Broken-up

As a kid we just wanted to play ball. We didn't care what color the guy beside us was. We didn't realize all that was going on outside of our little world in those trying and changing times. I look back now and see what our parents went through, but in that stadium on Friday nights they cheered for Orange and Green!
As I read this book I realized what a difference in my life Graves Springs and sports in general made. "Made or Broken" reminded me of the many Fourth and Ones that life deals you on a daily basis.
I laughed and I cried while reading. This book is a must read not only if you are familiar with Southern Football Tradition, but if you are interested in the flavor of the times in the Old South.

I grew up in Pennsylvania and have lived in South Georgia the last 26 years. This book illustrates as well as anything how the South has managed to produce such a disproportionate number of young men who have answered the call of the nation and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in times of national crisis. More than just a football book- actually, very little is about football- it tells the tale of young men molded by shared hardship and miserable conditions in the woods of South Georgia. Racial strife in the outside world is handled differently here, where young black men and young white men had to put aside their predispositions (a kinder word than prejudice) and learn to judge others by standards that did not include race. This book is a worthwhile addition to any personal library of works that deal with history and social progress in the New South.

I didn't grow up in South Georgia, but I've lived here for over 25 years, and Mr. Lightle's book is one of the best pieces of work I've seen which explains some of the mystique of Southern males. This area of the country has given a disproportionate number of its youth to the military, and you can see why when you read about the kind of qualities fostered in summer football camps in South Georgia. The story encompasses comradery, the shared misery, the eventual acceptance of other young men without regard to background or race: of course, the racial integration of the football camp was a major component of the story. This book is a must read for the history of the area and the South in general.

A wonderful book! It explains what and why girl's are feeling and thinking the way they do in a manner that is FAIR to all parties. It doesn't show bias to any individual (Mother/Father/Step Parent/Child). This book can help show a child that they are not alone and that it is normal to think and feel the way they do. It also explains when/how a parent is putting the child in the middle and how that shouldn't happen. And how a child plays both parents and shouldn't. The book stresses that the child should talk about their feelings with their parents. This book is a must have for any girl that has experienced divorce, whether it is happening now or happened 10 years ago.

After Separating, I realized things were becoming increasingly difficult for my daughter. I knew I needed help. So when I saw the title 'HELP!' I bought this book immediately. I have never been so impressed with a book. It asks the questions that kids have, but often are afraid (or unable) to ask and gives parents a way to answer - without too much information. HELP! assisted my daughter in breaking the silence with her therapist and to sort out some issues she had with her mother and me. It acts as a guidebook - informing children of some ways to speak up if they feel that their feelings are being squashed or if basic child/parent rules are being broken. HELP! even describes what some of those basic rules are. I'm actually purchasing one for my Ex-wife that she can read with our daughter. One of the best things that has come from this book is that my daughter now keeps a notebook and writes down questions for me in it, I respond to her and we bring those in to her therapists office. This approach lets us all know what important issues are on her mind, and how best to HELP! her through these difficult times. The best review though - I can't go more than a few days without being asked to read from the book.

Being a stepmother of two beautiful children that came from a not so beautiful divorce, I was determined to help them understand the divorce and my role in their family. This was a wonderful book that allowed me to sit down with my stepdaughter and read the book together. The book is broken down into sections ranging all the way from feelings of divorce, mom and dad dating again, to acquring a stepmother or stepfather. Each chapter opened up with a fictional "letter to the editor" type letter written by a children asking for advice. My stepdaughter enjoyed reading the letters out loud and I would respond with reading the chapters out loud. I would end each chapter by asking her how she related and what her thoughts and feelings were. This book allows a great opportunity for stepparents to interact with their stepchildren and provides some clarification to the child as to what divorce is all about.

This book proved helpful to me as I search for answers to how to overcome an abusive marriage that harmed my children. It helps to explain why just wanting to be different than your parents isn't always easy.

Leslie's proffessor has a thing for darkhaired people. Ginny's dad freaks when he FINALLY meats Ray. Which takes a while.

This is a really good book, but it also teaches you about the complications of teenage pregnancy.

This book lends itself to easy comparison to Loung Ung's tome "First They Killed My Father," and while "When Broken Glass Floats" is a good book it's not as fulfilling as "First They Killed My Father." "When Broken Glass Floats" leaves large chunks of time un-narrated, doesn't discuss the ramifications of the author's Chinese (as opposed to pure Khmer) heritage, and generally is a less engaging read. It finds a strength, however, in its greater number of "cultural asides," that is, places in the text where the author directly addresses the reader and notes some small detail of Cambodian culture. Additionally, this book would have benefitted from an epilogue regarding the author's post-Cambodian life in the U.S., and would also have benefitted from some discussion either in the text or via footnotes, of what was actually happening politically at the time--it would make the story flow a little better.

Sometimes you don't choose a book to buy off the shelf - it chooses you...and Thy's autobiography somehow made it's way into my hands.

In a beautiful story about courage and loyalty to family even when staring death in the face, it is impossible not to become attatched to characters such as Pa, Mak and Chea. Although I cannot deny that parts of the story are left unfinished, such as Ra's first marriage and subsequently her second marriage to bang Ventha, which left me wondering what eventuated, it does not detract from the overall effect of the book.

It is heartwrenching to read of the hunger, death and inhumane conditions Thy and her family endured at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. As cliched as it sounds, it truly does make one realise how blessed we are to be living in a country where atrocities such as what Thy suffered no longer occur...

"When Broken Glass Floats" is one of those rare books that remains etched in your memory long after the last page closes...

It would be impossible for me to give this book less than a perfect rating because it is a first hand account of how a child sees the Khmer Rouge. That being said, that is all it is and if the reader is looking for more than it may fall short of your expectations.

I think this book could be improved if the author had included historical data and information about what was going on in Cambodia with the Khmer Rouge at the time that she is recalling. That would have been very helpful for me, because there is still much I feel I need to learn about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodian politics that I was not able to get from this novel.

However, the firsthand accounts of what it was like to be a helpless child in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge are extraordinarily moving and I would definitely recommend reading this book. It is important to understand what living in these conditions were like and this novel holds implications for all children that are exposed to national atrocities.

Broken Bridge is the sequel to One More River and is written some 20 years later.
It focuses on one family, living on a kibbutz in Israel that becomes intimately involved with the intifada when one of them, a 14 year old boy is murdered. I should be noted that this book is primarily from the Israeli viewpoint, the Arab voices here are heard less.
I lived in Israel for several years during the intifada and can say that what makes this book particularly good for young readers is the combination of compelling personal story line, following Nili and her brother as they deal with the tragedy, and the inclusion of many points of view. We hear from Israelis who are very sympathetic to the Arabs and from others who aren't, feeling that revenge is important and that people can only take so much. This is a very important debate and it can help children get a better understanding of the situation and that not nation has only one viewpoint.
I can highly recommend this, both from a literary and a historical perspective.

This book is a really wonderful book. It is the sequal to another great book called One More River. The story is really good and also it teaches you a lot about the Jewish Culture and Isreal. I have read both of them twice. I love them! I would definately reccomend them to anyone who is just looking for a great story or trying to learn!

This book is a ver depressing story. I still loved it. The characters were in depth and believable. Contrary to some other reviews advice, I believe you don't have to read the prequel at all. I haven't read it, and Broken Bridge is still my favoritee book. It is a great educational story, as well, with lots of information from both sides of the Arab Israeli conflict. Some parts make me cry, yet some are funny too. The book is on the whole the best one I have ever read.

I loved the book!!! Zoey however, was not herself in the book, which is understandable. She was really full of herself (which is not understandable). I think that Lucas and Nina should end up together. I really saw them as a good couple in "Always Loving Zoey" Even thought they weren't a couple. I just think that Zoey was not sensitive to her boyfriend's needs (Lucas Cabral),seeing since his father just died, she needs to be there for him. The book was so good I cried the whole way through (I am a big cry baby). The circumstances are horrible and I only hope that there will be an uplift of spirit for all of the Island folks and something good will happen to all so I am waiting to see what happens in ... "Falling For Claire" ~Claire Ashley

I love love LOVE this series by Katherine Applegate. I look forward to reading each new book in the series. Thye are never a let down and this book is no exception.

Zoey's Broken Heart picks up where the last book left off and like all the others, it continues to develop the never ending plot even further.

Like all the other books, I got this one and read it immedilatly and I just couldn't put it down. I read it cover to cover as soon as I opened it and didn't stop reading until I was finished.

This book deals with the aftermath and fallout from the fire and the whole Nina/Lucas/Zoey triangle which I think we can slowly add Benjamin to as well. We also see the deveolpment of a new relationship for Claire. I don't want to give away too much from the plot but if you've been reading this series, keep reading. Its well worth it and it keeps getting better. If you haven't read it, do so! It's a great series and you will become addicted to it. I can't wait for the next book!

I love this book. I think it's the best of Katherine Applegate's so far. I couldn't believe that Lara was dead. I think I was in denial for a long time. I cried when Benjamin and Nina had that little closet scene. Wanna know what happened? Heh heh. Buy the book. I'm telling you, this is a dern good book. Best in the series so far. I'm DEFINITELY re-interested. If you were bored before this one, you'll lovvvvvve it now.

Josie's life has never been the same ever since her twin sister Rachel fell of a horse and got brain damage. But now Josie's life has changed even more. Someone is sending her threatening valentines. Josie hopes these valentines are just a prank. They're not. There really is a Valentine's Day killer out there who wants Josie dead.

I would've given this book five stars except for two reasons. The first one is that many questions are not answered at the end of the book. The second one is that any R.L. Stine fan knows that the obvious isn't the killer. The killer is pretty obvious, although they're not the number one suspect. If you ignore all of that stuff, the book is very good. And don't read the book because the summary on the back seems interesting. It's very misleading. If you read the book, you'll know what I mean.

Oh, and there is a short cameo by Cory Brooks. Cory starred in "The New Girl," the first ever Fear Street book.

Summary:

Erica, Josie, and Rachel McClain are sisters. In the beginning of the book Josie, Rachel, Erica, and Rachel and Josie's friend Melissa are in the car. Erica is Josie and Rachel's little sister. Josie and Rachel are twins. They are on their way to go horseback riding. They get there and when they are putting their saddles on the horses Rachel's is loose and asks Josie to tighten it for her. They are riding along, and Rachel's horse starts to speed up. He speeds too fast and Rachel falls off and hits her head.
The book goes on to the next February. Rachel is okay, but she is mentally ill, and needs care, and cannot be alone by herself. Josie never takes care of her. It is always Erica who takes care of her when Rachel needs to be cared for. Erica is very frustrated by this. Rachel's boyfriend Luke is over there almost everyday. Luke blames Josie for Rachel's illness. Josie thinks that he is pathetic and he needs to get on with his life. Josie begins to receive threatening valentines, threatening that she will be dead on Valentine's Day. Rachel is always having a gleeful look on her face. One day after Josie comes home from hanging out with Steve she finds her dog Muggy dead on the floor. Josie is scared but her boyfriend Steve insists that it is a joke. Valentines Day comes, and Josie and Steve have a date to go ice-skating. Later on that night, the doorbell rings. Erica answers it and police officers reveal the news that Josie is dead and has been murdered with an ice skate. Melissa is talking to her boyfriend Dave the next morning, while they are getting breakfast. Melissa realizes he looks troubled. He tells her that he wrote the threatening valentines as a joke because he disliked Josie a lot. Dave really thought she deserved the joke. But he kept telling Melissa that he didn't kill her. She believed him but he wanted to get his evidence back so the police didn't think that he did kill her. He goes to the McClain's house, to get back the Valentines. He hears someone walking up the stairs and goes to see who it is. Erica has been stabbed by a letter opener and he knelt down to her and took out the letter opener. To his luck the police had walked up the stairs, while he had the letter opener in his hand.
Then the book brings you to the following February and Dave had been sent to boarding school upstate. Erica had recovered, but she was still in shock. Melissa is now going out with Luke, because he figured he needed to get on with his life. Melissa now begins to receive threatening valentines. Automatically Luke thinks its Dave. She compares the letter that he had sent her and the two valentines she had gotten. To their surprise the writing had matched. Then shortly after that Dave's mother had called, rather concerned. Dave had run away from his boarding school, and his mother believed that he would go to Melissa's house. A few nights later Melissa is sleeping and hears a noise outside. She thinks it's a burglar until she sees Dave jump into her room. She is startled that he is there. He is destined to clear his name and find Josie's real killer. He looks at the writing on the valentines because when Melissa accused him he assured her this was a false accusation. He says he knows who the killer is and disappears. Then Melissa is watching Rachel while Erica is trying out for a play. Later that night Melissa hears a sound outside, and looks outside he doesn't see the face of the prowler but he saw her long red hair. Rachel's hair. Then the police come and ask when they discovered the body of the dead boy. The dead boy is Dave. Who is killing everyone?

Review:

I think this book is very good. It has many details. I think it is very long, and if you don't like getting deep into books, you may get confused. There are a lot of people, and there are a lot of murders. If you can't remember things, you will also get confused because of all the people, and the murders. There is a prologue, which takes place when Rachel McClain was still normal. Then it takes you to February. Josie resents Rachel. She almost never wants to see her. Rachel also always has a gleeful look on her face when somebody is hated, or murdered, or hurt. I think this definitely shows something. In general this book was very good, the author included a lot of detail so I could picture what was happening in my head.the book was very interesting, there were three parts, before rachels accident, after in the following February with Josie's point of view, and then the next year after Josie's death. The ending is surprising, and you wouldn't think anything like that at first. The book is like hypnotizing you don't want to put it down. I wanted to keep reading every chapter until i finished. If you get scared easily, don't read this book. If you get confused there is a lot of characters, and there are a lot of murders and accusations

Recommendation:

I would recommend this book to people who like reading mysteries and get deep into their books, without getting confused. I would also recommend this book to people that like to be put in suspense, and like to try and guess what's going to happen next.

It's the best book I have read so far.I have read a lot of R.l Stine books but this one is the best.Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't think......to be the murderer.I really hated Josie for ruining Rachel's life and so did someone else . After reading this book I found out that my nails weren't at a good shape cause I kept biting them.All Fearstreet fans should read this.

i think that this book wasn't really my type of book .. although it was interesting and many ironic turns here and there .. i think that the problems they talk about in this book will be problems i will face when i'm older .. for example .. dating issues .. i think i'll use this book has a real resource when i'm in high school or something. but this book is really interesting and unique in many ways .. and i would recommend it to someone in a older grade like students that are in their highschool years.

This book is reall great! The whole Angel thing is so realistic, and the way he's pressured with the money situation is so well- written it makes you wonder what you'd do in his shoes. Tia is also worried that she's become part of the problem. Jessica loves both Will and Jeremy. Even though Will ruined her life, she still has a thing for him. I am a fan of both Will and Jeremy, but I cracked up when I read the part where Jeremy wrote a letter to, you know, and ended it off with "If you need someone else to pick on, there's this guy Will Simmons...", I fell over laughing! I love both Jeremy and Will, but it was mad funny! Anyway, this book is great! Jess falls for Will, but is nervous to admit it cause she's afraid she's betrayign Jeremy. Liz is all depressed about Conner. COnner is having problems with his mother, who's suddenly acting strange. The whole Will/Jessica/Jeremy love triangle is well written. The Angel situation with his money and Tia is well written. ALso, the funny thing Jeremy wrote is well written. This book is great!

This book is great! Angel is dealing with his money problems, Tia is dealing with Angel, Jessica is dealing with Will and Jeremy, Liz is dealing with Conner, Will is dealing with Jessica, Conner is dealing with his mom, Jeremy is dealing with Jessica, Andy is dealing with himself, and they are also dealing with the kidnapping thing. Also, one part that caught my eye is the part where Jeremy writes his letter to God, and ends it with, "If you need soemone else to torture, there's this guy Will Simmons...", showing his rivalry with Will. Now I am a fan of both Will and Jeremy, btu that line cracked me up. Anyway, this book is great!