I simply loved this book! No other book can compete with it not even Harry Potter. The book is great for 10 upwards. If you like travelling, exploring, playing football, sailing, painting, learning from other people and making things, then this is the book for you. It all started with the arrival of a letter that changed the lives of Michael's Family in turn made the parents lose their jobs. After many harsh months of poverty, the father gets an idea of sailing round the whole world with a sailing boat called "Peggy Sue." The family battles through storms and towering waves but most of the time loves doing fun things onboard. (let me go to the point, I'm writing too much) Soon afterwards we find Michael on a tropical island in the Pacific, where we find out that it's inhabitated by an old man called Kensuke,a Japanese. They both teach each other new things. Michael teaches Kensuke how to speak English while the other teaches him how to be resourceful. That's not all. At one point, each one had a story to tell. Stories on how they got stranded on the island. This makes it more amusing. We also find cute creatures called orangutan. Well there's too much to tell about the book. If you find this book, buy it, it will be a treasure for your library.

hi, my name is sandy jones. i read this book when i was 9 and the only thing that stopped me from reading it, was to sleep. it is a faboulous book for all ages.

When i was forced to read this book for a quiz i thought that it would be very boring. Boy was i wrong. It is my favourite book, i have read it several times since and it is so good that each time i read it i have to read it all in one night, i can't put it down.
When Michaels parents are made redundant, they buy a boat, The Peggy Sue, and sail round the world. When they are in the pacific ocean, Michael and his dog, Stella Artois, fall over board whilst Michaels parents are asleep. They drift onto an island, but they can't find any food. Michael expects that they will die of hunger, until someone on the uninhabited island leaves them food. Who is this kind person? How will Michael get home?

The War of Jenkins' Ear is one of the most amazing novels I have ever read. This novel is considered young adult fiction, but the themes expressed here are for people of any age. The plot focuses on Toby. Toby attends a boarding school in England in the 1950's which he detests. But one year, everything changes because of a new boy in school, Christopher. Christopher is certainly different from the other boys at school, and he soon reveals to Toby that he has visions which tell him that he is the second coming of Jesus. Toby is picked as his first deciple.

Michael Morpurgo uses his unique premise perfectly to comment on life on different levels. First off, he captures the life around the boarding school extremely well. The element of class warfare between the oiks (village children) and the toffs (boarding school children) is present. Morpurgo also captures the intensity of the relationships between the students and between the students and their teachers at the isolated school. The element of first love is also introduced, and the characters in the novel are all fully developed. Morpurgo is most successful at studying the nature of faith, though. He presents how difficult it is to believe in the face of convention, and he also shows the extraordinary powers that faith in something can bring. The novel is also very successful at commenting on what peoples' lives around the Jesus Christ must have been like.

The War of Jenkins' Ear is a fascinating novel. Everything about it makes you think. Even the title can have a symbolic meaning. I think The War of Jenkins' Ear should easily go down as one of the great young adult reads of the century.

"If a grain of wheat does not fall unto the earth and die, it is but a single seed. But if the seed dies, it will produce many seeds." (Jn 12:24) A seed must fall to the ground and die if it is to give new life. This is what this book did for me, it was the seed that once possesed life and fell into the dirt (Me) and gave new life to me enabling me to realize my own lack of faith, detestive prejudces, enormus doubt, lack of humility, servanthood, trust, obedience, vulnerability, the realization to a calling greater than myself, the reponsibility I have in life, and the purpose for living. Since I have read this book I have seen myself relate so much to Toby Jenkins and his experiences, and its only been one day since I have read it. This book is a great way to relating Christ in the 20th Century to the young adult as well as the eldest adult. I believe this book is awsome for everyone no matter what the age. It is full of principles we all can use, not only in our lives with God, but also in our daily lives with people. I give this book an ASTOUNDING 10 because it not only told a story but changed my life. I would love to read more books like this. Matt Casper, Georgia Southern University

"If a grain of wheat does not fall unto the earth and die, it is but a single seed. But if the seed dies, it will produce many seeds." (Jn 12:24) A seed must fall to the ground and die if it is to give new life. This is what this book did for me, it was the seed that once possesed life and fell into the dirt (Me) and gave new life to me enabling me to realize my own lack of faith, detestive prejudces, enormus doubt, lack of humility, servanthood, trust, obedience, vulnerability, the realization to a calling greater than myself, the reponsibility I have in life, and the purpose for living. Since I have read this book I have seen myself relate so much to Toby Jenkins and his experiences, and its only been one day since I have read it. This book is a great way to relating Christ in the 20th Century to the young adult as well as the eldest adult. I believe this book is awsome for everyone no matter what the age. It is full of principles we all can use, not only in our lives with God, but also in our daily lives with people. I give this book an ASTOUNDING 10 because it not only told a story but changed my life. I would love to read more books like this. Matt Casper, Georgia Southern University

I read this book for school and it is the best book I have ever read. There is suspense and adventure that makes you want to never put the book down. I would recommend this book to everyone. It's worth it!

This book is wonderful! It is full of great discription, but not over discribed. The plot of the book is very interesting. Even though it is out of print, it's worth the chance trying to locate a used copy of this book. It's fantastic!

I have never read a better book in my life! The entire plot and setting are incredable! The Yeti are so well discribed. The story has a lot of suspense and adventure. It's worth trying to order a used copy. It is the BEST book!

I love this book it is really interesting ,I espeacialy like the yeti's the describtion of them is great! Ashley is very courages as Oncle Sung! It is the best book I read in all my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Essy!!!!

This book is awesome. It's also sort of sad. It's about a sleek and beautiful horse get's sold from his mother. He go's to a boy named Albert, and stays there for two years. He is treated with creulty by Albert's father, but love from Alebert himself. They name the horse Joey. But war starts and Joey is sold by Albert's cruel father to the soldiers, to go into war.
That's about all I can say. You gotta read the book! I like this book, mainly becuase it is about horses, and it is told by the horse, Joey. It's his point of view.

In my opinion, War Horse is one of the best books I've ever read. I read it in Dutch, named `Oorlogspaard'. (I'm Dutch, sorry for grammatical mistakes). When I began to read it, I first thought it was `just' a story about a horse. How sweet. But when I got further, I saw it's kind of historical too. And that's the reason I like it so much; the whole story could be true. Other books about horses are mostly all the same; it's about a young girl (or boy) and a horse and it always has a happy end.

This book is different. It shows the first world war from an other point of view: a horse. The horse (Joey) doesn't understand that much about the war and wants to get out of it as fast as he can. He stays friendly, although the soldiers let him work very hard. War Horse is my favourite book and I think that many people would like it; it's not a story for horse-lovers only, you know.

This book is extremely good, with pages that will have you hanging on every word. It is about two children who are coming to America, from Ireland because of the famine, in search of their father. They had to leave their mother behind with the baby, and all they have to protect them it a "twist of gold"; a torc that has been in the family for years. From Ireland to California, there are plenty of mishaps and troubles, but also plenty of laughter and good parts. Although it is very tragic, and long, you won't put it down until it's done. I read this book when I was 11, and it has been my favourite ever since. I suggest this book if you want a good full book that will keep you reading for a while!

This story is set in early 19th century Devon, during the Napoleonic Wars. The narrator is a boy in his early teens, who by chance and high spirits falls in with a gang of smugglers bringing contraband by sea from France to England. It's a fast-moving story, in the tradition of R. L. Stevenson, and a good look at the history of the period along England's south coast too.

If you like Robert Louis Stevenson, you will thoroughly enjoy Masefield's Jim Davis. I first read this at age 14 (with some vocab help from dear old dad) and it remains one of the best books I have read in a long while. Being a history major and an english minor I found the prose of this book delightful and the historical significance astounding. If you are an adult who has read and re-read Stevenson too much and want the same genre but a different author/plot Jim Davis is the novel for you. If you have a child whom you wish to turn onto fine literature Jim Davis will grab your child's imagination and illustrate a grand adventure of pirates, smugglers, soldiers and gypsies for it. Any child (old or young) can relate to the stories narrator, this is a jewel of English literature. Another great Stevenson alternate is J. Meade Falkner's Moonfleet, it is a bit of an easier read than Jim Davis, but contains just as much adventure.

It is appropriate for anyone who loves action and adventure

This title was appreciated by enough students and professional librarians and teachers to make the Year 2000 list of nominees for Illinois' childrens' choice award named after the Illinois author Rebecca Caudill. This book is best for grades 4-6. A sweet frame story set in England containing many elements popular with young readers: animals, family, tragedy, and (surprisingly) a ghost!

This book is a very great book for children 3rd through 6th grade. It was a story about adopted lion of a young boy, then the lion is forced to go. Later in the boys life he reilizes what the lion ment to him. This is a sad story or a happy story. It is you who will chose.

This story is the winner of the Smarties Prize and Writers Guild award. A boy called Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African Veldt. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but the butterfly lion never forgets their friendship.I would recommend this story to nine to thirteen year olds. I would give this story a mark of ten out of ten for being so interesting and capturing my imagination. My best character was the butterfly lion because I felt really sorry for him that he left his friend to go to the circus. My favourite part is when the butterflies fly away from the chalk picture of the lion on the hillside.

I really enjoyed the first part of the book, as it was really interesting. I think that the author Michael Morpurgo was really clever using something that he knows about. He also wrote 'The Wreck of the Zanzibar' and both stories are very alike in some ways. They are set in the same sort of time, and are both set around the Scilly Isles. I like this story so far because it is very realistic. I think that this could actually happen although it is a bit of a fantasy. I enjoyed the first part of the book as it is a different literature than I usually read, that is interesting.

At the start of the book Daniel and Gracie were sailing boats near the Isles of Scilly. When they couldn't find anywhere to sail their boats they went to the Birdman's territory. They lost one of their boats and the Birdman found it. The Birdman wrote messages in the sand to Daniel and Gracie and they gradually began to find out about him. The Birdman had had many bad stories told about him and everyone was terrified of him. Daniel and Gracie found the better side of him. This shows how many people judge other people by what they hear about them.

I think that the Birdman was actually very kind inside.

Daniel is very ambitious and likes to do things in a rush. Gracie is a bit shy and tries to stop Daniel in his frantic rush.

This book gives you the wonder of the Isles of Scilly mixed in with a wonderful story, about children living on Bryher during the war, and shows the reader a different kind of life. Excellently written and a real joy.

This was the first serious chapter book I read to my six-year-old and it has completely sold her on books. Think of a book from your childhood that made you cry: Black Beauty? To Kill a Mockingbird? Why the Whales Came will be on your child's list one day. Thank you Michael Murpurgo, where ever you are.

I totally agree with the reviewer who says that Kidnapped has become his/her favorite book of all time and that (s)he still re-reads it several times a year. Not that I re-read it, but I agree when (s)he says that (s)he envies anyone who is about to read 'Kidnapped' for the first time. I am about the same age, and I well remember my first reading - how I smiled when Uncle Ebeneezer served his gruel (porridge) - how I held my breath when David nearly stepped into space on the broken stairs - how I cringed with the injustice of Ebeneezer tried to cheat David out of his inheritance by selling him into slavery in the American colonies.

Stevenson's 'Treasure Island' is reckoned to be his best book but, for sheer descriptive weight, superb characterization and sharp, sharp dialog, 'Kidnapped' is the one for me. In brief, 16-year-old orphan, David Balfour visits his uncle in order to claim the inheritance, left by his father. The uncle, having failed to kill him, arranges for David to be kidnapped by a ship of thugs and villains and taken to the Carolinas to be sold into slavery. While navigating the Scottish coast, the ship collides with another boat and the crew capture the lone survivor, a swashbuckling Highlander called Alan Breck Stewart. David and Alan become friends and escape their captors. On land again, Stewart is accused of murdering a rival clan member and he and David must now cross the Scottish mountains to reach safe haven and for David to reclaim his inheritance.

The descriptions of the Scottish countryside are truly marvelous and the sense of pace and adventure keeps the reader hooked right to the end. I notice that one reviewer likened this section to 'a tiresome episode of The Odd Couple'. Perhaps it's worth bearing in mind that The Odd Couple was written a few years AFTER Kidnapped ! (In any case, I doubt that a written version of the television series would stir anyone's emotions like Kidnapped can). To most readers the historic aspects, along with the fact that the couple are being hunted by British redcoats is enough to maintain interest, suspense and pace.

Read and enjoy !

Let me tell you now that 'Kidnapped' is my personal favourite, and I've already read it four times! You'll never get a moment to pause to take a yawn. R.L. Stevenson with his superb writing capabilities writes of a young man named David Balfour. When his father dies, he is told to go to his uncle's house. After several failed attempts to kill David the wicked uncle sells him off to a skipper of a ship. In the course of his stay on the ship David meets the Jacobite, Alan. I can't describe the novel in words you gotta read it to know what you are really in for! This is the greatest adventure novel I've ever read. If you have read Stevenson's 'Treasure Island' then you won't be disappionted with this one.

I was surprised to see some reviewers didn't like this wonderful book. If you have trouble with the Scottish accent, read it out loud, use your imagination, and if you still can't figure it out, skip a bit. (Do you insist on understanding every single word spoken in a movie?)

This is the story of a young man overcoming adversity to gain maturity and his birthright. It moves right along, in Stevenson's beautiful prose. Read, for example, this sentence from Chapter 12: "In those days, so close on the back of the great rebellion, it was needful a man should know what he was doing when he went upon the heather." Read it out loud; it rolls along, carrying the reader back to Scotland, even a reader like me, who doesn't know all that much about Scottish history. Kidnapped is by no means inferior, and in many ways superior to the more famous Treasure Island.

Only two points I would like to bring up: I bought the Penguin Popular Classics issue, and have sort of mixed feelings. Maybe some day I'll get the version illustrated by Wyeth. I'm not sure whether this book needs illustrations, though. Stevenson's vivid writing is full of pictures.

In Chapter 4, David makes a point of saying that he found a book given by his father to his uncle on Ebenezer's fifth birthday. So? Is this supposed to show how much Ebenezer aged due to his wickedness? If anybody could explain this to me, please do.