Boys Books

I was looking for a book so that my granddaughter could get a sense of how truly blessed she is to grow up in this century. I am not an avid reader and this was the first book I have read in a long time. The book was only 214 pages but painted a vivid picture of the life and times during the 30's. I read the book in 2 days and loved every word. Being one of the first blacks in a field that has been predomanently white for decades, I too was wrongly accused of doing things and suffered unjust conquenceses. Bravo to the author, please put this on your must read list.

This is a nice book to buy your child if you want to enlighten them on the way of life that existed long before their time where they can appreciate the resources and choices that are available to them in in this generation.

As a grammar-fiend, I must say that this book is really lacking. I realise it was written in the vernacular for a purpose, but really, after only 4 pages I found continuing to read the monstrous grammar painful. This book is practically a guide to how to speak as if one never had any schooling.

If I could've given this book 10 stars, I would've. I'ma 19 year old inner city black male--that said, I was on the verge of tears while reading parts of this novel, and crying isn't something regarded as "ok" to do where I come from (or for guys period). Emotionally maturation is a must when reading this. TRUST! This is my first review of any book. I've never felt so compelled to write one, to ask people "Hey you ever read a book called Billy?" The book is excellent, and I highly recommend it. And as far as the "grammar fiend" review up above--the dialect in the book is reflecting Southern talk from the 1930's and it only adds to the book, it captures the time period beautifully. Please (future readers) dont let that become an obstacle!! (And after the first 5-10 pages you get used to it)

1937. Mississippi. Two teenage girls. Two young boys, ages ten and twelve. A fight ensues and one of the girls ends up dead. The community is outraged and more interested in revenge than justice. Why? The girls are white and the boys are black. Should that matter? Regardless, it does. French unapologetically drops the reader right into the times with all its prejudices glaring. It's impossible to avoid an emotional reaction to Billy. The grief of the families' losses, Billy's confusion about what's happening to him as well as what happened during the fight, and the blatant racism all serve to make the reader question whether things have really changed since 1937 or whether all that racism really just boiling under the surface searching for any excuse to break free.

I grew up in the Anthracite Coal Region of eastern Pennsylvania (Mount Carmel) and remember my Dad speaking of the Pottsville Maroons on several occasions. I didn't give the team much creedence, after all they seemed to be nothing more than a forgotten footnote in NFL history that generated some local pride. The team had never been the subject of any literary work, just the subject of a few short articles over the years in the local Pennsylvania newspapers. Now David Fleming breaths life into the Maroons and brings them out of the shadows. This book is great! Not only does Mr. Fleming tell the dynamic story of a deserving team that was wronged, but he also presents a vivid depiction of the Anthracite Coal Region during the roaring Twenties. Fleming's description of Pottsville's heyday is hard to imagine given the state of the decay the town is in now as are most other Coal Region towns including Mount Carmel. The main characters in the Maroon's story are brought to life and by the time you turn the last page you'll be drafting a letter to the current NFL Commissioner demanding that the Maroons be re-instated as 1925 NFL Champions.

I loved everything about this book. Nice concise chapters, lots of interesting tidbits about the 20's, very well researched, I felt like I was in the coal mines, the Pottsville stadium, the bar sitting around the radio listening to the championship game. Would be an awesome movie. The characters really are all great, from the 'Howitzer' to the Four Horsemen to the evil "old money white men" owners of the big-city NFL teams. Have I mentioned the word "great?" Ha ha. Seriously, worth a read.

The book, "The Breaker Boys" is one of the best sports books that i have ever read. It takes you through the Pottsville Maroons 1925 season where they were cheated out of the NFL championship. The book gives you a historical background of the maroons football franchise of the 1920's and how much the maroons brought together the city of Pottsville. This book is a must read for any sports fan with it's interesting historical evidence of one of the greatest shames in the history of the NFL.

The 1925 Pottsville Maroons, greatest team in NFL history? It is too difficult to compare teams across the decades as the game has changed so much. I have to admit that the book presents enough information to convince me that the Maroons were the best team on 1925, and they were robbed of the NFL Championship title.

The book tells the story of Dr. Streigel, and how he built a powerhouse team. Once Striegel was allowed to enter the fledgling NFL, he used his money and clout to gather some of the decades great fooball players. He manage to get college and homegrown players to bond as a team.

Unfortunately, Striegel did not make many friends in amongst the NFL Onwers. This did not help when controvery arose when the Maroons played a non-league game against the Notre Dame All-Stars. The game wasn't sanction by the league and was also played in the Frankford Yellowjackets territory.

It is a great story of football with a bittersweet ending. If only some threats were taken seriously, or the powers that be had a chance to cool off and think through what was happening. Hopefully this book will raise interest in the story and can make the NFL right a wrong that is over 80 years old.

I have read a lot of sports books over the years, but this one just might be the best. The story of the Pottsville Maroons is one that you will not soon forget.

This book is just as most of the reviews have said. Fantastic pictures and stories of the original DOGTOWN Z-BOYS in their heyday. I don't understand how the previous reviewer can say it was "not what she expected" ? THE STORIES AND PROFILES IN THIS BOOK ARE WHAT MADE THE Z-BOYS! It's all about the Z-Boys and the cult that surrounded them, and no one else, so she is mistaken when she says it's not about the Z-Boys, she just must not have taken the time to actually look at the book. It is the ultimate resource on the Z-Boys. There was never anything as important as these stories and pictures to "The Legend" that showed the world what these guys did, who they were, and where they came from. And C.R. Stecyks's words go far beyond what you would expect! Top notch story telling and social commentary. The Glen E. Friedman photos alone, in the second half of the book, are worth it's price. All the photography is so colorful, literally and figuratively. This is true 1970's Southern California Americana at it's best. A must for ANY Z-Boys, Skateboarding, or 70's Pop-cuture fan.

If you were around when Dogtown was the thing, or are just interested in this era of skateboarding, don't miss out on this book! It's got tons of great photos, and of course, the original articles that were in "Skateboarder" magazine. This book is very well constructed; hard-bound glossy pages, all for less than half the price of an old Skateboarder issue on e-bay. Totally worth the money!

If you love creative non-fiction, you'll love this book. Even if you have no emotional attachment to skateboarding, even if you hate skateboarding. The photographs could do all the talking, but once you read the words of CR Stecyk, you'll be a skateboard enthusiast even if you've never seen a half-pipe.

Journalist Stecyk and photographer Friedman grew up in the creative 1970s California coast atmosphere in which their friends pioneer skateboarders, the Z-boys, reinvented their sport. They lived amongst them, they were them. They utelized their artistic talents to chronicle the birth of the Santa Monica surf-skate culture, and their exploits are compiled in this book, a tangible, more-comprehensive version of Peralta's documentary "Dogtown and Z-boys." See the film, get the book, you'll be hooked.

I'm not into skating but my 17 year old nephew Stephen is. He is hard to shop for and when I saw this book I knew it was for him. Let me tell you it was a HUGE hit on Christmas morning! The pictures are great and anything that gets kids interested in reading these days gets my vote.

When I bought this book I expected a biography-type book, like the story of the Z-Boys. That's not really what this is. It's just a collection of articles written about skateboarding during their time. It also has some interviews with Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva, and Jay, but the book is mostly about skateboarding during this time, not really about the Z-boys.

It does have a really good amount of photos of them though. So, if you are a skateboarder, this would be a good book, but for a fan of the Z-Boys, this might just be a disapointment.

Laini Taylor's debut fantasy novel, FAERIES OF DREAMDARK: BLACKBRINGER, is hard to classify regarding audience. The publisher designates it as a YA book targeting nine to twelve year olds. That would put it in the same category as Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. On some levels, I think that's a fair assessment. However, the demands regarding initial investment in reading time and language skills that Taylor has of her readers requires more patience, understanding, and appreciation of dialogue than those other books.

Those demands aren't a negative thing. Rather, those demands further enhance a reader's experience of the unfolding adventure. Although fairies and stories about fairies aren't new by any means, Taylor makes them new again in this first book of her series. The author imagines a rich world filled with wonder and brings a language to it that makes it uniquely her own.

I fell in love with the main character almost immediately. How can you not love an independent minded young faerie named Magpie Windwitch? Especially if her usual companions are a flock of surly, cigar-smoking crows? Taylor does an incredible job of making this world come to life. She calls the crows her "feathers," and the diminutive is so cool that I was taken with the idea of hanging out with cigar-smoking crows myself just so I could call them "my feathers."

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Magpie has a magnificent destiny ahead of her, which is usual in these kinds of fantasy novels, but somehow Taylor just makes everything seem fresh again. I liked that she created her version of the Ancient One who is supposed to know everything, yet is stumped when he first confronts Magpie and can't explain her existence. That kind of revelation seem to mean that anything could happen and nothing was safe.

Humans, as it turns out, are freeing evil into the world after it was locked away 25,000 years ago. Back then, the evil was sealed in bottles. Now no one really knows how to seal evil back in those bottles--even if they were able to combat it successfully enough to put it there. The age-old enemy, the Blackbringer, is back again and gobbling up the world.

Even the romance Magpie has with Prince Talon in the novel won't be off putting to young readers because the friendship is played up more than the ardor. Talon's skill with weaving "skins" is totally cool as well and I can't wait to see what is done in the coming novels.

For all the fun and frolic available in the novel, Taylor also delivers a decidedly wicked and nasty dark side. Some young readers may grow fearful during the course of the story, but they should be encouraged to hang on because Taner also delivers a great and uplifting ending.

Readers who love fantasy but are looking for something different will find it in FAERIES OF THE DREAMDARK: BLACKBRINGER. Taylor is very generous with new ideas as well as old ones twisted and turned fresh again.

Reviewed by Neha N. Kashmiri (age 14) for Reader Views (12/08)

Magpie WindWitch, with her crow friends, has been hunting devils that have been let loose by "mannies" (humans) since she was a sprout. When she finds an open bottle that had been sealed by the Magruwen (the Djinn King) himself, she might be in over her head. The Blackbringer is an evil that she can't possibly stop by herself.

She travels to Never Nigh, the city of the faeries. Never Nigh used to be one of the greatest cities of faeries but its citizens have long forgotten the magic that keeps Never Nigh safe from harm. And with the Blackbringer loose Magpie may be the only one that can save the faeries now. But then she finds a friend in Talon, a faerie without wings. They are the only ones brave enough to go down the well to see the Magruwen, where the Djinn King has been resting for centuries. The Djinns are the ones who created the world and all its inhabitants. Can the Djinn King help her solve the mystery of the Blackbringer?

From the catacombs of Rome to the Moolight Gardens Laini Taylor weaves a story that isn't hard to imagine at all. With a fierce heroine, an unforgettable adventure and just a hint of romance "Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer" leaves you wanting more.

I have read many books about fairies this year but this was the best of the lot. Okay, while I was reading the others I thought the same thing, but this book was a stand out!

Magpie is a fairy who is a devil catcher. Humans have been letting them out to plague the world. She is the only one who has the ability to make the glyphs to rid the world of these foul beings. She finds that a new devil, one who is different and scarier than the rest, has been let out, as well.

She tracks him down in Dreamdark, the home of the fairies. His name is Blackbringer. He is going to destroy the whole world by unraveling the tapestry and swallowing the world into darkness and shadow. Through many adventures, Mags and her crows and a few other fairies wake up a Djinn, fight many frightful devils, and find out the true history of Dreamdark and the birth of Magpie.

I was fascinated with the mythology that has been invented for this book. The world was dreamed by the powerful Djinns and there used to be many creatures in this world that have been hunted out of existence by humans. BLACKBRINGER was a delightful read full of roller-coaster adventures and surprises. I sure hope Laini Taylor writes more about Magpie, the crows, Poppy, Talon, and the Magruwen.

Reviewed by: Marta Morrison

December 26th 2007, just finished the book and I have to say it's probably the best book I've read all year! And since it was a library book, I think I'll go pick up a copy for myself! Adults (like me) and kids alike will enjoy this one.

"Hurry home, love, through the dream-dark glade/ where moontime beasts lurk in darkling shade/never linger, love, where the shadows grow/the Blackbringer hunts where the light fears to go."

Once upon a time, the Djinn wove the Tapestry of the world, creating forests and animals, mountains and fairies. Thousands of years ago a Devil War was waged when the horrific devils were created by snags in the Tapestry. The brave and beautiful fairy Bellatrix was the great heroine of this war and in the end she and her fellow warriors were able to trap all the devils in unopenable bottles. But then Bellatrix disappeared and the years passed, and something that not even the Djinn had forseen arose: mannies (humans). And mannies, with their insatiable curiosity began opening the bottles, expecting genies but instead releasing devils. Magpie Windwitch is the only fairy who seems to be hunting these devils, forcing them back into bottles. Most of the other fairies have forgotten the old ways, content to live in the safety of their villages. But then a bottle is opened that should never have been unsealed, one containing the awful shadow creature of legend known as the Blackbringer. The Blackbringer is more powerful than even the mighty Djinn and indiscriminately devours everything in its path, pulling devils and fairies alike into the darkness. Magpie, along with her comical crow companions, sets off to find the Djinn King, the only one powerful enough to stop the Blackbringer--but no one has seen him for centuries.

I began this book not expecting much: the tall, edgy faerie of Holly Black's Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale are one thing, but Tinkerbell-sized creatures are another. Tiny little winged fairies seemed as tough and adventurous as dragonflies to me. Consider me a convert. Little Magpie Windwitch may be tiny, but she sure has spunk. Talon Rathersting, a fairy who joins Magpie on her quest after the Blackbringer kills his father and brothers, is another non-stereotypical fairy. He is a prince of a warrior clan who has been hindered all his life with stubby wings. However, he does have a talent for knitting, and can create "skins" which he can wear to transform himself into a bird and finally have the chance to fly. Blackbringer is sprinkled with other such well-developed characters and Magpie's crows in particular provide a good dose of humor.

One of the most striking things about this book is Taylor's beautiful writing. She creates passages that are best described as lyrical and gives Magpie a unique voice by having her use a lot of fairy slang, like the word "skiving." It is even more impressive that this is her first book--it doesn't have any of the rough edges one would expect from a first time author.

Don't let the fear that a book about fairies will be too cutesy hold you back. This is a spectacular debut novel and absolutely engrossing. Highly recommended.

Scared for your life in the midst of a civil war. Then put into a Sudanese refugee camp, disconnected from your father but left with your terrified mother and siblings. After a while, you are reunited with your father, and your entire family is together. Then in America, where you must start over in an alien place, where you get most of your possessions from dumpsters. This was the childhood experience that Mawi Asgedom underwent.
The book "Of Beetles & Angels" shows the extraordinary experiences throughout Mawi Asgedom's young life, which led him to America and to graduate from Harvard University. His amazing story shows the hardships, as well as the joyful occasions, as he discovers American culture and starts an American life. I thoroughly enjoyed his book and believe that I caught a glimpse at just how hard his childhood was.
The chapters within the book are separated into different stories and times of Mawi's life. This way, the reader truly gets to see how wonderful and cruel our country can be to those who are starting over in a new place, and how Mawi and his family start in a new and foreign place. The book also shows Mawi's experiences viewing racism, biased brutality, and what it is like to be noticeably different from most others around you. " Most of our classmates treated us nicely, others ignored us, and the rest -- well, we could only wish that they would ignore us. We may not have understood their words, but we always understood the meaning behind their laughter. `African boodie-scratcher! Scratch that boodie!' `Black donkey! You're so ugly!' `Why don't you go back to Africa where you came from?' We were just two, and they were often many. But they had grown up in a wealthy American suburb, and we had grown up in a Sudanese refugee camp. We were accustomed to fighting almost daily, using sticks, stones, wood chips, and whatever else we could get our hands on. So it was usually no contest, especially when the two of us double-teamed them, as we had done so many times in Sudan. The cruelty of brutal beatings and the name calling left Mawi and his older brother scared and unsure about their new found home America.
Mawi Asgedom's parents dreamed that their children would do well in school. The primary values that they taught their kids were that education was most important, knowledge was power, and that if all of the children within their family studied hard, they could earn scholarships and become smart and powerful leaders within their new country. Mawi kept his parents' values close and fulfilled them all. "I graduated from Harvard one year ago and have since thought much about my parents' dream. By earning my scholarship and graduating, I have fulfilled it. But along the way, I have found greater value in other dreams. And while Harvard University taught me well, my true education has come from less-likely sources. As I look back to the angels, the Charlenes and the Beth Raneys; as I look back to God's servants, dressed as beggrs and as beetles; as I look back to my inspirations, to the Mamas and Tewoldes, I see true guidance staring back at me. True power comes from focusing on what we can give, not what we can take." Mawi learned so much throughout his life and not only made his parents' dreams come true, but also made his own dreams come true.
This book, with all of its extraordinary detail and description, probably cannot entirely summarize all of the struggles, hardships, and rewards Mawi and his family endured from their journey to America and once in America. However, throughout the pages and dialogue of the story "Of Beetles & Angels", the book does an exceptional job of showing how unique Mawi Asgedom's life was as a child. I absolutely recommend this book.

Beginning in 2001 I worked with two refugee families from Liberia. I wish I had read this book first, because it would have helped me to understand better the sorts of things these families might have experienced before they arrived in our country. While experiences of war, persecution and homelessness vary among people arriving in the USA, the feeling of confusion (even when you speak English, like 'my' families did) and dependence mixed with utter relief of finally getting here seem to be common among all. "My" families knew basic things, but our housing, food and school systems were totally overwhelming even for these educated people. And the police, which we're taught to depend upon, strike fear into every refugee I've ever met. Most of them have had bad experiences with police.
So when I read this book I could relate to some things, I cried over others, and I put others in the back of my mind to remember for when I'm working again with refugee immigrants, especially in these days of heated debates about immigrants.
Personally I think this book should be a must-read in every high school curriculum and for every teacher, not only because it's such a compelling story, but it helps us to see others through another lens and it is ultimately a story of hope.
From a strictly literature point of view there are better books out there, but this one tugs at the heart. And it's also a fast read if you want it to be.

Of Beetles and Angles is the remarkable non-fiction account of Mawi Asgedom's jouney as an African war refugee to America and the obstacles that he and his family had to overcome. In his own words he describes his inspiring transformation into a man with traditional values and principles mixed in with the demands of everyday life in a new society. Influenced by his older brother and father, Mawi sets out to experience the American dream and more importantly, look upon each and every person as angels sent to test the will of our hearts.

This book told me one thing: everyone can be an angel. No matter in what form, that thing could be an angel.
From this story, a boy named Mawi was a refugee. His homeland had been involved in a war. His father decided the family would flee to Amerikha, as they called it. It was a place of peace, which was something that didnt exist in Eritrea, their homeland.
Many perils were made in America. Mawi needed to go to school, with his brothers and sister. He survived through prejudice and violence at school. His dream was to be welcomed with a scholarship into a special university. He worked very hard to achieve his goal.
How did it happen? Just read the book and find out!

I won't take a lot of space stating what the book is about. Just get it and read it, everyone from middle school through adults. You'll be glad you did.

I've read this book at least 'more than' 15 times. I don't
know where I got it, as a birthday gift, I believe, but wherever,
I took to it as I have to few books in my life. I was unathletic
as a kid, though not as smart as the fictional Herbie, so that
helps. The book is dated, though not in a bad way, one can say
it just increased its attractiveness as a historic reference. Hard to
say how much Mr. Wouk is recalling his own childhood, but one can tell
he loves the characters, and it shows.

Set in the Bronx in 1928, this Herman Wouk novel (his second) is all about Herbie Bookbinder and his experiences growing up during that time period. The scenes are warm and humorous, and move from one to another like the episodes in a good situation comedy. Two of my favorite funny scenes from the many to choose from are when Herbie and his friends are trying to get home on the subway and they don't have the nickel to ride, sneak on, get caught, and promise to send the nickel to the subway authority the next day (which they do); and the school play about the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, which has too many hilarious components to summarize. The writing is light and breezy, yet very assured, and Wouk keeps himself out of it so it doesn't come across as nostalgia in the form of a novel. It's an interesting book about growing up and childhood experiences, and deserves a place on the shelf next to TOM SAWYER and the stories of Jean Shepard.

This is one of Herman Wouk's first books, if not his first. It is a wonderful story of a young man's growth in New York City. A perfect book for readers looking to introduce themselves to the novel; easy to read; a story of young love and of facing the universal emotional problems of youth.

This book reminded me quite a bit of the trite wisdom and stereotypes we see so often portrayed on modern family sitcoms and in fortune cookies...bullies never win, bad people always get whats coming to them, a kid who is smart enough can outsmart a whole group of teachers, love conquers all embarrassment and humiliation, rich girls are fickle snobs, the smartest kids are fat and/or ugly, and the best athletes never do well in school (and many, many more). None of which is true in the real world.

Yet, in this book, these very traits are exaggerated JUST enough to very colorfully and accurately display the vivid emotions of 11 year old Herbie just coming of age in 1920s New York, which makes the whole story a very entertaining read. What appeals most is Herbie's highly developed imagination, which brings him great trouble in his passion for Lucille, the horribly obnoxious girl who as soon snobbishly deserts him when he shows the slightest flaw as fawns over him when he shows outwardly just how wonderful his inner qualities can be.

But the same imagination also brings him great reward, leading him on a life-changing adventure with is average cousin Cliff, the final result of which wins the admiration not only of Lucille but of the entire summer camp (save for bully Lennie who has to wear a nurses dress and the unscrupulous smarmy camp owner/school principal Mr. Gauss). And, upon his return home from camp, an important moral lesson from his father.

Interspersed with this are hilarious moments, most especially with Clever Sam the perverse horse and the whole "Camper's Day" scenario.

A read I highly recommend!

At a loss for something to read, I picked this book at random - and then read it in three days flat! So nearly one of the best books I have read, it's full of true-to-life characters, plenty of touching moments and a lot of laugh-out-loud ones too.

The main character is obviously Herbie Bookbinder, an eleven year old growing up in the Bronx in the early 20th century. He is a fat but very intelligent boy, so intelligent he skips a year in school. However his main flaw in the book is that he falls hopelessly in love with a girl, Lucille Glass, a love so intense that he is led to do some truly extraordinary things. The intensely passionate feelings he has for this girl are to me what makes the character of Herbie so real.

The main event of the book is Herbie, his cousin Cliff, his arch-enemy Lennie and Lucille (among others) going to a summer camp, Camp Manitou. This turns out to be a fairly prison-like establishment, but dissent is kept to a minimum by shrewd calculation on the part of the camp owner, Mr. Gauss.

With Mr. Gauss, Herman Wouk has made into a person all those unpleasant characteristics we encounter in everyday life - greed, cunning, false charm and many more. He feeds the children ice cream on the first night, to dull their unhappiness at the dismal nature of the camp, and when the camp is defeated at games with another camp, Mr. Gauss manages, somehow, to inculcate a feeling that in fact Manitou won a great victory. As the final outrage Mr. Gauss effectively steals money from the naive Herbie.

The climax of the book comes with the confession of Herbie stealing from his father. It is very noticeable that the book gets a lot more serious towards the end, but it is never overly serious, and the warmth of it still shines through.

There are a lot of extremely funny moments, mostly involving a horse by the name of Clever Sam, and Wouk's dry humour at these points really had me laughing out loud.

The only thing that spoiled the book for me was the very end. Here it seems that Herbie and Lucille are finally going to realise their love for each other and perhaps share a truly romantic moment which has eluded them for so long - but instead the book ends with an extremely ambiguous encounter with an older boy whom Lucille seems to like. Even though this ending was obviously meant to be ambiguous in this way, I found it unsatisfying given all that Herbie and Lucille have gone through before. I really wanted to know for sure if they would ever get together.

Still, if anything this shows what real and sympathetic characters Wouk has created, and this small point did not seriously affect my view of the book as a whole. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing read, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone!

Daddy Was a Bad Boy by Floriana Hall

This is a small book, written in a matter-of-fact style, but it packs a punch. This is essentially an autobiography though the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Despite the adversity they face, the character of these people shines through brightly. It's a true story that most of us would find difficult to believe; a story of a man with an insatiable appetite for sex, a huge, hungry ego and the selfishness of a sociopath. It is also the story of the fourteen children he sired by 3 different, simultaneous wives. Yes, he was a bigamist, a philanderer and an incestuous child molester, and they called him Daddy. Surprisingly, with numerous moves, many days of empty bellies, and a few articles of clothing, the love of their heroic mother(s) kept these children on the straight and narrow. They found happiness where they could, excelled in school, worked to support the family and tried hard to be very different from their Daddy. There is something quite compelling about this story, and I found myself thinking about the characters throughout the day, anxious to get back to the book to find out what would next happen in the lives of these seemingly normal, middle-American people. I would recommend this book to anyone - it is a trip back to "the old days" but reveals that under that wholesome appearance, many families may have been similarly dysfunctional in a time when certain things just weren't talked about.

After reading "Daddy was a bad boy" I could only marvel at the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity as portrayed by the author. I also grew up during the depression so I know what it's like to be unsure of the next meal. Although frequently out of work during the mid thirties, my daddy was loyal to his family and never strayed. I can only imagine the anxiety and insecurity of a young child denied the reassurance of a father during times of stress. I can relate to Floriana's book since my mother survived a similiar situation with a
physically abusive father who was derelict in his paternal duties. Just like Floriana, my mother rose above her early hardships and disappointments and lived a useful, productive and happy life.I admire the courage it took to write such a book.I recommend this book to anyone who harbors resentments for past injustices. It will help them accept the past and move on ---- CAJ

Floriana Hall is one of a generation of great tale-tellers. Born on October 2, 1927, just before the start of the Great Depression, Floriana's generation is of the last to remember growing up and enduring incredible hardship and poverty in this country. To add to her family's privation was the philandering and deceiving nature of her father. DADDY WAS A BAD BOY is Floriana's story.

Floriana's family was no stranger to hard times, many days eating only bread smeared with lard and sprinkled with sugar. At times when her father, the sole bread-winner of the family, was missing for days, weeks, or months on end, Floriana watched her mother go without meals to ensure that the children could eat, or beg for credit simply to buy a loaf of bread. She recalls living in homes with outhouses or homes too small for their family, bread lines and rationing during the war, and even times when she had to endure the harsh and unfair punishments doled out by her stern grandfather.

Still, Floriana managed to enjoy her childhood. Although her family was uprooted frequently, she still managed to maintain top grades, make many friends, and have her fair share of fun. In DADDY WAS A BAD BOY, Floriana recalls such things as listening to radio programs, roller skating and ice skating with friends, and playing the piano.

While DADDY WAS A BAD BOY is a mesmerizing memoir of life growing up in the `20's and `30's, taking the reader all the way to present day, it is made even more so by weaving the tale of Floriana's father, who was uncaring, philandering, and deceitful at best. The reader is able to feel the pain of a family forgotten through Floriana's eyes and ultimately witness the repentance of a sick man through his own letters.

As with most memoirs, the reader must pay close attention to names while reading DADDY WAS A BAD BOY, as family trees tend to tangle together a labyrinth of names that can blur together. Additionally, Hall alternately refers to her father as "Dad" and "Luke" - perhaps highlighting her own ambiguous feelings about just who this man was to her - which can tend to throw off a reader who is not careful. However, the story itself is so compelling, a reader would not likely need worry about not paying close enough attention.

Overall, DADDY WAS A BAD BOY is a gripping tale of a life virtually unknown to most of us today - life before modernization such as TV's, microwave ovens, and frozen dinners - and Floriana Hall a testament to the human spirit. Says Floriana, "All my life, no matter what happened, I never dwelled on the negatives. It's a good thing, as many were to come. But my happy nature, along with prayer and positive thinking, kept me smiling." (p. 11)

No doubt, DADDY WAS A BAD BOY would keep a reader smiling as well.

After reading "Daddy was a bad boy" I marveled at the courage and determination exemplified by the author and her mother who kept the family together despite all adversity. I tried to imagine what it was like to grow up wondering where daddy was and whether we would have enough to eat. My mother, a generation earlier, had a similiar childhood-- abused and deprived of a normal family life she was determined to secure a better life for her children. Floriana's story should serve as a tribute to herself, her mother and the countless women who endured similiar circumstances and refused to let history repeat itself. CAJ

Floriana Hall has written an inspiring story for people of all ages. Her life story shows that life can be worth living, even cheerfully, in spite of poverty or obstacles. Even her father's immoral and irresponsible behavior does not deter her from seeking and achieving happiness. And she has tried to understand and to forgive her father as is evident in Chapter 26 where she has included his letters and commented on them.
Her book shows that she has always had an excellent sense of humor, has made friends easily, and enjoyed life in spite of real hunger and hardships.
As I read her book, I was reminded of the novel and movie "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith; it first appeared in the 1940s. Both Betty Smith and Floriana Hall reveal that material goods are not necessary for happiness; you can be poor and and still be happy. And you can live through tragedies and adversity and still be happy. Floriana's positive outlook on life and her Christian values have enabled her to do so. But there is much more spirit and life in her book than I can tell in a few words. It's well written, down to earth, homey, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it

This book totally sucked me into a world I knew nothing about. So vividly written I was practically hung over after Jeremy Prescott's party. Real, gritty, and sweet.

This book is about a boy named Nick who was part of a former prep-school gang. Nick and his friend have every advantage: expensive clothes and beautiful apartments. But underneath the private-school education lies the chiling gang world filled with drinking, heavy drugs, and graffiti. Nick tries to put his past beind him and pay more attention to his best friend Kris whom he is secretly in love with. But when Kris's younger brother becomes a gang target, Nick decides to help him even if he had to risk his own life.

I really like this book because it really happens in life and the author witnessed New York's teenagers form some of the most vicious gangs in Manhattan. This book has some very vivid fights and it shows what goes on in a gang and i thougth that was kind of interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes realistic-fiction, some action, likes to know what really goes on in gangs and how gangs are started. If you decide to read it. I hope you like it.

This book is basically telling you that if you start getting in trouble there is alwasy someone out there that pulls you back on you feet. I guess their sort of like your guardian angel and that was what Kris was portyrayed as.

This book showed me that changing is not always easy. Nick is a great character and i love that he's trying to leave his past and start a new life and especially with the girl he loves, Kris. And i was so happy wen he finally told her that he loved her and all. It gave me the point of view of a guy in love. I rarely read books like this one. Plus the title made me want to read it too by the way. So its a cool book and everyone will like it just like i do. I recommend others to read it cuz its a great book and ull love nick and rute for him.

This book is great for ppl of all ages. It gives you a look at what's underneath the preppy private-school world. It takes you to a place of parties, drugs, casual, sex, and gangs. Nick is trying to change his old habbits after a bad accident with one of his friends. Yet still in this crazy world he manages to fall for his best friend. And when her brother becomes a gang target he finds himself in the middle of it all. Jake Coburn creates a world full of lies, drama, danger, and suspense. Although it was short, it is a book that will leave you in thought. It Makes you think about the lives of the privileged while also creating a dramatic Manhatten theme.

As a former prep-school kid myself I was compelled to read Coburn's novel to see if it lived up to the truth about the secret (or not so secret) lives of New York city teens--and it did. This book kept me reading, and reading until I was disappointed to have reached the end. I would recommend it too both teens and not teens anymore.

Review written by product buyer's 13 year old daughter

This is a book that I and anyone who loves action, adventure, drama, and suspence will love! The very first page drops you right in the middle of the action, and it just gets better and better from there! If there were an award for 'best book for starting an action series', this would win by a landslide! You'll meet new charators to like, new charactors to hate, and new kinds of danger you wouldn't believe would fit into one book! This book is definetly one of my favorites! Buy it and enjoy!

P.S. A book that follows up from the end of this book is #4 The Lazarus Plot (another great book!)

In Franklin Dixon's Hardy Boy's "Dead on Target", Frank "The good looking blonde haired blue-eyed older brother", and Joe "The black haired brown eyed younger brother", and their close freinds are in the mall in their hometown of Bayport on the East coast around lunch. Iola (one of the friends) gets upset and goes back to the car in the parking lot and gets in. Frank and Joe are on their way out to the car when it blows up with Iola in it! This creates a huge mystery which Faranklin Dixon's books are known for. This becomes a huge mystery leading to an overseas Terrorist group who is trying to scare Fenton Hardy (Frank and Joe's dad and one of the worlds greatest detectives) off their case. The bomb was meant for his kids but killed Iola. The two boys, who are great detectives themselves, vow to solve the case.
The case leads them to Europe fighting an international terroist group who are trained experts. Dodging death and putting themselves in danger for others they quickly close in on the terrorists with help from the FBI and other agencies. But the real problem is in Baypot.
My feelings about the book are that it is great! The author uses a fast pace to keep the reader intrested in the book. His books are identical to the Nacy Drew mystery books in that the main characters are teenagers.

I am a die hard Hardy Boys fan and this is definatly one of the better of the group. I recommend any of the books for lite reading and a break from reality. A key note of advise though, I read a lot of the reviews complaining that these are unrealistic. Yes they are but in my opinion there is always enough reality in the world from the moment you wake up a little break every now and then is nice.

Back to this book though it is extremly exciting and is the start of a whole new begining in the Hardy Boys books. This mystery throws out all the cute nice points of the hardcovers. Another word of caution the hard covers are a lot tamer than these do to the era they were written in.

What a hotshot book.Although at the beginning I felt sad as I read on I was hooked.The Bullet plants a bomb in the Hardy car and Iola is killed.Joe and Frank track him down I do not want to tell you more because it would be iresponsible.

"Dead on Target" was the beginning of a new era for the Hardy Boys. This is the first volume of the new (in 1991) series "The Hardy Boys Casefiles", and it is a more adult and action packed series than the original series. This is never more evident than the first two pages of the book. Whereas the original series (started in 1927 and it is still running today) would have various plots by criminals, nobody ever seemed to get killed or nothing too serious would ever happen, but "Dead on Target" opens with the killing of Joe Hardy's girlfriend (and sister of good friend Chet) Iola Morton. For a series that has been known for its lack of actual murders of any on screen character, this was a shocking and explosive (no pun intended as it was by a bomb that killed Iola) moment. It marked the different direction that the Casefiles would take the reader, as well as the Hardys, on.

A car bomb was the cause of death for Iola Morton. Frank and Joe, as well as Iola and Frank's girlfriend Callie Shaw, were at the mall preparing for a political rally. Iola ends up returning to the Hardys' car to pick up more campaign materials when it explodes, killing her. Joe blames himself because his flirting with another girl made Iola mad and this is what led her to be at the car by herself. At the funeral, "Dead on Target" takes another twist by introducing the character of The Grey Man. The Grey Man is a member of a secret government organization called "The Network". "The Network" believes that an international group of terrorists, "The Assassins", were responsible for Iola's death and are planning something big for the political rally the following week.

The rest of the novel finds Frank and Joe traveling to London, fighting several members of the Assassins, being in the midst of gun battles and defusing a bomb. "Dead on Target" is fast paced with a tighter story than what is found through most of the original series. For fans of the Hardy Boys, "Dead on Target" is likely to be a favorite. It is not for the purists of the series, though. This book takes the brothers down a different timeline than we find in the main series. Since the main series continued to be published at the same time as the Casefiles, these books (Casefiles) are either set at a later date than the continuing series or is part of some alternative timeline since Iola is still alive in the main series.

"Dead on Target" has more violence than the "classic" Hardy Boys, but this is a very interesting story, even if it is a bit far fetched. For the first time, terrorism and murder have been introduced to Bayport and the Casefiles bring the reader a new style of story with the Hardys. As an introduction to the Casefiles as well as a new episode in the lives of the Hardys, this is a good place to start. Fifteen years after first reading this book it remains a fun read.

-Joe Sherry

This wonderfully bound and collected work of art/book covers the acclaimed Hellboy series and movies. The book Hellboy Volume 1 collects the first two story-arcs-Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil-with the original introductions by Robert Bloch and Alan Moore. This is one of the more important collections within the Hellboy series, as the two story arcs along with some bits from BPRD that show how Hellboy was found and discovered, are spread across multiple series and volumes, which can be found here in this book. You get to learn how Hellboy was discovered, and what happens through most of the series that is also covered in the movies. This is like owning everything; the even better part is that there is a volume two that covers the Golden Army saga, and even more of Hellboy's beginnings.

In all this is a high quality book that will make just about every Hellboy fan jump for joy to get their hands on this volume and its companion volume. Hellboy is one of the more fascinating characters to be developed by Alan Moore, and goes back to many of his roots with 2000AD and work that he did previously. There are excellent story lines, wonderful art, sturdy and very durable to tolerate a lot of reading or general book abuse. The story lines are assorted with Hellboy traveling the world solving problems and generally thumping the bad people. What is nice is that these are really collections of many of Mignola's shorter stories, with a continuity to make them all make sense to the reader.

One of the better Hellboy collections out there, well worth getting and holding on to, both volumes make an awesome present or gift to anyone who has any interest in Hellboy at all. This book is a 5 star book, well worth getting, reading, owning, and enjoying.

Near the end of World War II, the evil Rasputin summoned a creature from another world -- a little red demon baby.

And so starts Mike Mignola's distinctly offbeat "Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil," two interconnected action-factory stories with a bright-red demon as its anti-hero. Mignola happily crams this rather brief tale with Lovecraftian horrors, mythic demons, a cursed mansion, a vampire in an old castle, and a truly malevolent villain who wants to destroy the world.

Decades after Hellboy was summoned into this world, his adoptive father Professor Bruttenholm recounts what little he can remember of a doomed expedition to the north pole, along with the three Cavendish brothers. Then a grotesque frog creature attacks Bruttenholm, killing him instantly -- moments before Hellboy returns the favor.

Soon after, Hellboy and his companions Abe Sapien (fish-man) and Liz Sherman (pyrokinetic) arrive at cursed Cavendish Manor, unaware that the mansion's owner is in league with Rasputin. Then ghastly frog-creatures kidnap Liz and attack Hellboy, as Rasputin reveals his presence to the demon/man that he considers his servant -- and if Hellboy won't serve him, he'll used Liz's power instead.

But that adventure is not the end of Hellboy's clashes with Rasputin. Sent to find an ancient vampire in Romania ("Paprika chicken, baby!"), he runs afoul of a bunch of Nazis who serve Rasputin's spirit -- and a bunch of mythic creatures, including the vampiric Giurescu, who serve a ghastly, immortal lamia in the depths of his castle.

Elsewhere, Abe is falling into a trap of Rasputin's, and Liz's powers run amuck when her team finds an alchemist's lab with a seemingly dead homunculus. And Hellboy's fight with the lamia has shocking repercussions, when he finds himself hurtling into a darkness where his true purpose is revealed -- and he must choose what his destiny will be.

Vampiric snake-women, Baba Yaga, immortal sorcerers, grotesque frog monsters, disembodied heads, a Nazi woman in an iron maiden, and a walking skeleton. Oh yeah, and a Lovecraftian lake monster with way too many tentacles.

Mike Mignola knows how to craft a monster-filled universe, where a demonic anti-hero seems downright normal. And the first two books about him are technically separate stories, but they're more like two halves of the same tale -- and while each starts relatively quietly, they rapidly escalate into haunting, grotesque action-adventures set in half-ruined buildings where only monsters and statues still dwell.

And while a few plot threads are left hanging in the second half of the story, Mignola does a solid job plotting these. He also knows how to use dialogue for atmosphere as few authors can ("Witches, striges, vampir... ghosts come forth from their tombs..."), but also utilizes Hellboy's acid wit to lighten the mood ("Not gonna happen... 'cause you're very very ugly and YOU HAVE A GIANT SNAKE BODY!").

Hellboy himself is a classic anti-hero -- despite his red skin, bulky body and sawed-off horns, he's very human in attitude, with an understated love for his friends and his adoptive father. Throughout these stories he's faced by hints of what he truly is and what he's expected to become by the infernal players, but his good heart won't have it. And his snappy wit ("Insolent beast! Troglodyte!" "Big talk for a guy with no pants") only makes him more lovable.

It's also worth mentioning that this edition is simply beautiful. The heavy cloth binding gives the book plenty of resilience to repeated readings, especially since the paper it's printed on is thick and glossy. It makes Mignola's art -- with its vivid colours and heavy, thick shadows -- even more vivid.

"Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil" compiles the first two books of Hellboy's adventures, and shows why Mike Mignola is such a well-loved, well respected graphic novelist.

The Hellboy Library edition is absolutely wonderful. The cover and format are beautiful. The paper is perfect. And the story...well, there is a reason this book got the all-star treatment. Hellboy is one of the most original comic stories to come out in many years. Buy it!

As a long time fan of Mike Mignola's Hellboy series (as in, back to Hellboy's initial appearance in John Byrne's Next Men), I've been waiting for a collection that did justice to Mignola's incredible artwork. As soon as I set my eyes on the Hellboy Library Edition, I knew my wait was over.

Similar to the Sin City Library collections, the Hellboy Library Edition is a larger than normal hardcover size. Think of the DC Absolute hardcover series; this book is just slightly smaller than that format. As if the extra large presentation weren't enough, the page stock has been significantly upgraded. The pages are thicker than most cover stock, and they have a glossy finish that perfectly showcases Mignola's unique (and gorgeous) artwork. Each page truly becomes fine art. The pages are also very resistant to fingerprints, which is especially important given the amount of black Mignola tends to use. I can see some collectors having a problem with the cloth-like cover of this volume, but I think it suits the book quite well.

In this hefty first volume you get the complete Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil stories plus a nice helping of bonus material, including promotional artwork, shorts, and sketchbook artwork. Seed of Destruction is, of course, the Hellboy origin story and the basis of the 2004 Hellboy film. Wake the Devil is the sequel story, and served as the inspiration for the animated Hellboy feature Blood and Iron.

With its high price tag, the Hellboy Library Edition collections are not for everyone. They are however, a must-have for serious Hellboy collectors. Once you see the quality of the book, you won't think twice about replacing your Hellboy paperback collections.

i forgot how good "seeds of destruction" is. i also forgot the difference between "seeds" and the first movie. the art just looks better on the bigger pages, i found myself just staring and taking it all in. my only complaint is the cover material. if you have any pets this will be covered in hair, i wish it would have come with a slip case.