. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    8. History    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Self-confidence    11. Social Issues - Abandonment    12. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    13. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    14. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    15. South Africa    16. Sports & Recreation - General   

Reviews (99)

An OK book
Surely not on my top 10 list, but I always like reading a "true story".Was kind of long and had to skim a little in the middle.It was interesting to see what these ladies would do to survive though and was very graphic.Was ok.

Amazing book
This is my favorite book ever.I still cannot go outside to my woodpile in the winter without thinking about how Mary escaped and lived thru the bitter winter months naked, freezing and alone.She endured things that I cannot imagine living thru.This is a book that makes you think deeply. Some parts are truely disturbing, but it all happened and that is what makes this book so spellbinding.I highly recommend this to anyone who likes true historical novels.

An epic you will never forget
I first read this book when I was a teenager, and it has stayed with me all these years into adulthood. Occasionally I will pick it up and reread it. This is the story of Mary Draper Ingalls who is living in Virginia in the 1700s in a small community. She has a good life with her husband and her two sons, and is expecting a new baby any day. When her village is attacked by Indians, and many of her friends and family are killed, she along with her children, her sister-in-law, and another man are taken captive by the attackers. They are taken on a long trek into the wilderness farther and farther away from anything and everything they have ever known. After being separated from her children, her sister-in-law and everything she was clinging to, Mary decides to risk everything and escape. She does so with an older captive she meets along the way and they begin the long trek back through the wilderness toward home... following the river.
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Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Fiction - Historical    3. Historical - General    4. Fiction / Historical    5. Historical fiction