The book A Picture of Freedom is about a twelve year old slave girl who lives on the Belmont Plantation in Virgingia. I like the way the book is written. It is not divided into chapters but in days. The twelve year old girl, Clottee, writes in her diary almost everyday and you read what she writes in her diary. This book gave me mixed feelings. It was sad at one time and exciting at another. At one point of the book one of the very nice slaves was brutally beaten by the master of the plantation. Soon after he was beaten he died. This was very hard for the other slaves to deal with. As you can tell that part of the book was very sad. There were so many interesting parts in the book. There were parts when I just could not put the book down! For instance when William, the masters child escaped. A few days later a still energetic, horse came trotting up the drive of the big house (the house where the masters live on the plantation) with William dragging along behind. You will defiantly have to read this book and find out if William lives. I would recommend this book to all teen/middle school aged girls. I think that it is a wonderful book. I think even older women might like this book also. I would also recommend this book to those girls who are not motivated readers. I think the way the book is set up it does not seem like you are reading that much.

This book was very entertaining! It is about a young slave girl named Clotee who makes a new friend. Clotee is seceretly learnig to read and write against her masters will by paying attention to his son's school lessons. She makes her self a diary to write in and share her thoughts and feelings with. She must hide it though, or it could leak to the master. One day she learns a new word Freedom. She didn't know what it meant. Will she ever understand the true meaning of the word? Will she ever pursue freedom for herself? Read the book and find out!
I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in books about slavery in America and to people who can really appreciate family bonds and good friends.

This book is about Clotee, who is a 12 years old slave girl in Belmont Plantation, Virginia. She taught herself how to read and write. Her mom was sold to other plantation and died when she was young. Clotee grew by Aunt Tee and Uncle Heb. Her friends were Hince, spicy and Wook. Wook was killed when she tried to runaway. Clotee met Mr. Harms who was an abolitionist on the Underground Railroad. She wanted to be an abolitionist too.

In the book, Clotee shares her feelings, experiences and thoughts about slavery. She describes her life on the plantation and talks about the Underground Railroad. I liked this book because it gave me a window onto the live of slaves in 1859. The details were very vivid. I also liked this book because it taught the lesson that if a person has a goal ad dream, he/she should go for it and they will reach it. Another reason that I liked this book is it showed me how terrible slavery was an how wrong it was. I recommend this book to any teenager who is studying the U.S. Civil War or slavery.

A friend lent me this book when my husband left me and I was in the depths of dispair. I was reading anything I could to try and understand, but this is the one book that really helped. I latched onto it like a life-preserver to a drowning person. I have read each chapter serveral times now, and keep getting more out of it as I progress in my healing. I returned my friend's copy and bought my own (which I have now in turn lent to a friend in need.)

One of the revelations I found comforting was simply to know what the physical symptoms of grief are - that my sore throat my aching chest and my dry mouth were all manifestations of my emotional trauma.

This book felt like I was talking to a friend who had been there and back, and could take me by the hand through the healing process and help me find my way back to joy. Please read it if you are hurting from the loss of a relationship - it will comfort you a great deal and help you more forward constructively. Then lend it to someone you know who could be helped by it.

In its third printing, this book is a self-help manual for those trying to recover from a divorce, or going through the process of divorce. The first thing I noticed about Rebuilding is the feelings that surface during this trying and stressful period of your life are identified. When we are really suffering, it is hard sometimes, to analyze what we are feeling. Is it pain? Depression? Self-hate? All of the above? It is comforting to read that you learn we are not alone in our pain and confusion and that given the circumstances, the turmoil you are experiencing is quite normal. As each emotion is explored, the reasons for them are also examined. An example from another who has suffered the same misery is given, then the best part--what we can do with and about those upsetting, hurtful and sometimes hateful feelings that want to pull us under and drown us. For example, Chapter 7 looks at the two, " . . . very strong feelings which accompany the trauma of divorce--guilt and rejection. Advice given is to do a self-examination. Do we need to learn new ways of relating to people? Do we realize that feeling rejected is a part of ending any relationship? It's normal. It's natural. There is nothing wrong with us. Whew! If you are the one leaving the relationship, you are probably feeling guilt. You don't want to hurt someone you do or did love. However, say Fisher and Alberti, "To end a love relationship may be appropriate because it has been destructive for both people." Leaving can be a good thing for both people in the relationship. The chapter continues to describe the emotional cycles the "dumpers" (the one ending the relationship) and the "Dumpee" (the one being rejected) go through. Fisher and Alberti acknowledge not everyone is going to react the same, but no one escapes the pain. No matter how we are affected, though, we must remember guilt and rejection are tied to feelings of self- worth and self-love. Build up these two areas and we will be less devastated by life's inevitable rejections. And how do we go about building our self-worth. Chapter 11 tells us how to go about that. The end of each chapter has a "How Are You Doing?" section. A list of questions will help us think our way through our dilemmas and offer ideas with which we can rebuild our lives. I like this book because it forces us to do something besides sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. There are ways to work through relationships that end, and we have the power and the tools to do it. We don't have to feel helpless. I like this book because it acknowledges we are not alone with our feelings. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We can go on to live a normal, happy life. It gives us hope. Bruce Fisher, Ed.D., (1931-1998) was the founder and director of the Family Relations Learning Center in Boulder, Colorado. He was a divorce therapist, author, teacher and a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Robert E. Alberti, Ph.D., is a psychologist marriage & family therapist, Fellow of the American Psychological Association, clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and author/coauthor of several books. A 287-page volume that demands us to do some work, but it is well worth the effort.

This book is a very helpful tool for anyone who is experiencing the pain and emotional turmoil of a break-up, whether you were married or not, whether you were the "Dumper" or "Dumpee." I especially liked the comparison of climbing the moutain, taking each level and learning those lessons at each level - and that sometimes you would come to an understanding at one level and as you moved up to the next, you may realize there was still more to learn "back there" where you had just left, at a lower level of the mountain. But the book ALLOWS you to understand that these feelings are a process, that there is no easy or orderly way to experience them, and that it's perfectly OK to step up the moutain and then back down a couple of steps, up again, down again - until you come to understand it all and allow yourself to experience that understanding. Each step helps you to deal with the last, and you don't have to "finish" in one area before you move onto the next. You learn in your own way and your own time, yet the words are always there to comfort, encourage and teach you. This book put it all in perspective for me, gave me permission to feel pain and confusion, and helped me through each phase of my struggle, reminding me of my worth and teaching me the most important lesson of all - which is to take care of and value myself. I recommend it highly.

In a time when so much that is published and shown in the media is negative and inconsequential, 'The Coalwood Way' uplifts the spirit with the honest reflections of a young man who discovers the secret of growing up. Homer Hickam reveals the deepest longing of his heart as the book carries the reader through a short but significant period of time that changes his life. Homer's heartwarming self-searching is so reflective of what I experienced as a teen that I'm certain that many others can also relate to his story. The Coalwood Way is not a sequel to Rocket Boys but rather an 'equal' that enlarges upon the relationships and complex personalities of the characters in the town. Homer (who is as sincere and nice as he comes across in the story, and is married to ones of the most beautiful and talented ladies around) seems to unroll the story like a red carpet, encouraging the reader to follow and explore the richness of this coal mining community in southern WV. My husband, daughter and I have visited Coalwood several times and spent time with the gracious people who live there and who are working so hard to bring restoration to this gem of a town. There is a proud spirit among the citizens and that rare closeness that the word 'community' stands for. The reader of Homer's Coalwood books are able to experience this spirit. If you are wondering what exactly Homer means by 'The Coalwood Way' I encourage you to read the book. It's one of those 'life lessons' we need to share with our kids, model ourselves, and encourage in others. Warm, rich, uplifting, thoughtful, and engrossing. It's a rare treat to find an author like Homer who writes with consistent integrity and unashamed joy. I'm so thankful he is working on a third book and can hardly wait to read it!

I am impressed with Homer Hickam's ability to stitch together the story of his adolescent years in Coalwood, West Virginia, when launching homemade rockets into the sky served as a metaphor for six boys whose imaginations were ignited with every rocket fuse they lit. The Coalwood Way is a story with a memorable ending that is as surprising as it is meaningful.
Hickam takes us down the road of his past, paving the way with delightful characters and true experiences revealing his adolescent heart with tenderness. I have recommended The Coalwood Way to several friends. It is a most compelling book, which leaves the reader well satisfied like a traveler who have returned home after a particularly good road trip.

If you enjoyed Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys or the movie October Sky, this book is for you. Homer doesn't so much pick up where he left off at the end of Rocket Boys, but rather returns to the fullness of his senior high school year. He weaves a tapestry that provides detail in breadth and depth that keeps the pages turning. You'll suddenly discover it's well past bedtime and you are content to keep reading.

Homer discovers truths about himself and others, even as he's about to move away from home. There is always more to learn from one's parents. There are many emotional highs and lows in Coalwood, but lessons learned from both will leave you feeling hopeful for the human spirit. The people of Coalwood continue to display a dogged determination to get though the difficulties, even if they stumble along the way. Not one to cry easily, I found my eyes welling up with tears during the last chapter. It is possible to find great joy and beauty in hard times.

Homer doesn't miss on emotion. There's anger, joy, fear, excited anticipation, sorrow, laughter, and contentment. You may very well learn something about yourself while reading The Coalwood Way. I highly recommend it!

Tryin' to Sleep in The Bed You Made by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant a Review by Eshaunda Howard

Gayle Saunders and Patricia Reid were total opposites who chose each other as best friends when they were children. Through the years they were raised together, as close as sisters. Gayle, the beauty, pampered by her working-class parents, believes a man will make her world complete. Pat, the brainy one, is the hand-me-down child whose mystery parentage haunts her. She's determined to finally make a home for herself, in the executive suite at the top of her career. And then there is Marcus Carter, linked to both women from the moment a childhood tragedy takes the life of his older brother that bonds them in secrecy. In all honesty, I feel that this book has had a good impact on me. In a way it has given me advice on how to handle the realities of life. I could see parts of myself in Pat, because I am like her in many ways a hand-me-down child, the result of losing one parent and the other not giving a damn what happens to me, being raised by my Aunt out of obligation first, and love second. Unlike Gayle's family where I guess you can say that they love her a little too much, to the point where they shelter her from the realities of the world which causes her to go throughout most of her life half blind and letting other people do the thinking for her. I learned a very important lesson from her life: not to shelter my children from the painful realities of the world whether it is encouragingly good or terribly harsh. Gayle's situation has taught me that it is better to explain everything to my children in the best possible way that I can, letting them know first hand what is going on. To give them the chance to learn and think for themselves, without them having to depend on me solely to do their thinking for them. The novel Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made is a very realistic tale of two girls that are bonded by their differences, growing up together brings them closer than any best friends can get. Yet, their different goals set them apart as they learn to deal with the realities of life. But, what both girls go out in search of leads them right back to each other. This novel deals with some of the harsh realities that life throws our way. Reading this novel is like seeing parts of my life being lived through Patricia Reid and Gayle Sunders being able to become a part of their lives, being able to live and learn from their mistakes is what I believe is to be one of the great things about this book. Any person who reads this book will benefit from it unquestionably.

I'm always searching for a novel with a good plot. One that is not centered around a woman finding all of her worth in a man. I think this book does a great job of living up to my expectations and being realistic. Okay it did have some romance, but doesn't every life. Anyone looking for something to read and tired of that old cat and mouse game, well this is a good book. It offers a reader with imagination, an opportunity to escape our own lives and into someone esle's drama. Remembering our own childhood, friendships, and most of all for young women, coming of age and dealing with society.

A lot of us had to let friends go, this book made me wonder what happened to this person, or another one. I hope that every one is allowed to see this work for how wonderful it truly is. Thanks ladies for a good experience, hope that I will be seeing more of your work in the future.

I finished reading this book yesterday, and I'm still in awe! DeBerry and Grant did a superb job of telling a beautiful story of frienship, betrayal, love, forgiveness, and letting go of the pain of the past. I wonder how the authors went about writing the book together, because it reads as though it was written by one person. One person with a profound voice, and a way with words that had me laughing out loud at some points, pissed off at some points, and crying like a baby at other points. And the way they wrote that Ramsey character! I fell in love with him right along with Gayle in the scene where she lost her virginity to him! And I was ready to take him back for Gayle in that scene in the cemetary! I think I identify more with Gayle than with any of the other characters in the book, but I loved them all!

This was definitely one of the best books I've read this summer, and I would even read it again. And I don't usually read books more than once, no matter how much I like them! I would also love to see this book made into a movie. For some reason, I see Vanessa L. Williams as the perfect Gayle. But enough of my raving about the book. If you haven't read it, you should! Believe me, you'll be glad you did!

This series touched me like no other book I have ever read of V.C. Andrews I have read all the sereies that have been published, but this book touched me in a different way. Heaven lived the a life in the willies to most people this would be wonderful to escape from but when she does its like she spends the rest of her life fighting to get back to it. Her need to prove that she could and would become all that is and dream to most children who live in the willies. I felt for her when her only true love Troy couldn't be what she wanted. I cryed so hard I had to put the book down at times. I truely recomend this whole series to anyone who wants there heart to be touched in the same way mine was.

I feel this is the ideal book for the average life of a 'normal teenager'. You really don't know how bad life can be until you live it in someone elese's shoes. Heaven's character I use now as a rolemodel. She was forced to grow up faster than she wanted to yet she wouldn't let that take away her life long dreams. I strongly encourage anyone to read this novel. I found it amazing how V.C Andrews was able to put me in a daze of imagination and make me feel such emotion while reading the Heaven series. It was almost like creating a new dream world. If you continue to read on to other series of this novel you will find despite the grat tragities of Heaven's life there are some amazing things too. I am 14 years old and not a very big reader, but I promise you, if you read this novel you will agree it's the most brilliant, heart-throbbing story you will ever hear in your whole life!

Heaven Leigh (Heavenly or Hev-Lee!) Casteel, a name us V.C. Andrews readers will never forget. I have read every one of her books and her spirit still lives on through these books. I can't wait for the next book "Misty" to come out in July! I am so excited! Although I prefer it was not a mini series because I seem to read those so fast, I have to wait for the next book to come out and usually by then I've forgotten a lot of what the first book was about. But other than that, I don't think I will ever be able to read anything that compares to V.C. Andrews' novels. They have affected my life in many ways, I believe it has affected others as well. I hope these next ones are good!!

We picked The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff at my mother-daughter book discussion group kind of blindly. Someone had heard good things about it, and we decided to read it. From the moment I read the first sentence, I knew I was going to love this book.
The Mozart Season tells the incredible story of Allegra Shapiro, a twelve-year-old violinist. Her mother plays violin in the Symphony, and her father is an accomplished cellist. Naturally, Allegra picks up her parents' love for music. And she is quite good. She is picked to play Mozart's fourth concerto for violin at the Bloch Competition for young violinists in Oregon. The main plot of the story revolves around Allegra's struggles to master the piece before the Labor Day competition.
But this book is so much more. It also tells of Deirdre, a wonderful but troubled singer who happens to be a friend of Mrs. Shapiro. It talks about Mr. Trouble, a mentally retarded man who is searching for his lost song. It tells of Allegra's struggles to cope with the horror of her great-grandmother's death. But most of all, The Mozart Season tells about Allegra. Allegra's triumphs, Allegra's failures. Allegra's laughs and her tears. And Allegra is one of the most inspiring people I have ever read about.

When the book opens with a scene at the symphony where they watch Allegra's mother perform, I got a little lost. But I kept reading and have since fallen in love with The Mozart Season. I first read The Mozart Season when I was fourteen at US Swim meet. It strange--I thought I would go through the book so fast that I brought other books, too, but the Mozart wound up taking all day. Not that I minded. It was the attention to details that got me. There is this image I have of the magnificent rose gardens of Oregon, Allegra's mother's eccentric friend, and Allegra's Bro David. The touch of romance is what did it in for me. In the Mozart Season, I was encapsulated by Euwer Wolff's tone--sheer innocence. It is something I hope to find in my own writing. Ezra, the 14-year-old Allegra meets at the violin competition, was the sweetest thing. His radio dedication to Allegra was the sweetest thing imaginable. Allegra and Ezra made me become a great fan of those radio call-in shows.

Euwer Wolff's syntax made Allegra's personality appropriately precocious. She was only 12, but was going onto 30!!!

I read The Mozart Season at least once a summer. It helps me refocus on the past summer and serves as the structure where I ask myself, what have I learned this summer, as far as I'M concerned. What have I done for myself or others lately? I never clicked with the violin (but rather, a flute), but it is that bond that Allegra shares with her instrument that I once had with my flute and now have with my writing.

Someone wrote that Steve Landauers are non-existent. Well, I've met Steve Landauer-wannabees, which has to be about three times worse!

Unfortunately, the book is now out of print and I'm in the pursuit of a good used copy!!! I NEED one for my nightstand at college!

And a final shout-out to any and all interested males--they can DEFINITELY take a hint or two from Ezra. He's got his act down right.

This book is a must-read.

I love this book. I play the piano and the violin, and whenever I start a new Mozart, I read this book. The first time I read it I was 12 years old, now I'm 15 and I'm still reading it. Allegra's teacher is amazing, I've learned so much from him. You can't help but get excited about music when you read it. The story is intriguing and beautiful. Allegra is incredible. You can almost hear her play. Her relationship with and feelings about her concerto are very thought provoking. From the very first page, you see the world through the eyes of an incredibly sensitive and gifted young musician. The people she meets and the friends she makes are unforgetable. I recomend this book to everyone, musician or not. I love it.

Have you ever had a man accuse you of stealing his dog or having him try to kill you? Well in the book Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, a boy named Marty has this problem. He worked for Judd Travers` for two whole weeks and kept secrets just to keep his beat up dog named Shiloh. Judd says Marty did not even earn that dog and it still belongs to himself. So Judd starts to drink more and more beer. Then all of the sudden one night he got so drunk he got in an accident. One night Marty and Shiloh were taking a jog down to Dr. Murphy's and he was not home, but Judd was around. They took a rest on a log and right in the middle of Marty and Shiloh a bullet comes flying. Judd! That is all that came to Marty's mind. Was it Marty or Shiloh he was trying to kill? Well if you want to know read this book! It's a great adventure story. I think you'll love it!
I like this book a lot, but I did not like it when Judd killed animals and tried to shoot at people.
I think the book was pretty neat though. When Marty had his mind full of secrets it made me think about what he might do with them. He might tell someone or he might not tell anyone. Then I was thinking of what might happen if he spilled out a secret. What might that lead to? This book kept me in a lot of suspense throughout the whole time I read it. The book has many cliffhangers in it so it makes me want to keep reading. I really enjoyed the book, but that Judd Travers made the book have some horrible scenes that were hard to understand and was uncomfortable to read. That's how I feel about this book.
The main character in the book I read is Marty. Everything is based on him and his life. He is a 10 year old boy who lives in Friendly, West Virginia. Marty has blond hair and two bratty sisters. Their names are Dara Lynn and Becky. He also has a friend named David. They go to school together and are in the same class. Marty has many traits throughout the book. One is he is a very curious boy who always needs to know things. He is also a very courageous kid. He is always spying on Judd, making sure he doesn't do bad things. Marty is a very caring kid. When his dad thought Judd was hunting in their woods, Marty was worried about Dara Lynn and Becky, but most of all Shiloh. Marty has many strengths. One is he is very good in school. His teacher feels that he wrote a great report but he must use his "family" language at home and good grammar in school. He also is a very good spy. He goes to Judd's house with his friend David. They were being very underhanded. Marty also has weaknesses. He just barely leaves Shiloh to get on the school bus. Rarely does Marty ever go to friends house for a long time. Those are some of his strengths and weaknesses.
I think Marty does all the right things! I think Marty loves Shiloh so much that whenever he is not with him he anticipates being with him. To me Marty resents Judd Travers. Everything in Marty's life seems to be very bewildering. During the book everything seems to change my mind. One minute I like the book, the next minute I do not like the book. Marty, a young 10 year old, seems to do quite a lot for his age. He is a very brave young boy to me. I like this book a lot because it makes you feel like you go right inside and the book comes alive. This was a spectacular book! I hope you will read it.
I thought this book was wonderful because it made me think about how hard life could be and that I do have a good life so I should be proud.

Shiloh Season was about a boy named Marty and a dog named Shiloh.They had an adventure that Marty would never forget. The setting was in a town just like any other town and the characters were realistic because Marty was like any other kid and Shiloh was like a normal dog. The main character was a very likable person because he was nice. I liked this story because it was exciting. Shiloh was like a real dog. My favorite part was when Judd Travers wrecked because he was always mean. One thing I learned from this book is that you can't make some people happy. I would recommend this book to a friend because it's realistic and heartwarming.If you like this book you will like Shiloh.

Have you ever struggled to keep your pet? In the book Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor a boy named Marty Preston tries hard to keep his dog Shiloh. Judd Travers a mean hunter formaly owned Shiloh. Judd attempts to kill Marty and Shiloh. Judd was trying to shoot Marty when he was at his doctor friend, but luckily missed. One of Judd's rabid dogs bit Becky in the arm. She was weeping and weeping, but Shiloh came to the rescue when he attacked the mad mutt. Judd tried to run over Marty and Shiloh with his rusty truck. One late balmy night Shiloh was sleeping on the porch Judd shot his gun and woke up Shiloh. This is a book I recommmend.

Well, here I am again, writing another bleary-eyed rave review for one of Homer Hickam's fantastic books that I could not put down till the wee hours of the morning! This one almost surpasses the wonder I felt when I read ROCKET BOYS-- almost, but not quite--- hence four stars, instead of five! SKY OF STONE has different excellent qualities going for it--- one of which is a mystery, one that is well-constructed so that even the most avid mystery reader does not know what the real truth is until the very last moment. That is what kept me up all night-- I wanted to see how it ended! I love that the characters of Coalwood are once again painted against that familiar tapestry that was "ROCKET BOYS"--- I felt myself drawn into that place I have physically driven through so many times in my life (living only 20 minutes away from Coalwood), but only know personally through Sonny's books. I missed the Rocket Boys in this one, those comrades who shared so much in ROCKET BOYS and THE COALWOOD WAY. But the characters that were involved in the telling of this story had so many wonderful aspects to them that I found myself enthralled by their interactions with Sonny. Floretta was my favorite. I also loved how Elsie Hickam was the puppetmaster for this book, even though she was in her beloved Myrtle Beach for most of the book--- GIRL POWER!!! I cannot say enough about this book or the two that precede it, so I will just say this (in an unfair take on the film "Field of Dreams"), "Sonny Hickam, write them, and I will come!" Another well-written, awesome tale of life in the county I, too, call home!

Like his previous books, "Rocket Books" and "The Coalwood Way," Homer Hickam's new memoir will touch your heart. The book is a kind of coming-of-age story when 18 year old Homer, now a college student at VPI (which has become Virginia Tech today), returns to a Coalwood summer spent working underground. The town has secrets which are harder to mine than the coal. "Coalwood business" remains outside the knowledge of Homer, in earlier years because of his age, now because of his outsider status, as a college student and one bound for a life away from the hills of West Virginia.

Slowly Homer chips away at the secrets, and at the truth of what happened one night when a fierce storm took out the electricity, stopped the ventilation in the mines, and caused a deadly buildup of methane gas.

Throughout the book, Hickam writes with a tender yet tough, clear-eyed clarity, of himself on the brink of manhood, and of many other residents of Coalwood, and most especially, of his parents. His father is dedicated to the mine and to the community, and his mother, despite her love for his father, yearns for a life far away from Coalwood. Homer, caught in the middle, is of an age to strike out for himself. But "Coalwood business" keeps his home for a summer of change and discovery. The old truths endure, and fidelity, compassion, friendship, honesty, and faith will prevail.

"Sky of Stone" is written with warmth and humor. The town of Coalwood as it was in l961 will come alive, and engage and entertain the reader. Highly recommended!

And that's it, plain and true. Homer Hickam writes wonderfully rich books filled with prose worthy of Harper Lee or Mark Twain. He's the new Mark Twain in my opinion. They'll be studying him the college a hundred years from now. I'm just glad we have him with us in these days. Sky of Stone kept me awake until I finished it. I love his characters. I love especially his honorable and amazing father. You can tell Mr. Hickam still loves him so much. And Johnny Basso, Jake Mosby, Rita Walicki... these are characters that people will talk about for a very long time. Proud to know you, Homer, if only through your books.

When my wife and I decided to go vegetarian in early April, 2001, we really had no plans on cutting out all animal products from our diets (eggs, animal milk, dairy cheese, etc.), but after reading more than one of Joanne Stepaniak's books, we committed to the more extreme step just days after we became vegetarians.

Who is Joanne Stepaniak, you ask? After writing at least a half dozen excellent Vegan cookbooks, and now authoring this unique sourcebook (I don't think there are any such others), Stepaniak has become one of America's most famous and authoritative Vegans. And with good reason! This impressively comprehensive survey should be subtitled "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Veganism ... But Were Afraid to Ask" and it's an amazing and engrossing read for Vegans and non-Vegans alike; I should know -- when I started on Page 1 I was not a Vegan ... well before I finished the book, I was.

Stepaniak covers the entire gamut of Veganism from the elimination of animal flesh and products from our diet (for health reasons, for environmental reasons, for moral reasons) to the total elimination of animal byproducts in other areas of our lives. But Stepaniak is also a realist who repeatedly recognizes the futility of taking such an ethic too far -- and she continually reminds her readers to see the forest for the trees (a refreshing characteristic sadly lacking in similar literature). And never for a moment did I detect any aggressive proselytizing, any holier-than-thou attitude, unlike other books on similar topics. Stepaniak's greatest trait is her ability to balance compelling arguments with gentle compassion and understanding and this is evident on every page.

To anyone interested in improving life on this planet, including their own, I can't recommend this book more highly.

this book has been on my shelf for about a year now and i *constantly* go back to re-read sections, and get recipes. the author appeals to both the rational and emotional aspects that come into play when one considers veganism, and she backs both up well.
drawing upon various reports and surveys, she presents staggering figures in support of a global vegan lifestyle. she covers economic, environmental, psychological, and personal reasons to make the change, and then lays the process out step by step. how to go vegan, tips on keeping the lifestyle, places to shop compassionately, delicious, easy recipes to try, and debunking popular myths are just a few of the things accomplished in the book.
there are many quotes from famous veggies, and animal right activists that are inspiring and touching. there are also stories from well known (and not-so well known) vegans that help to bring the point home.
for the health conscious there is a huge section on nutrition that breaks down the vegan food pyramid (yes, that's minus the dairy and meat sections!). it lists foods needed for vegans to achieve a nutritious daily intake of vitamins and other essential goodies. daily sample diets for everyone, from infants, children, teens, adults, and the elderly.
if i haven't made it perfectly clear, this book really is an essential for anyone who is interested in a vegan lifestyle, as well as those who care for animals, the world they live in, or their own health and well being. this is a clearly and lovingly written book, and can easily give anyone the mass majority of vegan info they would ever need. of all the other vegan books i own, this is definitely the most useful and my favorite.

Having had a difficult couple of years since my son was born and my husband left me, I was living as a vegan on "autopilot" but no longer had that feeling of passion for the subject that I used to. In fact, when people asked why I don't use dairy products, I would mumble something vague, so lost in my other worries had my veganism become.

_The_Vegan_Sourcebook_ has got me feeling inspired again. In an intelligent, compassionate way, she neatly summarizes all of the problems with animal products--the cruelties done to the animals, the environmental devastation, the oppression of the human workers on factory farms and in slaughterhouses (a subject omitted from many other vegan books), and the damage to health. Not only does she discuss the negatives of animal products, she emphasizes the positives of veganism, with inspiring quotes from a diverse array of vegans which really humanize the vegan movement.

The nutrition section by Virginia Messina is positive but realistic, with all the information you need to plan a sound vegan diet for yourself and your family (though I would have prefered more emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding). This is a book that vegans will want to refer to again and again, and show to their nonvegan family members, friends, and health professionals.

The story of The Little House Her Story was a story wonderful to use in many age groups and for many ways in a classroom. The story sends a message of being careful what you wish for and about family values. The grandfather cared for his family so much that he wanted to make sure this house would last a lifetime. He built it so that noone could take away a gift that would outlast his time on Earth. Outside of that idea, you also have the idea of the house wanting more for herself and becoming uncomfortable. Then when she gets to move to the city as she hoped, all she did was hope for her peace and quiet back that she had in the country. This lesson is very important in any stage of a child or adults life. There are a million activities one could do with this book and as a a teacher, I would have students look up the history of their house and find out all the neat little things you just never think about. This book was wonderfully written and perfectly illustrated.

The noted children's book about a house built on a hill away from any town. As the years pass, the city comes closer and closer and eventually surrounds the little house which misses its old hills and trees. One earlier reviewer expressed concern about the apparent anti-urban bias. I think Burton simply had a pro-nature bias rather than anti-urban. And, I think any of us, including those who live in cities or suburbia would not care to live in the sprawl that was depicted in the illustrations and was indeed present in many cities in the 1940s when the book first came out. The book won the 1943 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a book for children.

This has got to be the best all-round Virginia Lee Burton book, which means it's one of the best children's books of all time. The simple prose reaches a level of lyricism not found in Mike Mulligan, and the illustrations have a folksy charm and energy that's just right. Reading it as an adult, one thinks of all the little houses that were NOT saved, and of the ongoing suburban sprawl that's even now despoiling the landscape, but the fact that the eponymous little house is moved and cared for once again by the end makes it a good story for little kids. Other books by Burton tend to wear me down with repetition, but this one remains fresh with almost every rereading that my kids demand.