GB Books

This was one of my favorite books from childood (late 60s/early 70s)! What a blast from the past! I'm so glad that it is now available for a new generation of kids.

I did not realize until recently that the humor is not lost on adults.

I highly recommend this book for all children! It's so innocent and would be a welcome change of pace from all the grown-up stuff that kids have to deal with at earlier and earlier ages.

Of all the stories we hear/read as a kid, some we remember more than others. When I was a kid, I didn't understand why this book would remain so vividly in my memory for more than 30 years, but now I know.

The rhythm of the book is upbeat and enjoyable. While the graphics lack lustre, looking deeply in them reveals a whole layer of humor that is best understand as an adult. For example, The mixed up sign over the mayor's office said this way to the zoo, and the mixed up sign over the bank read bread.

I use this book to read to my 8th grade students to promote critical thinking and deeper understanding. I read it to my 4 year old daughter for the light and entertaining story. I'm glad the story is still around for the next generation to benefit from.

I am so glad that I found this book and now get a chance to share it with my sons. It was my favorite growing up.

Mr. Pine's Purple House was my favorite book growing up and when I found it on Amazon it also recommended this one. I didn't have it growing up but I did get it from the library so I bought this one too. My kids love them both and we read them often.

Mr. Pine loses his glasses and gets the town's signs all mixed up! Funny!

I'm glad this book is available again for me to share with my children. As an adult it is still my favorite. I have been looking for this book for years and today I received it as a Birthday gift. I highly recommend Mr Pine's Mixed Up Sign's for everyone. IT'S A MUST HAVE. Buy it and you (the adult) and your children will enjoy for mnany years.

Book was just as described. We are very happy with it. Fast shipping

These books are helping my grandson learn the enjoyment of reading. He was having a hard time, but these books hold his attention and he really looks forward to getting a new one in the series.

Shun the haters of this book.I loved this book.It was the greatest goosebumps book of all time.My favorite part is when the kid woke up as a monster. Mom,I love it that you picked this awesome book.

first of all every goosebumps book is the same main charaters always nerds geeks or losers. the guy here matt is a total geek(ant attack on pluto okay) so the plot to this is not the best it shows r.l. stine getting sick of wrting 120 page books this being #53 so his room is really small right and the guest room is bigger one night sleeps in that room gets trapped in different nightmares everyday or a reality hole what ever that is
read the book to find out if the geek dies or lives on to go to pluto

Imagine if you woke up one day and you were not you? No better yet, imagine if you were still you, but you and your entire reality was changed. How would you deal with it? Well, Matt Amsterdam dealt with it by freaking out.
With another Goosebumps book under his belt, R.L. Stine tells the fictional and strange story of Matthew Amsterdam in Don't Go To Sleep.
Matt is a 12-year-old boy who is considered to be a geek because of his love of Star Wars and things that come from outer space. He has a 15-year-old sister named Pamela and a brother named Greg, who is 16 years old, and all three of then live with their mother. Matt is angry most of the time because his brother and sister make fun of him nonstop. Matt's room is the smallest room in the house.
One night Matt got fed up with his tiny room so he slept in the guest room, which his grandparents slept in only once a year. When he woke up the next morning, he was physically 16 years old. He knew that he was still himself, but his entire outside life had changed. Evidently, he fell into a reality warp when he slept in the guest room. Every time that he fell asleep and woke up, he transferred into another reality. He became a 16 year old, a different 12 year old, an 8 year old circus lion tamer, an old man, a "Swamp Thing" like creature, a squirrel and a chubbier 12 year old. His changes helped him and hurted him. When he was the creature, he went on a rampage and destroyed everything in town. During this all, these three kids, Lindy, Bruce and Wayne were trying to capture Matt.
I would not recommend this book to anyone because I think it is corny. If you like reading a book that is weird, then you would enjoy it, otherwise you should not read it.

Essays by multiple authors against creation as a science. Whether it should be taught along with evolution. Many thought provoking ideas, but I think lacking in their own science.

Not one of us can admit to knowing all there is to know, so that leaves us with agnostics and believers. I find the individual who mocks a creator, after observing the enormous complexities that make up life is a fool. Open your eyes and use your God given brain. Are you willing to take the risk? The only risk on earth will be believing there is something outside of the material world. It is really the only explanation. God created science didn't he? Do the evolutionists teach "hard science" or do they let there dogmas get in the way of the truth? Is not evolution a faith also? Let's stop teaching a theory in our schools as gospel. Evolution and Creationism are both faiths, only one makes sense.

This is an excellent book. It begins with a summary of the story of Arkansas' Act 590. Next is an introduction by Ashley Montagu, who points out that the creationists "are in no sense scientists." After that is a superb article by Kenneth Miller. Miller shows how radioactive dating shows the age of the Earth's minerals. And he explains that had the Earth really been created 10,000 years ago, radioactive dating would prove it. He mentions that if the Universe was only 10,000 years old, we'd also see only 10,000 years of bombardment of the lunar regolith, and the most distant star in the night sky would be no more than 10,000 light years away. And he makes the excellent point that if we, right now, are not smart enough to think of a mechanism that explains life or existence, we need not give up and say that some complex creator is responsible. For all we know, not too many decades from now, we will think of such a mechanism. And even if we do not, that doesn't prove much.

Robert Root-Bernstein then has a fine article on what a scientific theory is. George Marsden explains the nature of fundamentalist views of science. And Stephen Jay Gould has two short articles, where he explains that evolution is indeed a fact. By contrast, the precise mechanisms for evolution, including the exact role of natural selection are still being debated. Laurie Godfrey's article shows the amount of distortion in creationist arguments.

Isaac Asimov has an excellent article on why creationism is indeed a threat. As he puts it, "there are numerous cases of societies in which the armies of the night have ridden triumphantly over minorities in order to establish a powerful orthodoxy which dictates official thought. Invariably, this triumphant ride is towards long-term disaster." If it happens here, American science will wither, and "we will inevitably recede into the backwater of civilization."

Sidney Fox has a superb article on evolutionary protobiogenesis. It has some reasonable and detailed ideas on how life may have arisen on Earth. In addition, there is mention of the creationist view that life could not have arisen by chance. Fox quotes Thomas Hunt Morgan here, who in 1932 pointed out that we are dealing with large-scale processes that are effectively deterministic, and "we get a picture of necessity rather than chance."

L. Beverly Halstead studies fossils professionally, and has a powerful article showing how the fossil record does indeed support the theory of evolution. And the rest of the articles are extremely good as well.

One interesting point is the nature of debates about evolution. Here, one person related "The debates I have had were not debates. The creationists come with a script they present come hell or high water." I think that's worth reflecting on. Genuine debates ought to have some standards associated with them, including some semblence of academic honesty and no falsification of facts. They ought not be totally ad auditores attempts to have lies accepted as truth. Unless such standards are met, I think we're dealing with something other than debates here.

I highly recommend this book.

creationists are not all Religious and no creationist I'v met are crazy fanatics doing all they can to destroy the Theory of Evolution by just lying. Evolution is being fought because it has no evidence and that is the only reason. Do you put your trust completly in a person because they have a PHD, no. If you do then you are extreamly niev. About transitional fossils which all creationists claim not to exist. THEY DONT. If you doubt this then why has this new theory come up-Proteins have been Discovered which fix mutated proteins produced by mutant genes however Scientists say these proteins can only fix a certain number so when a certain number of genes mutate becomes to high(after millions of years)a large change takes place ie a large evolutionary step takes place. Scientists say this theory will help explain the LACK OF TRANSITIONAL FOSSILS. But yet you say this book claims that hundreds have been found. My experience
tells me not to trust evolutionists because when ever an arguement comes up it all they allways turn it into a personnal thing. Look at the anti-evolutionist books reviews and they are full a highly personnal negative statments telling people not to read the book without when they have not done so themselfs. The coments are allways along the same line dont read this because is just a fanatic preacher talking BS and has no scientific bases at all. How can you call yourselfs Evolutionists if you don't look at the whole story. You dont buy a computer just because it looks good on the outside do you.

If you're looking for a book boasting big names and eqally big answers to the never-ending debate between rationality and dogma (namely evolution vs creationism), then you have found it. The late Ashley Montagu has assembled a force to be reckoned with in this volume containing 20 essays by some of the biggest names in Science to date. Just to name a few we have: Ken Miller (of _Finding Darwin's God_ fame), Stephen Jay Gould, Isaac Asimov, Laurie Godfrey and the list goes on. The purpose of such an assembly of genius? To refute the largest hoax in history: the movement of the "Scientific" Creationsts. At the time that this volume went to press there was a lot of controversy and heated debate surrounding creationism. Many creationists wanted to get their theory taught alongside evolution in public science classrooms. It is no surprise that this decision was overturned in a district court in 1982. This volume contains the landmark decision by Judge William Overton as well as numerous essays defining science, comparing it to creationism as well as debunking common myths perpetuated by the creationist movement. There are many books available that similarly debunk creationism _The Blind Watchmaker_, _Abusing Science_, _Sciene on Trial_ etc., however this book is a necessary volume in anyone's library as it contains insights from many brilliant minds on all aspects of the debate. It is therefore an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to get an introduction to this topic. For those who are still seeking more, each essay contains an extensive list of references to articles and books that will quench the curiosity of the most academically inclined reader.

"Science deals with the world of nature, the discovery and ordering of the world of facts and their relations, with concepts that have been tested by the facts. What the creationists attempt to do is to measure the facts by their conformity to Genesis, and this is absurd." --Ashley Montagu, Introduction, Science and Creationism

The late Ashley Montagu (1905-99) was a British-American anthropologist who earned his Ph.D. in 1937 from Columbia University. He was also a prolific and popular science writer of over 60 books. He is well known for discrditing the notion of race in the editions of his book, Man's Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race (1942, 6th ed. 1998). His selections of essays for Science and Creationism range from the philosophical to the legal, historical and scientifically technical. The essayists in this collection include such academic luminaries as Isaac Asimov, Stephen Jay Gould, and others. The essays highlight the opposite methodology of scientists and creationists.

Scientists collect and investigate data and then attempt to formulate explanatory theories. Those theories are always subject to revision or even replacement in the face of new data. They often publish their research in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and their data, hypotheses, and theories are subject to independent verification and replication. Crationists, on the other hand, have an entirely different methodology.

They start first from their desired dogma that the Bible must be inerrant, infallible, and then work backwards to the data. They engage in campaigns of propaganda and political lobbying to pass legislation that either censors objectionable scientific theories or mandates "equal time" for "scientific" creationsim whenever objectionable theories are taught in the science curricula of public schools. Their dogma that the Bible is inerrant and infallible is not subject to revision or replacement in the face of disconfirming data, and they neither do any real science nor publish in peer-reviewed science journals. Thus, contrary to their claims, their dogma and their agenda are religious rather than scientific.

The essays also refute many creationists' errors. For example, creationists claim that the second law of thermodynamics, the law that says systems run "downhill," proves that biological evolution is impossible. However, as explained in Asimov's essay, "The 'Threat' of Creationism," the second law applies to "closed systems." The earth, however, is an open system inundated by energy from the sun. As the sun runs "downhill," it provides the energy necessary to allow the relatively small subsystem of earth to evolve life in the "uphill" direction. Thus, evolution does not defy the second law because it is not a process running "uphill" in a closed system. Moreover, as far as we know, the only closed system is the universe as a whole.

Although this book contains an excellent collection of essays, it lacks a description of the credentials of its contributors and an index. Obviously, an index would augment the utility of this otherwise superb volume.

I enjoyed this book very much! It was fast pased and page turner. I didn't want to go to bed until I had solved the case. I love how the author is able to use so many different types of people to make this story so good. A mus read for any mystery fan.

For some reason "The Clue in the Old Album" is one of my favourite Nancy Drew mysteries - probably because of the gypsy culture and the world of doll-collecting that's infused throughout the story which give it an interesting spin on things. Although the ending is a little anti-climactic (Nancy simply waits for the police to show up), there are plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep it exciting.

Nancy is at a violinist concert when she notices an elderly woman across the aisle get her purse stolen. Nancy is in hot pursuit, but fails to stop the thief from making off with the contents of the bag. On returning, Nancy meets the victim of the crime, Mrs Struthers, and her rather wild grand-daughter Rose. Mrs Struthers begs a further favour from Nancy, and when they meet at her house, Nancy hears the story of Rose's parentage. Her mother Enid ran away with a gypsy man, before being abandoned and returning to her mother's house. Desperately ill, Enid can only manage to mention a doll that is meant for Rose, and that there is a clue in the old family album. Naturally, Mrs Struthers (a doll collector herself) wants Nancy's help in finding this mysterious doll, as well as Rose's father - whose disappearance she believes was quite suspicious.

The case takes Nancy through several carnivals, fortune-teller's tents, doll-collecting exhibits, and even all the way to New York! There is a great twist concerning "the clue in the old album" and the nature of the doll that Nancy has been hired to look for. Though the story does seem to unravel a bit at the end, with several gypsies having a rather ludicrous scheme of world domination, and the doll in question becoming a rather oddly mystical McGuffin, the lead-up to these denouncements is involving while it lasts.

Perhaps not the best Nancy Drew mystery out there, but certainly not the worst either, "The Clue in the Old Album" might be a somewhat forgettable installment in the cannon of Nancy books, but remains one of my personal favourites.

This mystery takes place in River Heights, a carnival, New York, and in a gypsy camp o a big mountainside. Nancey Drew is a character who is very brave, smart, and a good detective. Gus Franky is a minor character in the mystery who was a taxi driver. He drovee a suspect to the the suspect's home. A problem occurs when the gypsy group Nancy is after, keeps moving away whenever she tries to contact them! The scariest part of the mystery is when Nancy is captured by the gypsies!! I really like this book because it was full of action and excitement!

This review concerns the original 1947 edition as well as the revised 1977 edition. While at a concert, Nancy witnesses a man stealing a woman's purse. She chases the thief, but only manages to recover the purse, not it's contents. Nancy befriends the owner of the purse and the woman offers Nancy a mystery to solve. Nancy is to locate the gypsy father of the woman's granddaughter, Rose; the man apparently abandoned his wife and Rose when she was 8 years old. As well, Nancy is to search for a doll which, on her deathbed, Rose's mother hinted contained a secret concerning Rose. I found this book to be alright. It was fairly well-written and has a moderate amount of action. The plot is interesting, but not terribly exciting. One thing which truely disappointed me about the book was the ending. Most of it is fine; however, everything is wrapped up much to quickly and uneventfully. Everything goes from doom-and-gloom to sunshine-and-roses (no pun intended) in a matter of one short, boring paragraph as the police just happen to come along and round all of the bad guys up. Unfortunately, this is the case with most Nancy Drew books and particularly the later editions. Having said this, the book wasn't that bad and most fans of the series would probably enjoy it.

Nancy Drew and The Clue in the Old Album
By: Keene, Carolyn
Reviewed By: R. Gandhi
Period: P.1
Nancy is seated in a theater and witnesses a purse snatching. She runs after the thief and retrieves the purse, however, she isn't able to retrieve the items in the purse. Then the owner of the purse, a doll collector, asks her to do some spying. One of the most important clues is a picture in the old album. There is a doll that looks like an actual person. Later in the book, Nancy touches the actual doll and it is warm. This doll is given to the doll collector. When Nancy finds this doll, she also finds the doll collector's son-in-law. He is a gypsy with a dead wife and young daughter.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was full of mysteries and twists. When it quoted, "The woman carefully placed the dolls on the nearby bed. Then she left the trailer." When this happened I thought it was safe for Nancy to get the doll. However, when Nancy touched the doll, the woman came back in and kidnapped Nancy.
The only part I disliked was when they said, "'We must find the other part of the paper.'" That whole section was so slow. I was getting a little annoyed. There was no mystery and it was becoming boring. However, as soon as the chapter ended it was back to the mystery again.
My favorite part of the book was when Nancy found the doll. It was so intense and it got better after the bad-doer caught her. Nancy was then kidnapped. I couldn't wait until she was found by Mr. Drew, her cousins, and the police. This part was my favorite because it was extremely exciting.

It has been years since I've read Anne of Green Gables and my husband bought me the entire series for Christmas. So with great anticipation, I sat down with the first book of the series ... and realize that as an adult, Anne just talks too much. But I still love her as much as I did as a child ... but this time, as a mom, I relate more to Miralla's story than I did before. Ah. Anne sure has imagination and determination and grits!

If you have never heard of the orphaned girl who was accidentally sent to a household that is run by a brother and a sister ... who were actually looking for a boy to help Matthew with the farm chores, then you are in for a treat. Anne may talk a lot (as I mentioned above), she sure is full of flight and fancy that will tickle every serious reader's bones. Everyone who meets her just falls in love with her ... she is an unique character, that's for sure. I have never met a character like Anne Shirley. I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the chronicles.

This is a perfect book for young readers looking to start out on their own. It is full of good morals and stories and about life. If you have children that are imaginative and loves to read, I would encourage this book for them. I plan to introduce this book to my sons ... when they're a little bit older. It is such a fun book to read and to discuss over.

I think my husband has made my Christmas a bit sweeter by giving me the entire series of Anne of Green Gables.

12/31/08

I'm sure if I read this story NOW, I'd have more appreciation for it. I was FORCED to read it in the 5th grade. However, it was an interesting story, and I've seen tv and film versions of it since.

This is a very interesting story following the antics of an orphaned girl who wants to be loved and accepted. She has a very dramatic imagination, which makes some of her antics rather amusing.

I vaguely remember most of the story, to be honest, but large chunks of it are still with me, even after all these years. It's a story that stays with you for your whole life after taking it in.

It's just a pity I couldn't appreciate it then.

If your looking for a classic book in small children language, this is the book. I felt that this book did a well job in introducing Anne Shirley to my young daughter. The book is tended for 1st through 3rd grade students. It is well written. If you loved reading about Anne Shirley while you were growing up, and wish to have your daughters find out about this wonderful girl, then this book is for you.

As a child I remember a teacher telling us to think of our "Happy Place" when things weren't going well, this book has become my "happy book" over the years. When I'm sad, bored or sick, I like to curl up in a chair and travel into Anne's world, it is like a comforting friend. Anne of Green Gables spans the generations - I've spent many hours reliving passages with my 80 yr old Grandmother. She will often laugh about a day being a "Jonas Day" or someone being a "kindred spirit". I think there is a little bit of Anne (with an e) in all of us. Once you read these books the innocence and passion of Anne seems to remain with you forever, no matter how old you get.

As far as classic historical novels go, Anne of Green Gables is one of the best. As imaginative Anne Shirely is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, a brother and sister on Prince Edward Island, the reader is treated to numerous adventures as Anne does her best to stay out of trouble. Trouble always finds her, and Anne treats us to lessons in keeping control of imagination, accepting and loving our looks, and how doing the right thing will always work out in the end. The language in the book is beautiful and while reviewing it I was remembering my pure delight as I read the book at age twelve, identifying with Anne Shirley 100%. As a positive psychologist I'm sure that your "tween" daughter will definitely relate to Anne and her adventures.

This is a good tool and further reference for anyone who is a multinational executive, it provides insights into local knowledge and local references. The book not intensive in grammar is relevant to the modern day communication in any international field.

I thought there were a few inconsistencies in the manual, but I still highly recommend this concise reference book to anyone who does any writing, editing, or translating into English.

Very useful handbook for writing. It is fashioned similarly to other journalism guides of Brazilian newspapers, but it is far more witty.
It brings a section about differences between American and British English - with clues I couldn't find anywhere else. Lots of vocabulary, as usual.

It could bring more examples of good and bad practices, though. But I guess those you can find at live on the pages of The Economist itself.

Enjoy your reading,

Ruli.

Writing and speaking are the most difficult skills to learn if you're a non-native speaker. Even though most learners believe that speaking is more useful - and there is some vanity involved in it - it's actually writing that takes precedence in today's connected world. Most business communications today are done through email, and no one wants the recipient to have a laugh at their expense.

Grammar, punctuation and vocabulary are important, for sure, but once you have mastered those, why not spend a few more hours dedicated to polishing a bit your written English? With just 160 pages, you get tips that will make your writing look formal, but not stilted; correct, but not pretentious. You may even have a laugh or two with the entries.

I speak English as a second language. This style guide has been incredibly useful and informative. I have improved my writing even in other languages thanks to this book. It even is pleasurable reading.

In the Guide's own style:

Buy it.

I found this book to be absoultely fantastic. The information was well researched and presented. Part factual, part spiritual.

The format of the text is quite poor and unattractive, however the content is pretty logical and well-organized. The book gives a rational account on Jesus and the origins of Christianity. It explains many inconsistencies in the manistream Christian belief system, removing most of the "supernatural". It does however touch on some so-called miracles (like lifting a huge stone with fingers) without even attempting an explanation. Were those truly miracles or mere legends? Or lost and forgotten knowledge from the Eastern cultures among which Jesus lived and studied?

This book is the most amazing work of scholarship that I have ever read! It is so thoroughly researched that it is impossible not to take it seriously and consider the possibility that what Prof. Hassnain has found, is the truth, long hidden from our view by thousands of years of cover-up. This book gives credence to the recent work of Sylvia Browne in her new book, "The Mystical Life of Jesus" in which she sites Prof. Hassnain's work as a resource. This also gives credence to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, even though he wrote it as fiction, the threads of truth are impossible to deny.

Prof. Hassnain has taken his readers on a journey through the ancient texts, written in their original languages, and brought it out to the world today in language we can all understand and see for ourselves. His work is pure of bias, other than to show the hidden truths that he has uncovered.

This is one of the most important works of the century!!! It is proof positive that we have much more to learn about Jesus, his life and his teachings. Instead of contradicting biblical sources, Prof. Hassnain has reached into the ancient texts and brought out the beauty of a life lived as a healer, a teacher, and one who has changed the world as no other.

Regardless of one's personal beliefs, this work is scholarly, not religious. It is an extraction of the simple recorded truths of history.

I recommend that this book be on everyone's shelf! It is one of the most important books I've ever read.

Here, I just want to make a comment on the quality of reproduction quality of the book, not the contents. I have never seen such a bad print in maybe last 20 years. The printing method is so horrible that I can not believe it is a $25-worth commercial book. It does look like just a personal xerox copy version. Regarding the quality, it should be under $5.

This is a wonderful book that negates all the propaganda pushed by theologians and organized Christianity for over two thousand years. Jesus lived long after the crucifixion. Other reviewers say it better than I. My main purpose is to tell you that a new reprinted edition is available at the Down to Earth Bookstore for a very reasonable price. Do not miss the opportunity to read this book or the work of Holger Kersten who wrote "Jesus lived in India". Thank you and have a great day!

I LOVED this book! It is so realistic and exciting! In this book, Nancy Goes to Scotland after she finds a small bomb in her mailbox, and a few minutes later someone crashes into her parked car on purpose. She hears of a person named Mr. Dewar, and finds a note in the drawer of her room, but it is in symbols, and she can't read it. She has many adventures there, and it tells alot about Scotland,she even gets to go in an old castle. It is VERY good. BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I happen to be reading this book right now, I am only into it about twenty pages, but it is already exciting! Nancy's car has been wrecked, she's got her mystery, and someone stole some money from and innocent little boy! Nancy's friends are already involved and soon they are going to leave on a trip to scotland! This is making me more excited, I am going to read it right now!

Published: 1964
*** out of 5
Authour: Caroleen Keen

This is a great mystery book , but it is not the best writen. The main characters are Nancy Drew, because this is a Nancy Drew book, and her two friends Bess and George. They are going to take a trip to Scotland becaure Nancys Great Grandmother has lost the heirloom she was going to give to Nancy, but Nancy thinks it may have been stolen. Odly anough she starts to get warnings not to go. An example is a note anonamisly sent saying she will regret going to Sotland.She and her brave friends decide to go on with the trip. They love the scenery there, but there are some realy odd things there, and odd people. One guy tries to run them off the road. Somewon ells tries to push George off of a cliff. What was at first a trip to relaxs and to have fun had turned into a trip for solveing a mystery. Nancy ,Bess and George figure out who has caused these things to happen and who took the heirloom. You will never guess who it is!! If you are looking for a quick exciting adventure you will love this book, but if you want something that is realy well writen, the kind you won,t forget , then go look for another book!

Nancy, Bess, George and Mr. Drew go to Scotland so that Nancy can find a valuable heirloom that was to be given to her by her great-grandmother, but is now missing. Also, Nancy investigates a gang that is stealing sheep. This is one of the dumbest written books in this series. To start with, Bess submits a photo of Nancy, with a magnifying glass looking at some footprints, to a photography magazine contest and wins first prize. Please! Out of all of the entries that would be received for this type of contest a picture of Nancy wins first prize. You've got to be joking. Second, the winning photo gets published in the magazine and for the rest of the book, people, not only in the River Heights, but in Scotland as well, are recognizing Nancy from the photo. Come on! This is a photography magazine. Only people seriously interested in photography would be seeing this picture, not the whole world. Also, the heirloom that Nancy was supposed to receive was her great-grandmother's most prized possession, if that's the case why wouldn't the great-grandmother give it to someone to whom she is closer, instead of Nancy whom she's never met. It makes no sense. If Nancy has been able to fly off everwhere else, why hasn't she been able to see her great-grandmother before this. The mystery is just boring and unsuspenceful and comes complete with the usual "exciting" warning received by the end of the second chapter. Anyone with half a brain could have written this piece of trash. It's a waste of time.

Nancy finds mystery in every thing she does. That's only one of the draws that kept children as well as adults reading the tales of our heroine well into the millennium. Author Mildred Wirst Benson died at the age of 96 this past week. She leaves behind a legacy of mysteries and a strong female character for the changing times.

Nancy flies into Scotland on family business with her dad and friends, Bess and George. She is in search of a Morgan family heirloom that is missing. There is plenty of excitement, danger, and lots of mystery as she hunts for more than just an heirloom.

Nancy exudes strength of character and an independency that rang out long before it was politically correct. This author was a woman with ideas that reached far beyond her time. She leaves behind a series that will live on long into the future. Kelsana 6/2/02

Book review in Palestine Times No.86 August 1998

"This important book deepens our understanding of the influence of contemporary Islamism by providing the first definitive history of the meteoric rise of the mother organization of all modern Islamist movements, the Society of the Muslim Brothers.

Founded in 1928 by a young primary school teacher, Hasan al-Banna, the society rose to become the largest mass movement in modern Egyptian history in less than two decades, clashing with the ruling elite on a wide range of issues.

Brynjar Lia examines the socio-economic and cultural factors which facilitated the movement's expansion and analyses the keys to its success- its organization, internal structure, modes of action and recruitment techniques as well as its ideological and class appeal.

Drawing on a wealth of new sources which include British War Office and Foreign Office files, security files from the Egyptian National Archives and the Society's newspapers and internal publications from the 1930s and early 1940s, this book also makes extensive use of the memories and personal letters of Muslim Brother veterans. The author has spent many years in Egypt interviewing old and younger members of this influential society."

Palestine Times No.86 August 1998

Hassam al Banna never approved the assassination of Noukrashi Pasha (Egypt's Prime Minister during the life and rein of King Farouk I), it was the military arm of the Movement that decided and carried it out, without Banna's explicit approval.
Banna was as shocked as the King.
Latest interviews with contemporary ex-members of the Brotherhood in Egypt who were close to Banna testified that the `Morshed' - Guider - had never `ruled' as an autocrat; at times he was ruled by his strong-willed military `wing' who had been morbidly suspicious of the Palace/PM intentions towards the Muslim Brotherhood.
Under the urging of Banna who was anxious to have `his men' come to terms with the PM, the attempt was postponed two times. But old antagonisms were so strong (because of the war in Palestine, and the decision made by the PM to purge the Army of all members of the Muslim Brotherhood).
The Palace ordered the assassination of Al Banna in retaliation to the killing of Noukrashi Pasha.

Al-Banna's successor, Hodehbie sought to improve relations with the Palace. A personal touch of friendliness with the King was considered to widen Brotherhood's sphere of influence as a `balancing factor' against the ever-present popular el- Wafd Party. After al Banna, King Farouk I regarded the Brotherhood movement as his own sphere of influence and tried by clever approaches (like to subsidize the financing of their newspaper) to woo them out of any alliances with the Wafd.
While al Banna maxim was `keep friends with the masses', his successor's was `keep friends with the King'

Book review in Jerusalem Post

"Lia's book provides a fresh reassessment of the growth of the Muslim Brothers. He does so by drawing on a wealth of recently discovered documents, including the Society's own internal publications from the 1930s and '40s, British intelligence reports and al-Banna's personal letters.

While touching on issues of ideology and anti imperialism, Lia places great emphasis on the Society's structure and its activities within Egypt to explain its early phenomenal growth. Rather than a reaction to modernity, he argues that the Society itself was a modern organization, open to new technologies and ideas. (..)

The violence and radicalism within the organization prove to be among the thorniest issues in the book. While the Muslim Brothers provided the organizational model for today's radical Islamic groups, to some extent they also provided the template of violence. Lia argues that the Society, while calling for an all-Islamic "struggle" on various occasions, was not inherently violent. The Muslim Brothers did have a military wing, the so-called Special Section, but this, he says, was a way to channel the radical energies of the more energetic younger members. This element of violence can be traced back to a split within the Muslim Brothers in 1939. As a reaction to al-Banna's accommodationist political activity, a group calling itself the Society of Our Master Muhammad's Youth split off from the main organization. Throughout the next decades, this group would continue to splinter, creating the network of violent Islamic groups which plagued Egypt today (..) Lia argues that the growing radicalism resulted from government efforts to shut these Islamic groups out of the Egyptian political system. Lacking a legitimate outlet for their energies, he argues, these groups can easily turn to the option of terrorism.

"The Society of the Muslim Brothers in Egypt 1928-1942" is an important contribution to our understanding. If any complaint can be leveled it is at the circumscription of the book's time frame. Lia limits his study from the beginning of the Society until 1942 (..)Numerous issues of interst arose in the Society's history after this period from the involvement of the Muslim Brothers in the 1948 war against Israel to the 1949 assassination of al-Banna and Nasser's eventual outlawing of the Society. A wider study would further consider the development of violence within the Muslim Brothers and its splinter groups and offshots. One can only hope that Lia has plans for a companion volume"

Book review by Shai Tsur in Jerusalem Post December 1998

This is a solid work of scholarship, and serves a nice supplement to Mitchell's more expanded work. However, given that the new information handled by B. Lia offers merely a refinement of our understanding of the Brotherhood rather than a radical revision, one is recommended to rather begin with Mitchell-whose book is available in paperback, is more established, and is a fraction of the cost. Contrary to D. Pipes' and others' reviews, Mitchell's work does not portray the Muslim Brotherhood as reactionary. This rhetorical device of point, counter-point does considerable injustice to Mitchell's work.

Standing on its own, this work is well written and easy to follow. Lia is able to delve into the mechanics of the organization on a social and political level in order to reveal just how it reached the amount heights of success that it did. The result is a picture that explains well why it was a model so extensively copied and exported throughout the Muslim world. If there is any comparison to be made to Mitchell's work, this would certainly be the proper feature to focus on. Overall, Lia gives a much more lucid, detailed account of the Muslim Brother as a social organization and makes a convincing case for the organization being the first grass-roots political movement in Egypt with its origins and leadership from the poorer classes [unlike the Wafd]. What is lost, however, is comprehensive picture of the whole-and this due partly to the limited time frame of the study-wherein the Brotherhood's other distinguishing features [e.g., its religiosity, transformation during political persecution, etc.] are obfuscated.

The best known study of Egypt's foremost fundamentalist Islamic movement, Richard Mitchell's Society of the Muslim Brothers (1969), portrayed the organization as a reactionary response to Westernization mounted by those left in its wake. And, indeed, this was the general interpretation of fundamentalist Islam by most writers on the subject before 1990 or so. Now, however, a thoroughly different (and much improved) interpretation rules, one that sees the Muslim Brothers and like movements as a facet of modernization. Their personnel are urbanites dealing with the cutting edge of modern problems; their ideas, methods, and goals all incorporate modern ways; and they show far more willingness to learn from the West than was hitherto realized.

In a very impressive research effort into the early years of the Muslim Brothers, Lia (a Norwegian scholar) relies on new sources and deep knowledge of his subject to show convincingly just how well that movement does fit the new interpretation. He establishes that it organized in ways novel for Egypt and mobilized elements of the population hitherto neglected. But its greatest importance lay in developing an answer to the rampant European ideologies of the 1930s: in this, the Muslim Brothers began "a lasting process of renewal . . . in which religion was related to the modern age and all aspects of modern life." With justification, Lia concludes that the Muslim Brothers' "reinterpretation of Islam will remain the most far-reaching Islamic renewal this century."

Middle East Quarterly, June 1999

My husband and I bought this book in hopes of helping his teenaged sons cope better with our new "combined family." The majority of the book is fantastic... it presents some very legitimate concerns that are likely on the minds of many teens, as well as many suggestions of good ways to deal with those issues. I think the book could make many teens feel less "misunderstood," and realize that their feelings are normal, and that there are many effective ways they can deal with the ups and downs.

However, at the end of each section, there is a segment called "What if it still doesn't work?" (As in, what if I've tried all of these things to no avail?) This is where we have the problem... there are several of these segment endings that suggest the teen do things such as stay in their room most of the time and focus on planning for when they're old enough to move out, or to get the help of others to arrange for changes in custody, etc.

While I agree that there are certainly situations in which such measures would be appropriate (such as changing custody due to physical or mental abuse), we do not think it's appropriate to suggest teens take such steps over things like siblings borrowing their things without asking, arguing with their step parent, etc.

Overall, it was a good book for us adults to get a closer view of how the kids may feel, but we are still undecided as to whether or not to give it to the kids to read because we feel these few "segment endings" are inappropriate. It's a shame, because the majority of the book is fantastic. Fortunately, our kids are not having any huge problems, so if we decide not to pass it on it will still be okay. But still a shame because it could have been a fantastic resource for them.

Overall, I would suggest reading it yourself first and then deciding whether to pass it on to the kids.

Looking at the other reviews, I seem to be the only one that was disappointed with this book. The content is too babyish in most of it for older tweens and the more "grown up" content would be over a younger tween's head. I had a quick read through and with every paged turned, I thought duh. I'll be looking around for another book shortly.

This book was brilliant for our kids and step kids (aged 11 and 14). I dealt with so many ordinary dilemas and helped both them and us see that what they feel is normal.

This book would be a bargain at 10 times the price. Because it is presented as teens sharing their experiences and advice with other teens, it has instant credibility with kids. Meanwhile, the advice is excellent, as it comes through the filter of an extremely insightful therapist who puts the kids' happiness first. My 12 year-old stepson has been rejecting me for the past 3 years because of pressure from his mother, but when my husband gave him this book, he actually started reading it! My stepson is now beginning to stand up for his right to be kept out of the middle and we are so happy to see him feeling less conflicted. This book has given him tools to deal effectively with any unreasonable adults in his life. . . even if those adults happen to be us!

As a an author and mediator that works with stepfamilies, I do not come across books about which I say, "I wish I had written that", but Stepliving for Teens is one of those books. It's written for older adolecents and younger teens, and tackles some of the BIG subjects that really concern kids living in stepfamilies. I highly recommend this book to older kids, younger teens, and their parents and I thank the authors for writing it.