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Boys Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Boys
Racehoss: Big Emma's Boy
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Ballantine Books (1985-12-12)
Author: Albert Race Sample
List price: $5.99
Used price: $20.00

Average review score:

Best book I ever read!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-17
Someone gave me this book back in the early 90's I read most of it before my sister STOLE it! Once I got it back I finished it and then one day while on the bus a lady asked to see it, we got to talking about the book and she got off the bus with the book in her hands..... yes, it was stolen AGAIN! I had no clue who the lady was, I only hope that she read it. Over the years while visiting book stores I have always inquired about it but I wasn't sure of the name or author. Well low and behold one day my sister and I were talking about books (we always share the good ones)and she told me that the BEST book she had ever read was Racehoss: Big Emma's Boy. Yes, the one she stole, since then I have been on a quest to replace it. I just bought it on Amazon.com! I can't wait to read it again. It was EXECELLENT! and as I remember, definitely worth reading twice! I am so sorry that I missed the interview with the author that other reviewers have mentioned, I would love to have been able to see the REAL Racehoss!

The straight and narrow
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-13
If anyone had an excuse to go into a life of crime, it was Albert Race Sample, known as Racehoss because he was interracial. The son of a prostitute and grandson of a grandfather who murdered his (Racehoss') grandmother, Albert followed his destiny and ended up in a tough Texas prison, which is darker and starker than anything I've seen in books. In fact, I agree with another reviewer who suspects that Stephen King, and perhaps others, used Sample's book as a model for their prison stories and scenes. Read this book if you're thinking about going to prison--it'll change your mind real quick.

Racehoss: Big Emma's Boy
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-15
I read this book for the first time back in 1997 and continue to find this book to be among the very best that I have ever read. Mr. Sample delivers his story in a hilarious yet touching manner. I recommend this as a must read for pretty much everyone.

Stephen King MUST have read this book!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-14
In the mid 1980's I tuned into a repeat program on the local NPR affiliate in Washington D.C. Diane Rehm was the host of a repeat broadcast of an interview with the author. It was such an absolutely compelling interview with the man, now obviously (at that time) an elderly gentleman--that I had to go out right away and purchase the book. It was and still remains a book that embodies everything "Classic" literature is. King must have read this before writing "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption"--and as good a short story and subsequent movie as it was--Race Hoss:Big Emma's Boy is the ultimate real deal. Having heard the interview with the author, I am at a distinct advantage to analyze both the man and his writing. There are simply no superlatives to describe either. God Bless Albert Race Sample--thank you for a book that hopefully be filmed just as it is written. If approached honestly, it would be the finest portrayal of prison life as well as life as a young black man in the Deep South to date.

a light in the darkest dwelling of the soul...
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-24
I am looking for this book which is now out of print I believe. Ordinarily I might overlook this subject matter... but, I was listening to NPR's Diane Rehm 25th anniversary show, in which she played various excerpts of past programs. Diane prefaced... "and the most moving interview for me was with Albert Race Samples" and then I heard this smallish quivering voice with a light Texas accent talking about his time in "the hole" in prison, about how one day (or night?) in the absolute blackness around him, a loneliness and desperation of the soul came upon him... he called out to God and was answered with a glimmer of light right in front of him... from then, he knew he was not alone. I was moved, as Rehm had been... and determined to try to find his book. I could only wish it would be available on CD and read by Mr. Samples himself.

Boys
Running with the Moon: A Boy's Own Adventure
Published in Paperback by Mandarin (1996-09-16)
Author: Jonny Bealby
List price:
Used price: $6.92

Average review score:

GreenTaxi Review: Running With The Moon
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-12
The adventure of being able to read Running With The Moon was not nearly as exciting as the book itself. I initially purchased this book over two years ago, but after having it snatched up by my brother, taken to the Mediterranean to be read, him leaving it on a boat there, finding it myself on the same boat on another trip, and then leaving the book on the boat again myself, I finally decided it was time to buy another copy.

This may be my favorite travel adventure book that I have read. It is right up there with "Into Thin Air". Running may not have the adrenaline rush that "Into Thin Air" maintains throughout the entire book, but the location and diverse experiences entertained me much more.

To explain briefly, the author ends up riding his motorcycle from London to the southern tip of Africa and back. Bealby covers the exciting part of the journey, from his entry into northern Africa and all the way down and back out again in this book. He endured almost the entire journey by himself yet met many interesting people along the way.

Covering an entire continent and so many countries is not easy to fit into such a short, easy read, but Bealby does it with a very fluid writing style and enough detail to give you a slight sense a flavor for each country and city. Bealby entices you to want to join his trip or take the trip yourself. Unfortunately, one of the enticing things about his story and Africa are the opportunities and situations arising from such a continuously changing continent. Governments can change in these countries daily and while one country may seem incredible one moment, it may be horrifyingly dangerous the next. Considering the book was written in 1996, I imagine much has changed in the 12 years since his journey.

That said, it also makes you realize that the changes occuring in Africa will always offer a new adventure for every traveller. While the countries and governments he speaks of dangerously back then might offer a new hope today, the interesting people he meets might not have lived through the times and could be gone now.

I am not a motorcycle enthusiast. Nor am I a mechanic. Somehow, even with all the trouble Bealby runs into with his bike, he manages to make the ride seem like the most enjoyable way to travel anywhere. He complains much more about the heat than anything else, which is entirely understandable, given the circumstances he describes.

Lastly, the most enjoyable aspect of this book in my opinion is the complete honesty and humility of his attitude towards Africa. He admits certain bias going in and does not spend any time bragging or "chest thumping" with his accomplishment. Most importantly, he points out multiple times what I think is his underlying theme: the people of Africa are extremely generous and caring, no matter what they own and can give in terms of material possession.

One of the best motorcycle travel stories i've read!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-25
I've read a lot of motorcycle travel stories, and done sone travelling myself in africa on a motorcycle. But this story is a great novel and a great journey. Better than e.g. Jupiters Travels.

Mathiessen on a Motorcycle
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-08
What a shockingly delightful and profoundly moving book! Not only is Bealby a highly accomplished adventure motorcyclist, he proves to be a most estimable writer -- call him Mathiessen on a motorcycle. I've read plenty of ham-handed motorcycle adventure accounts; this one is of the highest caliber, on par with Robert Fulton Jr.'s "One Man Caravan."

Bealby chronicles his heroic odyssey on a Yamaha Tenere through unforgiving regions of Africa with humility and gratitude. You'll find no chest-beating or tedious complaints here. The work is gorgeously written, richly textured, and acutely observant of both man and nature. Seductive, sensory, lyrical, and rhapsodic, this book immerses you in exotic -- even surreal -- territory with superb grace. Motorcyclist or not, you will revel in this awesome adventure.

Proving his literary virtuosity, Bealby expertly weaves the tragic tale of the death of his beloved Mel throughout his ultimately cathartic and redemptive account. A truly magical work. Buy it. Three cheers to Jonny Bealby!

A Classic Motorcycle Adventure Tale
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-01-03
There are many books in the motorcycle adventure travel genre, but few have been written by someone who is a good writer. Jonny Bealby does a great job of relating his journey across Africa from the northern deserts to the tropical jungles on a Yamaha Tenere with an appropriate mix of story telling, philosophy, and motorcycling. This book is the same league as "Obsessions Die Hard" by Ed Culberson in terms of adventure, entertainment and readability. Highly recommended for the armchair adventurer!

Not just for bikers!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-16
I have two main hobbies, off road motorcycling and reading, so when i bought RUNNING WITH THE MOON, i knew i was onto a winner and would enjoy it even before i had turned a page. From the tragic prologue to the epilogue after his incredible journey is over this book is a real rollercoaster of emotions (sorry about the cliche , but its true). You almost feel like you were there, and i wished i could have been to assist him when the bike got bogged down in thigh high water filled jungle tracks ,i know from experience what its like to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken down bike. But then again there is a BIG difference between the middle of nowhere in the Yorkshire Dales, and the middle of nowhere in the Congo!(no gorillas in Yorkshire!). I also wanted to buy him a drink to cheer him up when he was stood up in Cairo, although that did eventually have a happy outcome. Initially i bought this book because of my interest in motorcycles, but non bikers dont be put off, i can heartily recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure. Excellent!

Boys
Simon: Irish Boy Encounters New Orleans
Published in Paperback by AuthorHouse (2001-04-03)
Author: Laura S Gaus
List price: $9.94
New price: $6.17
Used price: $0.50

Average review score:

A Springboard for Discussion
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-10
SIMON is a most enjoyable book that provided the topic for an interesting and spirited discussion among three generations in our family. It began with giving the book to our grandchildren for their birthdays and ended with the kids, their parents and grandparents spending a great deal of time together talking about Simon's decision and subsequent action, exchanging views on the subject and actually listening to each other. What an unexpected and joyous bonus to receive from what is already a really terrific book. Mrs. Gaus truly rates FIVE STARS for SIMON!

Simon's Coming to America is Ideal Book for Young Readers.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-05
Simon, by author Laura Sheerin Gaus, is a great selection for classroom teachers who are interested in combining historic events with exciting reading for their 9-12 year old students. The story is based on an actual event of the author's grandfather. While it provides the reader an enjoyable trip into the past as Simon comes to America in 1849, it has a completely different education value since the O'Shea family comes, not through Ellis Island, but New Orleans. Students will relate to Simon and the new and different life he finds in America. They, along with Simon, will discover the horrors of slavery, the challenges of living in a new world, the excitement of a new trade, and the difficult decision that Simon must make; a decision which will change his life and that of his family forever. As a fourth grade teacher I loved the book and feel it would serve as a wonderful reading tradebook for 4th, 5th, 6th, and even older students in the classroom. It's no surprise that as teachers discover this book, they are making it part of their classroom collection.

Wonderful Family Story
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-20
Simon is a short, exciting story I couldn't put down. It is based upon the true experiences of an Irish family as they get off the boat in New Orleans in 1849. This historical novel captures the smells and tastes, the racial mixing and tensions of that port city along with the loving and lively energy of the family. Simon, a twelve year old boy, makes a quick decision that sets the entire family off on the long trip up the Mississippi to Indiana. This is a young adult novel that adults will enjoy too. A young reader and a parent would enjoy taking turns reading this aloud.

Wonderfully sensitive and historical
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-24
I was impressed by the sensitive style and historical facts blended into this book aimed at school age children. Mrs. Gaus certainly captured the essence of the times and the people of the New Orleans region. I would recommend it not only to middle school pupils but to their parents as well. It has much to offer in teaching about slavery and its deliverance. School and public libraries and social studies teachers should have copies of Simon for all to read! I will send copies to my grand children as Christmas gifts this year. (New Orleans is my birthplace and I grew up there.)

Simon
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-28
Simon was packed with intresting things to learn. Every page was a learning experiance and it had a lot of detail. Everybody I mean everybody should read this book. If you are tired of reading dumb books about boys and girls kissing, read Simon. If you don't like Simon you are a psycopath.You're missing out on so much.

Boys
The Summer My Father Was Ten
Published in Hardcover by Boyds Mills Press (1998-03)
Author: Pat Brisson
List price: $17.95
New price: $9.99
Used price: $3.28

Average review score:

The summer my father was ten
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-26
This book was one of the greatest childrens books od all time. Ihave never really been a fan of childrens books but this one seems to catch a persons sye. Ilove in how it's a book full of emotions. That just makes the story. The story also takes place over a long period of time. It also shows on the mistakes of life when your young and don't know as much as you do when you get older. This book was full of great meaning and had a great story line.

Gentle tale of redemption
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-04
This gentle tale of redemption is appropriate for the six and older child or either gender. In the story, the protagonist (a ten year old boy) redeems an act of mindless vandalism (the destruction of an old man's vegetable garden) by assisting the victim in planting a new garden. This act of redemption develops into a friendship with a lasting and positive affect on the protagonist's life.

This book manages to deliver a profound and important moral message without preaching, but rather through gentle persuasion. The text is simple and well written and the illustrations beautiful. I highly recommend this book.

Outstanding
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-25
Wonderful book focussing on responsibility and friendship. An important story for children of all ages. Well deserving of it's Christopher Medal.

This story has a lesson.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1999-06-08
I liked this book because I learned a lesson. The lesson I learned was that I should always think about the things that could happen if I did it. If the father didn't apoligze he could of never seen a garden. On the other hand he wouldn't of told his daughter the story so she didn't do it to if he didn't have a tomato fight.

A SIMPLE STORY WELL TOLD.
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-11
I must admit to have been rather taken back by this tale. The entire story is so close to a situation that happened to me when I was around the age of the young lad in this story, that I almost feel like it was taken from by head by the author. I too have told the story to my children and now gradchildren. In the story in this book, a young man does harm to an older man's garden, regrets it and them makes amends. He learns a good lesson in life through his actions. The author has done a very nice job of telling this story and the illustrations are quite well done. This is an interesting book to read to a class of young children and it is rather amazing how many of the children have had similiar experiences. It is also rather amazing as to how many will admit it and are willing to discuss it with a bit of prompting. I use this work in class a lot and find it quite helpful. Recommend this one highly.

Boys
Summer of Champions
Published in Hardcover by Texas Tech University Press (2005-10-31)
Author: Dewey Johnson
List price: $27.95
New price: $16.78
Used price: $2.68
Collectible price: $27.95

Average review score:

A rare gem
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-19
Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (8/06)

It is a rare and brilliant find that captures a reader from the moment they open a book until long after the covers are closed. With an inscription that reads, `To small towns, where we learn life's big lessons' I was captivated before I had even reached the first page.

"Summer of Champions" takes the reader to the small town of Roswell, New Mexico in 1956 and the life of 11 year old Joe Don Miller. Inspired by his fifth grade homeroom teacher he is determined to become a champion over the summer by seeking excellence in all things as the ancient Greeks had done. For Joe Don excellence includes winning the All-Star Little League baseball team, helping his Mom, a widow since his dad's death in the Korean War, and winning the school spelling bee. As the novel opens it appears Joe Don is well on his way to becoming a champion. However, things soon happen which send Joe Don further and further away from his dream. As he struggles to find his way back, he learns life's hard lessons and emerges "a better man".

The novel powerfully portrays the complexity of relationships, the impact of events, and the struggle to see clearly when emotions take over. It is a powerful reminder that in life what is important is not always clear, and what seems clear is not always important.

A beautifully refreshing `coming of age' story, "Summer of Champions" takes the reader on a journey to the days when life seemed simpler, but the lessons felt harder. It is a novel that will move you to laughter, have you longing for redemption, and cheering for the champion within. With deeply rooted lessons on the true meaning of being a champion, it is an inspiration for adults and teens alike.

This Book's a Champ
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-12
Mr. Connell has told his 5th Grade home class to work hard--to become champions. Joe Don idolizes Mr. Connell, and decides to follow the teacher's suggestion. So, as Dewey Johnson's SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS opens, in January 1956 in Roswell, New Mexico, Joe Don has made a good start. He presents his mom with a straight-A report card.

But don't be fooled. As Joe Don endeavors to meet his goal, he's no Mr. Goody Two-Shoes. Dewey Johnson sees to it that Joe Don does all the things a boy might between excelling in school and working a Saturday job. Joe Don wonders what girls are like, clowns in church, and tangles with his principal. He has a back yard fort, and two friends with whom he sneaks out after dark to hunt Martians.

Altogether, his life seems placid, punctuated only by bad knock-knock jokes, and kid angst--like will he make the Little League All-Stars, or will Janet Mitchum one day be his girl friend?

However, Joe Don's life isn't totally smooth. He barely remembers his father, who died in the Korean War. His mother makes little money. Then Mr. Connell does something horrible, and goes to jail. No one will quite talk about what happened, except to say that it involved some 6th Grade boys.

Believing these kids made up stories about Mr. Connell, Joe Don punches a couple of them in the nose. His grades slip, bullies make his life impossible, girls start chasing him, a good friend dies in a fire, and suddenly he's fighting with his mom. Overwhelmed, he decides he'll never be a champion. Then he receives a letter from Mr. Connell, with one more piece of advice about reaching that objective.

Anyone who has ever survived growing up will love Dewey Johnson's SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS. Johnson touches on feelings and needs that both boys--and girls--have as they leave childhood. Writing in the first person through Joe Don's eyes, Johnson catches moments to which everybody can relate: a first kiss, a narrow escape, a moment outsmarting mom, a moment in which mom outsmarts a kid.

SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS is also filled with incidents, language, and ideas that anyone will instantly recognize, if they reached their teens in the late 50s and early 60s . However the story will appeal to anyone who has lived through puberty, because in some ways, growing up in 1956 was no different than growing up at any other time. Today's kids may dodge different bullets, but they have the same feelings and needs their parents and grandparents had. That realization is the best message that SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS and Dewey Johnson leave on the book's last page.

Remember Simpler Times
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-27
Remember "Indian Burns", "Big Chief" writing tablets, and storing school supplies in cigar boxes? In the "Summer of Champions", Dewey Johnson reminds us of what life was like in a simpler time. Kids took responsibility for themselves, playing outside until their moms called them for dinner, and riding bikes all over town. His novel, set in the 50's, tells of people in a small town watching over each other. He shows how we are meant to live as a community. A great read for those who want to remember a less stressful time.
Sandia Ladies Bookclub

A Grand Slam
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-23
Set in Roswell, New Mexico in the 1950's, "Summer of Champions" takes a profound look at the idea of championship. Joe Don, the story's eleven-year-old hero is not into "profound". He is into baseball, and school, and girls, and aliens but not necessarily in that order. He is creative, funny and charming. His love of jokes and humor make him unforgettable.

The plot is filled with action, and daily life. It is beautifully written and brilliantly plotted.

If you don't mind laughing out loud while considering weighty issues, this is your cup of tea.

"Refreshing"
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-26
"Summer of Champions" is refreshing. Read just for the story, it is an entertaining look at the 1950's through the life of a young boy, his single mother and their friends. Read more deeply, it has spiritual guidance for dealing with the curves life throws, making moral decisions, the value of caring for one another, and the importance of community. A book with character and richness. When finished, you feel refreshed.

Boys
Three Boys Missing: The Tragedy That Exposed the Pedophilia Underworld
Published in Hardcover by HPH Publishing Inc. (2006-10-09)
Author: James A. Jack
List price: $22.95
New price: $142.80
Used price: $12.75
Collectible price: $22.95

Average review score:

Very Informative Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-26
i had little knowledge of this crime before reading the book, the book is very informative and put together well, and it is also interesting to see it from the eyes of a detective that worked the case.

True Crime Reader
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-31
Incredibly insightful, powerful, and personal look at a horrible crime from the detective that lived it. I was unable to put the book down from the moment I opened the cover. Dedicated Detective James Jack took it quit personally and was relentless in his pursuit to apprehend the person or persons responsible for these crimes.
I would recommend this book to anyone who reads true crime stories. This book is an eye-opener from a point a view most of us will never experience. The pain, conviction, and dedication to capturing this killer is evident in every page. Information is power for those who keep childrens safety at the top of their list. This book is a must read- the suspense is undeniable.

Excllent, detailed and compassionate eyewitness to an investigation mid century
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-11
Set In a much more naiive time-the apple pie America of the fifties-One cannot imagine how horrifying these brutal murders must have seemed. James Jack is the ideal narrator, balancing insight with detail ; I hope we are lucky enough to read more stories written by this man

Facinating story - Highly recommend
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-11
Based off the experiences and 1st hand accounts of Detective Jim Jack this is an incredible yet sad story of 3 innocent children who lost their lives. The book puts you right in the middle of one of Chicago's greatest manhunts. I highly recommend this book to all.

A Real Chiller Thriller
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-17
James "Jimmy" Jack has laid out in vivid, chilling detail the trail real Chicago detectives followed to close the infamous cold case of one of the City's most horrendous crimes. In a city where crime never takes a holiday, Jack exposes the sickness that dwells in the heart and mind of one man hellbent on committing the unpardonable sins of pedophilia and murder. This crime story, which grabbed national headlines in 1955, is poised to seize the nation's attention again in the Chicago-style writing of Detective Jimmy Jack in "Three Boys Missing." Must read!

Boys
Through the Jungle of Death: A Boy's Escape from Wartime Burma
Published in Unbound by John Wiley & Sons (2002-02)
Author: Stephen Brookes
List price:

Average review score:

Paradise to Purgatory
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-27
Expecting a rather grim trek through familiar territory I found instead a remarkable story of loss and endurance told with a surprisingly lyrical and at times humorous touch. A twelve year old Anglo-Burmese boy tells of the flight of the Brookes family from the advancing Japanese army in Burma during the second world war. Fleeing first to China then back through Burma and on to India young Stevie tells of his frustration and anger at being dragged along not knowing what was happening or why.

There were several attempts at escape,each thwarted by events or the stubborness of one or other parent,eventually leading into the mountains of Upper Burma. Walking knee deep in mud, fighting off ambushes by renegade Chinese soldiers, or just surviving the malarial conditions of the monsoon jungle, the family trekked and starved along with thousands of others on the same journey, Worse was to come as they eventually reached the so-called safety of a British controlled village. There Dr Brookes came up against colonial racism when he was refused help by an acquaintance he had entertained in happier days - a Burmese wife was acceptable when offering hospitality but not apparently when the roles were reversed. Meanwhile the child had a man's responsibility thrust upon him as he struggled to provide food and medication for his ailing family as his father died. A harrowing tale of tragic mismanagement but also telling of the blitheness and strength of a young boy who had to learn the hard lessons survival yet managed to retain a joy and wonderment at the miracles of nature A brilliant read; even if you only buy one book this year make sure it is this one.

A family's escape from the Japanese.
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-19
This was an enjoyable and quick read. Brookes as a boy escaped with his family from wartime Burma. During the trek north to China, back to Burma, and then ultimately India, Brookes lost his father and saw his family become sick because of malnutrition and malaria. However the boy became a man, and came to understand the struggle of life after seeing death every day. This is a true story of endurance, and why people should never give up.
There is both a sad and happy end to this true story. Brookes becomes a man and raises a large family. His childhood family is destroyed by the war. After the war, his mother goes back to Burma with one of his brothers. He goes to live in Great Britain. The war basically destroyed the family he loved.
This is a great read for those that need to understand the tragedy of war.

A great tale of survival and the human spirit
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-23
Stephen Brookes has written an engrossing account of his Anglo-Burmese family's flight before the Japanese army in 1942. Plagued by monsoons, starvation, disease and personal tragedy, harassed by the desperate remnants of the Chinese army, and abandoned by the British authorities, it is amazing that anyone survived the long circuitous trek from Burma to India. Scores of thousands did not. Brookes does an excellent job of recounting the horrific journey from the viewpoint of a young boy, but it most definitely is not a children's book. It is a book for anyone who appreciates a fascinating tale of survival in the face of incredible adversity.

From Paradise to Purgatory
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-27
Expecting a rather grim trek through familiar territory I found instead a remarkable story of loss and endurance told with a surprisingly lyrical and at times humorous touch. A twelve year old Anglo-Burmese boy tells of the flight of the Brookes family from the advancing Japanese army in Burma during the second world war. Fleeing first to China then back through Burma and on to India young Stevie tells of his frustration and anger at being dragged along not knowing what was happening or why.

There were several attempts at escape,each thwarted by events or the stubborness of one or other parent,eventually leading into the mountains of Upper Burma. Walking knee deep in mud, fighting off ambushes by renegade Chinese soldiers, or just surviving the malarial conditions of the monsoon jungle, the family trekked and starved along with thousands of others on the same journey, Worse was to come as they eventually reached the so-called safety of a British controlled village. There Dr Brookes came up against colonial racism when he was refused help by an acquaintance he had entertained in happier days - a Burmese wife was acceptable when offering hospitality but not apparently when the roles were reversed. Meanwhile the child had a man's responsibility thrust upon him as he struggled to provide food and medication for his ailing family as his father died. A harrowing tale of tragic mismanagement but also telling of the blitheness and strength of a young boy who had to learn the hard lessons survival yet managed to retain a joy and wonderment at the miracles of nature A brilliant read; even if you only buy one book this year make sure it is this one.

A magnificent glimpse of the extremes of humanity
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-07
This book makes clear from the outset that suffering, pain and grief are sure to come. What comes as a pleasant surprise is the ability of the author to convey the process by which the human spirit adjusts to that pain and above all how compassion and love can be found and shine out even when humankind reveals its darkest depths. The mismanagement of the wartime retreat from Burma is one of the greater injustices the British were able to consign to anonymity but Mr Brookes goes a great way to lighting a memorial flame for both his family and the thousands of others who set out on the road to India and safety. His extraordinay journey is punctuated by moments of pure magic - further proof that when approached with an open mind life has many many mysteries still to reveal to us.

Alongside the misery (and the magic), there is a sense of a vanished way of life, not just that of Empire but also of the lost opportunity for a different reality for so many nations that demanded the integrity of independence at the cost of an increasingly fragmented social order.

A heartrending story but an inspiration to us all about just how magnificent and strong the human spirit can be - feed your soul and read this book.

Boys
Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome: A 9-Year-Old Boy's Story in His Own Words
Published in Hardcover by Little Five Star (2007-01-01)
Author: Dylan Peters
List price: $14.95
New price: $8.94
Used price: $8.91
Collectible price: $20.00

Average review score:

Everybody Has SOMEthing
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-11
"Tic Talk" is a down-to-earth book written by a kid for kids. In a time when we are reading and teaching lots about accepting and loving others, it's important to cross all the lines of understanding, including neurological. Each of us has some kind of challenge. Sometimes it's more visible than others. Everything that comes to us that's hard, challenges us to rise. Young author Dylan Peters, with the support of his family, teacher and friends, does exactly that--he rises to learn and teach acceptance. Peters doesn't stop there, though. He also declares that he will not let TS stand in the way of accomplishing his goals and he encourages readers to do the same.

This is a great book for kids, teaching understanding, reaching for your dreams and getting through the hard challenges. It's a great book for every school and every library or if TS has touched the life in some way (directly or indirectly) of a child you know. It's an award winning book of the "Eric Hoffer Award--Excellence in Independent Publishing."

The forward is by Jim Eisenreich, a major league baseball player with TS. The back of the book includes "10 Successful Strategies for working with children with Tourette Syndrome" by Brad Cohen, author of "Front of the Class: How Tourete Sydrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had." There is also a list of additional resources including phone numbers and web sites.

This hardbound book has a substantial feel of high quality. It really is an all around great book.

Congratulations Dylan, on a project well done!


Laya Saul, author of the self-help book for teens, "You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way"

my son loved it!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-18
Great book for kids with tourettes. My son really enjoyed it. He realizes he is not the only one dealing with this. I highly recommend it.

A book any child with TS can relate to
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-30
This is a really excellent book. My 7 year old daughter has TS and for the first time is understanding she is not alone. She is starting to become worried what others will think of her Tourette's and I know that Dylan's story will help her tremendously. I am going to share it with her teacher and maybe share it with the classroom, as Dylan did in the story showing his amazing courage. This book will help children accept the differences in others.

Thank you Dylan and God Bless!!

Highly recommended picturebook for school libraries and for teaching young people everywhere about Tourette Syndrome.
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-04
Written by a 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 4, Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome tells young Dylan Peters' story about day-to-day life with Tourette Syndrome in his own words. Simple, colorful illustrations by Dylan's best friend Zachary Wendland drive home this straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is story. "TS causes uncontrollable body movements or sometimes repeating words, sounds, or phrases over and over. These are called tics. The biggest bummer about having tics is that you can't make them stop no matter how hard you try, and believe me I have tried! It's like your brain has a mission to annoy you and make everyone around you notice these bizarre actions." A set of ten successful strategies for working with children with Tourette Syndrome and a list of additional resources round out this highly recommended picturebook for school libraries and for teaching young people everywhere about Tourette Syndrome.

Cedar Creek Elementary Review
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-24
I had a great time listening to your story it was fascinating.
I really recommend this book to anyone! I learned alot about TS.
I thought he was brave to go to school.
I learned a lot about teasing and kindness.
I liked your book, it teaches a very important lesson about acceptance.
I think it is a good thing to share your problems with your friends and teachers. True friends like you for who you are.
Mrs. Cochran's second class
Mrs Giebler-Counselor

Boys
The Warrior Method: A Parents' Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys
Published in Paperback by Amistad (2002-10-01)
Author: Raymond Winbush
List price: $13.95
New price: $7.92
Used price: $7.09

Average review score:

Poignant and Scholarly information of what is needed
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-01
I bought this book this past saturday and finished on sunday. I could not put the book down. It was sooo good. This book should be required reading for whole families to read. The great thing about this book is that it not only gives you guidance in raising Black children but as an adult and a parent it makes you evaluate your approach in dealing with your child and their education. Because we have been out of school for so long we as adults forget how in essence the educational curriculum is really not designed to enhance the identity and self esteem of children of color. White Children will never have to deal with the confusion Black Children have to come to terms with when they are tought for the 1st time that their people were slaves and treated in such inhumane ways. Families sold off, forbidden to learn, and calling other human beings master. I believe a totally breakdown of the educational curriculum is needed and until then we need books like Dr. Winbush to give us guidance and understanding to raise our Black Boys. We are in the midst of a crisis and we have to save our children. Thank you Dr. Winbush. Amazing book!!! I think for single mothers. this would be a wonderful book to read in raising and dealing with solutions to help guide your Black sons.

A Must Read
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-01
This is a must read for anyone raising a black male in our "society". It is long overdue and I wish it had been available to me years ago. It is enlightening and thought-provoking.

A Timely Guide for Parents of Black Children
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-03
The Warrior Method is an excellent tool for parents raising black children. While it focuses on Black boys, the book provides meaningful strategies for parents raising Black Children in an environment which places them at the margin of society. Dr. Winbush's ten commandments for raising healthy black boys ought not to be ignored. His practical advice to parents represent a significant gift to Black families worldwide.
A must have for parents!!

Must read for those concerned about 'Black Boys'
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2003-01-26
The author is excellent and deserves recognition. The book serves as an excellent guide to establishing a structured program to navigate boys to men and men to heroes

A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENT
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-03
PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST HELPFULL BOOKS FOR BLACK PARENTS GOING INTO THIS MILLENIUM. THE WARRIOR METHOD GIVES YOU A GREAT PROGRAM FOR RAISING STRONG, HEALTHY, CONSCIENCE, & SUCCESSFUL YOUNG BLACK MEN. WE DON'T USUALLY LEARN ANY METHODS OF RAISING OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL, WORK, OR OTHER PLACES THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME. MOST NEVER EVEN CONSIDER OR KNOW ANY OTHER WAYS OF REARING OUR KIDS OTHER THAN THE WAYS SOCIETY TELLS US TO, AND THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE WAY THAT WORKS BEST FOR US. THE WARRIOR METHOD GIVES A STRONG ALTERNATIVE REARING METHOD THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. EVERY BLACK PARENT SHOULD TAKE TIME OUT TO READ AND CONSIDER THE WARRIOR METHOD. THE READING LIST THAT IS SUGGESTED FOR THE PARENTS WILL TREMENDOUSLY BENEFIT YOU ALSO. CHECK IT OUT AND/OR GIVE IT AS A GIFT TO NEW PARENTS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY.

Boys
The White Indian Boy: and its sequel The Return of the White Indian Boy
Published in Paperback by University of Utah Press (2005-08-05)
Authors: Elijah Nicholas Wilson and Charles A Wilson
List price: $19.95
New price: $12.89
Used price: $13.57

Average review score:

The White Indian Boy/Return of the White Indian
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-12-06
Recieved in a timely maner and in good condition. It is a true story of my great uncle's (by marriage) brother. Who went volintarily to live with the indians.

AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-01
I am told I am a distant relative of Nick Wilson. My Whole famile has all of the copy's of this book and the movie of this story also. It is very well written and very captivating. You cant go wrong buying this book or any of the Nick Wilson stories!!! A must read and must see!! L.J. Gittins, Utah.

The White Indian Boy & Return of the White Indian Boy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-14
Fast service - thanks a lot.

Fascinating
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-06
I felt like I was reading a diary of actual events. The historical insight was enlightening. History is hard to write about from the frame of mind of the people that lived it unless it is written by someone that did just that. "The White Indian Boy" transports us to the time of the settling of Wyoming through the eyes of the author.

The White Indian Boy and The Return of The White Indian
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-21
If you are interested in America's early frontier west - the days of cowboys, pioneers, explorers and Indians - you will be fascinated with two western classics, The White Indian Boy and its sequel The Return of the White Indian.

The White Indian Boy, first published in 1910, is the story of Nick Wilson, a young Mormon pioneer boy who became the adopted son of Washakie, famous chief of the Shoshone Indians who inhabited areas of western Montana, eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and northern Utah. Nick later became a Pony Express Rider, a driver for the famous Overland Stage, a guide for General Albert Sidney Johnston, and co-founder of Wilson, Wyoming in Jackson Hole.

Years later Nick's son Charles A. Wilson wrote a sequel to his father's famous book, telling of his father's later years and of his own adventures in early Jackson Hole. His book, The Return of the White Indian, is equally as interesting as his father's, telling of Jackson Hole's earliest days, of cowboys and Indians, of big game hunting, lake and stream fishing, world famous celebrities, development of Grand Teton National Park.

These two books, published by the University of Utah Press as a single volume, vividly bring to life a unique time and place in American history. There is considerable humor mingled with historical fact, and enriched with early day photos.

A delightful Foreword has been written by John J Stewart, author of several books and chief founder of the National Association and Center for Outlaw & Lawman History.



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