Boys Books

I enjoyed this book so much. It's not what I normally would read but after meeting Paul at the local library, I was intrigued enough to buy his book. He's an excellent writer, and I would love to read more of his work. The story of Levi is told with such compassion that I even felt sorry for the lad by the end of the story. He truly had an incredible life that seemed almost real.

Barbara Joe-Williams
author of "Dancing with Temptation"

Shepherd reveals to us with an almost unnerving eloquence those feelings that we have all had in childhood. My breath is literally taken away and I have to pause after a passage, remembering how it was. There are moments in your life when you are let down as you are growing up, Shepherd describes this as a cool feeling... as though a hand that has been over your heart is now removed. You will want to savor this wonderfully written book. I am eagarly awaiting Paul Shepherd's next work.

The overall style of this book is very unique, because while the majority of it is written from an adult's point of view of events that happened to him as a child, there is virtually no retrospective of these events. While the ending feels a little rushed, it fits the overall tone of the novel, and leaves the reader with a sense of what happens as this child grows into an adult. Very fast read, would be great for a plane trip.

Having read this book, I can assure you that your only regret will be reaching the final page. These are characters you will never forget. Moments in this book will remain with me forever, such as Levi driving with his Father. Like the others who reviewed this novel, I cannot wait to see where Paul Shepherd will take us next.

Despite being an avid reader, this is the first time I have been moved to post a review on Amazon which in itself says something. To put it succinctly, this is a wonderful first novel and it makes me wonder what the author will do for an encore. Unlike some modern fiction, there is a plot to "More Like Not Running Away" (which I won't reveal here) and Mr. Shepherd's love of architecture and the art of building a house/home are evident throughout but what got me most of all was the sheer beauty of the language. It all flows, not a word or phrase out of place, no jarring or discordant notes (other than those intended by the author). Some other reviewers have used the words "poetic", "lyrical", "elegant" and "graceful" to describe the writing -- they all apply in spades. At the risk of costing the author some sales, though not particularly long this is not a quick beach read but a book to be savored without hurrying. You won't regret the time spent. I even found the ending remarkably uplifting and affirmative of life in an unexpected way.

Night Driving is the book we want written somewhere in our life story. The narrative succeeds with understatement, silence, and seemingly simple dialogue. The strong arm of a father around his son's shoulder and life makes this book truly enjoyable.

This is a neat childrens story about a boy and his father who take a long road trip at night. McCarty's soft illustrations really add a lot to the story. He is one of the best illustrators I've seen.

wow, never thought of reading children books, but this one has me giving a second thought. The radio station playing, trucks zipping by, the diner open all night, and the faded gray illustrations, all make this illustrated book great for adults alike.

This book is one of the few truley magical books. There is nothing better than to lie in bed reading this book to my 7-year old son. The book could almost be thought of as two books - the text and the pictures. You can imagine everything by the very descriptive text - it takes you on the journey of father and son as they travel "to the mountains". The text is even paced and allows you (and your son) to travel along with them. The pencil drawings are of a quality not usually found in children's books. Just take a look at the pictures without the words and the same magical feeling comes to you. This is probably a book for fathers and sons but anyone who is interested in quality children's books will love this one. Highest recomendation.

"Are we almost there?" asks the child-narrator on the first page. "Oh no, it's a long way. We'll do some night driving," says Dad. In John Coy's first picture book, we journey along with a father and son as they make their way to the mountains for the boy's first camping trip. As the hours pass, they find plenty to do together: listen to baseball games on the radio, sing cowboy songs ,watch for deer munching grass at the side of the road. When the car gets a flat tire, there is time to see, away from the lights of the city, a sky thick with stars. Although Peter McCarty has previously illustrated children's books (Mary on Horseback, most recently), this is his first picture book. His soft charcoal portraits of father and son work well with Coy's spare text. He magically transforms white space into cool moonlight-reflecting off Dad's baseball cap as he leans against the car watching his son, pooling in the prairie grass, and cocooning the car as it glides through the darkness. "Making good time" was a phrase my father liked to use when we took road trips-he meant we were getting there as fast as humanly possible with emergency stops only and no dawdling. But as Night Driving gently reminds us, good time is always passing. We can either kill it, or spend it like a jar of saved-up pennies.

Although I originally read the book with the intention of sending a copy to my nephew, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the book. The fact that all the adventures were indeed true and happened to the author made the stories more exciting. The book is made up of many individual stories that made for easy reading and allowed me to read as much or as little as I wanted to at a time. A must read for kids or adults interested in adventure, history, military life, the boy scouts or the mischief one boy in a far away land can get into.

This is one of the best book I have read.It's adveture, funny and fun to read. You will just never put it down.

I am a contemporary of John's having been in the Philippines and at Clark AB during much of the same period he was. His stories are wonderful and very accurate in terms of relating what it was like being an American teen/pre-teen in the Philippines during that time frame.

Highly recommended both for the stories as is and as a history of a soon-to-be forgotten period of time for American military dependents.

What a wonderful story to read! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can't wait for the day when my husband and I can share it with our family. In the meantime, my nieces and nephews will enjoy hearing the story!

Thanks, John, for sharing your childhood with us! It sounds like you have a very lovely family.

John Santacroce has written a wonderful book full of adventure, humor, and discovery. It's a page-turner for young readers as they share John's adventures growing up in the Philippines and learn something about historical events of the time. Younger baby boomers will also identify with the author's perspective of this era. Read this unique book and talk about it with your children! One of the many great features of this extremely well-written memoir is that it uses intelligent but conversational language, no profanity, and never "talks down" to its audience. It's loaded with an adventurous boy's observations and discoveries about a fascinating land. I guarantee this book will be a treasured addition to your library, and one that readers of all ages will enjoy!

this made me laugh. i think his ideas are crazy and funny. my teacher said this was good and i think so to. i will read the book again.

I had to read a book this summer and read this one. I did a book report. It has funny things in it. I liked the story about the gangs and pets best. I don't like reading but this was not boring.

This book is filled with short stories that are very attention grabbing and full of "being a kid" action. The stories teach important lessons incorporating some of the values students have lost. Brian's book is very easy to read and with its intended design, the stories are condensed so to keep the attention of the reader. I believe the reading level is approximately middle school level. It is a wonderful teaching tool and the kids just love it. This can be read orally or individually. Thank you Brian for giving us such a valuable teaching tool!

This book was fun. Patrick does interesting things. He is funny. I like the stories.

Brian McNabb has given us a very satisfying group of stories, all about a normal boy growing up and making choices about who he wants for friends and about how he should conduct himself in his world of family and school and town. All the stories are told from the point of view of a young narrator between the ages of about 7 and 13. McNabb's talent comes in giving us an authentic voice. We hear a boy, not an adult pretending to be a boy. "Neckbreaker", though awkwardly titled, is my favorite of the stories. As it follows our hero over a period of several months, we see him gain insight into himself and others. It's a lovely rendition of an oft told tale. Much to McNabb's credit, he resists the urge to moralize. The stories are good as stories, they are enjoyable. Well done.

From the moment he wakes up in the morning until the moment he goes to sleep at night, Tucker is in constant motion. His boundless energy and upbeat personality make him bounce down the stairs, twirl around his parents, and weave between his younger sisters. His natural affinity for dancing leads him to ballet class. He absolutely loves dancing and enjoys his class. He doesn't care that he's the only boy enrolled in the course - until his male classmates find out and make fun of him for it. His uncle isn't too keen on it either. Happily, Tucker follows his heart (or, rather, his feet!) During a football game, his speed and agility impress his peers, and the teasing diminishes.

Gruska's text is simple and easy to follow, and the colorful illustrations by Amy Wummer suit the story. Even the endpapers are pretty! (I really love argyle.) The book includes a glossary of ballet terms to further educate hopeful dancers. This story will encourage readers of all ages to keep dancing to the beat of his or her own drummer.

Whether you were a BMOC (big man on campus) or a wallflower, almost every adult has experienced being part of the "in crowd", or being a social pariah. Denise Gruska's "Only Boy in Ballet Class" explores these themes in a terrific book that shows there is life after teasing. Every adult can relate to this, and every kid will (at some point) go through it. I bought this book for my kid to show that it's o.k. to be a ballet dancer, or a football player (or both), but mostly, that it's o.k. to be DIFFERENT. Self-acceptance, and doing what you love (in spite of what other people think) is the most important thing, and Gruska's warm and delightful book is proof positive of both. A terrific book for kids and adults alike!

This beautiful book brought tears to my eyes. It so perfectly capatures the joy and the struggle that each of us face as we learn to be ourselves in this world. It provides a wonderful starting point for parents to talk to their children about how to be true to what we really love and how to respect others for who they are. Plus, my football playing boys had a blast trying out all the ballet moves. This book is a treasure that will be read and enjoyed for many years in our home. It would make a great gift for any family!

The Only Boy in Ballet Class is a perfectly charming book, wonderfully illustrated by a prolific artist, but it's also an important story for young children about coming to terms with your true self and expressing the passions you really feel, even if others don't quite get it. It's a story about commitment, about perseverance, and about unanticipated rewards.

Tucker Dohr loves to dance, and not just any kind of dancing, but the difficult discipline of the Ballet. Being the only boy in a ballet class is very hard, but Tucker needs to dance, even though many of the kids in his neighborhood mock his participation in a "girly" activity. And if that weren't bad enough, Tucker has an uncle, equally rigid and unsupportive, who constantly carps at his dancing and urges him to take up more stereotypical activities for boys. But Tucker looks forward to his ballet classes, and doesn't give up.

He has heart, in a heartless world, or perhaps just a world burdened by the many broken-hearted people who've let their own dreams fade away, and then settled for someone else's dream, someone else's life.

Tucker is very lucky as well; his Uncle has no real say in his life, other than as a wet blanket and kibbitzer from the sidelines. Tucker's parents support him, and allow Tucker to be himself, to find his own way, and to dream his own dreams.

The illustrations beautifully extend the text of the book and make it more compelling, allowing us to see Tucker's sense of joy and fulfillment in dance, both in private moments and during public performance.

This book will be attractive to any child interested in the Ballet, and even includes a little glossary of dance terms which describes the various movements Tucker excels at. But it will also be attractive to any children who find themselves inhabiting the unknown territories at the boundaries of life, whether that be the difficult negotiation of gender roles and behavior, as in this book, or those who are fascinated with unpopular subjects -- like lepidoptery, or Etruscan pottery -- because Tucker does just fine. His passion turns out to be valuable in fields outside the dance studio, and he still loves to dance.

The Only Boy in Ballet Class is a passionate, entertaining, funny, and poignant look at a boy's struggle to be his most authentic self. I read this with my daughter and it moved her, literally, to dance around the living room. She had me demonstrating the various balllet moves from the glossary in the back. Then, in mid pirouette declared her intentions to become a ballet dancer, just like Tucker Dohr. No doubt this book inspired her to move. But I appreciated it most for the valuable message it imparts to its readers, of celebrating the uniqueness in all of us. Because, after all, that is what makes us each special.

Marshall retells many of the stories of Britain in a way that makes them easy to remember and understand.

We homeschool using the Charlotte Mason method, and my 8 year old son loves this book. His 14 year old brother doesn't have to read it, but often does...that's how interesting it is.

I read this aloud last spring to my 3 boys, ages 10, 12, and 13. They all really enjoyed it and I enjoyed reading it.
The only (small) negative I could give it is that there are several spelling mistakes-mostly a missing letter in a word. I corrected that as we went along for the next time I read it aloud. It really wasn't a problem but I just thought I should point that out.
We are now reading the sequel about our own country (America) called "This Country of Ours" and enjoying that one as well. I can highly recommend both books, as well as "Fifty Famous Stories Retold" which is usually bought along with these two. That one is especially easy to narrate from as the stories are very short-often just 2 pages.

I ordered Volumes I and II of the audiotape version of The Island Story (history of Britain from mythology through Queen Elizabeth I) and listened to it with my boys aged 10 and 12 before we went to England this spring. We all really enjoyed it. While written for children, the history and color (eg tie ins to words/expressions we use today) were fascinating for me too. The book was written in the early 1900's which makes a few of the references to Britain's current day "empire" amusing but no less interesting. I will be saving this set of tapes for my grandchildren!

We have been reading about one a week for over a year. My girls love these stories! One of our rabbits ended up with the name "Boudacia" after we read her story.
At the beginning they might be more folklore than fact, but none the less they are wonderful. There are some great moral lessons to be learned from many of the stories.
After I bought the Yesterday's Classics I found an old hardback with great color pictures. It cost a bit, but what a treasure!
Highly recommend.

An excellent book; well written and well informed. A book parents need to read to help them understand their teenagers. Above all, a good story, well told.

Let's begin this review by stating that the author, Dan Allosso, is working on a sequel to OUTSIDE THE BOX. I just wanted to get that out of the way, because after reading this book, you will definitely want to know more.

OUTSIDE THE BOX features top-of-the-line gaming equipment and cutting-edge game programs. Main character Reid Anderson takes readers on a trip into that world that they won't forget.

Reid generally likes to keep a low profile. His parents are hard-working, well-paid executives who keep their son surrounded with the latest and greatest of everything. His mother shops for him in the best clothing stores, making sure he has the coolest designer labels. His father designs game programs for a popular company, so it's no surprise when a brand new Wii machine shows up in the well-equipped basement rec room.

At first Reid doesn't show much interest. If it's something his parents think he might be interested in, he sure doesn't want it to look like they were right. But after thinking about it for awhile, Reid decides he might as well enjoy the Wii. Playing feels pretty normal at first, but then some strange things begin to happen. The game seems to have features regular off-the-shelf games wouldn't have. Reid considers that perhaps his dad has arranged some custom game to impress his otherwise ignored son.

But then a voice starts talking to Reid. The voice, and then an actual character, is part of the game. Weird ....

When Reid starts to investigate and mentions this strange phenomenon, he is warned by the game to keep quiet. The investigating Reid does begins to open some very interesting doors. One that's a bit scary is the fact that the state is watching kids diagnosed with mental health issues by having them play the game. Reid finds that the information gathered when the kids play is being used to prescribe changes in their medications and monitor their progress. Even more weird ....

An unexpected email message lets Reid know that he is not alone. He eventually joins forces with Louise, Larry, and Dave to question the mysterious JCN character in the game and find out exactly what is going on.

OUTSIDE THE BOX is sure to be popular among gaming teens, but beyond that, anyone who does indeed think "outside the box" is sure to be glad that the adventure will continue....

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Even though it is a young adult novel, I would recommend it to anyone. I just love the liberal teen rebellion. This would make a GREAT movie!!

"Is your Wii haunted?" Enticing surprises in a souped-up video game draw the reader into the isolated world of bored teenager Reid Anderson, who is just about ready to accept that he has no genuine friends, and that a connection with his parents may never happen. A startling email leads him to like-minded teens in a world hidden from "normal" kids, condoned by complicit adults, and ignored by everyone else. Reid learns to question what is normal. With each mysterious upgrade of his new technology, he is upgraded too. He develops real friendships and a new sense of purpose. A warning to tender-eared teens and protective parents in denial: the players in this imaginative, well-written page-turner for young adults are believable sixteen year-olds who use realistic dialogue. Early in the book, I considered that we might have a new call for youth uprising on our hands. However, as the plot complication accelerated toward a climax, another message bloomed: adults need to do a better job listening to our kids. Outside the Box is an insightful, important book. I highly recommend it to older teens and all adults, and I look forward to the sequel.

I just finished Outside the Box and can't wait for the next one.� Lots of messages buried in that little book.� Should be "required reading" for school kids ... better yet, it should be what happens to all the school kids.� Being "looked after" by someone who really cares what happens to them. Acknowledging that "authorities" don't always know what they are talking about or what they are doing; and that young people need to "follow their own inner voice" and that that's ok.

Ponyboy Curtis is the narrator of The Outsiders. He tells us the rivalry between two across town gangs, the Greasers and Socs. At first, being a Greaser, he only has one image of the Socs, wealthy kids with no problems to deal with. But after a fight was taken to far, everything changed. Ponyboy realizes that maybe things aren't always what they seem. Throughout this novel we listen as Ponyboy deals with rumbles, a bossy older brother, school, and the Socs, and watch him grow from it.



Darry Curtis is the unofficial leader of the Greasers, who are known for their long, greasy hair. The personalities and characteristics range in this gang. There's Ponyboy who stays out of trouble and does well in school, and then there's Dally who robs stores for fun and has been locked up numerous times. Sodapop is happy-go-lucky and loves life. Lastly there's Johnny. Johnny comes from an abusive family and as a result he's very shy and fearful. The Greasers became his new family and look out for him. Johnny's a good person and becomes an important character.



As you will see throughout the novel loyalty is a major theme. No matter how much trouble they're in, the Greasers always stick together. Leadership is another. Darry posses many leadership qualities. He's the leader of the gang, but also after his parents died in a car crash, he was forced to take responsibility and provide for his to brothers Ponyboy and Sodapop. A last theme is class change. The Socs and Greasers only see each other one way, rich kids and white trash. But after a character opens up to Ponyboy and shows that there's more to being a Soc than he thinks, the image starts to change. The gangs do not become friends in the end, but they do learn more about each other and broaden their image.



I liked this book because it kept me wanting to read more. There was plenty of action and I enjoyed it. I think a lot of other students would like it too because they will be able to relate to it. I'm sure most students are not in gangs but the Socs can relate to the popular kids in school who everyone thinks are perfect with no problems, and the Greasers are the kids who are picked on. I would recommend The Outsiders.

Soda is different, different from anybody; he understands everything, almost... He's always happy-go-lucky and grinning..." said Ponyboy as he walked from the movie theater.
When ever anybody asks me who my favorite character is I always say without thinking Soda Pop Curtis from The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton. Soda Pop is a very sensitive sixteen year old boy. Soda's sensitive side shows when he gets a letter in the mail from his girlfriend saying that her parents wouldn't allow her to marry a gang member, Soda Pop. Another time when Soda is sensitive is when Ponyboy, his brother, runs away. Soda Pop cried for 2 nights straight.
I think Soda Pop has the right to be emotional because his parents died in a car accident, the Socs never leave him and his gang alone and when his brothers, Ponyboy and Darry fight he is always the middle man, like a tug-a-war match. Soda Pop's sensitivity is what makes him my favorite character.

Have you ever read The Outsiders before?I have and man was I vexed
when the book came to halt.It just popped up with such bewildering events,describing details,and fantastic characters that I just couldn't put the book down.
If you're up for something bewildering, you can always count on The Outsiders. When you start reading the first page, you can't help but to become interested.Then you start getting reluctant to put the book down, until you just read and understand everything.It just gets better and better, once you read chapter by chapter.
When it comes to detail, you can always look up to The Outsiders
for an example.Each word in every sentence has such describing details that you can see the moving images inside your head.Sometimes,each paragraph with another event and character, makes you feel as if you're a character yourself who watches everything happen,as you read the book.As when there was a rumble between the Socs and the Greasers or when Pony and Darrel got in a fight. You can just feel the tension!
The greatest thing I love about the story of Pony,the Greasers
and the Socs,were the characters!Each character was different in their own way, with their own attitude that helped the story move along.I rooted each character until the very end.
Even though I have read every phenomenon event,every describing
paragraph,and the chapter that told me what happened to the characters, I
still feel as if I'm attached and being pulled to the exciting story of The Outsiders.

The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, took place in the life of 14 year old Ponyboy Michael Curtis, who was part of the gang known as The Greasers. The Greasers were from the East Part of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and were generally surrounded by poverty. The nickname, The Greasers, was given to them from the one thing they took pride in, their hair! The boys' had long hair that was slicked back with hair grease. The Greasers had one enemy, a rival group called The Socs; a shortened form of the word Socials. The Socs were from the West Part of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and were rich and popular. The Socs were raised in good neighborhoods and were known to have fancy cars and beer blasts for no reason.

Ponyboy's life was great until a car accident occurred killing both of his parents. Ponyboy had to live with his two brothers, 20 year old Darrel (Darry) Shaynne Curtis, and 16 year old Sodapop Patrick Curtis. Pony was the youngest of the brothers and the protagonist of the book. Pony was smart and unlike the other Greasers, he liked school. Pony was good at school and didn't like to cause trouble in his classes. Ponyboy liked sunsets, and wanted to live in the country where there was no labels; just people. Pony was very close to his brother Soda and thought his oldest brother Darry hated him and wanted Pony to be in a boys home away from him. Darry was Pony's oldest brother who was very strict and cared for Pony's well being. Darry was tall broad-shouldered and muscular. Darry wanted to go to college but because the accident he was forced to work and take care of his brothers. Darry was an athlete at school and his name was commonly known throughout school. Darry kept his hair unlike any other Greaser; which was short. Pony knew Darry didn't belong with the Greasers and he could be a Soc, the only thing holding him back was his loyalty to his brothers. Sodapop was the middle brother of the Curtis family he had "Movie-Star good looks." Soda was happy-go-lucky, and was very carefree. Soda had a girlfriend named Sandy, who later moves away to Florida. Soda loved Sandy and thought she could be his one true love until she moved.

The rest of The Greasers included Johnny Cade 16, Dallas Winston-17, Keith (Two-Bit) Matthews-18, Steve Randle-17, and Tim Shepard who was 18. "If you can picture a little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers, you'll have Johnny," says Ponyboy. Johnny was raised in a home with no love, just anger and violence. Johnny was often beat by his parents and stayed with the Curtis family a lot. Johnny had black fearful eyes, which become even more fearful when he was jumped by a Soc and severely beaten by someone with rings. Johnny's face has scars from the beating. Johnny never walked alone and carried around a six-inch switchblade in his back pocket from then on forward. Johnny is considered everyone's kid brother whom they all protect and love. Dallas Winston who was fondly referred to as Dally, not to be confused to with Darry. Dally is considered very dangerous and very tough. Dally robbed stores, jumped little kids, and hit on girls frequently. Dally is rude and tough to everyone but Johnny. Two-Bit is the joker of the gang. He always had a smile on his face and lived for action, just like Soda. He loved fighting, his switchblade, and blondes.

The Greasers and Socs were rivals but Pony made friends with two Soc girls whose names are Sherri (Cherry) Valance and Marcia. Bob Sheldon, one of the Socs is dating Cherry and often jumps Greasers.

The story was mainly about the struggles in the lives of the Greasers and the mischief they get into. When Pony and Johnny committed a crime killing someone, to save Pony's life, they go to Dally for help. Dally told the boys to go to an abandoned church. The boys go to the church and stay there undercover for a while. They needed to stay away from the cops. The boys cut and bleached their hair to hide their identities so they will not be caught by the police. While at the church, the boys became heroes as they saved a few children's lives. Johnny became hurt doing this good deed and ended up in the hospital. Pony was caught and had to go to court for the crime he committed. The penalty was being put into a boys home.

No matter what, the Greasers stayed loyal to each other. Over the course of the whole book loyalty became one of the main themes. The only thing that kept The Greasers together was the loyalty that they had for each other. When Johnny committed the crime, Pony didn't leave him. Instead Pony went to the church with Johnny and tried to take the blame for him.

Another theme in the book was friendship. In court Darry and Soda are asked how their friendship with Dally is, because he had a criminal record. Both boys didn't deny being friends with Dally instead they said they were like brothers. This proved that they did not care what people thought of their friends because that was one of the only things they had left.

Social groups was another theme in this novel. The two groups The Greasers and The Socs both have their share fair of problems. In the beginning of the novel Pony tells you how The Socs have the perfect lives; and have no worries. Throughout the story you realize that The Socs have just as many problems as The Greasers. Bob Sheldon, being one of The Socs is spoiled rotten and is never disciplined. Through the story you find out that all Bob wanted was some discipline but never got it, his parents always blamed themselves for what ever he did wrong.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. The book was fast reading and easy to understand. Even though the book is old, the emotions and the over all feel of the book are still relatable to this day. The plot of the story makes you want to laugh, cry, and jump all at the same time. The characters were fun and rebellious; making the book hard to even put down. I read this book in a ninth grade English class where we read each day chapter by chapter. I can honestly say I finished this book before the class did because I wanted to know what happened next.

Soda is different, different from anybody; he understands everything, almost... He's always happy-go-lucky and grinning..." said Ponyboy as he walked from the movie theater.
When ever anybody asks me who my favorite character is I always say without thinking Soda Pop Curtis from The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton. Soda Pop is a very sensitive sixteen year old boy. Soda's sensitive side shows when he gets a letter in the mail from his girlfriend saying that her parents wouldn't allow her to marry a gang member, Soda Pop. Another time when Soda is sensitive is when Ponyboy, his brother, runs away. Soda Pop cried for 2 nights straight.
I think Soda Pop has the right to be emotional because his parents died in a car accident, the Socs never leave him and his gang alone and when his brothers, Ponyboy and Darry fight he is always the middle man, like a tug-a-war match. Soda Pop's sensitivity is what makes him my favorite character.

You have to read these books! It doesn't matter if you start with the latest or the first; the Sam Jones series is so fun you wish you could move to London and have party with these folks!

Lauren Henderson takes an old trick, a switcheroo, and gives it new life and contemporary meaning. This book is a very enjoyable look at the choices women make about careers, marriage, children, and friendship.

This (so far) final book in the series really shows her growth as a sleuth, but also as an adult. Should she kiss the pretty boy (and he is) or should she move to the next level in a real relationship? Now, I'm panting for the next book!

This (so far) final book in the series really shows her growth as a sleuth, but also as an adult. Should she kiss the pretty boy (and he is) or should she move to the next level in a real relationship? Now, I'm panting for the next book!

Laura has written a book that goes back to Black Rubber Dress with its style and mystery. It took me till the last 4 pages, where she tells you who did it, to figure it out. Once I knew who did it, the whole story feel into place. But, the story kept me on my toes the whole time.

Sam has yet again stumbled into a murder. This time her best friend Tom has been accused. She spends her time in a small town outside of London debating her relationship with Hugo and trying to figure out who done it. This story is a fast mind-tickling read. I would recommend it to any mystery reader.

The book is really good. Joe is mad at Nancy because she is on the other side. Frank tries not to side with Nancy but goes both ways. There is alot of action and adventure up untill the very end.

I loved this book!!It was neat how joe was the one behind the leaks!!I was disappointed that their was nothing between Frank and Nancy , though. Nancy and joe were fighting

(cool!) and Frank was probably ready to through his hands in the air with despair !!Good job , Miss Keene !!

I really loved this one! They don't have any of the Nancy/Frank stuff, which was a little disappointing, but there's this tension going on between Nancy and Joe throughout the whole book that makes it really intense. And the actual mystery was pretty good, too, though not as good as others. The character interaction was what made this one one of the best.

Get out of the way Joe, Nancy is here. This book has to be one of the best. In this book, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys act like pros. That is untill Joe let's his personal feelings in the way. He actually hated Nancy!!! Read this book to see what I'm talking about. I recommend this book to anybody who loves a good mystery.

Hi! I think everyone will love this book but to bad it didn't really have any of that Nancy/Frank stuff but thats ok because Nancy and Joe really don't like each other but i won't tell you anymore then that.

My favorite part is when Joe does the polygraph test. (thats to see if someone is lieing or not)you should see what Nancy askes Joe but I'm not going to tell you but if you want to find out more about the book e-mail me at onavy100@aol.com