This novel is about a girl named Phoebe telling the story about her brother Mick's death. This book makes you laugh but also cry. Mick died in a bike accident leaving only Phoebe and her parents to deal with this great loss. Mick's death was very hard for Phoebe to deal with especially when thinking about the memories of her borther. Throughout this novel Phobeb tells all about what it feels like to lose someone in your family.

I thought that this novel was a good, fun, and enjoyable book to read. The book was especially funny when Mick and Phoebe wrote fart in the wet cement. It was very sad at the end when Phoebe wrote MICK HARTE WAS HERE close to the spot of the accident. If you are looking for a easy and fun book to read chose Mick Harte Was Here.

Mick Harte is the story of the memories caused by one boy. He was killed which is mentioned in the very first line. Despite his death, he brought his family great joy. Even if they didn't know it at the time. He did everthing from refuse to dress nice for church to dress up as the inventor of the toliet for Halloween. This book helps you to learn who other people cope with the death of loved ones. This book had to the power to make you laugh and cry, which I did both. It also made me want to treat my own sister with more respect, because you never know what can happen.

Mick Harte Was Here is a story about a boy who died in a bike accident, as told by his sister Phoebe. The book was funny at times but mostly sad. I liked it because it was funny, especially the part when Phoebe and Mick write the word FART in cement. I would recommend this book for other kids to read, and maybe they will all wear their bicyle helmets when they ride.

While reading this book, Wait Till Helen comes by Mary Downing Hahn, I found myself asking questions that would soon be anwsered later in the book. All in all, I truly enjoyed it. I do think it could have been a bit scarier though. It was the scariest book I ever read considering it was one of the only ones I read. I felt as if I were Molly trying to get through Heather unsuccesfully. One thing I didn't appreciate all that much was how Heather ad Helen sound so much alike. I often had to stop and ask why was Heather lureing kids into the lake, soon realizing that was Helen. I felt a little sorry for Heather and a lot sorry for Molly. My favorite character was probably Helen. Mary Downing Hahn is my favorite author and all in all, this was my favorite one of her books. I have read 3 others, none ghost stories, though.

Name: unknown Age: 12 almost 13

The novel "Wait Till Helen Comes" is a fantastic book. Mary Downing Hahn uses great description of how each of her characters felt in different situations. For example, when Molly moved to Howell she hade no idea that a graveyard was located in back of her house.(a church) She ran home trembling and full of fear.
This book is about a little girl named Heather and how she allies herself with a rather spooky friend. Now her step sister, Molly, can't believe it and follows her everyehere. If you love scary stories to chill your bones then this is the book for you!

The book ''Wait till Hellen Comes'' is a really interesting book. It has different surprises that you will like. A lady named Jean marries a guy named Dave, and they move to a church. Dave has a daughter named Heather. Heather is a spoiled brat, and she always gets her way. Jean also has a daughter named Molly and a son named Michael. Heather finds a graveyard. In the graveyard under a tree there is a tombstone with the initials H.E.H. These are the same initials as Heather's. Heather allied with a ghost named Helen. Heather didn't like Molly or Michael, so Helen trashed Michael, Jean, and Molly's rooms. I would recommend this book to any one who likes ghosts stories.

"Angel Fire" is a beautifully written story about two brothers growing up in a small Wyoming town. David and Cassidy McLeod experience every childs dream of living in a world full of make-believe, adventure and folklore. The story within many stories takes the brothers on their own personal "adventure" away from home. Eventually, the brothers return full circle to West Canaan finding strength, peace and a sense of self.

Growing up in Wyoming, I found myself going "home" while reading "Angel Fire". I was there with Daniel and Cassidy sharing the places, adventures, people and stories told by generations before. Thank you, Ron, for bringing me "home" through your gift of writing this novel. My life is richer and I will forever treasure the magic and memories of "home" given back to me through this wonderful book.

Ron Franscell is a newspaperman who knows a good story when he sees it. Angel Fire is proof-positive that a newspaperman can overcome the usual who, what, when, where, and how style of everyday reporting to create a fictional piece that will move into the depths of your soul.

His is the level of writing many only dream of attaining. He is a masterful storyteller who pays a high compliment to ordinary characters with extraordinary circumstances. His eloquence with words fills a literary canvas with imagery, style and sensibility.

Angel Fire is a novel which personifies heartbreaking strength, selflessness, trust and love. I wept. I laughed out loud. I wept again. The surprise ending will leave you speechless. It has, by far, the best ending I have ever read.

Kudos, Mr. Franscell. Your brilliance is what Hemmingways are made of! I look forward to your next book!

I've never read a novel that made me cry - a few movies have done the trick, but never a novel.

I still haven't. But Angel Fire came as close as any to date. Ron not only opened a vein to write this book, he opened up the depths of his heart to create a wonderful tale that weaves love for family, the magical moments of growing up in small town America in the 1950s, and the tragedy of war into a excellent plot.

The story centers on Cassidy McLeod, a disenchanted writer and journalist from San Francisco whose father had been an editor and publisher of a small town newspaper in Wyoming. Cassidy's life is shaken when his revered older brother, Daniel, a war correspondent presumed killed in the Vietnam War, shows up in his Wyoming hometown in 1995. Cassidy puts his life on hold to care for Daniel, who is all but catatonic from horrific war experiences.

The particular strength of the novel is in its flashbacks. Usually, flashbacks are considered a fiction taboo, especially for an inexperienced novelist. The theory is that all they tend to do is slow down the plot.

That's anything but the case in Angel Fire. The flashback chapters and scenes are compelling, unforgettable stories in themselves that establish the powerful emotional bond Cassidy has for his brother. When that bond collides with the tragic circumstances of 1995, it creates the stuff of which unforgettable stories are made.

The flashback scenes represent writing and storytelling at its finest, capturing the innocence of the post-war 1950s, the essence of hometown newspapering and the aura of growing up in a small town as well as any novel I've read.

Ron's style flows as smooth as an AP wire story, and he has an excellent instinct for compelling detail and vivid description, both executed without slowing down the story.

Many literary writers complain that their work is ignored in favor of the Tom Clancys, John Grishams and Danielle Steels of the writing world. But in many cases literary writers create beautiful prose and then forget the most critical element of any work of fiction, whether it's literary, a romance, a thriller or a mystery.

They forget to tell a good story.

Ron Franscell doesn't forget to tell us a good story. In Angel Fire, he tells an excellent story that elevates and embraces the humanity in all of us.

This book is about a little girl Maureen and her brother Paul who live with their grandparents. A ship called,The Galleon has a whole bunch of ponies on it. The ship gets shipwrecked in a storm and everybody drowns except most of the ponies. The ponies swim ashore an island called Assateague Island. There they live a good life for hundreds of years until humans come. Paul and Maureen are some of them. There's a day called Pony Penning Day. A pony called, The Phantom. Paul and Maureen want want to buy the Phantom but she has a colt and they don't know if they have enough money to buy both horses. On Pony Penning Day they find out that the Phantom and her colt are already sold. They go to the fire cheif and see a young boy and his father. They stop and say they are looking for a little boy and girl whowere going to buy the Phantom and her colt Misty. I liked this book because it tells you that when you want something the best thing to do to do is heip someone. If you want to find out the end of this book ,read it !!!!!!!!!!!!

JESSICA REEVES

If you have a child that loves horses, you've probably already seen this book.......either brought home from the library... or in their own collection. This is one of the staples of any horse-lover's collection.

The story of Misty, a wild pony from Assateague Island off the coast of Virginia who is captured as a foal and adopted by Paul and Maureen Beebe. True story of a truly wonderful foal and her family. This story sparked three sequels that still sell millions of copies around the world.

This book takes place both in Assateague and Chincoteague islands. Maureen and Paul Beebee happen to go to Chincoteague Island with Grandpa Beebee. As they are there they come across the beautiful wild herd of horses! Suddenly the most wild mare, The Phamtom comes racing across! As Pony Penning Day is nearing both Maureen and Paul decide to raise enough money to buy the Phantom. When Pony Penning day arrives Paul not only rounds up the Phantom herself...but her filly Misty too! As Maureen and Paul are ready to buy both the Phantom and Misty, tradgedy strikes. Misty is sold!!! How can this be? Will Maureen and Paul ever have their wish? Read and find for yourself!!

A fast paced book that you will not be able to put down! A little too predicting and easy but a great book for any horse lover. I definatly suggest you buy this book today!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Ersatz Elevator is about three orphans named Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. The orphans are called the Baudelaire orphans that is what everyone calls them. This book is the sixth in the series and it is outstanding. The Baudelaires are trying to live a happy life but Count Olaf is always messing it up. The Baudelaires go to live with the Squalors, their new guardians, on 667 Dark Street. They worry about Count Olaf a mean villain that has been trying to steal the Baudelaire fortune ever since their parents died in a tragic fire. Count Olaf also kidnapped the Quagmire triplets that are friends of the Baudelaires. The Baudelaires are trying to figure out the secret of V.F.D. I liked the book because it made me try to guess what was going to happen next in all the bad things that happen. I also liked if there was a big word or a weird phrase that the writer would explain what they mean and use them throughout the book. The book is written in first person and is in present tense and it's good that way. The description in this book is great I could actually see what the writer was talking about in my mind. I gave this book four stars because I like how the kids take things into their own hands instead of talking to an adult. This book is full of humor and suspense. The bad things that happen are very funny. Lemony Snicket is a great writer.

"The Ersatz Elevator" is the sixth in "A Series of Unfortunate Events" that befall the beleaguered Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. This is a must read series for anyone who likes odd characters, peculiar happenings and a quirky sense of humor.

In this volume the trio are taken in by the trendy Squalors, Jerome and Esme, who live in the penthouse apartment at 667 Dark Avenue. The Squalors have welcomed the children because current fashion says orphans are "in." Unfortunately for the Baudelaire's, elevators are "out" and their new foster family lives either forty-eight or eighty-four flights up.

The author's dark,delightfully witty narrative style can best be described as Alfred Hitchcock meets Monty Python. This book, we are told, "is one of two books in the world that will show you the difference between the word 'nervous' and the word 'anxious.' The other book, of course, is the dictionary, and if I were you I would read that book instead." Good reading and a great value!

This is a great story about the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans and the terrible, terrible villian, Count Olaf, who has been hunting them just to get their fortune, ever since their parents died a fire, but Count Olaf has found them every where they went so far, and in their next home they discover a darkened stair case, a red herring, some friends in a terrible situation, a liar with an evil plan, a secret passageway, parsley soda, and no hope in solving the mystery of the three initials, V.F.D.
This story is very interesting, exiting and suspenseful. I just loved the unexpected twist in the end. If you haven't read this book jet, then I say you should start right away, but only if you are sure to have lots of time because once you start this book you won't be able to concentrate on any thing else until you have finished reading it. I highly recommend this book, and the whole series to all people who can stand these so very, very disappointing and sad stories about very unfortunate orphans and terrible, terrible villains. I also recommend this series to all people who want to know about the very unfortunate events in the lives of the Baudelaire orphans. You might be frightened by all the things Lemony Snicket says about putting the book down, but that is not enough of a reason to miss out on this great book.

I read this great book in one sitting. I'm fifteen years old. I showed it to my mother and she read it in one sitting, too. I think it's a fabulous book for any age, but it's maybe too intense for kids under twelve. It's based on the true story of what happens when the older sister of a thirteen year old girl has a nervous breakdown and has to be hospitalized. It's written from the point of view of the younger sister, in really beautiful and easy to understand poetry , but reads like a fast-paced novel. It made me cry four times. And laugh ,too! If you liked "Girl, Interupted", you'll LOVE this book.

Stop Pretending is a collection of a thirteen-year old girl's thoughts, feelings, and actions after her sister is diagnosed with a mental illness. The book relays a teenager's emotional journey through shock and denial to relief and acceptance of her sister's condition.

Though this story is told in an unorthodox form-- a series of poems-- its poetic style strengthens the narrative. The poems allow readers to experience Cookie's thoughts and feelings with her. There is no background information or perspectives from other people; the poems solely express Cookie's concerns, questions, confusions, joys, and sorrows. While it gives no hints or suggestions for fixing the problems that accompany mental illness, it leaves its readers with a sense that Cookie has made peace with the mental illness and that her life will be more joyful.

These poems are inspired by events that occurred in the author Sonya Sones' life. Sones' oldest sister was unexpectedly diagnosed with a mental illness. Sones had always looked up to her sister, and this diagnosis created emotional and relational instability in her life. Many years later, Sones was able to take the journal entries she had written during that time and change them into the collection of poems that became Stop Pretending. The poems in Stop Pretending are based on Sones' own thoughts and feelings as a teenage girl. She bares her soul to her readers as they swept up in her thoughts.

This book deals with many issues teenagers face everyday, including family struggles, loneliness, relationships, friendship, self-identity, and drugs. Readers are prompted to think about how to deal with these topics. For example, what exactly does it mean to be a friend? Does it mean acting cool and saying the right thing all the time? Or does friendship mean being open and honest with one another, always giving support, and accepting each other?

Yet this book not only stretches its readers to ponder personal issues, it focuses on an issue that most readers have never encountered personally: knowing someone who is affected by a mental illness. Most teenagers, even adults, have never dealt with a person who has a serious mental illness, much less a loved one. Most people do not want to even think that a mental illness could affect them. Stop Pretending brings into light that this could happen to you or someone you know. In Stop Pretending, Cookie's sister was a regular teenage girl, until one night she snapped unexpectedly. The book also shows that more people are affected by mental illness than the reader probably realizes. In Stop Pretending, Cookie, her parents, and her sister are all affected by this mental illness. Yet Cookie kept her struggles to herself because of fear that if anyone knew, they may reject her. I wonder how many people in the world keep issues like this as their secret? The power of this book is that Stop Pretending allows all these issues to be explored by the reader, while still being inside the comfort zone of a book.

Stop Pretending brings the reader out of his or her tightly knit personal world into a realm that he or she had never experienced before. It makes the reader struggle with unfamiliar and uncomfortable issues. It broadens the reader's horizons by letting the reader see someone else's thoughts. It may also encourage him or her to be more considerate towards people who are going through tough times.

This book, though in poetic form, is an easy read. The poems flow effortlessly together and create a coherent story.

I would recommend this book to people who wish to gain more knowledge and understanding of people with mental illness and their families. Teenagers, middle school and older, would also enjoy and learn from this book. Finally, this book is recommended to anyone who wants to experience of the power of poetry.

Written as a series of short but powerful poems, Stop Pretending is a must read for teenage readers as well as adults. Based on the authors' own family experiences, this masterpiece takes the reader through a gamete of emotions from grief, anger, guilt, loss, fear, resentment, humor to acceptance. Her depictions of personal emotion and the new family dynamics are based on the authors' own personal journal that she kept as a teenager. She credits this writing process as the way in which she stayed sane while her sister was having a nervous breakdown, later diagnosed as manic-depression. She expresses the fears of her friends finding out about her sister and the joy of first love in the middle of such chaos. She writes about feeling as if it is somehow her fault and about how the joy and laughter disappear from the house. "Minus. Last night/sister wasn't there/to help me study for my math test. Father tried to fill in/but he's never been as good at math/as her. This morning/I'm sitting here/taking the test/but the numbers on the page/keep scrambling/in my head/and the only equation/I really understand is:/4-1=0." Finally, after many months there is improvement in her sister and she notices that once again her parents resume normal activities and there is laughter again. "Girl's Night In. Mother's friends/are over tonight/and I'm sitting/at the top of the stairs/listening/to the tinkling/of their voices,/and the gentle flup/of the cards being shuffled,/the muffled jingling/of coins tossed onto the silk tablecloth,/and the best sound of all:/my mother's long lost laugh." Excellent reading for those dealing with a family members mental illness or those just wanting a powerful emotional read.

The Coldest Winter Ever - Sista Souljah. This book was picked by someone in our bookclub. It was serious. I loved it. I couldn't put it down. I left work early, told them I wasn't feeling well, so I could go home and read this book. MMMMMMMmmmmm! I loved it! Winter was something else, it was about her and her only. I can not relate to her at all. BUT THERE ARE DEFINETLY SOME YOUNG LADIES OUT HERE WHO CAN. They can definetly benefit from reading this book. Thank God I dont have a daughter. Winter was scandelous. I loved the fact that Bilal was the person he was. (Dont want to tell the book) I also liked that when Souljah appeared in the book nothing changed Winter. That's what made me like it more, I thought that since Souljah was the author and she was in the book that she would make herself have some kind of influence on Winter. This book should be put into the school systems. To many young girls these days eyes Bulge out of their heads when they see nice cars, rims, clothes. Some of ya'll know, what I'm talking about. Souljah bring us another one!

I enjoyed this book so much that I am truly hoping that it is made into a movie in the very near future. The only other book that I can say that has held so many conversations everywhere is "Waiting to exhale". I searched the web for the chance & place to write my review and I've found it and I'm so overwhelmed! The Coldest Winter Ever deserves many awards. It is an exciting, interesting, realistic and an enjoyable book! It strikes up an uplifting conversation at any time w/ anybody. Out of all the books that I've read, this is the only one that I've let my teenage daughter read, she can't put it down. I even let her take it to school and read it during lunch. On the first day that I let her take it to school, she came home so amazed with finding out that nearly the entire female student body had read it and LOVED IT!! The book is "Fantastic"! Please, please, please make a movie of this book. I truly believe that it will set a record during the first weekend. Thanks Sister Souljah. What a great job. What do you have for us next :)? Sandy K.

The Nubian Knowledge Book club, selected this book for the month of June, and we must say, it was REMARKABLE! Unlike some books, the plot was very creative and not predictable. The book told a story of a young inner-city girl (Winter) who gets trapped in the fantasy lifestyle. When her friends & family began to face serious repercussions for their actions, she turned her back on all but her father - Santiaga. Throughout the book, Winter had plenty of opportunities to learn from the mistakes of her family/friends, and even herself, but she did not. Only at the end, did Winter finally began to see her mistakes, when she saw her younger sister, Porshe begin to follow in her footsteps. The characters were so well defined that you could actually feel their pain. However, we could not feel much sympathy for Winter, as she got what she deserved. This definitely was a page-turner, staring in the first chapter. It taught life lessons that we all can learn from; therefore we rate this book as a MUST READ to everyone.

Because none of their distant relatives will take them in out of fear of Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orphans become part of a new program based on the saying "It takes a village to raise a child." Under this program, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny's newest guardians will be all the residents of an entire village. In the hopes of solving the mystery of "V.F.D.," the children choose a village by that name as their new home. But they are terribly disappointed. They are sent to live with a kind but timid man named Hector who loves to cook Mexican food and has a library of forbidden books. V.F.D. is run by the strict Council of Elders, who have made tens of thousands of ridiculous rules that the citizens of the village must follow or risk being burned at the stake. When the Baudelaires are falsely accused of murder and imprisoned, they must escape from the jail and find their friends the Quagmires, who are hidden somewhere in the village. This was another miserable, hilarious book in A Series of Unfortunate Events that is a must-read for all fans of the series.

No one wants to be Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. Their chain of unfortunate events keeps continuing, and perhaps has reached its most treacherous event in the lives of the three orphans. Count Olaf and his dastardly new accomplice, Esme Squalor, are on the run. The Quagmire triplets are still missing - and their time just may be running out. Now, the orphans are in the care of the village of V.F.D. - a town with the motto "It takes a village to raise a child." This village
is very, very vile -- there are thousands of ridiculous rules to comply to, and anyone who disobeyes a rule is burned at the stake alive! Then there's the tremendous mob of crows that flock to different places during day and night, blackening the town's sky. The Baudelaires have probably never faced more absurd circumstances. As mysteries and mayhem fill their lives even more, their stay at V.F.D.is becoming worse than they could have ever dreamed. The Vile Village is the seventh book in A Series Of Unfortunate Events, and one of my favorite books in the series so far.

I am an avid reader of almost 12 years. I stumbled across The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (I hate that pen name though) and I loved it. I read up to the 7th book and cannot wait for the 8th. These books were refreshingly short and entertaining. A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the long and sad epic, throughout many books, of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire whose parents have perished in a house fire and who are left alone with the evil Count Olaf. Each are well developed and unique characters whose abilities come in useful at every turn only to be squashed by the evil doings of Olaf and his troupe. The books get better and better as you go along and meet characters like:

~Isadora and Duncan Quagmire, two triplets who are also journalists and poets

~Esme Squalor, the fancy pinstriped financial advisor

~Vice Principal Nero, the self-proclaimed genius violinist

~Sir, whose head is invisible due to a constant cloud of smoke

~and many more!

Please, try this series out and you will love it. I thouroughly recommend any book in the series to readers of Harry Potter and other magical stories who want a short and simple laugh-out-loud adventure.

Whar else can come from the eight book of The A Series of Unfortunate Events then horrible situations for the Baudalaires? As we all know by now in the 7th book "The Vile Village the Baudalaires are accused falsely of the murder of Jacques Snicket. As their woeful lives continue the orphans join V.F.D(Voluteers Fighting Disease) at the Hemilich Hospital. There they are sent to the Library of Records to work. As we all know by now where the orphans go Count Olaf follows. This time however he can't be seen as the oprhans only know he is the head of the hospital. Just when they discover extrodainary evidence in the Library of Records on themselves Esme Squalor(now the girlfriend of Count Olaf) comes and captures Violet. It seems Count Olaf is going to do some very uneccessay surgery on poor helpless Voilet. Can Klaus and Sunny foil his plans once again?

Through this book Lemony Snickey worked his magic again with his dry humor! I was also excited because he is revealing more and more on the circumstances of Beatrice's death and it seems very related to Esme Squalor. So many question are lurking that I can't wait for #9 the Carnivourous Carnival!!

In the eighth book of the Series of Unfortunate Events, what else can be expected but woe and mystery? Due to some extremely incorrect publishing in a newspaper, the whole world now believes that the Baudelaire orphans are dangerous murders. However, nothing could be further from the truth since Klaus, Violet and Sunny are no less murders than you or me.
Taking refuge in a hospital, the orphans are forced to disguise them selves as V.F.D's (Volunteers Fighting Disease)! Of course, wherever the orphans go, Count Olaf follows and this time he has devised another disastrous scheme.

As I thoroughly enjoyed all the other books in the Series of Unfortunate Events, I enjoyed this book just as much. All of Lemony Snicket's books seem to follow a certain format, orphans find a new home (and when Mr. Poe is there he hardly stays to say hello to the orphan's unfortunate guardian,) Count Olaf makes his stinking appearance, none of the adults can see through Count Olaf's stupid disguise and the Baudelaires are forced to get out of their dilemma on their own.
I hear this book contains ' misleading newspaper headlines, unnecessary surgery, an intercom system, anaesthesia, heart-shaped balloons, and some very startling news about such things, ' as Mr. Snicket so kindly put it.

As well as telling the woeful tale of the Baudelaire orphans, Lemony Snicket slowly is revealing his own life's tale. Such as how his dearly beloved Beatrice died, something horrible that still makes him cry at night about Count Olaf, and something I am dieing to know about, the mysterious Jacques Snicket who was killed in 'The Vile Village'. As well as the mysterious V.F.D, and whether the Baudelaire orphans will ever see the Quagmire triplets again! Perhaps the last book in the series will explain all these loose ends!

I congratulate Lemony Snicket on producing such an intriguing tale when his when life is filled with misery. I recommend this book for all ages- anyone who would find it interesting!

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are back for another adventure. In the last book they were successful in helping their friends the Quagmire triplets escape the clutches of Count Olaf. Now the Baudelaires are on the run after being accused of murdering Count Olaf (who is of course still very much alive). While fleeing, the Baudelaires run into another VFD: Volunteers Fighting Disease. Taking a chance that this VFD may lead them to Count Olaf's secret, the orphans travel with the group to Heimlich Hospital, where the volunteers go everyday to cheer up the patients by singing and handing out balloons. Knowing that they are wanted murders and that the Daily Punctilio keeps reporting false facts about them, the Baudelaires volunteer for a job at the hospital that will keep them out of sight for a while and may lead them to solving the mystery of Count Olaf and VFD. Count Olaf soon makes his presence felt however, and the oprhans are in a race against time to discover his secret before they are discovered.

I love this series of books. And while I sometimes feel a bit bad taking such enjoyment from someones misery, this books are still very enjoyable. The Hostile Hospital is another great story in this series. The author keeps the plot twists coming, and does not hold back. There are no easy answers or happy endings to be found in this book. Highly recommended.

This is a book which deals with difficult events in a sensitive way. It describes death from AIDS accurately as extremely difficult for the person dying and equally difficult for loved ones. It places AIDS in the context of homophobia, an additional burden on all involved. The main chaaracter, Summer, has to deal with her brother's AIDS, his approaching death, and her loss of a brother who is more of a parent than a sibling. It is, in addition, a love story--love between her brother, Todd, and his partner Jacob, as well as sibling love.

A really nice effort for a first novel by the author. I hope to see more from her.

This is a wonderful book about family love. I read the entire book yesterday and loved it so much, I re-read it today. The characters are so real. The story is so uplifting. I couldn't quit thinking about Summer and Todd and Jacob. I especially liked the confrontation with Todd's grandmother and Jacob. Such a wonderful scene. I can't wait to read more of Katrina Kittle's writing.

Summer's life is crumbling all around her. Not only has an injury put a hold on her promising dancing career, she is also dealing with her brother's demise with AIDS.

Todd has been everything that family is meant to be to Summer, even taking on the role of guardian when their parents weren't there. So in return she decides to move in with Todd and his partner, Jacob and become part of his support group.

This book is about the death of a loved one, a person that you are not ready to say goodbye to. It's a book about love, regardless of how and who we find it with, and the need for it in our lives. I've found it as a great motto in life, travel light. Spend time with the people that are the most important to you and let them know how you feel.

I left many tears on the pages of this book, and l don't think that l was the first! I hope Katrina Kittle has many more stories to share with her readers.