Thirteen is my favorite book of all times. I have had it sinceit was published in 1975 and it has moved with me for 25 years and 11moves! I have thought to streamline my life and get rid of some things, but this book is a necessity in my household! It inspires and comforts--it is a work of art!

My father gave me this book when I was ten (the year it was published) and it has been my most treasured childhood book since...into adulthood. Through countless moves, without conscious effort, this book has stayed with me, and always delights me each time I open it. It is always relevant in it's irrelevance...you will see. Now that I have a child and neices, etc. I have been trying to find it to give to others...I am amazed to discover through reading other accounts at Amazon that this "unknown" little gem has had such impact on other readers. If you can find it, hesitate not a moment - buy it and share it.

This picture book may be the cleverest ever created. "Thirteen" is 13 stories told simultaneously on 13 pages, each story told by pictures which change and evolve as you turn the pages. Many of the stories are circular or contain hidden surprises.

This is the book that I have given most often as a gift, not only to kids but also adults, who may enjoy it even more than kids!

To a collector of Scholastic's late, lamented young adult historical romances, the tale of Kathleen is the "holy grail". Is it worth it? Not as moving as Emily but it features so much more than your typical Sunfire. Kathleen watches her world crumble around her - sometimes, literally. She loses her home, her family, and finds herself alone in an 1840's Boston that is none to friendly to the Irish. Kathleen finds work at the grand Thornley mansion, and meets David... but while the ending seems too pat, too easy in those last two pages the journey there is just as vivid - Ransom's gift for painting images of a long-ago time and place is just as strong here as it was in Emily, Susannah and Amanda. Hint for hunters: their large size would often mean that the first 15 Sunfires are often incorrectly stuck in the regular romance, not children's, section at many a used bookstore. Just a tip!

I read this book when it was first published in 1985. I seem to recall that my mother bought it for me when I cleaned up my room! The Sunfire series is excellent. This book, Kathleen by Candice F. Ransom, is rich in history and very informative about the Irish working class in America in the late 1840's. Kathleen is a heroine who had to overcome great odds to come to America, only to find life just as hard. I recommend this book to any young girl who is interested in a time gone by. I have saved all 32 Sunfires books published for my own two little girls.

I love this book because it shows poverty and wealth in all aspects. Kathleen is so strong and brave it makes me think, a girl who has lost almost all and still has hope. From famine in Ireland to hope in America, Kathleen shows how a very special girl survives to many things. I checked it out of my school library thinking maybe I didn't like it, but I absolutely loved it! I recommend it to EVERYONE who is 12 and up.

This is truly a wonderful book!
This story is told by the little girl who is going to town with her mother for the morning.
She has a big green pocketbook, just like Mama's, but hers is empty and she can't find anything to put inside it.
Mama says "hurry", because the bus is coming, so the little girl brings her empty pocketbook along anyway.
During the course of the morning, she gathers many treasures and by the time the bus comes to return the girl and her mother home, her pocketbook is full.

The little girl's view of the world is refreshing and enchanting~
She observes that the cool marble walls in the bank smell like pennies~ And she is amazed that, at the drycleaners, the machine knows exactly where to stop for mama's suit.
This is a delightful book that moms and daughters will enjoy, but both boys and girls will like hearing it, and seeing the usual best from Candice Ransom and Felicia Bond's awesome pictures.

My 22 month old daughter loves to read this book with me! i think she likes that the main character is a big girl and she's spending the day with her mom- something my little one can really relate to!

This is a wonderful book for mothers to read to or with their daughters. A simple day of errands turns into something magical between them and a hand-me-down green pocketbook holds the key to a delightful day.

I truly love this book! I remember when it was almost midnight and I couldn't get sleep. I thought that probably I should read something and then I would get sleep. I took this book from my self and I thought that this would be boring. And this book was so good! Finally when I finished it, it was morning. I wasn't tired at all! I went to library that day and got there the second part of this series "My Sister the Traitor" and the third part "My Sister the Creep". I love this book the most. You have to read this book! Why? Because this will become one of your favorite books!! If you won't believe it, then you don't know what you are missing.

I can't believe it! This was the best book ever and this isn't even bestseller! Candice F. Ransom, you should be very proud of yourself! This was great book! "My Sister the Traitor" is better but this is like so great book and I will promise that before I die I will advertise this book as much as I can!

All the people who had read this, please e-mail to me! I'd like to share thoughs!

I found this book at the library. It looked good so I picked it up. Turns out I really liked it. This book explores the problems sister siblings have. Especially when one is a SOMEBODY and the other one is a BIG NOTHING! Does Jackie get into the "I LIKE BOYS CLUB"? Well read on!

hi, i usually find romance books sappy, but this one was by far the best i have ever read. it's well written, the character actually has a personality (the girl, i mean, the guy always has such an overbearing one), and she is active in the war! how many girl spies did you see running around in 1776? Bravo!

I love many of the Sunfire books, but this is most assurdly the best one!! This is even actually one of the best books I have ever read! The love story between Richard and Sabrina is so beautiful, i always cry at the end of this book. Even though I am in my late teens now, every once in awhile I go back and read this book and am reminded of the intensity and sweetness of it. I think it is [sad] that the Sunfire books are out of print! Bring them back!!! Anyway, I love this book!!!

This was another cool Sunfire book. Sabrina is an orphan living with her aunt and uncle in Charlestown, South Carolina during the American Revolution. When her uncle becomes ill, Sabrina must take over his role spying for the Patriots. Can Sabrina find the courage to risk her life for her country? And can she choose between the two men who love her - a wealthy Tory and a brave Patriot?

Being the younger sister in my family, i can totally empathize with jackie howard. older sisters ARE creeps! They think that they're SO important - like Jackie's sister Sharon. Anyway, everytime I read this book, i remember...the good times with the bad... if you're also a younger sister that grew up in the late eighties/early nineties, then I can guarantee that you'll never tire of this book!

Jacqueline Howard doesn't know what to do! Her sister Sharon is moving away to Madison and Jackie is wayting to get her room. But, soon she realizes that she is missing Sharon very much. At the same time Jacqueline goes to High school where Sharon has been. Teachers are calling Jacqueline as a "Sharon's little sister" and Jacqueline doesn't find any friends she would like. And when Sharon is visiting at Howards, she acts like Cleopatra or something. What Jacqueline should do with it...?

Despite the image on the back cover, Susannah isn't Scarlett. She's a resiliant, strong girl who doesn't wallow in melodrama. War is not romanticized in this book - not only is the loss of life unflinchingly told, but the terrible price that those on the homefront faced - poverty, starvation, and a generally unsettled life. But this isn't a grim story, because of the romance between Susannah and Caine, a Union soldier, offers such hope and promise. When I was fifteen I was half in love with Caine myself... the ending is a compromise and feels realisitic - Susannah realizes that the home of her childhood is gone forever. A moving story of the Civil War, a wonderful romance, all told in Ransom's usual descriptive style. Ms. Ransom, I believe, makes her home in Virginia, and her love for the area is reflected in Susannah.

I have to say that i really enjoyed reading this book. Susannah is the tale of love during a time of war. She not only watches the battles on the field, but also must face the battle in her heart. Caine is just what every woman wants :) Its too bad this story is out of print, if you get a hold of a copy keep it. Share it with your daughters, your friends, any woman who loves a story about love, war and being swept off of her feet.

I read this a long time ago, but I still remember it. It was such an interesting story, with characters you wish you were friends with. I think it touched my heart so much because I would love to meet a man like Caine Harding--he is my dream man. :)This was a book that I wish had a sequel, because I would love to find out what happened to Susannah and her family, and what Caine's and Susannah's life was like in the West. It really is too bad that this book and books like it are out of print; it is a great introduction to history, and a wonderful series (I read every single one throughout middle and high school, but this one has to be my favorite).

I've enjoyed reading all the customer comments on the Sunfireromances; I have fond memories of being enthralled with them when Iwas a teenager and rushing to the bookstore everytime I got my allowance to see if a new one had come out. EMILY was my favorite (also I think one of the last ones published in the longer format), particularly for its detailed description of life among the upper classes in turn of the century NY. Some publisher really should bring these back into print, or expand upon the series - it was a great tool for training young readers to be devoted fans of paperback romances. EMILY is particularly timely now - it talks all about the concerns people had when 1899 became 1900!

Emily was my favorite book as a child. It taught me a lot about the history of women in medicine and since it describes the dawn of the 20th century, it is especially relevant now, as we face the dawn of the 21st century.

Emily is a love story. A young debutante falls in love with a poor medical student and, at the same time, with the world of medicine. Much to her family's shock and horror, she begins to work at a hospital as a nurses assistant.

The story is delightfully readably, and yet it discusses complex themes such as romance between people of different class backgrounds, the role of women in medicine, coming of age, confilcts with one's parents and with one's social background, discovering one's professional calling in life and following it in spite of obstacles and falling in love for the first time.

The Sunfire series was a wonderfull series. It gave me an overview of history that helped me later in school. Even as an adult, I still think back on the Sunfire series as a valuable influence. They give an honest, subtly feminist perspective. Educational without being dull -- historical but still modern and easy to relate to. Someone should bring them back!

Emily is a millionaire who falls in love with a medical student. He inspires her to become a nurse but her hopes are dashed when her parents return from Europe and threaten to send her to Boarding School. Emily tries to go to the hospital but is caught every time. Can Emily seek the career of her choice and can the man she loves love her? Bring back the Sunfire Romances!!!

This is about a Jewish girl named Hannah Senesh who grew up while Hitler's commands were spreading around Europe. She was a brave girl who wanted to save many people who were sent to the concentration camp so she joined the British Air Force, the most courageous rescuers. ALthough many men were interested in her and wanted to marry her, she wouldn't accept. She was never married and died at a young age. Later she was executed by the Nazis at a camp. She is known to be one of the most brave and courageous women.
I read this book because I thought her story was very interesting. This book was aslo recommended by my mom. She also thought this book was interesting because she likes biography.
This book teaches you that being brave can get you where you want. I recommend this book to everybody.
My favorite part in this book was when Hannah Senesh met her mother at the camp and they sent messages to each other across the room. They were so happy to see each other beacuse they haven't seen each other for a couple of years. The part where I didn't like was when she was taken outside and was executed. She didn't deserve to die because she was inisint and didn't do anything bad she was trying to save her people.

It tells about the life of a Jewish family during World War II, and how they had to leave their home. Hannah joined the U.S. Army a few years later after they left Norway. I read this when I was in fifth grade, and I've remembered it ever since. It had a big impact on me, and now I'm an eleventh grader and I still find myself reading it every now and then. I recommend this book to everybody!

This book is so sad, touching, and gives you a ton of useful information. You should get this book, it is AWESOME!!!