Reading about three young people who were killed in a terrorist act doesn't sound very inspiring. But Their Faith Has Touched Us isn't about terror or tragedy. Instead, it's about how each one of us makes an incredible difference, no matter how old we are, what we do for a living, or even how long we live. Without getting bogged down in sentimentality or saccharine, Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda paints a vibrant story of love and passion for life with the lives of these three young people.

As I sit here to write a short review of this book, I realize that I will be sifting through these stories and recollections for some time. Initially you may want to read this book to gain an insight into the Oklahoma City bombing and the extent of its tragedy: these are only three of the 168 lives lost that day, a multiplication of loss that leaves one reeling.

But Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda's book is not only about loss--it is not even mainly about loss. Instead, it is a telling of the gifts these three young people were to those around them. This gathering of recollections is, in turn, a gift to all of us beyond the circle of Valerie's, Mark's, and Julie's immediate influence.

Through this book, Valerie's, Mark's, and Julie's lives speak a profound truth to us: it is not always our calling to do great things, but we are all called to do little things with great love. In this book, friends and family treasure the "little" things these three did in their daily lives. Their stories come together in a beautiful mosaic of caring and compassion.

Inevitably, readers will find themselves wondering: what impact do we have in the lives of others? In the rush of our daily lives, how might we do little things with great love? If we were to die today, what would the people in our lives cherish about us?

Our reflections and answers to these questions are the gifts that Valerie, Mark, and Julie still offer us. I thank Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda for being a channel for those gifts.

It is so easy to avoid real life today, losing ourselves in the latest fiction or subject of interest, but when we do choose to encounter it, the rewards are usually great. So it is with Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda's gift to us all, "Their Faith Has Touched Us." For those who are willing to make the journey, Maria brings to life the beauty of three young Oklahomans who were killed in the tragic bombing of the Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Through the eyes of those who knew and loved them we too learn to know them and to sense the deep loss. It is a sad and hopeful book at the same time, inspiring true respect for the people, faith, and values that helped form three such memorable, and missed, individuals. Some books we read for distraction, some we read for information, and some we read because they enrich us at our very core. Maria's book we read to be enriched.

I've been reading the graphic novels in order, and this is the best so far. Following the awful "JLA: Rock of Ages", "JLA: Srength in Numbers" is comprised of a number of shorter stories; each of which is filled with adventure and soul. Yes, these stories have a soul, or a spirit. One of which even brought tears to my eyes. I can't say any other comic in recent memory has had that effect on me. Zauriel is a great addition to the JLA team. Wonder Woman is under used. But as a whole, these stories worked to entertain and inspire. What else can you ask for?

Let me first preface this review with saying that I am probably the only one who hated Keith Giffen, et al's former version of the JLA. To me the JLA was never a joke and it was more than just a comic. They were, and continue to be, the World's Greatest Super Heroes. Strength in numbers impressed me enough to return to the world of comics after a 10 year absence and am I glad I came back! Three truly great writers--Waid, Morrison and the extremely underrated Christopher Priest (his work in conjunction with Sal Velluto on Black Panther is nothing short of sublime) have put the word SUPER back into superhero. Even the much maligned Aquaman seems to be embellished with a majesty that until now had not been before seen.

My one problem: the insertion of Barda and Orion into the team. Kirby was a god, but only he really knew how to handle them. Their membership makes the team too top heavy and make other more thoughtful characters like J'onn J'onzz, Zauriel and Aquaman seem as though they're out of place and awkward. But still an enjoyable read and a fine comicbook. Five stars for reinvigorating what thought to be a dying franchise--the super hero team book.

Teh JLA needs more tan the big seven to handle world threatening Threats which the threats just keep getting bigger and bigger. My only complaint. The Prometheus storyline(1st storyline) Where Prometheus figures a way to kill every one of the Jla Members except Superman(just read it!)This book is excellent, and people are saying that with the addititons of Plastic Man, Big Barda,Huntress,Orion,Steel,and oracle, Grant didn't put them there to take out Superman for steel, just to enhance the book to be more of an uncontrollable team which, most of the time aren't all together, because they go their separate ways, so why are you complaining, it puts the team into more of a powerful team that only assemble when extreme odds come against them (I.E) The Maggedon storyline from #34,36-41 which I thought was truly excellent(I won't get into it's awesomeness for now.) As of Ish 43 the team is cut down to 8 (The big seven and Plastic Man) just read this book and decide if more than twice in there were they fully united. NO.I seem arrogant don't I? (That's a rhetorcal question) In the Maggedon storyline every single super hero in the DC universe comes out and fights Maggedon with a few deaths( I won't tell you who.)

The main character in this book is Robbie. Robbie is on a baseball team. At a game a friend doesn't know how to swing. Also,in the story Robbie's cousin went on vacation so Robbie's team is going to need a girl, and she is pretty good. I recommend this book for kids 10, 11, and even 12 years old. This book is pretty good and exciting.

My son, aged 9 -10, and I read all of the Scrapper books and are dying for Mr. Hughes to write more of them. They combine real kids with real personalities and problems, with exciting play by play baseball scenes. These are "feel good" books, perhaps not great literature, but in the end the children overcome their issues and contribute to the team. They are engaging reading.

What a great book for all the kids out there, boys AND girls, that like to play baseball! We coach three Little League Baseball teams right now (ages 6-7, 8, and 10) and have recommended this series to all of our teams as a great summer reading program. The books are written for ages 8-12, but younger children with a pretty good understanding of baseball will enjoy reading the book with an adult. My 6 and 7 year old boys loved this book and are eager to read the next book (they are not big reading fans, so I was happy to support the reading habit by getting the entire series for them).

This is the first book in the Scrappers Series by Dean Hughes. As a general note on the series, each of the Scrappers books covers a different position on the team with tips at the back of the book on playing the position, some advice from the coach and trivia trading cards dedicated to the learning more about the game.

Play Ball (Vol. 1) is about two players who fail to make the deadline for the summer baseball league and have only two hours to find enough players to form a new team. When Robbie only finds eleven players, not meeting the required twelve player minimum, he creates an "imaginary cousin". This lie causes problems for Robbie before they even play their first game. Another problem for Robbie is that one of the players recruited is a girl who competes with him for his shortstop position causing rivalry between team members and subsequently a loss in an important game.

By the end of the book, the players(and the readers) have learned valuable lessons in honesty, consequences, team spirit and team work, and good sportsmanship!

Again, I think this is a great book for young baseball fans! It makes for a great summer reading program and keeps the attention of the young readers. Look for Home Run Hero (Vol. #2) by Dean Hughes also available now.

This new title from Titan/Lucas books introduces some characters I have not seen in other Lucas books (I am a professional reviewer). Aurra Sing is a good character who we may get to see more about - she kicks off the first story. The ending was a might predictable however. The next story was of Lando, our old friend from Sky City, then a story about Boba Fett which I found rather boring. The last story is about Kenix Kil AKA Kir Kanos and is probably a prelude to further adventures of Kanos. An uneven collection, all out of different stables, Lucas books are usually of a higher quality than this. Rather disappointing which is why it has a low rating. One for addicts only!

Dave Dorman rendered the cover art for this work. Mr. Dorman is by no means the only artist that creates the visual work for this and other Star Wars Series, but I have always felt he is one of the best. I wish I could say the same for the collection of short stories profiling some old friends and some new, but that would be a stretch for even science fiction.

The books short stories vary greatly in terms of the quality of the stories, and several of the "Hunters" are worthy of their own books, as some of them have already enjoyed solo pieces with the focus on only one of their guild. Boba Fett has already extended well beyond a few pages in a mediocre collection, and his character enjoys a following that is almost as large as the gap between his skills and those of his fellow hunters. He is in a class by himself, and I believe that is how he should be portrayed.

There are two newer entries that were not part of the original trilogy and they both seem to have strong futures. The first is Aurra Sing who appears to be headed to a level of performance second only to her male counterpart Fett, and then Kenix Kil, who brings the whole storyline of the Imperial Guards that were seen in the first movies, but never spoke or revealed anything about their elite group. This same character has appeared in the "Crimson Empire Series" which I feel is one of the better groups of collections.

One of the three of these I read recently covered in detail the work that goes into the cover art. It also documented how careful Lucas and his people are to be sure that characters have consistent visual appearances. In this work that quality control stopped at the cover as far as Lando Calrissian was concerned. I don't know who was drawn for that episode, but this guy didn't even look like a distant relative. Very often the level of enjoyment I get out of these is determined by the quality of the art, and I think that is appropriate given the level of effort involved. And I guess that is why I continue to be mystified that you can read one book and the renderings are as faithful to the characters as film, and then pick up another volume and view images drawn with no care given to the fact that a real actor played this part, in many cases for hours at a time on screen. Who they are and what they look like are not open for interpretation. When they are badly rendered you have to wonder how they ever got approved.

Want a guide to the notoriously infamous benefactors feeding off the rage of others, dealing exclusively with an eclectic montage of bounty hunters from all species and all walks of life? Well, this just be the book for you then. It pits not on the popular into a world of hunting and trying to survive, but it also sports newcomers as well, introducing its reader to why these faces are revered as some of the most successful seekers in the business. First there's the lovely Aurra Sing, Jedi-hunter extraordinare, capable of capturing the most elusive prey in the best and worst of conditions. In fact, she makes a great deal of sport out of it, finding herself capable of outwitting even the most dangerous proponents. This is something she finds herself entwined in now, the calling card of the face she seeks taking her to Endor and beyond. Switching gears, see how Bossk, Dengar, and 4-Lom work into the plans of Quaffag the Hutt as he decides to deal once and for all with Lando Calrissian while playing games that Hutts are known to play. Then its off to see the most reviled of the feared in action, with Boba Fett finding himself needing to take out a little trash by the name of Jodo Kast; a bounty hunter who thinks that he's in the same league as the man with the Mandalorian armor. Lastly, we join Kenix Kil as he makes his way through the remnants of the empire disguised as a bounty hunter, the last of the Imperial Guard left in circulation and one of the most dangerous men alive, still loyal to his oath of destroying all those enemies of the Empire years after the Emperor's departure.

All the stories collected within these pages are good despite being short, with Aurra Sing, Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction, and Kenix Kil rating within the praiseable ranks. Of these three, I'm partial to the telling of the Boba Fett story because it is written well and is drawn well, plus its dealing with the most infamous of the big kids. Aurra Sing comes in a close second with Kenix Kil right behind her because these stories are done well themselves, and they are also about characters that many haven't yet tasted that much. Scoundrel's Wage, while an interesting story in some rights, doesn't do much in regard to bounty hunters at all and only explains how Lando manages to get himself into Jabba the Hutt's palace in Return of the Jedi. It paints the hunters out as ineffective and is more about Lando himself and the cunning he possesses than the minions commanding the high dollars.

If you find the forces working outside the boundaries of both good and ill, then this might be something you'd like to check out. All the stories are pretty good in this TPB form, and the Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction tale needed to be harvested for quite some time now. So, sit back, barter on the outcome of who will and won't taste the talents of the figures lurking in the shadows, and read up on some rather exquisite struggles. For the Star Wars seeker, it is something that comes highly regarded.

Andy and Mark and the Time Machine Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg W.F. Reed 2000 Writer's Showcase

As a Secondary History teacher, I find historical fiction and historical science fiction an interesting break from reading strictly non fiction. As a browsed the historical fiction section looking for a children's book to read (as an assignment for a class), I found several that would have been relatively interesting. However, when I found this book Andy and Mark and the Time Machine Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg W.F. Reed 2000Writer's Showcase and saw that there was a science fiction element such as time travel, and one of the most vivid battles in American History I was sold.
This review will follow this format : a brief summary of the book, and a discussion of the book in terms of its use of historical content, reader enjoyment, and the books ability to generate interest in reading.
The story starts with a description of Andy and Mark two average students who are friends and spend time together out of school. Andy's father is "scientist" that has a lab in the family's basement. It turns out that in this lab Mark's father has built a working transporter and involves the boys in an experiment to send the family cat. After the experiment, the cat appears to have been lost, but shows up laterin the basement. After thinking about the results of the experiment, they conclude that the transporter could be a time machine.
As all kids seem to be a little anxious, they decide to test out the time machine and see what the machine will do and decide to send the cat again, this time with a radio receiver that would give information as to the destination of the cat. An accident occurs and Mark gets transported along with the cat to Gettysburg Pennsylvania July 1863 on the eve of Pickett's Charge. Mark finds that the conditions of the battle are even worse than history teaches and that he barely has the stomach to handle the brutality of war.
The story ends with Mark's return to his time, place and family.
In this book, the author uses historical detail in just the right amount. In terms of being factual enough to lend some accuracy, while at the same time being general enough to allow the story to come through to young readers with an even steady flow. That is a positive when thinking about young readers and the need to expose them to all kinds of stories and books.
For young readers who might be interested in history, especially Civil War history, this book would be a great book for them to explore the time period. An even more important use for this book would be to introduce students to the time period and maybe create some interest in not only the time period, but also reading historical fiction as well.
As a whole this book was well written, fast paced, easy to understand and had an interesting storyline for readers of all ages, especially young readers.

ehughes

Hi I'm Zack, and I'm 16 and I'm from Amherst, MA. I thought that it was so cool that the kid went back in time, and got to see Pickett's charge actually going on! And he got to WARN the general (Mead I think) that it was coming. I thought it was really good. It makes history more fun I think

This is a collection of The Batman Adventures issues 7-12 and is very cool. The art is somewhat different from the show, as it is more cartoony and over-the-top. None of this takes away from the stories, though. There are some nice insights into the backgrounds of several of the Rogues Gallery's members that fans will find very interesting, especially on Killer Croc. This is a very good compilation that leaves me wanting more. And so will you.

Batman: The Dark Knight Adventures is a pretty decent collection of some of the Batman stories featured in the monthly "Legends of the Dark Knight" comic serires. While none of the stories really stand out there a still good enough to hold you're attention. If you're looking for a good kick-back summer read, buy this and you won't be dissapointed. Peace.

Found this book to be rather lacking in clear elucidation of fundamental physical topics, but the pictures were good

I used this book to prepare for IIT-JEE in India. It is an excellent book! Two-enthusiastic thumbs up!

Another round of Flash stories written by Mark Waid, in this one. Wally West is trapped centuries in the future and he must use his great speed to get back to the present before the woman he loves, Linda, becomes the victum of a man named John Fox,who also has speed force powers, and whose less then honorable intentions explode when he and Wally at last meet.

In the wake of his epic battle with Savitar, the mad god of speed (In the Dead Heat storyline), The Flash finds himself propelled into the future by The Speed Force. Landing in the 64th Century, he tries to return home by using the love of his Girlfriend Linda as a beacon. The only problem is that Linda has been told (By future Flash John Fox) that Wally is dead. Fox is in love with Linda, and hopes to usurp Wally's role as the 20th Century Flash.

At their core, most of Mark Waid's Flash stories follow a bacic predictable plotline: Flash battles bad guy, gets lost in the Speed Force, comes back home with a weird new Power/Costume/Identity. But they're well told stories, and this one is no different. The relationship between Wally and Linda is totally believable, and in my mind is one of Comics great love stories. Race Against Time is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, with great art and writing. Check it out.

This book is difficult but so marvelous that it is well worth the effort required. If you are wed to the idea of so-help-me-God facts, this book isn't for you. It is full of magic and mystery and sheer out-and-out glorius poetry.

It is full of moonlight, spiderwebs and golden raintrees. If this book were visual art it would be a William Morris wallpaper.

It is full of the sadness and glory of the Sirens chapter of Ulysses. It has the heartbreaking beauty of nostalgia . It has the life affirming strangeness of Moby-Dick. It is like a thousand other things and utterly itself.

All the books in the Rookies baseball series are great, especially this one. Fun, easy reading, there are no great surprises. The reader really gets to feel like they know the main characters, making it a great reading experience. I suggest you read it if you like baseball.