I found this book very hard to read considering all I have read are Agathas suspense novels. I was rather dissapointing to see this type of writing style. Her suspense and romantic novels are both very well written out but to see this side of her kind of ruined the whole detective novels. I wouldn't recommend this to readers who like her original style...

Fans of Agatha Christie's mystery novels will not be disappointed in these more standard novels, which she published under the name Mary Westmacott. "Absent in the Spring" is a magnificent novel, the story of a woman unexpectedly stranded in a desert outpost with no distractions, who is forced for the first time to see herself and others objectively. A simple concept, but difficult to write. Christie handles the matter superbly, and in her autobiography, lists this as one of her favorite novels. "Absent in the Spring" is even more interesting when you consider she wrote the book in 3 days during the London Blitz!

Most of the novels Christie wrote as Mary Westmacott are semi-autobiographical, or reveal conflicts or persons present in her own life. Christie fans will want to include this collection of novels for insight into the author's life, thought processes, and internal emotional struggles. The other novels in this collection, especially "Giant's Bread", are also excellent novels, but the collection would be worth reading just for "Absent in the Spring."

A great trio of novels. Giant's Bread is her masterpiece!

Following the Mystery Man is a fantastic mystery thats keeps the reader involved. It tells the story about a girl named Madigan who grows up in life wothout a mother or a father. A handsome young man named Clint comes to town, and gives all the evidence of being Madigan's father. Madigan gets ideas about Clint and follows him around. She figures something out that she wishes she hadn't; for this clue changed both Madigan's and Clint's life forver. Can Madigan solve this mystery without ending up in the middle of it? This story tells a story about a girl who depritly needs a father, a mother, or even a a friend. Does she need one so badly that she jums to conclusions, gets her self tied up in the action, and even hurt. From this story, I found how much my father means to me. I understand now, after reading the book, how much my dad means to me. I will now cherish every moment that I spend with my dad; I now don't know if he will one day pack his bags and leave like Madigan's father did.

Madigan meets a charming stranger and becomes convinced he is her father who walked out on her and her now-dead mother many years ago. Now, living with her grandmother in a sleepy Maryland town, Madigan is determined to solve the mystery. Very exciting and suspenseful, and the issue of trust is explored here, too...

Awesome book. It's about a young girl, Madigan, who lost her mother when she was a baby and her father ran away. One day a stranger comes to town and he needs a place to stay. She thinks that he might be her dad by the way he acts around her and the way he looks like her. He's really a robber. Madigan finds out. She's very upset. He catches her spying on him when he is hiding stolen goods, and he grabs her. The best part of the book is her escape. A very exciting story that keeps you guessing at every page. I think this author writes amazing books. I really enjoy her mysteries.

I think this book was great and i am just a high school freshman. (...) It is not at the fault of the book if children do not study it becuase if you did in a matter of moments you would undertsand evything, yet they don't it is there lost and no one else's!

Mary P. has done it again. I'm a homeschooling Dad with degrees in computer science and mathematics. My dad is a high school math teacher of 30 years experience. Neither of us has ever seen a better treatment for high school of this subject. My daughter was confused by Saxon's methods and explanations, went over to the Dolciani book, and says "Oh, that's how you do it!". Also a more rigorous and in depth treatment than Abeka's Algebra 2. My only complaint/wish was that the computer programming aspects of the exercises were done for C rather than Basic or Pascal, but that's easily fixed by anyone that knows C.

I had an earlier (1980) edition of this book during my high school days. I remember the class fondly. I still occassionally reference the book now 20 years later and it still seems well written, cogent, and an excellent book to cover the subject matter. I do agree that this is not spoon feeding material, but for teachers who really want to convey the subject matter and for children who have the prerequisite math skills and any interest in math, I think this book is right on target.

This book was undoubtedly not intended to be the last in the series, but unfortunately it was. The book left several very important characters at odds in the end it a disheartening way. If I had to do it over again, I would have stopped the series with The Borrower's Aloft. Other than this story, the rest of the series by Mary Norton was a delightful addition to our family's storytime.

This book was written in 1982 as an afterthought to the earlier books (The Borrowers (1952), The Borrowers Afield (1955), The Borrowers Afloat (1959), and Poor Stainless (1966)). This follows the Clocks (Pod, Homily and Arrietty) after their escape from the Platters. Having found their way to an old rectory, the Clocks realize that they will never really be safe.

This book is quite different from the earlier books. This story contains social commentary, as seen when the family meets Peregrine Overmantle, and the introduction of more fantastic elements, such as a household ghost. It's quite interesting to imagine where Mary Norton might have gone, had she had the time to write more Borrowers stories. Anyway, this is a great book, and well worth your time and money.

Just to set everyone straight, this book is NOT based on the campy, sellout movie "The Borrowers." The movie should be renounced by all true fans, as it is a badly done attempt at commercializing on Mary Norton's brilliant ideas. Anyway, "The Borrowers Avenged" was written more than ten years before the Borrowers movie. It continues the story of Pod, Homily, and Arrietty, as they finally settle into an old rectory. It raises important questions about the future--(who will Arrietty marry, Spiller or Peagreen? I tend to think Peagreen.), but as all good Norton stories, gives you room to decide for yourself.

I was interested to spot this children's book dealing with the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire of March 25, 1911, in which 146 workers were killed. Public outrage over the fire, and the deaths of so many young women, some as young as 14, resulted in monumental changes in fire codes. "Fire at the Triangle Factory" tells the story of 14-year-olds Minnie and Tessa, two friends who help each other when the factory goes up in flames.

You will notice that the Author's Note and Afterword, written by author Holly Littlefield, are probably about as long as the entire text of the actual story. The story is written at an elementary school level, but clearly the historical events are beyond the scope of such readers, therefore necessitating the detailed background. The story, illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young, touches on the horrible working conditions, but does not really communicate the inhumanity of the sweatshops. The two young girls are the daughters of immigrants: Minnie's family is Jewish and Tessa's is Italian, and Minnie frets that her father would not accept her having a non-Jewish friend. But Minnie knows that things are different in America, which is always a worthwhile attitude to impart to children. The fire and its aftermath take up half the story and the manner in which the two young girls escape the fire certainly rings true; indeed, Littlefield based her story on the account of actual survivors.

I think this story would have worked better for an older age group, with the story fleshed out to something more like a novella in length. The immigrant life style could be explored in much more detail to greater effect and the same would be true for both the working conditions at the factory and the fatal fire. Junior high girls would be able to relate to this story and appreciate its historical, social and personal significance much more than younger students who would have trouble fully appreciating Littlefield's ambitious subject matter.

I am a sixth grade social studies teacher. I teach about immigrants and their assimilation into the American way of life. This book is very much below the reading level of average sixth graders. However, due to the brevity of the story and its valuable historical significance, I was able to read it orally to my classes as an introduction and enhancement to my immigration unit. It was also a valuable story upon which to refer to aid my students' understanding throughout the unit of study. One thing which I think "tickled" the interest of my sixth graders in particular, was that the story focused on two youths very close to their age. I think it is a "must have" for those who want to add a little something to their immigration lesson plans and to add realism.

My 7 year old loved this book, and has gone on to enjoy many others from Carolrhoda. Well written, true stories featuring interesting real people (many of them female). However, they are rated grades 4-6, which I think is way off- a strong first grade reader, most second grader, and any average third grader should fly through these books. Strongly recommended!

"Aurora Floyd" may not be the best novel Mary Elizabeth Braddon wrote -- the honor goes to "Lady Audley's Secret" -- but, the book is still intriguing because of the contrast it makes with the other book and many other comtemporary novels, especially "Jane Eyre." And if you don't have these historical interest, the book is pretty interesting thanks to its good story telling.

"Aurora Floyd" follows the history of the heroine of the same name, who has a shady past left in France. Aurora, unrestrained morally in her youth, hides some secret, but still attractive enough to make the two heroes fall in love with her. Without telling the nature of the secret, Aurora, strong-willed and candid, a gives a clear warning to one of them, proud Talbot Bulstrode, that he may one day regret his rash action if he dares to marry her. While he vanishes from her to marry other woman, tame and tender-hearted Lucy, the other suitor meek John Mellish succeeds in winning her heart, and he immediately marries her, not knowing her secret. As the time goes on, however, her hidden secret emerges from the past, and finally catches up with Aurora, living now quietly in a countryside. She must face the past, but how? While she is tormented by the sense of guilt, her husband began to suspect something wicked is going on, and he too began to suffer.

The story is melodramatic, but it is the merit of sensation novels, the genre in vogue during the 1860s, and Braddon, as she showed in her previous (actually written almost at the same time) "Lady Audley's Secret," is very good at handling the subject. It is notable, however, that the author intends to do something different this time, spending more pages on the analysis of the psychology of the characters. The result is a mixed bag; sometimes she shows good descriptions of characters with a witty touch, which reminds us of Thackeray, the story sometimes gets slower because of too much philosophy. Compared with the fast-paced "Lady Audley's Secret," her new experiment may look somewhat damaging.

But as a whole, the book is agreeable, and after you finish two-thirds of the book, Braddon makes the plot speedier. The last part includes one of the earliest examples of detective story, and a good (but short) portrayal of detective Joseph Grimstone's work is still fascinating. But the greatest merit of the book is its sub-text dealing with incredibly violent passion of Aurora, whose image is clearly mocking the typical angelic image of Victorain women. One of the book's scenes, in which the heroine gives a shower of blows with her wrip to her stable-man who bullied her dog, caused sensation and scandalized some critics. The description is still impressive today.

In conclusion, "Aurora Floyd" is a fairly gripping story, even though it is not the best place to start reading her books or Victorian novels. If you think you are familiar with those Victoraiin novels, or want to read one of the effect following the impact of Bronte's "Jane Eyre," try it.

Trivia: Braddon lived long (died in 1915), and before her death, she even watched the filmed version of her own "Aurora Floyd." Her life story is as intriguing as a story she wrote.

[NOTE ON THE TEXT] Oxford University Press's "Aurora Flyod" uses the later edition of the book while Broadview Press's uses an earlier edition. The former one is considerable changed from the latter, so for the academic use you must be careful.

Having devoured Trollope, Willkie Collins, I happened onto Aurora Floyd and was truly surprised to find such an outstanding story so beautifully written. A dark secret revealed, a murder and a love story, this is a wonderful book.

Bartholomew Fair was an interesting book that told the story of the different events of a fair from six different point of views. The summary in the back of the book wound me up to the expectation of a wonderful mystery, but I was let down as soon as I finished reading it.The author wonderfully entwined the paths of the travelers, but did not create a plot that did justice to the entwined paths. The book is slightly redeemed by the character's contradictable personalities and is still enjoyable enough to read.

Its too bad that this book is out of print. B.F. is a book that shows the classes that live next to each other every day. From the queen's elaborate "toilette" to the servants ignominious treatment. The merchant though rich is not spared the pain of lonliness. Most of all it shows how (with syncronicity) each of us touch others every day. Six may go to the fair but only 5 return. Stolz paints a rememberable picture of life in England.

I read THE CRYSTAL TREE when I was 9 years old and in the fourth grade. I recently decided to take a trip down memory lane and read it again, and was delighted to see that Amazon.com had it for sale.

CRYSTAL TREE tells the tale of a bunch of little girls living in a farming community in New England. One little girl, Nancy, is staying with friends of her parents while her ill mother recuperates, and the series of books details her adventures there.

These books are great in the Happy Hollisters/Bobsey Twins sense of books. Everyone's happy, no one quarrels or gets their feelings hurt, and all the children and adults are satisfied with the simple things in life. This book details Nancy's reunion with her parents and Nancy and her friends embarking on a sleuthing adventure to determine origins of the house into which Nancy and her parents will move.

The books are fun, happy, and easy to read. I enjoyed my little trip down memory lane immensely, and will share these books with any children who should come into my life.

Another childhood treasure, this is the sequel to "The Golden Name Day" "The Little Silver House" The crystal tree is somehow connected to a former resident of the little silver house and the children spend most of the book trying to figure it out. While not a dramatic mystery this book is a charming representation of life in a small (New Hampshire?) village, with wonderful descriptions of Swedish traditions,small town rituals and farm traditions. It offers a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, but is equally able to stand on its own as a story.

The subject of this book is especially important as a role model for young girls: Lydia Maria Child was unafraid to let her views be known, even if they proved to be unpopular, and defended what she felt was right. She rarely declined an opportunity to try a new endeavor.

This book presents an age-appropriate look at the life of Child within the context of the time and place in which she lived. The author's description of the characters' "thoughts & feelings" ("Lydia wondered what her life would be like with Mary.") and use of conversation add to the readability of the book in a way that may be unacceptable in a book for a different age group.

Teachers and parents will want their students to read about the 1800s and learn some history about a determined and resolute woman who challenged the cultural mores of the times with her writings. Lydia became a popular fiction writer in her early twenties, but because of her strong anti-slavery beliefs risked her fame and certainly her fortune by editing an abolutionists' newspaper.
As a former 5th grade techer, I think this would be an ideal book for 4th & 5th grade girls who would be interested in learning about the strength and power of one woman to affect the times in which she lived.

I think this story is pretty stupid. I picked it up thinking it would be good and it wasn't. It is not. Sara is absolutely horrible to her little sister. She makes way too much mischeif. But you can understand why she says some of the things she says. I would not recommend this book unless you like books that scare you and make you check ahead to let you know whether things will be all right.

Mrs. Sherwood, who is Emily's (narrator) mother and some of us agree: Sara Slater is a bad influence. The girls are 12, and Sara teaches Emily how to smoke. Sara teaches her to trick Sara's little sister. And when Emily stands up to her bad influence, they fight. And Emily's a good child. Sara's just a bad influence for all 12-year-old girls who may read this.

I read this when I was somewhere between 10 and 12 years old, and I absolutely loved it! I could relate to this too, because I had a friend like Sara growing up. She wasn't perfect, a little rough around the edges and we had some fights, but in the end she was a true friend, like the Sara in the book.