Many of my students (high school English) have read this book. In fact, I used THE WORLD WEAVER as the summer reading selection last year. WHY would I do that when Senior English-what I mainly teach--is ENGLISH LITERATURE??? The students will read this book. When I gave previous students the opportunity to read the book as one of their yearly novels, they told me, "Mrs. Burke-Cremeans, I actually read it and liked it. It is the first book I have ever finished."
I have used this book in 9th, l0th, llth, and 12th grades--the first edition--and this new edition. The students continue to tell me how much they like it and wish there would EVENTUALLY be a movie.
When we are having problems getting students to read, this one is a great choice.
As an avid reader, I do not like Fantasy at all, however, I certainly enjoyed Larkin, his friends, and their antics. Besides being quite interesting, I enjoyed "seeing" how the group worked together COOPERATING with each other. The diversity of the students was an added touch.
Etchison's words give us the opportunity to come away having liked the book, having "pictured" the kids in our minds, and having learned what can happen when we accept one another-no matter what. I LIKE THIS BOOK.

I am an English teacher in High School. I find it difficult to get students to read. I have taught 7-12...same problem with the reading.
However, students of all ages (including my seniors) enjoy this book. They almost always have something good to say about the book. Often I hear, "This is THE ONLY book I have ever finished."
Why give students books they HATE??? Why not let the ONLY BOOK read be one they will remember???

The book is full of examples of delicious figurative language...it allows the reader to "think"--what if I were one of these students? What if a Larkin were in my life? Would I believe him?

This book would make a fantastic movie...

Reader Comments sent to author: 1. I like the book a lot. The girls in the book...are just like the little clique I belong to. I have never been interested in books before, but I can't seem to put this book down. 2. I don't like to read, but there was something here that kept me reading. 3. I enjoyed this book because it was suspenseful, exciting, and flat out neat. 4. It made me think about what was really going on in my life. It took me by surprise, too. It was an awesome book and I'm glad I got to read it. 5. I changed my view of other people around me--people like Donnie who seem like jerks but may not be. 6. This book showed me that I have to push myself to achieve my goals. It changed my life.

Comments sent by readers to author: 1. What I found truly spectacular was that he was able to present many different situations and emotions of the war in a way that the reader could find interesting. 2. Dr. Etchison's book opened my eyes to the Vietnam War. The stunningly truthful stories brought me to tears. 3. I think the writer did a good job writing from both the American and Vietnamese perspective. I think all high schools should be required to read the book. I'm certainly glad I did. 4. The book gives the reader a clear idea of what the war was really like, and succeeds in arousing a good deal of sympathy.

Years later, the Viet controversy, its questions and few ethical answers are still remaining. Etchison's snapshots are as large as life and gripping. He spares you the travel details, the minutia of a lot of writing. The author gets right to it with his composite of happenings. Take them, one by one, and then, see the overall message of these events of the American intervention in Vietnam. Lessons? Maybe, but you are certain to find a better understanding of really tough circumstances for thousands on both sides of this moral vs. immoral conflict.

Mr. Etchinson's direct and powerful approach to a war that still lives with us in the new Millennium is packed full of vivid memories and images that affect the reader as if he/she had been actually there and had remembered these "snapshots" as if the reader had dreamt them. His verse is solid and concise and evokes shades of Hemingway. Each story acts as a capsule of truth and hits upon our darkest emotions. Not since the movie "The Deer Hunter" have I been moved so much. I commend Mr. Ecthinson for his labor on a subject matter that needs revisiting when other countries are experiencing war times in this day and age. Excellent performance.