5 comments about Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice.

1. Everyone knows that Rosa Parks helped spark the Civil Rights movement with her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus for a white passenger. Her bold decision inspired the black community in Montgomery, Alabama and helped start the historic Montgomery bus boycott. Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat was a pivotal moment in history.
   
   But someone else did it first.
   
   On March 2, 1955 a fifteen-year-old girl refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus a full nine months before Rosa Parks did. Citing a little-known Montgomery bus rule, this girl stated with confidence that it was her Constitutional right to keep her seat on the bus. She was dragged to jail and charged as an adult for her refusal.
   
   At first Claudette Colvin was hailed as a celebrity and a shining example to her community. But the tides soon turned and suddenly Claudette found herself on the outside looking in at a movement that she arguably started all by herself. Her name was largely forgotten by history, supplanted by the more respectable and now iconic Rosa Parks, until now. Her story can now be found in Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (2009) by Phillip Hoose.
   
   Chances are if you follow the book awards circuit, you've heard some buzz about this book. It was a 2010 Newbery honor book. It received the 2009 National Book Award in Young People's Literature. It was a 2010 Sibert honor book (think Newbery awards but for non-fiction only). Claudette Colvin was a 2010 finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. In addition the book was selected by ALA (American Library Association) as a best book for young adults (BBYA), ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children--a division of ALA) named it a notable children's book although I can't find a link to said list. And, according to the author's site, it was on a heap of lists naming the best books of 2009. As my children's literature professor mentioned to me, you can barely see the cover for all of the awards stickers.
   
   I had thought I knew a fair bit about the civil rights movement, but I clearly wasn't reading the right books because I had never heard of Claudette Colvin. Hearing about this girl with dreams of becoming a lawyer and fighting Jim Crow laws, this girl who took a stand before many adults were willing to, was inspiring. The idea that she was shunned for standing up for her beliefs was outrageous.
   
   Except that isn't exactly the full story. (WARNING: If you believe in such a thing as a spoiler for a non-fiction book, look away.)
   
   Claudette was initially embraced by her community. Classmates thought it was, as the book notes, crazy when she stopped straightening her hair and some leaders of the movement wondered if Colvin was too young to be the figurehead of a city-wide boycott. But one of the biggest reasons for Claudette's shunning was her becoming a pregnant, unmarried, sixteen-year-old in 1955 after her arrest and trial. This is not mentioned in summary stories of Claudette's experiences (ie on the book jacket) and yet, in my view at least, the pregnancy seems like a fundamental aspect of Claudette's dismissal especially given the time.
   
   Hoose's book is clearly well-researched and filled with supporting documents and photographs, not to mention extensive reviews with Claudette Colvin herself. But on a lot of points readers only have Claudette's account of what happened. In her interviews Colvin often says none of the movement leaders called her (as on page 61 when her name is misspelled on a flyer about Rosa Parks' arrest). And it just feels weaker than it could have been with more supporting documentation.
   
   Colleen Mondor has an insightful post over at her blog Chasing Ray about her own questions about Claudette Colvin. And even if you don't think what I'm saying jives, you should give her post a look because she was a judge for the 2009 Cybils in the MG/YA nonfiction category which comes with a bit of authority.
   
   More troubling for me was how the movement impacted Claudette's life. As a child she dreamed of becoming a lawyer to help her people. Her arrest and the subsequent trial verdict made that impossible. It was frustrating to read about this bright, strong girl who stood up for what she believed in only to, basically, have it blow up in her face in a lot of ways.
   
   Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice is sure to lead to many lively discussions, not just about this little known and too obscure figure of the Civil Rights movement but also about the aspects of a good non-fiction book and finding (and using) supporting documentation.



2. Nine months before Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery Alabama, teenager Claudette Colvin also refused to give up her seat on a crowded Montgomery city bus. She was arrested and dragged off the bus. But Civil Rights Leaders thought her youth, class and somewhat volatile temperament didn't make her an ideal candidate to become the poster child for organizing a mass boycott of the Montgomery bus system. So she was left with a police record, shunned by many of her high school classmates, and a few months later ended up pregnant. Yet Colvin's story is extraordinary, and readers will appreciate the courage it took for her (a mere teenager) to take a stance against segregation.
   
   Through a series of interviews with Colvin (who now lives in the Bronx), Hoose brings her story alive and shows us what it was like to be black in the 1950's in the South. The daily humiliations that she and all blacks faced were truly despicable. It's important for young readers to understand the role that the vile Jim Crow laws played on a day-to-day basis. For example, kids weren't allowed to try on shoes in a store, instead parents would have to take a traced outline of their child's foot into the store. By understanding the climate that Claudette Colvin grew up in, we understand when she finally has had enough, and refused to leave her seat:
   
   "Rebellion was on my mind that day. All during February we had been talking about people who take stands. We had been studying the Constitution in Miss Nesbitt's class. I knew I had rights. I had paid my fare the same as white passengers. I knew the rule--that you didn't have to get up for a white person if there were no empty seats left on the bus--and there weren't. But it wasn't about that. I was thinking, Why should I have to get up just because a driver tells me to, or just because I'm black? Right then, I decided I wasn't gonna take it anymore. I hadn't planned it out, but my decision was built on a lifetime of nasty experiences." (page 30)
   
   Hoose has supplemented the engrossing text with photographs and newspaper clippings of the period. There are sidebars throughout the book, which further illuminate and enhance the story. We learn that Claudette served as one of the four plaintiffs in the Federal lawsuit Browder v. Gayle, the case that eventually abolished segregated bus seating in Alabama. And even though history forgot the role that she played in the Montgomery Bus boycott, Hoose has introduced Claudette Colbert to a new generation who will applaud her efforts. She serves as a reminder that one person can make a difference, no matter your age.



3. This is an absolute must read for any American. Few people have even heard of Claudette Colvin. Her story has been unfairly overshadowed by that of Rosa Parks. This book finally sets the record straight.
   
   Well written and very engaging. The author did a great job using first hand accounts from Claudette, newspaper clippings, Claudette's police report and great pictures. Being able to see the pictures right along side the text makes the story come to life.
   
   It is a story that should have been told long ago. Fortunately for us Phillip Hoose has told the story by writing this great book and it should be our responsibility to get the word out to younger generations of Americans.



4. 
   Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice is an illuminating piece of nonfiction. Phillip Hoose tells the story without condescending, but he also doesn't assume the reader knows anything about his story. As an adult reader, I appreciated the deep background provided in sidebars.
   
   From the first pages, which are largely pictures illuminating life in the South in the era of Jim Crow laws, I was wowed. The book reads almost like a documentary; Hoose uses photos, text boxes, background, newspaper text and interviews to paint a vivid picture not only of Colvin's life, but these years in Montgomery, Alabama.
   
   Who is Claudette Colvin? She was a high school girl who refused to give up her seat for a white passenger. She did it nine months before Rosa Parks, and she was arrested. Part of what I love about this book is the honesty, which is at times brutal. Rosa Parks is an American hero, and so many of us growing up being wowed by her bravery. This book takes us back to the way it really happened, which isn't as simple. It's not a nice little story, but it's real. As a librarian firmly in the "teach the truth" camp, I loved this book. Some teachers and parents may react adversely to it. She cooperated with Phillip Hoose, who interviewed her numerous times for this book.
   
   Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice is an important book. It's a book I found illuminating even as an adult reader.



5. While written for young adults, all ages will enjoy this wonderful biograpy of a woman who should be an inspiration to all of us.

5 comments about Breaking Through.

1. A work of art all students should read. My students were begging to read this book after reading Jimenez's first book The Circuit! My 8th graders loved the story and can't get enough of Panchito and his family!



2. I am an ESL teacher who works with 7th and 8th grade, primarily male, Latino and Hmong students. We first read The Circuit which told about Francisco Jimenez's family's first years as migrant farm workers in the United States. This autobiographical account relates the struggles the family encountered during Jimenez's early years in school. The older children and the parents picked fruit, vegetables, and cotton. The family moved according to the agricultural schedule in California. Everytime Francisco would start to feel "at home" in a school, the crop would be harvested and they would have to move to the next farm, hence the name The Circuit. The story ends when La Migra comes to pick up Francisco and his older brother at school. My students were anxious to find out what happened next. Would the family be deported or would they be allowed to stay in the U.S.? To find out we then read the second book, Breaking Through, which we are about half way through now and we're still enjoying every chapter. The books have spawned a multitude of conversations that have bonded us together. The kids can relate to Jimenez's life and he is a role model to them. He shows that hard work and determination lead to success. Personally I think everyone who is interested in immigration questions should read these books.



3. This book gave me a real insight as to how our migrant children really live! Thank You!



4. I bought *Breaking Through* without realizing that it was a sequel to *The Circuit*. Nonetheless, you aren't lost if you start with *Breaking Through* I loved this memoir because it was one of the best portrayal of a migrant family.
   
   This memoir chronicled the life of Francisco Jimenez from the time that him and his family entered America from Mexico to his entrance into college.
   
   The Jimenez family saved up some money and entered into Mexico illegally. They were soon caught, after a time, and deported back. However, they were able to get papers and return. Despite living in the land of freedom and opportunities, the family has to work hard in order to survive. They worked in strawberry fields, lettuce patches and cleaned buildings.
   
   Francisco is loving school yet struggled to stay on top as he also has to work. His older brother did well in school but worked nearly as much as their often-ill father did. The mother stayed home and took care of the children. However, she often substituted in their work when needed.
   
   *Breaking Through* is a story of a family working together. It's also a story of one finding one's own identity in America. It's also a story of one trying to achieve the American dream.
   
   You'll laugh. You'll cry. If you don't understand the Mexican culture, you'll find yourself puzzled at some things. Coming from a Hispanic family, I found myself nodding and taking strolls in memory lane.
   
   Overall, it's easy reading for a great book.



5. 
   
   Book Review on Breaking Through
   
   
   Hi, this book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez is a sad book. Why is it a sad book? A boy named Francisco struggles through life trying to keep his family together. He works and goes to school, also trying to keep his grades up. This book is a good book because of the Theme, believable charters, and a nice setting.
   
   The theme is, heart breaking. It's heart breaking since a boy and his family have to face many difficult obstacles. The obstacles are not easy for Francisco and his family. They have to pay bills but they don't have any money. So the whole family except mom and the youngest ones have to work.
   
   Besides the heart breaking theme there are nice believable charters. The charters sometimes where confused. They where confused because they didn't have money. No one to help them, and struggled to keep food on the table.
   
   There also was a very good setting. The setting took place in many different places. Like school, fields, gas company, Twitchel and Twitchel. There are many different places. So that means that the family is all over the places.
   
   So this book has a great theme. Wonderful setting that makes you feel like your there watching it all happing. Also nice believable charters that do things that you could relate to. So if you like heart breaking novels then this is the book for you.
   
   
   The End

5 comments about Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI.

1. Great story. A must read. A great personal account of both the good and the bad of the Iraq war. While a very serious subject, Ryan lightens the mood at times with perspectives not covered by the media. I laughed at some of the embedded humor that only those who served in the military would understand. Highly recommend.



2. First of all, I suggest this book to anybody who is currently serving in the National Guard or Reserves, you'll really be able to relate to it. Even if you're Active Duty, and especially if you've been deployed. I couldn't put the book down. I could relate in almost every way possible when Ryan went through the phases of Basic Training, it brought back good memories and made me laugh. It was difficult reading the parts about where he wrote home, I just think of all the other soldiers overseas right now. I also could relate to the book because Smithson is from a town near where I live, so all of the places he named, I knew where they were, so it gave me a really good picture. I finished the book in two days, and I suggest this book to anybody. I don't think it used profanity too much, this is the military, that was Iraq, it paints a good picture of his exact feelings and makes you feel like you're there in the moment. I give this book 5 stars, and I will read it again.



3. Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI, by Ryan Smithson
   
   Not often does a book leave me speechless, but the difficult subject and beautiful writing in "Ghosts of War" did. Ryan Smithson was 19 when he was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Army Reserves. He tells the story of his platoon and so many like it overseas, the ones who are working to rebuild the country and make it safe for other troops and citizens, the ones who interact with villagers and the poorer people of Iraq. Not the ones who are busting down doors, searching for weapons caches or other types of activities that make the news. Smithson and his fellow soldiers are the unsung heroes of the war.
   
   Smithson writes a moving memoir, that starts with his reaction to September 11, 2001, and his decision to join the Army Reserves, to his year long deployment overseas. The book ends with his return home and the difficulty in adjusting to life again, after living in a combat zone, and how he used writing as therapy for PTSD. The bulk of the book is about his year in Iraq, a year in which he saw the human side of war. Many of the most moving parts of the book are when he describes encounters with Iraqi children, who were almost pathetically grateful for something as simple as clean water. "Ghosts of War" is also a power emotional and mental journey for both the author and the reader, as Smithson ponders what freedom really means, what is faith - questions that are answered during training, missions, and reflection.
   
   I just can't say enough about this book. I've always been against the war, but it was a general feeling. Reading "Ghosts of War" made me think about the individual soldiers, people who joined the armed forces because they want to do something, they want to protect American freedom. A particularly enlightening part for me came near the end, when Smithson went to a high school with another recruiter. On the way to the high school, the other recruiter told Smithson that the kids they were about to see wouldn't really care to hear them, wouldn't listen - they'd think he was just one more brainwashed grunt. I know I felt that way when I listened to recruiters in high school; but as I said, now my opinion is very different. I will now appreciate and thank the soldiers I see. Thank you for opening my eyes.
   
   "Ghosts of War" is an excellent book for adults or young adults, especially teenagers who are considering joining the armed forces. Smithson's memoir gives an accurate picture of army life, from basic training to deployment and back, that may answer questions they didn't know they had. It's also a great book to open discussion between parents and their children, about the war, about the army. I had my own father look at it, as he had been in the Reserves during Vietnam, and the book prompted many questions for me to ask him.
   
   The writing is moving and will suck you in; I didn't want to put it down once I started. Some of the experiences related left me tearing up, and some had me cracking up with laughter. Overall, a wonderful book.
   
   5/5.



4. "That's what death does. It defines life. What would life be without death?" These are the truthful words of Ryan Smithson, a 19 year old GI engineer during the Iraqi war. "What would crying do? We have to rise above death. We have to laugh in its face." These motivating words keep Ryan going throughout this heart-wrenching book, The Ghosts of War.
   The Ghosts of War is written by the main character, Ryan Smithson. Just out of high school, Ryan decides to join the army as a GI engineer after witnessing 9/11 thinking that if he didn't do anything nobody would. Ryan does a superb job describing the effects of war on someone. The bonding of soldiers, the terror of watching people die, and the depression of losing someone you love. Ryan leaves behind his friends, family, and wife behind in order to fight someone else's war.
   The Ghosts of War is a well composed non fiction book built for the strong hearted. Unlike most war books, The Ghosts of War isn't as profane as others. Unfortunately, this book should only be read by middle school students and older because of mild violence and some profanity.
   If you've ever read or seen Black Hawk Down you can get a visual on what The Ghosts of War is like. They both do a very good job describing the horrifying effects of war. How real life and death are. How when it comes to war, the only thing that matters is the soldier standing next to you. Both books are well composed and I recommend them both.
   The Ghosts of War is well written because Ryan did a good job structuring his book and keeping his sentences fluent to keep your attention throughout the book. He also does a good job with describing his experience in the army without using unneeded profanity. I really enjoyed this book because it is action-packed and funny at times but starts out slow which is bad.
   All in all, The Ghosts of War is a very good book and I am glad to have read it. I recommend it to those who want to learn about the Iraqi war and those who are looking for a good book.



5. I read this book to see if it would be a good thing for my daughter to read so she could learn a little more about the war. I really thought the author did a great job in the way he dumbed it down for the readers that don't have military backgrounds. This is a good read and I encourage anyone and everyone to read this book.

5 comments about Parallel Journeys.

1. This book was so interesting! Looking at the same world happenings from two different effects was fascinating. There is a lot of literature about concentration camp survivor stories but to parallel that with the story of a Nazi youth brought it into a whole different light. Loved it!



2. This book..drew me in like a book had been incapable of doing for a while. I read it for a book report, because I enjoy reading about history. I have never had such an easier time recaling facts from a work before...I found myself becoming so thouroughly entwined with the story in my report on it, that I was near tears, and my voice was shaking. Just through telling the story, the whole room was silent. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone with a mind who is willing to use it.
   
   -W's daughter



3. Although this was a book about great sorrow and despair, the strength of the human spirit shines through in the heart and mind of Helen Waterford. What was also astounding was the thoughts and emotions of Alfons Heck. What a horrific time--more than the mind can comprehend...and what a truly amazing journey of the souls that brought these two people together.
   
   I highly recommend this book to everyone. I just finished reading it and passed it along to my daughter.



4. The world must never forget the holocaust. Today some people espouse a theory that the nearly 12,000,000 deaths (6,000,000 of them Jews) at the hands of the Nazi party never happened. This sad, but honest, tale traces the lives of two persons who lived through that era. Helen Waterford was a Jew who experienced the atrocities first hand. Alfons Heck was a high ranking member of Hitler's youth. Both lived to tell their tales. Both met each other after the war. Both told their tales together. This book alternates chapters between the two principle characters so the reader can witness this period through eyes on both sides of the ideological conflict. This is really two books in one. Either story will challenge the mind and heart. Either one of the stories is an important read, but both placed together in this manner makes for a 5-star book. Our local middle school uses this classic in some of the literature classes. You will be richer for having read this book.



5. WOW, what a book i would say. It's a very moving book about the memoirs of Helen Waterford and Alfons Heck during WWII.This book should be in high school history not to say only for high schoolers but 12 year olds and up.

5 comments about Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare.

1. Diane Stanley's picture book biographies are wonderful! I can think of a number of titles I have seen so often on homeschool families' shelves: Joan of Ark, Michelangelo, Peter the Great, Saladin, Charles Dickens, and more! She has a very unique and captivating way to write--and illustrate--these great historical figures' biographies!
   
   The Bard of Avon follows all that is known about William Shakespeare, his personal and professional life, the Globe Theater and the world he lived in. Many of his plays are discussed in the book as well. As with her other biographies, Stanley's language is both kind and respectful. It is also honest-- what is not known about a historical character is stated as such on the pages.
   
   This is a very good first look at the Bard's life . I just asked my 8th grader, whose next reading assignment is Romeo and Juliet , to read it: she could not put it down!



2. I feel like I could start any review for a Diane Stanley biography like this: ________ is the perfect introduction for any child interested in learning about ___________! That said...
   
   Bard of Avon is an excellent introduction to the biography of William Shakespeare. It gives you basic facts without getting too involved in theory. My favorite new fact is a list of words Shakespeare invented by writing them into his plays. In addition to "eyeball," which I already knew, he also made up: majestic, countless, hint, hurry, reliance, leapfrog, gust, excellent, and gloomy. Awesome! Diane Stanley hits it out of the park every time, truly. I'm a huge fan.



3. Stanley does a masterful job of bringing Shakespeare to life in this short biography. Full of wit, the workings of the theater and a few of the details behind some of Shakespeare's more popular works, older children will greatly enjoy this book. A must-have for homeschoolers beginning a study of the Bard of Avon!



4. This author was new to us and we will be looking for her from now on. The pictures are sooo wonderful they transport you. The information is well done and clear, yet not watered done. This is someone that REALLY understands writing books for children that adults can enjoy using as teachers or parents. I recently bought alot of books on Shakespeare, for use in the school room this year and we have found 4 authors that made the grade on this subject! This is a keeper!



5. Stanley is a masterful writer/illustrator when it comes to creating longer picturebook biographies (with heavier text). Her bios on da Vinci, Cleopatra and Shakespeare are fabulous. It amazes me that she has not won a Caldecott Honor yet! I can't wait to see her bio about Michelangelo!

5 comments about Annie's Baby: The Diary of Anonymous, a Pregnant Teenager.

1. I just finished this book last night and I'm pretty upset. I really had high expectations for this book, thinking it would be a good, gripping story like I thought Go Ask Alice was, but it is not. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad story, it was just really hard to stay interested when I wasn't really wanting to read. The plot never screamed 'read me!' but I read it anyway. I did enjoy the outcome of this young girl's story, so I guess that gets some credit. I'm still debating on whether I think these 'anonymous diaries' are real or not, but either way some of them are pretty good. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting the money on this book, but if a friend offers to lend it to you to read, go ahead, it could be worse. (:



2. I read this book in a very hard time of life. I didn't search this book out but came across it by accidentally while I was at the public library. I loved this book from the beginning. It has been years since I read it but I am planning on re-reading it again.



3. Maybe it's because I'm now past the target age for this book, and because I now know about how Dr. Sparks in all probability just makes up these books instead of using real teen journals, but I didn't believe for one blessed moment that this book was a real teen journal, nor that Annie was a real person. I was a teenager of the Nineties myself, and am a nearly-lifelong journaller, and nothing about Annie (her personality, thought process, writing style, etc.) rang true. She and everyone else in this book come across as one-dimensional stereotypes and clichés, like they're all characters in some over the top morality play or afterschool special. It's so suspicious how the teens in all of Dr. Sparks's "real-life diaries" have the exact same writing style and moral preachiness, holding rather conservative views in line with her own. I don't begrudge her her sincerely held beliefs even though they're radically different from mine, but it's just morally irresponsible to push these beliefs on impressionable teens by pretending they're from peers instead of some over-the-hill ultra-conservative psychiatrist. There are far better ways to teach teenagers to not do drugs, have unprotected sex at young ages, get eating disorders, have an affair with a teacher, or join a gang than lying to them and trying to scare them straight.
   
   I find it hard to believe that Dr. Sparks is that respected of an adolescent shrink, since she seems so profoundly out of touch with how real teens write, behave, talk, and think. But chances are, if she'd used a real diary from a pregnant teen she had worked with, it wouldn't have had the desired holier than thou moral preachiness, anti-abortion and anti-welfare rants, childish writing style, stereotypical characters, sense of shame and guilt for something like having sex or lying to one's mother, or depiction of all teen moms as terrible parents who are just setting their kids up for a lifetime of problems unless they do the responsible thing and place the babies for adoption. Teenagers are a lot smarter, more mature, articulate, and self-aware than she gives them credit for. Real teen journallers also don't over-analyse everything, use babyish expressions worthy of a six year old, use excessive italics and exclamation points, FREQUENTLY WRITE IN ALL CAPS (those sections were so annoying, irritating, and distrating I found myself just skimming over them), feel guilty for engaging in normal teen behaviors (like going to parties or lying to one's parents about their whereabouts), or apologise for having used the occasional curse word in their own journals. Annie also acts really bipolar, the way she's all happy, excited, and bubbly one moment, then depressed, angry, frustrated, and confused the next. The way she often talks to her journal like it's an actual person, even going so far as having entire back-and-forth conversations, arguments, and tantrums with it, would also seem to suggest a serious mental problem.
   
   While there are a few things about her character that ring true, such as how many teen girls are in abusive relationships and how many young teen moms do feel overwhelmed when the baby arrives, those details are cancelled out by all of the over the top clichés and stereotypes littered throughout the rest of the book. The "relationship" with Danny develops way too fast, for instance, and she's already acting like he's her soulmate before she even knows his name, and then thinks they have some serious relationship when they've only had a couple of dates and hung out at school a few times. As the relationship wears on, she seems to deliberately put herself in bad situations and do the most foolish things possible, like going back to him after he first tries to rape her and then actually rapes her. I could see if this were a longer-term relationship, but making excuses, blaming herself, and wanting to stay with him for the sake of some minor fling at age fourteen? I never felt anything for anyone in this book, not even at the supposedly dramatic moments, like when Annie stages some elaborate ruse to trick her mother into thinking she was hit by a car instead of raped, or when she tries to abandon her baby. The characters and situations were just too unbelievable.
   
   A real teen journal would also have a lot more mundane chit-chat, like about hanging out with friends, a movie she just saw, schoolwork, that sort of thing, not this obsessive focus on the "problem." And where are all of the details a normal teen girl would make sure to write about, like how she got the birth control pills or just how Danny was roughing her up during sex? How are we supposed to get accurate mental images of these people and things if all we're given are generalities? Unless of course this were deliberately written as a fictional teen journal about a specific issue and not really drawn from the pages of a real teenager's journal, something she never dreamt would be published. I also found it really hard to swallow how Annie is switched to an "unwed mothers' home" in her town. Such places do still exist, but they're far and few between anymore. How convenient one of the few still in existence is in her area. And what American teen of the Nineties would actually use the term "unwed mother"? What is this, the Fifties? Annie also looks down her nose on most of the "unwed mothers" in the school, particularly because they're planning to use welfare. I found the anti-welfare rhetoric to be even more offensive than the anti-abortion rhetoric. (And how is her baby allowed to leave the hospital after only about two weeks when she's two months premature? Don't most babies born at seven months need to spend at least a month in the hospital?)
   
   The only real thing going for this work of fiction are the supplemental sections in the back. There are quizzes to find out if one is in an abusive relationship, a Q&A on birth control and teen pregnancy (which continues with the anti-welfare rhetoric and the downright offensive view that teens are automatically sub-par parents who are putting their kids at risk for all sorts of problems if they don't do adoption), and some resources for things like STDs and rape. Funny how the writing style in this section, as well as in the author's note, is the exact same one used by Annie all throughout the book, down to the FREQUENT CAPS. So it's not totally useless. I don't know whether to feel more sad, amused, or scared that apparently many teen girls believe this book was written by one of their own instead of an elderly shrink pretending to be some whiny immature self-absorbed holier than thou teenager.



4. Annie's Diary
   Edited by: Dr. Beatrice Sparks
   This book is based on a girl's diary that was faced with the worst experience of her life and was edited by Dr. Beatrice Sparks.
   Annie, the main character of this book was madly in love with sports. She had been playing at one of her soccer games just like any other day and kaput she had gotten side tackled and limped off the field. While she was sitting on the bench this guy named Danny whom she had never met bothered to ask her if she was alright. Her eyes brightened; she thought she was in love Danny's looks had charmed her.
   Annie never normally cared what she looked like for school but she was determined to make a good impression of herself to her mystery guy. Bell after bell every chance she got she would roam the halls looking for her prince charming. One day they finally ran into each other. He asked her out on a date. She was ecstatic and said yes. Her best friends were very supportive over her and agreed that it would be a bad idea for Annie to tell her mother about the guy she had met.
   They began dating and Annie thought that they were destined to be together. They would always spend time alone together but then when it came to Danny's friends he never spoke a word to her. He acted like he didn't even know her. He was beginning to act stranger as the days went by.
   Would Annie change her opinion and personality all over a guy who she thought she was destined to be with?
   This was a great book it really got me involved in my reading I never wanted to put down I just wanted to keep reading and find out what happened next. This book brings a lot of suspense to me when I was reading and helped me realize what could happen in my own life. I would recommend this book to teenage girls or anyone who loves reading books based on true stories or diaries or to anyone who loves to read romance stories, or loves a good book that you can't stop reading.



5. This is a true story of a teen who is going to have a baby. She tells her mother; her mother is loving and understanding and compassionate. Will she keep the baby or give it up? This true story tells how she dealt with it. I really enjoyed it.

5 comments about The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel.

1. As we celebrate the centennial of Ted Geisel's birth, material is appearing that looks at the influence of Dr. Seuss on generations of American readers. Dr. Cohen brings us what is obviously a labor of love. Drawing inspiration on his extensive collection of Seussiana, he has produced one of the most lavishly illustrated and broadly scoped book on the life and works of the good doctor.

   Cohen reaches back to Geisel's school days and illustrates the development of the artist's style and humor. Continually he will point out how pieces done at various points in Geisel's life can be traced as part of the development of what would become some of his trademark images and beloved characters, including the Grinch. Instead of focusing heavily on Seuss's books, he draws attention to the vast collection of other artwork that was drawn, mostly before the books even came into being. Seuss's work as a humorist, advertising artist, sculptor, and cartoonist (political and otherwise) are shown here as he continued to improve and hone his craft. The end results are the books that are so beloved to multitudes of people who were lucky enough to grow up with Seuss in the house.

   The book would be worth it for the pictures alone, but the accompanying text helps get below the surface of many of the pieces, and to tie them together into a artist's whole output. Even if you only look at the pictures and read the captions to the pictures, you will get a whole new appreciation of Dr. Seuss's work over the years. If I any complaint, it is that in some ways the books almost get shorted too much in this narrative, and too often the captions for the illustrations are repetitive to the text. But these are minor quibbles that in no way detract from the glorious whole.

   For the Seuss lover, and for the casual reader, this book brings the reader a whole new appreciation of a beloved illustrator's work and the genius that was Dr. Seuss.




2. Since 2004 is the Seussentennial, or the hundredth anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birth, this is a great time to get to know more about one of America's most popular icons of children's literature. Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was far more than an author and illustrator of children's books and movies. His career includes humorist, journalist, advertising genius, magazine and political cartoonist, creator of wartime training and propaganda films, president of a publishing company, and spokesman for children's education.

   Author Charles Cohen, a dentist and avid collector of Seussiana, is well qualified to write this visual biography of Ted Geisel. Through lavish illustrations, many from his own collection, Cohen shows the many facets of Geisel's art and imagination. The reader is treated to Geisel's earliest works from long before his first published children's book. These include examples of his college newspaper cartoons and his many successful advertising campaigns that blended humor and salesmanship. These creations are juxtaposed with his later children's books to provide the reader a deeper understanding of how culture and history shaped the evolution of his ideas and whimsical bestiary, and to point out the same themes cropping up over and over again in his works.

   Although this book provides a fascinating view into many unusual perspectives of Dr. Seuss the artist and innovator, there is little here about Ted Geisel the man. In the introduction, Cohen says that he neither met Geisel nor interviewed anyone who knew him. Instead he delved into Geisel's works to discover what made him tick. As a result, there are many facts missing about Geisel's personal life and friendships. The few personal facts that were thrown in, mostly towards the end of the book, came from out of nowhere and made me crave more details. It is for this reason, especially since this book is called a "visual biography," that I rated it four stars instead of five. It is more a visual exploration of Geisel's works than a biography. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a creatively obsessed man that you never realized existed. It will also rekindle your fond memories of the Dr. Seuss books you read as a child. Perhaps it will even shed a bit of light on why you loved those books so much.

   Eileen Rieback




3. With the awful, distorted, contrived pile of wasted film, conjured up in the form of Mike Myers' take on the "Cat in the Hat," it would be nice to know why, in the beginning of it all, Dr. Seuss was ever popular at all. He was a great writer and cartoonist before his famous cat's striped hat became chic fashion among post-grunge era teenagers.
   
   In "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel" by Charles Cohen, we are shown the greatness of Seuss -- of Theodor Geisel, through drawings, paintings and text. We get to learn about his early days at Dartmouth, as he toyed with hybridic animals, wit and satire.
   
   Not every idea worked. Seuss, an experimenter, evolved from being a talented but rustic styler of odd creatures into a sophisticated artist of odd, if not bizarre beasts that had genuine identity.
   
   Before he write and drew books about green eggs, grinches, and elephants named Horton, he was an editorial cartoonist. His language in many of the cartoons was far from being politically correct, but his social commentary decrying racism was right on. He hard-handed racist thought with no evidence of his sweet children's characters kindness.
   
   Cohen has produced an array of research. Samples of Seuss' art grace most pages. We also get a look at the vast merchandising, parodies, and unlicensed knock-offs.
   
   This is not a children's book. Don't be fooled by the name of the publisher. It is for someone interested in reading a serious look at the history of one of America's beloved cartoonists.
   
   I fully recommend "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel." by Charles D. Cohen.
   
   Anthony Trendl
   editor, HungarianBookstore.com



4. This book is not all about reiterating the Seuss stories we've already read, but instead an objective well researched pictoral and written account of the man so many love. Cohen does a great job researching the possible meanings of Geisel's cartoons and later texts. There are many, many Judge magazine and other political cartoons that are absolutely hilarious, and absolutely adult in nature (similar to alot of his "childrens" stories).

   I highly recommend this book to anyone what likes to drop into a chapter then skip to another at an opposite end of the book because they are somewhat independent although chronological, it is easy to skip around to the parts you feel like reading for that day.

   Also, at 400 pages full color, who can pass up the bargain?

   f.y.i. This biography seems to coincide a lot with *In Search of Dr. Seuss* the movie that just came out in dvd




5. Kudos to Dr. Cohen. The writing is insightful, the illustrations and pictures are outstanding, the sheer volume of content is overwhelming and of course, the dedication is tear-jerking. A must have for any Seuss fan. Read the inside jacket-I'm guessing someday there will be a Poem Repair Shop.

5 comments about Treacherous Love: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager.

1. This was a book that I wouldn't normally read. Since I have teenage daughters though, I thought I would give it a go. I found this book to be a little nerve wracking since I am a mom reading this.
   
   I would say 80-90 percent of the book is Jennie writing in her diary. She spills her emotions of her parents fighting and eventually separating. She goes through the hurt, sadness and anger that any teenager would feel when their parents divorce. She sees her mom get addicted to pills, her friends go on with their lives and find boyfriends which leaves Jennie feeling alone. She tries pot and alcohol to try and numb the pain. Then her substitute teacher slowly makes his way into Jennie's life. She is desperate for someone to love her and the teacher takes advantage of that. It is so sad to think that there are teachers out there that could do this. Being a mother of 3 girls, this scared me. It made me realize that it can happen to anyone's child.
   
   The part that is keeping me from making this a 5 flame read is how most of the book is just her diary. I wish we could have read more about what she goes through instead of just a couple short paragraphs in her diary.
   
   At the end of the book it lists a question and answer list. It includes hotline numbers and ways to deal with this sort of thing if it happens to you. I really liked how they added that. If one person who is in this situation calls those numbers, then that section is not a waste of paper. It is an answered prayer.



2. Two stars is a generous rating for such a horribly-written book, but I have to admit that it did finally start to get more interesting the closer it got to the end (marginally better than Dr. Sparks's usual), and it did contain some good resources in the back of the book, for readers who might be facing the same sort of issues that Jennie does.
   
   I was already well aware of the fact that Dr. Sparks is the real author of these "troubled teen diaries," but at least in some of her other books, it's not so obvious right from the very start. This book was only marginally better than the horrific 'Annie's Baby,' and that's only because it finally starting getting relatively interesting and dramatic towards the end (in spite of a too-perfect conclusion). Until the last 20 pages or so, it was pretty difficult to slog through. It has the exact same writing style as all of her other books--a protagonist who thinks, writes, talks, acts absolutely nothing like a modern American teen, the maturity level of a five year old, characters who are clichés and stereotypes from some over the top morality play or after school special, ridiculous childish language, obnoxious moral preachiness, apologizing for cursing, thinking negative or unappreciative thoughts, or criticising one's parents in one's *own journal,* and of course, Dr. Sparks's specialty, frequently WRITING IN ALL CAPS, OFTEN FOR SEVERAL LINES IN A ROW, excessive italics, and excessive exclamation points!!!!! It's so difficult to read something like that; not only is is annoying and childish, but it also really distracts from the story.
   
   Jennie's parents have a weird relationship; one moment they're fighting a lot, the next they're trying to reconcile and work things out, and then her dad finally leaves. Her mom turns to pills to deal with the pain, and Jennie clings to her two best friends, Bridget and Marcie. (Marcie btw started out as a snob she and Bridget hated, till the oh-so-unrealistic scene when Marcie asks to eat lunch with them and immediately admits she only acts snobby and like she doesn't want or need friends because she's afraid no one would want her as a friend otherwise.) Jennie is upset that Bridget gets a boyfriend, Brad, and starts hanging out with him instead of her all of the time. Brad eventually dumps Bridget, and the three girls, in a typically unbelievable and ridiculous section of the book, start doing weed (wearing only underwear and shower caps, for fear they might smell of drugs) until they're caught by Marcie's father the general. Dr. Sparks really managed to pack a lot of her pet crusades into this book--drugs, religion, teen relationships, broken homes, alcoholism, the works! She even snuck in a ridiculous anti-feminist comment early on, when Jennie comments on a teacher who wants to go by Ms. instead of Miss, and how all of the kids "wonder if she's a...you know." Since when do modern American teens consider it suspicious or wrong for a teacher (or any woman) to go by Ms.? This isn't the Fifties, Dr. Sparks, when only select few women didn't go by either Miss or Mrs. Husband's Full Name!
   
   Jennie feels close to her new sub in math, Mr. Johnstone, really quickly, and sees nothing creepy or inappropriate by how he singles her out for increasing amounts of attention. She almost immediately is declaring he's perfect and that they have something special together (another feature typical of the teen girls in Dr. Sparks's world). It's never said exactly how old he is, but I'd assume he's at least 10 years older than Jennie. Jennie lets him get weirder and weirder, even to the point where he's taking pedophilic pictures of her looking like a little girl and asking her to marry him on her 15th birthday. She only comes back to her senses when she discovers, by accident, what's really been going on. Seriously, I really don't think any real teen girl would be that dumb, not even one from a dysfunctional family like Jennie's. Of course, everything starts to get back to normal when Jennie finally confides in her dear sweet Mommy, who she's so glad is her precious Mom (yet another stock line in Dr. Sparks's books!), and they both start praying and going to church. (Dr. Sparks really let a clue of her authorship slip when she had Jennie say she feels like she's been kicked out of the celestial circle, a term she's heard but doesn't know the meaning of. Unless Jennie's supposed to be a Mormon or lives in Salt Lake City like the good shrink, what are the odds she would have actually heard that term anywhere?!)
   
   Jennie is by far one of Dr. Sparks's most annoying, childish, ridiculous, and loathsome creations. I really wanted to slap her for being so stupid, overly emotional, and juvenile. Not only does Dr. Sparks need a memo on how modern teens really write, talk, act, and think, but she also needs a memo on how you can impart important lessons like don't do drugs, be wary of excessive and increasingly intimate attention from a teacher, don't have unprotected sex, etc., without lying to and preaching at young people to try to scare them straight. I agree with the reviewer who said the only things she's really good at are creating victims and preaching.



3. this book is also amazing. i love it how its kind of her dairy. i also notice as i was reading this book that shes to embarrassed to say what she did so she says "you know" to let you imagine. this book is a must read book.=] so read it!



4. From the reviews on here, it looks like some people are automatically criticizing this book just because it is not a true story. I read "Treacherous Love" when I was 14 (like Jennie) so maybe I saw it on her level. Although this book is not based on a true story, similar events have happened. Sadly there have been a number of girls (and a few boys) who have been taken advantage of by teachers. "Treacherous Love" could easily be a composite of cases like this. In the book, Jennie's life takes a bad turn. Her father leaves, and her mother becomes distant. Then her best friend Bridget gets a boyfriend and stops spending time with her. Jennie's only friend is a substitute teacher at her school name Mr. Johnstone. She trusts him, and he makes her feel self-worth. But soon their relationship turns romantic, and he tells her she has to keep it secret. Although Mr. J should not have taken indecent liberties with her, Jennie should have known something was wrong and got away from him sooner.



5. My students thought this one was ok. Sparks is great, but this one was very slow to get to the action.

5 comments about We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust.

1. Excellent service from both the seller and Amazon.com. My purchase came in great condition. I would not hesitate to buy from this seller in the future.



2. 
   As a teenager I was a witness to the Holocaust. I survived; the five teenagers in the book We Are Witnesses did not, but their diaries did. I feel indebted to Eva, David, Moshe, Yitzhak and Anne for their work, for their courageous efforts to put on record what they were witnessing. The five teenagers represent me as a Holocaust survivor and they represent millions of other teenagers that perished in the Holocaust. Their diaries fulfill the pleas from the Holocaust victims whose last words were: Gedenkt unz", "Zychru otanu"," pamietaj nas"," Ne felejes el bennunket"- remember us, remember the Nazi's cruelty.
   
   All concerned people should be grateful, as I am, to Jacob Boas, himself a Holocaust survivor, for his efforts to put in print the testimonies of five young Jewish children who were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. Boas explanatory paragraphs to each and every diary are remarkable. His comments enable the reader, especially the teenagers of today and in future, to comprehend the gripping and traumatic events witnessed by those five teenagers.
   
   We are witnesses is an excellent book for young students who study the Holocaust. Readers of this book, young and old, may take away some valuable lessons: Freedom is precious, education is vital, prejudice and bigotry is the bane of our life. The world's redemption can only come with the eradication of oppression, prejudice and bigotry.
   
   Alter Wiener, author of From A Name to A Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography



3. For any teen studying the Holocaust and reading Diary of Anne Frank, this is a great read with interesting teens.



4. "Happy day" that is the last entry in David's diary." This is the last statement of a young boy whos life came to an end during the Holocaust. All we have to renember him by is his passages in his diary. However this is only ne boys story there are still 4 more to be told.
   
   We Are Witnesses tell the story of 5 children who went threw the pain of the holoaust. The stroy is told from there diaries that they had written before there deaths. The diaries include David Rubinowicz, Yitzhak Rudashevski, Moshe Flinker, Eva Heyman, and Anne Frank.
   
   I found this book to be very good book about the Holocaust! However on my opinion I found the book was not what I thought it was. On the front it has the words "Five diaries of teenagers who died in the Holocaust." However when i read the book I found every paragraph they wouuld put about 3 quotes from their diaries. When I picked up this book I thought that it would just be quotes from their diaries. However this book still got the point across that at that point in time even some would have wanted to be dead they have to go through one more day of pain.



5. I recently bought this book and I've been reading it during my lunch break at work and so far I'm very interested and it seems like I can't stop reading it! I will probably take it home with me on the weekend and just finish it. It's sad to know what kind of things happened to little kids like them, and at the same time it's amazing to see how they were dealing with their terrible reality and how mature they were for being just kids during this horrible time in History.
   
   I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt! (Unforgettable Americans).

1. My fourth grade daughter read the book for a project on a president. Very factual information given in book. Order of organization in book is good for her age. The book has been fun for her to read and myself as well as I followed along with her.



2. Jean Fritz is perhaps best known for her short picture book biographies of Revolutionary War Heroes. I was anxious to read this particular book, and to my great surprise found it to be much longe than her usual fare. Just the same, the book carries the same spirit and adept interesting writing Fritz has employed on her other ventures. I had some disappointments with this book, it's true, but all in all I think it's a fine biography and the best one out there for any kid interested (or required) in reading about our odd twenty-sixth President.

   We begin with a small sickly boy. Young Teddy (a name he accepted but disliked) was asthmatic and, as a result, of poor constitution. Pressed by his adored father to make something of himself, Ted set about exercising and pushing himself so as to become strong and tough. This man was truly an embodiment of all that was masculine. As he grew he was continually obsessed with nature, and it was assumed that he would someday go into the field of naturalism. As it happened, Teddy got waylaid and after taking some law went into politics. What was to follow was a madcap series of election losses, faithful Republican supporters, and, in time, a war.

   Now it is around the time that Fritz starts describing Teddy's involvement in the Spanish-American War that she loses me. What separates Fritz from James Giblin or Russell Freedman (two excellent historical biographers for children in their own right) is that she refuses to blame Teddy for anything. As a writer she obviously admires her subject, and you can see why. There was much to admire about the man. At the same time, however, this was a fairly war-hungry fella. Unlike Giblin, who has written such wonderful biographies as "Charles Lindbergh: A Human Hero", Fritz doesn't show the problems that came with Teddy's choices. There is little doubt to my mind that Teddy saw the Spanish-American War as a "just" war. There is also little doubt that it most certainly was NOT a just war. Even when it becomes clear that the American public was misled in its thinking that war was the only answer ("Remember the Maine" anyone?) and that Teddy was a part of that misinformation, Fritz ignores such controversial topics. And what of the muckrakers? Where's Teddy's famous dismissal of hard-hitting journalism? Too much is left unsaid or avoided in this book to allow it to be considered one of the great children's biographies out there. Additionally, one does have to take issue with Fritz's portrayal of the Native Americans. As a previous reviewer has pointed out, Fritz's facts (though she includes a lovely bibliography of sources) seem sketchy.

   Which isn't to say there isn't a lot to love here. There are Fritz's thrilling tales of Mr. Roosevelt's life. As an author, she has packed a great deal of info into this book. Everything from ponies in the White House to the origin of the teddy bear is included here. Accompanying Fritz's narration are some great illustrations by Mike Wimmer. My objection to them might be that even when we are viewing a young 20-some year-old Teddy, the illustrations are clearly of an older man. How hard would it have been to erase the waddle on the twenty-three year old Ted? Even shots of our protagonist as a boy show him with his head almost completely turned away from the viewer. It would have been nice if Mr. Wimmer had had a little more confidence in his own artistic abilities.

   On the whole, it's a nice book. I know I've talked it down and pointed out its inconsistencies, but in spite of my own personal feeling, Teddy Roosevelt is a subject well worthy of a biography. This, after all, was the pro-environment president. The president who fought against huge corporations and went head-to-head with J.P. Morgan. The times in which we live today could use another Theodore R. When big business is just as large as ever and the national parks Teddy created are threatened by drilling, we should look back at heroes like the one found in this book and remember that sometimes a single man can accomplish a lot in his day.




3. This was such a joy to read. I just couldn't put the book down. I had no idea that Teddy Roosevelt had an affliction that he overcame, thanks in part to his ambitious father.

   Until I read this book, I had no idea that Teddy Roosevelt thrived on adventure or that he collected specimens of animals. It's amazing that he managed to survive all of his adventures like he did being as sick as he was. Everything the man did was to test his endurance if not make history as well.

   Now I understand his push for conserving the nation's natural resources. By the time he became president, there weren't many wild animals left or trees for that matter. At any rate, this book was fun to read, especially when Teddy Roosevelt climbed to the top of Mount Marcy before the death of McKinley.

   It really amazed me how much energy the man had. Probably from all those treks out west when he was a boy to hunt or whatever. The gym his father built was nothing like what he faced on his many sojourns out west and to Africa. It made me dizzy to read about all those campaign stops and speeches.

   At first, I thought this book a little slow when I read about his early life, but then it picked up when Teddy begin serving on various Civil Service jobs and eventually gaining the Vice-Presidency under McKinney and being elected to a second term as President afterward.

   I highly recommend this book.




4. An excellent chidren's biography of theodore roosevelt, which will be enjoyed by people of all ages.My only criticism is that the books title should be 'Bully for you, theodore roosevelt,' instead of 'Bully for you, teddy roosevelt,' a name which to him was anathema.



5. Although Jean Fritz is an award winning author of history books, she makes some serious errors in this book making it unacceptable for school libraries. I love her writing style and the way she relates many humorous stories of Teddy Roosevelt's childhood, but when she relates his western adventures her historical research is seriously lacking. She refers to how the Sioux Indians killed 10,000 buffalo a feat which would have been impossible since the tribe was totally defeated, low in numbers, and relegated to reservations in the time period she described, the late 1880s. White buffalo hunters, not Native Americans slaughtered buffalo for their tongues and left their carcasses to rot. The Sioux had a tremendous respect for nature and only hunted a few buffalo at a time, just enough to feed their tribal group.

   These egregious fallacies make this book totally unacceptable. Children should be given historical sources that are accurate, not ones that perpetuate myths. It is unfortunate since the rest of the book is wonderful and with some judicious editing, this would be one of the best children's biographies of Roosevelt.