This is a "must have" book for visitors to Holland I only wish I had owned this book from day one, or even before I came to Holland. Its format is very clear and easy to follow and I can imagine I shall be dipping in and out of it for a long time to come. Part I, the main section, is dedicated to sightseeing, museums and amusement centres. Each of the twelve provinces is given a separate chapter. At the beginning of each there is a small useful map showing main towns, major roads and the borders of the provinces. These do help the geographically challenged (like me) to become more familiar with the layout of this relatively small country.

An introduction to the history and folklore of each province makes interesting reading. Every chapter, with its extensive coverage of museums, galleries, historic sites, cities, towns, villages and picturesque countryside, definitely gets the message across that there is more to Holland than Amsterdam.

Part II, entitled "Living in Holland" provides a wealth of information, advice and contact addresses. It covers the culture, gives an insight into "the system", education, sports and entertainment. It also includes a useful calendar of yearly special events. This section provides the newcomer not only with a vast array of specific information, but also presents it in a very practical manner, clearly written by someone with a close understanding of Dutch life. It is without a doubt an excellent aid to the newcomer, to help them settle quickly into this unique little country.

The Middle of Somewhere by Sheila Gordon is a fascinating story about apartheid, the system that kept whites and blacks apart. The book shows the determination and bravery of a young black South African girl's struggle to save her village. Nine year old Rebecca is terrified that bulldozers might come and demolish her house to build a village for white people. As Rebecca copes with her fears, her best friend moves away. That's when Rebecca's family joins the fight to save her village. The Middle of Somewhere illustrates how people in South Africa lived during apartheid. I recommend this book because it teaches an important lesson about life and people's attitudes about other people who are different. The lesson is that being prejudiced against other people is wrong. Also, this book is continuously suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat because something breathtaking was always happening. The author really makes apartheid come alive for the reader. Although the Middle of Somewhere is a moving story, it is not very long. However, the book has enough detail to draw you in. I am glad the author didn't use a lot of descriptive African words because I don't understand the local language. The Middle of Somewhereis a captivating story about apartheid, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this subject.

The book introduces the reader to the very serious issue of South African Apartheid while still conveying the authentic emotions of the characters in the story. Most remarkable is how the reader is immersed in the story and in the perspective of a nine-year old girl. The author makes the reader both sympathize and empathize with the sadness, confusion, and loneliness that Rebecca feels throughout the story. Also noteworthy is that Gordon does not answer every question that the reader may have which encourages further reading and research in the subject.

More children's books should be written about this very important and contemporary issue, since there are still issues about racial inequality in South Africa even after the alledged end of the Apartheid.

A great story for ages ten and up.

This is the best book I have read on Criminal Justice. It is fun to read and easy to enjoy. I advise anybody that is interested on the field of criminal justice to begin with this book.

I have always enjoyed reading a celebrity's autobiography and Sheila MacRae's was no exception. Having been born long after the success of MacRae's famous husband, Gordon in 1960, I was unfamilar with his films as well as Miss MacRae's credits as an actress. Through this autobiography, I read with great interest as well as great sadness, over a man and woman who were deeply in love, but destroyed by Gordon's alcoholism and excessive gambling. The bright spots are MacRae's close friendship with Lucille Ball, some revealing insight into her friend Cary Grant's love life, and the Hollywood parties attended in their heydey. After reading the book, I emerged an admirer of both Sheila and Gordon MacRae.

The book Waiting For The Rain, by Shelia Gordon, is a so-so book. I found it helpful to see what was actually going on in South Africa during the Apartheid Movements, and of how people actually treated each other, even this was only based on reality, not something that actually happened with the real characters. I found that Tengo, the African farm-boy did not have it as badly as the book makes it out to be. Frikkie, the kleinbass, is foolish. I found the book rather dull, as well, because in the beginning of the book, it talks equally about Frikkie and Tengo. In the middle, all it is is Tengo and his boring little life in the outskirts of Johannesburg. How he goes to school everyday and studies with a girl that he supposedly likes. I think that the author should have taken into consideration that we would've liked to see what trials and tribulations Frikkie was going through at the crucial stages in his life, instead of hearing about Tengo and his dull existence as a Black African throughout the whole 200 or 300-something pages of the book.
Overall - (10/10) 5/10
Content- (10/10) 3/10
(I really enjoyed the ending, seeing Frikkie and Tengo coming to terms with each other. I would have liked to see Frikkie understand about slavery and Black African life a little more, however.)

Reading "Waiting for the Rain" was like watching a good television show. I thought it was a good book to read if you like to know about segregation. The book was pretty good, but dull. It also gave a lot of information on the history of South Africa and Apartheid. Tengo was the main character. He had a best friend named Frikkie. Tengo is black and Frikkie is white. They are separated by their color and what is going on in S. Africa. The only thing I saw wrong with the book was that there wasn't much action. The book is mostly about friendship and color. The other thing that was bad was the ending. It doesn't say what happened to each of them afterward. I would change the ending if I could or make it longer. The book was an overall of 4 out of 5 stars. You should read it.

Waiting for the Rain, an historical fiction novel by Sheila Gordon, is a story about prejudice that will shock you. It takes place during the 1950s in the bustling cities and grassy planes of South Africa. At this time, the country is filled with racial prejudice. The two main characters, Tengo and Frikkie, are childhood friends; however, one of them is white and the other is black.
Tengo and Frikkie soon find that they are fighting on opposite sides in this racial battle. Tengo dedicates himself to a life of change, and Frikkie joins an army that attempts to keep life the way it has always been. The reader will love the suspense created by their changing relationship. Also, the reader will enjoy the detailed language the author uses to describe the setting. Everyone with a heart will love this book and be driven to learn more about this period in time.

I'm sure that Ms. Gruzen has the best of intentions behind this book but I'm afraid that is will not be helpful to interfaith couples. First I must object to the term 'Jewish/Christian' as it's inaccurate for the majority of children. Most of us are, and just prefer to be called the religion we practice i.e. Jewish, Cathloic, Mormon, etc. as is our right. Each has a definition that includes those of mixed backgrounds and that can be a definition itself for those who don't have a set faith.

She shys away from the really sticky issues like the questions if grandma believes you're going to Heaven like she is, even if you don't believe in Christ or that the other grandma wont accept you as being Jewish even if you're practicing. Just 'talking about G-d' wont cut it with kids. She also has really young children so she hasn't faced any of their hard questions they'll be sure to ask in the future.

I wont claim that I have any answers either but it is more than just what decorations to use in December. There are better books on the subject out there for couples that tackle these issues with a little more insight.

I found this book to be one of the first I discovered that truly examined the option of raising a child to know and respect BOTH religions of the parents. Up until I read this book I was saddened that all advice I'd read said, "Pick one religion and stick with it..."

This seemed too simplistic It would necessarily exclude one parent from sharing their own childhood faith with their kids in a meaningful way. We intend to raise our own children as Jews, but I also want them to have a sense of respect and knowledge of my own religion.

Now in a completely revised, expanded and updated second edition, Lee Gruzen's Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child: How Interfaith Parents Can Give Children The Best Of Both Their Heritages continues to be an invaluable compendium of keen observation and sound advice for interfaith parenting. All of the problems and challenges confronting a Jewish/Christian family are drawn from hundreds of interviews as well as Gruzen's extensive professional research and personal experience. The issues covered wide range from beginning talking with children about God, and moving on to planning ceremonies, celebrating holidays, relationships with grandparents, developing and sense of self, and more. Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child is enthusiastically recommended and invaluable reading for anyone in an interfaith marriage and seeking to instill values and an appreciation of heritage within the character of their children.