Curtis Newns is a brilliant young artist, perhaps the greatest of his generation, who is rapidly descending into mental illness. Red Patterson is a brilliant but erratic psychiatrist who has become a celebrity for his spectacular cures in front of a live television audience. Margaret is Curtis' devoted wife, desperately trying to protect the artist from onrushing disaster.

Somehow author Cadnum brings these implausible elements together in a riveting, fast-paced novel. Margaret will do anything to help her husband, even consult the celebrity psychiatrist. Patterson will do anything to get Curtis painting again and so enhance his own reputation. Even if it means taking the artist out of civilization and holding him prisoner in a desert hideaway.

Will Curtis ever paint again? Will he even survive? What will happen to their marriage? What evil lurks behind the charming facade of Red Patterson and how will it affect all who come into his orbit? You will have to read the book to find out. To tell the truth, much of it is a little hard to believe. You just have to accept it and read on. And when you do you will get hooked. The tempo slowly picks up and by the end you are racing through the pages. The author is a master of tone and atmosphere. In the very first pages he creates a mood of dark foreboding that only builds with each page.

This is a book that deserves more attention. I recommend it. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber

The plot of SAINT PETERS WOLF varies significantly from the typical werewolf story. (For the traditional, think of the movie with Lon Chaney, Jr.) In this novel, instead of becoming a werewolf by being bitten by one, one becomes a werewolf through a combination of predisposition and proximity to an ancient set of silver fangs. Only a select few are so affected. Other variances from the common tradition are the continuing metamorphoses through which Cadmun's werewolf goes, and finally it is a story of love.

With this oversimplification of the plot, I'm going to vary from the traditional review format by posing a series of questions that can only be answered by reading Cadnum's novel.

All of the following questions, except the last, are based on SAINT PETERS WOLF.

What is the meaning of the title?

How is it possible that a beast can be seen as both a threat and a victim?

What is lycanthropy, and is it actual, mythological, or a form of mental illness?

Is werewolf or vampire hunting the obsession of a madman, the hobby of an evil man, or the duty of a moral man, or perhaps, some strange combination of all of the above?

How does becoming a werewolf affect the human half of the werewolf?

Does the wolf half have human feelings?

After reading this novel, could you have empathy for a werewolf?

And the final question: If someone told you that they were a werewolf in their human manifestation, could you believe them?

I would hope that these questions might stimulate your curiosity enough to make you want to read SAINT PETERS WOLF.

Benjamin Byrd recieves a set of silver fangs which will transform him into a creature of the night in this unique werewolf novel. Now he feels truly alive for perhaps the first time in his life. Will he have to give up the silver fangs? Are there others of his kind? Can he really be free? The writing in this fresh and compelling novel reminded me a bit of Jonathan Carroll's although I'm at a loss to pinpoint why. The story moves along with the pace of a wolf running through the night. Read it and be swept along with it.

As you follow Benjamin Bryd through the story you can't help but want to be the character. He finds the meaning to his purpose in life, he roams free and finds the only thing he needs.

As one of the poets featured in Will Work for Peace, one might expect me to be a bit biased, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Most poets work in a virtual vacuum, only tenuously connected to each other by the occasional workshop or shared membership in a 'poetry society'. When Brett Axel first approached me for a submission to an anthology he was considering, the names Marge Piercy, Lyn Lifshin, Moshe Bennaroch and so many others were abstractions to me as a fledgling poet. I knew these tremendous writers were 'out there' somewhere, beating down doors with their words and keeping a struggling artform alive. But to think that someday I would ever share a credit with these dynamic modern poets would be a pipe dream at best. It is through the sincere efforts of Brett Axel that many newer voices like mine have an extraordinary opportunity to appear with Pulitzer Prize winners and other poetic heavyweights. By way of an honest review, however, I will say this- not everything in this book will be to your particular liking. I myself came across some works that did not move me in the way the author may have intended. Some imagery can be raw and visceral, using shock value in place of craft at times. But to ignore those voices would be an even more shocking turn of events, so praise be to the editor for not sacrificing his vision to a senseless conformity. As Pete Seeger so aptly put it in his quote, trying to read all these poems at one time would be like trying 'to swallow Manhattan whole'. I say to you- buy this book, read this book, but understand that it's what you do after reading this book that will ultimately define who you could be. Poetry is alive and well, and lives in the blunt pages of Will Work for Peace.

Just amazing start to finish! I like the disregard for fame used in putting the book together. That great poems got in even if they were writtenby nobodys. Look at Roger Bonair-Agard's poem on page 74. Shortly after Will Work For Peace came out he won Slam Nationals, becoming Slam Champion of 1999, which will be getting him lots of offers. But Zeropanik Press didn't need to be told he was good by an award. They could tell by his writing! Good for them and good for all of us because Will Work For Peace is a literary milestone. It's a new standard for all future anthology editors to try to live up to. Thumbs up to Brett Axel and Thumbs up to Zeropanik Press for their guts and integrty.

Brett Axel visited my Church and I bought a copy of Will Work For Peace from him, not for poetry, but because I care about working for peace. I started reading through it thinking It'd just go on my shelf and that'd be the end of it, but the book grabbed me and kept me rivited. If I had known that poetry was this alive I'd have been into poetry. I've been reading some of the poems to my friends who also didn't think poetry was important and they are saying the same thing. Fantastic! There's no way to get through this book without having your old mindsets challenged. It's funny, powerful, sad, and uplifting. A book that deserves to be read by everyone. A book that really can make the world a better place!

Redhanded is a pretty good book. Just when you think the book is starting to get boring, something surprising happens. The book is basically about a really good boxer that doesn't have enough money to go places to box against other people. He tries a couple of different things to make the money but can't do it. His friend comes up with a plan to make the money. I think everyone should read this book because in the end they do something really stunning to get the money and Steven, the main character, uses his boxing skills to do something for another person. The author did a great job describing what was going on. There was never a point where I was confused. There are many reasons for you to read this great book so I recommend it.

Pulled in many directions at once, Steven must make decisions about events as mundane as losing his girlfriend to a fellow co-worker to life-and-death choices as to whether or not help Chad rob a liquor store with a gun. None of these plot lines are conviently wrapped up by the author. A wrap-up, however, seems less significant than the realization that Steven, at the end, moves from being acted upon--by his boxing coach, his friends, his girlfriend, and his father--than that he is finally moved to act out.

Steven's character is well drawn: being written from the first-person point-of-view helps readers understand his doubts about his new friendship with Chad, his passion to continue boxing, and his sincere feelings for his father.

As jarring as an uppercut, Michael Cadnum's novel depends upon its readers' intelligence to make inferences as to how Steven--a good kid who loves boxing and wants to go to the San Diego Golden Gloves tournament--travels down a path to being an accomplice to crime. The tension never breaks in this novel, which can be exhausting and perhaps mundane after some reading, but the ending provides a nice catharsis for readers who follow Steven's path.

In both style and content, this book is for readers sophisticated enough to deal with plot jumps and some short scenes of violence.

Setting- Oakland, California neighborhood
Main Characters- Cray, brother of the missing girl, Anita; Mom-bone researcher; Dad-lumber business owner, Kyle- Anita's boyfriend; Detective Waterman.
Plot summary- Anita, Cray's sister, goes to work and doesn't come home. Cray tells of the day his sister turned missing and the days following as he struggles with trying to deal with it. He goes through the stages of denial, numbness, anger, into grief. He searches his sister's diary for clues. He hopes that she just ran away from home and is angry that she did that. He tells of how his future desires change and life because more precious, relationships deeper. His parents choose different ways to deal with their loss and the culminating scene is one in which they bring her dental records to determine if a murdered girl is Anita. It isn't, but the reality sinks in.
Author evaluation- The thoughts and actions are extremely realistic. Characterization is strong and so is the emotional progression. Extremely helpful information to develop empathy. A short read but excellently written.
Audience- Since the main character is at least 16 years old, it is recommended for 10th grade and up. Younger, but mature readers would enjoy it too. There is not much action so it is not recommended for those who like action/adventure.

In the book Zero at the Bone, Cray jokes about his sister being gone but that night she doesn't return home and his dad gets worried as the days go by.Then a few months later they find a body at the morgue that looks like Cray's sister.... If you like suspence you would like this book

This book was about a young boy named Edmund. His master was a counterfiter and had to take his masters punishment. He then joined with a crusade to help his master. He then joined the crusade and fought King Richards and his army. Finally the crusaders beat King Richard and won the victory.
They should of had a little more action in the authors story. The book I read was average. Also, it was still good to read because it was interting.

This book is about an apprentice named Edmund. His master, Otto of Clifton was a moneymaker. One night a few men barged in the house. The Exchequer's men came in the house. They seized Otto and severed his hand. Then Edmund ran and tried to evade the men, but they caught him too with their horses. They were about to cut his hand off too, but the sheriff came in and put him in chains. The sheriff noticed that he was very strong and looked fit for battle. There was a knight named Sir Nigel who needed a squire for he had lost one. He was going to choose from another youth named Hubert who could fight with a battle-axe and with a two-handed sword. Sir Nigel decided them to fight and choose the winner. They both became squires for Sir Nigel. Edmund became a hammer man. They trained under Sir Nigel for the crusade they were going to go on. Finally the crusade started. The crusaders started a siege on the city of Acre. After a while, they took it over. They had many prisoners. King Richard ordered for them to all be executed. This was the third crusade. Many people died. There was more, but you will have to read it to find out.

This book was very realistic. Although I like fiction, I enjoyed this historical fiction. The story was mixed with the occurrence of the Third Crusade and an apprentice of a moneymaker becoming a squire.

My favorite part was the siege of Acre. It was very descriptive and well written.

The Book of the Lion is a pretty good book, which tells of a young boy named Edmund. The book was good but it could have been better. The story is about Edmund going off with Sir Nigel to fight in the crusades, after he is arrested and Sir Nigel sets him free. You see, Sir Nigel is in need of a squire and Edmund immediatly agrees to join up with him, so that he can save his own skin. So after some begining adventures, which you'll find out about when you read the book, the two set off with the help of Sir Rannulf, another knight and a friend of Sir Nigel's, and Hubert, Sir nigel's other squire, as well as a whole batch of other characters that I again won't mention. The journy consists of them going to Italy and then sailing of to the Holy Lands. The next part of the story describes the battles of the Crusades, although the battles could have been a bit more exiting, and the whole book could have been a bit longer. I felt like the book centered to much on the time in between battles, and exiting parts, over just describing a lot while having something exiting happen. Although the book kept my intrest, I couldn't really get into it. If you like quick books, that are pretty exiting, not to bloody, and that have a dramatic side to them, than this book is for you.

A Review by Steffi

In a Dark Wood is a version of the story of Robin Hood. Only this interpretation has a twist; it¹s in the Sheriff of Nottingham¹s perspective. In this book you get to know more about the sheriff's (known as Geoffrey) story and what conflicts he faces. He is portrayed as a cold man not wanting to feel emotion, but the reader learns that he has a hidden heart, rarely exposed. A particular example of this is he can¹t express how he looks upon his squire, Hugh, as a son. Also in this book you see the impossible attempts Geoffrey makes to catch Robin Hood, who never fails to outwit the sheriff. It is the classic chase of Robin Hood, only through the sheriff's eyes.

One thing I liked about this book is its interesting approach to the tale of Robin Hood. Who would have thought to take a look in the ³bad guy¹s² point of view. It makes you realize that just because someone is cold doesn¹t mean they don¹t have feelings. In Geoffrey¹s case, his job forces him to do cruel things, such as punishing people who can¹t pay their taxes. Another thing I liked about this book is the poetic words and phrasing Cadnum used. Similes such as ³like a petal floating on dark water² were used throughout the whole book, which made it a really beautiful thing to read. One thing I didn¹t like, however, was the lack of Robin Hood. He obviously played a big part in the plot, but it wasn¹t enough for me, being a Robin Hood fan. Maybe if Cadnum would have done both perspectives of Geoffrey and Robin I would have enjoyed it more. I would have also loved to know more about Robin and Maid Marian¹s romance because that is an aspect of the Robin Hood story that really appeals to me. There was no mentioning this love in this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the tale of Robin Hood. It really is an interesting story to read, like a hidden background to the original story. This interesting and poetic adaptation is surely worthwhile for anyone to read.

This rich and complex story tells the story of Robin Hood, from the viewpoint of Geoffrey, the Sheriff of Nottingham. Geoffrey himself is a complex man. He is a product of his time, taught to reverence God and yet use horrifying violence when necessary. But he feels himself torn; he cannot measure up to the level of purity that his religion demands, and too softhearted to mete out the cruelty that his duty requires. And when that laughing rogue, Robin Hood, wanders into his jurisdiction, Geoffrey finds the thick and comfortable shell that he has built around himself begin to crack.

This story is entertaining in a very sophisticated way. The world that the author builds is believable and quite fascinating. I enjoyed that the author made believable characters that seem to have hoped right out of history, rather than modern Americans walking around in medieval England. I also enjoyed watching the characters evolve and change (often painfully) as their world changed around them. Though marked as a teen book, I highly recommend it to readers old and young alike!

A somewhat philosophical novel giving the sheriff's viewpoint of Robin Hood. It gives a realistic picture of the era, when torture was routine and common people could be abused with little recourse (the Magna Carta dealt with nobels' rights).

King John orders the sheriff to deal with Robin Hood, whom the sheriff had been ignoring as a petty nuisance. The sheriff has other problems closer to home than the king's highway, including his personal love life, wandering pigs, local thieves, and tax collections. The sheriff's encounter with Robin Hood causes him to get religion. There is no Maid Marian in this novel - in fact Robin Hood's band tends to be unattractive, grubby social outcasts.

The novel digresses into detailed descriptions of torture. That type of sidelight gives the novel, at best, a PG-13 rating.

The story of Little John's induction into Robin Hood's infamous band of thieves. On the run from the law, Little John finds himself torn between the need to survive, and doing so at the cost of his morals. A wonderfully written tale that blends rich historical details with compelling, believable characters, both evil and heroic. Excellent portrayal of the nature of how alliances are formed out of need, and how trust can forge bonds of unity.

A recommended read for anyone interested in poetic language and an adventurous romp through the medieval life of those profiting from the misery of others, and those striving to enforce a rogue's sense of justice. A rousing good tale of adventure, suspense, camaraderie, and the thrill of pursuing justice with honor. An enjoyable and inventive interpretation of a intriguing side-kick to the legend of Robin Hood.

Caution: Graphic portrayal of the brutality and violence of medieval life may not be suitable for sensitive readers.

I didn't really enjoy "Edge" because it was a slow moving book and it was made for relaxing the soul. However, I thought that it had a good plot and a lot of potential. "Edge" by Michael Cadnum is a good book even though it has a lot of slow parts. Zachary, the main character, dropped out of school, but is unwilling to live on the streets. He lives with his mother and his father who is a San Fransiscan author. One day Zach's father is shot during a hold-up at a red light. He was put in a coma and on respiratory support. The only witness of the shooting is an old store owner with limited sight and hearing. The preliminary hearings went poorly and it seemed like there was no hope to put the shooter away forever. Might Zachary do something on his own to avenge his father. If you enjoy soothing mysteries with limited action involved I suggest you read this book.

Well this book is prety good I like the fact that it keeps you on the Edge of you seat wondering what is going to happen next.
I also like this book because it is short and simple,and yet it still gives you the reality that Zachary the main character in the book goes through some of the same things I do,I guess thats why I can realate to this book so well.

Edge was very good. Michael Cadnum is excellent at describing his characters in the story. The plot is well thought out and you never know what the main character is going to do next. He mainly describes the main character but still does a really good job on the rest. He makes the story interesting and makes and fun to read, even though it has some dry and dull moments the exiteing ones make up for it.

The book is quite interesting to read. People who are into water sports would enjoy this the most. A short summery: A sixteen year-old Bonnie Chamberlain wants to be a proffesional diver. On one of her practices she has an accident injuring her scalp. Fortunetly she is is alright and is still determined to practice, practice and practice. Now it's even harder for her to concentrate on the dives that her farther's in trouble with the law, and it ends with... well,I won't tell you, if u wanna find out,read the book!

Heat, by Michael Cadnum, is a different book than most. It has a different rhythm-a new way of explaining things in words and phrases other than what you would normally hear, so that you have to concentrate on the novel, which helps you really get into it. I liked this book because it travels through everyday scenarios in life, but with a unique outlook and taste that gives you a good view of Bonnie's experiences as a competetive diver with an injury and coping with her father's arrest. This is a great book for someone looking for an intriguing read and a great story.

This book is about a girl named Bonnie. She is about 16 or 17 years old. In the begining Bonnie gets into an accident. She does not remember much of it but she mostly recovers. The accident happened when she was at practice for her diving team. She is very good and everyone likes her. My favorite part of the book was when Bonnie and her best friend were fighting over something really stupid. It reminds me of me and my best friend. In this book Bonnie's parents are devoriced. Her dad has a new girlfriend now and her mom is still single. Dads girlfriend and Bonnie have some fights but for the most part they get along very well. I would reccomend this book to mostly girls because it is told by a girl and about what happens to a girl. On the other hand I think anyone would like it.