I saw this book in a used bookstore and picked it up because I was struck by the title and the image of the boy on the cover. I quickly read through it and then put it down, continuing my search for books for my seven-year-old son. But I kept thinking about the story, the characters and the illustrations. I knew that ten years from now, I would still remember how touched I was by the simple story of "I Never Knew Your Name", and I knew that if I didn't purchase the book I would always regret it. Although the central message of the story is the isolation of the boy who eventually commits suicide, and the failure of the narrator to reach out to him, I think I was more effected by the character of the narrator himself. A younger boy, also nameless, he observes the loner at night because he himself is staying up, waiting for his father to come and visit. A promise that his father didn't keep. Later in the book, the narrator is let down by his father again when he fails to take him on a promised fishing trip and the boy falls asleep clutching his fishing rod in his hand. The boy considers reaching out to the lone, older boy, but again, something holds him back.
As a teacher and a parent, this image haunted me. It made me think about how important it is to keep your promises to your children...not just promises to 'buy them something'...but promises to be there for them and spend time with them. Since reading the book, I find myself hugging my son more and telling him that I love him and smiling when I see him. It made me realize that an action, or promise which might seem very trivial and unimportant in your own very busy adult life, may be of monumental importance to your child. Likewise, it made me think about the hundreds of children I have taught history over the last ten years...the quiet ones, who sit at the back of the class and don't cause any trouble...the ones that you are least likely to notice but who might be the most in need of your attention.
I would like to thank the author and illustrator of this beautiful book for making me think about these things. I can't remember the last time I read something that moved me so deeply.

Admitted it took me a couple read throughs to fully grasp every aspect of the story. I had not expected this kind of subject matter to be addressed in what looked like just another kid's book. The pictures work well here, I think the semi-defined art matches up with the limited knowledge of the child narrator. It serves to remind me much of the youth lifestyle I've lived through and seen much myself...one of popularity contests, in-crowds, loners, depression, and such. I think kids will learn a good lesson, and everyone else will stop and think after reading through it.

As a survivor of suicide, support group leader, crisis intervention specialist and teacher, I strongly recommend this book. It is suitable for any age group when properly supported by adults comfortable with this topic. Since 1980, the suicide rate has doubled for 10-14 year olds. Dialog must begin early and Garland offers us a wonderful opportunity to do just that without promoting her personal point of view. By reaching out to her readers to discuss this sensitive subject, she models the behavior that they may choose emulate - reaching out to others. Well done!!

I can't get over how beautiful this book is. I can't wait to share it with my Vietnamese students and those who are war refugees. I would like to see if they can relate to the story.

This story is easy for young children to understand and is good enough for them to ask for repeat readings, again and again. It contains a few factors that make for a great childrens book. It's relatively short, the illustrations are exceptional, it's easy to understand and it's a compelling story.

Follow the life of Ba, a young Veitnamese girl, who collects a lotus seed from the imperial garden of her emperor to serve as a momento of a time in her childhood. She takes the seed with her through her tumultous life, as she grows, and moves to a new country, and to a new life. The seed seems to serve as a symbol of her past and her endurance.

An exceptional story with outstanding illustration. A girl wanting something to remember the Emperor by takes a seed from a lotus pod from the Imperial Garden. Throughout all of the trials and changes in her life she cherishes that seed until one day it is taken and planted by her grandson. Finally it grows to be beautiful and strong, "It is the flower of life and hope, no matter how ugly the mud or how long the seed lies dormant, the bloom will be beautiful. It is the flower of my country." A superb book that looks at families and Vietnamese culture. (explained further in author's note)

This is a stirring story of a young Mexican peasant who is press-ganged into Santa Anna's army, as it prepares to march North into Texas to fight the Texan rebels at the Alamo and San Jacinto. While historical fiction, this is still a worthy book.
The author has paid close attention to historical details, and has correctly listed Mexican generals, regiments and battalions. While intended for young adults, older readers will find this an entertaining read as well. The story brings light upon the suffering and privations that the Mexican army endured in order to fight this campaign. Seen in this perspective, the legendary Texas heros of the Alamo seem mere mortals, and our sympathies go out instead to the poor, bedraggled, Mexican soldiers. While not one of the great armies of the day, the Mexican military suffered from chronic shortages, poor quality officers, and corruption. Not the least of its problems was in the form of Santa Anna himself, who lead irrationally, often marching his soldiers into the ground with little concern for their well-being. The Presidente's arrogance and vanity only compounded these problems.
At the Alamo 600 Mexican solders were sacreficed to his vanity. Had the great Napolean of the West waited a few more days for his siege guns to arrive, he could have reduced the Alamo Mission to ruins, and achieved his victory at far less cost. This book points out the dismay the Mexican soldiers felt from his arrogant and detached leadership. The humilating defeat at San Jacinto would end the forlorn Texas campaign and set the stage for the far greater conflict with the United States nearly a decade later, where Santa Anna would again lead his country to defeat.

Nine years ago, Lorenzo's father was conscripted into the Mexican army, leaving behind Lorenzo, his little sister, and their pregnant mother. They never heard from him again. The year is now 1835, and life in their small village has not gotten any easier. Since his mother's death four years ago, Lorenzo has had to care for his two younger sisters. He believes the family is cursed and never expects to see his father again. While working in the fields, Lorenzo and some of the other village men are conscripted into the army to fight in the Texas campaign. Lorenzo, at fifteen, is too young to be conscripted, but the local landowner's son lies and says he meets the age requirement. Lorenzo is forced into a war he doesn't believe in, as his aunt and sisters join the other camp followers. Tragedy after tragedy follow on the long winter march to Texas. Their ultimate destination: the Alamo. The author has written a wonderful historical novel showing the "other side" in the Texas Revolution. The Mexican soldiers are portrayed as ordinary men who were forced to join the army and had no choice but to obey their superiors. I highly reccomend this book.

As the introduction tells us: "To most Americans, the word Vietnam brings to mind one thing - a war fought in muddy rice fields and steamy jungles, as we've seen it depicted in movies and popular television programs. Very few of us know much about the history, culture, or folklore of this ancient country." Fortunately, Sherry Garland's new book, Children Of The Dragon, will begin to change our perception. This superb collection of six folktales is engaging, rich in history, culture, and tradition, and includes author's notes at the end of each story to broaden understanding, and enrich its meaning. From The Legend Of The Monsoon Rains, Chu Cuoi-The Man In The Moon, and The Raven And The Star Fruit, to How The Tiger Got Its Stripes, The Boatman's Flute, and The Bowmen And The Sisters, each folktale is entertaining, satisfying, and runs the whole gamut of emotions, from silly and amusing to poignant and tragic. Award winning illustrator, Trina Schart Hyman brings each tale to life with her marvelously vibrant and vivid artwork. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, Children Of The Dragon is a feast for both the eyes and ears, and is an intriguing and unique collection that transports the reader to another place and time.

Hi folks-- I'm the author of this book. This picture book has not yet been published, but my editor at Scholastic Press is very close to selecting the perfect artist for this cowboy story. If all goes well, it will be released in 2002. Best wishes, Sherry Garland

The Last Rainmaker, by Sherry Garland, epitomizes the struggles of a girl to be recognized in both the American Indian world and the white. Sherry Garland, however, touches on something more wordly here as well: respect of other cultures comes not by ignorance, but by acceptance of their gifts to nature and civilization. Though Caroline Long, the protagonist, is urged to ignore her mother's background, she discovers that all cultures must and can live together if they gain a respect for each other. Using the innocence of a child, Garland embodies all aspecs of a struggle of a girl to "fit in" wherever she goes, a childish act completed by so many youths today, even if it means drugs or violence. A good accompanying book is A Light in the Forest, by Conrad Richter, for the boy in that book must also, in the end, choose the path he wants to take, not having the option of the best of both worlds. Maybe these authors want to state that harmony comes with acceptance.

For her thirteenth birthday in 1835, Lucinda Lawrence's grandmother sends her a diary. Lucinda lives in Gonzales, Texas, when the American settlers were fighting to break free of Mexico, and she writes of many historical events, including the Alamo (where she loses a brother and an uncle), Goliad (where another of her uncles is killed), the Battle of San Jacinto, and the "Runaway Scrape," when the women and children of Texas barely escaped a step ahead of the Mexicans. Lucinda's diary is another wonderful Dear America book and I highly reccomend it.

My book, A Line in the Sand,The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence by Sherry Garland, is about a family that lives in Gonzales, Texas. The year of 1836. In San Anotonio there was a war that was about to start against the Mexicans. The Mexicans wanted Texas as theirs, other then having Texas as a free country.

Gonzales, Texas took a part in this war by sending their men to help fight against the Mexicans. They also were sending them food, bullets, and other goods that they would need to help them. Lucinda's brother and uncle went and fought against the Mexicans. During the battle against Santa Anna they die in action.

I think this was a great book. I would recommend this book to people who like a page turner and also likes to read books in a form of a journal or diary.

This is a really great book! I have recomended this book over & over & every one has loved it. I was just as upset, sad & as happy as she was @ all the right parts. This book is described really nicely. Read this, you'll like it, trust me!

It was an exiting book! At first it seemed a little boring because there wasn't much action. But then when Alyssa and her brother get stuck on that one shrip boat, that made it intresting enough to encourage me to read more. I thought that it was sad when Alyssa found her grandpa laying by the wrecked jeep because he was looking for Alyssa out in the hurricane. It was the BEST book I ever read! I want to buy the book for myself to read whenever I want!

This is the fisrt time that I read this book and is't a very good book, I m on the last chapter and so far I love it. Sherry Garland did a great job on this book! I love the way she had Alyssa not talking and her plot!

Silent Storm was a wonderful book I had read. It gives so much backround on the protaginist, Alyssa. The daring and stubborn girl is mute but what happens at the end I cannot reveal. The theme would be fear and determination. Alyssa could not speak because of fear but she was still was determined to speak for her grandfather who was in the hospital due to trying to save Alyssa. Alyssa, her bother, and the rest of there family miss her parents very much after the storm when her parents tried to save a family but end up losing there own. I recommend this thrilling book.

If you want a purebred, but not sure which one to get, make sure you read the books by Bruce Fogle. This book covers such things as basic commands, crate training, first aid, breeding and so much more. The book isn't long and I found it so helpful.

I found this book very helpful. It has graphs that have trainability, house trainability, etc. that compares them to different breeds. It is quite useful in the training section too. It also has a history on the dog, and just about everything you want to know about Goldens.

Whether you're considering getting a Golden or you already have one, this is a useful and fun book to read. It's informative, up-to-date, easy to understand and inexpensive. Definitly worthwhile.

"Valley of the Moon" is an excellent historical fiction novel about a Spanish/Indian girl of about 13, Maria Rosalia (Rosa) who works for the wealthy Medina family in Alta California, in 1846.

Rosa secretly knows how to write, and when she finds a blank diary cast away by the wealthy Miguela, she decides to keep a diary. She writes about the work that she does on the rancho, festivals, and her friends (and the boy she loves!), and also her wonderings of who her and her little brother's parents really were - and she is determined to find out. However, with the "norteamericanos" taking over her homeland, and thoughts of war in the air, life soon becomes much more complicated for Rosa.

This was another excellent novel in the Dear America series, and I'd highly recommend it, as it was very exciting and interesting, and also taught me a lot about the Spanish culture. I'd definitely recommend this book for ages 11 - 14!

Valley of the Moon: The Diary of Maria Rosalia de Milagros is Sherry Garland's second Dear America Book. In this book, Rosalia, or Rosa for short, is a servant to the wealthy Medina family. She and her brother are orphans. Their mother died of Smallpox on a Catholic mission in Yerba Buena. Rosa has high hopes of finding out who her parents are. Meanwhile, Mexico goes to war with the U.S. An all out exciting book--I won't give away the ending. This book showed me a time period I knew practically nothing about.

I really love "Valley of the Moon". In the book, Maria and her brother Dominigo are orphans and are loved by a family they work for. Maria searches for her birth parents and finds out what happened. The book also tells about that she is a devoted Christian and when California becomes a republic. Also, here is how Maria found about her parents and how a little scar made the story tell.

Maria's father met her mother. She was an idian and the father fell in love with her because of her charm and beauty. But, it was not allowed for an idian to marry a white man. But, they got maried in an idian wedding ceromony. the mother gives birth to maria, then her brother. That's when disaster strikes. Smallpox have hit, and while papa is gone, the mother rushes with her 2 children to a spanish mission to get vaccinated. There is only enough medicine for 2 people, so the mother makes the ulitmate sacrifice of love and her two children get the medicine. She dies near the mission and that's when maria and her brother are taken in by a family. what happened to maria's father was heartbreaking. he found his house empty and was told that the family died of smallpox. Later on he never married and died a heartbroken man. So, there is a taste of it. still, READ THE BOOK!!!