Oren is in the 7th grade and does not do well in school. He has two sisters who are bright students and out shine him in all subjects until Oren finds the secret to ridding their house of a ghost. His history project leads him to treasure left behind by the ghost. This is Oren's year to shine.

it was good considering the fact that i like thriller books. it was too much of a dramatic ending for me with jilly turning out to be reggie and then falling from the top of the gym and dying. but overall it had alot of suspense and it got really exciting. the good part about the book though was that it kept your mind to trying to figure out who reggie was and if he was a ghost or somebody trying to get revenge

The characters and storyline that Barbara Michaels created started out with potential. I found the book entertaining at least half way through, however from that point this story took a turn for the worst. Overall I did not find the mystery of the quilt that interesting there was not enough detail regarding the quilt and the past to keep my interest. Maybe if we would have heard from the people whose lives were previously effected by the quilt it would have brought more interest and character into the story. I am an avid mystery reader & I did not feel this book fell under any mystery catagory. When the climax of the quilt is resolved I no longer cared for the story or the characters as to me is seemed has a weak ending to the "puzzling" quilt. Once the author lets you know how this problem was resloved you know longer want to read this book. From there it leaves you feeling unsatisfied. You know how things will end romatically so why read on? I would give it 2 stars has it was not unreadable yet definatley did not leave the reader with a since of satisfaction.

Barbara Michaels has churned out another page-turner in her genre of romantic suspense. As always, the heroine is young, plucky, a bit naive but willing to learn. The plot device here is a haunted quilt.

Michaels is an accomplished writer whose characters are well-fleshed out, whose plots are timely, whose dialogue rings true. Some readers prefer her archaeology novels written under another name, but I like her Michaels novels better.

"Stitches in Time" is a great rainy-day, read-on-the-couch book and if it's your introduction to the author, it will lure you into getting more of her books.

I, for one, really liked this book. This was my first Barbara Michaels book, and I enjoyed it so much, I started reading all of Barbara Michael's books. This book is about Rachel, and it has psychic scary stuff in it. I really enjoy books (and movies) where the scary stuff isn't blood and guts psycho killer stuff. I like the characters, I love the fact that in all her books, she always has a bunch of cats and dogs, and I always feel so comfortable, I could be sitting at the kitchen table with these people, having a conversation and helping to figure out what is going on! And I love that the people in the story do regular things--let the dogs out, keep the cats from going into the shop, opening a can for food, these are regular people, just like me!

I was so intrigued that Pat, the "grumpy old guy" had a similar experience and it had affected him so strongly that he recognized instantly that Rachel was "shadowed", that I went out and did some searching and found the book that deals with him--Amie Come Home.

If you are looking for a pleasurable escape, I recommend this book. I've loaned out my copy 3 times, and 3 times I've ended up going and buying it again because the person that borrowed it from me loved it and asked if they could just keep it.

Enjoy!

I picked this book up at the library to read before handing it off to the nine year old reader in my life. It never made it that far. The prose was easy enough, but the drug and sex references would have been innappropriate for her.

I am confused by the overwhelming love for this book presented by the other reviewer's here. I'm not sure how old they were when they originally read it- but if I had read it 15 years ago, at age 13, I would have found it silly.

There was a lot of ambiguity in the book - is this the future? the past? Is the author promoting a look to God, religious theme, or doing a take on cult religion/fantasy? In the end, it's hard to care, although I felt a bit creeped out.

The prose is chock full of weepy romantics, tough girl exteriors, and goofy sex (I wanted to puke when the boy kept referring to Nikki as "Nikki darling," HOW old are these kids?)

I liked the ending, even though it was a seriously cliched message: your basic, "remember always, and what you have lost will never die." In an otherwise heavily flawed, junk novel, it was nice to feel SOMETHING, even though it was an overused truism bringing the emotion on.

This book starts out as a run of the mill fiction book, until the drugs and the families "secret" is revealed then the plot is twisted into a modern day Noah with whimsical feats and futuristic tales in it. Basically it is a 60's version of Noah. I recommend this book it is short and you will get something out of it. For ages 14+.

Oh, how I wish this book were in print! I was thirteen when I read it, and it still haunts me. It is basically the story of a young runaway who meets an intriguing man, only to find that his family is what we might call these days a "survivalist cult", and they're convinced that the Great Flood is coming. Like Noah and his family, they are amassing two of each animal, and they've even found a unicorn. All they need now is its mate.

And it keeps on raining. Are they right in their predictions? Will they find the second unicorn, and what happens if they do? _Unicorns in the Rain_ is a sad, haunting, beautiful book that I hope I can read again someday.

This Story was not well wrighten it was Horrible every time i tried to read it i lost track! So if u do not like books that make u loose track then do not read it!

Spring Break is a very supensful and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mysteries!:)

This book is very suspenseful and full of mysterious happenings. I loved this book because it is mysterious and terrifying at the same time. One of the characters hear voices and music, but they do not know from where it ios coming. You must read this book!

I should give it more, but it's fictional, and I like true tales of the past. It's fairly short and somewhat colorful. You get a brief taste of what it would have been like for a German family to make the trek to Texas in the old days of the west. The boat trip alone would have killed most of us. It's a nice story, but I like the Laura Ingalls Wilder books better.

I was expecting actual letters and commentary. This is a book written not just at a young person's level, but also for young people. As an adult looking for serious information on the subject of German settlement of Texas in 1847 - I was dissapointed. Perhaps a simple label of "Fiction" would be nice.

Apart from that - the story is interesting and well written and I would recommend it to people of any age interested in this subject. Don't expect a scholarly account and hard facts, this is fiction but fun.

This story, as told from the eyes of a young girl from Germany, gives a fairly accurate account of what life may have been like for a family immigrating to Texas in 1847. It is appropriate for all ages and backgrounds, but is particularly interesting to the Germans who established themselves in Texas. As I read it, I related to the language, customs, and locations presented in the story. I am eager for my father to read it. His mother might well have written the story herself.

Crossovers are not always well-developed, and it is necesary to admit that there were many details that far from perfeection, but these "amalgam-books" were a pretty nice idea and I really enjoyed reading them. They are not going to change the way you look at the world, but you'll have fun.

I think this is a very original idea. The stories are of varied quality, from so so to the ones that leave one wishing for more.

This book is so good. Especially the spider boy character. There is a story with like 200 characters in it and it is hilarious. Buy it today

Ms. Michaels really missed the mark on this one! This book had real potential for being a good thriller, but too much time was spent on mundane events and it turned out to be a long, boring read. If someone has recommened Barbara Michaels to you, I would suggest "Stiches in Time", or "The Dancing Floor" - she really is a good writer. This book is not worth reading.

This book was great. I loved Michaels' technique of slowly unveiling and manipulating each character's dark secrets of the past. She managed to ignite the actual thrill and intrigue of the political game, and this heightened my enjoyment while reading this novel. During the story, Erin becomes so caught up with Rosemary's political problems with Buzz Bennett, that she is simply oblivious to the sickly dangers that lie around her during every day, every moment of her stay. Erin manages to solve the mystery behind the mysterious Richmond fire that killed a number of tiny children and in the process, she discovers the ugly side of the political arena. I enjoyed every page to the fullest degree. In the story, politics is presented to the reader as an exhilarating game; an adventurous game; a dangerous game. This book is certainly a perfect curl-up-at-homer for a rainy afternoon.

I thought the subject of politics was scary enough, but then I read Mrs. Michael's book. Politics took a whole new meaning for me. I am not usually naive, but if Smoke and Mirrors is anything like true politics than I have been oblivious. Mrs. Michael's weaves a thrilling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat through the use of very believable characters, and an enticing plot. The story makes you think, and get involved, and it is obvious that Mrs. Michaels is a born story-teller.

The book Fly Like an Eagle is not very exciting and does not have any action, and that is what I like in a book. That is why I rated it a three. If the book had more action and more exciting parts, I would have liked it better. The book was not as bad as some books I have read but it was not great either. I like the book because he cheats on his girl friend while he is on his trip.

Fly Like an Eagle is about a teenager named Ace whose father takes him on a road trip across the country to try and find his (Ace's) real grandfather. Ace's dad was left in an orphanage after his mother died, and is now determined to find his birth father. At first Ace isn't too keen on the idea of leaving his home and spending his summer in a yellow Volkeswagon, but his father takes him on a trip he'll never forget. To find out what happens, read Fly Like an Eagle. You might be surprised.:)

Many people would like to say that Shakespeare did not write this play. But this is hardly fair. Even with the world's finest writers such as Marlowe and Dickens, not every single thing they write can be a masterpiece. But what makes "The Two Gentleman of Verona" worth reading? Well, Shakespeare presents us with a valid theme. (Conflicts often exist between romance and friendship.) There is also beautiful language. Launce and his dog offer some interesting comedy as well as a beautiful and memorable passage in 2.3. The scene where Valentine is accepted amonst the outlaws is memorable. This is Shakespeare's first play where a woman (Julia) disuises herself as man to do some investigating. It is also easy to see that several elements of this play were used in "Romeo and Juliet." To be sure, this is not a masterpiece like "The Comedy of Errors," "Richard III," or "King Lear." But it is still an good study that is worth some interest.

Although few would claim that Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, it is well worth reading in order to serve as a reference for the best of his romantic comedies. In essence, Two Gentlemen of Verona gives you a measuring stick to see the brilliance in the best works.

The play has the first of Shakespeare's many brave, resourceful and cross-dressing heroines, Julia.

Shakespeare always used his fools and clowns well to make serious statements about life and love, and to expose the folly of the nobles. Two Gentlemen of Verona has two very fine comic scenes featuring Launce. In one, he lists the qualities of a milk maid he has fallen in love with and helps us to see that love is blind and relative. In another, he describes the difficulties he has delivering a pet dog to Silvia on his master, Proteus', behalf in a way that will keep you merry on many a cold winter's evening.

The story also has one of the fastest plot resolutions you will ever find in a play. Blink, and the play is over. This nifty sleight of hand is Shakespeare's way of showing that when you get noble emotions and character flowing together, things go smoothly and naturally.

The overall theme of the play develops around the relative conflicts that lust, love, friendship, and forgiveness can create and overcome. Proteus is a man who seems literally crazed by his attraction to Silvia so that he loses all of his finer qualities. Yet even he can be redeemed, after almost doing a most foul act. The play is very optimistic in that way.

I particularly enjoy the plot device of having Proteus and Julia (pretending to be a page) playing in the roles of false suitors for others to serve their own interests. Fans of Othello will enjoy these foreshadowings of Iago.

The words themselves can be a bit bare at times, requiring good direction and acting to bring out the full conflict and story. For that reason, I strongly urge you to see the play performed first. If that is not possible, do listen to an audio recording as you read along. That will help round out the full atmosphere that Shakespeare was developing here.

After you finish Two Gentlemen of Verona, think about where you would honor friendship above love, where equal to love, and where below love. Is friendship less important than love? Or is friendship merely less intense? Can you experience both with the same person?

Enjoy close ties of mutual commitment . . . with all those you feel close to!

"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Maybe that's because it's one of the only one's I understand. My youth Theatre did a wonderful production of this play. I was not in it, but I saw it twice. It was set in the 60's, peasant-shirted and bell-bottomed. I think it's a wonderful story, although a bit unrealistic because of all the forgiveness that happens at the end of the play. But I think that it's a play everyone should read. This edition of the play is, I think, a very good one. If you are planning to buy a copy of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," I would advise you to buy the most current edidtion printed by the Folger Shakespeare Library. They have lots of information in the book, and many definitions of the more difficult Elizabethian words.