The title refers to the ship mentioned in the first book of this series: the RED LYON. A ship which left hopeful English colonists stranded on Roanoak Island off Virginia in 1587. Stainer explores various theories to account for the historically "lost", almost legendary band of brave settlers who disappeared. It is now 1588 and 16-year old Jess Archarde proves a worthy descendant (i.e. Cub) of the LYON, whose captain pursued a dream to found a cittee of Raleigh in the hostile New World. He was supposed to return with supplies, but he did not--at least not in time.

The original settlers have argued over different means of survival, with hardship and sorrow as frequent companions. While the Armada is gathering strength for an audacious assault on Elizabeth's England, the loyal colonists suffer political anxiety, attacks from warlike Indians (not their kindly hosts on Cracatoan Island) and diminishing numbers. Plus there is always the very read danger of falling into the hands of marauding Spanish privateers, who prowl the coast seeking their enemy, the English.

Despite this tenuous existence, young Jess undertakes a solemn vow and dangerous pilgrimmage: to find the grave of her best friend's husband, there to conduct a proper Christian burial. Neither her father nor her Indian suitor can dissuade her from this folly, for Jess is determined to keep her promise to her bereaved friend, hampered at home with a baby. Jess and her companions endure terrible privation and even slavery, until they escape with two special mementoes of the Spanish garrison. History, Adventure, Danger and of course, Romance Lite! Middle School girls will want to follow Jess' story through the entire LYON series. Stainer weaves an interesting and infomrative tale, thanks to many short chapters, frequent illustrations (by James Melvin) and extensive dialogue. Even though Jess herself is completely fictional, the family name is on record. This conjectured History is highly palatable--ENJOY!

I think this book was pretty good. My favorite part was when they got the horses. I can't wait to find out what will happen next!

This is a great book by a great writer. M. L. Stainer tells a fast-paced, action-packed story about what may have happened to the Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island in 1587. Kids everywhere will love this story!

Shevardnadze is one of the great men of the century(in diplomacy anyway). Unfortunatly he is sandwhiched between the Dobrynin/Groymko periods of the cold war and the more chaotic period of Yeltsin. After all we have forgotten Gorbachev and the period of Glasnost. Is this because the Russians have a propensity to forget them? Its not clear.
Nevertheless this is the only book on Mr. Shevardnadze(the only one I could find). SO its an important document. It seems to glossy to me. It seems to not get at the beef, the meat of what was happening from 1980-1990. I wish it detailed the afghanistan ending, I wish it detailed the various new nations created in the breakup of the Soviet empire. I wish it detailed the new voices that came to the fore in eastern europe. I dont think the book answers the question: How did so much happen, so fast? Obviously Shevardnadze was key. But then why arnt we told more about his role in shaping policy throughout the Russian sphere of influence. I feel that the book approaches the topic from a political scientists analytical eyes, disregarding the historical questions. Lacking flair and literary greatness the book is doomed, and yet essential for those who want to learn more about the Gorbachev era.

I bought this book because I am a student of all things Georgian. However, while reading the book, I was constantly impressed how important this book would be for anyone who wants to have even the most basic understanding of Cold War politics or Soviet/Post-soviet studies. The book is a nice synopsis of the events leading to the dismantling of the Soviet empire. Its most obvious flaw is the tiring repetition; Although I usually benefit from repetition as a comprehension tool, this book went overboard, and hearing the same thing repeated for the fifth or sixth time became distracting towards the end.

Considering that the jury is "still out" on Shevardnadze and his deeds, especially as president of Georgia, I found the author tended to lean towards a typical Baker/Schultz (and US foreign policy) pro-Shevardnadze conclusion.

Minor criticisms aside, I'm glad the author wrote the book, and I glad I read it.

"The Wars of Eduard Shevardnadze" is an excellent description and analysis of the former Soviet foreign minister and his role in bringing an end to the Cold War. The book treats Shevardnadze's background in the Soviet republic of Georgia as well as his current role as the president of Georgia. The book is the only biography of Shevardnadze.

This is meaningful work in a genre that has, for the most part, ignored our gay and lesbian experience. I hope the author will continue to research this subject area and publish her results. I believe there is a big demand for more information about gay and lesbian near death experiences, both scientific and anecdotal.

This book examines what happens to homosexuals and lesbians after they die. This is the first (and, as of 2001, the only) book to examine the Near-Death Experiences of [homosexuals]. Other than the preface, the stories are told by the experiencers themselves. Contrary to what some fundamentalist Christians would have you believe, God and angels are not against homosexuality. One homosexual who died and was later revived asked some angels, "It it OK to be [a homosexual]?". They laughed, and said, "Who do you think created [homosexuals]?", meaning God. One [homosexual] was told by his friend who died of AIDS when he met him in heaven, "I should openly celebrate and honor my sexuality as a gift from God. This was a startling revelation to me, especially after a lifetime of secrecy, fear, and guilt." This groundbreaking research shows that [homosexuals]' ultimate fate is no different from most straight NDEs.

I didn't give it 5 stars, since the Discussion chapter was missing, although listed in the table of contents, and there were a number of misprints, especially in the appendices. Still, it is a must for those interested in NDEs or homosexuality.

[the g-word was edited from my review, even though it appears on this Web page]

Two plus points here: Berger possesses keen musical insight into the works he discusses, and writes with clarity and enthusiasm without either oversimplifying or condescending to the technically challenged. The other great thing about this book is that it's the only thing of it's kind that I'm aware of that's currently in print.

On the downside, contrary to the publisher's review above, GUIDE TO CHAMBER MUSIC is most emphatically NOT comprehensive. First of all, no chamber music that employs less than three instruments is included. That's right: No Beethoven Violin Sonatas and no Prokofiev Sonatas and no Martinu Cello Sonatas (not to mention the fact there's no Martinu). Worse, there's a staggering abundance of wonderful music that does employ three instruments or more that is simply left out.

For example, look up any composer in the book -- for the sake of argument, let's say Faure. The only listing given on Faure is for his C Minor Piano Quartet. In other words, aside from the annoying exlusion of Faure's wonderful Violin and Cello Sonatas (which, of course, violate the restriction against two instruments), there's no mention of either Faure's other piano quartet, his two piano quintets, his piano trio or his ethereal and otherworldly string quartet. And that's just for Faure.

I'm sure this book has its reasons for excluding many delightful and important works in the classical canon. But whatever those reasons are, they make for an emphatically uncomprehensive -- and thus unsatisfactory -- overview of the chamber repertory. Still, all things considered, I'm glad to have it for what it DOES include.

This book covers quite a vast output and describes each work movement by movement. A very useful reference.

If the previous reviewer thought *this* was too complicated and confusing, I don't know what they'd make of the leading textbook in the field, Krugman's International Economics, which is a confusing, disorganized, and bloated mess. In my opinion, this book is much simpler, clearer, better organized, and better written. I just took a course with Krugman's text, and now I'm reading this to figure out what the heck Krugman was talking about, with great success.

I have been using this book in an international finance class. It has been very imformative but is very slow going due to the complex nature of the text. I would suggest this to anyone who is not just interested in the subjecrt, but dedicated.

Taylor's father is the gamekeeper on an estate that raises pheasants for sport hunting. The boss, landowner Reg Harris, is a blustering, greedy man who cares only for his own financial success. When several endangered red kites are spotted in the woods on the property, Harris demands that Taylor's father kill them, even though this is illegal. Taylor saves one of the kites' eggs and raises the young bird in secret. This is a very British book. American readers are unlikely to relate to either the setting or the lifestyle. That in itself isn't an insurmountable problem, but there are other difficulties that will limit this book's appeal to young American readers. Although the ecological message is worthy, the tender-hearted will find certain gruesome scenes hard to stomach. The mood is unrelentingly dark, and the characters are pretty one-dimensional. The tone of the book and its theme brings Wringer to mind - not an easy book to handle, either, but one tailored for an American audience.

In "Kite", English author Melvin Burgess strikes a refreshing chord for readers seeking authenticity in animal novels for young adults. The softened world of sentimental animals boosk for children is challenged in this realistic novel about an endangered bird, a red kite. The book was written in collaboration with a wildlife biologist and details are wonderfully vivid and realistic.

Burgess does not tread beyond the bounds of decorum for children 9 and older; rather "Kite" is quick-paced, amusing, and heart-warming.. The main characters opt at the end of the novel to care for a wild animal who will never be returned to the wild - a major committment, as any animal owner recognizes. And although there is violence to animals, it is committed by the villain, who represents old beliefs which only the misguided could adhere to given the peril to wildlife in the present day.

The main character is sensitive, caring, and conflicted. The book will appeal most to children whose parents have dealt with harsh realities, such a killing animals for food or livelihood yet loved animals at the same time, and had to explain their values to their children. Major conflict in the novel occurs between the son and father, gamekeeper for the landowner, who runs the hunt. To disagree, the father must condone his employer's actions or lose his position, and his home.

The paradox of killing animals for food is set baldly against the killing of animals for sport or money. Set in England, the book's endangered animal is a red kite. Killing kites has recently been made illegal, but some locals still view kites as "vermin." The landowner Harris prizes his game birds, the pheasants, because he makes his living from hunters' fees for killing them. But Harris' cruel actions alienate even the hunters and eventually provokes the young boy's father to side with his son in the fight for the kite's life.

The books is not bleak, despite the seriousness of its message. Descriptions of the kite's awkward growing stages are humorous and memorable. Close attention to detail of bird behavior shows throughout. And finally, we learn the red kite populations burgeoned in the years of violence in England. Pecking the bodies of the dead was among the actions that gave this bird an odious reputation, much like the US condor or buzzard - a carrion animal. And yet, Burgess chose the kite to deliver his message.

Burgess' book distills some of the ecological/environmental issues that face English, Americans, and people of all countries - whether to adhere to the old ways (which were necessary then but are no longer, and are in fact detrimental) or to view with clear eyes the need to preserve all individuals in the biosphere for the parts they play in keeping the whole healthy.

A "half-way" manual for those who want a step up from the Chinese Food Cures book. Black and white botanical plates, with focus on traditional Chinese use of medicinal herbs. The book is organized by complaint, with medicinals listed by Chinese names in no discernable order. This makes it harder for Americans to use, but gives a better understanding of the Chinese theory of healing.

Great book that exposes some of the herbal secrets handed down over the centeries in Chinese culture. Excellent section on Ginseng. Book is well organized, with lots of references. Index could be a bit more thorough.

This collection of articles was very insightful and on the cutting edge. I found the article by Christine Brinkley especially useful in molding my thinking around creating performance measurement and evaluating teams. It will form the basis of a new program of assessment within our organization.

Anthony, in addition to being adopted, is biracial. By having Anthony's parents tell him in a forthright way, the author impresses on the reader that it is okay to be who you are and to love yourself no matter what others might think of you or say to you.

Melvin Sorcher and James Brant are partners with Sorcher Associates, a management consulting firm in Connecticut. This article was published in the February 2002-issue of the Harvard Business Review.

One of the most important responsibilities for top management is management succession. And according to the authors, top management currently often fall into the trap of making decisions about candidates based on lopsided or distorted information. "Frequently, they fall prey to the 'halo effect': overvaluing certain attributes while undervaluing others. ... To make matters worse, many organizations do not have the right procedures in plan to produce a complete and accurate picture of their top prospects." The authors have developed an evaluation process in which a candidate is assessed by a group of people, who have observed his/her behavior directly over time and in different circumstances. The authors first start with a list of leadership criteria (team player, coaching, operational management, speaking, ambition, similarity and familiarity). This is then complemented with a list of questions, which covers both hard and soft skills. This list of questions should be discussed by the group of people mentioned above. From the information that comes out of these questions, the group can determine development priorities for the candidate. The authors finish the article with some encouraging words: "We believe that leadership is more available than people think. The trick is to identify it properly, and doing so requires sorting through the myriad nuances and subtleties of leadership." The first step is to improve the evaluation process.

Nice article on the evaluation process of leadership talent, which has been a widely discussed issue in recent years/months. Yes, perhaps the authors just touch the surface in this article, but it is an useful starting point for many organizations. I recommend this article to top management and human resources professionals. The authors use simple business US-English.