Critique

The book I read was called Crocodile Hunter. I would probably rate this book a four star book. The reason I would rate this book at such a high rating is because this book was very hard to put down because there was never any boring parts. The author kept the story very interesting through out the whole story. Some of the words in the story were really big words and from time to time I had to look up some of the words. Right from the start the story got right to the point and that made it a lot better than some of the other books that I had read. One thing I thought that made this story stand out from the all the rest of them I have read because the setting in the story took place in two different kinds of worlds. Some of the activities that took place in the story were also very interesting. At the beginning Sakira is living in South Africa and in the middle of the story he is one Broadway singing with a group of very talentiewd singers. The story taught me a good lesson that Sakira did not ever forget his roots and what was happening back at his home town, where ware and politics were taking place. I would not really recommend this book to someone under the age of 11 or twelve because of some of the big words.

Crocodile Burning, by Michael Williams, is one of the most intense books that I have ever read. About a young man, Seraki, from a small, present day, troubled South African village and his small show, the book takes an unexpected turn when the musical is invited to Broadway in New York City. With Seraki's brother in jail, Seraki needs to earn money to get him out. When the cast find out that they are not getting paid properly by the evil producer, trouble starts brewing. Read the book to find out what happens! I would definitely recommend this book because the characters are excitingly unpredictable, and because the settings are interesting when changed. I really liked this book because the characters are so unpredictable. An example of this is that Mosake, the show's manager, seems to be a very nice person in the beginning of the book when the musical is stationed in the small village in South Africa. Then, when the show moves to Broadway, we see the evil man that Mosake really is. In the book, there is also a very unexpected change in settings. The small musical that is started in Seraki's poor South African town goes to New York City and is a huge star on Broadway. These are just two of the reasons why you will enjoy this novel. Even though the characters and the changes in settings are very exciting, some people might not recommend this book because it seems a little bit unrealistic. For example, someone might think that it is almost impossible for a musical, from a small South African town, would become a success on Broadway. I believe that this is not a good enough reason not to take my recommendation because thought the plot may e unrealistic, the story is told in a very believable way. You will not regret reading this South African novel!

Overall this was a fairly good book. The story at first is kind of slow, then picks up, but there is really never a climax. There was a lot of historical information in this book that I found very interesting. It really made me realize how tough conditions were in South Africa at the time that this book takes place.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. MAGIC HAS A HAD VERY INTERESTING CAREER AND PRIVATE LIFE. HE DOES A GREAT JOB OF DESCRIBING THE NEWS OF HIS HIV VIRUS IN SUCH AS A WAY THAT HE IS HONEST BUT NOT BRUTALLY HONEST. HE SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD GUY. HE DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING HIS CAREER AND HIS LIFE IN DETAIL. I ENJOYED THIS ALOT, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE HIS RESPECT OF LARRY BIRD, PAT RILEY, AND VARIOUS OTHER PLAYERS AND COACHES. HE ALSO HAS GOOD VALUES AND SEEMS HUMBLE. HE IS VERY HUMAN AND ALSO HAS GREAT CHARISMA. HOPEFULLY MAGIC WILL LIVE A LONG HEALTHY LIFE. THIS BOOK IS VERY RECOMMENDED.

An enjoyable quick read that offers a lot of down-to-earth things about Magic's life. Growing up in Michigan, describing what school, family life, and basketball was like. He also delves into some of his interludes with some of the ladies, and describes the constant attention given to NBA players on the road. He writes of his HIV infection and how he initially dealt with it. For those who've even casually been exposed to Ervin Johnson on the court or via interviews, he's one of the most relaxed and even-keel people we've ever encountered. Magic is appreciative and laid-back. This will allow him to live as long as people who are not infected.

Magic without a doubt is Something Special.He was The Last Complete Player in the Game.He Could Play Position.but he Proved Himself even Bigger after He Found out he had HIV.He became an Even Bigger Winner Giving Back&Building a Bigger Foundation.this Book Deals with His Days at Michigan State,The L.A.Lakers&His Views around the League.The Man is a Champion on&off The COurt.His Smile is TImeless.A Class Act.

This beautifully realized and passionate fictional account of the young Shakespeare's life is rich with period detail that transports the reader back in time to Elizabethan England. The book is also filled with well-wrought, complex characters -- the actors, writers, and others whom Shakespeare knew -- and their relationships with one another. For anyone who loves historical fiction or Shakespeare, or wonders about the "Dark Lady" of the sonnets, this book will be mesmerizing. Highly recommended.

Stephanie Cowell's tender, deeply felt, beautifully written "The Players: A Novel of the Young Shakespeare" is a wonderful fictionalized biography, sweet, yearning and passionate. It is the story of Shakespeare's growing up and of his love for the Earl of Southampton and the celebrated Dark Lady of the Sonnets. Marlowe and Ben Jonson are two more of the brilliantly drawn characters, and the whole life of Elizabethan England, the bustle of the busy port of London, and of the art and theater of those days is so really evoked that we feel we are there. My emotions were aroused, and I found the story evocative of my own life, of feelings I have had, the events being so engrossing, so engaging and involving, that I was deeply moved. The Historical Notes at the end of the book are also fascinating. Read this book! You will love it, as I do.--Robert Blumenfeld

Shakespeare came to life as never before. A deep portrait of a sensitive young artist finding himself in his writing. The love triangle was magical.

An excellently crafted allegorical fable. I don't think anyone could read this book without it leading to a heightened understanding of their own personality and the personalities of those around them. The only thing about it that people might find difficult or unlikely is how true the protagonists remain to their characters. Real people aren't so black and white. But, this is a fable...

Glikerson's novel has shown me all sides of my personality. I am Bosun, Pilot, and Flags with a touch of Crew and a dash of Steward. Although this novel hasn't changed my life. It has shown me my foilbles in a very intriguing story which held me from the first strike. I am a sailor and I could feel the sea roll under me as I read of the Ultimate Voyage. The five are one in us all.

When I came across this book, I picked it up as an afterthought. Once I started reading, I simply could not put it down.

Gilkerson has created a mesmerizing world, both wonderfully complex and yet awash in simplicity at the same time. Set somewhere in the 16th or 17th Century, there is always a hint of magic somewhere deep, deep beneath the surface of the story.

Five children, born at the very same moment into different walks of life in the seafaring town of Port, grow up together, fast friends upon their first meeting, eventually circumnavigating their continent in a vessel they construct themselves.

Each has a special talent that when combined with that of their counterparts becomes a force to be reckoned with.

They take their names (indeed the only names we know them by), from the maritime talents they show best, regardless of their station in life. Pilot, the master navigator; Flags, the flamboyant thespian and artist; Bosun, the master rigger and sailmaker; Steward, cook and victual supplier, despite his royal heritage; and Crew, who holds everything together.

The thrust of the book is that the five heroes are actually one, all different sides of the same personality, and that life evolves in a circle.

The author's unique knowledge of sailing craft combined with a wonderful storytelling style add to this charming text. The occasional artwork throughout the book is also quite effective in enhancing the story.

Hard to believe this is the author's first foray into fiction. With any luck it will not be his last!

This book will certainly find a spot on your bookshelf for your most favorite of stories. You certainly should not pass up "Ultimate Voyage"!

This is an awesome book, in my opinion. The plot is really exciting, but I have only read the first and third books. I think that I should say to readers who are intending to use that little piece of information about Mary, Queen of Scots on p. 100 had better check their facts: Mary was beheaded in 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle, not the Tower of London. And in case anyone was wondering, the wax museum is called Madame Tussaud's.
Still, I really recommend this book to anyone who loves a good scary, mysterious story.

As I have all the books in this miniseries this book really connects well to the next.I think it is the best of the three in the actual miniseries.It's brill!

This has got to be the best Sweet Valley Book I've ever read! It gives a good mental and physical description of it's characters. If you like werewolves this is a must read book.

Jessica Wakefield is the biggest snob in the whole world of sweet valley!! I can't believe the way she pretended to be best friends with poor Robin and then had the absolute nerve to blackball her and act satisfied!! If that's not enough she also blamed Liz about that article she wrote (as if every word wasn't true which it was) and then accuse her of bribing Bruce Patman (which she did but is beside the whole point) I'm not on Liz's side either. She didn't even fight back at Jessica. Oh, she said a few words back at her but not enough to get Jessica to see how much of a witch she really is. Sometimes Liz really lets Jessica get away with murder sometimes. Jessica walks all over Liz and anyone else to get what she wants but Jessica is always so indignant when Liz does the slightest thing to get back at her. Using terms like "my own sister" Jessica succeeds in getting Liz to feel all guilty when she shouldn't even! I really thought Jessica went overboard in getting Robin out of Pi Beta Alpha. She really acted like a real witch. A snobby conniving witch who thinks she can do anything she wants to do and just innocently say "Why would I do anything like that?" Sometimes I really don't think Jessica loves her sister as much as she claims to. But Liz does. She always goes out of her way to get Jessica out of trouble even when Jessica has been the nastiest piece of slime to her. Naturally, Elizabeth always forgives Jessica, usually when something life-threatining happens and Liz sees how important Jessica is to her. Please! I know I've been rambling but sometimes Jessica really gets on my nerves! (SORRY TO ALL THOSE JESSICA FANS OUT THERE!) Well, I think I've said enough.

I thought this book was great!If you are a SVH fan then be sure to read this one!

I thought it was pretty amusing that Robin managed to lose allthat weight in the space of about 2 or 3 chapters. Other than that,the book was well written in terms of conveying Jessica and the other Pi Beta's two-faced snobbishness. Although I do think that Robin was partly to blame, due to the fact that she wouldn't tell Jessica and the Pi Betas where to get off. I mean, they completely humiliate her, yet she still kept after them. I also didn't like the way Robin reacted to Liz, I mean, yeah, Jessica treated her like dirt but, I don't know how Robin had the nerve to accuse Liz as well. It was Liz who was trying to stop her from making a fool of herself. END

Talk about beauty, loyalty, and guts! Jessica Wakefield has it all. In this action packed 21st book in this series she displays more guts than any of the other members of the Sweet Valley gang. She is still loyal to her boyfriend even with his past histiory, but is he really worth losing her friends, family, and most importantly her twin? I give this book two thumbs up!

this book was a funny one, but it lost me a couple times

In this book Jessica NEARLY runs away. She should of and her family should of found when she was actully there. To make it more interesting. But it's still pretty good.

An integral part to any Shakespeare work is the presence of footnotes! This book has a glossary, but it does not do any good because there is not sign in the actual text itself that one can look up specific words in the glossary. While the plays themselves are very enjoyable, do not purchase this edition unless you feel very confident about your ability to read Shakespearean language.

this is a great book for shakespeare fans. it was the first time i read shakespeare outside of class, and it was very interesting. i didn't like the prefaces much, i didn't have the patience to read them. i felt they were very of long, and harder to read and understand than the actual shakespeare. they actual plays-not stories, just to clarify- are wonderful. it would be a great book to read if you are taking a literature class and want to get a head start or if you want to expand your vocabulary. you can even relate the problems of those times to the problems of today. the plays were very fun to read once you got into them; shakespeare is just as great as he is said to be.

this is an excellent 'cheap' edition of the great tragedies. besides being edited by david bevington, considered one of the foremost shakespeare scholars, the bantam edition also includes introductory essays for each play AND the source material that shakespeare used - ie, the actual short stories or plays that the bard drew on to the write his plays. wonderful stuff and a great way to get into shakespeare.

it was just sort of the usual- in my opinion. a new, mysterious dude comes to sweet valley and jessica pulls every trick in the book to get him. uh-huh. the book was all right but outrageous 2 me. liz was da only girl with da sense in dis story because she didn't fall under da guy's spell. SV will always be my favorite book series but they should kinda chill with da cursed/vampire/werewolf/magic stuff. just an opinion. i'm out.

This is another enticing Sweet Valley thriller.However,I feel the twins have met way too many vampires,werewolfs and other murderous psychopaths,and have had too many boyfriends.And too many boyfriends who are vampires,werewolfs and murderous psychopaths.

I haven't read the book, but I think that it's pretty cool to team up two teams of detectives. Just like when Nancy and THe Hardy Boys are paired up as parters.

I thought this book was much like the real high schoolexperience. In HS all you want to do is fit in and that is the effectthat the author is trying in to the readers I believe. It is full of jealous teens trying to get though a tragic part of thier life. Yikes high school!

I love McCants' characters. They're real - not the prom kings and queens, but teenagers who have everyday problems. The setting of Anything Can Happen in High School is also really cool - laid-back California. This isn't the deepest reading, but it's funny and obviously written by someone who understands teenagers.

I loved this book. I could totally relate to the lead character and her friends. I remember this freedom that every teen thinks they have. And then you become an adult and a parent and realize what a cage you were actually in. Man we were so naive, but definitely thought otherwise! The author brings you right to the marina, I could smell that sea air! I don't recommend this book just to young adults, but to those who want to take a peek back! But, be careful boy's...like my husband you might fall in love with that high school babe all over again.