This book is woooonnnnderful!! You will not be sorry you bought this book. One-of-a-kind.

This is a story told through photographs, with text providing some framework for the pictures. Dignified, moving, insightful. The photographs date back to the 1800s and focus specifically on photographs of African-Americans. Only the very last few pages of the album have contemporary photographs of adults and children.

There are formal portraits of black families in their finest attire, pictures of black intellectuals, candid pictures of black families, children, social life, families on their homesteads, in large metropolitan cities, working in fields, upper-class black people.

More photographs than I have ever seen before of past generations of African-Americans in all of their variety. Photographs are worth a thousand words; more clear and illuminating than a dry volume of essays on the African-American experience. This history is in living color.

I have seen some libraries classify this album as a children's book, but it is not one. This is a full-size album, with stories told through photographs. This is a book to show to your children, to display and to cherish. A beautiful record of the past.

Jennifer throws a party while her parents are out of town, and she gets the best rap group in town to come. Her and her cousin are getting along now.

This book was really good, there is a second part The Party. I really enjoyed this book. It's one of those books you read in one sitting.

I am teaching art based on literature. I just added this book to my art library. The illustrations are wonderful, perfect for a class on African art or working with chalks. The text is as lively as the illustrations and the kids just love the three animal characters

Bloodshed... Insanity... Action... Terror... Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers tells the tragic story in the trenches and at the front lines of the Vietnam War through the innocent eyes of Richard Perry, a 17 year old African-American soldier from Harlem. He is leaving behind his younger brother and loving mother. After his dream of going to college falls through, he volunteers for the service unlike fellow draftees in 1967.
Death comes knocking at his door, day after day, night after night. The real bloody horror of warfare nearly rips his heart out while mosquitoes eat him alive and the unsettling guilt and images keep him from sleeping. He develops strong bonds with the men who are there to experience every emotion, fear, and thought with him. His comrades, especially humorous PeeWee, keep him going with their love and bravery. These courageous soldiers all came to Vietnam for different reasons, but all hope to get out alive.
The author did a brilliant job reaching deep into your soul and giving you a whole different perspective of the Vietnam War with the graphic realistic details. He also kept you hoping everything would be OK thoughout the whole book.
I think this book is and honest portrayal of what really went on in Vietnam. Death, friendship, lonliness, and fear are some of the main themes that made me feel like I was there.
With all the raw language, gruesome death, adult conflicts, and some sexual issues, I would recommend this book for mature audiences. If you are interested in reading about the real devistaion of war or want a book with unmatched realism and heroism, you would not be able to put this book down.

When I was in high school I hated every book we read. With the exception of one, Fallen Angels. This book depicts war the way it is, instead of like some books that don't really go into the detail of fire fights. It's not your typical boring school book assignment. The story is great as well. The fact that I enjoyed reading a book in english class is a good enough explanation to the merit of this book.

Fallen Angels

Walter Dean Myers

309 pages

5 Stars

Fallen Angels is not only a book; it's a history lesson of Vietnam up close and personal. It's thought provoking, exciting, and has a deep meaning behind it. After reading this book, you get a slight feeling for what an average soldier in Vietnam went through. It's an amazing, compelling book. After reading it I promise, you will feel different about your life, and the Vietnam War.

You follow the life of a man from a small black neighborhood that just volunteered to join the Vietnam War effort. His name is Perry. He grew up with a decent education and playing basketball for his life. Once his dreams of college were shattered, he decides to join the army. Throughout his time in the Vietnam War, he makes a new friend for life named Peewee.

Fallen Angels is a story of a common Vietnam soldier who tries to find reason behind his fighting, and also, ways to live. He faces many physical and mental challenges throughout his tour of Vietnam. At times, he touches the brink of insanity. Fallen Angels is an amazing story that leaves you feeling different and gives you more respect for your veterans.

BY: Alex McLean

This book is about a kid named Scott Pendleton Collins and he was in the World War 2 in 1944.He struggles and gives it all he's got but thats not enough for him. As he is going through running up and down hills and through water and swamps he gets hurt. Find out more about this book in the historical fiction section because I thought it was exciting. I think you will get a shock when you read the book. You will enjoy this book. Check it out at your library today.

The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, by Walter Dean Myers, is a great book about a World War 2 soldier, stuck in the middle of D-Day. He lands on Omaha Beach, and has to run for his life. He watches his friends die, but with a few lucky breaks, he survives the horror. Scott then must continue marching, to capture the German headquarters of St. Lo, and Vire. I deeply enjoyed the book because as it teaches you of the war, in particular D-Day, and of the horrors that the young soldiers had to go through. They had to survive through the death of friends, the death of family, 'Dear John' letters from their girlfriends, and the constant sound of death and explosions around them. They also lived like savages, without sanitation, or good food. The author of The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, Walter Dean Myers, is a well known historical-fiction writer. He has another book out about the Vietnam War, entitled Fallen Angles. Fallen Angels is a book similar in style, also focusing on the hardships that the G.I.'s had to persevere through. I strongly recommend either of these books to anyone with an interest in war and/or historical-fiction. The are great books that can teach you many important things!

This journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is a great book to read to learn about the hardships and horrors of war. A seventeen-year-old boy narrates the book. He writes in a journal telling about battles like D-Day and the skirmish at St. Lo. He also writes home to his parents and to the girl he loves. The author, Walter Dean Myers captured the realism of war in this World War II novel. The way he described some of the sights made me think I was at Omaha Beach in June 1944. Anyone who enjoys learning about World War II or any other war will love this book. Not only does it tell about the soldiers' feelings, but about their family's feelings as well. I would recommend this book for ten-year-olds to eighty-year-olds.

What do you think, is he Guilty?

When previewing the book Monster, it will look like a 6th graders read. The format of the book is very unusual. It is written as a script of a movie or play. This actually made the book easier and faster to read. The only problem with it is that it starts to get confusing because there are about 13 different characters to keep track of. The author will mention a character for a short period of time, then later on in the book bring them up again.
Monster is about a boy named Steve Harmon; Steve is 16 years old and living at home with his mom, dad and brother. The book takes place in the "ghetto" of New York. The reader gets thrown into the book while Steve is already in jail and it is unclear why he is in jail. Later as Steve has flashbacks, the author starts to explain what happened, and the reasoning for him being behind bars. Steve, being in jail for playing a role in felony murder has to have a lawyer. Her name in Miss O'Brien, throughout the book it seems as though she doesn't believe in him. She tells him that they aren't doing very well in the case, which worries Steve a lot. As the trial goes on Miss O'Brien starts to understand and trust Steve then comes up with some good arguments but still isn't sure that they have a chance. The prosecutor is working very hard to put all the men involved in jail for 25 to life. Steve is only 16; the last thing he wants is to be in a filthy, loud, dangerous jail cell for the rest of his life. As Steve is in jail he writes his experiences in a journal, only he writes it as if it were a movie. He is very detailed in his writing, word for word what almost everyone around him says.
The action and suspense in this book are very intriguing, regardless of how easy of a read it is, it's worth reading. The book has a good a fairly good moral to it. The moral of the book doesn't necessarily stand out there, but it does build a strong opinion among the reader. Something that was different about the book was that it is made to look like it is a non fiction book. When you look inside the book there are pictures of "Steve" in jail and at home a picture of his mother also. All the pictures along with the format lead you to believe that the book is a true story. When reading a book that is a true story about murder, criminals, or anything suspenseful like that it makes it so much more interesting to read than if it were just fiction. Though it can make it very confusing, if you aren't sure whether the book is true or not; then it is hard to keep on reading and understand everything happening.
Monster is a great book; I would suggest it to anyone for a quick read. It is very short, and easy so why not just take a couple hours to read an excellent, well detailed book? I would read this book again anytime and I think you should take the time to read Monster and grow your own opinion about it.

Steven Harmon was only a lookout in the four-person holdup of a drugstore, but during the robbery attempt the store owner was killed. Steven wasn't even IN the store at the time of the murder. How guilty does that make Steven? Does his participation make him a MONSTER? That is the question left up to the jury in this courtroom trial. While the book in made up entirely of the trial, Myers uses mixed modes in the case. Steven, is filmmaker, records the trial's events as a screenplay, complete with close ups, reaction shots, and voice overs. Between scenes, we read Steven's handwritten journal about the case and see his fears of prison life and apprehensions about the proceedings in court. Mixed in are photographs of "Steven" in anguish. I found the telling of the story to be riveting and I feel it would provide terrific discussion in a classroom, perhaps 9th grade. Not only must we judge Steven's guilt, we also judge others involved and learn about the justice system in all its glory. By the time the novel ends, we feel as if we've been with Steven the whole time, and know we would never want to experience these events. It makes us consider peer pressure, the choices we make, the integrity of people, and different degrees of guilt. I enjoyed MONSTER very much and highly recommend it for personal use or with a class like in my freshmen literature class.

Monster is a really good book to read because it teaches a valuable lesson. The choices you make dictates the life you live. Steve Harmon was accused for commiting a murder he didn't do at the time of the store robbery. Steve was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Justice always prevales and that is why Steve was found innocent and James was found guilty. Sometimes you have to watch who you hang out with because the people you think are your friends are really not. I had a friend that I thought he was a true friend , but he wasn't. One time I was walking with him and he had drugs on him. Then we got stoped by a police officer and starts searching us. The police officer found the drugs and my friend blamed it on me. I got introuble for it and he was let of the hook. After that i didn't speak to him again. Steve learned a lesson after the trial. He learned that he needs to watch out who he hangs with and to stay out of trouble. It's all fun and games until something really goes down and you find your self scared and alone behind bars. This is a good book to read and I reccomend it to anybody who is interested.

Greg Harris, also known as 'slam', is a seven-teen year old basketball player from the ghetto of Harlem. This story is about young boys struggles on and off the court. Slam's a star on the court, but off the court, his grades aren't as good. Schools not a priority to Slam. The only thing that matters to him is friends, family and basketball. After going to a poor school all of his life, slam is now being transferred to a rich white school. He's being forced to leave everything he loves and go to a new school with nobody he knows. Latimer high is a more academically challenging school, and Slam is having a hard time adjusting to the school's standards and classes. Slams classroom behavior has resorted constant meeting with the principal and his parents. Not only has his school life been hard, but also basketball at Latimer is not so hot. Slams attitude has him sitting on the bench most of the time. Back at his other school, Slams girlfriend Mitsha is persisting that he come back and see if his best friend Ice is dealing drugs.

Walter Dean Myers does a great job of explaining the difficulties of a young teens life in the projects. Slam, is very well written book. It has lots of action and suspense with a little bit of drama wove into it. If I were going to rate this book I would give it 41/2 stars. I really suggest you read this book.

This book is about a high school kid living in a terrible neighborhood. After he switched from Carver High to Latimer High he is faced with new challenges. The teachers and his coach are giving him problems and his grades are slipping. To raise them the princeable and his mother agree that he could use a tutor. Slam, his nickname does not agree and never gives the tutor a chance. While all this is happening he also is faced with problems with his friends. A girl he likes i graduating and going to leave and another friend of his is taking the wrong path and dealing drugs. The same friends are best friends and plan to join the NBA together. However, with his new problems Slam thinks he can't.
My favorite part in this book is when Slam takes over games and wins it for they. Although they exaggerate his skills it is still my favorite and I hope to be that talented. I also like it when he joins one on one in basketball. His thoughts are written out so you know what he's thinking.
These are all my favorite because I to love and play basketball and hope to get into the NBA. The describition and detail the author uses in this book allows you to feel like your there and you imagine that your Slam. Even I get hyped. I recommend it to teenagers who like basketball.

Reading the book slam by Walter Dean Myers was one of the greatrest experience i have ever had. The main characters name is Greg, even though everyone around him call him slam. I play basketball which is one of my favorite things to do, same with slam.Also So this is one of the reasons why i liked the book. This book realates so much to my life, because slam is also in love with basketball and is a good player. "i don't think you can stand being away from basketball", is what i think the the theme of the book is. This refers to slam and that he will do anything that sombody tells him to do except give up basketball. This quote somewhat relates to my life too because i wouldn't give up basketball up for anything either. I agree with everything slam did for himself and his friend. If i was in his place i would have done the same thing. One of the things i would do after reading this book would recommand this to anyone who loves basketball, is in high school, or who even loves to read. Its a great book and i am sure that anyone who reads it will become attached and love the book.

So you think you know all about Dracula? Seen the dozens of movies, including the badly misnamed "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Read the hundreds of vampire novels? Big fan of "Buffy"? Tired of the subject? Even if you can say yes to any of the above, going back to the original novel will be well worth your while. Although the vampire legend goes back centuries in many cultures,it took an obscure writer in late 19th century England named Bram Stoker to create the basis for the most enduring and pervasive of horror characters. At times, the dialogue is almost ludicrous (where in the world did Stoker get the idea of how Americans talk?), the plot drags a little in the middle, the language is often too flowery and ornate for 21st century tastes but if you read this novel with some suspension of our modern tastes (and don't play amateur psychologist and try to overanalyse it), it is a great story. Love, horror, history, culture, suspense, action - this book has it all and even the best movie, book and/or miniseries has yet to fully do it justice. The characters of the Count and Van Helsing are written so well that it is easy to see why they are classics, but most of the other characters - especially Johnathan and Mina Harker - are also memorable. The best of the action and narrative take place in the opening and closing chapters, while in Transylvania, but the entire book is one that any horror fan should add to their collection.

Dracula is a masterpiece of Horror fiction, undoubtedly a classic and a necessary read for anyone who would consider him/herself a Horror fan. The title character has been forever imprinted on the minds of the world as the true name of the Vampire, and almost anyone who you could possibly ask could give you a pretty good description of the framework of the story.

A rich, reclusive count from the dark land of Transylvania tires of his homeland and searches for a home abroad to quench his thirst. Not for riches, not for glory, but for blood. For this count is a member of the damned breed, the Nosferatu, the Vampire. A demon condemned to live off of the blood of the living, while being neither alive, nor dead. It is a sad and frightening tale, filled with action and suspense.

Dracula is not only famous for its introduction of the mythology of Vlad the Impaler (in somewhat diluted form) to Western culture, but also for its formula. The inescapable evil (Dracula) to be confronted by a small, yet wary band of people lead by one who knows all of the creature's secrets and weaknesses (Van Helsing) has become a Horror staple. And folks never seem to get tired of it. The subject of Van Helsing, a character who almost, but not quite, overshadows Dracula in popularity is long overdue for a novelization of his own. Van Helsing's encounters with the supernatural would most definitely draw a fanbase.

If you're a Horror fan, or just like good old storytelling, Dracula is a book not to be missed. In fact, this novel should be required reading. It just might help increase the literacy rate!

Note: this edition has an awesome cover drawn by Boris Vallejo and it claims to be unabridged (abridging this story ought to be illegal!)

The book that I read on Dracula was the unabridged version and it's not this one. However, I strongly recommend reading Dracula because it really scares you. It is told by a series of notes, journals, diaries, and letters. At first, i thought it was very boring because there's a lot of dialogue and everything is descibed in great detail. Fortunately, that's exactly what kept me hooked on the book. I would not put it down and I would stay up until 1:00 am reading it.So,here's a quick summary. Jonathan Harker travels to Romania to help a strange count buy an estate in Britain. He stays in the count's house only to slowly realize that he was a prisoner. After many horrifing and intimidating experiences as the count's "guest", he decides to enbark in a daring and frightning escape from the castle, to return to his loving fiancee, Mina. However,when Count Dracula is in the city, Jonathan sets out with a band of brave souls to destroy the evil count. There's a lot more in the story because it's 414 pages long. I really reccomend the book because it's 20 times better than the movie. I really think anyone can give it a try, and even though at first it's boring, you should make an effort to read it to get to the really good parts.

ScorpionsTim RoatPer. 34/30/01My book is called the Scorpions, a book written by Walter Dean Meyers 1988. Its about a 13 year old boy named Jamal, who's older brother went to jail for murder. He was the leader of the gang called the scorpions. Since his older brother is locked up, his right hand man Mack is trying to get his little brother Jamal to run the gang. So he decides to do it so he can get the money to bail his brother out of jail. There is a lot of strong points in this book, such as, Jamal pulling a gun on one of his class mates in school, his brother gets stabbed while in jail, and one of Jamal's fellow gang members is trying to kill him. Personally I thought this was a really good book and I HATE to read. Everything is understandable, its not like other books where every other word you don't understand. So if your looking for a good easy book to read, I would suggest Scorpions.

Scorpions is a book about a twelve year African American boy named Jamal. He has an older brother named Randy, after Randy gets sent to jail for felony murder, Randy asks his best friend and fellow gang member Mack to tell Jamal that he wants him to take over the scorpions. At first Jamal is reluctant to join the gang, but then he decides that if he did he could get enough money to get Randy an appeal. Jamal also has other stuff to worry about, Indian and Angel, two older members of the gang don’t think that Jamal has enough heart to run the gang so they are trying to beat him down so Indian can take over as the head of the scorpions. After all of this Jamal and his best friend Tito are looking for a way to get out of the gang and it sadly ends with one of them involved in a homicide.

Scorpions is the seventh book that I have read that is by Walter Dean Myers. I think that this is a excellent read for people of all ages whether it’s the school scene’s for the teen’s or the gang style for the those in their early twenty’s. The one thing that I didn’t like about the book is that the parts when Jamal is with the gang, I mean it’s like their not real, you can’t just become the head of a click for doing nothing, you got to do something to prove yourself. Other then that it is all right, so go and read it.

I read the book Scorpians,by Walter Dean Myers. It is a very touching story of the hardships and life of a boy named Jamal.When Jamal's brother Randy went to jail for shoting someone Jamal is left to be the "man of the house" with his hard working mom and his 8 year old sister Sassy. When Jamal's brother Randy tells him he wants him to be the new leader of the Scorpians (his brother's gang)Jamal isn't so sure what to do. When he meets up with Mac who is his brother's friend and a Scorpian Mac gives him a gun a gun that will change Jamal's life.The other people on the gang dont want Jamal to be the new leader, they think he is to young.So Jamal and his best friend Tito dont know what to do.They are faced with many hard choices to decide on.

Everyone should read this book because it explains how life really is for a family with out a lot of money who live in the city. Jamal is faced with many hard things in this book like alot of hard choices to make, alot of violance, alot of drugs and many other things.This book was wonderful and ful of action, suspence, and sadness too, it is soooo real.