Girl staters in Texas will never forget her. Francis Goff is an important lady in Texas history because she had three wonderful careers. First, she worked as a legislative aide and State Budget Director. Then, she put in countless years at the famous M.. D. Anderson Cancer Center as special assistant to its founder Dr. R. Lee Clark. Finally, she served for decades as the director of Bluebonnet Girl's State where thousands of Texas high school girls got their first glimpse of real politics. Francis Goff is a Texas legend who was friend to George Bush, Barbara Jordan, and Lyndon Johnson. This book has some wonderful photos and includes a forward by Ann Richards.

I'm not sure if the reviews give this book justice. I mean, I read the back, and I'm like, this sounds dumb, another teen pity problem. But I was pleasantly surprised when I read this how absolutely adorable this book is! The Mr. Peck writes in first person for Drew, and boy, he is some clever and witty! I had to break and laugh out loud for a while every once in a while during the course of the book. The story mainly focuses on Drew and Steph and them discovering what an amazing and fun woman their grandma, Connie, is, and that sometimes the best things in life sneak up on you if you don't watch them. This book was fun, though I was kinda sad by the end, but overall it was a feel good read. Definately sweeps you away to the cruise ship and the magic of travel.

I found this book in a library in a Kenyan Hotel while on holiday. This book is well written, with a refreshing approach to demons. To me it showed how the devil works, and where his weakpoints are. This book was spiritually uplifting for me, and it helped me in my day to day battle against evil. The plot itself is brilliant, and I couldn't put the book down.

This is a good resource especially for librarians and teachers, but it wouldn't hurt parents to have a copy, either. This is an easy and quick way to check on shorter, but quality, books that kids who like to procrastinate can read for school. Bodart is very thorough in including as much information about the book as possible in as brief a way as possible - the only problem I see with that is kids or teens using the information listed in "World's Best Thin Books" as the source for their reports instead of actually reading the book. Also, as one who works in the youth services dept. of a public library, I've seen the problem of kids (and parents) not wanting to read a book that's not on an accelerated reading list. Some of the books in Bodart's compilation ARE on the accelerated reading lists, but there's still the problem of because the books are shorter, less points are awarded (not always, but sometimes) to kids who read those books and for that reason alone, shorter books are set aside. Regardless of outside glitches, Bodart has a great idea and presents a thorough, easy to use reference book for anyone who is in the position to encourage a child to read a shorter (or in this case, thinner) book.

A Review by Taylor

There were a couple of good and bad things about the book. One thing that was bad about this book or could have been improved was the difficulty throughout the story, it was not hard to read and that shows that this may be better for younger kids (Middle School). But there were also some good things; the author described every scene with imaginable details. Also the author talks about each person's personality and how they feel about different subjects and how they act around the house or how they are feeling. For example, Todd says "I see girls in the shapes the tree trunks make and in the formations of the clouds." That shows how much Todd is into girls. Another good thing is pace in the storyline, it doesn't go too fast, it goes slow and steady so you don't get lost or mixed up about the main subjects or events that happen.

My recommendation for this book is it is good for kids around the ages of 9-12. It would seem to be more interesting to a younger age group of kids. The type of reader for this book would be someone who is into mystery and a little bit of horror. Someone who would like the fast pace type of book would not like this book and should avoid it.

I really enjoyed this book as a teenager and could relate to the problems in life Todd faced.
Todd is 15 years old in the 10th grade. He lives in Walden Woods a nice dressed up suburb. His family moved here because they thought it was a safe sane neighborhood to raise their kids but they soon learn the reality that no place as is safe as their own house. He is not the most popular kid in school but gets by with a few close friends and his sister Diana who is the same age. Todd developes a crush on his little sister Marnie's baby sister not realizing what she was about. Todd learnes the hard way he is wrong when Laurel, the baby sitter tries and almost succeeds in brainwashing Marnie that Holloween is bad and that the Devel is everywhere. This book tought me that you don't always know people the way you think you do and that no one is as normal as you.
This is an easy reader I recomend to any one out there looking for a mind bogling plot.

Todd, the main character in the book is in tenth grade. Everyone in his town thinks they live in a picture perfect town and community. They soon realize that not everything is what it seems. They also find out that outside forces are not going to stop influencing their towns and their children. Todd's little sister starts getting horrible nightmares and wakes up screaming in the night. The parents think that removing all the bad books from the library will eliminate the nightmares and influences that books, TV/media have on kids. It is a story about censorship and trying to keep kids in a 'bubble' away from the rest of the world. I enjoyed this book because it was easy to understand and it was a good mystery and suspenseful book.

I have read several Stephen King books, and I have become very fond of his work. Roadwork is written by King's alternate personality, Richard Bachman. This is the first book that I've read when King is writing as Bachman, and I'm niether impressed nor disappointed. "Roadwork" is about one man's struggle with life. He's broke, falling out of love, and miserable. When he finds out he has to move due to the construction of a highway, he gets...well...pissed off. This is a novel about retribution, and a vindictive middle aged man. It's very non-King, perhaps this is because he was writing as Richard Bachman. The book interested me, because it was one man, planning one act of revenge. It's definitely one of the more intriguing plots I've seen, but it was a little too shallow.

Roadwork starts off suspensefully, as a crazed man with a knack for carrying on conversations with himself buys a high-caliber rifle and a .44 Magnum revolver. However, the explosive result of this purchase, which you might expect to be soon coming, doesn't arrive until the very end of the book. To get there, we must wade through some very dense, overly-detailed (but very well written) exposition.

Bart Dawes has finally been pushed too far; at age 40, he's lost his only son to a brain tumor, and now the public works commission has decided to build a new highway system, which will not only go through (and thereby erase) the building Bart's worked in for the past twenty years, but also his home. Bart must move, but he refuses to. In the process, Bart will lose his job, his friends, his wife, and his sanity, but he stands strong in his refusal to leave his home, reminiscent in a way of Hank Stamper in Ken Kesey's 'Sometimes a Great Notion.'

Roadwork is different than anything Stephen King (well, Richard Bachman, to be precise) has written; it's more a character study than anything else. As King himself wrote in his 'Why I Was Bachman' introduction to the first edition of The Bachman Books, 'Roadwork is probably the worst of the lot, because it tries so hard to be good.' And that's the whole of it: Roadwork reads like it's been written by a young writer who's trying hard to appeal to the literary crowd. It's verbose, packed with introspection, and moves along at a snail's pace; the total opposite of the Bachman/King extravaganza The Running Man.

It's no surprise that King relates that Roadwork was written at a time when he was trying to impress those elitists whom would ask him at cocktail parties if he'd ever write 'something important.' (Interestingly, in the second edition of the Bachman Books, in a foreword titled 'The Importance of Being Bachman,' King states that Roadwork is now his favorite of the Bachman bunch.)

This is not to say Roadwork is a bad book, or even a boring book. It takes dedication to keep turning those pages when you begin reading it, but in time you adjust to the casual pace of the narrative, you begin to learn (and respect) who Bart Dawes is, and you root for him, no matter how nuts he's become.

The ending finally picks up the pace, as Dawes accepts his fate and brings those guns into play, as well as a generous supply of explosives. In that regard, Roadwork packs the suspenseful punch you'd normally associate with the books under Richard Bachman's name. But with its slow pace, grim view on the world (the Bachman view is generally that life sucks, and terrible things happen for no reason), combined with its firm rooting in the 1970s (which might make it inaccessible to those who weren't around in that decade), Roadwork might not appeal to the average King/Bachman fan. However, for those looking for an intense character study that slowly builds to an explosive climax, it comes recommended.

I thought that "Roadwork" was the best of books Stephen King wrote as Richard Bachman. Apparently, I am alone in this viewpoint. But I think that if you can sympathize with being fed up with the state of the world and wanting to just give up, but at the same time still have hope, then you'll appreciate this book. Once again, Stephen King has done a wonderful job of probing the human mind. This is a book about frustration, and it screams "you are not alone." I'd say this is right up there with "The Green Mile."

I'm not a scientist and don't play one on TV. I picked up this book knowing nothing about Giant Squids ... or *any* squids, for that matter.

The first few chapters were fascinating. Ellis explores the history of man's encounters with the squid past to present. A nice discussion of squid taxonomy and biology reads well for the non-scientist. It also hammers home exactly how much we *don't* know about the Giant Squid.

Unfortunately, the book quickly becomes hackneyed. As other reviewers have pointed out, Ellis seems to revel in poking holes in the writings of early scientists and observers. Even so, it's interesting to read what these early seamen thought of an other-worldly creature.

So, while I enjoyed the book, it's not one I plan to keep on my shelf.

I would have enjoyed the book had it been a simple narrative of the hunt for the giant squid or merely a popular science digest of all Ellis knows about the animal. But Ellis has contributed to a *cultural* history of the giant squid, which is much more interesting to me than the other options.
Dry, perhaps, but not dull, the chapter on models is a valid subject in this context. Museum display brings his focus once again to how our own attitudes, expectations and desires influence how we see the world. This emotional dynamic should be understood, no matter how unpopular it is - especially when dealing with the reflecting pool of a mysterious natural phenomenon. The search for the giant squid is more than anything else a story of human desire for the unattainable. It is this that gives the inscrutable animal much of its sublime, ghostly charm.
Ellis' writing is a bit schizoid in style, and he does repeat himself a bit, but I actually like this weirdly 'biblical' effect. The many curiously casual passages on naming and specimin statistics read like the encyclopedic enthusiasm of sports commentary...

Richard Ellis takes us on a voyage of wonder and discovery in this book that is as big as the giant squid. His passion for this creature, unknown to science and a monster of folklore until recently, certainly issues from each page. Ellis's gathering of rare and old images of this beast is worth the reference nature of the work itself, but his text just makes it all that more valuable. Being a cryptozoologist myself, I highly recommend this volume as a vital and necessary addition to every public library, all students of natural history, and the cryptozoologists around the world. You will not be disappointed.

I'm a huge fan of Llywelyn, and have read most of her books. This one isn't one of her best, although it does have some interesting information about 12th century Ireland. The book is historical fiction based on Richard "Strongbow" and his Irish wife, Aoife.

The book is written in the first person, alternating between Strongbow and Aoife narrating a chapter. This can be a bit hard to follow at times.

The reading is relatively easy even with the first person writings. Unless you are an avid Llywelyn fan buy one of her other fantastic books.

This was not the best Llywelyn book I've read. The novel, if you can call it that, was brief (more of a novella). She did not develop the main characters at all. It was like reading a biographical sketch of Richard de Clare and Aoife. Each of them tells a little of the story every other chapter. This style would work for a well developed story, but here it seems as though the characters have never met and they are supposed to be in love! The ending comes quickly and is not satisfying. A happy ending is not necessary, but with so little story it was a big disappointment. However, this book would be a good read for a young adult (7th-8th grade) and an introduction to Llywelyn and historical fiction. The back drop of the story was authentic and Llywelyn is an eminent historian. Still, if you are an adult, avoid this one and read another LLywelyn book such as Lion of Ireland or Red Branch.

Despite the negative reviews about the alternate chapter writing, I belive it was a well written book and the chapters were very easy for me to follow. If I, a junior high school student, can foolow this story i would think that just about anny literate person should find it enjoyable and inspiring. The story plot is set in Ireland/England in the 12th century. Richard de Clare, AKA Strongbow, is the son of a very popular warrior. Aoife, AKA Red Eva, is the daughter of a very important leader. I would recomend this book to anyone that enjoyed Brian Boru or who has an Irish Background.

The premise is good, but the book simply moves from topic to topic too quickly. The author seems to delight in pointing out these untrue myths and legends, and he is able to document these claims via footnotes and bibliography, but there is no in depth discussion of these myths. Instead the book is full of disjointed sentences which form very short chapters and then your on to the next topic. For a more scholarly approach to the same topic, try "Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong" by James Loewen

Ever wonder about the true story behind the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia? Have you ever visited Abraham Lincoln's Log Cabin, and wonder if it is authentic? Well, look no further. In this book, Richard Shenkman sheds some light on some of the "stories" behind U.S. History as we know it.

This book was, if anything, a really fascinating read. Shenkman did a lot of research in objecting to the time-held beliefs and traditions of some of the greatest pieces in American history. He mentions several historical things, and then counters them with his own detailed views and findings.

The writing is very easy to follow, and the short, yet detailed chapters make the book a fairly quick read. I can't say that the book was a total "eye-opening" experience, but it was rather interesting.

Is the tourist attraction of Betsy Ross' house really hers? Was Colombus' reason for the journey to the New World really made up by Washington Irving? Find out the answers to these and several questions like them in this entertaining book.

As with most TV series you get statements with out support. So I tracked down the Richard Shenkiman book to get some background to the statements about American myths. I was not disappointed. It is as if he was reading this book on the TV with more graphic representations for the different media.

The book is worth reading. However the format may not be to some peoples liking as it is short choppy statements and the chapters are divided into subjects as, Discoverers and Inventors, Presidents, Sex, and Art.

There is a fair set of footnotes to lead you to further reading. You may need this as he sometimes stretches a point.

Final analysis, you are better off reading this to give a better perspective on reality. Read it to your kids and save them a lifetime of "Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of American History".

While I appreciated the gritty reality and fast paced plot line of this book, I was in some ways disappointed with the characters. Price explores the effects of the events on the Dempsy community very throughly, but the effort at times seemed rushed, as if he was more interested in depicting the scenes than exploring their meaning.

Despite Price's effort to show the "truth-seeking" aspect of reporter, Jesse Haus, she comes off selfish and unsympathetic. The amount of energy wasted on her character seemed pointless. Lorenzo Council is more interesting, as a cop balancing between a need to do his job and to protect Dempsy, the place he grew up. The Friends of Kent group and their obsession was fascinating. Yet some of the people we want to know better, like Brenda, her family, and the father of her child are all revealed in brief glimpses that interest the reader, but fade away all too quickly.

I bought the mass market PB version of this novel. You know, the one with the excerpted reviews on the cover: "GRIPPING!" or, as the NYT book reviewer wrote: it has many "unforseeable turnarounds". I was intrigued by these raves and love crime genre that moves quickly along.

Well, about 100 pages into this 721 page novel, I decided to re-read the reviews. I was enjoying the novel, and it WAS actually quite compelling, but the book seems to be selling itself as a thriller, when it is a much more serious look at this all too familiar racial divide we are forever trying to bridge. Once I knew how to take it, I enjoyed it all that much more. It does drag a bit in the middle, but I was always eager to turn the page, even when I realized that there was no mystery in Brenda Martin. But, I kept hoping, I suppose.

Most of all, the characters are stunningly human, some strangly creepy, like the Kenters, Ben, and Billy.

As far as the comparisons to "Bonfire of the Vanities", Price avoids cartoon-characterization and gives a truly tragic story an all-too human face. Great Job!

Hmmmm....with all due respect, I think some of the other reviewers here are missing the point. You don't pick up a 700+ page novel and not gear up for a long read, and if you know Price at all, you know he's not your standard thriller writer (which is a good thing, believe me). I'm a little mystified by the Price fan that didn't like it though--seems like we were reading two different books. And why see the titles of soul music songs in the book as a tired racial comment rather than the product of a character's completely deranged mind? At any rate, I found Freedomland to be an astounding achievement, with beautifully drawn fully human characters, pitch-perfect dialogue, plenty of action and tension, and a bone-deep sadness beneath it that's miles away from the prickly optimism of Clockers. Unlike Price's recent excellent Samaritan, it's not emotionally claustrophic either--Freedomland is in fact a modern urban epic, rich in character, depth, and texture. This is a book I continually recommend to people who believe that commercial fiction can't stir the soul. I will grant that reading Freedomland can ultimately be an emotionally exhausting experience, but that is what I look for in books--to paraphrase Kafka (at least I think it was Kafka), a book should be the axe that breaks the frozen lake inside us. And Freedomland is a great big axe.