I read John Bunyan's original work and found it wonderful, but I didn't feel it would entrance my children the way it did me with all of the heavy phraseology littered throughout the story. I normally detest "retellings" because they are usually literary trash not worthy of the time spent reading them.

This book was different. The story is extremely well written and maintains the rich flavor of the original story of Christian's journey of faith and his arrival in the Enchanted City. I read this version aloud to my four children, and they loved it. It is a chapter book, even though it looks like a simple "storybook." We took about a week with it at an approximately 20 minute per day rate. There are some alterations from the original, but nothing that changes the tone of the story.

The illustrations are exquisite, and I love how there are small paintings scattered throughout the text and not just large, page filling pictures. We checked it out from the library to read, and I enjoyed it so much I am planning to purchase a copy for our home collection.

I have read the original Pilgrim's Progress a few times and portions of it many times. I have also read various versions and several of John Bunyan's other writings. I personally love the theology and consider it essential. Mr. Schmidt's version of the story is compelling for some important reasons. Though it does not contain the lengthy discussions of theology, it opens a door via the story line to share the story with someone else. He has added some This hopefully will raise questions and hopefully a healthy discussion of the things that John Bunyan was trying to communicate to his church members whom he wrote this story for. As I understand it, John Bynyan was using allegory (like Jesus used parables) to make important Biblically grounded truths understandable to his people. This retelling hopefully will be the springboard for many to share their faith. Those that believe already will find wonderful illustrations and a unique and encouraging way of seeing their own journey through this world to the Celestial City.

This retelling of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is a journey through the back countries of one's mind. Pilgrim takes the reader along the stages, discoveries, and challenges each person faces in his or her life. Each time Pilgrim faces and makes a decision, it forces a look within. The author takes this classic tale and moves it into contemporary language and idioms familiar to modern readers. By translating the essence of traditional religion into secular experience, Schmidt captures the struggles and solutions which face every person daily. Moser's beautiful watercolors crystalize the experience without diminishing the broad range of responses to the story. A wide range of readers will find themselves absorbed in the journey.

We in group "one-three" of IXP5, really thought this book was a ripper.

In this 2001 retelling of the fairytale Rumpelstiltskin by Gary Schmidt, two orphan boys named Tousle and Innes must find the answer to the king's riddle - What fills a hand fuller than a skein of gold? - within seven days or they and a group of "rebel" prisoners face execution.

The book begins with the traditional story of the miller's claim that his daughter can spin straw into gold, her weeping which brings the little man who does just that, and the little man carrying off her first-born son as payment. In this version, however, he does this before the queen, so overcome with grief that she cannot speak, can make her final guess concerning his name.

The narrative then moves ahead twelve years to Tousle and Innes and the riddle given to them by the king and his council of Great Lords. The boys decide to visit the queen, whom the king keeps sequestered in a convent. They soon find, however, that there are a number of people concerned with their safety - or the lack there of, as the case may be - and must find ways of avoiding all kinds of dangers, mostly soldiers with large, scary weapons but also those who easily succumb to the temptation of money in return for information on the whereabouts of two young boys.

As Tousle and Innes near the convent, rumors of a young prince who was carried off as a baby by a little man reach them. The reader, who has perhaps begun to wonder how this story-thread ties into the original tale of Rumpelstiltskin, begins to surmise that one of the boys is possibly the prince himself. After all, both are orphans; Tousle was raised by a little man named Da; it is unclear how or why Innes has been blinded by what appears to be a sword slash to his eyes; and at least one of the people with whom they seek refuge on their way to the queen mutters about strange likenesses to the king, although it is not obvious who is being described.

Needless to say, as this is a fairytale, all turns out well in the end, although this specific version of the familiar tale keeps the reader guessing until the very last page.
Retellings of fairytales are always intriguing because of what they reveal about a culture and its values but they are perhaps most interesting in this day and age of feminist critiques of gender roles in the original stories. This particular retelling does not, perhaps, make the strongest break from traditional gender roles as is possible. It might appear that the real reasons Tousle and Innes are on this "quest" is to rescue other female characters - Tousle: the queen from the grief which is clearly evident in her features when he catches a glimpse of her at the beginning of the story; and Innes: the two girls who have been so kind to him and are a part of the "rebels" who face death if the boys do not return with the answer to the king's riddle. The queen is, however, despite being controlled by the men in her life, a fairly strong character and when given an opportunity to significantly change her life, does not hesitate to take it despite the risks involved.

Minor points of contention with the book are: one, pronunciation of either of the main character's names is uncertain, a rather annoying feature were one to read this story aloud, and two, it is a bit confusing why, if the only life that Tousle remembers is that which he has had with Da, he knows to refer to himself in the first person, since the only voice Da ever uses is the third.

More information about the kingdom in which the story is set might also have been nice. One infers that the king is controlled by the members of his council, the Great Lords, but why? Why is the miller's house - the father of the queen - so ramshackle? What exactly has transpired between the queen and the king? One might argue that not having this information adds mystery to the story but there are times when not being in possession of such details may keep the reader from fully understanding the dynamics of the story and relationships between characters.

That being said, reading this book is an incredibly enjoyable process. The story is suspenseful and unpredictable, pulling one in so that, for all intents and purposes, one is within the story with Tousle and Innes. In fact, one may so enjoy spending time with these characters that one will find it necessary to delay reading the final chapter in order to prolong one's time within this story world.

This book should appeal to almost any age, although it addresses issues that are perhaps most relevant to the age for which it is intended: junior high. It explores relationships between human beings, both good and bad. It addresses the idea of "bad" occurrences later revealed to be the best and most necessary ones at the time. And perhaps most applicable of all, it speaks of feelings of not belonging anywhere in particular, of the envy of not knowing one's own gift (or gifts) when others know theirs, and the aloneness and insecurity which nearly everyone has known, or will know, at one time in their lives or another.

In all, this is a very good book, well-written and captivating, addressing a number of important issues pertinent to the age-group for which it is intended.

An intriguing re-mix of the Rumpelstiltskin story, the story of what might have happened had the Queen not guessed R.'s name correctly...and it also solves the mystery of why R. would have wanted that baby, anyway...and no, it's nothing to do with cannibalism or pederasty, thank you very much.

It's set in a fantasy-Europe milieu with somewhat-complex politics and competing power factions---the king isn't a bad guy, just weak when faced of the leader of the twelve Great Lords, who detests the beautiful peasant woman whom the king has married and elevated to royalty. The plot is filled with twists and relevations, a driving sense of urgency, a good deal of humor, and some eerily-casual magical encounters. The story is engagingly told in the first person by Tousle, a young boy who's been raised by the small, gnomish gentlemen he's always called Da---but don't assume that you know how this story is going to turn out. Even the happiest ending can have a bittersweet edge.

There've been several Rumpelstiltskin-based books in the last few years---Jo Napoli's Spinners is very good, very sad, and Vivian Vande Velde's short story collection, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, is revisionist retelling at its funniest and finest. Straw in Gold more than holds its own among them. Great fun reading for 8-to-12 year olds, and for adults who still love fairy tales.

*I checked this book out of a library, thinking it was good to read for this summer. And it was.
*It starts out retelling the story of the miller's daughter, except this time Rumpelstiltskin takes the child. Then the story zooms to about eleven years later to start the story of Tousle, who lives with his Da in cottage in the woods.
*In the beginning, Tousle is traveling to see the King's procession, but later finds that it's purpose is to hang those who rebelled against Lord Beryn(the bad guy). Tousle selflessly gives himself up to plea for the rebels lives. The King then takes Tousle aside and gives him the riddle that will save both the rebels lives and his own, 'What fills a hand fuller than a skein of gold?' Thus the adventure begins.
*Along with Innes, a blind Rebel, Tousle has seven days to find the answer to the riddle. But when they answer one, they'll answer another...
*This is a very marvelous book. It puts the reader on the edge of their seat and is funny enough to lighten it's dark demeanor. With it's twist at the end, the reader will learn more than the answer to the King's riddle.

* means beginnig of a paragraph.

This book focus mainly on spreadsheet techniques for quantitative analysis. Though it provides several interesting topics, it maybe organize and add more issues of real world. It should also provide some basic concepts such as the simplex method of linear programming. It should also emphasize on the objectives of studying every quantitative techniques (maybe present as flowchart) before reading each chapter.

I use this book for my "Quantitative Methods for Decision Making" class and there is some involvement of mathematics. But it is just easy to understand and to use. Also the methods used here are really sort of fundamental and important. I recommend this book for those who really hate deep mathematical involvement in management science.

For someone below the age of 13, you would have to know alot of vocabulary words. The book didn't have much action in it, and it was very confusing. On the positve side, the book was extremly realistic and fast pace. Though I dont think I'd read it again to be honest.

Anson has heard tales of Irish rebellion from his family and willinglly and proudly, accompanies his father to Dublin on behalf of King GerogeII. When he actually lives in the country, meets the people and witnesses the King's justice, he comes of age. Anson becomes an independent thinker and resigns from the King's army. I wonder if a third generation Fencible would break with his family? Reminds me of Charlotte Doyle. Are these characters true to their times or politically correct for 1999? Again, Australia, the land of "transports", was not available to the English for "transports" for at least ten years after King GeorgeII reign ended. It is still a good read, full of excitement. I loved it.

Gary Schmidt has done an amazing job of researching this rich and realistic novel. Everything down to the color of the soldiers' pants is correct. This book moves very fast and gives the reader an idea of the origins of the conflict between the English and the Irish. The story of the hedgemaster is truly inspiring. I could only give it five stars, but it deserves many more.

I read this book and found it, frankly, depresing. If you would like to know, it is about a 15 year old boy who's mother passed away the year before. Now his father and himself have seemed to drift apart. So much that his father seems like a stranger. At the beginning of the book he reminises of the so-called Old Days when his mother was still alive, and when they went on car trips, and how they would play road games, which I hate to say made me feel ultimitly depressed. Then on about the second chapter, he reaches his grandparents house where he sulks and reminisses some more, while cleaning his grandmother's small family graveyard. At about 2/4 through the book, he notices a small picture of a man in a basic flannel shirt and blue jeans. After asking a family friend, he realizes it's a tin-type of the legendary Sin Eater. After this dreary period, he finally makes some local friends who take him to the Sin Eater's former house where he finds a treasure. Then Christmas time comes, and his father spends all his time upstairs in the attic, looking at old pictures, while he refuses to put up a tree, because of the memories of past Christmas's when his wife was still alive. I won't tell you the rest, in case you would like to read it yourself, but it ends in a somewhat happy ending. I would not recommed this book, but I suppose some people might like it, if your the type of person who enjoys some-what depressing lituature.

After reading these past reviews as compared to the booklist review, I cannot see how a critic can compare to the real people this book was written for--the regular reader. though it took me but a day to read this book, I found it invigorating, insightful and meaningful. I must admit, I am quite biased, Schmidt is one of my professors and mentors. Yet, regardless of this fact, this story is one that should be told. If not for the story itself, then for the moral and the message behind it--that one shouldn't let the hardships of life bring them down, that life goes on..we should charish life.

This book is a true gem. It is beautifully written and constructed. The reviewer from Booklist seems to have misunderstood the book when she said that the Sin Eater element was not well integrated -- all of the elements of this book are perfectly integrated. It is, in fact, the Sin Eater "character"(as well as Cole's grandparents, friends and community) that allow Cole to cope with and understand his loss. This is a truly beautiful book with many layers of meaning. It is about the value of family history and experience, the past, community, faith... It's a book that will make you think. It's a book you will want to reread. Don't take it lightly and don't miss it!

This book was unable to hold my interest. I thought the book was boring. This book had a good plot. The reason I was not to fond of the "The Great Stone Face" was because there wasn't much action. If you like action don't read this book, but if you like stories set in the Early American times or legends this book would be great for you. This book would be good for kids in sixth through tenth grade. I think the author did a good job on the "The Great Stone Face" and I would probably read another one of his books.

I know Nathaniel Hawthorne is super great and everything, and this one isn't quite as overtly moralizing as "The Great Carbuncle" and certain of his other New Hampshire stories, but it annoys me when someone takes it upon themselves to improve upon other people in a novel -- it's not goofy enough to interest a kid nor deep enough to interest an adult.

My first inclination is to give it one star, because so many others with much less fame write much better prose. But I have to leave room for even worse books, of which there are many...

I am much interested in teaching lessons for kids. There are too many books to teach knowledge, but hard to find any to teach wisdom. We, adults, sholud teach our children the abstract conceptions, such as happy, perseverence, love, imagination, wisdom, mercy etc, through books. I think this book is really good because I can teach easily my children that you can be what you think in your mind, what you will think in your mind, good or bad. Introduce this book to your kids,and discuss the strength of imagination. Thank you.