"The Road to Seneca Falls" will take contemporary readers back to the time of their great, Great, GREAT-grandparents. Can today's 4th and 5th graders identify with what may seem ancient history? Will Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her sausage curls draw young readers?

Let's hope Gwenyth Swain's story ignites interest & even passion
in 'Women's Rights' and the tough fight to change conditions which today's girls can hardly believe ever existed: NO college for women! NO rights to personal or real property! and definitely NO VOTE!

Elizabeth was never a shy violet. She was bright and determined. The story of her childhood makes her seem genuinely real. Her beliefs were authentic and she never turned her back on them, or those who stood with her, persistent and dedicated.

As a fan of the author, I was delighted to see her picture on the back cover of the library edition. She is shown at the truly meaningful national historical monment to women's rights, an exciting museum complex in Seneca Falls -- in upstate New York.
This is a town which many people identify as the backdrop for the movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life". The museum draws people from all over the USA and world and gives one the opportunity to pay tribute to women who did battle for a worthy cause. I could bridge many decades and pose next to a hero, Frederick Douglass!

I recommend this 5-star book for its well-researched story, and useful bibliography. It will help growing readers as they learn to choose values for their own lives.

"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.

For as long as he can remember, fifteen year old Toby Chase's home has been the old car his mom is driving to yet another new life in a new city. Just when Toby gets settled, they pack up and move on. After settling in the remote Idaho community of Donner, Toby's mother promises him that it will be better than any place they have ever lived, and it is. Toby's happy and his mother is too. While doing research on the Internet for a school research project about the Vietnam War, Toby discovers the truth about his mother; she is a fugitive. Will Toby reveal his knowledge? Will he again have to move? Has his dream of a real home once again been shattered?

Ryan has written a suspenseful fast paced story. The characters are well developed which makes the reader care all the more about Toby, his mother and the friends they have made in Donner. Some tense moments lead up to the story's conclusion. A few minor flaws exist, but can be easily overlooked. An enjoyable work that teens will enjoy.

The book Alias started out really great, i just couldn't put it down, but then things started getting really boring, and it was almost as if i didn't want to read it at all. Near the middle of the book is where it just was horrible. the words, and contents sounded as if it was written by a 13 year old, i am dead serious. it sounded as if something i may write. ussually the books i get written by adults (which most are) they are wonderful, but this one, the words were dull, as well as the sentance structure. Ryan used dull, simple, plain sentences. example: the boy ran into the house. (you could've used) quickly, the tall, lean, tan boy charged into the red brick house. now, tell me, doesn't that sound much better?

Toby has always wondered what his mom was keeping from him. Whenever he asked questions she would respond by telling him not to ask but to do as she says. Since Toby could remember, he never stayed in one place for a long time. Instead, he was always moving from one place of the country to another whenever Bad News Fred showed up. Toby's mother changed her appearance whenever they moved to a new place. In one town she had long, blond hair, and then in another city she had short, brown hair. She changed her name as often as she changed her hairstyle. On their last move Toby, discovers why his mother is so secretive-- she is a fugitive who has been running from the FBI since the Vietnam War. The heat is on, and the FBI find out where Toby and his mother are located. Fred arrives to warn Toby's mom and she leaves Toby behind. Will Toby ever see his mother again? Will his mother escape? The book is very thrilling and very unpredictable. If you think you know how the book ends you could be wrong! This book is a great way to get your mind off things and I am sure you will not put the book down towards the end because I sure did not.

This concise but interesting book is an excellent biography of a courageous and gifted Black woman in the post-Colonial era. With self-composure she fought for her freedom--not by using violence, but by working within the Law, to ultimately receive her moral due: Justice in a Connecticut courtroom.

Consisting of an introduction and 15 short chpaers, this modest volume depicts her focused struggle to enjoy the same liberty which the Colonists had recently bought so dearly. In her pursuit of jusice Mumbet earns the respect of her lawyer and second master/employer. She performs all household duties with skill and modesty: nurse, housekeeper, even defender of the hearth during the master's absence. Mumbet pursues her lonely dream of freedom some 35 years before the Emancipation Proclamation, achieving her goal legally and with great personal dignity. I had never heard of this courageous woman before, I am ashamed to confess, so this little book is a perfect introduction to students of Black history, as well as Women's Studies in general. Very readable and inspiring re overcoming obstacles with patience, perseverence and peace.