Suicide Books

I bought this book after watching the "Witness to Jonestown" documentary on MSNBC a few weeks ago. Layton was one of the featured former members, and I had high hopes for her book after seeing the high ratings it earned here. It didn't entirely disappoint -- the section that dealt specifically with Layton's escape was excellent, really suspenseful and riveting. I found myself holding my breath through whole paragraphs.

Unfortunately, I had some real problems with this book -- namely Layton herself, the beginning, and her distortion of reality over her brother. The first section of the book is all about Layton, her privileged childhood, her excellent eduction, and what a completely ungrateful brat she was. I disliked her from the start, and unfortunately this never changes. Some of her decisions are utterly horrifying, such as leaving her dying mother behind to die in agony, alone in the hell of Jonestwon. Also, while Layton is clearly an intelligent and educated person, she swallowed (or claims to have swallowed) laughable nonsense like "all men but Jim are homosexuals." WHAT? I found that hard to believe, but she insists that she was an innocent naif who knew nothing of the world (unlikely) and couldn't have known better. Also, she never objected to people being humiliated and beaten before she was living in Jonestown. It wasn't until her own life was miserable that she decided that those things might be a problem.

And then her "oh well, they didn't die" attitude towards her brother's victims (nice how she doesn't mention that he SHOT THEM IN THE BACK, huh?) stripped away the last bit of respect that I had for her. The final section of the book, which might have been better used for discussion on what she's learned from her ordeal, is spent trying to convince us that her brother is wrongly imprisoned. I personally have no problem with someone serving a long sentence for the attempted murder of two people, and was all the more irritated with this author for her questionable moral barometer.

Book came within a short time and was in the shape that seller told it was in and even better.

I have been fascinated with the Jonestown story ever since the first reports of the massacre emerged in '78. The combination of elements; the jungle, a charismatic leader, poisoned flavor aid and an assasinated congressman all made for an irresistable tale. The action plays out more like a novel than a real life event. The cult story has been told several times, but always by outsiders. Now we have an eyewitness account from Debbie Layton, a top officer in the People's Temple.

Seductive Poison is not written in the professional style of other books, and it is all the more authentic because of it. Enough reviews have been written already, so I will not get into details, but will comment on a few aspects. First of all, this book will hold your attention and is never dull at any point. The ending will bring a stoic to tears. And if the description of Layton's escape from Guyana does not send shivers down your spine, you need to see a doctor.

In the end one cannot help but reflect on all the victims and what could have been. Children could have grown, lives of a sort lived out in the Jungle or elsewhere. Instead over 900 were snuffed out in hours of madness, part of one the strangest events on record.

I had seen a documentary a while back on PBS, and Deborah Layton was one of the many former members and survivors who gave commentary on People's Temple and specifically the Rev. Jim Jones. In introducing Layton, there was a marker under her name that indicated she had written a book titled, Seductive Poison, on the infamous death cult. I ordered it. All I can say is that Layton's memoir is an altogether fascinating read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, because her very detailed account is absolutely all consuming, riveting in the best sense of the word when it pertains to memoirs; no stone is left unturned, and all the recollections are thoroughly laced together to form a disturbing portrait of how and why seemingly normal and intelligent people get emeshed in cults. And when they realize that they are in one it is often too late. Deborah Layton, among others, were the lucky ones.

Jim Jones was the charismatic pastor of the Disciples of Christ, a liberal Protestant denominationin that was a member of the National Council of Churches; it too was the division that housed People's Temple. Combining Scripture and Christian dogma with Marxist and Leninist philosophies, he espoused the concept of Liberation Theology, in essence, creating a social Gospel where people of all classes, colors, economic levels, ages and education would be a part of. In addition to the questionable socialist teachings, Jim Jones love-bombed his congregation, telling them how special and unique and important they were in the eyes of Jesus Christ, how what he required was the will of God, for he was supposedly the microphone of the Holy Trinity. And who can fight that concept? Bit by bit, people gradually gave their will over to him, assuming that his Divine influence was beyond question. And gradually, they became automatons, shadows of their former selves doing the will of their Father.

Aside from the fact that Seductive Poison is beyond exceptionally well written, it is the inside details that Layton offers that makes her memoir especially pulsating, particularly her details on the "white night", where members were so deeply indoctrinated that they on many an evening had practice drills to drink the cyanide laced punch. She also gives vivid details on the types of punishment used in Jonestone. The evil perpetrated upon children was especially disturbing: "...There was also the Well, a punishment used especially for children. They would be taken to the well in the dark of night, hung upside down by a rope around their ankles, and dunked into the water again and again while someone hidden inside the Well grabbed at them to scare them."--Page 176.

The spying, turning against loved ones, cruel assorted punishments, disturbing and nonsensical harangues all kept people in line until they flew off Guyana, to the Promise Land. Yet it was anything but that, and many had to suppress their inner feelings of disappointment for fear of severe retribution.

There is a lot to say about this work; it raises serious questions and offers important answers, paramount being that individualism is indeed a very good thing and following your own will is not something to be taken for granted. It also sheds light on why people join cults, to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to live in a community where those who have nothing have something of far greater worth: love.

Seductive Poison works as sociology, history, a family record, psychology, autobiography; it works on so many fronts and conveys so much. Religion is a good thing, but sometimes it is best to appreciate it from afar.

I read this book in 3 days. I couldn't put it down. It keeps you wanting to know more! It made me sick how many people were involved with such a mind-freak! They didn't even recognize what was going on. This is a must read!

I liked The Wind Blows Backward a lot, its one of my favorites, a classic realistic fiction book about a love story, I normally don't like love stories, but this one has action in it too, and it makes it interesting.
A girl named Lauren who didn't have a lot of friends, just a few, was in love with a jock named Spencer. Lauren and Spencer were friends throughout middle school, but lost touch in high school.
Spencer got in touch with Lauren and started to date her. Because secretly they both loved each other.
One night, Spencer had tried to do something terrible to himself because of his past life, which put him in shock trauma in the hospital.
Everybody knew something was wrong with Spencer, they just didn't know what. What could have been wrong with Spencer that led him to try and possibly kill himself?
Find out for yourself by reading this book The Wind Blows Backward, it's a great story and is interesting all the way through, I recommend this book to everyone who loves love stories but more so of action, you would want to read this book. I loved this book a lot it will definitely go on my top list of favorite books that I've read, if you read it too, I bet you would say the exact same.

I liked The Wind Blows Backward a lot, its one of my favorites, a classic realistic fiction book about a love story, I normally don't like love stories, but this one has action in it too, and it makes it interesting.
[...] Find out for yourself by reading this book The Wind Blows Backward, it's a great story and is interesting all the way through, I recommend this book to everyone who loves love stories but more so of action, you would want to read this book. I loved this book a lot it will definitely go on my top list of favorite books that I've read, if you read it too, I bet you would say the exact same.

This book made me feel things I hadn't felt in a long time.I had always thought my favorite book was a book serise(sp) by Lisi Harrison.My best friend found this book a few years ago in 5th grade.She let me read a few lines in the book and I thought they were intresting.We're in 7th now I finally got to read it.I felt the world around me disappear as I read through the book nonstop for hours on end.This book made me realize what I've been hideing from everyone else my whole life and that I've been depressed for years.But I also realize most of my friends are that way and we can work through it.I grew up with out both my mother and father to be there for me so I can relate to Lauren and Spencer in this book.Out of 1 to 5 stars I give this books 10000000000.I cried so hard when Spencer rode away on the motorcycle,drunk from champaigne,leaveing Lauren to chase after him in the pouring rain.I can't tell you how much tissue I used reading this book.I'm reading again and am almost finished with it.I'll probably read it 10 times before I have to return it to the library.I hope they make this book into a movie,me friend and I would see it the second it came out and she'd laugh at how emotional i am,she always does.She can't really ever understand why people are different.But oh well.I highly recoment this book be read by the entire world!!!!!!!!!

Lauren and Jake were the best of friends all during middle school. They both loved books and fantasy stories. Once Highschool folled around Lauren and Jake slowly drifted apart. Jake became popular and is the star track runner. Lauren is left in the dust working at the local library. The one day during senior year Jake walks in the library with his girlfriend and was looking for a book for their english class and he starts talking to lauren. At first Lauren is mad at Jake, but eventually they became friends again. Once Jake broke up with his girlfriend, he asks out Lauren. They hit it off great and talked about almost everything. As the weeks pass though Lauren can tell Jake is hiding somthing. It turns out When Jake was a little kid his father commited suicide and has carried that with him all these years because no one knows he knew that he knew the truth about his fathers death. As the story continues Lauren and Jake struggle with their relationship and wonder if their love is strong enough to keep Jake from making the same mistake his father did.
I would recomend this book to anyone who enjoy suspenceful love stories.This book also has some mystery to it. I think this was a very realistic book and it could happen in real life. It really makes you think about life. I enjoyed this book very much.

The Wind Blows Backward
By: Mary Downing Hahn


Lauren is shy, insecure, and smart. What could she possibly want with the big man on campus, Spencer? Better yet, what would he want with her? Still recovering from their unexpected split as friends in middle school, Lauren wonders whether or not to let Spencer back in. Spencer struggling with his own dark past presses his emotional feelings on Lauren. Will they stay strong or fall apart due to Spencer's dark moods? Mary Downing Hahn brings such a realness and life to the characters in such a way you relate to them almost instantaneously and you feel like they relate to you. If you love suspense, love, tragedy, and teen angst, then The Wind Blows Backward is the book for you. I recommend it to anyone who wants something they can relate to and can't put down.

On June l9, 2008 we euthanized 3 canine friends we had had for many years. Why all together? Two of the dogs were mother and son--the mother in advanced senility and other health issues and her son was completely paralyzed with hip displasia. Louie, the youngest, was dying with cancer. They came together as rescues and were close friends for many years. Thank you, Christine Davis, for this enchanting book. Thank you for letting us think that perhaps they are truly together and no longer in pain.

Her dog had just passed away and she was grieving. I sent her this book and a few days later she called me to say it made a big difference in her life.

This is the sweetest heartfelt little book. It made me smile and cry. I recently lost my "Forever Dog" of 11 years. Worth buying.

maybe this would make you feel better. In my case, nothing really helped when I lost my dog. This book didn't really do it for me.

I wouldn't really be able to give it as a gift to someone either, just don't like the religous overtones.

I purchased this book for a friend who had just lost her beloved dog. I took the opportunity to read it before sending it to her and instantly fell in love with it. What a wonderful, comforting book for anyone whether they be a child or adult. It gives us all hope that there really is a special place for our pets after they have passed on.

Lori Schiller has written a riveting account of her descent into schizophrenia, her many years of suffering and her courageous breakthrough. It's an amazing true story that is sure to touch you in many ways.

In this riveting memoir, Ms. Schilling recounts in detail her spiraling descent into mental illness, which began in adolescence, at camp, when she first heard the voices that she would fight for the rest of her life. Her heartbreaking narrative about this debilitating disease, schizophrenia, gives us all a compassion for these victims that we may not have had before. Her poignant tale reminds all of us who have our mental health intact just how lucky we really are.

The subject is explored from many angles. Her roommate helplessly stands by, knowing something is wrong but not knowing what to do. Her distraught parents are tortured by the worry that they may have caused this. Her distressed brother worries that the disease may strike him next. The story is told through chapters in the first person written by all those touched by Lori's illness, including hospital notes and a long chapter by Dr. Dollar, one of the two doctors who finally broke through to Lori with extensive therapy and the help of a new experimental medication.

Her courageous battle gives hope to all of us, those who have a battle of their own to wage, as well as those in the life of someone who does. I cried when Doctor Fischer left, and I cried when Lori finally put the hospitals behind her to start a new life on her own, a successful life filled with the love of family and friends.

"At last, my life is my own."

This book helps see into the confused world of mental illness like no other. Wonderful & hopeful!

This is a book that not only educates but provides the reader with a new compassion for those who deal with mental illness. Ms. Schiller presents a very complete picture of the sufferings of the mentally ill. From her writing, I gained a new perspective- including greater compassion- for those who are victims of this awful illness. I have only the highest praise for her honesty, her insight and her struggle. She is to be highly commended. A definite read.

This is a unique and beautiful book. Any person with interests in Psychiatry or Mental Health issues must read it. It's the first time I experienced what a schizophrenic felt first hand. A must-read!

Another hit for Kunati publishing! Cheryl Kaye Tardiff's story of a young girl's struggle to leave her home in Wyoming to move to Canada with her parents touches the very soul of the reader. Change is hard for any age. Cheryl weaves the uncertain path of life, death and recovery with a golden needle. Many times I found myself fighting back the tears because of the grip of real-life emotion. It's a great read for any age and the valuable 'lessons' portrayed are bone jarring. There has been talk of making the book into a movie and I'd love to be the first in line! Great Work Cheryl Kay Tardif!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book other than there would be whales in it. The summary above comes from the back of the book and doesn't say much. I'll tell you a little more about the book so you can properly decide if it's your kind of book but don't worry, I'd never reveal too much or spoil and ending.

The main character is an 11 year old girl whose family moves to a small town where most of the inhabitants are Native Canadians. The book is Children's Fiction but for older children, say 12 and up. A large portion of the book has stories, myths and history of Native Canadians, specifically Huuayaht. I found this very interesting.

Also, since the summary says a tragedy will happen but doesn't specify anything, you don't know where or when it will happen. I don't know if it was on purpose or not but quite a few times the words made me think the tragedy would happen next and I was wrong. As an adult, later on in the book I figured out what the tragedy would be although I wasn't sure who did it. I had an idea and it did turn out to be right but I could just have easily been wrong. I don't think a child reader would be guess what the tragedy would be.

Another common occurrence in this book is bullying and the book teaches good lessons about it. It may be a good book to give to a child who is being bullied just as a fun read but with underlying lessons.

Overall I enjoyed the book although I did find my mind wandering a bit. The writing style didn't pull me into it's hold until the second half of the book.

This is going to be an unusual review for me. I too am an author and I have also read other works by this immensely talented woman and also interviewed her. I also have a suggestion but I will mention that again at the end of this review. I'm also a two time war veteran and retired Marine.

There is a common misconception about Marines. I.e. "Dumb Jar Heads!" The truth of the matter is, and this applies to all ranks. Many "Marines" are some of the most well read individuals you will ever meet in your life! And the reason for that is "Down Time" and I am sure this also applies to the sister services as well. I do suffer from PTSD so my memory isn't what it use to be, but I do remember being on a field op in Big Island Hawaii.

I walked up on a Cpl and he was engrossed in a book. I watched him for a while and I could see the emotions on his face and how he was holding back tears. Big burly guy with muscles in his eye brows I might add.

Watcha reading? I startled him, and he tried to hide his emotions and then he gave up trying.

"You have GOT TO READ THIS BOOK!!!"

Me and about five others did. I also knew after reading that book, what everyone I cared about was getting from me for Christmas.

"Whale Song" is just such a book as well!

The only other book I've done that with is "The Bridges Of Madison County" by Robert James Waller.

Something else that has touched me in a way that "Whale Song" has touched me is the movie by Sean Penn called "Into The Wild." If I had Sean Penn's personal mailing address I would be sending him a copy of "Whale Song" so he could turn it into a movie and I know he would do so superbly!

Buy this book as a Christmas present for those you love and believe me when I say this, it is a gift that will last a life time!

Oh and as far as my suggestion I said I would address in the end?

Have tissues handy because this book will not only tug on your heart strings, I can say for myself, it basically tore quite a few out!!!

And one last thing...

The book me and others read in the field and knew it was a sure fire, can't miss gift for those we loved for Christmas?

It is called.

"The Note Book" by Nicholas Sparks.

"Whale Song"

Is not only that good...

It just might be considered by some, better.

I know if I had to chose, I wouldn't be able to.

Respectfully

Chase Von

Your Chance to Hear The Last Panther Speak
The Last Panther

In the summer of 1977, eleven-year-old Sarah Richardson is filled with trepidation and resentment when her father's new job forces her to leave her home and best friend in Wyoming to relocate in the remote town of Bamfield on Vancouver Island. But these feelings fade when she sees her gorgeous new home overlooking the ocean and befriends and Indian (a term commonly used for First Nations people in 1977) girl named Goldie. Of course, her idyllic summer with her parents and Goldie doesn't last. Once school begins, Sarah endures long, painful lessons about bullying, racial hatred, and family tragedy.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif's WHALE SONG is an unusual mystery. Although the story opens with an adult Sarah reflecting back on the summer that changed her life, she eases into eleven-year-old Sarah's point of view as the story unfolds, turning the book into a young adult novel. But then grownup Sarah slides briefly back into the story with ominous foreshadowing about events she wished she'd seen coming.

The other unique aspect is that the mystery doesn't occur until two thirds into the book. Certainly, the reader feels tension building among main characters and a grim situation inevitably spiraling out of control. But death, a police investigation, and murder charge don't occur until the reader knows the Richardson family so well that we feel their anguish. Some mystery fans might loathe the pacing of events, yet it's important to understand that mystery is only one facet of this multi-layered story. Crime might not be center stage in WHALE SONG, however, it's essential to the story.

Cross-genre novels are hard to pigeonhole, and this one will be a challenge for librarians and booksellers. WHALE SONG is an elegantly written, heartbreaking blend of friendships lost and gained, family tragedy, spirituality, death, guilt, punishment, and forgiveness. This is a lot to incorporate into one novel, but Tardif does it beautifully in a mere 199 pages. If you want something different in a mystery, WHALE SONG is a compelling story you won't forget any time soon.

11-year-old Sarah and her parents, Daniella (an artist), and Jack (a marine biologist), move to Canada from the States. Sarah is not happy about the move but she starts warming up to the idea when she sees their beautiful new house located right along the beach that has an amazing view. She's even more happy when she meets Goldie. The two quickly become best friends. Sarah loves Goldie's family, especially her grandmother who they call Nana most of the time. Goldie is of Indian descent (along with most of the other people in the town where Sarah is living), so Sarah learns new traditions and tales from the past.

Sarah develops a crush on a boy in her class, Adam. She also gets bullied by a girl named Annie. But for the most part she likes her new home. She especially loves going out on the schooner with her parents and listening to the whales, which are Sarah and her mother's new love.

Not long after being in their new home, Sarah's mom starts having fainting spells. It is discovered that she has a rare condition that is slowly wasting her away. When Sarah finds this out she's devastated. Unfortunately, there's nothing anyone can do for her mother. Her doctors only give her about two to three more years to live, max.

When Daniella eventually ends up in a coma, something happens and she dies. Jack (Sarah's father) is arrested for pulling the plug on the machines that were keeping his wife alive. Sadly, after his long-awaited court date, the jury finds him guilty and he's sentenced to ten years in prison.

Sarah has to go back to the U.S. with her grandparents and leave everything behind once again. She tries to block out all that has happened to her back in Canada, even the good things. But when she's older (in her 20's), someone comes along and opens her floodgates (so to speak), and she once again remembers everything, including how her mother died.

This was an incredibly hard book to write a summary of. So much happens in WHALE SONG that it's hard to cover the basic things in a short summary. Just go read the book and you'll find out how wonderful it is! It's completely heart wrenching because you know all along that Daniella is dying. But the whole book is just amazing.

I seriously never wanted to put it down. Ms. Tardif's use of words is incredible, like when she's talking about the killer whales or describing scenery. They just flow so easily across every page. My heartstrings were being pulled the entire time and I absolutely loved it. If you like these type of books, I seriously recommend getting yourself a copy. You seriously won't be disappointed. And yes, I know I just overused the word seriously -- sorry!

Reviewed by: Breanna F.

This book Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever; is about a girl named Melissa and her struggle with getting leukemia again. Jory is Melissa's best friend and she throws a party at the beach for Melissa, because she was one of the finalists for a National Merit Scholarship. It is at this party that Jory finds out Melissa's Leukemia is back. The first time Melissa was able to have chemo therapy but this time Melissa has to have a bone marrow transplant and her brother is the bone marrow donor. For a long time Melissa is sick after receiving the bone marrow. To help pay for the medical bills Melissa's best friend Jory has a carnival and calls it Melissa Austin Day, all the money raised and donated on that day goes towards paying the medical bills. Also Jory is able to get her parents (who are rich) to get their friends to donate money to Melissa's family. Later the bone marrow ends up taking and then Melissa gets sick from meningitis.
I liked this book because it is sad and touching how Jory is such a good friend to help Melissa's family by raising money to help pay the medical bills. If I was ever sick I hope my friends would care enough to do the same for my family. It shows me how bad thing happen to good people even when they don't deserve to have this happen to them.
There is not anything that I did not like about this book. I found it a very fast reading book and hard to put down.
The author of this book, Lurlene McDaniel, is one of my favorite authors. I like her books because they are touching and have a lot to do with people with illnesses and real life issues.

What a great book Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever is! It is the sequel to Too Young To Die. I recommend that you read Too Young To Die first, in order to understand better this one. This book is about two best friends, Jory and Melissa, and about Melissa fighting with leukemia. It is really a very sad story, it almost made my cry! I felt as if I knew Melissa myself and I was watching her suffering leukemia and the bone marrow transplant. I wish I had a friend like that, who would always be with me, no matter what! And I really liked the way Michael (Melissa's brother) and Jory's relationship ended being much better in the end.

Have you ever stopped and thought life is too short so enjoy it? If you have not you need to read the book called Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever by Lurlene McDaniel. The reason why you should read it is because it proves we get so wrapped up with school and jobs. That we hardly ever stop and give thanks for the time we have now.

A girl named Jory found out life was to short. Jory Delaney's best friend since 5th grade Melissa Austin found out 1year ago when she was 16 that she had leukemia a type of cancer. It changed Melissa's life and Jory's. Melissa started chemo and it caused her to start loosing hair, she had to stay out of the sun and she had to be careful not get way to excited. It also caused her to start loosing weight and caused her to loose her skin color and became really pail. She ended up getting better then it turned and she got worse. She ended up having to go to the hospital again. Do you want to know more? If so, read the book and you'll find out the rest of the story.

It's through this experience and loss that Jory came to realize you should live life to its fullest because you really don't know how long you got to live. Make sure thought that you are safe because you could be the one that causes it to end sooner that it should.

Sometimes the things we see and experience through life teaches us the importance of life. That is why I thank Lurlene McDaniel for teaching me the importance of life in the book Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever. Not only Jory gets to experience that lesson but its like your right there experiencing it too.

This is a great book for middle school and high school students, also older people, because we all experience a type of loss and wonder what could we have done to make it better for them. We also all need to learn the lesson of life and respect our life before it's all gone because you only get to experience it once.

In Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever, Lurlene McDaniel tells a heart-felt story of a teenage girl who is struggling with cancer.
Melissa finds out early in the story that her leukemia, which has been in remission for two years has relapsed. Jory, Melissa's best friend promises to help her have the best senior year ever, because of all the stress and pain in Melissa's life. Melissa's older brother, Michael, who is also Jory's life long crush, is asked to donate bone marrow to Melissa, because that is her only hope. Soon after, Melissa becomes well and in a couple of days, the doctors say she will be able to go home. Jory goes to visit her two days later, only to find that Melissa has caught a fever and that her body is rejecting the bone marrow. At school, a boy named Lyle tries to help Jory with all the sorrow of her sick friend. Eventually, Jory falls in love with Lyle, but still has feelings for Michael. Will Jory find true love? Will Melissa overcome cancer? To find out, read Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever.
I highly recommend this book to any girl ages 12-112 that enjoys romance and drama novels. It is an amazing book and I promise that if you read it, you won't be disappointed.

Goodbye Doesn¡¦t Mean Forever
By: Lurlene McDaniel
Reviewed by: J. Ku
Period: 1

This book is continued from the book Too Young to Die. In this book, Melissa has a relapse and needs to get back into remission. The doctors say, ¡§For a person to get into remission the second is harder.¡¨ The doctors recommended that Melissa try a bone marrow transplant. Since they needed to find a compatible donor, they said that a sibling would be the best donor. So then took some bone marrow from Michael, and sure enough, their bone marrow was compatible. Not long after that, they put Melissa into isolation. They needed to get rid of all her bone marrow and put Michael¡¦s bone marrow in her body. When people came to visit her, they had to be careful and not bring in any germs because her immune system couldn¡¦t fight off germs. Her brother¡¦s marrow was working fine, but then Melissa got a fever. It was either an infection or a sign or rejection for the transplant.

I like this book because it was exciting to learn about medical technology. I learned about things I never would have wanted to learn about. This book teaches friends not to give up on each other. Melissa always trusted Jory. Jory always did what she could to help Melissa. They depended on each other whenever they needed help. ¡§Melissa needs blood will you help me?¡¨ They never gave up on each other, even when Melissa died, Jory always knew that Melissa would still be there to help her, even if she couldn¡¦t help Melissa.

I dislike this book because this book I was very sad and Melissa died. When you read about people suffering makes you feel bad. I wanted to change the whole story and make it have a happy ending. I didn¡¦t like it when the doctors gave Melissa bad news about her leukemia.

My favorite part of the book was when Jory held a carnival and called it Melissa Austin Day. I really liked that part because not only Jory was doing it for a good cause, everyone was having fun. They raised a lot of money, and a lot of people donated blood to Melissa. I think that it is wonderful to have a friend that does these things for you.

This book is very good. It keeps your mind wondering what's going to happen next, so you have to make yourself stop and start later.I felt like I was in the book. Great book!!!! Glad I bought it!!!!

I was one of the best love stories I ever read, I'm married and this story really touches home with any married person. A must read for anyone......

This book was beautifully written. I fell in love with all of the characters and I truly enjoyed it. My heart went out to Jhordan and all that he went through. Kelli and Jhordan were truly amazing and had alot of obstacles against them.

Keep up the good work.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I found that I could not put the book down. The characters were refreshing and easy to relate to. There was a great spiritual component as well.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for, but how hard is it supposed to be? Kelli Adams knew that marrying Jhordan, the love of her life, wouldn't always be perfect, but she never expected to be completely rejected after less than a year of marriage. Surely, a wife could expect love and affection from her husband on the regular. Crossing Jhordan's River is more than Christian fiction, or romantic fiction, or chick lit, or all the other labels we may try to put on it. It's a story that could be about any one of us, trying to live with the choices we've made without beating ourselves up over things we can't change. Jhordan and Kelli learn lessons of forgiveness in different ways. Jhordan let his past take center stage in his present. Kelli, not knowing Jhordan's motivation for doing so, allowed herself to become enamored of a man while she was at her weakest point: trying to make her husband love her completely again. Jhordan's "river of guilt" became a chasm of distrust in their marriage. As unfair as it was to Kelli, Jhordan held his love for her hostage in an effort to protect his heart. Kelli, on the other hand, seemed to hurriedly jump ship toward another man, despite warnings from friends and family. The passion, the strength, the pain, and the love could be felt on every page. Wonderful job, Kendra!

Sophie feels pretty awful about things. Actually, she's felt pretty awful for three years, ever since her younger brother Erhart died. He was seven and she was twelve. Since then, she has tried hard to keep his memory alive inside of her, specifically thinking of him a couple of times a day so he doesn't fade completely from her mind.

Making things even worse in Sophie's life is the fact that she can't seem to get along with her father, who had an affair shortly before Erhart's death and was thrown out of their house.

Then Sophie lost her best friend, Justin, who wanted to date her and stopped liking her when she refused to be his girlfriend. Now he circulates with a group Sophie refers to as the Wolf Pack, mindless guys who only care about impressing frivolous girls. Sophie feels pretty alone in the world.

The stops feeling so alone when she meets Francis, a guy whose mother died years ago. He seems to understand a little of what she feels about Erhart, and he is the first person in a long time she has enjoyed spending time with. He even respects that she isn't interested in dating anyone. But is she really not interested in dating anyone? Or would she maybe like to date Francis?

I really liked Francis' character and the way he related to and respected Sophie, although I found it a bit unrealistic that he would have stuck around so long when Sophie gave him so little encouragement. I liked that Sophie's family didn't completely break down after her brother died; she and her mother and sister were still pretty much okay. The character of Justin was lousy--it was hard to believe someone would be so insensitive to drop his friendship with a girl so easily when she refused to date him.

This book was interesting--at times. I found the main character quite boring, but Francis seemed complex, and I found his tear tattoo fascinating. This is a rather typical "coming-of-age" story and did not do much to capture my interest. I basically struggled through the story, but I didn't find it unbearable. It was well-written, but simply wasn't attention-grabbing for me. I gave it three stars as it just didn't have what it takes to make a wonderful novel.

This is one of my favorite books. The characters felt so real and were very memorable, especially Francis. I liked the plot and felt satisfaction when it endded. It was an easy read, but was also well written.

"Her brother is gone-but she is still here", says the cover. Sophie's younger brother died of leukemia when he was eight. That was two years ago. Day by day, Sophie finds herself forgetting him. She's scared of letting go of what little memories she has of him; until she meets Francis. Can she let go but still hold on of the memories she has? This was a very good book, very vivid of what Sophie goes through. She's someone that you could easily relate to if someone close to you died. At times though, she sounds very fake and un-caring. She's somewhat of a snob though that judges people by what she's heard about them. Francis teaches her that's not a wise idea and little by little, she finds herself falling in love with him. Yet part of her holds back. Plus, there's her complicated relationship with her father. Her parents are divorced and he was having an affair while her brother was dying. In a way she blames him for his death. Can Sophie give herself permission to be what she wants to be? To grow up?

When I was Older by Garret Freymann-Weyr is one of my favorite books. It is a fictional story about a Girl learning to cope her life. I loved this book, and i would recommend it to any teenage girl. It is a must read.
Sophie is a 13 year old girl growing up in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Her brother died when she was very young, and She doesnt take it well. She still can't talk about him, or bring it up in a conversation with anyone. In a way, Earheart (her brother) is keeping her from growing up. Her thoughts are still on days when she was younger when she'd play with him before he got sick. Sophie must learn that Highschool changes people, and sometimes you have to accept that change.
I liked this book alot becuase I myself, can relate to how Sophie feels. Her brother is diagnosed with Lukemia and When he dies it breaks her heart. My mother had cancer, so i know how Sophie feels through the book.
Also, Garret Freymann Weyr is an amazing author. He tells this story with the use of Strong Diction, and great dialouge. his knack for writing really shines through. I never once wanted to put this book down, and i read it in 2 days. This book Not only shows the hardships of growing up, but learning how tocope with your problems. I recomend it for everyone.

Teresa Chafey is running away from home. Driving north along the California coast, she picks up two mysterious hitchhikers Freedom jack and Poppy Corn. Together, they share stories. Freedom, of a talented young man with a violent temper, Poppy, of a sad, young woman she once knew and Teresa, of her devastating relationship with her boyfriend. Yet as they talk, a darker story unfols around them. A story of life and death, of redemption and damnation. It will be the longest night of Teresa's life. Maybe the last night of her life.

This book was full of emotions. Fear, sadness, joy, happiness and more. The book can be related to life. There is a great lesson that can be learned from in this book. But really, the book was sad not only because of the ending but also because of how the stories were told especially from Freedom and Poppy's story. There are a lot of facts that are stated in the book that is about life. The part near the end was the most critical part of the book because all of the secrets were revealed. Secrets like who were really the people Freedom and Poppy narrated and why things like that happened to them.

The story starts out with Teresa running away with a change of clothing in her overnight bag. She picks up two hitchhikers which she wouldn't normally do. But, there was *something* about them. Coincidentially enough, they are all headed up north. Teresa is not exactly sure where she is going, but she wants to make a new start. As the story unfolds, you find that she is leaving an ex-boyfriend, and ex-friend, and unsupportive parents behind.

As the road stretches out before them, they have no need for "canned entertainment" as Freedom Jack puts it, they can tell stories to each other. He begins to weave the tale of Candy and John, as Poppy Corn sits in back, smoking her cigarette and correcting Free's story at various times.

Teresa feels that these two are connected in some way, but she is not sure how. Brother and sister? Scorned lovers? They reveal much about Candy and John, but little about themselves.

Teresa shares her own story about being the victim of betrayal, but she still holds secrets that she doesn't even know yet.

This page turning story takes place in one night as they head through California and encounter a castle with a fortune teller and a strange church at 5 in the morning where people are wandering around and the mass is in Latin.

Will Teresa find a place to go or is she on a "road to nowhere?"

The story was almost perfect for me. The buildup was amazing as it only took me three hours to read. The ending, though not as exciting as the story and something I saw coming, was still entertaining. I was impressed with Pike's ability to keep me enraptured the entire time.

Highly recommended as one of Pike's best!

Life couldn't have been any better. You have a caring, wonderful boyfriend, a awesome job, and a best friend that could have been no more perfect. At least that's how it seemed to Teresa until, she found the truth. Christopher Pike's Road To Nowhere is a book that can keep you guessing for miles. The events take place in the southern part of California on some back roads that hold no traffic. Most of the book it is raining and when it's not raining it still seems like it is. The three main characters are Teresa, Freedom Jack, and Poppy Corn. Teresa is running away from home and picks up two hitchhikers along the way to somewhere she doesn't even know. The three begin to tell stories. Teresa about her past relationship, Freedom of a boy named John and Poppy of a girl named Candy. The story gets deeper and deeper as the flashbacks go on.

Pike puts some hints to the end in the middle and the beginning of the story without actually giving the ending away. What seems to be a mystery soon turns into a horror. The action really doesn't kick in until the second chapter but it is completely worth the wait. Pike knows how to show the emotions of the characters to where he makes you feel the same way. This book makes you want to drop everything else and read until the jaw dropping ending. The twist and turns the book takes are just like road in the story...unpredictable.

I would recommend this to 7th grade and up. I would also recommend some of Pike's other books. Such as The Hollow Skull and Monster. So hop in the car and join the road trip as you let some harmless stories unfold on to your lap.

Christopher Pike has done it again, His Novels keep you reading untill the very last page, his story lines capture you and you know you just want to find out what happens in the end. Road To Nowhere is yet another one of these books I had to read it all in one sitting. The day it arrived in the mail I started to read and I couldn't put it down... Road To Nowhere rocks!!!

I am sure if any of you love this book you will love his other books the Immortal, Whisper Of Death,The Starlight Crystal, Execution Of Innocence, The Visitor to name a few and The Season Of Passage and The Listeners for Adults also by Christopher pike

Ok, imagine this. Your just found out that your boyfriend is dumping your for your best friend. Your totally pissed so you decided to take off. You pack some clothes, grab some cash, and your gone. Then along the way you meet two peps with totally screwed up names Freedom Jack, and Poppy Corn. you agree to give the hitchhikers a ride. along the way the three of you beging to tell stories. You tell of your boyfriends betrayl, and they tell of a guy and girl they once knew.
Along the way you begin to feel an undeniable attraction for Jack which is finally consummated at his "mother's" House. You then procede to travel on and meet Poppy's "father" the priest. then you continue to drive despite the fact you now feel sick. Then the memories of what else happened that night slowly come back to you, and you relize that your two hitchhikers are not what they seem, that the stories they told are closer to them then you ever relized, and now you are in a battle for your very soul...

This was a book I took on the recommendation of Holly Black. (Author of Tithe, the Spiderwick Chronicles and such) I read through the book in one day because I just couldn't put it down. Unlike so much of the gay and lesbian fiction out there in the world, this story wasn't preaching to people about how hard it is to be gay. This story's soap box was all about how difficult it is to fall in love for the first time... especially when that first time happens to be a ghost.

The feelings in this book are universal. As a straight woman, I was was right there with our protagonist trying to figure out what my feelings were. The story is short but stunning, gripping but sweet. An absolutely wonderful read!

The story is told in first person by the main character, a teenager, and so we never know his name. I actually realized that I didn't know that name well past the mid of the book, and this is a clue that I was so enthralled by the story to not take care to "small" details like that.

Our hero is a runaway teenager; when he came out with his parents, he was kicked out from home but lucky him he found shelter with his aunt. Probably still suffering from the reject of his family, he retired into his shell, and he only relates with his best friend, a girl named Trace. Both Trace and him have their problems to overcome and in their difference they find a common path: goth teens who go to funerals to spend time, dressing like the adults they still aren't.

Actually our hero was quite lucky and he now has a comfortable and welcoming home with his aunt, and so his problems are the same of a normal teen: the insecurity of a guy who wonders if he is good enough to attract a boyfriend, the daydreams of a young man who is approaching to sex for the first time. Probably since he has this strange familiarity with death, our hero is not so shocked when he meets a ghost: Josh is an 18 years old guy dead in a car accident in 1957. He is not only a teen like our hero, he is also a very handsome guy, a jock; and like every goth teen should do in high school, our hero falls in love for the jock, but this time the jock reciprocates the interest... there is only the little fact that Josh is dead and that his interest in our hero is very deeply, almost lethal.

Meantime our hero realizes that the little brother of his best friend Trace, Mike, is already fifteen years old and rather cute; Mike is clever and tender, with a joy for life that is involving. Where Josh is shadow and night, Mike is full light and sun. Where Josh arises in our hero dark desires (that are actually normal sexual urges in a teen...), Mike inspires him cuddles and playful kiss. From not having the hope to find a boyfriend, our hero now has two boys around him, but it's not a situation he can bring along forever. You could say that Josh represents the dark side of our hero, and staying with him is like choosing to not coming out from the darkness, meanwhile Mike is the light, the future that he could have if he chooses to leave behind his sense of abandonment.

Even if the story deals with quite sad things, dead people (not only Josh), the whole feeling I had of the book is of "lightness". The author is very good in taking the reader glued to the book till the last page, both for the mystery than for the romance; there is also a switch in the story that seems to lead to an angst ending, but still the author chooses for a more "normal" development. All this concurs to the lightness of the story, making it a very good read both for a young adult than for an adult too.

Also the love story between our hero and Mike is light, fresh and sweet; where our hero maybe could be ready for something more, Mike is still 15 years old, and so, for me, it's right that they don't become too involved; they are still boys, not men.

What could possibly be worse than being "one of the odd ones," an outcast in the small town where you grew up? How about being a gay outcast? How about being a gay outcast that attracts ghosts? Such is the premise of Steve Berman's charming Vintage: A Ghost Story, a Young Adult novel with enough in to also satisfy the not-so-young adults out there.

Told in the first person, Vintage focuses on an unnamed (and, therefore, universal) seventeen-year-old boy and his friends, a family made up of outsiders. Our hero--having recently run away from home and dropped out of high school when his parents discovered he was gay--lives with his likeable, albeit a bit dense (or is she?) Aunt Jan, and passes the time with his best friend Trace, a similarly disaffected young woman. He is young, full of hormones and longing for someone to love. The problem is, our hero doesn't believe any boy would really be interested in him. So, he mostly hangs out with Trace, and the duo pass the boredom of their lives by dressing in dark clothes, drinking exotic beverages and attending random funerals that feed their interest in the occult.

Now, Berman may have wrapped his characters in the trappings of the goth scene, but he expertly avoids the character clichés: the faux bravado, the pretentiousness, the acid-dropping recklessness. Berman keeps the characters firmly rooted in reality, imbuing them with the very tangible concerns of youth without ever falling into melodrama. The protagonist and Trace have simply adopted some of the aspects of goth as a sort of armor, making themselves stand out before others have a chance to point at them and laugh for their differences. Filtering in and out of their lives are a teen lesbian couple, Maggie and Liz, and Trace's brother, Second Mike--so called as his mother named him after her first son who'd run away and was presumed dead. Second Mike is a typical younger brother, fifteen, hovering about the older kids in his sister's life, sometimes annoyingly so.

One night while walking home from Trace's, our protagonist heads down Route 47 and stumbles upon the ghost of a high school football star who was killed on that road some 50 years before. Though our hero had heard the story before, it never involved the ghost speaking to anyone, and when he convinces Trace to come out to the highway on another night, he learns that the ghost only speaks to him. Smitten, he obsesses on the ghost and finds himself inexplicably "falling" for him. In short, our hero has found someone who in the real world would never give him the time of day, someone who makes him feel special. But as he has more and more encounters with his ghostly boyfriend and learns that the jock isn't the only ghost he attracts, things begin to feel a little more dangerous. What is it really that this ghost wants? Is he as gentle and loving as he seems? Or are there darker needs feeding this phantom's desire, some need that could prove fatal to all involved.

In Vintage, Berman has created a kindler, gentler ghost story-one that harkens back to days when tales of these types were devoid of massive gore and cynicism. Wisely, Berman never pushes things too far and mines humor where he can to keep things on track. When the boy finds himself falling in love with a ghost, the author is wise enough to have his characters understand the absurdity of that notion. And when our hero begins to see more and more ghosts, he sees the humor in it wondering when he became the kid from The Sixth Sense. Berman knows how far he can take the characters and wisely keeps them very real, appealing because they aren't stereotypes.

Berman also finds nice ways to pack a lot into very few words. Just by the fact that Second Mike was named after his dead brother, we're given a history without ever having to delve into its constituent parts. We can imagine what it must have been like for him to grow up in the shadow of a brother who had died before he was even born. And we learn a lot about our protagonist's outlook on life from two simple sentences: "I always thought my life would end up as an Araki film. Nothing by Burton." Trace is also nicely full character, a girl on the outside who is blooming into a womanhood of her own. She's a woman who is best friends with our gay hero, but hardly a "hag" as she's not so wrapped up in him that she puts her own life on the sideline.

With Trace, Second Mike and our protagonist, we have a nice trio of likeable characters and the piece works best when it stays focused on them and the plot. When we start wandering too far away from those three or the central story, the characters get a little thinner and the pace a little slower. Maggie and Liz tend to be drawn with a coarser brush than our core characters (I often go them confused, they seemed somewhat interchangeable), and the subplot with their characters is not as strong as it probably could have been had their personalities been drawn a little fuller. But soon the focus returns to the core group and the pace goes back to its nice, easy flow.

In the end, Berman has written a very nice YA piece that says a lot about self-acceptance, seeing beyond one's self, and discovering that love is more than infatuation. Yet, Berman never hammers any message home; it's all just easily woven into the book. A charming read that is part coming-of-age, part love story, and part horror story (with some genuinely creepy moments), Vintage may be directed at Young Adults, but its story is one which should appeal to a wide variety of ages.

Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable.

When you and your best friend Trace are fascinated with anything and everything gothic, you wouldn't think that ghosts would cause you any worry. Wrong. The narrator (who is never given a name) finds himself seeing the ghost from the legend of Rt. 47. At first, he's highly attracted to him, but soon realizes the dangers of carrying on a relationship with not only the dead but the jealous. With Trace's help, the two try to find the best possible way to help Josh move on. A new love interest occurs between the main character and Trace's brother, Second Mike, along with trying to unravel the mystery surrounding their older brother, the first Mike.

Vintage is a quick, thrilling read. It was a perfect mix of romance, friendship, mystery, and suspense. The various emotions are clearly shown, pulling you into the lives of this group of clear misfits. Even with the company of ghosts, this is still a great coming-of-age and growing into yourself novel. I loved it and highly recommend to anyone interested in a companion, yet supernatural story. All I wanted to know at the end was, where's the sequel?

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There is everything to love in this book. Expertly capturing a haunting, velvety mood, the tone is smooth and beautiful and simply a joy to read. I found myself right at home with the thoughts and feelings of the characters, their personalites created so well it's as though a real individual is sharing their story with me. I haven't read a story with such well-done characterization in a long time. The plot is gripping and realistic- something that isn't far-fetched and silly. I especially like his attention to details, not nit-picky, but softly calling attention to things most people might miss or look over.

The author handles love as it happens in real life: how people, no matter their orientation, love like anyone else. There isn't any actual sex, although he gets up to some seriously strange play with the ghost that is both erotic and scary. The love scenes with the boyfriend he comes to have are touching and sensitive which seemed right on par with the main character's calm, gentle nature. Again, there's no hard core sex, but for those who are into some fluff will be pleased.

There is under-age drinking and drug use, alongside a jealous ghost. Stuff that I've never done, but it wasn't so in your face that I found myself uncomfortable (if anyone's worried about that stuff.)

Overall a real joy to read. I'm very happy I bought it and will enjoy reading it again. I'm looking forward to reading his other books as well.