The widespread availability of computers and access to telephone and Internet technologies has contributed to the sharp rise in the number of people going online over the years. Unfortunately, many of these people found their way online through less-than-honest means, and once online, they would set out to perform a great deal of mischief and damage to various computers and computer information systems.

Hack Attacks Encyclopedia edited by John Chirillo serves as the ultimate source for collected information on the history of hacking, cracking, and phreaking. The book features nearly 2,000 text and HTML document extracts that includes news articles, online postings, and other snippets of insightful information. Some of the accounts are startling. Readers will quickly pick up just how clever some hackers, crackers, and phreakers really are. The following snippet exemplifies available talent in Northern America:

"Silver Spy has everything going for him - comfortable surroundings, a father who is an engineer. He ranks in the top 3 percent of his high-school class. His SAT scores for college admission totaled 1,400 of a possible 1,600. He wants to attend Stanford or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But in the eyes of the phone companies he is a thief, and in the eyes of the law he's a criminal. Such is the portrait of this 17-year-old computer "hacker" and "phone phreaker" who lives about 20 miles outside Boston. He spoke with U.S. News & World report on the condition that neither his real name nor home town be revealed."

The Hack Attack Encyclopedia is broken up into major sections by decade - the 70's, the 80's, the 90's, the Millennium, and a special historical synopsis. From beginning to end, readers will be able to follow the history of mischievous behavior. It will be an eye-opening experience for anyone to follow the advancements made in communications technologies and how they can be easily circumvented and otherwise compromised to carryout further activities. Although some of the technologies disclosed in the book are outdated and have been replaced, readers will still gain helpful insight of the mindset of hackers, crackers, and phreakers operating today. They are a force to be taken very seriously.

An extensive 217-page glossary of terms will enlighten readers about the slang talk used in the hacking, cracking, and phreaking communities. As a special bonus, the CD accompanying the book features full-length editions of the article and snippet extracts included in the book, hundreds of computing and Internet exploits, and a sampling of useful utility programs.

Hacking, cracking, phreaking, and virus infection still poses problems for many people today. This book will open the eyes of many people - including business people, IT managers, and law enforcement officials. It will serve as an excellent starting point for taking necessary corrective action to prevent further mischief and harm caused to personal and company computer systems. I can't wait to see an updated edition. Highly recommended reading.

this book is culled from sources across the internet, almost all of the information is freely available somewhere. in most cases the author has not even bothered to change the filenames or unique file extensions. the book itself is barely an index of the cd-rom, with the first paragraph of a file serving as a description. there is some (un)original writing done by the author himself, comprising a miniscule amount of the actual text. if you would like to learn what these files are actually about, you would be much better served by going to the sites they were taken from

What a great book, with tons of info...recommend it to anyone who knows anything about hacking.

August 11. I sat down this evening to read DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS, and just finished it. All in one sitting. I really couldn't put it down. I think it's a tremendously important book. It should be required reading for those planning to cross the border, and track and control the border through immigration policies. The author did a huge amount of research, and legwork. I commend Annerino's efforts and results. His photographs, along with the maps, work well together to give the reader a first hand encounter with the land and people who cross it. I like the pacing of the chapters, the inclusion of both the men who cross the border and the Border Patrol agents, and Annerino's very thoughtful reflections on the value of Mexicans killed in the killing fields in search of a paycheck to send home to their families. It makes me feel real bad. It is hard to read at times only because it's so sad. Boy, am I glad I wasn't the photographer on those trips! Thank you for the remarkable book.

Immigration. What do we really know about immigrants as people - especially the obstacles they face and the hazards they must endure to reach the United States? No one wants to examine this terrible situation, and the press tries to ignore it. John Annerino is a brave photojournalist who wants to open the eyes of this country and the eyes of Mexico. In Annerino's book, DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands, he writes of crossing the Arizona desert along the historic route called the Camino del Diablo, (Road of the Devil), during the summer. Annerino accompanied 4 Mexican farm workers on a grueling struggle across the desert to get into this country. Annerino risked his own life to experience the killing heat migrants endure to cross the desert, and at one point writes of his and his companion's slim chances of surviving their journey, "We would all die like dogs in a killing ground that has claimed hundreds - perhaps thousands of their countrymen." Annerino not only witnesses and endures the hazards and rigors of his companions, but he also photographed many of the people who died in the middle of the desert. He writes graphically of one dead man: "His mouth was still open from the horror, because no one heard him gasping or saw him dying at the finish line to America's Killing Ground." How long will we permit this tragic situation to continue? One brave man cared enough for people to risk his own life to open our eyes with his camera and pen - John Annerino. And you need to read his book, DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS, to understand the human toll and suffering on our borders, and the lives that are lost among those who flee the poverty of Mexico lured by the same American Dream that brought me here. Why? To quote Annerino, "Because they're out there dying right now."

A story like this demands a great deal from an author. Although Annerino has obviously spent many hours researching the borderlands of the Southwest, the key to this monumental work is the extent to which he is willing to live the story he writes. He has taken immense risks, walking side by side through the desert with Mexican immigrants, and coming face to face with the coyotes and narcotraficantes and Border Patrol agents and ranchers of this volatile area. With Annerino's books, you always learn tons of local history, but never at the expense of that vivid sensation of dust and sweat and heat and imminent danger that keep it an interesting read. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn more about the little-known wilderness along the Mexican border and the human cost it extracts due to current immigration policies.

I have been reading biographies of the founding fathers from Washington to Madison. I picked up this book knowing that Adams was the one that I, and most people, know the least about. Ferling brings this man to life to the point that I felt that I knew him personally more than any of the other bios I've read so far. I was amazed at how attached I became to this intense and profoundly intelligent person who is regrettably most remembered as a vain and awkward curmudgeon. Ferling's story is complete, covering the varied facets of Adams as farmer, lawyer, philosopher, negotiator, statesman, friend, husband and father. If John Adams is more of a mystery to you than the much celebrated likes of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Madison, then this is the book for you.

This book is a biography of John Adam's life from his birth in 1735 until his death on July 4th 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The date of John Adams death coincided almost to the hour with the death of Thomas Jefferson, a coincidence that is itself remarkable. This and numerous other events in his life are depicted in a clear, and interesting manner. The book is organized chronologically from Mr. Adam's early childhood thru the day of his death and is organized into the following five parts: Love of Fame, An Epocha in History, Safe and Glorious in the Harbour of Peace, One Man of Inflexible Integrity and I Still Live and Enjoy Life. The book contains a Preface, an Introduction, an Afterword, an Abbreviations Section, Notes, a Selected Biography Reference and an Index.

I found this book very interesting not only for the story of John Adam's life but also the historical period that is discussed in the telling of that story. The five-page introduction paints a concise picture of Early America and what life was like for men and women of that time. John Adams was the son of Puritan farmers and as the first son of the family was chosen as the only child to be provided an education due to the family's meager resources. Rather than being kept on the farm he was sent to local schools and then to college to become a Lawyer after his graduation from Harvard College. This opportunity gave him the ability to escape the more common lifelong rigor and manual labor of farming although he did own a farm with slaves and maintained a working farm for most of his life. He became quite successful as a Boston lawyer and this opportunity and his education provided us with one of the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution. The book chronicles his life and relationship to numerous famous early Americans and other Founding Fathers including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others.

The story of these men and how they came together in a common cause to break the chains of tyranny from the British Monarchy is told in an interesting and readable style. Mr. Ferling also notes perspectives on the Founding Fathers actions that are often lost on the reader. For instance the fact that these men, including John Adams, were either very successful or soon to be or like George Washington were very wealthy with large land holdings. And yet, they were willing to risk all that they had in a revolutionary war against the "Parent State" for the sake of liberty and freedom from British rule. These men were well aware that by forming the Continental Congress and acting as they did they would spark a Revolution and that their fate for such treasonous acts would be death at the hands of the British Monarchy should the revolution fail or falter. The book recounts the early days of the revolutionary period and how events were intertwined to become the American Revolution. John Adams played a pivotal role in the saga and sacrificed much of his person life and early marital and family time to his duties as one of the Founding Fathers. John Adams spent numerous stretches of months and even years away from his wife and family during the early years of the forming of the United States Union and the ensuing Revolutionary Years. He traveled to Europe and worked with Benjamin Franklin (whom he loathed) and later with Thomas Jefferson as ambassadors to France and peace negotiators with the British. Mr. Ferling details the daily habits and events, letters and correspondence between the various players in these grand events and helps us understand how individual personal desires and goals drove these men to their achievements and describes the sacrifices made by them during this time.

John Adams became the second President of the United States after serving for two terms as George Washington's vice-president. Thomas Jefferson was vice-president under John Adams and later succeeding him in the Presidency by defeating him in the election of 1800. John Adam's son, John Quincy Adams, was later elected President and served from 1825 to 1829. These events and numerous others are covered in the book and told in a compelling manner. I particularly enjoyed the last section of the book, which focuses more directly on John Adams, the man, and how he lived out his life after the Presidential years. John Adams throughout his life was torn by mood swings and periods of self-doubt about his abilities and later in life complained that even for all he had done, that he would be forgotten and that he was not a great man. Mr. Adams, I respectfully differ with you. You were indeed a great man and all Americans and millions of other people of the plant owe you a great debt of gratitude for what you did in your lifetime.

I find Mr. Ferling's writing style clear and very readable with the subject covered in an interesting manner and at an appropriate level of detail. The Index of the book is a nice feature and helps to easily locate people and events discussed in the book.

This book is great reading and I would recommend it for anyone interested in Presidential History, early American History and the Revolution or the Founding Fathers. It was well worth the price and my time to read it.

John Adams' life is thoroughly examined in this rich, well researched and ably written biography by John Ferling.

Adams, known at the 'Atlas of Independence,' is less well known than Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, his Revolutionary contemporaries. He is also less revered. Ferling spends several hundred pages laying out the life and achievements of a man who was also crucial to our fight for independence and the survival of our Republic.

Adams was a prodigious diary keeper, and also a mostly honest one, if we are to judge honesty by self criticism and the ability to write about one's own perceived short-comings. This first-person material is a tremendous asset to compiling the President's life story, and one that Ferling puts to good use. The book uses ample quotes to reveal Adam's feelings about personalities and events of his day. Ferling has studied the diaries thoroughly, as shown by his ability to draw on portions from different times in Adam's life to illustrate points or show how Adams changed his views over time. The danger with such a diary based biography is that the diaries can become the book. Ferling does not make this mistake. His ample writing skills utilizes the diaries to illustrate his story and argue his interpretations of his subject's life and actions.

Also useful to the author is that Adams enjoyed a fascinating life. He touched all the great (and not so great) Revolutionary personalities, served for years as a foreign diplomat, was present at the birth of our Government and served as president. Also remarkable, was his relationship with Abigail, an unusual colonial wife who was educated, opinionated and enjoyed a marriage as very nearly an equal partner (highly unusual in those days). Their correspondence and relationship sustained Adams and show how she helped ground this great man of American nationhood.

How does Ferling judge Adams? His assessment is that Adams belongs among the greats of the American founding. This book's thorough telling of Adams's public life to make a pretty good case for Ferlings argument.

There are many fascinating aspects I found in the story. Adams tremendous dislike of Franklin is telling as to their different styles as well as Adams's thirst for approbation. His long and difficult relationship with Jefferson, culminating in their famous correspondence is another gem. Also interesting, is Adams's actions during his presidency when he stood alone against his party and long term political interests in keeping us out of war with France. It was a crucial decision that perhaps saved our Republic, given the potential for the European powers to divvy up a weak America should they have decided to play their rivalries here.

Adams lived a fascinating life and was a thoroughly interesting personality. Kudos to Ferling for bringing the story to a new generation.

I will not repeat what other reviewers have said about this classic learner's dictionary. It has been a valuable reference for ESL students for many decades. I own several learner's dictionaries published recently (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 4th Edition, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, and Collins Cobuild 3rd edition) and some of them have features this one does not have. But I still use this dictionary a lot and will continue to use it. I hope a new edition of it will come out soon.

No other book on my bookshelf is more worn out. I use it all the time. When I started to study English I used to use an English / Portuguese (my first language) dictionary but I could only actually improve my English when I started using the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

The dictionary has lots of pictures (over 1700) for words that can be explained but for which a picture is much more effective like "hinge". The words have a pronunciation guide with a mark (') showing the main stress. There are many useful appendixes like irregular verbs conjugation, usage of numbers, punctuation, family relationships and a few colorful maps.

Over 220 usage notes clarify the subtle differences among words such as dealer trader and merchant. Although it's mainly a British English dictionary the differences in spelling, use or pronunciation between American English and British English are stressed.

By far the most interesting feature is the extremely reduced defining vocabulary constituted of 3500 words. The great majority of definitions are written using that reduced defining vocabulary. This simplifies the definitions and it's a great starting vocabulary for the beginners. The use of such a small defining vocabulary rules out the use of this dictionary as a thesaurus but the advantages compensate this drawback.

My copy is a paper back that has been reinforced with adhesive tape. This makes the dictionary lighter and handy. I used to put it on my back pack and take it to all my classes when I started college in USA.

The drawbacks are the need of an additional thesaurus and the fact that the entries are not syllabified. Nevertheless I would give it 10 stars if I could.

Leonardo Alves - December 2000

I have recently bought the millenium edition (hardbound) of this book. In my scientific studies (I study Scientology which uses a precise study technology that demands a good dictionary to look up misunderstood words) a good dictionary is vital.
This one has been very helpful to me as it gives precise yet comprehensible definitions. This is maybe the most important point of all.
I found it very easy to look up a word i did not understand and gain a conceptual understanding of that word after a short period of time. The definitions just make sense and are not too complicated and confusing.
It also includes example sentences and idioms and information for the further usage of a particular word.
It also has a section with colored pictures (maps, categories such as clothing, food, animals etc.) that provide a picture of the real thing that the word represents - a quite useful tool for foreigners and non native speakers like me.

If you are currently studying english, reading english texts (but have a limited vocabulary) or just don't want to run into too many complexities when using a dictionary and don't want to be too confused but you just want to know the meaning of a word and understand it, then this is the right dictionary for you.

As it is a dictionary for "learners" it does not include things like etymology and syllables (the only negative points), technical definitions (although it includes some where their appearance is reasonable) etc.

But it includes phonetic symbols at the bottom of each page and has, as all dictionaries, a section wich explains each symbol and abbreviation that can appear in an entry.
If there would appear some symbol or abbreviation in the entry that you wouldn't understand, you would find it easy to find its meaning as everything in this dictionary is exactly where you would consider it to be.
So you don't fool around loosing time and getting frustrated. I think the editors of some dictionaries assume that you already know all these symbols but include their definitions anyway in a very complicated way.

Not with this one.
I highly recommend this dictionary. You can buy it without reservations.
But...you should have a second one with etymologies at hand.

This book is one of the best book I've ever read.This book is about how modern chess have changed since Nimzowitsch.Nowdays most dynamic modern GM like Kasparov, Shirov, Anand, etc. accepts double pawn, backward pawn, conceading the two bishop, etc. to get dynamic counterplay.Watson touch on new concepts like Exchange sacrifice, Prophalaxis, and Dynamism.If anyone had not read Nimzowitsch work, I recommend to just buy this book alone because you will develop your intuition according to dynamic and modern play easier.I think I have improve my play since reading this book and sure you will too.I can't think of anyone who didn't enjoy this book.

Watson's book is the masterpiece everyone says it is, and the few things I disagree with don't detract from the 5-star rating. His main thesis is rule independence. The book is really for strong club players and beyond, who have a good knowledge of the strategies in the Euwe/Kramer and Pachman books. It's important to understand the rules, which apply to about 80% of the cases (according to GM Gufeld), before learning about the exceptions.

Alex Yermolinsky in "Road to Chess Improvement" also acknowledges that the old instructional classics found it easier to instruct with clear strategical plans, while strong players know what to avoid and try to cross the plans, so necessitating flexibility.

In general, Watson makes an excellent case, e.g. with the Ivanchuk-Anand game, I think Watson's right and Anand wrong that normal pawn structure and bad bishop rules would not have helped at all, because one active rook outweighed everything else. Watson also shows some shortcomings of Nimzovich's tempo counting, and refutes Nimzo's quaint advance French lines with the move ...f6, attacking the HEAD of the pawn chain.

The sections on the minor pieces are superb. He astutely points out that opposition to "dogmatic" love of the bishop pair has itself become a dogma. E.g. Flesch claims that the bishop and knight have precisely equal value, but this is a dogmatic claim about two pieces with completely different moves (p. 148). It's also clear that the B-pair does constitute an advantage in very many cases, including one dismissed by Nimzo (p. 67).

A definite advance on the conventional strategy books is the advice on BvN in the opening. Most players learn that Bs like open games and Ns like closed ones. But in the opening, the side with a Ns often has a development advantage, so the best strategy is for THAT side to open the game, make use of the tactical abilities of the N, and force pawn moves that create permanent outposts. So the side with the Bs should seek to stabilize the position, catch up in development, then open up the game when ready, so the bishops can display their strength (pp. 178-9).

There is also good material on good v bad bishops. Beginners often prefer bad bishops because they can protect their pawns. More advanced players learn to reject them because of the weakness of the opposite colored squares. But as Watson shows, still more advanced players will sometimes revert to the beginner's attitude, where "bad bishops protect bad pawns for good reasons". One example I can think of is neutralising enemy rooks while one's own rooks attack undefended pawns and reduce the enemy rooks to passivity.

Watson does overstate his case a bit though. For example, Tal relates a post mortem after Game 9 of their first match. Tal rattled off some variations, while Botvinnik said he didn't dispute what Tal said, but just said he assessed the merits of exchanging queens. Tal first thought it was "too abstract", then came to appreciate this wisdom. Another example comes from Andy Soltis' fine book "Soviet Chess". Petrosyan thought Gufeld had violated so many rules that there just HAD to be a way to punish him, which he found. In fact, Chernev's elementary book "Logical Chess Move by Move" pointed out decades ago that a rule violation should often be punished by a rule violation.

I also disagree Watson's treatment of the old masters. For example, he will excuse modern greats for annotating in ways that LOOK like they are applying rules, because otherwise too many trees would have to be killed to explain the caveats. But then the same allowance should be made for the older annotators too, which Watson fails to do, unlike Yermolinsky.

I also wonder whether Watson actually read Tarrasch's "Dreihundert Schachpartien", which to be fair may have been translated into English ("300 Chess Games") after Watson wrote. For example, Watson claims (p. 41) about the Nimzo-Salwe 1911 game with 7. dxc5, "After this game, 6...cxd4 was considered better [than Bxd7]". But almost 20 years before, Tarrasch in 300 Chess Games had played 6...cxd4 and given it an exclamation mark because, as Tarrasch *explicitly* stated, Bd7 would allow 7.dxc5 with a good game. Watson makes other less blatant errors, e.g. the usual "dogmatism" accusation (p. 95), and indeed there are a number of genuine examples. But there are many times when Tarrasch appeals to the specifics of the position, e.g. where he explains that the N goes to the edge because in that position it was important to drive the B off that diagonal.

Another reviewer noted the disrespect for Capablanca. For instance, on p. 94, Watson notes an example of Capa's alleged dogmatism, while Euwe and Kramer had noted Capa's NON-dogmatism. It's important to note that Capa never lived to see "Last Lectures" in print, and what he probably intended was Bogolyubov's line with O-O AND exd4. The book also has him recommending a line that falls into a trap, although his "My Chess Career" has the correct line. But I can see why Watson went just by what was written, and he does come down on Capa's side in his annotations of the famous loss to Lasker at St. Petersburg 1914.

I mention these shortcomings, as I see them, because most reviewers on various websites have expended many keystrokes on praise. And I repeat, the praise is NOT overstated in the case of this high-quality book

When a player is "cutting their teeth" as a beginner, they learn the classical principles of chess, as espoused by Nimzovitch and others; virtually ALL Grandmasters began this way. However, somewhere along the way, a transformation takes place ... and these gifted players (GMs and strong Masters) have learned that many of Nimzovitch's principles often can and should be ignored or changed in modern play. Where does one learn how modern play diverges from classical play and when to do it? What are some examples? Watson answers these questions and more, in great detail and with marvelous examples ... all without having to spend MANY years learning by yourself (if you EVER do). This book is not for beginners, but if you are an experienced player ... BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT EVERY YEAR (which I would also recommend with Silman's "Reassess Your Chess"). If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. It is the ONLY book that I have found that does what Mr. Watson so capably set out to do (and I have several hundred good chess books). This book is marvelous! Buy it and you will be happy you did.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and illustrator John Schoenherr created a wonderful adventure about an experience between a little girl and her father owling in the forest. Owling is the act of looking for an owl at night by calling out: "Who-whoo-who-who-who-whooooooo." To go owling you have to be brave and quiet. You don't need words or warmth. All you need is hope. This book won the Caldecott Award in 1988. It was written for children four to eight years old and is a great bedtime story for children.

The artistic media used is watercolor. The artwork made me feel as if I were walking in the woods quietly with the characters. Each page conveys the feeling of actually being in the woods. I also enjoyed looking at each page for hidden animals within the illustrations. The illustrator spread each drawing across two pages using space to illustrate the openness and size of the woods.
The story is told from the girl's point of view as they walk through the woods in search of owls. The setting of the woods creates a quiet space that shows a bond between a father and his daughter. The special time being spent by the girl and her father is never actually pointed out, but the words along with the illustrations created a feeling of spending quality time with a parent. It paints a picture of a memory that a child will never forget.
The sentences are short and there aren't many words, but the author's style along with the illustrations are enough to tell the story and leave your imagination roaming. The story is organized in a way that one action leads to another smoothly. It is told very simply and without the need of fancy words to get the story, mood, and thoughts across to the reader.
The illustrator used a combination of various lines. There are short, long, heavy, light, straight, and curved lines. Most of the lines are painted at a diagonal angle that creates a feeling of motion. The lines definitely convey emotions of tranquility and quiet.
Most of the colors within the paintings are warm colors like different shades of blue to create the feeling of a chilly night and darkness. They are also mixed with white to create a sense of space. The colors compliment each other wonderfully. The various shades of brown depict the trees and owl. I like the way that the colors are more defined in the front of the picture and blur away in the background to create depth. The illustrations and the way they are positioned and shaped make it clear what the subject of the paintings are.
The texture of the paintings is soft and smooth. They give the illustrations an impression of realness. They also provide contrast within the picture.
The composition of the artwork doesn't take away from the story. I believe that it adds to the book. Each page has a white space for the words and the images of the paintings are created around the words. Everything is blended together in a way that nothing stands out more than anything else, but the author still managed to make the story stand on its own without taking away from the artwork or vice versa.
The book format gives the reader or purchaser of this book a quality appearance. The first impression of this book compliments the story and artwork within it. A paper dust jacket covered with a clear plastic cover wrap around the book. On the cover you see big bold letters that clearly show the title Owl Moon. The title's letters are bold, but colored with a light blue, which blend in perfectly with the artwork on the cover. The author and illustrator are also clearly stated using a smaller font with bold black letters. The font used within the story is black and bold. It is set to a size that makes it easy to see the letters and is spaced perfectly for the young reader.
Each page layout uses what is called a doublespread, which is when the picture extends across the two facing pages. The doublespread adds to the effect of motion by having the reader's eyes move from one page to the other.
The pages within the book are big, smooth, and glossy. The pages used give it another sense of being a quality book,
The size of the book makes it great for read-alouds because everyone will be able to see the pages clearly. It is a great picture book that needs to be shared with children.
I see no reason why anyone would find this book offensive. There are no censorship issues within this book that I can see. The woods aren't destroyed, the animals aren't mistreated, and the language is clean and simple.
Owl Moon is a great adventure that can be shared with any child. It is recommended for children between the ages of four to eight, but I think that even adults would enjoy this story. I have never heard of owling, but found it fun and interesting. I even thought that one day I might take my daughter out into the woods to experience a quiet walk through nature so that we can experience the sounds of the woods. I believe that anyone reading this story doesn't need any background information to relate to what is going on within the story. It is a simple adventure that can be understood by any person, race, or sex.
I found the book to be heart warming and fun to read. It gives the reader a sense of importance in spending time with our family members. It also shows that sometimes words aren't needed to spend time with another person, just being with one another is special and memorable. Finding a book that conveys feelings of love and warmth with something as important, yet sometimes forgotten, like spending time with others is rare these days. I believe that the rewards a child can take away from a story like this are invaluable in today's world.

Owl Moon

Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen, is a wonderfully told story. It is a perfect story to read aloud and share with children at bedtime. John Schoenherr tells the story through pictures beautifully. They could almost exist alone. Children will love this heartwarming story about a very special night.
The story is about a little girl and her fathering going owling one winter night. In search of the magnificent and elusive owl, they have to be silent and brave going deep into the dark and scary woods. The story says that words are not important when you go owling, you only need hope. This story depicts the special relationship of a child with her father.
This story reflects a theme that children will understand. Nearly every child has something that they share with their father. In this story their was no conversation between the father and daughter, but it was still a special moment in time that the two will cherish forever. This story will show to children that it is not the words that make a special memory, but it is being together that makes it so special.
The illustrations are truly exquisite. They are done in watercolor and they capture every detail of their journey. He uses space to convey a silent mood and to show the greatness and bigness of the woods. They add a important element to the story.
Owl Moon is a wonderful story, well deserving of the caldecott award. It will be enjoyed by the young and old alike.

I like this book and so do my children. Although it will have more appeal to fathers and sons, any parent and child can enjoy this story of the magical bond that takes place when a parent introduces their child to one of life's moments of wonder.

Who among us doesn't remember wonderful moments when you and you alone were the focus of your father's (or mother's) attention in a special setting that created a life-long memory pleasently returned to again and again. That's the magic of Owl Moon where a little boy takes a long walk in the woods over new fallen snow with his father. They are journeying to, as his older brothers had done before him, find a great owl, if he can be coaxed from his high above throne where he rules the night.

The story is simply told but carries all of the magic foretold by the setting. The water color illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity and convey the wonder of nature and the togetherness of father and son.

It is not very often that you find a good book with excellent photos and captions along with how-to instructions that are second to none. Once you're done with this book, read it again and then go find his other superb books that he has authored. I don't know John Shaw personally, but I can tell you after reading all of his books several times, I have not found another photography book author who comes close to what he conveys in his books. If your interest is in nature photography, the small price of his books are well worth it.

John Shaw's books are the best I have come across on the subject of "how-to-do" outdoor photography. Shaw is very purposeful in explaining the basics and supporing them with magnificent visual clues. What makes Shaw unique is his ability to intermingle the practical aspects of photography (exposure, equipment, composition) with the artistic vision. His style is entertaining, lucid and very easy to read and follow -- even for novice photographers. I highly recommend this book to amateurs and advanced amateurs who aspire for a higher quality outdoor photographs(to which group I belon as well)!

This is one of the best books on landscape photography techniques. An excellent combination of practical technical information and inspirational creative ideas. The technical information is oriented towards 35 mm SLR's, so those with point-and-shoot cameras will find some of the content irrelevant, but the remainder of the book is so good that it's still well worth the price.

This autobiographical condemnation of the south's Peculiar Institution puts a face on the suffering of the enslaved. American history is full of accounts of slavery which tend to broad overviews of the institution, whereas this book is written by an escaped slave who does not flinch at sharing every detail of her miserable life. Unlike other narratives which distorted the slave's voice through the perspective of the interviewers/authors who were notorious for exaggerating the uneducated slaves' broken english, this book is largely Ms. Jacobs' own words. She was taught to read and write as a child by a kind mistress, so she was able to put her thoughts on paper with clarity that surprised many. Ms. Jacobs had an editor, but this book seems to be her unfiltered view of the world.

It is one thing to hear about how slaveholders took liberties with female slaves, it is quite another to read in stark detail about women being commanded to lay down in fields, young girls being seduced and impregnated and their offspring sold to rid the slaveholder of the evidence of his licentiousness. The author talks about jealous white women, enraged by their husbands' behavior, taking it out on the hapless slaves. The white women were seen as ladies, delicate creatures prone to fainting spells and hissy fits whereas the Black women were beasts of burden, objects of lust and contempt simultaneously. Some slave women resisted these lustful swine and were beaten badly because of it. It was quite a conundrum. To be sure, white women suffered under this disgusting system too, though not to the same degree as the female slaves who had no one to protect them and their virtue. Even the notion of a slave having virtue is mocked. The author rejected the slaveholder's advances and dared to hope that she would be allowed to marry a free black man who loved and respected her. Not only was she not allowed to marry him, she was forbidden to see him or speak to him again.

The author shows us the depth of a mother's love as she suffers mightily to see that her children are not also brought under the yoke of slavery. Though she was able to elude her odious master, she does take up with some other white man in hopes that he would be able to buy her freedom. Her "owner" refuses to sell her and tells her that she and her children are the property of his minor daughter. Her lover seems kind enough as he claims his children and offers to give them his name, and he did eventually buy them, though he failed to emancipate them to spare them from a life of forced servitude. Ms. Jacobs noted that slavery taught her not to trust the promises of white men. Having lived in town most of her life, Ms. Jacobs is sent to the plantation of her master's cruel son to broken in after she continues to refuses his sexual advances. She is resigned to this fate until she learns that her children -- who were never treated like slaves -- were to be brought to the plantation also. It is then that she takes flight.

After enduring 7-years of confinement in cramped quarters under the roof of her grandmother's house, the author escapes to the North which is not quite the haven she imagined. Still, it is better than the south, and she makes friends who buy her freedom leaving her both relieved and bitter that she is still seen as property to be bought and sold like livestock. In New York Ms. Jacobs is reunited with her children and a beloved brother who'd escaped a few years ago while accompanying his master -- her former lover -- to the free states.

There is no fairytale ending to this story because the author endures plenty of abuse and uncertainty even after she makes it to the North. She is hunted down by the relentless slaveowners who were aided by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 and "The bloodhounds of the North." This is a wrenching account of this shameful period of American history, and should be required reading for all.

Incidents in the Life Of A Slave Girl is a harrowing, personal experience of a AA female born and raised during the tumultuous, infamous and tragic era of slavery in America's history. Harriett Jacobs, aka Linda Brent, tells in her own voice-one that is explicit and easy to understand-the story of a young woman born into the brutal, horrendous slavery era who later escapes to freedom in the North. Incidents is emotional and the feelings are raw as you experience the tale of a slave who desired freedom so badly that she hid for SEVEN YEARS in a narrow, cramped quarter without much freedom of movement. The story is riveting and moving and shows what an individual is able to accomplish in spite of sex, race and slavery. Incidents is a story of bravery in light of insurmountable circumstances and ones belief that they can succeed in spite of unmeasurable difficulties.

Incidents is an excellent reading selection for a bookgroup and a book that I highly recommend to everyone. Remember the story and share the story so that history doesn't repeat itself.

Harriet Jacobs' (1813-1897) "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" is one of the few accounts of Southern slavery written by a woman. The book was published in 1861 through the efforts of Maria Child, an abolitionist who edited the book and wrote an introduction to it. The book had its origin in a series of letters Jacobs wrote between 1853 and 1861 to her friends in the abolitionist movement, notably a woman named Amy Post. Historically, there was some doubt about the authorship of the book and about the authenticity of the incidents it records. These doubts have largely been put to rest by the discovery of the letters.

The book indeed has elements of a disguise and of a novel. Jacobs never uses her real name but calls herself instead "Linda Brent." The other characters in the book are also given pseudonyms. Jacobs tells us in the Preface to the book (signed "Linda Brent") that she changed names in order to protect the privacy of indiduals but that the incidents recounted in the narrative are "no fiction".

Jacobs was born in slave rural North Carolina. As a young girl, she learned to read and write, which was highly rare among slaves. At about the age of 11 she was sent to live as a slave to a doctor who also owned a plantation, called "Dr. Flint" in the book.

Jacobs book describes well the cruelties of the "Peculiar Institution -- in terms of its beatings, floggings, and burnings, overwork, starvation, and dehumanization. It focuses as well upon the selling and wrenching apart of families that resulted from the commodification of people in the slave system. But Jacobs' book is unique in that it describes first-hand the sexual indignities to which women were subjected in slavery. (Other accounts, such as those of Frederick Douglass, were written by men.) The book is also unusual in that Jacobs does not portray herself entirely as a hero but describes the nature of the steps she took to avoid becoming the sexual slave of Flint. Thus, when Flint subjected her to repeated sexual advances from the time Jacobs reached the age of 16, she tried to avoid him by beginning an affair with a white, single attorney with whom she had two children. When Flint's advances persisted, Jacobs formed the determination to try to secure her freedom.

The bulk of the book describes how Jacobs hid precariously in a cramped attic for seven years waiting for the opporunity to secure her freedom. There are also accounts of her prior attempts to leave slavery, including a particularly harrowing account of several days in a place aptly named "Snaky Swamp."

Jacobs describes her relationship with her grandmother, a free black woman who was probably the major inspiration of her life. She also describes well her love and concern for her children, conceived through the liasion with the white attorney.

This book offers a rare perspective on American slavery as it affected women. It is also a testament, I think, to the value of literacy and knowledge as an instrument for winning and preserving free human life. Although this story is not pretty, it is a testament to human persistence in the face of adversity and to the precious character of human freedom.

The setting is London, England. The police said Ian Rider died in a car collision, but when his 14-year-old nephew Alex Rider looks at the car, it's full of bullet holes. He knows that his uncle didn't die in a car collision. He finds out that he was murdered. Alex finds out that his uncle was an international spy and then is blackmailed into taking his place. It's up to Alex to finish his uncle's mission. He needs to find the information that his uncle left behind and use it to find out why Sayle Enterprises is giving away millions of free top quality computers. When he finds out what will happen if he fails to stop Herod Sayle and his Stormbreaker computers equipped with biochemical warfare, designed to kill every one in England, he knows that he has to finish and be successful with the mission.
Overall I thought the book was pretty good. I found this book dull in the first few chapters, but it picks up pace when Alex starts his mission. The book ends with a fast finish, full of wild events. I think Anthony Horowitz created very interesting characters. One of his characters is Mr. Grin, a former circus knife thrower. Mr. Grin changed his name after he did his grand finale act and got his face very badly cut up, leaving a scar that resembles a grin.
I would have given it a 5 star rating but because of the first few chapters' start slow, I rated it down a star. This book is great for 4th and 5th graders. You must not skip the beginning chapters because even though they are slow they contain information that helps you understand the middle and the end of the book. Read Anthony Horowitz's Stormbreaker. Look for Alex Riders next adventure Point Blank.

MLE,Ms.Kasila's class

Alex Rider has been living with his uncle Ian Rider ever since the death of his parents. When his uncle dies in a car wreck Alex suddenly finds out that his quiet uncle didn't work in a bank after all ' Ian Rider was a spy! Blackmailed into joining the M16, Alex is put through a crash course of SAS training before being sent off on his first mission - a mission that could very well be his last. Alex has been sent in to complete his uncles mission, except he doesn't have Ian's experience or weaponry. Can Alex survive this adventure?

This is one of the best action/adventure books that I have read in a long timeAlex is a great character and he has to deal with the bad guys AND the good guys because the good guys think he is too young to have a gun!!!! I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. This is an adventure full of danger and narrow escapes as Alex figures out who the bad guy is and how to stop him.

This is a must read book - as is the sequel Point Blanc. If you enjoyed this book you should also try Malcolm Rose. If youo want to read a book that you will not forget in a hurry then this is it.

Two thumbs up for Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. This is an exciting,action-packed book. I recently read Stormbreaker and could not put it down. Stormbreaker is the story of a boy named Alex who finds out that his uncle is killed by a contract killer because he knows too much. M16, the spy network, sends Alex to spy camp where he learns to be a spy. As he tries to find his uncle's killer and stop an evil plan, the fate of England rests in his hands. I recommend this book to people who like mysteries and plenty of action. If you haven't already read this book, make it your next! You won't regret it.

While I enjoyed this book and it's characters, I was left with the feeling that there was something missing. Maybe it's because I had just finished reading Gaelen Foley's terrific Asencion trilogy - a tough act to follow - and maybe it suffered by comparison.

While I liked both Gunnar and Raina's characters and the story was well put together, it lacked some spark. The romance seemed to develop too slowly (they don't share a real kiss until more than halfway through the book!) and then it seemed suddenly they were in love. And though I loved the scenes where Gunnar and Raina flirt and move the romance forward, I found myself wanting to skim past scenes without them. And for a guy who has worked so hard to feel no emotion whatsoever for the past 13 years, he seems to feel them for Raina immediately. But I guess I quibble. Overall it was an enjoyable read. I reserve 5 stars for books that I adore and will read and re-read over again. It's too soon to tell, but I'm not sure I'd read this one again, though I will read other books by this author.

With two small children vying for my attention, it often takes me several sittings to enjoy a good, long historical romance. Not this time. I stayed up all night just to be sure I could finish right away!

Gunnar and Raina are wonderfully drawn characters--Gunnar's violent past contrasts nicely with Raina's soft and gentle demeanor. Though it's obvious from the beginning that Raina is the woman destined to heal Gunnar's heart, I could tell it would be a rocky, fast-paced ride to get there. The dialogue between the two is snappy and fun, and the story twists are anything but predictable.

It's hard to believe that this is a first novel--it lives up to the back cover teaser--and more!! I can't wait to read LADY OF VALOR to see how Tina St. John tops this!

I fell in love with Gunnar Rutledge from page one. And when Raina d'Bussy entered the scene, proud and nobel, she captured my heart as well. Fast paced with page turning chapters kept me glued right up to its heart-warming end. This book left me with the knowledge that true love spans all times and truly avails.

Tina St. John has mastered the craft of writing and will be on the scene for a long time to come! She weaves wonderfully spun tales to escape with and leaves you with a smile on your face.