I used this book in an elementary classroom. When the children came in each morning, they would look at the board to get the day's riddle. They had fun and I got a couple of minutes of peace in the mornings. They felt SO SMART when they solved each one. They even started to make up their own riddles to put on the board and got such a kick out of letting their classmates in on the answers.

I used this book when teaching a high-school level English class in France. I wrote the "sentences" on the board and had the first person from each team run to the board to write out the sentence completely. It was fantastique! They loved it. I'm sure it could be put to good use in an American classroom too. Great fun!

A gift at 16, I laughed at every page... at 42, I am ordering 4 copies...a difficult book to review as you really have to see it to believe it. So order one up, and one for a friend. Enjoy, laugh and learn to C D B.

I am currently in the application process for the Academy and the book was tremendously helpful to me. It's an inside look at the admissions criteria with comments from parents, Midshipmen, Academy Professors, Blue and Gold Officers, and pretty much anyone involved. It gives great advice for every aspect of trying to get in, from obtaining a nomination to qualifying medically. It also looks into the rigors of the Plebe year, so you'll definitely know what you're getting into. A great book and a great help!

This book has to be one of the most useful books I've seen. As a candidate having to go through the admissions process for the SECOND TIME I found the book to be most insightful as to what I had done that may not have helped my application. I also found it to give me a good insight into keeping in the Academy and made me look at my entire point of view. A MUST FOR ANY CANDIDATE. Class of '05, Go Navy, Beat Army! Beat Air Force ALSO! If anyone is/has gone to Northwestern Prep for Fall 2000, please e-mail me.

The Naval Academy Candidate Handbook is absolutely worth its weight in gold to anyone considering attending Annapolis. It was extremely helpful to me when I applied there, and it provided an honest and accurate picture of what to expect at the Academy. I recommend it to anyone I talk to who aspires to USNA, and have passed my copy on to several others who were in the process of applying. This is the one and only book you need, it's got it all. This '97 grad can't imagine going through it all without the Candidate Handbook.

This book is great! If you like time traveling you are going to love this book. This book is about a 11 year old boy who finds a mysterious egg that can travel back in time. During his adventures to the futures he finds that his older self is cruel. You just have to read this book!

I first read this book when I was in forth grade. It made a great impression on me. During a move a year later the book was lost. I recently found it on auction and read it again. I am amazed at how wonderfully complex the story is for both young and old readers. Certainly a story for all. Happy reading

This book touched my inner sanctums of imagination and dreaming-- a must-read!

Required to read Henry for my AP English Language class, I came into the play with a bias. I honestly felt that it would be a boring political play. I was utterly wrong! A huge fan of Shakespeare, I found Henry V to be a formidable match for the Bard's more critically acclaimed plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth. Henry has it all! Shakespeare's attitude toward Henry the King is certainly one of admiration. By communicating the fact that an effective monarch must have a complete understanding of the common subjects (Pistol and Bardolph and Quickly), Shakespeare sets up Henry to be the ideal Christian king. The controlled language of Henry's speeches, particularly his response to the Dauphin's idiotic insult, also glorifies Henry. I certainly recommend this play to anyone, fan of Shakespeare or not.

Written by Shakespeare for Queen Elizabeth I amidst a time of Irish rebellion, Henry V more than adequately serves its intended purpose of galvanizing nationalistic fervor. It proved itself to be an unwavering and unfaltering impetus of patriotism in Shakespeare's day, during WWII, and still today it continues to resonate and reverberate this provocatively telling tale of the most gloriously revered monarch in English history.

Henry V's stirring orations prior to the victorious battles of Harfleur("Once more unto the breach") and Agincourt("We few, we happy few, we band of brothers") astonish and inspire me every time I read them. Simply amazing. Having read Henry IV Parts I&II beforehand, I was surprised Shakespeare failed to live up to his word in the Epilogue of Part II in which he promised to "continue the story, with Sir John in it." The continuing follies of the conniving Bardolph, Nym, & Pistol and their ignominious thieving prove to be somewhat of a depricating underplot which nevertheless proves to act as a succinct metaphor for King Harry's "taking" of France.

Powerful and vibrant, the character of Henry V evokes passion and unadulterated admiration through his incredible valor & strength of conviction in a time of utter despondency. It is this conviction and passion which transcends time, and moreover, the very pages that Shakespeare's words are written upon. I find it impossible to overstate the absolute and impregnable puissance of Henry V, a play which I undoubtedly rate as the obligatory cream of the crop of Shakespeare's Histories. I recommend reading Henry IV I&II prior to Henry V as well as viewing Kenneth Branagh's masterpiece film subsequent to reading the equally moving work.

On D-Day British officers read Henry's famous words to their men as they approached the beach. When Churchill needed material for his famous "Few" speech, his thoughts turned to the pages of Henry V. From "once more into the breach" to "we happy few, we band of brothers" this play resonates with Shakespeare's paen to England's warrior king. Oh, you'll be a bit confused at the start if you haven't read Henry IV parts 1 and 2, but this is primarily the story of Henry V's victory at Agincourt. Whether the play glorifies war or just Henry you will have to decide. There is much food for thought here for the perceptive reader. But then Shakespeare is always provocative.

i read this a few months ago when i was 11, i think it's a cool book, a typical sweet valley book, but i love sv books, jessica is my favourite charactor anyway, well my friend lended it to me, and i couldn't put it down! i was reading it during dinner! it wasn't that sad, but i didn't really particulary like the ending, i wish jessica didn't dump aj :> oh well

This book is one that will never get dull. I read over and over again and each time, something new stands out. It was just like reading my diary. I could really relate to the character's reactions and problems.

This book was fun to read. It included what was going on plus what she was thinking. If you like Sweet Valley High books, you'll love this one!

This book is totally superb! It keeps you on your toes, and saying "don't go to him, he's EVIL" and "run far away, don't let your aunt and uncle talk you into marrying him"!!! Stine produced the perfect amount of detail and suspense. I really think that anyone who likes mystery and horror books should definatly read this book.

After the death of her parents, Madeline planned to put the past behind her. She went to stay with her cousins, Marcus and Deobrah, at Shadowbrook. On her very first arrival, she fell in love with a handome young doctor, Justin Fier. She was then warned by Tobias Morgan, a ghost, and Honoria Bancroft, an old lady whom her cousins plan to send a place for insane people. They both try to keep her away from Justin Fier. Nonetheless, Madeline is obstinate and she marries him. That is when she discovers his terrible and bloody secret...

I think this was the best book of all the sagas so far that I read. It was a great story and it was really scary. I definatly recommend it!

Rita Williams-Garcia's Like Sisters on the Homefront is the tale of a fourteen-year-old girl who is sent by her mother to live with her Aunt and Uncle in the south after getting pregnant for the second time. Gayle Whitaker, the protagonist in the story, compares her stay at the relatives as 'being sold into slavery'.(Williams-Garcia. 23)
This link is constantly being made throughout the story by Gayle, a girl who seems to lack any kind of regard towards anyone or anything except herself and three friends. The reader has a hard time connecting to her because she appears so self-centered which although common among young teenagers is hard to accept from a girl who seems older than her years as a result of her experiences. It is only through Gayle's interpretation of the world that one can see how vulnerable she is and realize that her lack in concern is directly related towards her age and development.
Gayle's lack of any type of emotion is clear from the beginning of the book when the reader discovers she is pregnant. To the reader it seems as though her regard to her situation is without concern. Her response to the abortion was more a sense of annoyance than any type of loss or even understanding about consequences. When the Doctor tries to offer some sympathy and encouragement during the procedure Gayle responded with, "Oh, Doc, it ain?t nothing to cry about."(Williams-Garcia. 8)
The inconsistency Gayle expresses shows how she can still easily be taken advantage. Throughout most of the book she tries contacting her boyfriend Troy with no success. Instead of realizing he has moved on she places the blame of his lack of response on everybody else but him. Yet the flight attendant on the plane causes Gayle to feel suspicious. "Gayle didn?t trust her. She was to nice." (Williams-Garcia. 21)
Although she seems experienced and often the reader forgets her age, comments Gayle makes throughout the book often expose how young and unexposed to the world she really is. While flying over New York, Gayle notices the landmarks like a wide-eyed child. "Jose! Look. There go that Freedom Lady and her torch. See! And those two giant buildings be on postcards. Look!"(Williams-Garcia. 22)
Upon meeting her relatives at the airport, Gayle refuses to show any emotion towards her cousin Constance. Although she is aware the 'insolent' response to her cousins 'sympatric look' causes Constance to feel rejected and reveals this by justifying her unfriendly behavior to herself. "How can I smile at you? Smiling means we know the same thing, and you don't even know what I'm feeling. Cootie still sore fore the abortion. Ears still ringing from the plane ride. Back fit to split wide open from playing the mule, but I?m s?posed to be grinning at you?"(Williams-Garcia. 27)
Many readers may have a hard time relating to this book. The main character seems shallow. Taking a closer look though shows depth to Gayle and allows a great deal of maturity and growth throughout the book.

Like Sisters on the Homefront is one of the best books that I read. This book is about a girl named Gayle who is pregnant by a boy named Troy.After her mother found out she went and got her an abortion because she already has a child. After getting her an abortion, Gayle's mother sent her down South to live with her uncle and aunt. These are the issues that Gayle was dealing with: family problems, stress, dropping out of school, getting along with people, looking for a job, and pregnancy.

I think teenage girls will read this book, because they would think it's interesting because having a baby at a young age is not the way to be cool. It takes away a lot of your time and freedom. Gayle learns how to take responsibilities for her and her child.

Down South, Gayle learns that being on her own is hard. Being a full time mother is a hard job. She has to work to get her and Jose things that they need. Doing all this while taking care of Jose is hard because her mother is not there to help her, and she is learning her responsibilities quickly because her mother is not there to do everything any more.

I encourage you to read this book because you can learn a lot from this book.

My eighth graders loved this book! They were so excited after I read the first page to them as a preview of what's to come, that they went to the library to check out the book because they weren't scheduled to read it for another week. They really connected with the author's use of language and her up-front, in your face style of writing.
The author deals with teen pregnancy, abortion, and religion in a well-written, well- balanced way. She makes sure that the "real deal" of these teen issues are portrayed, as well as offering a "there's still hope" message for the readers.
As a reading teacher, part of my job is to expose my students to well-written, exciting books they might not ordinarily find on their own, and I'm surely glad that this wonderful treasure has been found!

I had had this book for about 2 years before even thinking of picking it up and when I did I read it in under half a day. It kept a constant grip on my imagination (mind you I am very interested in all sorts of aircraft) A GREAT READ!

this was one of his best books. when Chas Mcgill and his friends find a German Machine gun along with 200 rounds of live bullets. they wanted their chance of revenge on the Germans,after all it was the second world war. They build a tripod for it and they capture a german pilot but grow very fond of him and let him go back to germany. he doesn't want to. if I say any more I'll spoil it for you. All i need to say is that it is my favourite book

I read this book a long time ago, as part of my schooling. Even at that age, I did not want to put this book down. This is a good one to pass on to young'uns, and alot of adults too. A must for the bookshelf me thinks.

This book was reviewed in a graduate course in reading that I was taking. "I Went Walking" is a predictable print book. Such books are excellent in the very early stages of reading. Children memorize the book as you read it over and over and over again. Repetition the very thing our adult mind questions, children ask for repetition that they need. They learn to "read" you the book even when the book is not there. This stage of memorization is the first stage of reading. The child then moves to recognizing the words. For example, "Is this word 'cow'?" So both kindergarten teachers and parents can use this book. It is good to have a half dozen of these predictable print books at home. (Look up: Dorothy Butler's "My Brown Bear Barney".)

This book is so sweet. The watercolor paintings are colorful without being brash, and the child and animals are all realistic and yet stylized at the same time. I love how the child is not defined by the story as being a boy or a girl, and that it looks ambiguous enough to be either.

The repetition of the story makes it easy to read and easy for an older child to learn, and yet isn't the kind of repetition that drives parents wild. As the child gets older, you can drop words and let them "fill in the blank" as they look at the pictures to identify both the animals and the animals' colors.

When I was a Nanny my charge and I adored this book and read it at least a hundred times. Now that I am home with my own son, I bought the book for him and he loves it too!

I discovered "I Went Walking" when I taught first grade. It was a part of their literature series early in the year. I have no children of my own and I own both the board book and the paperback edition of this book because I love the illustrations and the rhythmical quality of the text. As someone who has professionally worked with children ages 2-12, I find that this kind of text is invaluable to early readers (ages 2-7). Children can easily pick up on the patterns in the sentences and begin developing many pre-reading skills (like being able to identify the left to right movement of written sentences). To find books that your young child will want to read over and over again is a jewel in their literacy development. To find books like this that you will want to read over and over again with your child is a treasure box of time shared!

When I picked up this book I honestly thought that I was going to end up reading about snobs just like Lila-but I was wrong. The story starts with Lili de Beautemps, who narrowly misses the guillotine during the French Revolution, and ends up poor. From there, it eventually goes to George Fowler, Lila's father, and goes into what happened between Lila's parents. A nice read, even though I am not one for sappy romance novels normally. I think I'll pick up a copy of "The Patmans of Sweet Valley" as well.

As a college student, I need some mental cotton candy every once in awhile. I found a few of my old Sweet Valley High books and I've gotten hooked on them like never before-- buying them at secondhand bookstores, etc. I have to say that I really love The Fowlers of Sweet Valley-- although-- it seems like in every single "Saga" book the generations-- in this case Beautemps vs. Oiseilluer/Fowler-- that preceed the SV characters we know and love come THIS CLOSE to falling in love and then die, move away, lose touch, etc. Every single generation-- in every book-- it starts to get just a little bit old. However, the only case where this is actually interesting and almost a little heartbreaking is when Isabelle marries Jacques' (oisiellur, who later changes name to Jack Fowler)friend when she thinks he is killed. I have studied the first world war in depth and there are cases like that where they think beyond a doubt the soldier has died and then he turns up somewhere. But with that-- and the background of Lila's parent's falling apart-- make this a wonderful read. Loved it when Celeste found out about her mother Lili!

The Fowlers of Sweet Valley, is, no doubt, the best book I have ever read---and that is a lot of books! I think it was even better than the Wakefield saga, which was good also. The book is truly a sweeping romance. Sensitive readers will surely cry reading this book. AMAZING WORK!