As a children's librarian, I recommend many books to families who like to read aloud together. If a family has already read and liked CHARLOTTE'S WEB, or REDWALL, or THE ORDINARY PRINCESS, I recommend GILDAEN. A wonderful read that will appeal to a wide age range.

Most adults who are avid readers suffered the same condition as a child. Here are reminiscences of contemporary writers revealing their introductions to a life-long preoccupation with the magic and mystery of words and reading. Many common elements emerge: being read to at a very young age, fascination with the ideas and lives of other people, a special person (friend or family) who passes on a love for reading to a child. (Are we all closet voyeurs, peeking in at the childhood experiences common to many?) It's been a pleasure to read about the pleasures of reading.

Transforming a Rape Culture, by Milkweed Editions is a book that has input from thirty-seven active feminists; twenty-five women and twelve men, who all play different roles in life. Their occupations range from book and article writers, to psychologists, speakers, teachers, parents, and more. Having many authors, instead of just one, gives this book an advantage over one author's opinion. It was definitely written to spark an emotion in everybody to make change. The book's topic effects and influences everybody in some way in life to make a change, even if it's just within themselves. It succeeded in doing so. The book analyzes the factors in our culture, which promote and support not only rape, but also sexual assault, and harassment. It also presents ideas and methods to end it. All the sections throughout this book are linked nicely together giving it a strong analytical flow from all the authors - all seeking nothing less than a fundamental culture change with a method achieve it through the change of power, gender, race, and religion.

This is a compilation of essays written by many prominent (female and male) feminist activists against sexual violence. I was inspired by all of the essays. A few of them were presented in a way that I did not particularly agree with, but even then I still strongly agreed with the essence of what they were saying (and found it extremely important and eye opening). If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, rape, any kind of sexual violence (we all have experienced some aspect of the sexual violence that pervades our culture), or you care about ending sexual violence then this book will help. Transforming a Rape Culture was published in 1993, I was fifteen, I wish I had read it then (it would have been late, but it would have educated me on protecting myself, and that I was worth being protected). This book is original and truly ground breaking. These writers are saying extremely important things that have often been overlooked; they are opening our eyes to our entire society, and they have real solutions. I found validation for what I believe in. The message of these authors speak to both men and women, but it is also intended to help men see the importance of these issues that have previously been considered only part of women's agenda. The point is clearly made by this book that the most important aspect of the women's movement has not yet been achieved, but it is possible to achieve if it is given the priority that it deserves. I believe that it is possible for the day to arrive that acts of sexual violence would be a shocking anomaly, and people will talk openly about it without shame or fear.

This is one of the most brilliant anthologies I have ever read. Each of the essays contributes to the overall point, which is that we live in a culture where sexual violence is a terrifying companion to too many women and children.