Boys Books

One Year in Beijing is a children's picturebook that takes the reader on a month-by-month journey of what it's like to live in China's capital city, as seen through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl. Author Xiaohong Wong grew up in Beijing in the hope that sharing what adolescence in Beijing is like will inspire children worldwide to learn more about what happens beyond their own backyards. Simple, iconic illustrations add a visual touch to the descriptions of seasonal activities in this enriching blend of story and memoir.

A great book to have for those who want to understand holidays and basic customs of China. For approximately age 6 and up, a little advanced for age 5, but still great, just gloss over what is too advanced for now. Fabulous illustrations by wonderful Grace Lin, a very decorated book. I sent this to Kindergarten for my daughter's teacher to review Chinese New Year with the class. I sent in Red Envelopes with chocolate coins and pinwheels and a little card with Sagwa. The kids loved it and the teacher was excited to be offered the opportunity to learn more herself about the holiday and share it with the class.

What a wonderful book. This is our fourth Grace Lin book, and it is currently my two-year-old daughter's favorite. Grace Lin's illustrations are so visually appealing and creative. The book provides great information about various Chinese holidays, Chinese culture, and points of interest around Beijing. This book would make a wonderful gift for a Chinese American child or a child of any background!

This book is mainly about the holidays celebrated each month in China. I was expecting it to be more about everyday life in the city of Beijing.

I probably can't describe this book any better than the above articles and reader reviews, one reason being that this book represents an example of truly original writing. Heynen's style is truly his own. (To compare his style to Ernest Hemingway's---as one newspaper review does above---is simply lazy and misleading.)His stories are spare but often very poetic. There are not a lot of details, but there is always the right detail, often presented in a way that will stay with you (I doubt I'll EVER forget the image from "Eye to Eye".) In short, a tremendous book.

I've been a fan of Jim Heyden ever since a friend introduced me to his The Man Who Kept Cigars In His Cap not long after it was published. He is a master of the one or two page sketch that illuminates a sliver of human behavior.

In this collection, you feel as if you're listening to a keen observer, a quiet storyteller reminscing about childhood on a midwestern farm - corn, pigs, cows, chickens i.e. very diversified farming. The characters consistent primarily of the boys, the youngest boy, the men, with guest appearances of the preacher, town boys, and grandfather.

Whether you're reading about the preacher who passed gass, the gypsies at the old school yard, grandfather teaching the boys to make firefly flashlights, the youngest boy hiding in a dip until a dandelion seemed to breath, hunting June bugs with old ping-pong paddles, you'll enjoy the honesty, earthiness, innocence, and style of these stories.

Literature that will change the world? No. Literature that will be known in a century? Probably not. But for pure delight, especially if you were raised on a farm, this book is great fun.

Heynen has been writing about "the boys" for years; this is a collection of the many stories he has written. "The boys" are an indeterminate number of boys growing up in the rural Midwest. In the course of their days, they find insight into many aspects of life, death, love, friendship, and an amusing number of encounters with animals and small town bureaucrats (if there is a distinction). Humor ranges from a chuckle to laughing out loud, and poignancy ranges from a knowing nod to fighting back tears. This is lovely writing.

I discovered this book while rummaging around in my high school library and fell in love wiht it almost instantly. Most of these stories are short enough to fit on a postcard, and I don't think there's a proper noun anywhere in the book. These characters are merely "the boys"--but they wouldn't even have to be *boys*, as far as I'm concerned. The stories are about tiny events - electric lights, rat-tails, the coming of spring - but Heynen, with just a few deft words, gets you to see and feel them, and opens up all kinds of wellsprings. But I'm babbling; the stories speak for themselves.

Another great book!! I love the Super Mysteries!! It's so much fun to have Nancy and the Boys together. Keep them coming!!!

Joe gets to take a spin in Robbie MacDonald's race car and Nancy saves a fashion model shoot from disaster.It's really exciting!!!!!!

Good book especially if you like the indy 500 and enjoy a good mystery

I was a Hardy Boys fan, coming into the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew supermystery series, and seeing it was written by the Nancy Drew mystery series author, I was afraid the Hardys would get left out. Not the case! The author get's a perfect balance, and takes two, seemingly unrelated mysteries and binds them together to form a...SUPERMYSTERY! It's very well written, with all the excitement of Hardy Boys books that I enjoy. If you like Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew mysteries, you'll like them together.

Note: If you've been reading Hardy boys (or Nancy Drew) books only, this is a pleasant change, and if you're getting a little old for 150 page books that you finish in a day, these manage to add a little more pages, with nothing sacrificed, only a better book. You'll like this book!

This is a lovely, paperback book and I recommend for those with young riders in their home or barn. Not too simple, and not too complex, the stories are entertaining and unique! Again, gorgous photos and a beatiful layout. A great gift idea for any young person who loves horses or American Indians.

Leadership through trust and respect is one of the many lessons the young reader will learn from this book. The simple tools and techniques for starting a line of communication with horses are presented in a wise and gentle manner. Indeed, the Native American philosophy of teaching horses coincides with their attitude toward all animals living on, in, or above Mother Earth, and that is responsibility for them and mutual respect among and between them. GaWaNi Pony Boy speaks of creating the right environment for understanding, and his thoughts, words, and deeds are relevant to everyday life. The book is artfully laid out and contains beautiful and decoratively captioned photographs. There are several Native American tales and sayings, such as, "...the reason Creator gave two-leggeds two ears and one mouth was so that we would listen twice as much as we talk." I found this book to be a most enjoyable learning experience and recommend it to adults and youngsters alike.

I have owned this book for years. I still read it when it is not possible to feel the wind in my hair for real. The breathtaking pictures, the lovely stories and the obvious connection GaWaNi has with Kola, his horse, all make this an outstanding book and mini escape for me. Thank you Mr. Pony Boy and Ms. Boiselle!

Nice pics but not a HUGE amount of substance. But, girls who love horses aren't looking for a lot of that anyway! They want pictures and romantic thoughts about being with horses. That's what they get!

My preteen song loved this book. He loves horses and Indians and really enjoyed learning Indian words.

I have both the hard back and the soft back and I found them both the same, but some has different pictures. I can not get enough of Pony Boy or the photos. The soft back is easier to read, and I know have the hard back on my coffee table, and the soft back in my tack room..very good, and my husband who is a horse trainer is now using Pony Boy's method to train his horse and others...I trained my horse Pony Boys method right off the begining

This is a wonderful book on several levels. I recommend it for kids and adults alike.

Arrived in perfect condition and my sister loved it as a gift.

I really enjoyed this book myself, and had to wait to read it till the kids were finished with it.....they shared it with all of their horsey friends! It was nice to see that a high quality, full color photo book was available, and the fact that this was in paperback made a great buy. Some of the most unique stories I have ever read were sprinkled throughout the text, and the design was nice for the kids, it seemed to really keep their interest. What surprised me was that they found a renewed love of their horses - which I didn't really expect! The history included in parts of the book, such as 'why Native American Indians painted their horses and what the symbols meant' was very interesting. I was thriled to hear a discussion in the other room about what these kids had learned in school about 'history' about "indians" and this book caused them to realize that there was more to the story....I am glad that this book is out there to educate as well as entertain. As a mom, I highly recommend this book for your young horse lovers - whether they own one or not. Disappointments? It could have been longer.

The Paul Street Boys is a wonderful tale of bravery, heroism, patriotism, honour, truth, love, war and passion. It contains all these in the microcosm of two groups of teenage boys living in Budapest who are about to fight for a small open space amidst the busy streets of the big city where they can play ball. But that's just the basic plot. The characters, Boka, Feri Acz and Nemeczek especially, are incredible children. They, when I read the book as a child, were a symbol to me of what boys were supposed to be like. Not because they fought. Not because they had fun on their playground. Not because they had secret societies. Because they knew the important things in life: love, honour, home. The story is funny and sad, light and tragic all in one, and more importantly, it teaches a lesson without beating you over the head with it. I learned the lesson when I first read it when I was just a boy, but when I read it now that I am all grown up, it still makes me weep. Why? Because it is about growing up and learning to live and learning that life is about winning and losing and sometimes both at the same time. And at the end of the novel in our souls, just like in Boka's, "for the first time there begins to dawn an understanding of the great mystery of life in which sorrow is so strangely intertwined with joy."

It was my very first book when I was 7. It is a shame that this classic for children literature is not available in a decent English translation. This story seems not very popular in the US or in other English speaking countries and it is a pity, while it is more popular in Europe where it is a classic for children. This story was written before WWI and showcases honor and an anti-war bottom line. The Boys of Pal Street depicts the life and struggle of two bands of boys for a playground. (The story of two gangs fighting for their turf today looks like so similar to many others in real streets in real cities of the eighties. However, children's ingenuity is the defining factor in this story). At the beginning of the 20th century, Budapest is rapidly changing is face and the construction of new buildings is proceeding quickly. With shrinking spaces for play, a group of schoolboys has to defend its space on the last free lot in their neighborhood from a rival group, the Red Shirts. There is no alternative playground and this lot is theirs and the Pal Street boys must defend it if they want keep on playing.
Nemecsek is the youngest and the smallest boy of the Pal Street Boys and as such he plays the role of the mascot, a role too tiny for him. He is determined to show to the older guys that he is a real "member" and will prove himself.
The Red Shirts is a well organized band and Nemecsek goes on his own to spy on the Red Shirts headquarters to gather information for his "comrades". He is caught and thrown into a cold lake and gets a severe cold and fever. His health worsens while his friends are ready for their frontal against the Red Shirts. On the day X, despite his bad health (no penicillin at that time!) Nemecsek cannot leave his older comrades alone while he is resting in bed, then he leaves home to join his friends. The Pal Street boys eventually prevail, but Nemecsek's conditions worsen even further and his friends have to take him home, where Nemecsek will die the very same day. Nemecsek will die for nothing since few days later the construction of new buildings in their camp begins. Double sad ending. Highly recommended for all, if you can find a copy.

I don't know, how good is the English translation, but the story and characters are so good I hope more English readers discover it! It reminds me of C.S. Lewis' writing in this respect, that it speaks deeply to both young and old. You can read and re-read it and it grows as you grow. The story is timeless and its turn-of-the century Budapest setting doesn't make the book dated or hard to relate to. The real setting is in the hearts and minds of children on the brink of adulthood.

For those who are learning the Hungarian language at an intermediate level the original text of this book makes for great reading -- fantastic story and the vocabulary and style are not at all complicated.

This tale of two groups of boys who fight over a vacant lot where they can play in Budapest gripped me from the first page. I couldn't put it down. The boys exemplify old-fashioned bravery and honor and values that have been out of style for a long, long time. The character Boka learns a profound lesson about life - that it encompasses death. I loved this book and I am a middle-aged woman, not the intended young boy audience.

It helps that I read this in Budapest in the neighborhood of Paul utca and the Botanical Garden. When I mentioned the book, my hosts smiled and said I would love it, then took me on a tour of the main sites where the story takes place.

By the way, I don't think it's out of print in Hungary. I saw copies of the English translation in every bookstore in Budapest. It's published by Corvina Books.

Payback is the first book I have ever read cover to cover where I haven't wanted to miss a word! Each page left me needing to know wich direction Todd Black's gripping life was going to turn next. Payback is a strongly written tale of adversity and justice which left me wanting to pick it up for a second read. I highly recommend this fast pace novel for all.

Payback is the first book I have ever read cover to cover where I haven't wanted to miss a word! Each page left me needing to know wich direction Todd Black's gripping life was going to turn next. Payback is a strongly written tale of adversity and justice which left me wanting to pick it up for a second read. I highly recommend this fast pace novel for all.

This is most certainly one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. The chilling detail used by the author entice the reader to forget their life, job, family, pet, everything, and keep reading and reading. I even found myself reading the book a second time, something I have never done before. If you are into realism and being shocked, buy this book, its incredible.

Payback comes accross as an easily read novel, that not only entises the reader to continue turning each page but draws you in to feeling for Mr. Todd Black, almost craving the sweet revenge for him and yourself. The incorporation of street lifestyles of the young Black and his peers compliments the novel and allows the reader to associate their own lifestyles (0r possibly they're past) and to see how the possible reality of this could eventuate, pulling you deeper into the phsyche of the infamous avenger. Payback is a novel that once you pick up - is hard to put back down, until all the wrath is dealt out! A novel that will entertain and captivate many a reader. This book kicks it in the zone!

This was a pretty good book to read on a lazy afternoon with nothing much else going on. I like reading Coville's work, some of which is serious and some which is downright fantastical. Overall, it was a good laugh.

As in the first three books our yong heros get mixed up in a sticky situation that will keep you glued to the pages. I am one of the "I was a Sixth Grade Alien" colletion's biggest fans and this was one of my favs. I hope that you will enjoy the book as much as i did!

I'm a big fan of Bruce Coville, (especially the "Sixth Grade Alien" books), and I must say, this is one of his best books yet. (Of course, I haven't read a lot of the newer ones, since I haven't had a chance to buy them yet.) A funny yet believeable plot, and also, Linnsy plays a more active part than usual, which is good. (She's one of my favorite characters.)

I LOVED this book it is very funny, and I couldn't put it down. It has many of the same characters as in Bruce Covile's I was a Sixth Grade Alien #1. In this story Pleskit tries a new food from Earth- Peanut Butter. Whenever Pleskit eats Peanut Butter he becomes girl crazy. This causes a great deal of trouble in the school and almost ruins the mission. Can Pleskit and Tim save the mission? Read and find out. You won't be disappointed.

It's the ultimate criminal operation. For a huge fee Perfect Getaway Travel, Ltd. will provide a clean escape from the long arm of the law. To crack the ring, Frank and Joe pose as a pair of crooks looking for a safe hideout. But when they finally manage to reach the end of the line, the brother detectives find themselves trapped in a private kingdom. A garden of evil, ruled by a murderous crime-lord - where an exit visa costs a cool five million dollars ...

So, were back to another Hardy Boy Mystery. Full of the usual bombs, guns, and brains. The hardys get involved in a crime cruse in which if a criminal needs an escape. Here's where they go. Skipping from part to part Frank and Joe manage to uncover a crime ring. This ring of crime is different from the rest though, instead of commiting the crimes, this ring helps criminals to get out of the country! The leader of this travle ring, will stop at nothing to get the hardye out of his way! For once, I actually engoyed a Hardy Boy mystery. I didn't just read it to laugh at. This is Franklin W. Dixon at his best.

Absolutely loved this one - Frank & Joe tangle with plenty of high profile international criminals when they try to infiltrate a criminal getaway service. Great camradrie between Frank & Joe..not the least bit kiddish.

I've only read the first fifty or so Casefiles, but this one was the best. Frank and Joe discover a company that specializes in helping criminals disappear from the police. There are some great thrills and cliffhanger chapters in this one, plus a lot of suspense as the Hardy Boys slowly uncover the scope of the operation.

Reviewed by Avni Gupta (age 15) for Reader Views (6/08)

When I received the book "Perfect Girl," I was dismayed. How can anyone fit an entire book in only 196 pages? At first, I was afraid to start the book, thinking that I will hate it for being so short. After realizing what I was thinking, however, I smacked myself in the head. I am a bookworm and that means reading anything that I can get my hands on, I thought to myself. After that revelation, I decided to start the book.

Reading the first chapter made me realize that this is just the kind of book that I like to read. It was about a girl, one who is normal and knows it, named Rosie. Things change for her when the new girl, Jenna Wilson, who seems perfect and is instantly liked and admired by all people, including Rosie's somewhat best friend, and right now crush, Perry. Rosie has to get Perry to notice her as someone more than just a friend before the new girl sinks her claws into him.

I feel like this book will be a good read for any girl who has had a crush on one of her friends, even if it was only momentarily. This book also shows you that family is always going to be there for you, through your mistakes and mishaps, the ups and the downs, and the lives and deaths of those around you. Another thing that is being posed in this book is the importance of forgiveness and finding your true self among the rubble of your old self when it has fallen.

In my mind, I had pictured many different endings for this book. I thought that all of mine were amazing, until I read the end of it. Then I found out that mine were not nearly as good as the ending that Mary Hogan gave her book. It was unexpected yet totally amazing. I felt like it was the only true way to end the book without making the reader feel like they had been cheated and wanting another book to answer all of their questions.

All said and done, I think that "Perfect Girl" should be read by everyone!

Ruthie's life is far from perfect with a mom who doesn't understand her, her lack of a father, and a peculiar renter. Then she realizes that she is in love with her best friend, Perry. This revelation is only met with desperation when the perfect girl shows up at school, and has eyes for only Perry. But Ruthie has something that the perfect girl doesn't: a New York City aunt who is famous for being the Love Goddess. With Aunt Marty on her side, Ruthie may just have a fighting chance after all.

Achingly funny and sweet, Perfect Girl is a treat to read. By no means does Ruthie have a "normal" life, but her thoughts, emotions, and actions are those that all of us recognize. Hogan's eye for teens is dead on, and her characters are humorous, yet very human. The book deals with more than just self image issues, giving it a degree of reality that will engage scores of readers. You'll be delighted that you picked up Perfect Girl as Ruthie discovers that before you can become the Goddess of Love, you have to learn how to be the Goddess of Loving Yourself.

http://thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/

Ruthie Bayer's life in Odessa is as plain as can be. There's nothing really going on, and she's had the same friends for most of her life. The problem is, Perry looks way better to her now and she wants to be more than "just friends."

Everything appears to be smooth sailing for her freshman year until the new girl, Jenna Wilson, comes to town. Perry seems very interested in her. Who wouldn't? She's the perfect girl: perfect hair, nails, clothes --- even the way she walks. But Ruthie is not having it and pulls out all the stops by calling her Aunt Marty, an advice columnist on men in New York City.

That would be fine, except for the fact that her mother and aunt don't get along. Where Marty is cool, her mother is anal. Where Marty understands, her mother doesn't even try. Things become quite sticky when Marty shows up and transforms their house into a completely different place. Although Ruthie loves the fact that Marty is in town, her mom has become even more withdrawn and just plain old mean. Ruthie believes she's just jealous of Marty, who is gorgeous, rich, has a beautiful penthouse in New York and an adoring husband.

As Marty helps Ruthie put her plan into place to catch the boy of her dreams and become the perfect girl for him, there are a lot of past issues within their family that come to the surface. Although Ruthie and her friends adore Marty, it becomes obvious that even "perfect" people have their flaws, hurts and disappointments in life. Ruthie's plan does succeed, but she soon realizes that what she thought she felt really wasn't true love.

Mary Hogan delivers in this concise story of finding out who you really are, understanding the folks around you and learning to accept things as they come. PERFECT GIRL is a testament of truthfulness and familial love that will leave you smiling at the end. Life is what you make it; after all, nobody's perfect.

--- Reviewed by Belinda Williams

Ruthie has almost survived her freshman year of high school and all of the sudden she feels more lost and confused than ever. She's realized that she is desperately in love with her childhood best friend, Perry. To make things worse, a new girl has started school and Ruthie is convinced she is perfect, and convinced that Perry will think so, too. In desperation, she calls her aunt, who just so happens to be a relationship columnist, and begs her for her secrets to attract boys.

As Ruthie gets closer to her aunt and the story unfolds, it becomes clear that some things are not always what they seem and that even people who appear to have it all together often do not. Ruthie learns several important lessons about the value of family and the variety of relationships of all different types. Along the way, Ruthie also gains more self-confidence and maybe even a few helpful secrets to help her attract boys.

Although parts of the dialogue in this book feel a little forced and don't completely reflect teenage interaction, it is well-written and very enjoyable. Readers will likely appreciate the realistic and contemporary events that fill the story, including a humorous shopping trip that ends in gushing about Ipex bras from Victoria's Secret. Hogan is very effective about getting her messages across without seeming preachy or overbearing, which is refreshing. In the end, PERFECT GIRL comes together nicely, and readers will likely be satisfied even if it does not exactly reflect what they initially hoped for.

Reviewed by: Allison M. Rotonda

Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan is a fun short novel, but also has lessons to teach. Ruthie Bayer wants to be the perfect girl, expecially when her best friend/new crush Perry Gould falls for a perfect girl. Ruthie doesn't know what to do so she calls upon her aunt Marty, New York's love goddess, for advice. Her aunt immediately comes down to Delaware to help Ruthie win Perry's heart.

This book is about more than winning his heart though. It's about Ruthie's family drama when her aunt comes to town, the secrets that spill out which have been hidden for years, emotions and how the world changes when they are played out, and finally what it means to be the perfect girl. Perfect Girl has more emotion packed into it's 196 pages than most 500 page books. No one can go wrong by picking up a copy of Perfect Girl.