This is-by far- my favorite History Mystery!
Cassie Willis is learning to "do without" materal things. However, when she and her family gets a disterbing letter saying that Jacob, her favorite brother, has died, Cassie runs away to Jacob's "secret fort"; there she meets a crazy deserter who threatens her family.
After a while, Cassie begins to forget about it. Until somethings start to go missing. Is it the desserter? Or somone eles?

It's during the Civil War and Cassie's father and brother have gone to war to fight. Later Cassie and her father get a disturbing letter. Cassie is so angry and upset that she runs into the woods where she and Jacob used to go. She sees a figure in the woods and decides to ignore it but when things mysteriously vanish from her house she wonders if the person in the woods might be causing all of this. Will the person in the forest cause more harm? Will he try to steal agian?

Set in Virginia in early 1865, "Watcher In The Piney Woods" is the story of twelve-year-old Cassie Willis and her family. With Cassie's father and oldest brother away fighting for the South, keeping the family farm going has been a struggle. Then, the family is devastated when a letter arrives informing them that Jacob, Cassie's brother, has been killed. Cassie goes into the woods to be alone, but is grabbed by a deserter who is using her secret thicket for his hideout. Cassie escapes, but not before the man threatens Cassie and her family. After that, things begin to disappear from the farm, and Cassie gets the ominous feeling that somebody is watching her.

This is one of the better books in the "history mystery" series. Out of the eight we've read, my daughter says she rates this one second only to "The Smuggler's Treasure". I'm not surprised. A threat of real danger is established early in this story, and the tension is maintained throughout most of the book. The reader is kept wondering what is going to happen next, and that makes for a fun and entertainig read. As with the other stories in the series, this one also has something to teach about the history of the time and provides good role models for young readers. It's a good book for kids, and I recommend it highly to both kids and their parents.

Tonga is a unique place in being the only Polynesian kingdom to maintain its culture and government through the colonial period that brought down similar cultures in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific. Queen Salote adds to this uniqueness by being the ruling queen of Tonga in the first half of the Twentieth Century, an era dominated by male chauvenism. This story of her life and reign provides a wonderful view into the culture and history of this island kingdom. For papalangi (the Tongan word for people of Western society) this is not an easy book because there is a lot of Tongan names, geneology, and customs necessarily involved in the biography of their queen. Yet the very things that make it difficult also make it a rewarding book to read. What makes the book most enjoyable is the portrayal of this marvelous woman who ruled Tonga for almost 50 years. She ruled without use of force during a time of dissent from rival nobles and emerged one of the most revered leaders in Tongan history. She convinced her British advisors of her ability to rule and her island adversaries that their independence depended on her rule. I can recommend this book without reservation to anyone interested in women's studies, international biography, Polynesian history, or British colonial history.

I sincerely recommend this book for all Tongans out there as well as those who are interested in discovering one of the most beloved Monarchs of our time. Queen Salote was not only a charismatic leader but also a progressive woman who brought Tonga to the forefront of the modern era by re-establishing its past. She restored the cultural pride of her people at a time when native cultures were suffering the ill-effects of Westernization.

This book will be a sweet recollection for those who were fortunate to witness her reign, and it will be a source of inspiration for younger generations who are seeking to learn about their themselves.

Truly, a remarkable book for a most remarkable person!

This book covers everything a massage therapist needs to know, things I wasn't even taught in massage school. If you want to know it all, get this book. It is wonderful and I plan on using it as THE massage book for the massage school I am opening this year.

Free-Choice Science Education: How We Learn Science Outside Of School is a seminal, college-level collection of discussions on the extent and scope of science learning in America, with particular attention to learning outside the traditional educational system. Under the able editorship of John Falk, essays by different individual authors discuss the absorption of scientific information from such sources as early childhood TV viewing, the value of infrastructure in free-choice science learning, and much more. High-level social and educational issues are thoroughly explored in this intriguing, insightful, thought provoking title.

This out of print book is a facinating story of the settlement of the Colorado Rockies. It details the freight wagons role in carrying supplies to mining camps from the rail head. The book is full of personal interest stories that both inform and facinate.

I liked this book because it teaches you to do tricks on people and expirements. It shows you how to make food with a scientific explanation.

Origins of many of the syles we see today can be found in, "The Chair." Elizabeth Wilhide takes the reader into an era of design where form was expressive, as well as functional. Renowned designers are highlighted, including information about their lives, & structural information about their works without over loading the reader. The chairs are displayed and photographed in settings that are visually intriguing to a designer or a casual reader. A fun, interesting, and informative book.

This is not the entire Female Spectator (which would be very long indeed, and much more pricey). Instead, it is an affordable, carefully chosen selection from Eliza Haywood's _Female Spectator_ (a magazine-like publication that ran for several years). The introduction is top-notch. I own this book and refer to it often. This is a great book to read a little at a time. It gives wonderful insight into issues of 18th-century life for women (marriage, manners, and morals). I highly recommend it.

This is a serious story with a gripping plot about brutality in ancient Palestine. I feel this book is really more for adults that for children because the protagonist is already 18 at the outset, doing a man's job (blacksmith/bandit). The themes of hatred and revenge are adult as well. We read of the espionage adventures of four Hebrew teens, struggling to maintain their Jewish heritage and national identity in the face of ruthless Roman occupation. Scholars are awaiting the Messiah; while hotheads, called Zealots, are working covertly to forment insurrection and gather followers to ultimately challenge the military might of their oppressors.

Young Daniel is particularly adamant in his passion to strike back, since he witnessed the crucifixion of his own father. He has vowed to dedicate his life to the violent removal of Romans soldiers from his homeland. Gradually, however, he is drawn to a different outlook on life, from a Nazarene carpenter, whom he hears speak at a synagogue and later by the seaside. Daniel is torn between philosophies of peace and violence, for Jesus also proclaims the coming of the Kingdom--which to Daniel means: the overthrow of Rome. Invite the enemy into his home?--Never!

Very serious with good plotting and plenty of action and dialogue. Includes some Old and New Testament references. What is strong enough to conquer Hatred? Will Daniel ever agree to coexist in peace with the despised Romans? An excellent read any time of year, but particularly from Lent to Pentecost. No Crucifixion or Resurrection scenes, but there is plenty of blood and gore. The book stresses the internal battle and mental anguish of the young heroes, as they strive to serve their country and develop their social conscience. This book should not offend Jews or Christians.

I was first introduced to this book in my 8th grade English class. I enjoyed it so much then, I went out and read the author's other books. I recently picked this one up again and was amazed at how powerful it still was to me.

The story concerns Daniel, a young Jew at the time of Christ. He has an intense hatred of the Romans and lives with in an outlaw band in the hills. When his grandmother dies, he must move to the village to take care of his sister while trying to continue his life's mission of driving the Romans back to Rome. He is drawn to the miracle worker, but just doesn't know what he truly thinks about him. Is he the Messiah sent to free them from the Romans? And will his sister ever recover?

Ms. Speare was able to create a complex plot that is simple enough for her target age to understand, but still captivating to adults. I got so caught up in the events when I was rereading that I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this children's novel to readers of all ages.

Elizabeth George Speare only wrote four books that I'm aware of, and all but one were awarded a Newbery Award. (And the one that did not win an award, "Calico Captive," is one of my favorite books of all time!) Ms. Speare was quite simply a fantastic writer of historical fiction. Her books are written in a style suitable for young readers, but anybody who loves historical fiction will love her work regardless of age! It's such a shame that she did not write more books.

I admit that I had my reservations about "The Bronze Bow," since its setting in 1st century Judea seemed incongrous with Ms. Speare's other books which are all set in colonial New England. Also, although I'm a practicing Catholic, I was not keen on reading a fictional book with Jesus as a character fearing some very dry, preachy version of the most famous man in history would ruin the believability of the story. But my reservations were completly unfounded. Ms. Speare describes life in Roman occupied Judea with the same wonderful detail as she did colonial America. She ably describes the political/historical situation with great skill while weaving it into her fictional story of a young man deciding which path he will choose in life.

Daniel, the protagonist, is as three dimensional and believable as Kit Tyler in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond." In fact, all the characters are memorably brought to life especially Daniel's emotionally devastated, younger sister, Leah. However, the major surprise is Ms. Speare's portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth- what a wonderful depiction of that itinerate preacher. Jesus is a supporting but crucial character in the narrative, but Ms. Speare does not use him to preach to the reader. Instead, the reader, like Daniel, is left to decide who Jesus is- just a kind-hearted teacher? A miracle worker? Someone unwilling to take sides? The messiah? Daniel is puzzled by these questions because the Jesus he sees is just a human being and not a resurrected savior in glowing robes.

"The Bronze Bow" is arguably Ms. Speare's strongest novel, and that says alot considering her other work. It's historical fiction at its finest, and anyone who passes on it because of fears of it being "too religious" or "too preachy" are doing themselves a disservice. A great work of fiction is a great work fiction regardless if one of the characters happens to be Jesus of Nazareth.

I thought that this book was very interesting, but there were a few things that were confusing to me. It left something to be desired, but all in all, the book was very good.