Sallie Lowenstein's Sender Unknown is the story of Markham Perrald, a brilliant and eccentric young man who turns away from his idyllic pastimes in order to pursue the computer industry, high business standards, and financial success that everyone at his high school reunion expects him to achieve. Yet a longing lies within him, which he tries to fill by ordering seemingly harmless toys from a catalog. Too late, he learns that the orders aren't exactly toys, there are no refunds or returns, and that the purchases he committed himself to are truly a matter of "let the buyer beware"! Sender Unknown is highly recommended as a compelling story of heart, threat, emotional loss, wry twists, and the eternal pondering of what is really important in life.

Too many YA writers copy each other and then copy their own selves, but not Sallie Lowenstein. Who writes like her? NOBODY, becuz she is about 90 degrees twisted and executes her own artwork and is so fearless about it all, not caring if she's inside or oustside of the approved box---HUH! What can you say about a guy who has to adopt a whole house full of dolls and action figures who are really alive? That's not the ending of the plot, only the middle. If I ever find a guy like this I'll marry him.

I was so glad to read Sender Unknown and meet the main character, Mark, because he reminded me of my son--an unusual character. When I finished the book I could relax because I knew that Mark of Sender is a very decent and interesting, if eccentric, man and so is my son. One of the highest achievements of literature (at least in my opinion) is a better understanding of other people and life in general.

Sender Unknown is probably closer to science fiction than any other category but deals with several modern cutting-edge fears: mail bringing "surprises," the possibility that people could be created in new "scientific" ways, the growing need for everyone to remain flexible in response to the world, rather than become rigid and all alike.

The story is chock full of the unexpected and most of it is very pleasant. I found myself totally absorbed and was glad that I was sick so that I could continue reading as long as I wanted without feeling guilty. The ugliness of life in this book is so well-disguised that anyone of any age is safe reading this book and yet they will be challenged.

I really enjoy this book because it is well written and exiting.

This is a good book and it tells you a lot about mythogical creatures. It tells about a long and adventures zoo that they come to. They find a lot of weird creatures and think it is pretty cool. His dad becames the manager after a while and they get to take a little lizard with them. There sister Oliva is in charge of the babies and they Mom writes brochures to schools to come and see the zoo. The first two zoos that there father picks out are duds and then the last one is a hit. It is in a winding road and up a couple of hills and they didn't think they found it at the bigining

This book is a Haggadah for Hanukkah --- a service to be used year in and year out, which stresses the idea of religious freedom and the historical context of the holiday. Decorated with original, hand silk-screened illustrations, it is a book to be saved and treasured.Included are the blessings, the story and 16 ways to spell Hanukkah. A special addition is a history of the period in which Hanukkah originated and a history of the artistic development of the menorrah. The book is a limited, numbered edition and fills a special niche in the genre and unlike many, is not a story book nor a how to book.

Ms. Lowenstein's excellent book would be one of my favorites, if I were! Sci-fi was my first fictional love as a young reader, and I read every space story I could get my hands on. Many of them eventually began to seem alike, though. Rest assured that FOCUS is of a different stripe. The saga of Andrew Haldran, adolescent and confused, who no longer has any planet to call his home, will resonate with young readers living through their own terrestrial versions of Andrew's alienation. Lowenstein convincingly renders the inner turmoil of a teen, privately clinging to childhood, publicly showing a brave face. His very innocence allows him to view his new surroundings without prejudice or preconception, making friends with a mysterious outcast who alone possesses the key to this society's future. Andrew's guilelessness charms. But it is Tomas, the alienish outcast, who lingers poignantly in the reader's imagination long after the last page has been turned. FOCUS is astoundingly original, daring to locate (and address) the child in each of us. Its illustrated stories-within-the-story stir deep memories in an older reader, reminding us that even the toughest-acting teen can still harbor sweetness, uncertainty, and the unclouded sense of wonder he was born with. Lowenstein writes with the originality of a space alien, from the true-blue heart of a child. This is an entertaining book for adults to give young readers, but might also be a valuable read for parents struggling to understand a son or daughter. Ms. Lowenstein is intergenerational in her empathy, and FOCUS is suffused with her humanity, amazing imagination, and sheer joy in her own creativity.

In Focus, seventeen year old Andrew Haldran takes the risky course of forgoing genetic augmentation, and by this omission may destine himself to a life of poverty and discrimination. Desperate to avoid this fate for him, Andrew's parents take a chance and leave for Miner's World, where alien secrets may offer them a fortune at any moment. Here they meet Tomas Chalder, who although full-grown, still seems to be trying to find (or re-find) himself. One special feature of this outstanding science fiction novel for young adult readers are the series of fully illustrated children's tales told by Andrew to his little sisters and embedded in the narrative. Highly recommended for science fiction fans.

By saying that I finnished Focus in a total of a day and a half might hint that I enjoyed it. Getting the book before it was published added to my excitement. I waited very little time to dive in and enjoy.

Andrew, the boy through whom the story is told, is of an age to be augmented, that is gentically altered so that he can succeed in a certain field. Andrew decides to remain unaugmented. To compensate for his decision, Andrew's father accepts a post on distant Miner's World. Once on Miner's World they are taken to their house, an odd building, by Tomas, the strange, once successful, now considered odd at the least, miner. They encounter aliens, water people, and the dangerously secretive miners.

Sallie Lowenstien breaks up her fast paced book with stories Andrew tells his little sisters. The stories helped me pace the book and say 'okay, here's a good stopping point.' The stories are illustrated with pencil drawings, which show that Sallie is as good an artist as an author.

After waiting months for this book to be available to me I was not in the least bit disappointed. Focus was well written, full of great detail, very convincing, and an original book.

Ms. Lowenstein creates a world both odd and familiar, peopled with young characters we wish we knew; yet her work speaks to a larger, older readership as well---having fully as much crossover appeal as the "Harry Potter" books. With an economy of style, beautifully rendered illustrations, and a peculiar ability to imagine so far outside the usual sci-fi box that she almost seems to be from a distant planet herself, her "Evan" is a book that has no parallel anywhere. Lowenstein's work is stunningly original, beautiful, wonderfully wise and strange. I look forward to her next novel with great anticipation.

When you live here life is tough. If you get hurt or even killed it's not fighting, its surviving... Forced to live poor and abandonded by his own mother, teenage Jake Lawrence knows what its like to live this way. But thats not what bothers him, the love and care for his plauge stricken brother chains him from going freely. How ever he loves his brother and knows thats all he gots. Only 7 and can't talk, Evan is plauge stricken so he is lucky that he hasn't died yet, and he is fully dependant on Jake. But can Jake handle the going? Now forced to do a propelling assingment concerning a mysterious story teller and his hiding throws Jake to have to enter the most dreaded area of the whole future. But can Evan and this new concern be all Jake can handle? With propelling tales and perplex stories Evan's Voice is a wonder of dreams and hopes destined to come true.

Evan's Voice is a book of the future. The main character is Jake. He stays with Mrs. Garvey as Jake's mom left her him and his Plague-striken brother. Jake meets a girl, Mellie, who gets beat on by her dad. Jake and Evan always watch a DV show call "Colony." Then, after a while, "Colony" goes off the air. The storyteller, J. Adam, is missing. Jake and Mellie need to go find him to find out the rest of the story. Jake also has an assignment from Mr. Ap-pel, his teacher, who said to get an interview with the storyteller. He will need it to help him on his assignment and to try to help Evan from dying.