Boys Books

I love this book! This is the first book in my life that I have not been able to put down. I cannot wait to read the series over again. Cherie Bennett is my favorite author and I am going to read other books by her as well. I highly recommend this book. Especially for teenagers because I really think that people could relate to it. I also recommend other books by Cherie Bennett.

This book was a lot of fun to read. It had a lot of surprises (I really thought Lisha would end up with Sky) and suspense (I never knew what to expect next from Harley). I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

It was really fun, wild, and surprising. I love the relationship problems, it adds reality. I think Sky and Lisha should go out though...

I really liked this book. It has a lot of adventure in it and the ending is certainly surprising! (I thought Lisha loved Sky, not Alan!) I think that what Lisha did, ignoring Harley, was very stupid, although it came out okay, so I guess what she did was okay. This was very well-written with lots of suspense. I reccommend it to everyone

this book rocked. anyone who can read should read this series. the next 3 books are #4 Dirty Big Secrets from Nicks point of view about Chealsea and Jazz and stuff, #5 The Evil Twin about Karma and her twin and #6 Truth or Scare where Lisha has to choose between 2 guys, supposedly the most romantic book of trash yet. I'm not sure if you can buy them yet though and i cant wait!

Kealan Patrick Burke is one of the best writers in horror fiction today. He has a the disturbing talent for looking into the darker places of the human mind -and the human soul--and building stories clearly designed to give the reader a permanent dose of the creeps. The Turtle Boy is one of those novels that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page.

This is an interesting and fun story that tried to cram in a ton of explanations and speculations in the last 15 pages of the book. The story's protagonist is an 11-year old boy named Timmy, who along with his friend encounters a horrific child at a local lake that he ends up calling The Turtle Boy. Timmy has unknowingly come upon a secret involving the boy and his neighborhood, and the story unfolds as Timmy's actions force the secret of the Turtle Boy back into the open.

It's really hard not to give away spoilers here as this is a novella. But the story builds up slowly and then at the end you get slammed with the answers, and even more than you were expecting or needing. I think some of this could have been spread out through the story rather than crammed in at the end. It felt like there was a narrator telling you what just happened, like we really needed all that explanation. *shrug* Regardless, this was a very entertaining story, effortless to read, and left the reader wanting more, which the author helps with by leaving open speculation about his father. This story is easily recommended.

Get this one and "The Hides" from Cemetery Dance. Very eerie, creepy stuff, a tale well told.

I read recently a review in which the reviewer compared THE TURTLE BOY favorably to such classics as Stephen King's "The Body" (from DIFFERENT SEASONS--filmed as STAND BY ME) and Robert R. McCammon's BOYS LIFE. After reading this novella, I have to agree. At turns heartwarming, terrifying and funny, this creepy little story will get under your skin and stay there. It may also serve to remind you of your youth and when you first realized magic can end.

Highly recommended.

Right of the bat, this book is beautiful! Wonderfully put together, this tome is crafted with the utmost love and attention for the reader and the writer. Respect, adoration, and celebration are evident in the binding - kudos to illustrator Caniglia and publisher Necessary Evil Press for that!

Turtle Boy also includes one of the best introductions I've read in a long time! Speaking to writers and readers a like, Norman Partridge gives a pep talk and pat on the back that really hits home. I'm very happy to know the location of the 'Black Lagoon' and second this sentiment:
Welcome to the Black Lagoon, Kealan.
Come on in... the water's fine.

Once you get past the shock and awe the package and intro leaves you in, you get to the nitty gritty. Hands down one of the tightest written, more atmospheric novellas I've had the pleasure to come across. The characters come to life with some extremely creative description [elbows you could hang a coat on?] and subtle nuances. Balanced and bold, they bring you into their hearts, minds, and homes - leaving no question about who they are or what your part is in their existence.

The story is complete, yet open, and literally thrives in it's ability to draw you into the pages. The atmosphere parallels the story like a 'kid on a bike chasing a train'. They pull and push at each other at all the right moments with perfect tension, the threat of danger hidden yet ever present. Style and pace are painless narcotics. The addictive properties warrant a surgeon general's warning, but the flavor is too full to not share with other horror junkies!

Rating? Oh hell, do I have to spell it out for you? Five, 5, ... get it? A FIVE... go now and order one. You will want this one if you're a fan of the supernatural, coming of age tales, or subtle horror; if you're a horror fiction collector of any strain; and most importantly - so you can follow little Timmy Quinn in his upcoming adventures. And remember, the turtles are real ...

When Jessica meets Christopher,a handsome,dark guy on the beach in her steady boyfriend A.J.'s absence,She can't resist.But,Christopher almost kidnaps Elizabeth,not Jessica on the night of an awards ceremony,where Jessica won as Queen and A.J. became her king.

While Jessica Wakefield's steady boyfriend, A. J. Morgan, is out of state for the weekend, she falls for Christopher, a surfer she meets at the beach (she doesn't even know his last name), hence the title of this book: "Two-Boy Weekend." Part of Jessica wants to be faithful to A. J. (uh-huh, riiight); but another part of Jess wants to revert to her old self, the one who likes to date a new guy every week. But then Christopher starts stalking her, and Jess is afraid A. J. will find out. Ah, typical Jess: never thinking about the consequences. I was never a big Jessica fan (I preferred Liz instead, who, at the end of this book, is in danger of being kidnapped--deja vu from book #13, "Kidnapped!"--because of her sister), but fans of this wayward twin should love her two-boy weekend fiasco. As for any subplots--which is typical in a SVH book that can't stretch its main plot to 150 pages or so--there aren't any; it's all about Jess and her boy-juggling drama.

Jess can't stand the thought of not making out with a dude for like 4 days, so while her bf is away Jess finds one of the many hot guys in town to hook up with. Ps: Can I please live in this town? Every guy is totally hot, except for Winston. Anyway turns out homeboy is kind of a psycho. I actually didn't even see that one coming. Good job guys! Usually I can figure out the ending within the first 5 pages. One of the most entertaining SVH books I've read in awhile.

Sure,the title doesn't make it sound like a scary book,but it is.Jessica dates another boy while her boyfriends away.When her boyfriend(AJ)returns,she tells Christopher it's over,not yet realizing he is a psychopath.Find out if he manages to drive the two of them into a brick wall.

Ever since Jessica has been dating sweet A.J Morgan she haspromised herself that she is now a one guy girl. Yet, the arrival ofthe sexy mysterious Christopher lures Jessica back into her old flirty habits. Jessica allows herself a 'two-boy weekend' in which she dates both A.J and Christopher. Having had her fun, Jessica tells Christopher that their 'fling' is over, only for Christopher to turn around and tell Jessica that he is now the one in control. Soon, Jessica is receiving threatening phone calls from Christopher but, she is unable to tell A.J because it will reveal her infidelity. Who can Jessica turn to?

Am buying it in English for the sake of my almost 4 year old grandchildren. It is a wonderful "Why" book and a better "Why Not?" book equipped with the most restrictive of adult perspectives. The Stone Age tale is interspersed with modern references which are numbered. At the bottom of the page the references are identified as "anachronisms". I am hoping they use the same word in the English original. I find myself wishing that the same device was used with movies like Lion King. Our little boy twin is very interested in death. It would be helpful for him to know that having the father lion speak after death to his son was artistic license and does not really occur - at least not exactly like that. The book is droll. Sleeping under a stone blanket may deserve the warning: "This is pretend, don't let a heavy slab of rock fall on you just because you're tired!"

This is a fun look at a boy's struggle with his surroundings. Ug is constantly wanting more out of his life-softer trousers, a warm place to live, etc. Ug's insatiable curiousity drives his parents crazy, but his dad tries to encourage Ug. The book is funny and wistful at the same time. The ending is thought-provoking and a bit melancholy-what has Ug achieved in the end?

I've just come to the painful and shocking discovery that I've never given Raymond Briggs much respect. To my credit, I never had any real reason to until now. The only Raymond Briggs creation with which I was familiar was his seemingly ubiquitous picture book entitled, "The Snowman". I'm sure you've seen it. Published the same year as my birth that doggone story always depressed me as a little kid. I never really saw the point of it all. Boy makes snowman. Snowman befriends boy. Snowman dies a horrible melty death at the end. Ugh. But hold that thought! "Ug" was just the storybook to rescue me from my unhealthy anti-Briggs mentality. With the discovery of "Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age", I've come to the slow realization that perhaps Mr. Briggs does not begin and end with "The Snowman". In this odd little book that seemingly draws on everything from Winsor McCay to the far more contemporary Chris Ware (there's more than a drop of "Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Boy On Earth" here) we meet a kid who yearns for nothing more than a comfy pair of trou.

Ug lives with his ma and pa (Dugs and Dug, respectively) in the Stone Age. Ug is a bit saddened by the fact that his pants are completely made out of stone. He keeps believing that there must be something better out there. Pants that are softer than sandstone. Food that doesn't have to be eaten raw. Homes that are not caves. The more Ug dreams, the more his mother attempts to squash his resolve. And when, at long last, he and his father seem to be on the right path, a lack of certain tools bars their final triumph.

The book is written more like a graphic novel than a picture book. Here we have voice bubbles and the occasional footnote. I've probably never seen a picture book that used the word, "anachronism" more often than this puppy. The book is undoubtedly odd, there's no question. Briggs has an odd off-kilter sense of humor that serves him quite nobly in this endeavor. It's certainly a book for older children, though. And it occurs to me that books such as this are just begging for squeamish adults to get angry about. The mom walks about without a shirt (it's really not that noticeable, but some people might object). The fam eats raw meat with bloody regularity. And then there's the rather depressing final picture in the tale. Kids yearning for a vindicated Ug to prove to the world that he's right will take no comfort in the image of our now adult hero cave painting above the graves of his parents. But then, Briggs has always sorta been a fan of the letdown ending. "The Snowman" should've tipped me off that this book would end similarly. Only in this case, it doesn't mean you dislike the rest of the tale. It's just ... odd.

I doubt you've really seen a picture book like this before. It's incredibly wordy and more than a twinge depressing. Yet Ug's a likable enough fellow and spending a whole book with him is a pleasure. I wouldn't go handing this tale to anyone who you fear is stodgy or uptight. And kids will certainly dig the format, even if they don't understand all the words and references. Possibly the most amusing caveman picture book available to consumers in this day and age.

Poor Ug. He knows there's a better world but his mum fights him on it and his dad isn't much help. Illustrations are wonderful and sense of humor is black. I think a clever child would enjoy this book but not the average kid. A child and parent would greatly enjoy reading this book together, I think. Educational without being pedantic.

Ug just wants a better way to live his life, but the prehistoric boy genius can't figure out how. He invents the wheel but finds no purpose in it, he discovers fire can cook food - which other cave folk find a disgusting concept - and he longs for warm clothing. How can a boy genius survive among the primitives? A fun cartoon style lends to this zany tale and will invite even reluctant readers to learn.

This is a story that takes you back to a time when the Civil War had just ended and slavery has ended as well. Virgie is a young girl who is trying to keep up with her five boys who go to school. She wants to go to school herself. Her brothers tell her things like, "girls don't go to school", "school's too hard", and such. Virgie is a very determined young girl. There is a lot of American history information in the story. It talks about things like, the Quakers, who were a religious group back in this time who had come over to America. This group of people helped out the slaves during this time. The story also talks about Abraham Lincoln, who was against slavery and fought to end slavery during his term. This story goes on to show Virgie in the field with her mother picking pole beans and talks about her stirring soap for her Mama. These were some of the many chores young slave girls were to do during this time. Virgie continues to ask her mother and father if she can go to school. This story is by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard who is telling a story about her grandfather's life during this time. Her grandfather is C.C. in the story.

In VIRGIE GOES TO SCHOOL WITH US BOYS, a young girl is unable to go to school with her six brothers. After much begging, she finally convinces her parents that girls should be able to learn also and reassures them that she can travel the seven miles to the school run by the Quakers. Though one would imagine the journey is rough for a small child, little Virgie keeps up with her brothers and arrives at school with them, ready to learn.

While this story is loosely based on the author's grandfather (one of Virgie's brothers), it symbolizes what many blacks must've felt during the Reconstruction period -- the need to use education as a stepping stone towards freedom. As with a lot of his other books E. B. Lewis uses the watercolor medium for VIRGIE GOES TO SCHOOL WITH US BOYS. His illustrations perfectly complement the story, bringing the reader into each page, and closer to Virgie and her family.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

My children always grow quiet with wonder when I read this tale of Virgie and her brothers, former slaves of the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. To learn to read and write, the boys travel seven miles each week to get to the school founded by Quakers (folks who love the Lord). They slosh through a river with their pail full of food and move silently through a dark wood. Their little sister Virgie longs to learn too and over the summer she lets everyone know it. After months of her prodding, Virgie's parents agree that she too is free and that even little girls needed to learn. Her big brother CC looks out for her on the trip (she falls in the river but doesn't cry) and enjoys her wonder upon seeing the school and the wonderful, beautiful bookcase full of books. "I'm going to read them all," she says touching them lightly. And from the wonderful writing of her descendant who wrote this book, we know that she must have. It's a beautiful story.

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys is notable for its subject matter and illustrations. The story concerns a young African-American girl in Post-Reconstruction Tennessee who hungers to follow her five older brothers to school; young African-American girls did not typically attend school during this time. The story is told in first person by one of the brothers, who is sympathetic to her cause. (Some of the brothers are against her accompanying them, and their comments add tension to the story--will their predictions come true?) The illustrations, watercolors by E.B. Lewis, provide an engaging yet gentle way into the text. The book provides a story interesting to young school age kids (is it possible that kids could actually yearn to be able to go to school?), and also an avenue to talking about social history. As a linguist, I especially liked the respectful yet accurate depiction of Black English Vernacular, which lends the book an evocative note. The book is 'officially' recommended for ages 4-8. Because of the history theme I would extend that to ten year olds.

?Girls don?t need school.? This is the initial tone for Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys in the beginning. This book is honest with its stereotypes and use of language (considering the time it is set in), yet liberal in it?s moral. This book is sharp in its interpretation of how life was immediately following slavery, yet daring enough to portray life honestly and frank. The illustrations are vivid and clear allowing the reader to perceive Virgie?s(the main character)exact environment. As you read the book, the pictures draw you into the story as if you are another sibling for one of her brothers to pick on. The emotions on each character?s faces are clear as if you can read their minds. The watercolors bring the characters to life right before your eyes and portray life as realistic as a picture. Any child would get lost in the beautiful art in these illustrations, as well as learn a little something about the importance of learning.

I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of this novel by Bill Forstchen relating the Civil War experiences of a teenage Black soldier. Based in historical fact, this is the best work by Forstchen I have read. His expertise as a historian and his ability as a storyteller come together in this novel. He has a clear understanding of the tragedies of slavery and war and brings them together in an uplifting story of a struggle for freedom. If you have followed his Lost Regiment series you won't want to miss a story that's equally compelling but set closer to home.

This is just a fantastic history book for it describes the plight, the actions, and the feelings of the black soldiers in the civil war, not merely a recitation of dates, places and unit designations. History is made up of people. Too often the study of "history" is boring--memory stuff--but this book tells of the history of that time, place and people the way it should be told, through the eyes, brain and body of a person who could well have been there.
One can not be too enthusiastic about the book and the talent of its author. I hope more historians learn to write history the way he does. I hope he and other historians are able to teach the subject in the same way--fantastically interesting stories by people who could be there.

No one today would argue that allowing blacks to fight for their freedom during the Civil War was an idea born of both necessity and reason. However, those brave black men who joined the army found themselves between opposing sets of white opinion. There were those who treated them fairly and believed a soldier was a solder and then there were those who wanted to use them as cannon fodder. To their credit, black regiments like the 28th Indiana described in this book, proved themselves to be men of valor against southern troups or northern predjudice. Forstechen's work is captivating and impossible to put down. Although it is the fictionalized account of one black soldier's experience during the Civil War, it is based on enormous research and is in truth an account of pretty much every black soldier's tour of duty. There can be no doubt that slaves contributed a significant effort towards keeping this nation together and ending slavery. The book also clearly shows that in numerous ways, many blacks in our present time are still not truely free. I highly recommend this book along with Forstchen's science fiction series about the "Lost Regiment."

This is a wonderful book that I have really enjoyed reading. Though it is the kind of book that can really only be read once, that one time is killer! It is really hard to put down and is a great read!

I had the pleasure of obtaining a review copy of this book and simply could not put it down. "We Look Like Men of War," works os so many different levels and that is what I found so fascinating. It stares as a simple, almost gentle tale, but then inexorably builds to the climax, the Battle of the Crater, one of the most tragic battles of the Civil War. Forstchen has managed to avoid so many of the stereotypes that are out there when it comes to fiction about the Civil War, and especially fiction related to slavery, race relations, and the deployment of black troops with the Union Army. I understand that this work is actually based on research he did while working on his doctoral dissertation, and the research in so many fine nuances and details that are slipped into the story. I, as a reader, got a glimpse of what it was really like, not just for African-Americans soldiers but for any soldier who fought in our nation's greatest struggle. This would make an excellent textbook for teachers wanting their students to learn about slaves and free men who served in the United States Colored Troops.
Anyone intetrested in American History, Black History, or just wants a great, stimulating book should give this one a try.

This is a very sweet book. My mother-in-law gave it to me when we had our second son. It's a treasure to have and the boys enjoy reading from it also.

This is the perfect gift for someone expecting a baby boy or actually anyone with a boy, no matter what age. The pictures are beautiful and the words delightful.. It made me cry and my boys are 41 and 43 years old!

Every now and again something wonderfull comes into our lives.
For this grandfather, at first, it was my own three boys. Then it was my four grandsons. And now it is this grand book that helps me relive thoes God given moments.

While many of the captions and poems are sometimes a bit banal to an adult, they were fresh and new for a child. The little boys (and girls) in my life really enjoyed them and the book is a great read for little kids. They and I particularly love the artwork, which is superb.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book, which is full of sweet and humorous short paragraphs about little boys. The darling illustrations actually had me mildly yearning for a 'little blue bundle' despite the fact I have (and thoroughly enjoy) little girls. This would be a perfect new baby gift.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

In a refreshing voice, When the Leaves Fall tackles the delicate subjects of teenage drug abuse, pregnancy, and peer pressure. It is a must read for parents raising, or planning to raise, children in the world today. Mary Nyman, a mother of five, writes with clear precise prose of someone who has experienced firsthand the trials and tribulations of raising children. Although this is a work of fiction, it is most assuredly a story that everyone can relate to. Nyman brings her characters to life with a writing style that begs the reader to turn the page. Read this book--better yet, read this book to your children and discuss it with them. It might just save your child's life.

Mary M. Nyman's When The Leaves Fall is an especially well written novel for young adult readers of a difficult test, learning, courage, and growth. Trapped in a cold, dark cave, seventeen-year-old Corey must escape the threat of violence, survive, and come to understand the consequences that progress through his life. A deeply absorbing tale of both internal and external conflict, When The Leaves Fall would be a welcome and popular addition to any school or community library fiction collection.

I think this book earned the rating I gave it, because I can understand how Corey gave into peer pressure and started to use drugs. It is hard to resist the peer pressure, which exists in every form, from drugs to voting for class president. I haven't given into peer pressure, but I can understand how hard it is to resist it, especially if your friends are the ones pressuring you. I think Corey made a good decision, and decided to turn his life around.

This well-paced read narrates the immediate predicament of a drug-involved young man and his circle of friends. The reader begins to understand him and his distorted thinking as the tension builds and his problems increase. Nyman artfully manages to win the reader's sympathy for Corey while, at the same time, illuminating his misjudgment. The complex, disturbing world that can influence our kids is depicted for those adults who have not experienced this first hand. The chapters are short and suitable for many reading levels, thanks to the thoughtfully selected vocabulary and great dialogue. The book has a lot to offer the curious or worried parent, as well as any young person--involved with drugs or observing from a distance. There is much to be learned here, and the book can be instructive or simply appreciated as a well-written young adult novel. There should be more work published like this to be shared between young people and adults! Well done!

I bought this book for my niece for the obvious reason. Her dad is bald. I never actually read the book, just handed it to my sister to read to my niece. Anyway, my sister called me to tell me how adorable the story is and her and her husband love reading this to their child. My sister told me when I get a chance I should read the book, because it's actually a VERY SWEET STORY!

This is a great feel good book. I have it in my salon and all who read it laugh during the reading and appreciate the ending.

This book is way more than the title implies. This book not only comically addresses a daddy's bald head, but also talks about how everyone is different on the outside - but that what matters is what's on the inside.

Fun, entertaining with great illustrations. My daughter loves it and as a follicly challenged man I get a chuckle out of it too.

Wow, I had my dad order this book for my little brother and me. Just looking at the cover, it said READ ME. When my father told me that it had come in I was so excited. I read it immediatly. It was wonderful. I especially loved the pictures.

I read horror novels a lot. (Don't you?) But this book I hated -- because it was too good. It's a very real and immediate story about the evil that lurks in your own heart, and the hearts of the ones around you. And that made it absolutely terrifying. I know it's hard to find, but that's because no one who owns a copy will give theirs up easily...

I've always thought of John Byrne as a competent, if unspectacular, author, but Whipping Boy was a compelling read. Byrne's hypothesis of "what if there were no guilt" quickly leads the characters in a downward spiral that is all-too-believable. Whipping Boy, when read in a contemporary America of school shootings, child abuse and use of illicit narcotics, is a gripping cautionary tale about the decline of morality and the consequences of a society that too often takes the easy way out.

I have to say this book succeeded in scaring me as no Stephen King book did. It's a shame that this book is out of print. I think horror fans have missed out on a unique take on the horror genre.

A story that unfolds like a great horror movie. John Byrne introduces us to several characters who may seem insignificant at first, but come around to be major forces by the end. The evil charcters in this book are so real that you shake when they are in the page. The hapless victims under the Whipping Boy's thrall are you, me, anybody. When you can see yourself in their shoes, you feel a shiver crawl up your spine and nest in your brain's dark recesses.

John Byrne has created a masterpiece of modern horror. At times it becomes a truly disturbing look into the human conscience. Byrne's characters are genuine, real, and average, which makes the horrors they commit all the more atrocious. This book is a must read.