Rinnah Two Feathers has always longed for adventure. But nothing ever happens in her small community on the edge of the Sioux reservation. One day, on the way to school, she sees a suspicious stranger examining the Jackson house. And the school bully won't leave her, her best friend Tommy, and their new friend Meagan alone. Then the museum in Tommy's house is robbed and mysterious guests arrive at Rinnah's family's guest house. Soon, Rinnah has more excitement then she knows what to do with. Can she figure out what is really going on?

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving young adult mystery. All the characters are well developed. The plot is complicated enough to keep me guessing with a couple of nice twists, but comes to a logical conclusion.

This book is a definite step ahead of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and I'm looking forward to Rinnah's further adventures.

The Secret of Dead Man's Mine is a truly fascinating mystery. It makes sleuthing look so fun and pleasurable. It's a good work out for the mind. It is great for a school report, because it will really get the class on the edge of their seats. Kids from ages 10-15 will enjoy this book.

Do you remember the thrill of reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries growing up? The straight-forward stories kept you guessing until the last page, and they were filled with characters you liked and could identify with. If so, it's time to rejoice! "The Secret of Dead Man's Mine" brought back wonderful memories of those old-fashioned (in a very good way) mysteries, while updating the concept by making the lead character a Lakota Sioux Indian girl -- just imagine a Native American Nancy Drew. And at a time when many so-called "children's books" are nothing more than toy commercials, "The Secret of Dead Man's Mine" is a breath of fresh air.

Author Rodney Johnson takes us into a fascinating world with a plot that is simple but extremely effective -- by being naturally inquisitive, Rinnah Two Feathers finds herself in the middle of a mystery that leads to a search for the legendary Dead Man's Mine. Fortunately for us, the clever writing, the glimpse that the book provides into the Indian world and the fun illustrations (by Jill Thompson of Scary Godmother fame!) take this book to the next level.

Rinnah is the type of girl you want to know, and her best friends, Tommy and Meagen, are wonderful, fully drawn characters, similar to the kids in the Harry Potter series. In fact, all of the characters are not only interesting but also integral to the story, such as the bullies at school, the Indian family members and the numerous adults staying at the lodge run by Rinnah's mom.

I won't give away the ending, but I will say that it was both surprising and satisfying. I can't wait for the next Rinnah Two Feathers book!

For most of us the very word "Atlantis" conjures up the image of an ultra futuristic civilization fated to destroy itself and sink into the ocean. Sort of the Hollywood version. Certainly it is this version that inspires so many New Age thinkers to look for its remains throughout the world. A geologist would tell them that continents can't sink; they can be transgressed (by elevated sea levels) or depressed (by glaciers) but the density gradients among continental granites, oceanic basalts and the materials of the mantal prevent continents from sinking. For the historian working with Plato's tale, it represents a mystery. Mr. Castleden has followed the leads in this mystery and ultimately identified the island of Thera, modern Santorini, as the most likely candidate for the original inspiration for Plato's tale. Sometime during the 1500s BC (or according to others the 1700s BC) the volcano on this island is known to have collapsed causing an eruption that has been estimated by some to have been 100 times more violent than that on Krakatoa during the 19th Century AD. The civilization that was buried when much of the island was destroyed was quite advanced for the time. Although much of the data Castleden has amassed supports this identification, his ultimate thesis is that the story was reworked by Plato for his own purposes. Though it may have been a tale known to him from other sources, it became in Plato's hands, a parable. Castleden believes that Atlantis became a paradigm for the cities of Sicily and Athens during Plato's time. The book is an interesting and thorough treatment of the subject but can be tough going at times. I put it down several times before I really got into it enough to finish it--and kept checking to see how many pages were left to go!

Of all the books I've read on Atlantis, the most impressive (and the one with the most archaeological evidence) is Rodney Castleden's Atlantis Destroyed. Castleden also wrote The Making of Stonehenge, The Knossos Labyrinth, The Stonehenge People, Neolithic Britain, and Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete.

His basic argument is that Plato took a number of what he calls "pieces of identifiable proto-history" and wove them together into a contemporary commentary on the world. Castleden suggests that the basis of this is a faint memory of Minoan civilization. He points out what is often forgotten by those who take the Atlantis story literally, that for Plato it is Athens that is written about as a utopia, not Atlantis, Athens that is the "excellent land with well-tempered seasons."

He illuminates several puzzles that have misled many people, eg. Plato's comments about the Pillars of Hercules. This is often assumed to refer to the modern day features by that name, but in ancient Greece the term could have other meanings, eg it could refer to the two southward-pointing headlands on each side of the Gulf of Laconia. Thus the large island outside the pillars of Heracles would be Crete.

Castleden follows this with a very detailed discussion of the archaeology and geography of Minoan Crete and Thera and how that compares with Plato's tale. He goes into detail about how the story might have been transmitted to Plato and Plato's possible motives in writing the two essays. (He also mentions that there was a century older text by Hellanicus, of which only a small fragment survives, called 'Atlantis'!).

He suggests that the size of 'Atlantis' was distorted by a misreading of either Linear A or B numerals or hieratic or demotic copies made by Egyptian scribes sometime since the fifteenth century, multiplying dimensions by ten so that the Plain of Mesara, which would fit into Crete, became the size of the southern Aegean and Atlantis thus became too large to be in the Mediterranean. A similar problem changed the 900 years between the eruption of Thera and Solon's visit to Egypt to 9000 years. If this is the case it becomes much easier to reconcile the relatively accurate description Plato gives of bronze age Athens with the story of Atlantis (something usually ignored by those who take the Atlantis part of Plato's story literally).

What he is not arguing is that either Minoan Crete or Cyladic Thera was Atlantis. He is suggesting that instead Plato drew his story of Atlantis from proto-historical elements about both civilizations. He also suggests that Plato draws from Syracuse (eg the fortifications of Syracuse) and Sparta for both physical descriptions and some of his political commentary, writing circumspectly so as to avoid Socrates fate.

He provides a wealth of archaeological evidence and the book is generously sprinkled with sketches and photographs. He even goes into detailed points such as the fact that Santorini (destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption) has red, white and black rocks matching Plato's description of the building materials used in Atlantis.

Atlantis Destroyed is a must read for anyone interested in the possible historical background to the Atlantis story.

This book is everything you could ask for in book on contemporary artistic automata.

Each chapter has a brief summary of the topic in question -- say tools and materials. Next, each chapter moves on to showcase the work of two or three automata artists with many pictures and a page or two of information about each artist.

The photographs of automata in this book are outstanding. You can really get a sense for the devices, their construction, and most especially, their finishes.

If you love automata, want to see more of them, and want to learn about some of the top automata artists in the contemporary scene, this book is a must-have.

This has got to be one of the best books on the subject of automata and mechanical theatre. There are lots of great color pictures and diagrams to build your own automata. Worth the money!

This is an excellent guide to the art of mixology and setting up a home bar. It shares the same features as "Ultimate A-to-Z Bar Guide" such as the alphabetical format which I find very useful and convenient as quick reference at the bar; and the appended listing of drinks following certain typologies - a great help finding the right drink appropriate to the occasion or what one has in stock. The presentation and layout however is more appealing and inspires neophytes like me to explore more the diverse world of wine and spirits. It is an alternative but will not replace the "Ultimate A-to-Z Bar Guide."

I'll admit that I was impressed with the cover as well as the little green ribbon used to mark pages, but when I browsed the book it impressed me enough to buy it.

This book is chock full of information and recipes pertaining to the past 130 years. It has trivia, origins of liquors and pictures as well as history of drinks that are famous today.

Examples include: did you know that Absinthe was eventually replaced with what we use nowadays called Bitters? Also has origins of liquors (you know "Eau-De-Vie"? No, I didn't, but if you don't either it's the pear-in-the-bottle liquor -- they literally fasten the bottle to the pears before they get too big and the pear grows inside the bottle.)

If you're looking for a guide to help you make that "time period" party just right, this is the one for you. Tells you how to stock your bar properly, glasses to use and drinks for special occasions, such as Wassail for Christmas and tropical drinks from the 40s. You name an ingredient -- they've got a drink for it.

If you're not a social drinker, this pretty much makes a good read. I've literally curled up in bed just browsing the information aside from the recipes.

A must have for the serious bartender-wannabe for authentic drinks and history.

Rodney Hampson has been a key source of information about the history of the Staffordshire pottery industry for authors and scholars, so it's nice to see him partnering with Diana Edwards on a subject that's been largely overlooked. The results are mostly positive. There is a bit too much emphasis on Wedgwood at the expense of the lesser-known manufacturers. Photography is only so-so. The lighting of engine-turned and press-molded items is too flat, making it difficult to see the detail that most fully describes the objects.. In general, a welcome addition to the literature of ceramics and another worthwhile effort from the Antique Collectors' Club.

This is a valuable and worthy reference book for anyone who wants to know more about Wedgwood and the contemporary manufacturers of the period. The color plates and black and white pictures provide assistance in identifying all types of dry-bodied english stoneware. During the period there were numerous manufacturers duplicating the same type of designs. This book provides a wonderful guide for collectors and antique dealers.

I grew up in "Small Town," Ohio, book-smart with no street savvy. When I moved to Atlanta, they were eating me alive. After getting bilked by my stockbroker, an unscrupulous mortgage company and phony real estate investor, a landlord, a car dealer and their finance company, I remembered having heard about Dr. Rodney Pearson's book, EXPOSING MANIPULATION, from a mutual friend in Ohio. I bought the book.

I had often wished I could take a course in "Street Smarts." I found that course in EXPOSING MANIPULATION. I only wish I had read it as a teen-ager; I could have avoided damaging relationships and saved thousands of dollars.

Thankfully, I didn't have to develop a suspicious nature. In his one-friend-to-another conversational style, Dr. Pearson taught me to recognize the signs in people who mean me no good.

I'd like to see everyone I love armed with the knowledge contained in EXPOSING MANIPULATION.

I read Dr. Pearson's book, Significantly Single. I thought it was a great book then I read Exposing Manipulation and I was in absolute awe! Now I know why my life has been such a mess. I am so impressed with this book! It deals with everything there is to know about manipulation. It has helped me to change my whole life. The part that really got me was about how children manipulate their parents and how parents teach them how to do it! As a single parent, that information was very helpful for me. I also liked the part about leaders who manipulate. Now I know what to look for and you can believe my eyes are wide open! This book is like a text book on morality and consideration with a huge amount practical information. I loved it! Dr Pearson is one Hell of a Writer!

This 480 page tome is a thoroughly researched document of the military conflict in 1982 between Great Britain and Argentina. Especially useful to an historian or enthusiast, it has detail of the history of every individual aircraft involved, on both sides of the war. Comprehensive accounts of the sorties are included. The naval and ground conflict is only covered tangentially. This book nearly rates five stars, but due to the lack of an index, extracting information from the detail is cumbersome.

A painstakingly researched, thorough and detailed account covering both sides, the most professional I have seen. Unbiased style. Fundamental to any research in the field.

I had to do a report about Greek gods and godessess. I wasn't sure where to get these resorces until I came across this book. It was entertaining, humorous and very educational. If your ever having trouble finding info. on gods and godessesss, read this book! ? : > )

This book is absolutly wonderful. I have had a copy of it for years and I don't know what I would do with out it. Not only does it give clear information about common Greek myths, but it also has a wonderful "Who's Who" section in the back. Perfect for looking up things easily.

Great little book. I was impressed that it included many unusual names--mine included (as a kid, I could never find anything with my name on it--you know, like those little tags we all wanted on our banana-seat bikes); my only complaint is that it seems to have omitted a few of the more common names. Perhaps I just like it so much and find it to be such a valuable resource that I just wish every name was in it! The descriptions are refreshingly accurate--a definite plus for your metaphysical library.

This book is worth it's weight in gold. I have used this book to find profiles on celebrities and several people that I know, and found that it is EXTREMELY accurate. In this book it says that you should look up your first name because it is the part of your name that is used most. However after experimenting with this book many times I have found that If you look up your first name and last name it is much more accurate than looking up only your first name. This is a valuable book for finding about every person you come in contact with. It is also a great book for companies who are looking to hire potential employees. If only the publishing company of this book would pump some extra money into advertising this book I m sure it would become a best seller-yes, it's that good. This book is well worth the price and you will not go wrong buying it!

This is an excellent book for parents of children (especially elementary age and pre-school) contemplating or committed to a trip to Holland. The information is detailed and comprehensive. Based on our research and a prior trip to the Netherlands that we took with our kids, this book is great source for places to stay and go with kids. It includes tons of ueful information about Amsterdam, but I wish it had a lot more detail on the rest of Holland. (I suppose it is truthfully titled!). Another nit to pick is the inadequate maps. Overall, however, a great read and a treasure-trove of information for the parent planning a trip to Holland with younger children.... Guidebooks that are focused on parent-kid trips are a tremendous value--- worth a lot more than you pay for them!

Some guide books are good guide books for adults, and some are helpful to parents. What I like most about this one is that it is probably good enough to stand on its own as your only guide book, assisting both parents-- and parents with their kids-- in having a nice visit to Amsterdam.

Another thing I like (and I'll confess something of a prejudice over this) is that the book is arranged primarily by geography. I hate guidebooks with chapters on restaurants, chapters on museums and so forth. After all, after all that wrestling smack down with a baby stroller, diaper bag big enough for a body and two kids on a jaunty tram, we like to take advantage of all the stuff to do in each location we visit. We're not coming back tomorrow, baby.

You get separate sections on the Old Side of town, the New Side, the Canals, Jodenbuurt and the Old Port and a nice chapter on day trips outside the city. To be fair, there is one non-geographic section organizing Amsterdam's many museums for you, but otherwise things are handily arranged for walking, strolling and cruising the interesting parts of each area you visit. There are also colorful maps, showing the sites, key streets and canals. You won't get too lost.

Each site/attraction includes info on which tram to take to get there, any admission fees, opening days/hours, phone numbers and, if applicable, web sites and email addresses. There's a capsule statement for each along the lines of "Suitable for children aged 7 and over".

The real meat is in the descriptions, which allow you both to decide what to see and, as parents, get a sense for what is inside so you can match places to your kiddies' ages, attention spans and interests. Here are two examples:

Rembrandt's home has been restored to look like it was when he lived there. In addition to the basics, this guide book also mentions that the painter liked to work images of himself in crowd scenes in his paintings. Can you think of a better way to interest a younger kid in boring, old art than to set them on a mission to find all the Rembrandt's in a particular image?

A second example is Anne Frank's house. The description challenges you and your kids to imagine Anne's life in hiding, as revealed in her diary. Older kids can read the book in advance, while younger kids can have key passages read to them just before or even during a visit to the house. Looking out a window, maybe you see a street scene as Anne did; what must it have been like to face the fear of capture and death each day, every night, at an age when our own children's worries may be no more complex than when Rugrats is on?

Another parentally cool feature in the guide book is little boxed text blurbs labeled "Can you spot?" These challenge kids to look for interesting details (a tilted roof gable, a brass plaque, a strange doorway) near famous sights. Older kids will learn things, younger kids will likely enjoy the game as a diversion near things they may otherwise find boring, or over their head.

The book also includes a similar feature throughout, asking questions that can be answered by visiting certain sites. For example, when listing restaurants, the question is "If an Amsterdammer asks for 'hagelslaag' ('hailstones') on his bread for breakfast, what does he want?"

(If I was mean, I'd make you not only buy the book, but also go to the Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht Street for your morning meal to learn that 'hagelslaag' are tiny bits of chocolate sprinkled on buttered bread. And yes, that sounds very tasty to me too.)

For those who stay up for "Top 10" lists on late night shows in the U.S., the book includes a "Best of Kids' Amsterdam" section, with lists of things like "Best Museum", "Best Family Hotel", "Best Ice Cream", "Best Windmill" and the like. Each "Best of..." place listed includes the page number in the guide book where you can track down its particulars.

Note for some Dads: the helpful phrases in Dutch section includes the important phrase "Ein pils, alstublieft" (a beer please), followed by the helpful phrase "Waar is het toilet?"

Some other excellent stuff for parents:

A list of toy stores in Amsterdam, with annotations telling what stuff they have;

Restaurants good for lunch (and not dinner with kids), including info on which serve "spicy" food;

Tips on finding a short-term apartment or a bed and breakfast;

A note that most big hotels have Cartoon Network available on cable;

A spill-proof, coated paper, tram map on the inside cover;

A way to take a canal boat taxi to popular museums;

A sober description of Amsterdam's Red Light district that will allow you to decide if your kids should or should not pass through one of Amsterdam's infamously best-known locations;

How to ask for applesauce in a restaurant.