Boys Books

this book was written from someone who probably had to experience these things. Im white, im sometimes immature, but that doesnt mean that you bust on every white kid whos friends with a black kid! Hell, im friends with a black kid.

The Hoopster is a good well rounded book about love, family, sports, racism, and finding yourself. Andre Anderson is a good basketball and also a good writer and he writes for his local magazine but when his boss assigns a project to write about racism he writes his report but then he gets beat up by some racist white people he learns alot about himself and life i think this book is really good

This is a very original and well thought out book. It has many twists and turns and really makes us look @ our society today and our acceptance of different cultures.
This book is a very daring topic to write about. This book is about racism, and how it nearly stops someone from fulfilling his destiny. It makes us change our minds and rethink sterotypes. It is a awesome book and u wouldthink so too. my favorie part about this book is that it teaches about racism and how people sterotypem others

5. The Plot:
This is a very original and well thought out plot. It has many twists and turns and really makes us contemplate our society today and our acceptance of different cultures. My favorite line in this book is "If a black person is caught walkin' 'round 'da street at night....he's up to no good. If a white man pays for a cup of coffee with a twenty dolla' bill...he's wealthy. If a hispanic don't speak english while shopping in a store... they're illegal."
4. The imagery:
The way the author uses words to depict an image in your mind is extodinary.You can hear, feel, see, taste, and smell the basketball games. It is an amazing book filled with tons of imagery.
3.The characters:
If you are a very multi-cultural person this book is perfect for you. If you are not very interested in other cultures this book is pefect for you. These characters are people who anyone can relate to. These characters are so true to life. When you read this book it's almost as if you known these people for a long time. The characters are phonmonal.
2.The layout:
The way this book is formated is so something can be happenning one moment, and then in the next paragraph it's two years later.
This is a good layout because it leaves in air of mystery. But don't worry, there is a very complete ending.
1. The reality to our generation:
This book is a very daring topic to write about. This book is about racism, and how it nearly stops Andre from fulfilling his destiny. It makes us change our minds and rethink sterotypes. It is a very well-written book.

In Alan Lawrence Sitomer's novel we meet Andre Anderson, an African-American teen nicknamed, "The Hoopster." Andre is athletic, does well in school, and is an aspiring writer. He has landed the internship of his dreams, working for a small local magazine. His next door neighbor Shawn, although white, is like a brother to him, and at the open of the book, they are enjoying a happy and relatively uneventful summer.

When Andre is asked to write a feature story about racism for the magazine, initially he is put off by the topic. He doesn't think he has experienced racism personally, and feels that a lot of people use race as a crutch instead of assuming personal responsibility. When his boss refuses to let him off the hook, Andre works hard and creates a heartfelt article that gains him a lot of attention. Unfortunately, his article catches the eye of a local hate group and he becomes the victim of a senseless and brutal hate crime that threatens to change his life forever. He must rely on his family, friends (Shawn in particular), and all of his strength to overcome his physical and emotional wounds.

THE HOOPSTER is the first of a planned trilogy of books. The story is well-written, with believable characters and a good pace. As I read, I found myself thinking over and over, how nice it would be to see this book played out on the silver screen. The book has an urban feel, yet it doesn't buy into the prevalent stereotypes and includes young people with positive dreams and goals, who live in two-parent households with caring adults. While the main character is black, the supporting characters come from diverse backgrounds, making this a story that will attract a diverse audience of readers. While girls may enjoy this book, boys, even those who tend to be more reluctant to read, will especially like this engrossing and realistic story.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I bought this book because I absolutely fell in love with The Art of Racing in the Rain. 'Racing' was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Perhaps I had too high of hopes for this book, because I ended up quite disappointed.
I found that much of the book was unbelievable, and not in a good way. Without ruining the book for those who wish to read it; you find out right away that Evan, the main character has a 14 year old son he has never spoken to. The day he meets his son the grandmother runs out and tells Evan to take the child for a few days because her husband is abusive. To me this is very strange...granted it is fiction, but it is a bit too far fetched for me. There are other instances in the book where conversations are had that are just too strange for me to ignore. They just don't seem to fit.
That being said, I think that Stein did a good job of showing how an epileptic may feel afraid of people knowing about their condition. To me, the book was just okay; it isn't something I would recommend nor something I would read again.

I read this earlier novel after finishing Garth Stein's" The Art of Racing in the Rain." I find the two novels to be very different yet still sharing wonderful similarities. Two character-driven tales conceived and penned by the same sensitive hand.

"How Evan Broke his Head and other secrets" is the story of Evan Wallace, 31-years old, a brilliant rock guitarist and musician living alone in his late grandfather's small apartment (with a terrific view). Evan is the son of a prominent Seattle heart surgeon and his obedient wife, and is the older brother to Charlie, a seemingly over-achieving attorney on the partner track. Evan is damaged - he has suffered from epilepsy since age 12 when, on a dare, he ran in front of a car, was struck and nearly killed. Evan's epilepsy -- its cause and its symptoms -- is a major aspect of Evan's character. I am very affected by its full burden here and the steady courage Mr. Stein has discovered in Evan, the hero of this story.

In this novel, Evan discovers friends, family, love and opportunity hovering just out of reach. He finds a 14 year old son lost to him shortly after birth and chooses to embrace and care about the absent boy. He finds a woman who sees his worth and confronts him with it. Great responsibilities accompany parenthood; fear and confusion precede commitment; forgiveness accompanies a life that is not solitary. Evan faces his terrible secrets and must choose to understand and reveal them lest he leave them only half-buried. As in The Art of Racing in the Rain, Mr. Stein's prose is dialogue-driven, visual. I find his writing completely engaging and satisfying.

To quote the wise philosopher Enzo (from The Art of Racing in the Rain): "understanding the truth is simple; allowing oneself to experience it can sometimes be terrifically difficult."

All in all, a very cool book.

I really enjoyed reading this. It flowed really nice and I kept wanting more. I finished without ever getting bored.

The story about a young man dealing with becoming a father was good, but what blew me away was the incredible depiction of the life of a person with a minimal handicap. His epilepsy doesn't show immediately to others, but it haunts every moment of his life. He has completely educated himself to limit the disease as much as it can be limited and if he is control of his life he controls the disease. But none of us can control our lives and the conflict of this book seems to be, can he be heroic enough to risk imbalance and save his son? Can he take the steps to make others in his life recognize that he can handle the handicap and run his own life? I thought there were a couple of other issues - people testing your love by pulling away and how we manipulate our life stories to fit the truths we can handle about ourselves that resonated with truth. There seemed to be a great honesty in this book and I was deeply impressed.

This novel is a brilliant and beautifully written meditation on the ever shifting nature of the truth. It is also an excellent portrayal of how Evan, the "black sheep" of his family, learns to take charge of his own story and stop letting others dictate it for him. Yes, he is a flawed character. He has secrets that he has kept from his family because he was too ashamed to reveal them. He has a 14 year old son he has never met, and he is an extremely talented musician who isn't getting anywhere with his music. And he has epilepsy.

The journey we take with Evan as he learns to grow up and become a father is immensely satisfying. The details, especially regarding the emotional lives of the characters, are beautifully described.

You have to be smart about reading this, though. While it is written in the third person, it is not an omniscient narrator. It is a very tight third person where everything is really coming straight from Evan's P.O.V. It is as close to being written in the first person as you can get while still being a third person narrative. I found this fascinating! And I loved the tone it set for the book. So if you find yourself complaining that Mica, for example, is too good to be true, you are not reading carefully! Of course she is too good to be true--everything we learn about her we learn from Evan, and he's fallen completely in love with her.

I honestly don't understand how more people haven't found their way to this book. How Evan Broke His Head--about family, truth, fatherhood, and being able to rewrite your own story--is an amazing read. I was transported instantly into the world of these characters and almost forgot that they were characters and not real people whose lives I cared about deeply.

This book is hardly at a "young adult" reading level, but it still ROCKS!! It's got the cutest little pictures and info in it, and you can take it anywhere!! I love Nick so this little book comes in handy when i'm feeling down or something! Backstreet FOREVER!

This book is great!! Not to mention it's about Nick Carter, a major babe from the BSB. I think this book really talks about his life, and to all thoseNick Carter fans out there, READ THIS BOOK!!!

it's very interesting indeed even though it's unoffcial so far i have nick, brian, aj and howie and i still have to get kevin but it's a good very interesting facts!!!

Nick Carter is definitely a major babe with an inspiring story. Of course he is the object of many girls affection (especially mine), but for good reason. Not only is he HOT!, he is someone's whose story is so uplifting it helps everyone get through what they think will be hard to overcome. He has come a long way from where he started out and I commend him for it. I LOVE YOU NICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought this book was the best because it was about Nick Carter. This book had all the facts about him that somepeople didn't know. There were really great stories in this Pocket stories Nick. It told everything about his babyhood & growing up. Also tell how Nick got into the backstreetboys, what it took, how long, & what he had to do. Nick's storie helps all kinds of people who want to get into the music business. Who ever wants to be a singer should read this because it tells everything that Nick had to go threw like the excitement of being a singer, the heart brakes because he didn't make it, & the other rough times that he had gone threw. Nick I hope that you keep making books about yourself & the group to let all of your fans know what you guyz are doing, & how your doing. I love this book so much I really hope that other people enjoyed it as much as I have!! Love Ya Nick.......<3/your #1 fan-tracey.<3.<3.<3.

The One Year Devotions For Boys is a terrific devotional for boys age 8-12 years old. Every day, your son will receive a verse to memorize, a suggestion for a short scripture passage to read, a short story to illustrate the message for that day, and a "How About You?" question to help his apply the message to his own life. This devotional is easy to read, laid out in a practical way, and has heart changing messages that will help your son become a godly man as he applies the Word of God to his every day life. I recommend it highly.

The One Year Devotions for Boys has a sports theme on the front cover and at first I was afraid that the devotions would have a sports theme carried throughout. However, the stories inside the book are not written around any particular type of boy. Instead, the stories are applicable to any boy from any background with any hobbies or interests.

This is really the perfect devotion book for an older elementary pre-teen who needs to develop a personal daily time with God. Not too long and easy to understand while providing additional scripture recommendations for anyone who wants more to study. A great introduction to daily devotions.

A good book, I recommend it. The difference between the Boys vs. Girls devotional is minimal, just the characters in the stories and some variations in the stories themselves. A nice basic devotional to have. What is a devotional? This one has a verse of the day, a story and what you're supposed to get out of it. Could easily replace a bedtime story or a nice way to start the day before the child heads out to school.

We're using this book for bed-time reading with our 9-year old. He actually likes the little stories-from-life attached to the verse of the day. It grabs his attention, which is an accomplishment by itself.
The application questions are a bit off though.

It's easy to read and understand. The subjects apply to everyday life and the boys look forward to reading the book every day. Will definetly recommend it for boys 9 years and older.

For me, todays poetry can not compare-two rare and wonderful books of poetry: Star Points and Silver Pennies
It is like sitting in your favorie chair next to a warm fire in your fireplace, a cup of tea, coffee or chocolate at hand, and you open your book and say hello to an old friend, who takes you to wonderful places and see your world with new eyes and a deeper appreciation, this feeds your soul, and finally you Know your true self.

I had just received my delivery of a new copy of Silver Pennies, Blanche Jennings Thompson, illustrator Winifred Bromhall orignal date 1925.
I had an original copy of the book, and gave it away, but my soul cried out for it and Amazon sent it. It is a plain cover library binding, it does not have that original blue cover with the silver moon and the silver pennies falling from the sky into a childs hand, but that amazing poetry, is still there, an old friend, tried and true.

I knew that I should also look for Star Points to see if they had released it again. My copy has been safely tucked away in a Ziplock bag, which I use for a lot of my precious books.

On the Star Points, I have the original hardback, worn, aged yellowed pages, and I would not give his book up for anything!
I ran across it in a used book store, or second hand shop in 1983, and I signed my name and the date under the original owners --dated 1927. This was compiled after The War (world war one to us), thankfully, it is also available again.

"Silver Pennies" was my elementary school poetry book filled with whimsical and delightful imagery of fairies and natural surroundngs. Compiled in two sections, Part I for first through fourth graders and Part II for fifth and sixth graders, many of the poems can be memorized. Others are wonderful for bedtime reading by a grown-up. The poems have charm and sensitivity to the world of children's imagination and speaks of a simpler time when we stopped to hear the fairies.

When Silver Pennies by Blanche Jennings Thompson was first published by The MacMillan Company in 1926, this beautiful collection of poetry for children was bound in cloth imprinted with the silhouette of a small child reaching up to the heavens towards a cascade of silver stars. The current publisher who claims a 1976 copyright is aptly named Buccaneer Books, for they have pillaged much of the charm of this book. The library cover is the dullest imaginable! For the price of this reprint, surely they could have reproduced the cover which so captured my imagination and that of so many other children in years past. I would have given this book all the stars in the world, had they kept those stars on the cover!

Silver Pennies has made terrific bedtime and quiet-time reading for our 3yo. The poems are short enough and entertaining enough to keep a little person's attention, and ours has already found some favorites.

After all the cutesy-wootsy, sanitized, dumbed-down kids' books I've read through, this is a delight.

Although the new cover looks more like a Book Of Shadows than a book of children's poems, the actual writing still has the charm of the original. Beautiful, optimistic, sentimental...a lovely trip back to what was good in my childhood.

Wow! I haven't been moved by a novel like this one in maybe five years. I simply couldn't put it down. A superbly well-written first novel by such a young man growing up in Madison, WI. If you're considering reading this book, buy it today.

this is an amazing book. after reading the first few lines you wont want to put it down. i find my self staying awake till morning reading the book. Daniel Grey Marshall makes you feel like a part of this story. his writing is so descriptive you feel like each moment lasts for ever. the way he writes gives a raw feel and an open window to the world of jim drake. this book has a role for everyone, wheather you are the free and artistic or just in search of a way out, or just somone who needs to find a family. this book changes my life everytime i read it.

i recomend that you read this book every few years every time i do i relate new friends to the character.

I don't read often, and that is simply because it is so hard to find a book that can explain the raw, emotional feelings of how hard it is to grow up in the world the way it is today. But Daniel Grey Marshall's debut novel "Still Can't See Nothin' Comin" is the most incredible book I have ever read. I have never felt so many emotions or related so strongly to a book before. I have gotten a lot of friends and family members to read this book and all have been very moved by it in their own ways, relating to different character. I have read this book several times, and every time, it still makes me feel my emotions running wild. I cannot wait for Marshall's second novel.

if u like and read intense teen/fic then u will love this book. if u dont youll love it anyways b/c its SOO good. i mean its basicaly about this kid who has problems and runs away w/ his friends and basicaly messes up his life. its prety intense. i actualy cried during the middle of it... and then wen i was done with the book i had to return it to my friend (b/c i borrowed it from her) and i was sad b/c i wanted to read it again. so a few days later i special ordered it and bought it! i dont want to give away the story so ill just leave it as this, it was so sos so so so good. one of the best books ive ever read. READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was one of the best I have ever read. It was a ride on an emotional rollercoaster until the very end. Jim, the teen from a broken home was a lovable and amazingly developed character. He had amazing relationships with his friends and sister. This book made me laugh, cry, and scream. You felt hatred towards his father. Sympathy for his sister, Mandy. Love for Leslie. You want to reach out and touch Jeremy, mend his heart. Cry out to Philly; tell him that he can have a future. And hold Jim. It makes you want to heal the world. It makes you cry for all the people who have to go through what they did. I believe Daniel Grey Marshall is an AWESOME writer, and can not wait until he finishes his second book. I'm telling you . . . this book is worth every page.

Very fast moving book and a good story. I am reading it aloud to my 9 year old and he seems as interested in this as he was in the first book, Silverfin.

I take great issue with reviewers wanting young Bond to have sprung from the womb with a license to kill. Young James has already become a formidable opponent from the day he became a 00 orphan. That in itself is an overwhelming blow that people in modern era have a hard time dealing with! I will not preach, However I shall tell you what I love most about these novels , they made me fall in love all over again with Bond. To get to know his origins ,his family and how he has processed the most painful losses in his young life has made him more of a real life character to me. I believe Charlie Higson has given true Bond fans even more of a reason to dream BOND! I know that I have another superior series to introduce my boys to, and I am grateful . Please keep young Bond evolving and explaining his quirks and reasonings . I look forward to more young Bond adventures I HOPE YOU DO TOO!

Literary 007 fans are in for a real surprise with Charlie Higson's Blood Fever. A dark and intense story awaits readers and the result is thrilling and enjoyable. At first I was apprehensive about starting it. When I had obtained Higson's first novel, SilverFin, I had immediately jumped into it, excited and curious. With Blood Fever, I was worried that I would be slightly disappointed; that the success of SilverFin might have just been a one time deal. It turns out that I could not have been further wrong. Blood Fever is a fast-paced, exciting, well-crafted, and mature James Bond novel.

SilverFin started to clear up the many, many rumours that this new Young Bond series would only appeal to young readers or the Harry Potter crowd, but Blood Fever wipes the slate clean. This is a darker and tougher James Bond novel than anticipated. Where there were some decidedly cute aspects of SilverFin, such as the horse being called "Martini," Blood Fever is devoid of such moments. The maturity, both of Bond and overall, is much more pronounced in this story.

One way this new level of maturity is obtained is in the development of the characters. Many of them are standouts in this novel, starting first with the villain, Count Ugo Carnifex. Villains, both in the Bond novels and films, have to be above par to create an interesting enough challenge for Bond, and Carnifex meets the requirements. He is ruthless and cruel; Higson's characterization of this villain is full of details; and...of course, where would a good villain be without a well-designed and dangerous lair? An improvement over Lord Randolph Hellebore of the previous novel, SilverFin. The other obligatory character is the Bond girl--in this case, the determined and efficient Amy Goodenough. Again, as in the case of the villains, the improvement from SilverFin to Blood Fever is clearly evident. Amy is introduced early on in the story and Higson allows the character plenty of time to develop and become someone that readers actually care about. She is the perfect candidate to be the girl who needs rescuing. Her interaction with James is handled wonderfully and very believable for the reader.

The darkness of Blood Fever is accented by the violence, which seems to have been increased for this second novel. James Bond is much more agent 007 than Young Bond in Blood Fever. In SilverFin, he was unsure, but determined and not willing to give up. Even with those qualities, it was evident that this character was clearly no 007...yet. Blood Fever now takes James Bond on the path to 007. Even the first line, 'James Bond hated feeling trapped,' shows that this boy is restless and one that does not take the common path in life. He must know that there is an exit where ever he may be, and his real ambition is to be free. He realizes that he does not fit in with Eton, the so-called common path. This boy is different from the others. All of this essential information about the back round to this character is presented on the first page describing him alone (pg 15 UK first edition paperback).

One standout scene of Blood Fever (and one that was certainly anticipated before the release of the novel) is the torture sequence involving James Bond. The form of torture is the deadliest animal in the world: mosquitoes. As Ugo Carnifex says, 'they are a nuisance, aren't they?' The scene is written magnificently, from the lack of mutual respect between James Bond and Ugo Carnifex to the sense of hopelessness James feels after he is left alone. Blood drips from the uncountable bites on his body and the creatures are relentless and ruthless in their mass attack. Help eventually comes, but not after James experiences a world of agony and pain. In a way, this scene (which succeeds wonderfully) represents a transition from young Bond to the adult 007. Charlie Higson proves he can make a scene like this work very well. The violence is increased, but sex still remains very PG. Bond tries to resist Vendetta's uncontrollable attempts to kiss him, thinking the action to be embarrassing. He does however kiss her 'hard on the mouth' when trying to get a point across, but the idea of Amy as a girlfriend is 'nonsense' to him.

Do not resist this second Young Bond novel if you did of SilverFin because the idea seemed too childish or silly. Charlie Higson is an accomplished writer and his work on Blood Fever is definitely deserving of praise. This is the best kind of Bond novels--young or old. It grips you from the start and truly does not let go until the conclusion. The characterization is deep and rich, the settings described in detail, and the plot interesting and exciting. Equally as important, there is a point: Blood Fever continues young James Bond on the road to 007. Both James Bond and the readers are in for quite the journey.

commanderbond.net

Thirteen year-old James Bond is pulled into another adventure. This time, James stumbles upon a dangerous secret society at his own school. When his teacher and some of his classmates decide to visit Sardinia over a break, James tags along. He has a nearly takes a fatal fall at their archeological dig site, and James suspects one of his professors. James then leaves his group to stay with his uncle who lives nearby. But danger soon follows, and James discovers a conspiracy involving the secret society, pirates, and a power-hungry monarch.

In this second Young Bond adventure, there is even more action and suspense. Blood Fever definitely has the feel of a true James Bond story. James gets captured, (mildly) tortured, and even has a girl to save. Higson has done a wonderful job of staying true to Bond's character, while making him a much more innocent young man. And the secondary characters are remarkably vivid and exciting. Both children and adults who love action and adventure will love this series.

Blood Fever
By: Charlie Higson



The main character in the story is James Bond and he is a boy who is adventurous and likes to be sneaky at school. He also likes to be in secret clubs like the danger club.


When James Bond goes on a field trip he is on a exploration with a friend from school and on the trip with enemies. He encounters a group of men and gets knocked out. He also meets a big criminal who wants to kill him and watch him suffer.

The setting of the story is in a school, in a carnival, in a mansion and they were all in the middle east.

The theme was about bravery, greed, and death. The story was about bravery because James had to be brave to save the girl that was trapped. It was about greed because two big criminals were fighting for a big treasure. The story was about death because one of James's friends died and that was very big for James.

I liked the story because I like action and adventure type books and this book is very good and once I started reading I couldn't stop. Another reason I liked the book is because it had some parts that were very sad witch quickly changed into anger.

IF you like action or adventure I would suggest you read Young Bond Book #3: Double or Die

What a great story. I heard a portion of the audio at www.sportsbythenumbers.com with this book: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports By the Numbers) Bootlegger's Boy is a great story told by Barry Switzer and well worth the money. If you love OU, this book is for you.

I never really had a Grandfather. One died the day I was born, and the other one died when I was about 7. I don't remember them, and I don't remember talking to my one Grandfather.

Listening to Barry Switzer has always felt like listening to what I imagine listening to a Grandfather is like. Does that make sense?

He has a very calm, matter of fact way of telling a story. Seeing him talk on TV or live in person is a delight. He seems to have such control of himself, and he has always appeared composed and respectful. One thing I have always liked about the King is his way of telling it like it is, he won't pull punches if there is something controversial to talk about. He attacks conspiracy and controversy with a straight face, and a cool head.

Bootlegger's Boy is a great autobiography in that it tells a very complete story. Barry does a good job of describing the important events in his life that shaped the man he became, and the man he continues to be. He knows that he is no saint, and I appreciate how he is a man about things. Barry's philosophy is one of taking responsibility for your words and actions, and also holding others to that standard as well.

Sooners will never get tired of the King, for he was a great coach, and he continues to be a great man. A very inspiring book in my opinion. If you want a book that will get the hairs all over your body to stand on end and light a fire under your tail, look no further.

As a rabid Oklahoma fan, I had this book for some time before I actually read it. Whether the reader loves Barry or hates him, after reading this book, admiration and respect will develop for this popular coach.

I chuckled as I read some of the stories, and cried when I read others. Barry holds nothing back and his personality comes through. This man is Hall of Fame anyday, in my book.

This book is something to be revered by Sooner fans. Barry's recounts of the great games and great people around OU's glorious runs in the 70s and 80s bears reading. I just re-read the book after keeping it down for a few years, and it just gets better with time. If any of you out there need ammo for those Barry bashers, you need this book. Barry Switzer is a great man, and every Sooner fan should remember that.

Barry covers his childhood, personal struggles, and his years at Arkansas. He then talks about those great 70s teams that we know get to see on ESPN Classic.

Probably the most interesting part is his line item by line item response to every NCAA violation that OU was found guilty of. Barry pulls no punches and is not afraid to admit guilt where he saw it. His candidness is something special.

You might find this book hard to find, but try your hardest and hit the auction sites, etc, you should be able to turn it up, and you won't be sorry.

Love him or hate him, Barry Switzer is a college football icon. Published a year after his banishment from the University of Oklahoma (following a series of turbulent off-the-field incidents), Switzer tells all in his rousing autobigraphy, BOOTLEGGER'S BOY.

The title is not an exaggeration; Switzer's father was a womanizing, hard-drinking Arkansas bootlegger, while his quiet mother battled mental problems and an addiction of her own. Able to overcome such dysfunction (and some of his family tales are fascinating), Switzer was able to utilize his athletic ability to play football at the University of Arkansas under legendary coach Frank Broyles. When his college career was over, Switzer realized his calling was coaching; Broyles gave him the opportunity by letting the young lineman join his coaching staff. In the mid-60s firebrand coach Jim MacKenzie was hired to restore the football "monster" at OU, a monster that the great Wilkinson had created. MacKenzie offered Switzer a position on his coaching staff; Switzer became a Sooner, and the seeds of destiny were sewn.

Chuck Fairbanks, succeeding MacKenzie (who died tragically after just a year on the job), promoted Switzer to offensive coordinator. Switzer writes he was looking for an offense to revolutionize college football; an unorthodox, high-risk option offense, known as the "wishbone," captured his attention. Switzer installed the offense and the Sooners took off, figuratively and literally, as NCAA rushing records were shattered. When Fairbanks bolted in 1973 to go to the NFL, Switzer was handed the keys to the OU program, and the rest, as they say in the Sooner Nation, is history.

For sixteen seasons, Switzer commanded a college football powerhouse; during his tenure the Sooners captured twelve Big Eight championships and three national championships. Switzer attributes his success to his Arkansas upbringing; growing up, most of his friends and neighbors were African-Americans. As a result, Switzer was more than comfortable approaching black athletes--at a time when other major programs were tentatively recruiting minorities--while reassuring parents that he would take good care of their sons. His recruiting redefined collegiate athletics, opening the doors for black athletes nationwide to participate in Division One football.

Switzer's affection for his players is genuine. Page after page, account after account, the King (as he's known by Sooner diehards) fondly recalls his relationships with a plethora of All-Americans: the Selmon brothers; Joe Washington; Billy Sims; Tony Casillas; J.C. Watts; Keith Jackson; Brian Bosworth. Switzer was no stern disciplinarian, he readily admits it, and this "lack" of discipline created a perception of an outlaw program--a perception that came home to roost in 1989, when he was forced to resign by the OU administration during a series of troubling incidents that ultimately put the Sooners under NCAA probation.

Switzer defiantly addresses the NCAA allegations, refuting some and pleading "guilty" to others. To enhance his arguments, he points to antiquated NCAA regulations (and keep in mind, this book was written years ago), regulations that, Switzer maintains, permeate a double standard. As an example, Switzer argues, why is it permissible for a chemistry professor to dig into his pocket and buy an airplane ticket for a homesick student during Christmas break, but not an athletic coach? Switzer's defense, along with his account of the events leading up to his ouster, make for fascinating page turning.

Praise him or revile him, Barry Switzer's mark on college football is eternal, and BOOTLEGGER'S BOY is the King at his good ol' boy best. I only wish he would come back with a second edition describing his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Three national championship rings and a Super Bowl ring. Not bad for a bootlegger's boy.
--D. Mikels

THE BOY BOOK
E. LOCKHART
Contemporary YA
Delacorte Press

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Life hasn't gotten any easier for Ruby Oliver. In fact, its getting even more confusing. Sure, she really has no friends after what happened between them at the end of the school year; she and Jackson are definitely over (aren't they?) and the only person she kept in contact with over the summer is Noel, but who knows if their friendship is real or he's just being nice to her for the sake of being nice. The only thing Ruby knows is life is getting complicated and all she's got left of her friendships is THE BOY BOOK, the book she and her friends have written in for years. Its just too bad it doesn't tell her how to get them all back.

THE BOY BOOK is hands down one of my favorite reads of the year. I really enjoyed Ruby. She's a really fun character and I loved the scenes with her and her therapist Dr Z. So much of this book had me laughing out loud and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
From her footnotes which were hilarious at times, to her trying to figure out how to deal with the fact her ex is sending her notes again, all the while his girlfriend and her former BFF is in Japan...well things couldn't get worse could they? But unfortunately for Ruby they do. Between juggling guys, trying to renew friendships with at least one of her former friends and dealing with her wacky parents and her appointments with Dr. Z, Ruby struggles with a lot and the result is quite amusing and a total keeper of a book.

I can't wait to read more about Ruby and co. She's definitely become one of my favorite YA characters. Hope the next two books come out soon!

E. Lockhart is the author of two books about Ruby Oliver -- The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book -- plus two more coming soon. Other books: Fly on the Wall, Dramarama, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and How to Be Bad. You can visit her online at her brand new website: [...]

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2008

I loved this book because you can really identify with Roo and know what she's going through. Of course she makes a lot of mistakes but I like that at the end of the book she has grown up from how she was at the beginning.
I loved the Boufriend List too, and this one is just as good, and I really liked all of the characters.

The Boy Book, by E. Lockhart, included many real-life situations and helpful tips for teens going through a hard time in their lives. It is a story about a girl named Ruby whose friends have stopped being friends with her and about her struggle to find herself throughout the year. The story includes all the drama in her life and how she is coping with a recent breakup of her and her boyfriend. Along the way, Ruby makes a set of new and interesting friends and overcomes several obstacles in her life. E. Lockhart uses several witty phrases and intriguing scenarios that kept me entertained throughout the entire book. This book is perfect for anyone that can relate to being a high school girl going through a tough stage in her life. Ruby is constantly battling her own thoughts throughout the story, but in the end learns how to do what is right, even when it seems impossible.

i love this book becasue it goes right into where the boyfriend list left off. i loved how she got friends back and learned from her mistakes in this one. i would really like a third book!... anyway this was a good book, i liked it alot!

This book is stellar.
Even if you have not read the first book, (The Boyfriend List)
This book still screams perfection.
The ending however left much to be desired as I had hoped since book 1 that a certain 2 people would get together.
Although I did hope for something else which only half came true.
haha
But still great.
E. Lockhart knows the inside of our minds more than any other author.
A great read.

I am an adult, but once I picked this book up, I could not stop reading. The Boy Trap is entrancing, clever, unpredictable, and unique. Well done, Ms. Matson!

Great book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a grownup but read the books my kids read all the time so I consider myself somewhat of an authority. My all-time favs include the whole Harry Potter series (of course), Holes, Youth in Revolt (one of my favorite books period), Epileptic (graphic novel from David B.).

I love the book, The Boy Trap. Why did you write it? Are you working on another book? What were you thinking about when you wrote the book? I think it wasn't very nice saying boys were a waste of human life.
Your friend,
Aaron Nesselroade
(Ness sil road)

Dear Nancy Madison,
What's your favorite book you wrote?
What was the name of the first book you wrote?
How many books have you written? I wanted
to hurt Emma when she said that boys are a
Waste of human life. But I loved the rest.


Your friend,
Spencer

The boy Trap is definately my all time fvaorite book.
I like how Emma and Louise try to prove that girls are
superior to boys. It's something every kid will want to read
again and again...Like me.