Children Books

Amazon recommended me this book quite some time ago, and I'd added it to my three-year-old son's wish list, but we hadn't actually seen it yet. Then I found out that we were going to be seeing my aunt and thought it would be a really great book for her to read for my son as part of a family project. We didn't have time to order, so called a nearby Borders to see if Library Lion was in stock. The Borders employee I talked to on the phone went to check, and when he came back to the phone, the first thing he said was, "This is SO CUTE!" My husband went to get the book, and I was delighted when I read it. The characters, details, illustrations, running themes, and subtle humor are absolutely charming. The lion is a very sympathetic character. The book was better than I'd hoped!
When my aunt arrived, it turned out that she'd just read the book for the first time the day before--her granddaughter had checked it out from the library. After reading the book for my son, she said that she was going to read the book to her kindergarten class right away!
My son loves the parts of the book where the lion roars. It's hilarious to hear a ferocious roar followed by giggles. My aunt loves the references to the no-running-in-the-library rule, and I just love the lion (and the lion statues outside the library). This book is a hit with all ages, and we highly recommend it.

What a sweet and touching story! The book is about a lion who decides to visit the library and stays. He helps out amongst the library staff and the children love him!
When someone falls and gets hurt, the lion must decide how to save them - even if it means breaking the rules.
The book is filled with beautiful pictures and a heartfelt writing style. The main characters are each unique and distinct. And there is a great message about rules being rules, but that even rules can be broken if there's a really good need for it.

I love this picture book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is tender, touching and sweet.

It's about a lion who visits the library and at first makes people nervous and nearly gets thrown out for roaring. But he returns the next day and behaves and everyone enjoys having him around, except for Mr. McBee. The Lion shows up everyday but eventually breaks a rule and even though it's with good reason, he feels he must leave the library, rules are rules after all. Surprisingly it's Mr. McBee who finds Lion and tells him that sometimes, if you have a very good reason, it is alright to break the rules.

I know it's really silly but this book gets me every time.
A beautiful book to share with your children, my kids love this one and so do I.

There are a handful of children's books that make me a little teary because they are simple and beautiful and poignant. Like The Giving Tree. All but one of them I remember from my own childhood. And then there's Library Lion. This is a beautiful feel-good story that really appeals to young kids partly because it is about both a lion and "The Rules" both of which many kids seem obsessed with. I am sure that someday my kids will read this book to their kids for the first time with a tear in their eye as they remember this story from their own childhood.

"Library Lion" is about, well, it is about many things.

First, it is a good story, a rousing story with a happy ending. Second, it is about books, how we love books and want to have them around us. Third, it is about friendship, how we can find friends in the most unusual places. Fourth, it is about duty, how we can find a place in our world and do all the things we can to make our world run smoothly.

And most importantly, "Library Lion" is about flexability. Sometimes it is necessary and good to break a rule, even though rules keep our world running smoothly. Rules are the glue in happy stories, the making of books, the binding of friendship, and the only way to make a world work without things running amok. Sometimes, we must make exceptions.

Library Lion shows up one day, roars, and learns that roaring is not appropriate in the library. He becomes useful, he becomes a backrest for students, he participates in the care of the library, and he becomes quite fond of Mrs. Merriweather, the head librarian in his new library home.

One day he breaks a major rule to help Mrs. Merriweather when she is involved in a book accident. Mr. McBee, the circulation clerk, scolds Library Lion for roaring. Library Lion disappears. Everyone is sad, especially Mrs. Merriweather. Mr. McBee searches and searches for Library Lion until he finds him and tells him that sometimes rules need to be broken to help others.

Library Lion returns and everyone is happy.

What a delightful story that teaches so many things, but the best thing is love and acceptance. Everyone should be loved and now Library Lion knows he is. The soft colors of the illustrations done in acrylic and pencil are pleasing to the eye and inviting to the imagination. This book is a must-have for all children's libraries, and of course, the home library. After all, the lion is there to help!

This book is sorely lacking an afterward describing the historical background and/or references. If it's based in reality, why the need to fictionalize the story? The actions of the Israelis appeared either unmotivated by any logic or out-and-out sadistic. The book did not build to a logical climax and resolution. The author started many plot strands that simply fizzled out--Jamal's strange behavior about the necklace, for instance, and his need of a picture of Violette. The scene where Karim studies history would have been a good place to add some objective history of the region, if the author had wanted to.

"A Little Piece of Ground" is the story of Karim Aboudi, 12, a soccer buff and computer game junkie. Like so many boys his age, Karim hopes one day to do just what he likes without parents, big brothers, or teachers telling him what to do. Unlike many other boys, though, Karim lives under Israeli occupation in Ramallah, Palestine.

"A Little Piece of Ground" shows what life is like for Palestinians who see their homes destroyed by Israeli bulldozers or face road blocks, military check points, and embarrassing strip searches, simply while trying to get to work or school.

As the story begins, Karim is confined in his small apartment, where his taunting brother, pesky sisters, and protective parents give him no rest. A two-week curfew ordered by the Israeli military prevents Karim from going to school, visiting his best friend Joni, or playing soccer with his pals. That is, until the curfew lifts and his buddies discover a wrecked space near the refugee camps, "a little piece of ground," that the boys rebuild as a soccer field. As the boys struggle to reclaim a space where they can be free, their effort symbolizes the struggle to liberate Palestine.

This book is a great book for any teen or adult. It gives the reader a great persepective of daily life in the Palestinian territories. It shows that children are children even under the most brutal of occupations. Like all children, they are growing up, trying to get independence, underestimating the dangers they face, boys liking girls, getting preoccupied with wether their friends are cool or not, boys wanting to play soccer, or computer games or whatever. All this under the shadow of Israeli collective punishment.
I wish there were more books that show the rest of the world the realities of life in the occupied territories.

This book is an authentic account of the circumstances that prevailed in Ramallah in the year 2000 and how Palestinian children were influenced by them. The main character aspires to be a champion soccer star and all he wants to do is play, play, play with his friends. The ground he lives on keeps shrinking under his feet as he and his teenage friends clear the rubble froma small lot near a refugee camp to make a soccer field. They come face to face with Israeli soldiers and tanks and are nearly killed. They survive and go on.For the first time we have a vivid and well written account of Palestinian children as human beings.

'A Little Piece of Ground' is a moving story that depicts the human aspect of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Through the eyes of Karim, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy living in captivity, Elizabeth Laird captures the endless suffering of the Palestinian people under the Israeli occupation. This book is a pressing reminder that Palestinians, both young and old, continue to long for freedom.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to hear the story told from the other side, the side that is rarely heard in the American media.

For those fortunate fans who were in the groups fan club, in 1999, could purchase it earlier on, and would get an extra page, at the front thanking fans for their support.
Ever imagine being on stage with one of the coolest bands,*NSYNC, to see what it is like to be them? "*NSIDE *NSYNC The Ultimate Official Album", delivers.
Read a day in the life of *NSYNC, leading up to their stage entrance. Hear what they are saying about fans,and life on the road.
Go backstage, meet their band. Get to recognize their security team.
View the guy's off stage antics, with each other, wherever they may be!
End your journey as the tour bus rolls out.
Look at the signs, marking their arrivals.
In closing gaze at a unique image of everyone that makes what they do possible. It's one photo , you won't ever forget!

I order the book from Amazon and I just got it today and I started to go and read it and I love it because it brings me back memores seeing them in Arizona in 1999 when I saw them it is great book. I love it a lot I can know what they do offstage this for any N'sync fans you will love reading it also it is so funny too with the pictures that they have in the book. Justin is so hot in the pictures also with the back of the book Lance is so cute sleeping.

If you like to look at tons of colorful photos of 'NSYNC, then you'll love this book! This book does not contain any new info, but it does contain tons of full page photos of all the guys during shows, backstage, and just hanging out. It's just a wonderful book for any 'NSYNC fan!

This is by far THE best ever that i have seen coming from the guys themselves, *N Sync. This book brings with itself the real lifes of these VERY talented guys. You are going to be SO entertain with its awesome pictures, that you won't even bother with the reading. You should read it, ofcourse, because that is the reason why they made this book. They want to let people know who they are and to also show the world that they are here to say. They are the best group ever. They don't have their 15 minutes of fame and leave. These guys make a mark wherever they go. Chris, Justin, JC, Joey, and Lance: Congratulations on your sellings and remember that GOD is on your side. I love you guys snoopy8876.

Tons of photos! If you haven't yet gotten to an Nsync concert, you'll feel like you have with all the pictures of the showl. And for those of you who have been lucky enough to see Nsync perform live, this book will show you what goes on before a concert.

I loved every moment of this book! I purchased this book to give me a better idea of the people and orphans of Ethiopia. I wanted to better understand their culture and have an understanding of who they are. The book illustrates how one Ethiopian woman builds a safe haven for orphaned children and shows the circumstances of each child brought to her home. It informs the reader about the aids epidemic and other diseases that have plagued this beautiful country. For anyone interested in adopting children from Ethiopia, it presents real-life stories and how adoption made a difference for them. The stories and photos are real and the author personally involved. I started to read it more slowly at the end so I wouldn't finish it, I loved it so much!

I'm writing this as the mother of an adopted Ethiopian child- I bought this book after a random search and it has been the most valuable book of our whole adoption journey. It's loaded with helpful background info on the AIDS & Orphan crises in Ethiopia, history of Ethiopia, insight into the cultural perceptions of adoption (especially by affluent, white Westerners!) and the very moving perspectives of the orphans themselves, and their Ethiopian caretakers. The heroine of this story is very real, and her character development was deep and insightful. I laid the book down several times to have a good laugh (or cry!) but could hardly keep from turning the pages. Whether you are adopting yourself, supporting someone who is, or just interested in learning more about Ethiopia and this heroine's story, I know you will come away inspired.

Author Melissa Fay Greene, who is the adoptive mother of two Ethiopian children, relates the story of Haregewoin Teferra, an Ethiopian mother who becomes the foster mother for a multitude of AIDS orphans during the height of the pandemic. Greene truthfully tells the tale without painting Teferra as a "modern day Mother Teresa," but rather as a very real and human woman who is asked by clerics to take in one abandoned orphan after another. A grieving mother whose adult daughter died from AIDS, Teferra discovers that helping the children provides her with a means of overcoming her grief. The individual stories of these "lost children" who arrive on Teferra's doorstep are riveting, as is Greene's account of the assimilation of her adoptive children into her family. Accompanying photos show children shortly after they arrived in very bad shape at Treferra's compound and then later with adoptive American families.
Greene spares no one as she rails against the pharmaceutical companies that withheld AIDS medications from third-world countries at the height of the pandemic, causing the loss of a whole generation of parents. Despite having no drugs to help the children, hit-or-miss medical care, and scarce food for all, Teferra does her best to feed, clothe, house, and educate the orphans put in her care. Although one might think that this book is a "downer," it is a very uplifting page-turner that relates the indominable spirit of one Ethiopian woman and her many foster children.

Melissa Faye Green is an excellent writer. She is a true artist painting a vivid picture of scenes, and weaving historical, political and social aspects of the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic. This is an incredibly powerful book. It is not easy to read due to the difficult emotional toll it can take on one, but I felt morally obligated to read it, so that I wasn't just shutting out the devastating misery suffered by so many millions. She portrays the human face of this awful disease with poignancy. It is an inspiring and human story of one woman's efforts to alleviate her own and others suffering. God bless Melissa for opening our eyes.

This was a wonderful book! Having myself been to Addis Ababa recently (July 07) with my daughter to pick up her adopted Ethiopian baby boy (4 months old), you can just imagine how this story of one woman's love for so many orphans resonated with me. The book is a quick read -- something interesting in every chapter. The author intertwined Haregewoin's up and down story with bits of Ethiopian history and the unwinding spread and theories of HIV-AIDs plus added her own experience with H. and the adoption her own Ethiopian children -- which made the reader come away with a true cultural experience. H. is truly a "Mother Theresa" figure and an inspiration to all women. Thank you, Melissa, for introducing us to her. I really enjoyed having the photos of many of the children and their adoptive families to relate to. I will be sure that my daughter reads this book and I have suggested it to my book club in Boulder, CO which will read it in the fall. -- Gayle Weiss

I read this book to my kids and have rediscovered it for my nieces and nephews in the age range of 8-12. Great illustrations and imagination

This was always my favorite childhood book. I was so excited to get it for my own childeren. Received on time and in excellent condition. Thanx!

My boys, ages 6 and 7, love this book. The art work is fantastic, and the story is great. We have read it many times and sometimes we just look at the pictures, which are so full of detail.

I would highly recommend it.

I really enjoy the rainbow goblins, it's a beautiful book, with the exception that the author has blatant homosexual acts going on in a kids book. Next time you read rainbow goblins look at the red and orange goblin, they are always touching each other in every page. I know most people would say that's meaningless but on the page that they all get tangled up, it is very obvious what they are doing to each other. On that page it shows one mounted on the other in a very blatant sexual position, and I'm positive it was not a slip of the illustrators hand.

I have all the same things to say as everyone else. I loved this as a kid, my copy was all torn apart, the artwork is stunning, etc., etc.

The story is lovely and teaches a lesson. My 2-year old likes this story because of the illustrations and the COLORS. He likes to name the colors of the goblins. Of course, he does not really understand the story, which is good, because it might be a bit scary for little kids. By the time he does understand, it won't be scary anymore, and he will already have gotten a couple years of enjoyment out of the book just based on the pictures and colors.

I completely recommend this book for all children's libraries and collections.

I've read alot of books.. Richie has to be my favorite Author, she is genius her plots are amazing. and she knows how to make you feal just like teh charcter, I have to say i prefer her series the unseen, but this is probably my favorite book of hers after those..

Meg and Hannah get stranded in their house when a snow storm hits.
Their mom and dad are stuck at the airport and can't get home.Hannah broke up with her boyfriend.He calls the house and tells Hannah he knows she's seeing someone else and that he'll kill her first before he let's someone else have her.Then Meg hears about a escaped killer on the loose and he's headed their way.Suddenly two strangers show up at their door claiming to have had a car accident. One of the is bleeding so Meg feels sorry for them and let's them in.Then alot of weird things happen like
their axe is missing ,also their dog,the snowman, the face in the window with the ski mask.Is it Kurt trying to scare Hannah or is it the escaped Killer? Or are the strangers Lance and Jhonathan who they really say they are?

Someone at the Door is the best most suspenseful book I've ever read! It has only one little inappropriate part, but i read it and never even think about it. the characters are all teens. The parents of two young girls are gone. Then, two young strangers show up at their door. This is a whirlwind of suspense and murder!!!!!!!!! you'll love it!!!!!!!!
It's da bomb!

This book is about Hannah and her younger sister Meg who is in ninth grade. They get stranded at home during a huge blizzard, and their parents are not home (I forget where they are), so it is just the two of them and their dog. To make matters worse, the two girls heard on the radio that there is a killer loose.

The first night of the blizzard, there is a knock on the door. Two young men, Lance and Jonathon, have been hurt and need a place to stay to wait out the blizzard. At first Hannah is wary about letting them in the house since they are strangers, but she lets them in anyways. During the next few days, strange things begin to happen that can't be explained. Hannah doesn't know who to suspect for these strange happenings, especially because she doesn't even know these two guys.

The ending of this book is very brilliant and unpredictable, simply because it does not end like usual scary stories. On the other hand, the ending was a bit disappointing to me because it wasn't as fun as I had hoped it to be. However, I am sure that this is because I have read too many generic horror stories. I really think that fans of Cusick's will enjoy it, but it was not my favorite book written by her.

Someone at the Door has been one of the best books i have ever read. I can read it over and over again. I have pretty much worn out the book that I have. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to anybody. It has everything suspence, romance, and a crazy twist.

I loved the Sudden series when I was a boy - and, aged 45, I still have hung on to all 15 of them. They have survived wave after wave of book culls - so they must have something special about them. I too wish some publisher would reissue them all with quality covers. I have the Corgi edition with Sudden in bold and really good cover illustrations - some of the later editions were'nt as attractive.

I have 'spare' copies for sale of Sudden Makes War (Corgi, 1963 -good condition); Sudden Marshal of Lawless (Corgi 1963 - fair condition - slightly torn pages); Sudden Rides Again (Corgi 1975 edition, good condition); and Sudden Takes the Trail (Corgi 1969 - half front cover misssing).

I love western novels but I have never read a western novel to beat those of the Sudden series. I started reading those novels from my early teans and to this day I never stopped for I have read those that I have over and over again. I used to have the whole series but over the years with friends borrowing I am reduced to eight - Marshal of lawless, Rides again, The law of the Lariat, Plays a hand, Takes the Trail, The Range Robbers, outlawed and Makes war. I wish I could lay my hands on the others especially Sudden, Goldseeker, Strikes back, Goldseeker, Deal or Alive, Apache Fighter. If anyone has those and to sell please contact me for I would love to own them again.

I've read all of the Sudden Books as a pre-teen and teenager back on my island in the Caribbean. Simply the best. I looked beyond some of the controversial words and focused on the storyline. Not to make light of some of the language used.
I had all of the books and loaned them to friends, never to be returned.
I am now trying to start my collection all over again and it's costing me a fortune. No Sudden novel is a bad novel.

The entire series "Sudden", by Oliver Strange is undoubtedly the best Western series I have ever encountered in any form. Its been at least 20 years since I've read a copy, but i still feel that high level of excitement that I felt back in high school when I was addicted to the series.
Unfortunately I no longer have any copies of this great novel and I would like to purchase the whole series from anyone out there who would like to sell their copies. Please email me at harveylevers@hotmail.com if you are able to help me !

My biggest hero-"SUDDEN"- since i was just a kid,devouring all 15 'sudden' books from o.strange/f.christian.Funny thing ,since i left them all back home in Guyana when i migrated to New York some 27 years ago, i thought i'd be able to accquire all of them here -big mistake- didn't realize these precious books were actually published in the UK and sadly they are no longer available anywhere.In these troubled times the world need someone like Jim Green alias "SUDDEN" with his quiet cool,sobering demeanor,cocky confidence and deadly accuracy with his two tied down six-guns,shooting from the hips and one by one' slowly but surely eradicating all the varmints and sidewiners thus giving back towns/cities to the righteous, law-abiding and god fearing folks rightfully what are theirs: freedom,peace and happiness and a bright future for our kids . Any one of u "SUDDENITES" who has some extra copies of sudden, a sho' am glad to do business with u and am mighty oblige .I still don;t see the big deal with the hero 's horse name n---er ,aw shucks well lets' rename him TRIGGER or somthin . Seems like all around me i hear the n word being used so loosely by the same people who is making a big stink about a silly horse name whose storied episodes were written in a time when there was no political correctness .Lets' start a "SUDDEN" society and see if we all can be a hero and try to save these really great books from going to 'PURGURATORY ' so lovers of sudden can once more feel and re-live those glorious moments in days of old of the wild west. Methinks mebbe some publishers who've seen all these glowing reviews can find a way to get these golden oldies back in circulation if only for a limited tme so i can get me the entire collection once more and treasure them for what they really are ,just plain ole fun reading that helped build character and discipline in me .. S'long partner...

In some (if not all) of the versions of the Teen Study Bible I have noticed just one of the Dear Sam letters that I don't agree with. When Sam wrote back to someone saying Blasphemy is an unforgivalble sin, I knew unless you reformed and turned to GOD, blasphemy can indeed be forgiven. It is a wonderful thing what Jesus, Son of God has done for us! To forgive all our sins. No sin is unforgivable. No sin is. Not one. The only way a sin is unforgivable is if you commit sins and never accept what Jesus did. Then how could your sins be forgiven? The choice of accepting Christ as savior is a matter of eternal life and death. Jesus makes it very clear that HE is the truth, the way, and the life!God is all powerful! In Luke 10 it says that "Whoever sins against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." That verse merely means that only if you sin and do evil things against the Holy Spirit, you apparently do not have the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit, you can't accept Christ.
However, maybe Sam knew that. (And I'm sure she did). I just think it could be more clear. It is completely your choice wheather to NEVER accept Jesus, therefore if you are WILLING to avoid the point where you hate the Holy Spirit and never WANT to come back into the grace if GOD, than you shall be saved! The LORD is wonderful. Sam's letters are great and empowering. Jesus loves Sam spreading HIS WORD.

This is a GREAT Bible for teens because it is understandable, yet not cheesy. I love it! It makes it understandable and it includes a Bible Study plan showing what book of the bible to start and show how often you should read to finish it in 1 year or 2 years. Also includes real life situations...questions, answers, THIS is the book you need to get through LIFE!!

Being 14 years old I thought that the only Christan stuff cool enough for me was hardcore Chirstan rock. This book has proved me wrong. I know that BEHOLD THE BOOGNISH! I WILL CONQUER YOU AND YOUR PATHIC SHEEPISH WAYS everything about the Bible is totally awesome!...

My mom says that when she was, like, a teen or something, she couldn't understand the bible because it said like "Thou" and stuff and other words that sound like books written by old people. That's why she went to the mall and got me this bible because it's more, like, modern or something? Whatever -- it ROCKS.

The Bible normally seems confusing, rigid, and boring. This Bible is quite the opposite! The bible is colorful, easy-to read and UNDERSTAND! It definately makes the bible enjoyable and fun. The notes and other added things really help teens. I got this Bible as a 18 year old and still interesting at 19(although I am thinking about up-grading to a Woman's Bible).

Definately recommend to any pre-teen or teen!

It's been 15 years since I first encountered this book - part of a vocabulary challenge in the sixth grade. I still remember most of the stories, and I must have infuriated my parents using each word incessantly as I learned it. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I love this book.This book is one of the best books ever.The reason why I gave this book five stars because its funny and senstive. My favorite word was laxcity.Laxcity means that you dont even care about whats gioing on.I think that this book is good for all ages. I hope that you read this fantastic book.

This animated book gives children a new way to learn the definitions of words. It was highly recomended to me, and I loved it!

I use this book with my third grade students. We read a story per week. Many of their parents tell me it becomes a topic of conversation each week as the child teaches Mom and Dad a new word. It is fantastic.

This book is one of the best books I had ever read in my life.I would recommend this book to every one because its funny and great.

i read this book when i was 12yrs old and i promised myself that i would go to korea and to the dmz zone to see what she described in the book. i am now 23 yrs old and i have spent 18months in korea and am learnig to speak korean as well. when i visted the dmz i was moved to tears, with memories from this book. This book is recommended for young readers but as an adult, u would like this too. I am buying this book now b/c it is worth it 100%.

This book is about a 10 year old girl named Sookan and she lives with her mother, grandfather,aunt, and little brother. They live in North Korea in 1945. Her and her mother and aunt work in a sock factory for the Japanese soliders in World War II. They had a Captain Narita and he came by and it was her sister's birthday and mother went to go get a book from older sister at the convent. Mother gave it to her and Captain Narita told his men to destroy it. Sookan's mother can't even have a garden or else Captain Narita will have his men step on them. Her father is in the military and her sister is in a convent. Also, her older brothers were sent away tp labor camps. The war ends and the Japanese lose. The Russions take over North Korea and brainwash them into loving Russia, so Sookan and her brother must go to South Korea because she thinks that her dad and older brothers and sister are waiting for them. She hopes she will find freedom in South Korea. I think that is really sad to not have your father around or older brothers and to have to work in the sock factory. Also, I liked how her and her brother stood side by side. This book is a Fantasy book and the theme is Fictional.

Sookan is a 10-year old girl living in Korea in 1945. The Japanese have taken over and force communist ideas and laws onto the Koreans. Each day, Captain Narita inspects the house and backyard. Their backyard holds a shack that is used for sock-making. The sock-girls would work day and night trying to meet their quotas. Koreans are deprived of rice and money. The children, including Sookan and her brother Inchun, have to attend a very strict Japanese run school. When the Japanese leave, the Koreans rejoice, but are shortly taken over by the Russians. Things begin to get worse, and Sookan, with her mother and brother, try desperately to escape to the South where the Americans are.

This historical fiction book takes you along the incredible journey of 2 children as they take drastic forms of lifestyles to earn the freedom they deserve. The beginning of this book started out slow, but took fast pace when the Russians were introduced. The author has a wonderful writing style that truly makes you feel like you are part of the story, especially near the end. This is my favorite book and I recommend it to everybody of all ages. Do not miss out on this surprisingly realistic journey.

Sookan is ten years old, living in Korea with her mother, grandfather, aunt, cousin, and little brother. World War II is going on and things are very hard in Korea. The Japanese forces are in control of their country and they treat the Korean people like slaves in their own home, making them give up all valuables to help the Japanese army, putting them to work making clothing for the Japanese and sending the children to schools where they make weapons and learn propaganda about the Japanese army. More than anything, Sookan wishes she were with her father, her older sister or her three older brothers, who are all far away. Her father is working with the resistance forces, her brothers have been taken away to labor camps and her sister is in a convent.

Then after what seems like an eternity of being at war and under Japanese control, the war is over and the Japanese have lost. Sookan and her family think that things will be much better now, but then they find that their country has been divided into two parts. Rather than being helped by the Americans as they'd hoped, they are instead under Russian control, and the Russians seem determined to brainwash everyone into loving Russia. They make everyone go to meetings to show their support and those in authority are constantly looking for traitors. It becomes clear to Sookan's mother that they need to get to South Korea where the Americans are, and where she expects Sookan's father and brothers may be waiting for them. But will Sookan and her little brother be able to make the journey to safety?

I liked the descriptions of what life in Korea was like during the war. It's hard to imagine what was going on in other countries when we mostly hear about what was happening in our country. I also liked the interaction between Sookan and her brother. They were really nice to each other and probably wouldn't have made it without each other's help.

It was sad to read about the lives of the Koreans during the war; it sounds like such a horrible way for anyone to spend a childhood.

You MUST read this book and the two other books by Choi-Echoes of White Giraffe & Gathering of Pearls. All three books are written from Sookan's perspective, as she grows up in the midst of the Japanese occupation, the war and in America, as a foreign college student. Aside from the cultural issues, as well as historic issues, the plot flows very well. The stories are very personal & honest. I really enjoyed these books and I know that when my kids, ages 5 and 9, get a little older, they will also. These are enjoyable and educational stories.