Boys Books

There are people who will swear by this book, there are people who will hate the book. There is no middle ground, i have checked and tried it out. Either you love it or you hate it. Poetic Nonsense in finesse and the finest form.

This will cure your longing of the cluetrain manifisto stuffs. Beautifully written and meaningless at some point, but you goona love it i guess, you gonna crave for more, and then subscribe the newsletter.

GO buy the book, and immerse yourself. I have read some part of the book more than 3 times. Amen.

I just finished Bombastic Transcripts, so if you have bothered to read this at all you're probably wondering so what did this monkeyboy think? Good question, honestly I am still pondering it mulling it over in my head and probably will for a bit. It is a quick read, it's an interesting read, but fundamentally it's not a light read. It takes a little time for digestion and pondering... I suspect I will read it again in the next month or two and reconsider, hell maybe throw this whole review out.

So here's my advice go buy the book, RageBoy needs the cash. If you like Tom Robbins, Hunter S Thompson, and the Gonzo style read away, you'll enjoy it. Perhaps you will find some stuff to digest, even without ingesting any substances on the Schedule I drug list.

If you didn't like Cluetrain Manifesto, Gonzo Marketing, or any Gonzo writing buy the book anyways, for the reasons stated above. Then hide the book in your bookshelf and wait until a really dark night, one in which your soul is screaming for mercy while the night rages in a Category 5 Hurricane and your only fresh reading material is a copy of Reader's Digest you have flipped through already 15 times. Your mind goes hungry, for something unanswered and unknown, and you will recall this book hiding in some dark corner of the bookshelf covered in dust and a three month old edition of Fast Company magazine. You will pull it off the shelf and find yourself drawn to the words expressed inside and the walls of illusion come crashing down inside your mind. Either that or you'll take a gun and pull a Hemmingway. Doesn't much matter to me, if you survive reading it you might even find yourself signing up for Entropy Gradient Reversals, but let me warn you the shotgun is alot quicker and painless, but it's not nearly as much fun.

I only have one thing to say about this: "The Solution is Poetry". Excellent reading. Warning, you may not get it if you consider yourself too smart and significant.

This is the crash course in understanding the fundamentals of the necessity of change as seen through the eyes of the author, Christopher Locke. Everything you previously thought was lore is turned on its head in riotous fashion in The Bombast Transcripts. Each chapter takes apart some standard you thought was a given, an immutable and constant attribute of practically every aspect of life in the western world.

The best part is that Chris does it in so many different ways in one book. There's flat out ranting and there's cutting ridicule including interviews with himself, Rupert Murdoch and the famous one with Mr Ed. (Yes, the horse.)

Using those cliched critic's terms of rollercoaster ride or rollicking good yarn don't do this volume any justice whatsoever. In fact, this book defies any label you might care to ascribe.

In fact, I defy anyone to come up with a label for this book.

That was my introduction just over a year ago to Entropy Gradient Reversals and the evil genius mind(s) behind it, Christopher Locke/RageBoy. From that first mind-blowing, breathless reading of his newsletter, I was alternately charmed, alarmed and disarmed by the decidedly unpretentious Chris Locke. His new book, the Bombast Transcripts, a collection of essays previously published to the Entropy Gradient Reversals mailing list, contains that first newsletter that caught my imagination, and so many more.

As I've read through this book, I have found myself again reacting to it in the visceral way that I had to become accustomed to as one of his faithful Valued Readers at EGR. While some may call him pompous and crass, I find him to be merely open and honest. Then again, I've always had a soft spot for intelligent, over-indulgent, semi-vulgar Don Quixotes. His chosen windmills are big business that don't have a clue (IBM et all, no small potatoes here) and, while a book about business practices would normally make my eyes glaze over while putting me in a semi-catatonic state, I find this book to be human and engaging at every turn. Each essay stands on it's own as either a rant or a screed, yet each could also be expanded into its own little book. Irreverent, engaging, transforming, contemplative, hilarious....and each page is more of the same.

While I read Locke's words, I get the feeling that I am a part of something much bigger and more important than anyone can guess, especially those that think the internet is nothing more than a collection of chatrooms and porn sites. No, I get the feeling I'm getting a glimpse of a creation, a rapturous inferno of truth and emotion, two key elements that, when exposed to each other under the heat of RageBoy's passion, cause a brilliant flash of evolution that could change the world as we know it. What a wonderful world that would be.

Idealistic? Maybe. Bombastic? Hardly. Evil Genius?? Indeed.

I had never heard of this novel until this past summer when the Film Forum in NYC showed the motion picture adaptation starring Andrew Garfield. I was so mesmerized by this film and by Garfield's superb performance that I had to track down the original source material and was glad I did. The novel was equally gripping and emotionally unsettling. This is one instance of a book having its power retained fully on screen, and Jonathan Trigell should be grateful for the attention this movie will bring his work for years to come.

Well-worth reading for its subject matter, I found the book to be over-manipulative at times. The author obviously feels that 'Jack' should be given a second chance, and tries to make us think the same way.

The one-sidedness of the argument appears is a few places: we are not fully exposed to the victim's horror, or to the loss felt by her family. We never know clearly how Jack feels about what he did, and indeed if he feels guilt or remorse. Infact, since we are not told what happened to the girl, we're not sure whether he's guilty at all.

Easy to read in spite of some horrible graphic images. Boy A's story exemplifies the harm that parents create for their children when they don't like themselves or don't love each other. Little sins, like little pebbles in a quiet lake making widening circles, become greater sins. Finishing the story led me to think maybe little sins should be dealt with instead of being waved away with a permissive hand.

I couldn't put this book down. Loosely based on the real life James Bulger murder (which was, dare I say it, even more horrific than the crime Boy A has committed) it is both harrowing and thought provoking, and I found myself feeling optimistic for Jack at the end.

In Luton, England Boy A and Boy B were convicted of murdering a young girl Angela Milton. Being teens there names were suppressed and their sentence relatively short for the heinous crime they committed.

A decade later Boy A is freed and uses Jack Burridge as his new name; a fight in the bar gives him the nickname "Bruiser". His probation officer Uncle Terry arranges a place to live for Jack and finds the young man a job as a map reader. As Boy A, Jack learned how to survive brutal incarceration by fitting in and being amiable with everyone. He is doing well until he begins an affair with a woman at work at the same time the media announces Boy A is free to kill again.

Although the alphabetizing of each subsequent chapter is gimmicky, it works as it accentuates the dilemma of society dealing with violent youths committing crimes. Jack is a fascinating character as he knows he will be insecure for the rest of his life looking back at who will point the finger at Boy A. Readers will see how he got to the situation he is in as Jonathan Trigell takes the audience back through the lead character's life that led to his joining Boy B to commit a homicide. Jack knows first hand that society pretends to rehab convicts, but expects revenge any moment. Fans will appreciate this strong character study of a young man who has no future, lives to barely survive the present, and cannot forget the past as no one (including himself) will ever let that occur.

Harriet Klausner

First of all, the quality of the print book was rather bad. A first from MLR books for me, so I'm not sure if it was only my copy or not but it was pretty shaky.

On to the stories, I was a little disappointed by Sarah's story, because it does start with one of the guy cheating on his boyfriend and there's the whole "I might have been in love with him even tho we were only together one day and one night". That doesn't make the boyfriend happy when he comes back because someone told him some young guy was sleeping in HIS bed. It's such a shame he did that too cuz his boyfriend is totally hot~
There are somewhat reasons for why he did it but are there any situation where excuses for cheating are really "valid"? I don't think so besides lack of communication. Something emphasized in this story here.
Anyway despite the fact that I wanted to slap the cheater around, it was still pretty good~

No whining about Josh Lanyon for his story this time!!
He added a little twist to one of the guys that made it for me, very very interesting! I'm a sucker for stories with guys that aren't perfect or who have disabilities (the case here, however minor). It just adds a little spice to the romance. Cards on the Table remains my favorite of Josh Lanyon along with The Dark Horse.

OK, so you don't know who Johnny Stompanato was, or how he died (mobster; stabbed to death by Lana Turner's daughter in Hollywood in the 50's). And you never had the guilty pleasure of opening the glossy pages of Life Magazine back then to see glamourous black and white photos of movie stars, or the lurid pools of black blood seeping from under the corpse of a murdered gangster, also to be found in the pages of the same "family" magazine.

Nevertheless, unsolved Hollywood crimes still seem to fascinate, and surely you've seen or heard about either Josh Hartnett's "Black Dahlia," or Ben Affleck's "Hollywoodland," both of which came out in 2006, and which deal with two such cases.

Josh Lanyon brings all of this back to life wonderfully in "Cards on the Table." His hero, Tim North, is a present-day investigative reporter writing a book about the unsolved murder of a sexy 50's starlet. To use the vernacular of the noir movie posters of the day, there's "Mystery! Suspense! Danger! Action! Romance! " and plenty of it!

Lanyon's mastery of the noir narrative style is complete, and he scatters his clues and diversions with tricky skill: even his red-herrings have red-herrings. And there's a mystery about his hero too, which when revealed may surprise you if you haven't been paying attention to the hints Lanyon drops along the way.

There's plenty of suspense, and romance: will Lanyon's hero survive the attacks of a mob chief's thug ? Will he get over himself and finally accept the love he is offered by the handsome police detective who lives in the apartment upstairs? Read "Cards on the Table," and find out. You'll enjoy the ride.

PS: And thanks to Josh, I learned a new word: heterochromia - cool.

I'm a long-time Josh Lanyon fan so I couldn't wait until this book was released. The other reviewers do a great job describing the plot, so I won't bother with a recap. I'll just say that "Cards on the Table" was an engrossing read.

Lanyon definitely has a thing for vulnerable male leads and instead of this pattern being predictable and a little boring, he uses it to provide interesting plot movement, as well as ratcheting up the sexual tension. In this time of "erotica" overload where everyone and their mother seems to be writing plotted erotic genre fiction, Lanyon stands out as someone who leaves you wanting more instead of less. I can't think of a higher accolade.

I've seen Sarah Black's work on some ebook websites, but for some reason her books never really appealed to me so I've always passed on buying them. I was really pleasantly surprised by "Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel." The "Northern Exposure-esque" setting was great, the mystery was pretty interesting, but the relationships between the ensemble cast are what set this story apart. And I loved all of the cooking details. I promptly went and bought most of her other books and enjoyed them as well.

I love both writers' writings and have been looking forward to this one. Both stories meet my expectation and much more.
The plots are tightly paced, interesting with breathtaking moments, the murder mysteries intriguing and the settings very unique. But it is the amazingly well developed characters and their emotional and heartfelt romance which held me captive. Both stories might just be novellas but they are so well written that the characters easily grow on you.

I love Josh's style and his vulnerable heroes. Tim is such an endearing person and Jack is one likable cop. Their confrontations, sweet make-ups are so well expressed and their final scene really gets to me. This couple certainly brings to mind Adrien and Jake. However Tim's and Jack's love story is so much more satisfying, at this point anyway :).

I find Sarah's story sad because of the murder victim. Her side characters are quirky and charming while both Peter and Sebastian are such rarities. Peter and his cooking is adorable and who could resist Sebastian, a mountain of a man, all out to win back his man.

So glad Josh and Sarah have created this series and looking forward to the next 3 volumes in the horizon. A winner for mlrpress website, with its great M/M romance writers and titles.

Like another reviewer, I bought this because I was already a Josh Lanyon fan. I knew I would love his story - and I wasn't disappointed! Luckily, I was equally satisfied by Sarah Black's half of the book. They both create great characters, a sweet love story, and a compelling murder mystery. I could easily revisit these characters in future stories but I'm just as happy to follow the writers wherever they want to go. I now plan to make my way through everything Sarah's written so far & I can't wait to read the next three books in this series (see release dates at mlrpress.com).

I absolutely loved this book! I found it very easy to relate to the characters and loved the way Amber totally changed her perspective! The sequel is really good too! It's #38 Torn Apart

Hey everyone. I named my review "dont ya just wish" Because "the Boy Next Door" story was the kind that you wish happened to you. Or at least i did. This stroy is by far my favorite and the 2ed part "Torn Apart" is great too. The story is about a girl named Amber who moves from New York(by me) to Wyoming(my best guy friend). Its a great book because it's like Amber really finds something in a place where she thought there was nothing. When i was reading this book i couldnt put it down... So give it a try its a great book! Oh and after you read this one read "torn Apart (#38~love stories series) its the 2ed part and its great. And hey Janet Quin-Harkins, if your out there and you read this, i think that you should write some more stories about Amber and Rich! :) Ok well bye all!

This book manages to capture the spirt behind teen love as well as show exactly how difficult and uncertain life can be when your young and "in-love".

This remarkable book is sure to leave youre head in the clouds-day dreaming. Why can't I have a deliciously cute and (actually) caring guy kissing the ground I walk on, but still keeping his pride? Amber Stevens is a (I have to say) spoiled brat. Her life in NY is finaly coming together and one of the most popular guy is interested in her and they really hit it off. Then her parents spring a surprising plan to move to Wyoming to restore their family. She's sick with anger and keeps a grudge against Wyopming and everyone in it. There isn't even a movie theater in and hours range! Her dad and her agree on a deal that if Amber is still miserable in a year then she will be allowed to move back to NY. Wyoming is a completely different atmosphere from her once busy city life. Everyone's values here are so much deeper and Amber turns in her snotty spoiled city girl attitude for a sweet and funny personality she knew was always underneath everything. Then she meets rugged Rich Winter who helps her out with chores and they begin to fall in love. . . I can't begin to tell you how you will be hopping up and down in your seat with excitement over this superb book. Lookin' for a good book that you will read over and over again like I have? Yes, then this is defiantly the right book for you. Sweet Dreams. . .

AMber is petrified when she finds out that she is moving to Wyoming from New York. She has just found this wonderful guy and it is all good. But then she has to move to hickstown. She just knows she is going to have a miserable time. Her dad tell her that if she can stick it out for a year and is still unhappy then she can go back t New York. SO AMber says that she can act misetrable for a year. When she moves there she meets her next dor neighbor RIch ad falls in love. But what is she going to do when her wonderful boyfriend form new york comes to visit. WIll she pick the cowboy or the city boy. Read the book to find out what happens

I can relate to this book. Gray, mostly, but the plot is great. The ending is the best you can hope for. I would advise all kids to read this. Even though it is pretty short, it has great wording. I couldn't put it down once I started reading this book.

I read this book many times and I loved it more every time! I think that everyone should read this book because it is really good!

I read this book about 5 years ago, and I have still thought about it. I don't think I fully understood what was going on. But now I have!! I liked this book and you shoutl read it if you find these reviews intresting.

Lisa

This book was the best! It was really good that I couldn't put it down! When I read it, it feels as if I'm right there in the book! Like I'm right there standing and seeing the whole scene. You have got to read this book!

This book deals with very real issues, but has kind of a surreal, fairy-tale-ish quality to it, probably because of the presence of a vagabond gypsy family on a black horse. You can just imagine them, riding away in the gray mists of morning...
The characters are well-developed and thought out, and the plot is intense, but thoughtful and moody.

I was so anxious to get my copy in mail, and it surely didn't disappoint!I read it right away! I think everyone can relate to at least one (if not more) of these poems. Everything seems to be very well thought out but so effortlessly put to paper! Some of the poems made me laugh and others made me smile on the inside! All of us who have ever experienced relationships can definitely say that it sometimes seems that we are in a Boy vs. Girl battle, this book brings some of those "challenges" to the forefront.

Upon reading this book of poems I was pleasantly surprised by the way I was able to read through the body of poems in one sitting. Even more amazing was the way I was able to relate to each and every poem as if it were about me or someone I would know. The poems highlighted everyday situations that any male or female may go through and I was able to envision their emotions through perfect wording and flow. Whether you're a fan of poetry or not this book is one to definitely read, not only for its content but also for the way the words allow you to visualize the relationship in question without making the pivotal mistake of alienating you in the process.

I can never think of thoughtful inexpensive gifts for my loved ones, but this book is it! Not a cover to cover digestion....more of a sit on the coffee table to entice/entertain guests. This book has caused me to laugh outloud at myself.

Boy Versus Girl is not your average book of poetry. It is the rare piece of literature that everyone young and old can relate to. The author uses real life situations to bring you through his ups and downs in love. Often he will make you feel as if you have experienced these situations through his use of colorful words and wonderful metaphors. It is a great coffee table book because almost any poem in this book is guaranteed to be a conversation starter. Do yourself a favor and dive into this book as soon as possible. You won't regret it.

This book was a joy to read. It is a window into the day-to-day relationships we all experience with our families and friends and co-workers. A wonderful book to read while relaxing at the end of the day.

The Boy Who Dared is a historical fiction book. It is by Susan C. Bartoletti, and is very good. It is told in present tense (i.e. George is walking to the well. He stops and finds three gold coins.) and the author does a very good job at telling it in this unusual fashion.
Helmuth Hübner is the average kid in World War II era Germany. He lives with his grandparents, he plays with the other boys, and he goes to a Mormon church. When he is old enough, he joins Jungvolk, a Nazi training club for kids not yet old enough to join Hitler Youth. Membership in these two clubs is mandatory. His mom is unmarried, and soon marries Hugo, a Nazi Lieutenant. Helmuth thinks less of his mother for marrying this man, whom Helmuth hates. In school, everyone is required to only learn about Hitler and the Nazi party. All students are required to say Heil Hitler before classes begin. When Helmuth makes a remark that the teacher finds disrespectful to Germany, he is harshly scolded. Helmuth's brother is sent into service in the military. He is stationed in Warsaw, Poland, which has been taken over by Germany. He comes home for a while, and brings a special gift: a shortwave radio. Shortwave Radios have been banned so the Germans couldn't listen to enemy country's radio. After Helmuth's brother leaves, Helmuth takes out the radio and listens to British Radio. He soon hears of all the cruel and vile things the Nazis have been doing to other countries...
This was a great book presented in a quite unusual fashion. The first person presentation really makes the book what it is. It has a great storyline, and although it is a true story, it is written in fiction. This book is best suited for anyone over the age of eleven, because there is some violence in the book. I liked this book because of its great story, and how it presents the story is the amazing.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti's THE BOY WHO DARED tells of one Helmuth Hubener, a German schoolboy caught up in the bravado of the new Nazis who offer hope to his world. His patriotic spirit is stirred - until he sees the rights of Germans diminishing, the persecution of Jews, and a dangerous world created. A series of flashbacks brings his world and its conflicts to terrifying life.

Helmuth Hubener is a young Mormon schoolboy when we meet him in 1933 and a mere 16 years upon his execution in 1942 at the hands of the Nazis. His alleged crime was distributing anti-Nazi leaflets with information he got from listening to the BBC, illegal at the time. When he met his early demise, young Helmuth was the leader of a three-person resistance group with no ties to organized partisans. Using flashbacks, the author describes Helmuth's personal evolution as a resistant and the devastating grip Hitler asserted over the German citizenry. We are privy to the lives and thinking of Helmuth's family and friends and, through them, are witness to the growth of the Nazi state and the public reaction to its harsh edicts. This historical novel calls to mind Sky by Hanneke Ippisch and The Traitor by Howard Fast. Helmuth's reasoned decisions are clear and a reflection of his Mormon faith, which extols honesty. This is a young man whose ideals motivated him to see his neighbors' situation with clarity and make a difficult, life-changing choice, rather than be one of the silent and relatively safe majorities. Author Susan Campbell Bartoletti encountered this compelling story while writing the Newbery honor-winning non-fiction book, Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. Ages 11-14. Reviewed by Naomi Kramer

This historical fiction is based on the true life of Helmuth Hubener, who made leaflets against the Nazis during WW2. I enjoyed this book and like how the author included one important fact of Hubener life, his faith. This story shows the courage of one teen who was willing to stand up to something he thought was evil.

At the end of the book is interesting information on Helmuth and his friends. Also photos, some that are chilling.

"The executioner works on Tuesdays."

The first page sets the mood for this haunting work of historical fiction, which is based on the life of Helmuth Guddat Hubner, a member of the Hitler Youth and the title character of THE BOY WHO DARED. Susan Campbell Bartoletti has taken one episode from her Newbery Honor Book, HITLER YOUTH, and fleshed it out into a thought-provoking novel.

The story begins on day 264 of Helmuth's imprisonment by the Nazis. In a cold prison cell he reflects on his past while waiting to find out if he has a future --- or if he will be put to death for being "an enemy of the state."

In his cell, Helmuth remembers his mother, Mutti, and older half-brothers, Hans and Gerhard. He also looks back with fondness on his special closeness with his grandparents, Oma and Opa, who care for Helmuth and his brothers while Mutti, a single mother, works nights.

Life is not easy for his family or for the German people after losing the Great War (World War I). At school Helmuth learns how the Treaty of Versailles --- the peace agreement that ended the Great War in 1918 --- has forced Germans to make costly reparations, which have led to unemployment, poverty and inflation. Even more, the treaty has caused shame and humiliation to the once proud and cultured German people, who gave the world Brahms, Beethoven and Bach.

Growing up, Helmuth remembers hearing strong opinions of neighbors and family members after Adolf Hitler, leader of the National Socialist Party and newly elected chancellor of the Third Reich, promises to make Germany strong again. Soon after Hitler comes to power, young Helmuth is entranced with the parades of "brown-shirted men wearing red-and-black armbands and tall, black, shiny boots." He vows to fight for the Fatherland, and Hugo Hubner, a Nazi soldier who becomes Helmuth's stepfather, is proud of his decision to join the Hitler Youth.

Helmuth is a bright and outspoken lad who yearns for the truth. He finds comfort in the Church of the Latter Day Saints and his Mormon faith. As Hitler and the Nazis gain a stranglehold throughout Germany, Helmuth witnesses patriotism turn to fanaticism. Neighbors turn against neighbors, books critical of Hitler are burned, and radios linking Germans to the outside world are seized as the Nazi leader's quest for power spreads across Europe.

After seeing a classmate scorned and beaten up for being Jewish, and later watching a Jewish neighbor who served nobly in the Great War get hauled off by Nazi stormtroopers, Helmuth becomes disillusioned and vows to take action. But can one teenage boy stand up against the Nazis? If so, how and at what risk?

THE BOY WHO DARED is a story about having the courage to act upon one's beliefs, no matter one's age or the risks and consequences involved. Bartoletti's use of flashbacks builds the suspense, and her inclusion of numerous photos, along with a Third Reich timeline, complement the experience of reading this memorable novel.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

This book was one of the best in the series. It had just the right amount of romance, adventure and laughs. I have read all the books in this series so far. This is one of my favorites. Two thumbs up. I enjoyed it A LOT!

I have read all of these books and I like this one the best. I like the new characters. Anybody who has read the other ones needs to read this one. The type of war that the Malloy's have with the Benson's is different with the Hatfords. Mostly because the Benson's and Malloy's like each other. They could be better friends then the Malloys and Hatfords are. I was very interested to find that Steve Benson falls for Eddie Malloy and her interested in him. Its different then the rest of them.

It wasn't my favorite in the series, but it wasn't my least favorite either. The Boys Return is worth reading because you meet a bunch of new characters. If you're going to skip a book in the series, this wouldn't be the one to skip.

Has anyone ever played mean tricks on you? This book, The Boys Return, is a story about four Malloy sisters, nine Benson brothers, and four Hartford brothers. The Hartford brothers have just returned from their vacation and they brought their friends, the nine Bensons along with them. The Hartford brothers had missed their neighbors, Malloy sisters, because they hadn't seen them for so long since they were on a vacation. The Hartford brothers, Malloy sisters, and Benson brothers are all young teenagers. The Hartford brothers, and Bensons do mean tricks to the Malloy sisters by sneaking into their house and making all of these haunted noises, and the Malloy sisters think that their house is haunted when it is not.
The Malloy sisters play tricks on the Hartford brothers by telling them that there is hungry cougar that escaped. Meanwhile everyone in town has heard that there's a hungry cougar, but they also think that the Malloy sisters and everyone in town are lying. The Malloy sisters, Hartford brothers, and the nine Bensons later find out that there really is a hungry cougar in town. The teens take a break from their tricks and join forces to catch the cougar.
Guess who gets stuck with the scariest job? This is definitely something that everyone will remember. That day there was a scary noise in the Malloy sister's garage. What could it be? The Malloy sisters call up the Hartford brothers, and the Bensons to come and help them find out who is in their garage. Do you think that is the cougar? When they arrived to the Malloy's house guess who goes in the dark garage to see who's there? Not only do the Hartford brothers, Malloy sisters, and the Benson's try to catch the cougar, but one of the Hartford brothers and one of the Malloy sisters secretly fall in love.
In my opinion, I think this book is a really fantastic book. When I started reading this book, I didn't want to stop reading it. In addition, I recommend this book to those people who falls in love in a secret way because you might don't want your parents to know that you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and don't want to tell your little brother or little sister since they might tell on you so you might as well keep it secret. I seriously recommend that you read this book! The reason why I like this book is because it makes me feel like I am in the book. This book is funny, sad, and tricky. But most of all the book makes you feel happy!

Has anyone ever played mean tricks on you? This book, The Boys Return, is a story about four Malloy sisters, nine Benson brothers, and four Hartford brothers. The Hartford brothers have just returned from their vacation and they brought their friends, the nine Bensons along with them. The Hartford brothers had missed their neighbors, Malloy sisters, because they hadn't seen them for so long since they were on a vacation. The Hartford brothers, Malloy sisters, and Benson brothers are all young teenagers. The Hartford brothers, and Bensons do mean tricks to the Malloy sisters by sneaking into their house and making all of these haunted noises, and the Malloy sisters think that their house is haunted when it is not.
The Malloy sisters play tricks on the Hartford brothers by telling them that there is hungry cougar that escaped. Meanwhile everyone in town has heard that there's a hungry cougar, but they also think that the Malloy sisters and everyone in town are lying. The Malloy sisters, Hartford brothers, and the nine Bensons later find out that there really is a hungry cougar in town. The teens take a break from their tricks and join forces to catch the cougar.
Guess who gets stuck with the scariest job? This is definitely something that everyone will remember. That day there was a scary noise in the Malloy sister's garage. What could it be? The Malloy sisters call up the Hartford brothers, and the Bensons to come and help them find out who is in their garage. Do you think that is the cougar? When they arrived to the Malloy's house guess who goes in the dark garage to see who's there? Not only do the Hartford brothers, Malloy sisters, and the Benson's try to catch the cougar, but one of the Hartford brothers and one of the Malloy sisters secretly fall in love.
In my opinion, I think this book is a really fantastic book. When I started reading this book, I didn't want to stop reading it. In addition, I recommend this book to those people who falls in love in a secret way because you might don't want your parents to know that you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and don't want to tell your little brother or little sister since they might tell on you so you might as well keep it secret. I seriously recommend that you read this book! The reason why I like this book is because it makes me feel like I am in the book. This book is funny, sad, and tricky. But most of all the book makes you feel happy!

Garth Ennis continues to write a funny, in your face, and imaginative collection. The concept of keeping over the top super heroes under control is good, but the way the concept develops gives it teeth. Robertson's art work is gritty enough to enhance the story, without being primitive. The match between artist and writer is nearly as good as the Ennis/Dillon match up in the Preacher series. While I give The Boys five stars, I would give the Preacher series six if I could. I highly recommend anything by Garth Ennis.

but I do enjoy this series. If you have read the previous volumes then this is a continuation of the story, if not, then I would really recommend reading vol 1&2 first.

This book isn't so much good for your soul as helping turn your soul a little darker, not that it's a bad thing. I really enjoy this series and like the moral ambiguity of the main characters. It is a series that I am not sure I like the "good guys", but I definitely hate the "bad guys".

If you cannot handle graphic violence and sexual situations then this is not for you. This is a GRAPHIC NOVEL in every sense of the word, and for the most part is not gratuitous, but actual helps define the characters and the story.

So five stars for a story that is intriguing and will keep me coming back.

Despite having enjoyed the last two collection of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's "The Boys", I was slightly hesitant upon picking up this third installment. I was growing slightly tired of endless blood and tasteless, sick violence with no real substance behind it.

Thankfully, these two story arcs address any depth that may have been previously lacking. Not only do we see a more human side to the Frenchman and the Female, but also bear witness to Hughie falling head-first into a deadly romance and learn the real reason behind Butcher's hatred of the capes.

There's still the gross-out humour, ultra violence and the wry commentary on mainstream super heroes, but this time they're brought into line with the best of Ennis's work.

The Boys are back in this third volume. If you've read the first two, then you're in for a treat in this volume: Good For The Soul. Only thing is, who's is it good for ? Like the other two volumes (1,2), there's action, comedy, messed up situation, and a shocker. It twisted funny, and disturbing...You'll love it ! In case you don't know about The Boys, I recommend you getting all the volumes (1,2,3). It's about setting superhoeros straight, and making sure they're doing their job the right way. If not, that's when you call in The Boys.

After a so so second collection, this 3rd trade puts the Boys back on track. Especially with Robertson on full art duties. This collection really explains a lot about the Boys and the Seven and a bit of the history of Garth's anti superhero universe. Lots of cursing, sex and adult situations all around, so keep this one away from the kids. Things are getting good as the Boys get close to the halfway point of their projected run.

I bought this for my 9 year old son who has suddenly become an avid reader. He read this book in about 3 days. I was pleasantly suprised. My review actually comes from him. He said he enjoyed the book & can't wait for the new one to come out in January.

This book is a page turner starting from page 1. I am a 5th grade teacher and could not put the book down!! Anyone would get wrapped up in the character of Ruby. She is real, she is funny, she is smart, she is what every girl inspires to be and what every women hopes to grow up to be. A brave and smart person. This is a sure winner for any teacher to get readers to read!!!

This should be on every kids back to school list!

Ms. Stacker
5th Grade Teacher

I have been encouraging my 9 year old to start reading more books for enjoyment. I took her to Books A Million so that she could find some books that she would enjoy reading. To my surprise, she came across Ruby and the Booker Boys. She actually read the first chapter of the book in the bookstore. She enjoyed the book so much that she asked to go back and see if there were a series of Ruby and the Booker Boys books. I must say that she has really found a thrill in reading again! She is looking forward to the upcoming books that I have just pre-ordered. I am very glad that the author, Mr. Barnes, has put the joy back in reading for my daughter. We wish him much success and we look forward to more Ruby and the Booker Boys books.

L. Giles
Florida

Yay!! Derrick Barnes (I just loved 'The Making of Dr Truelove') is back with a whole new series about the awesome and sassy Ruby Booker and her popular brothers, and this one made me laugh till my belly hurt. Fabulous Ruby with her super confidence establishes her own identity at her new school, and her experience is so much fun. I so wish I had someone like Ruby at home - she is just adorable. This series will make reading fun and exciting for the kids.

I happened upon Ruby M. Booker in the weekly Scholastics order catalog and thought it amazing to find a book about a little African American girl. Little did I know, I had stumbled upon a Masterpiece! My 8 year old daughter fell in love right away and so did I. We laughed and danced the entire time. The best part, hearing my baby say "She's just like me!" As an avid reader, I found it difficult to find books with characters with whom my daughter could identify. Ruby in all her 'fabulousness' put all that to rest. She's funny, spunky and full of life. This is a must read for all little girls. Many thanks to Mr. Barnes.....you really came through with this one.