Boys Books

As an adolescent, I was an avid reader of the books about Tom Swift Jr. written in the sixties. Tom was an idol, for years my fantasy was to be an inventor, acquire a tropical island and create things that would solve the problems of humanity. I have also read several of the original Tom Swift adventures written in the early twentieth century and this is the second of the latest series that I have read.
Bud Barclay is no longer the fitting companion to Tom in tempting the fates of danger; he is the editor of the school newspaper and a scientific illiterate, although he is very knowledgeable about everything else. Yolanda is the second of Tom's sidekicks in this series; she is a computer genius, taking up the technical slack left by Bud.
The main invention of this book is a skin-tight diving suit that allows the wearer to descend to enormous depths of the ocean. A secondary invention is a device that will send signals to sharks that will confuse them, keeping them from pressing attacks. When Tom's father descends into an oceanic trench in order to place devices that will warn of an earthquake on the ocean floor and the subsequent tsunami, a sudden earthquake takes place. Shifting rock pins the sub to the floor and Tom descends in an attempt to free it.
Being resourceful, Tom is able to free the sub in the nick of time, although it means that he has to walk on the ocean floor in his new suit. As is typical of this type of adventures, there is a battle with a giant squid and several other obstacles to overcome. Tom and the crew of the stranded sub are pulled from the ocean floor with only minutes to spare.
As a veteran reader of Tom Swift stories, I tend to approach the new series with a critical slant. It is sometimes difficult to be objective when you have such a fondness for the earlier model. Nevertheless, I found this story to be very good and believe that it will generate as much excitement in the modern generation of readers about science as the earlier series did in me.

My 9 year old son says.......This is a great book -- fun and awesome. It has adventure and sea-sickness. You should definitely read it.

I purchased this series ( #1-5) for my son when he was 8 yo. I began reading them to him, as they were quite technical. It didn't take him long before he was devouring them on his own. He quickly moved through all 5 books of the series. Now 9 yo. he has read them a second time and is asking when the next one (#6) comes out. I am ordering #6 for Christmas. Shhhh!

I grew up reading books like the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, The Three Investigators and the Danny Dunn series. I loved these stories and now my children read these old stories. In particular, Tom Swift was always one of my favorite series. I grew up reading the earlier versions from a few decades ago and I collect the earlier versions of the series. It was my love for these stories that shaped my own children's book.John Fastramp and the Dakota 3000 Challenge

The writing is for kids, but the new series is a nice update. My 9yo son love the new over the old. I still like the writing in the older series.
Would recommend. Not expensive, OK soft cover.

THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF JAKE'S JOURNAL IS WHEN JAKE WAS OUTSIND HE HEARD NOISE HE WONDER WHAT IT WAS. BUT HE KEPT WALKING AND WALKING. SUDDENLY HE TRUN AROUND THERE WHERE MOUNTAIN LION'S .HE STARTED THROWING ROCK AT THE MOUNTAIN LION'S THEY GOT SCARED. I LOVE THE BOOK.

This item was a gift to my granddaughter who wanted the book.
As far as I know, she was very pleased with the gift.

I thought Jake's Journal was a wondreful book. I liked how you described the animals and people. The story takes place in the canyon, Jake and Boomer take a hike up to the airplane wreck. I thought that was cool. I hope you make more books like this one and I would like to read some of them.

I work in a Resource Room with eight 5th and 6th graders. Every day each child reads with an adult. While reading with a child the others "listen in" at times instead of doing their work. Well, every child ended up reading this book! It grabbed their attention immeditally and kept it all the way to the end. They wanted to be there with Jake and Petey and not one kid wanted the book to end!! It also kept every adult's interest which does not happen very often with children's books.

The school library is closed over summer and I want to read this book again and I want to read Boomers Journal again which is a book that happens in the same place. I have a little brother too but I am a girl still he always hangs around with me. It is a short book but I could only check it out one time after we moved here and before school was over. So I have to wait. It is the total best!

What a wonderful book! I am a great fan of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon stories, and this book, Joe Boy, reminded me of them in many ways. It was a heartwarming book, and very funny to boot.

I read in another review of Joe Boy that it was like sitting down to dinner with the author as he told tales of his childhood, and that is a perfect description! It felt like Kirby was right there, spinning stories and reminiscing about his poor-in-money but rich-in-love childhood. Anyone who grew up during those years, especially if they lived in the country, will be delighted by this charming book, since it will bring back memories. But younger people will also appreciate it, because it is a glimpse into the past of an America that can never be recaptured.

I loved every word, and recommend it highly.

The Good Old Days, very funny

This book will be enjoyed by anyone that lived in small town America during the 30's, 40's, 50's, and the early 60's. It lets your mind wonder back in time when life was much simpler. Those were the days when children made up their own entertainment, which like Joe Boy ended up being a lot of adventures. I will definitely put Joe Boy on my shopping list for gifts to buy for anyone growing up during this time period

JoBoy was an interesting, entertaining book. Very well written.
I laughed out loud in so many places! I strongly recommend it.
It will bring you several hours of great entertainment.

This is a great book for the summer, a quick and funny read. Perfect for the beach, gym or a weekend getaway. I loved it! I started it and found I couldn't put it down. The true stories of this man's youth is an example of how so many Americans lived during the 1930's and 40's. It's amazing he survived. Really funny tales and quality descriptions make it seem like you are sitting across the table from this guy over dinner.

I hope there will be a part two!

Telling stories is one of the most powerful ways to teach values and open doors to new possiblities. With Floyd Kirby's rich and varied collection of childhood tales in "JOE BOY", everyone is sure to find at least a few stories that strike a special heartwarming memory from their past......stories one will treasure and want to share. A perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

It takes a very good book to bring a lump to my throat.
It takes an incredible book to keep me up past 1AM reading it. Jubal did both. Compelling, gripping and historically accurate. I felt like I had fallen into a time machine. Penley paints pictures with words that Hollywood can only hope for. Thanks Gary for yet another really good book. I didn't think you could do another one as good as "Rivers of Wind."

Tom D. / Leeds, AL

This book is more than I expected. The cover and title indicated the book would be about the experience of a Black man, Jubal, making his way in the prejudice of the South. It was that. But the book was much more.
The book also tells the story of two white children struggling through a dysfunctional family life to grow up in the money-short Depression era. It also relates the fascinating regional peculiarities of the "Delta" area of Mississippi. Each of those topics would make for a terrific read. And in this book the author has combined the power and fascination of those topics to create a story that crackles with tension. Gary Penley has crafted a tale that thrums with the energy of a boy growing up, and steams and seethes with the submerged loathings of an area of racial hatreds. The story fascinated me as I saw the mist of innocence evaporating from the eyes of the narrator, Lucas, and he began to recognize the prejudice of his relatives and the failings of his very human family.
Yes, the book is about the prejudice of a racist and violent region of the South. But it is more the story of the battle of an individual boy to grow up to be a complete human being and the story of a few crucial individual victories in that struggle. The story touched me and brought to my mind memories I thought were gone; some bad, some transcendently beautiful.
This book is much more than a simple story of a Black man in the deep South.

"Jubal," the first novel by Gary Penley, author of two non-fiction books, features a black man coping with racial prejudice in the Mississippi Delta town of Linville in the 1930s.

How Jubal Jefferson survives and interacts with the white Dunaway family touches the heart. The novel enfolds through the eyes of Lucas Dunaway, who is about five when he first encounters Jubal, gigantic and powerful. Lucas, his mother, Jessica, and younger sister, Sarah, were in a department store and, awed by the black man, Lucas asks his mother who he is. She replies, "That wasn't a man, Lucas. That was a nigger and you stay away from him. People call him Dummy and most folks think him crazy."

Reid Dunaway and Jessica, comfortable but not rich, make a pleasant home for their children. Lucas and Sarah, almost inseparable, are allowed freedom to explore the town and do so often. Thus they see Jubal almost daily as he pulls his old red wagon with its wooden box on top that enables him to pick up or deliver laundry that his mother, Amanda, has washed and ironed for her customers. Jubal speaks only to the black maids when he calls at a home, saying, "Sure is a pretty day, ain't it, Ma'am?"

Penley weaves his plot with deftness, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of his characters, His love of the Delta and understanding of Southerners allow him to create accurate and sometimes explosive situations and settings. Sarah's attraction to Jubal, for example, ignites her mother's fury. The plot also poses many secrets that are an incentive to a reader to turn pages quickly

One focus concerns Jessica's longing to be accepted by the top social circles of Linville but fails. Gradually, in her frustration she turns to alcohol for solace, leading to physical abuse of her children, particularly Sarah. Reclusive, Sarah, seemingly unaware of her own beauty, does not respond to her mother's efforts to put her on display. She often retreats to her room to play with her dolls, particularly the rag dolls made for her by their black maid.

Jessica, an accomplished pianist, wants Sarah to learn to play but her criticism of Sarah's efforts results in the child doing poorly. However, Sarah has a natural talent and plays well when her mother is not present. Thus, one of the most poignant scenes in the book occurs when the Dunaways are guests of Reid's employer and wife.

Lucas and Sarah have a favorite place, the swimming hole where the family has picnicked, and they go there secretly by themselves. Jubal, who has become a friend to both, often joins them. He takes them to the shack where he lives and they meet his mother.

There is a short time when the Dunaway family seems to heal and enjoy each other, but this is brought to a halt when Reid is killed in an accident at Hardeman's Mercantile, where he has been the top salesman. Jessica and the children are devastated. She soon returns to liquor.

When their home is destroyed by fire, the children are rescued by Jubal, but Jessica dies. Jubal, himself, is terribly burned. The children go to live with their Dunaway grandparents, but more problems lie ahead, especially for Jubal.

Penley's coupling of the young Lucas and the 75 year old, Lucas, returned to the town of his childhood, is an effective vehicle for the exciting story. The author has the ability to create suspense. His insight into the human heart is true as he makes "Jubal" a book never to be forgotten. The critical, final secret is revealed to the adult Lucas and the why of Jubal's withdrawal from society is explained.

Readers will enjoy "Jubal" both for the tale and its setting in a South that has vanished. The day one reads "Jubal" will indeed be '''a pretty day."

JUBAL IS AN EXCELLENT TRIP INTO THE NOT-TOO-OLD SOUTH, STILL WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF MANY. THE SETTING IS WELL DESCRIBED, AND THE CHARACTERS SEEM TO COME ALIVE, AS IF YOU YOURSELF KNEW THEM AT ONE TIME. THE STORY IS COMPELLING AND I WAS EAGER TO SEE HOW THE STORY DEVELOPED. WELL WORTH READING.

With the publication of Jubal, Gary Penley exhibits his versatility by creating a fascinating work of fiction that reads like truth. Penley is also the author of Rivers of Wind: A Western Boyhood Remembered, an autogiographical look at growing up on the plains of southeastern Colorado, and Della Raye: A Girl Who Grew Up in Hell and Emerged Whole, the biography of a bright woman who spent her entire youth in a mental institution in Alabama.
Set in the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s, Jubal is the story of growing up in a rigid social structure in which race and economic status unite some citizens and separate others. Paralleled in the story are Jubal, a young black man, and Jessica, a beautiful white woman who is the mother of the young narrator Lucas and his little sister Sarah. Jubal's race and his terrible inner fears isolate him from white society and force him to play the role of a mentally disadvantaged person. Jessica is isolated from the elite society into which she so badly desires acceptance because her husband doesn't make quite enough money and because she has a drinking problem of which everyone is aware but no one acknowledges.
The children, Lucas and Sarah, befriend Jubal, setting the stage for a dramatic ending in which an unlikely hero emerges.
Jubal deals with hard, elemental issues--racism, child abuse, alcohol abuse, social inequality--the combination of which could be overwhelming were it not for the facility with which Penley handles the subject matter. His descriptions of the setting and the characters, his balanced portrayal of both sides of some issues, and his pacing throughout the novel enable the reader to appreciate the situations described and to believe the characters to be real, though some are anything but likable. Also softening the rawer edges of the subject matter is Penley's choice of narrator; a young boy tells the story but with a maturity of an elderly man looking back on the events of his youth, giving the scenes a sense of distance in time to the events in the narration.
Penley does a masterful job of evoking the reader's emotions and controlling their intensity. Anger, sympathy, sorrow, hatred, love: all are present at one time or another and by the end of the book the reader feels the gamut of all of these emotions. Jubal is an important book, one that provides insight into a dark period in American history.

Very informative. As a teenager Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake was a hang out on Friday nights. Great burgers. Lo and behold in 1960 as a dancer I performed in a show at the El Rancho Vegas. It was during the Sands hey day and the shoot of "Ocean's Eleven". A few years later another show at the Tropicana Hotel again in Las Vegas which wasn't even mentioned in the book. Yes I'm a fan of Wayne's. I go as far back (not in age) as Agua Caliente when I did research on Hollywood moguls who built the race track and spa. Yes Rita Hayworth was discovered dancing there with her dad Eduardo Cansino. The movie "In Caliente" is a must have for McAllister lovers. Wayne's story is more than about architecture. It's about Americana. He is a treasure and so is the writer to so captures McAllister's essence.
However, as a historian and McAllister fan we need more in depth text and pictures about other landmarks other than Agua Caliente whose founders seemed to have dissapeared. or did they?
About the Flamingo Hotel. Words were given to the mob but not enough about Billy Wilkerson and the Hollywood Reporter or builder Del Webb and his own stock piling of building materials during wartime which enabled Bugsy to build the Flamingo Hotel (I performed there in 1966). The connection of all these men was gambling. These men started off-shore gambling (1912) with Baron Long whose famous nightery was a Rudolph Valentino hangout. One wonders if he in fact also needs a book.

If you love the architecture of post-war America, then this is the book for you. I am a huge fan of Wayne McAllister's work and this book gives you the lens with which to view the progression of his buildings which began early on and literally exploded in the 1950's.

We all remember restaurants and hotels and some homes with this man's 'signature' all over them: rock exteriors, large sheets of glass, inset lighting, and brick planters. Some decry this look as cheap and tasteless. But in reality it wed form and function with a certain aesthetic quality that will never be duplicated.

Today, everything from buildings to cars all look alike. That 'certain something' is missing. Still, it is great to look back to a time when restaurants, hotels, motels, and cars looked cool. This book is a walk down memory lane and I return to it often. Well done, Chris Nichols!

This book was a delight to read. The illustrations are beautifull and informative. The research that has been put into this book is of great value. This book is of great lasting value for Baja California history as well as California and Nevada.

If you are into architecture books, books about Vegas, 1950s car culture, or anything retro, this book will be one you enjoy. I really like it as a coffee table book, because it has great pictures, but it is also a great read and seems well researched.

Nichols presents an interesting look at many of the historic landmarks of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, painting the picture of times since forgotten. Being in my 20s, many of the landmarks I knew in name only, although I have seen and been to some, but in both cases, Nichols' book manages to evoke feelings of nostalgia and longing. The book is obviously painstakingly researched, and the sheer number of rare and hard-to-find photographs are enough to make any architecture or food history buff go ga-ga.

This Lizzie McGuire Quiz Book is a must have for any Lizzie McGuire fan! There are loads of quizzes about you, your BFFs, and your crush. Here's a list of all the quizzes plus mini descriptions.

LIZZIE QUIZ #1 (should be pretty easy, if you know the show really well)
QUESTIONS OF CHARACTER (tells you if you're most like Lizzie, Miranda, or Kate)
EMBARRASING MOMENTS (tells you if you get embarrased easily or if it takes a lot to embarrass you
IS HE CRUSHIN' ON YOU? (tells you if that boy you know is crushing on you or not)
ARE YOU A LEADER? (tells you if you have lots of leadership power or you're kinda shy)
CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? (this quiz will show you if you are too secretive, just right, or a total blabbermouth!)
LIZZIE QUIZ #2 (another quiz about the show, easy for ultimate Lizzie fans)
RED-HOT OR MELLOW YELLOW? (do you get ultimate angry when stuff happen? or do you keep your cool?)
ARE YOU A FLIRT? (what kind of a flirt are you? Major, minor, or anti?)
LIZZIE TIPS: PART ONE (tips that Lizzie's giving you--learned the hard way)
REBEL YELL (are you a rebel? or do you always follow the rules?)
WHAT'S YOUR GUY TYPE? (what kinda guy do you like? jock, romantic, sweet....?)
R.U. TRUE? (what kinda friend are you? a friend to the end or not?)
WHAT'S YOUR CRUSH REALLY LIKE? (is your crush a good one? or is it time to get a new one?)
LIZZIE QUIZ #3 (harder than 1 and 2, but still kinda easy)
QUIZ: QUESTIONS OF CHARACTER (are you a pushover? or are you too harsh? or just right?)
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR BEST BUD? (think you know your BFF really well? test your BFF knowledge here!)
QUIZ: YOU AND YOUR BEST BOY BUD: MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS? (are you and your guy friend just friends or more?)
FAMILY CIRCUS (who are you in your family? the troublemaker? perfectionist?)
ARE YOU A QUEEN BEE? (are you like Kate? or do you care more about other stuff?)
LIZZIE QUIZ #4: THE ULTIMATE MCGUIRE CHALLENGE (Do you have the McGuire fire? Or are you a Dizzy Lizzie? Find out here and take the ultimate McGuire challenge! Think you can answer all the questions correctly?)
LIZZIE TIPS PART TWO (more tips from Lizzie---learned the hard way)

Overall, I think this is the best quiz book, if you're a Lizzie fan or not. But, you must be! Who doesn't love Lizzie McGuire? This is a super cool book. I recommend it to you.

The quiz book is the best.Here is all the different quizzes:
Lizzie quiz #1
Questions of Character
Embarrassing Moments
Is he chrushin on you
are you a leader
can you keep a secret
Lizzie quiz#2
Red-hot or mellow yellow
are you a flirt
Lizzie tips part 1
rebel yell
whats your guy type
RU true
whats your crush really like
lizzie quiz#3
questions of character
how well do you know your best bud
you and your best boy bud more than friends
family circus
are you a queen bee
lizzie quiz #4
lizzie tips part 2
I vote it 5 stars becuase it is a good book.I enjoyed it with my friends.

Do you love quizzes? Well I do! If you do, you'll love this book, whether you're a Lizzie fan or not. There's quizzes on school, friends, Lizzie, guys and more! Here's a list of all the quizzes inside this book.
Lizzie Quiz #1
Questions of Character (r u a Kate, Lizzie, or Miranda?)
Embarrasing Moments
Is He Crushin' On You?
Can You Keep A Secret?
Lizzie Quiz #2
Red-Hot or Mellow-Yellow?
Are You a Flirt?
LIZZIE TIPS:PART ONE
Rebel Yell
What's Your Guy Type?
R.U. True?
What's Your Crush REALLY like?
Lizzie Quiz #3
Quiz: Questions of Character
How Well Do You Know Your Best Bud?
Quiz: You and Your Best Boy Bud--More Than Just Friends?
Family Circus
Are You A Queen Bee?
Lizzie Quiz #4: THe Ultimate Challenge
LIZZIE TIPS:PART TWO
Overall, this is good for Lizzie fans and non Lizzie fans. But how can you not be a lizzie fan? Those listed above are all the things in this quiz book. I hope I have helped you! bye

Here is my updated version of my past reviewer as a 12-year-old reader:

I urge you to pick up a copy of this book! As well as four Lizzie quizzes about the TV show, it also has lots of quizzes about guys, school, clothes and friends.
Like
Who are you most like?
What's your crush really like?
Is he crushin' on you?
and much more! With this cool book you can find out loads more about yourself and it's perfect for sleepovers so you can find out more about your friends too and what they know about Lizzie McGuire. But watch out, the last Lizzie quiz (Ultimate Quiz) is REALLY hard! (I think the Lizzie quizzes are about the first and second season. I'm not sure, we have only had two seasons of LMcG over here and I managed to get the questions right.
UPDATE: The only thing wrong with this is that it doesn't go on for long enough! I mean, the quizzes are great, time after time, but I think there should be a 'sequel' or Lizzie McGuire MOVIE quiz book!

EVEN GREAT FOR NON-LIZZIE FANS (HOW CAN YOU BE ONE OF THEM?). THIS BOOK HAS SOME EXCEELENT QUIZZES, ESPECIALLY PERSONALITY QUIZZES. GREAT FOR ALL GIRLS, ESPECIALLY LIZZIE FANS AGED 8-14.
Rebeccaxxx...

This book is perfect when you're bored, with friends, or just about anytime. Theres quizzes on everything from A-Z including some on Lizzie McGuire which are very challenging. I reccomend this book to girls of all ages, even if you aren't big Lizzie fans.

Carol Lea Benjamin has been a dog trainer and private investigator. Her heroine, Rachel Alexander, a dog-trainer-turned-PI, comes from a traditional Jewish family that disapproves of both her occupations. Like Rachel's family, and like Rachel herself, we readers find ourselves asking, "How did she get into this?"
The Long Good Boy is sixth in the series featuring Rachel and her sidekick Dashiell, a superbly trained pit bull, with guide dog certifications that let him stay close to Rachel wherever she goes. And Rachel needs help when she enters Manhattan's meat-packing district to help three transvestite hookers find out who murdered one of their friends -- and whether one of them might be the next victim.
Rachel learns that another murder took place nearby, just the night before "Rosalinda" was murdered. Coincidence? Not likely. Determined to unearth the connection, Rachel goes undercover in a part-time sales job at Saks, finds creative ways to, um, release the files she needs from the meat company, and takes to the streets for a brief but memorable stroll.
Benjamin always plays fair. Dogs don't talk or solve crimes. Any top-dog trainer could turn Chi-Chi's tiny dachsund, Clint, into a competent burglar when Dashiell turns out to be the wrong size. Dog lovers will recognize Clint's expression after the first training session: "Thank goodness somebody finally realized I have a brain."
Benjamin's vividly depicts a world most readers would just as soon not know about: "tranny" hookers trying to earn money for dope, getting into strange cars, negotiating with "pimps" who are not much into employee relations. Yet the characters are portrayed three-dimensionally, sympathetically but not sentimentally. And somehow Benjamin manages to maintain the style of a "cozy" mystery in this totally un-cozy setting -- the sign of an author who is very much on top of her craft.

Rachel Alexander suffers from insomnia, which leads to an unusual job with transsexual prostitutes who are concerned about the murder of a fellow working girl. Shadowy intrigue and urban noir mingle in this mystery which offers many twists and turns.

Carol Lea Benjamin has been a dog trainer and private investigator. Her heroine, Rachel Alexander, a dog-trainer-turned-PI, comes from a traditional Jewish family that disapproves of both her occupations. Like Rachel's family, and like Rachel herself, we readers find ourselves asking, "How did she get into this?"
The Long Good Boy is sixth in the series featuring Rachel and her sidekick Dashiell, a superbly trained pit bull, with guide dog certifications that let him stay close to Rachel wherever she goes. And Rachel needs help when she enters Manhattan's meat-packing district to help three transvestite hookers find out who murdered one of their friends -- and whether one of them might be the next victim.
Rachel learns that another murder took place nearby, just the night before "Rosalinda" was murdered. Coincidence? Not likely. Determined to unearth the connection, Rachel goes undercover in a part-time sales job at Saks, finds creative ways to, um, release the files she needs from the meat company, and takes to the streets for a brief but memorable stroll.
Benjamin always plays fair. Dogs don't talk or solve crimes. Any top-dog trainer could turn Chi-Chi's tiny dachsund, Clint, into a competent burglar when Dashiell turns out to be the wrong size. Dog lovers will recognize Clint's expression after the first training session: "Thank goodness somebody finally realized I have a brain."
Benjamin's vividly depicts a world most readers would just as soon not know about: "tranny" hookers trying to earn money for dope, getting into strange cars, negotiating with "pimps" who are not much into employee relations. Yet the characters are portrayed three-dimensionally, sympathetically but not sentimentally. And somehow Benjamin manages to maintain the style of a "cozy" mystery in this totally un-cozy setting -- the sign of an author who is very much on top of her craft.

Rachel Alexander is on her strangest case yet. He is hired by three transvestite hookers to find the killer of their friend Rosalinda. The manager of the local meat plant was killed the same night, and Rachel thinks there is a connection.

This is a very taut thriller. I couldn't put it down. The characters are bizarre and very real. I can't wait for the next Rachel and Dash mystery.

Carol Lea Benjamin has written a crime novel that excels in many dimensions. It is a brilliantly plotted thriller that will keep your heart pounding up until the last word; her characters are so distinctive and quirky that you'll wish they were real and you had the chance to know them; her usual humor is as evident as ever; and, of course, the dog stuff is as informative as it is appropriate to the story. This is Ms. Benjamin's grittiest novel to date and a good read for any mystery lover.

Among the many bygone newspaper comic strips, there are a few that are considered classics. It is fortunate that unlike many legacy strips (such as Gasoline Alley, Dennis the Menace or Dick Tracy), these strips died with their creators, keeping the original strip undiminished by successive artists. Krazy Kat has gone away, as has Peanuts (although it continues in reissues of the originals); so to, has Steve Canyon.

Milton Caniff had developed Steve Canyon shortly after WWII, and unlike his previous strip - Terry and the Pirates - he was able to assert more creative control over Canyon The collection of 1947 strips presents the first year or so of Steve Canyon's adventures. And "adventure" is the right word, because this was an adventure strip, focused on intrigue and action.

As Canyon is introduced, he is an ex-WWII fighter pilot who has now runs a struggling operation called Horizons Unlimited, which specializes in charter flights, particularly for moving cargo. His first client in the comic strip is the wealthy and beautiful Copper Calhoon, who like many of the characters, have rather unique names. Copper wants Canyon to fly her to her various properties, where she suspects shenanigans are going on. She's right. Like almost every woman in the strip, she also has a romantic interest in Canyon, who generally stays detached from any love affairs, though one woman will appear later in the year that he is attracted to.

Though this considered a classic strip - and it is well-drawn and written - it also is not at the top tier of the older comics. To me, the significant flaw is the occasional bits of silliness that distract from, rather than enhance, the storyline. Nowhere is this more obvious than the character of Happy Easter who can be annoying at times. Canyon himself is an okay character, but often bland compared to the characters around him. Overall, Steve Canyon the comic strip, at least in its first year, is a decent but not exceptional work.

It arrived very soon. I am very pleased with the good condition of the product.

As a paperboy in the sixties, I was always fascinated by the adventure strips in the newspapers I delivered, but unfortunately I only managed to read them sporadically and missed their continuity. It was also the time of their decline and today, the adventure strip is not what it was in its heyday during the previous decades and has largely disappeared. I often wished I could revisit those times. A number of high-quality reproductions have recently come out, restoring these great strips, and it is now time for me to delve. Since there is much agreement that the giant among the adventure strip artists was Milton Caniff, I gave the 1947 Steve Canyon a try.

The post-war years had their special appeal, reflected in the visual arts - and especially Hollywood, with its Lauren Bacalls, Bette Davises, Katharine Hepburns, Agnes Mooreheads, Joan Crawfords, and scores of other individuals and femmes fatales, and the leading men of the time, and secondary characters and sidekicks - there is something about the visual style of the people, cars, planes, design and architecture of the time that is very pleasing. The look of those times is stunningly captured in Caniff's panels, little chiaroscuro masterpieces (Caniff was called the Rembrandt of cartooning), with the artist's own stable of femmes fatales, villains and supporting characters issuing from his imagination, complemented by gripping plots.

This Checker restoration is well-bound and well-printed on glossy paper, and the art comes through in delicious detail, though it is admittedly a little small, due to the need to fit enough of it on each page. The panels are all beautiful and some are masterpieces so detailed that it is worth looking at them with a magnifying glass. The balloons are very wordy, however, and crowd the art. The pacing and imaginativeness of the adventures is superb. There is more depth to the stories than one would find in any of the superhero comics past or present (possibly a very few exceptions nowadays). You will find strategy and planning, tactical execution to get out of situations, technical knowledge, plot twists, and very little deus ex machina. The femme fatales have distinct personalities; Caniff did not get them all from the same mould.

Obviously, one does not discuss matters of taste, but if the chiaroscuro renderings of a very special era by a recognized master appeals to you, then by all means get this hard copy of the late forties.

For years, I have been more familiar with Caniff's "Terry & the Pirates" than with "Steve Canyon". Having bought this volume, though, I can't wait to get more. Milt knew how to tell a story and was an incredible artist. As a cartoonist myself (I draw the strip "Tuttle's") I am envious of the freedom Caniff had. Not just in space, but that he was apparently given more than a month at the beginning just to establish the characters. Now, if a strip hasn't grabbed the readers by day 2 (it seems) it's gone.

I want to give praise to the publishers of this book, too: Checkers. Some reprints of cartoons lately have gone to such lengths to present the strips in a large format that the cost of the volumes became prohibitive. Especially for people who aren't comicphiles. Checker has done a great job of presenting the cartoons in a crisp print that's readable and affordable. I can't want to get more editions!

Milton Caniff left Terry and the Pirates to create his own comic strip, Steve Canyon, and these early adventures are some of his greatest work.

All but a few years of Steve Canyon have already been reprinted, by Kitchen Sink, in the Menomonee Falls Gazette, in Comics Revue monthly, and in Carl Horak's Caniffites, but it is good to have the beginning of the strip back in print from Checker Books. Until his support of American troops in Vietnam lost him many of his readers, Milton Caniff was one of the most popular cartoonists in the world. His snappy dialog and interesting characters, especially his female characters, make his strips well worth seeking out.

I ordered this book from the UK and it was sent promptly to me in good condition. The packaging was secure and I am very happy with my purchase.

I got the chance recently to review Danielle's book, 'Mommy, Can I Play With Tommy?' and I loved it. There ought to be more books out like it. The book's simple, to-the-point message is clear and concise, and is accented wonderfully by the beautiful artwork. I would recommend this book highly.

A book like this is long overdue. I am proud to own a copy.

This book is wonderfully written and illustrated. As a parent, I was able to capture the heart and beauty this story offered. Danielle Hiner did a fantastic job of setting for us, a short story that allowed the reader into a glimpse of a child's mind so innocent and pure. A book like this should be introduced into every classroom. To teach our children sensitivity and compassion for those who may look different, but deep in their hearts, every child has the same desire...to be like every other child.

Sandra Starr
Author of "Addiction's Daughter"
www.sandrastarr.com

"Mommy, Can I Play With Tommy?" is a story about a beautiful five-year-old boy named Joey with Cerebral Palsy. While watching the other children playing a game of tag on the school playground Joey is not sure he will fit in with the other children. A boy named Tommy takes him under his wing and made Joey feel just like everyone else.
Danielle Hiner has created a truly touching story not only for children but also for everyone who has any compassion for children. Danielle leaves the reader with a moral to the story but as I read the book I came up with my own. To the world you are only one person but to one person you can mean the world. This is a story of how one person can make a world of difference in someone's life, especially a child. I'm sure everyone who reads this wonderful story will come up with his own moral to the story.
The book is fully color illustrated and each picture has a story to tell in itself.
"Mommy, Can I Play With Tommy?" is a book with a lesson to learn that any parent or grandparent would be proud to share with their own children and grandchildren.
Harry Simmons

Every bit as good as I remeber from childhood. Was excited to find this classic and share it with my grand daughter.

A classic tale that helped my son overcome getting his haircut as it did my brother 30+ years ago.

This was a favorite of mine from my own childhood and when I had children I got it for them and they loved it as well. Simple, sweet, funny and appealing...wonderful for the preschool/kindergarten set.

After reading this book my 3 year old son told his friend's mother that she could "mop a floor with that head" when she was showing off her new perm!

Delightful book!

I have loved this book since I was 5 and still have my treasured copy. The appeal for me was partly because of the title as the Beatles were nicknamed the Moptops.

Martin, nicknamed "Moptop" (can't get past that Beatle influence)! refuses to get a haircut. When sent to the local barbershop, the boy whose hair was longer than any Beatle and wasn't even brushed or styled (and theirs WAS), hides in a store behind a mop barrel. A woman with reading glasses reaches into the barrel, thinking she's getting a mop and instead, gets the boy!

Yowling with pain, the boy races off to the barbershop. While he's there, other things are being cut back as well -- the hedges; the newly mowed lawn; a dog was clipped as well as a tree. Too bad the boy didn't have his hair Beatle coiffed! While the boy looked better before the haircut, Beatle fans especially will appreciate this one!

I like the story because the little boy in the story had a mop for a head.Thay called him that because his hair looks bad. That sounded like me. I like the story a lot because the boy loved his mother very much to do this for her.