We're All in This Together: A Novella and Stories

Average customer rating:

Clever look at a modern American boy

Not impressed

The Legacy of Stephen King Continues in Sons

A crown for the son of a King

one of the best debuts of 2005

We're All in This Together: A Novella and Stories
Owen King
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1582345856
Release Date: 2005-06-16

Book Description

Imaginative, gripping stories and a funny, poignant novella set in Maine after the 2000 presidential election make up this exciting literary debut.

Owen King is a writer interested in the choices we make when we're most conflicted. A young husband must decide whether or not to commit a ghoulish crime; a baseball player in a fantastic 1930s Coney Island is assailed by the guilt of an illicit romance; a nineteenth-century itinerant dentist finds himself snowed in with a group of trappers for a long evening of primitive surgery and laughing gas reveries. Whether they're set in the past or the present, tinged with the macabre, the solemn, or the absurd, all of the stories in this collection carry the weight of real emotion and revelation and showcase King's impressive versatility.

In his novella, King tells the story of George, the teenage son of a single mother, and the only grandson of a family of union organizers in Maine. George's grandfather Henry, obsessed with the outcome of the 2000 election, has planted a giant billboard of homage to Al Gore in his front yard that he suspects has been defaced by the paperboy, now a sworn enemy. Meanwhile, George's mother is about to marry Dr. Vic, who, besides being possessed of an almost royal obliviousness, may even have voted for George W. Bush. George is a nervous accomplice to his grandfather's increasingly unhinged behavior, and a righteous adversary at war with his mother over her marriage. George's struggle is a funny and moving parallel for our times: How will we fight? All together, or all alone? Funny, insightful, and always entertaining, We're All in This Together launches the career of an extraordinarily talented writer.

Customer Reviews:

Clever look at a modern American boy.......2007-10-11

The novella is a compelling family story of a modern American teenager sandwiched between his aging, nostalgiac, Al Gore loving grandfather and his young, activist single mother. The novella left me sad at its conclusion only because it had ended. Satisfying ending? It depends upon the reader. Mr. King has a gift for sense of place. His prose is incredibly readable and very often witty, particularly the unique way he has the mother and son communicate with each other. (You have to find that out yourself.) I sometimes wanted to argue with the characters, who all possessed a bit of the curmudgeon - even the fifteen year-old central character George. I could see the novella as a film in the vein of Simon Burch.

Not impressed.......2007-08-15

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It was well written, just not very captivating. If you are interested in reading this book, purchase it used and save yourself some money.

The Legacy of Stephen King Continues in Sons.......2007-08-11

Following the footsteps of father Stephen King and brother Joe Hill, Owen King's "We're All In This Together" pays tribute to the literary genes of the King family, yet marks its own unique path. A collection of short stories and a novella, it's literary, nostalgic, often bitter yet touching, and insightful. Sometimes warm and reminiscent, other times painful and hard to read, it's a complex work that's impossible to put down.

The title novella, "We're All In This Together", tells the first person narrative of a young man who wonders about the contradicting world around him with a dry, sarcastic wit far beyond his years; though in the end he's still an inexperienced kid prone to all the same hurts and hopes kids experience.

George barely knows his reformed dead-beat father, loves his mother fiercely but resents her for leaving behind a string of eligible would-be fathers, and respects his grandfather in a fearful way. He spends the dry, dull summer days at his grandfather's, learning about the long gone days of the Labor Union, when honest, hard working folks were bound together by the Union's clarion call, "we're all in this together".

Owen King's work sees the best and worst of humanity; we want to cry and laugh equal parts of the time. His wit and sarcasm is razor-sharp, thought-provoking, and takes no prisoners among conservative and liberal sensitivities alike. King takes aim at everyone in this collection, and he hits the bull's eye every single time.

A crown for the son of a King.......2007-03-15

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Owen King is definitely NOT resting on his father's laurels. The title story is complex, thought-provoking and humorous. The others are wonderful are well, very eclectic style. Written much more in the style of John Irving than Owen's father, Stephen King. Owen's future looks very bright indeed. Bravo!

one of the best debuts of 2005.......2006-03-09

Owen King's debut work, We're All In This Together, is my favorite book this year, hands down. Smart and touching, the five outstanding tales that make up this collection are at once startlingly original and classically accomplished. King is one of those rare finds: a writer refreshing for both his bold, creative ingenuity and his old-fashioned gift for story.

King is a virtuosic writer, and his range is clearly on display in this collection. In "Frozen Animals," we meet Pinet, a nitrus-addicted dentist, summoned in the middle of the night to make a strange and frightening house-call. "Wonders" follows the exploits of a conflicted baseball player, a second baseman for a Coney Island farm team during in the 1930's. In the hilarious and heart-breaking story, "My Second Wife," a man still reeling from his divorce joins his eccentric brother on one of the strangest road trips in contemporary fiction.

Yet for all their daring and inventiveness, King's stories are, at heart, great examples of classic story-telling. His characters live and breathe. They are fully imagined, lovingly created, and immediately empathetic. Take for example, George, the teenage protagonist of King's terrific title novella. George's life (and story) is rich with complications. His grandfather, an ex-union organizer, wants to use George for paintball practice so that he might get good enough to gun down a rogue paperboy who keeps defacing his home-made Al Gore billboard. Meanwhile, George is engaged in an operation of his own, trying to sabotage his mother's impending marriage to a middle-aged goofball named Dr. Vic. Here is George explaining himself: "I wasn't getting along with my mother, and I didn't care to get along with Dr. Vic. Of late, I suffered not so much from a feeling that my voice wasn't being heard, as from a sense that I was speaking an entirely different language...my voice was soundless, on the wrong frequency, like a dog whistle..."

As strange as their stories might be, King's protagonists are unnervingly familiar. Which is testiment to his considerable skill. He writes his characters so well that we can't help but identify; no matter what happens tothem, we're right there along side, in it together.

"The best contact wasn't like contact at all," King writes in "Wonders." "It was like swinging straight through, the baseball only an echo of the bat's motion. The game was so hard, but that moment was so easy -the ball flew, Eckstein ran, and there was no chance they were going to catch him."

King's characters are always searching for moments like these, moments of assurance, of clarity. Which is funny, given that reading King's fiction leaves one feeling nothing if not assured - certain that one is in the hands of a dazzling new talent.

Overall: In story after story, King takes care of business. An Elvis of a collection

Average customer rating:

Well written Adventure story
Absolutely a great book...
Fantastic read for young adult
Dragon's Keep a keeper
NOT BAD

Dragon's Keep
Janet Lee Carey
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152059261

Book Description

Far away on Wilde Island, Princess Rosalind is born with a dragon claw where her ring finger should be. To hide the secret, the Queen forces her to wear gloves at all times until a cure can be found, so Rosalind can fulfill the prophecy to restore the family to their rightful throne.

But Rosalind’s flaw cannot be separated from her fate. When she is carried off by the dragon, everything she thought she knew falls apart. The dragon sees beauty in her talon where her mother saw only shame, and Rosalind finally understands what her mother has truly denied her.

Carey has written a stunning portrayal of the complex relationship between a mother and daughter in a lyrical novel sure to thrill readers who love fantasy—and those who don’t.

Customer Reviews:

Well written Adventure story.......2007-08-26

A well written YA book. It was not dumbed down like some YA books are, the writing was smooth and kept the reader interested in the lead character.
The book tells a story of a princess, the 21st decendent of Queen Evaine, King Arthur's younger sister. The family was banished to the island when the Queen married a men that her father did not approve. The legend was that the 21st Queen will bring peace and honour back to the name of Pendragon.

Our heroine is the princess and only she and her mother know of her terrible secret. The poor girl has a Dragon's claw for her ring finger. Her mother keeps it hidden at all times under golden gloves, and goes to great lengths that the secret is never discovered. When the princess meets the female dragon, and later the dragon is killed, she is kidnapped by the dragon's mate to care for the pips (baby Dragons)
The dragon's see beauty where her mother only saw shame, and it is at the end of the story that the dragons give her the gift of Peace between Human and Dragon.
The adventures are exciting and the book should be recomended to any young Dragon Lover.

Absolutely a great book..........2007-07-18

We gave this book to our 13 year old daughter for her birthday this year. Her words when I asked how it was were, "The most awesome book ever!" This is coming from an avid reader... she breezed through this 302 page book in just three days. Right now she is reading the Bartimaeus Trilogy, but says she would like to read more by this author in the near future.

Fantastic read for young adult.......2007-07-18

In this young adult fantasy, Rosalind's fate was written in the stars, read by Merlin, some 600 years before she was born. Rosalind's ancestor, Evaine, was the younger sister of King Arthur. Evaine married an outlaw, was banished to Wilde Island, and erased from family history.

Three things are said of the twenty-first queen of Wilde Island; "She shall redeem the name Pendragon. End war with the wave of her hand. And restore the glory of Wilde Island."

The way her mother sees it, with England in the midst of civil war Rosalind will marry Prince Henry, future king of England, thereby fulfilling all aspects of the prophecy. But what if Rosalind and Henry don't get along? Not that they've even heard from the Queen of England, though they assume she is aware of the prophecy. Then there's Rosalind's ring finger. It's a dragon's claw. So far she and her mother have hidden it behind golden gloves, but that won't work forever. They MUST find a cure soon--a cure that is hard to find when potential healers aren't told what the exact problem is.

When an envoy from England comes to Wilde Island, things start looking up a little, especially after they slay the dragon that has been harassing the Island forever. What should be one of the most triumphant moments in their history turns horrifying when the dragon's mate returns to punish the people, and takes a special interest in Rosalind. Before long, Rosalind's life will never be the same, and it doesn't look like the prophecy could ever be fulfilled.

There is so much more to this book! So many more levels and layers to the story! Rosalind may be a Princess with a dragon's claw in a faraway time and place, but her relationship with her mother is something you could see in anyone's life. Her desire to be normal and accepted are the same things every teenager experiences. So while the circumstances aren't something we experience everyday, the people in them, and their reactions to them, are completely realistic and relatable.

Armchair Interviews says: Part fairy tale, part mythology, part legend, all around fantastic!

Dragon's Keep a keeper.......2007-06-29

"What a great story. The ending is unexpected." I am quoting the words of one of my 5th grade students. He requested this book as his prize for reading 200 books this year. He could not stop talking about the story. Based on his response I would recommend this book for young adults.

NOT BAD.......2007-06-09

THIS IS A GOOD BOOK AND I READ IT IN TWO DAYS, BUT IT'S MORE OR LESS LIKE ROSALIND'S DIARY AND I FIND THOSE KINDS OF BOOKS DULL. THERE NOT MUCH ROMANCE IN THIS (IF YOU HAVE READ DRAGON LOVERS YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ DRAGON LOVERS YET READ THIS BOOK FIRST THEN DRAGON LOVERS). THERE'S NOT MUCH EXCITEMENT UNTILL THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS AND THERE'S NO VILLAN UNTILL THE LAST FOUR. AND F.Y.I. THE DRAGON CUTS HIS EGGS FROM HIS MATES STOMACH THEN TAKES THEM HOME.

Average customer rating:

Great Book for Girls of All Ages!
These books are just too cute
No pansy princess here!
love it!
Refreshing Princess Book!!!!!!

Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?
Carmela LaVigna Coyle , and Mike Gordon
Manufacturer: Rising Moon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0873588282

Customer Reviews:

Great Book for Girls of All Ages!.......2007-10-03

I just absolutely love this book and other books by this author. I think I got it more for me than my baby girl. I love it so much that my husband and me are buying for all the little girls in our family this Christmas.

These books are just too cute.......2007-09-10

This is a cute story and a must have for a girl's collection. All of the "Do Princesses..." are really nice stories with good illustrations.

No pansy princess here!.......2007-05-17

My daughter is really into the princess craze. As a reluctant queen (I was a tomboy), I was excited to see this book, that emphasizes the beauty of all princesses (not just the ones in pretty dresses waiting to be kissed by the prince). I also recommend the Paperbag Princess if you like this book.

love it!.......2007-04-26

This book is super cute. I love the illustrations and the simple story. It's a celebration for all the princesses out there!

Refreshing Princess Book!!!!!!.......2007-01-04

After reading this to my daughter the first time I found it so refreshing after all of the "find your prince and live happily everafter" books. I worry about my 3 year old getting the wrong ideas about "prince charmings" and "happily everafters". This book does an excellent job of letting all little girls know that no matter what we like to do, how we look, or what we wear we are all princesses on the inside. Beautifully done!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful, witty, clever
A gentle, English comedy-of-manners
Not a bad read, but don't expect thoroughgoing farce--
Great book! Very warm and romantic ! I love it.

Harnessing Peacocks (King Penguin)
Mary Wesley
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0140123938

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, witty, clever.......2004-04-17

This is a writer of great intelligence, sense of humor and irony. All her books display the same offbeat and surprising characters and are both charming and very funny, as well as humane. I keep rereading them!

A gentle, English comedy-of-manners.......2001-07-03

"Harnessing Peacocks" is one of my all-time favorite books. In some ways, it's a typical British comedy-of-manners, but with terrific, quirky characters and a gentle, romantic plot.

Teenaged Hebe runs away from the home she shares with her grandparents when she overhears them and her bossy older sisters plotting to get her an unwanted abortion.

We see her again as her son, Silas, is growing old enough to question his background. His mother has raised him on her own, cooking for wealthy elderly clients and "tarting" (as she calls it) for several selected men, to be able to provide him with the same upbringing she had. She is smart, fiercely independent, and vulnerable (although she doesn't realize it).

One of my favorite things about this book is Wesley's wonderfully quirky and complex characters.

If you enjoy other authors such as Barbara Pym, Laurie Colwin and Jane Austen, I think you will enjoy this book.

Not a bad read, but don't expect thoroughgoing farce--.......2001-03-16

"Harnessing Peacocks" is a sometimes comic, sometimes slice-of-life novel about a prostitute who takes up gourmet cookery and earns money at both so she can send her child to a fancy boarding school. With great effort she keeps her personal and private lives separate. You know, of course, the dam has to break at some point or there wouldn't be a book.

Perhaps it's just my American impatience but I thought the book took too long to get off the ground. Characters' habits and daily activities were explored more than necessary and by the time the farcical elements got going, I felt relief more than enthusiasm. Still, the writing was excellent and the characters were well drawn. I can see why Wesley is a popular author in her native Great Britain.

Great book! Very warm and romantic ! I love it........1999-05-22

A very heart warming story to give you hope on a cold and miserable day

Average customer rating:

Read it 20 years ago... Still A Great Read
Stephen King and Peter Straub make a very good team.
The Adventures of Jack Sawyer--Horrifying and Wonderful!
love it
Memorable Novel

The Talisman
Stephen King , and Peter Straub
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375507779
Release Date: 2001-09-15

Book Description

To coincide with the publication of Stephen King and Peter Straub's extraordinary new thriller, BLACK HOUSE, here is the story that started it all.

On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America--and into another realm.

One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written, The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save his mother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredible truths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more. Let the quest begin. . . .

Download Description

In celebration of the publication of Stephen King and Peter Straub's extraordinary new thriller, Black House, we offer here the story that started it all -- The Talisman.

On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of thegray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resortcalled the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father isgone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But forJack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make ajourney back across America -- and into another realm.

One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written,The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening,terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save hismother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape ofinnocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredibletruths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more.

Let the quest begin...

"Extraordinary.... Makes your hair stand on end."
    THE WASHINGTON POST

"A classic... rare and dazzling."
    NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Customer Reviews:

Read it 20 years ago... Still A Great Read.......2007-09-08

I read this book when I was about 13 years old. I remember being bored through the first bit and then becoming more and more involved as the story picked up. As it happens I just finished re-reading it and it's still a really good book. My perspective has changed a bit now though.

For a book that has been reviewed by 337 people before me, it's probably not exactly vital to do a plot summary but I'll do one in 50 words or less. A kid named Jack Sawyer has a mother who is dying of cancer. He learns of a parallel world that he can travel back and forth to and which contains a magical artifact which has the power to heal her. That artifact is the eponymous Talisman. The catch is that Jack is in New England somewhere and the Talisman is in California. So an epic quest begins! Will he overcome the forces of evel? Will he find the Talisman?? Will he save his dying mother???

Well of course he will! Like all good quest tales it's not the destination that counts as much as the journey. And what a journey it is! Jack will travel the length of the United States and face violent fops, evil werewolves, malls, radioactive wastelands, fireballs, snipers and worst of all.. the most frightening of all... Televangelists.

The esthetic of the Quest epic usually involves a party of companions that travel with the hero and guide him and help him along. This book is actually different from them in that Jack usually is either alone or only has one companion at a time. This means that there is a lot of time spent inside Jack's head as he works things out.

One of the reasons I liked this book as a teenager was that the stories, either in printed or visual form, never seemed..hrm.. I don't know.. (You know.. this is print.. I didn't have to let you know I was searching for words here, I could have just edited this out once I thought of the right ones.. but oh well) The actions of evildoers never seemed to be handled appropriately, the writers always seemed to wuss out. I'll give a for instance: I was 13 at the time I read this book as I mentioned. At the time G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe and The Transformers were in vogue (Robotech hadn't hit TV yet) and the villains on these shows, being recurring characters, never really suffered any realistic consequences, I mean if Cobra Commander was a real guy they would have put a bullet in his brainpan the first time they captured him. But they put him in jail instead - because an organization that can blow up cities and control the weather and such is probably incapable of breaking their leader out of Jail. Star Trek was popular in our family but it seemed that all those guys did was talk everything to death. EVEN Star Wars, the bastion of fanboy Fantasy violence was getting to a point where Luke and Vader were all lovey dovey. I didn't want to see Darth Vader redeemed (I mean I did.. and I liked that he was but come on) I wanted to see Luke slice that dude into 9 pieces Ice Pirates style.

I am making a point here (all evidence to the contrary) in that this book was so awesome to me at that particular moment because it was the first story I had heard where evil is punished (well thee was Lord of the Rings. but dropping a ring into a volcano didn't exactly strike me as evil being punished :)). There have been many stories since where I get that similar sense of closure (Robotech hit the air six months or so after I finished the Talisman and changed my outlook forever. Everyone got a slice in that show, good guys and bad) but this was the first.

That may have seemed like a very long digression there, but to me it was very important. It is especially important now that I see the Talisman as a small part of Stephen King's larger universe. That universe has The Dark Tower as it's axis and the Dark tower is the biggest let down in literary history in my not so humble opinion.

I should also say here that, as an adult rereading this book, I discovered that hidden away towards the end of this novel is the best description of a mystical experience I have ever read in fiction. Most people say that a mystical experience is impossible to describe (and it is) but I think he came the closest you can come while being hampered by the chains of the written word.

Finally, Peter Straub is credited as co-writer of this particular Stephen King book, but I think he must have just been the editor or something, maybe he wrote the table of contents. After reading this book I sought out a Peter Straub book and read it. It was hard to find and knew why long about page 20. This guy is bad.. very bad.. he's axiomatically bad. He makes C.J. Cherryh look like Chaucer. Yes that BAD! So I can't understand how this book got his name on it. IF you have read Straub and hated him, don't shy away from this book because King is the main voice here.

Stephen King and Peter Straub make a very good team........2007-08-29

I read this book in like, three days. It moves at a fast pace. Stephen King and Peter Straub work very well together. No, it is not one of my favorite novels by him, and I prefer most of his horror novels (and other stories) to this, but I really liked it. I recommend this to all fans of Stephen King and Peter Straub.

P.S. I am reading Black House now and I will review that when I am done.

The Adventures of Jack Sawyer--Horrifying and Wonderful!.......2007-07-28

In THE TALISMAN, Stephen King and Peter Straub have crafted a horror-fantasy-adventure story for the ages (one which they were proud enough to sequelize, years later). When I read this book, I had an idea that most of the ideas were Straub's (as they seemed very un-King like to me at the time, having not yet read THE GUNSLINGER or EYES OF THE DRAGON) and that most of the actual writing was King's (this based wholly on King's growing tendency to write in the vernacular, even when in third person omniscient point of view). I'm better read and, I hope, less presumptuous now, but I'd still be curious as to the division of labor on this incredible journey. THE TALISMAN should be listed among the greater works of either author, and that is saying something.

It's the archetypical quest story: a boy's mother is dying, and he must journey across the country (blipping back and forth between this world and its smaller, "twinner" fantasy equivalent). Along the way, out hero will face untold dangers, befriend magical creatures, suffer horrible betrayals--and, of course, he will triumph. These reliable stand-by devices for the epic quest story are augmented, empowered, and tweaked with a hearty helping of King-Straub horror, and by that style of writing that begins to make the reader feel not as though he is actually reading a story, but that someone is sitting next to him and telling the story. And the storyteller isn't a wizened old, professor, speaking in the archaic; he's probably a retired, slightly alcoholic rock star, rich and profane in expression, musical, and nostalgic for his own lost boyhood.

Grand, imaginative, and inexplicably sorrowful--the more so as it nears the end--THE TALISMAN is a must-read novel.

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire book, "Teeth: a Horror Fantasy".)

love it.......2007-06-12

This book is awesome..I have read it 3 times..I love love love..This guy is a rock star

Memorable Novel.......2007-05-25

Two things stood in my mind after I finished this book. I'll let you make up your own mind on what this says for the novel. The truth 'the test of truly owning something is the ability to give it up.' The phrase 'goat penis.' It is uttered by one of the story's villains entirely too much.

A mix of the profound and the grotesque, like any good horror show.

Narrative drive and suspense are top standard. Characters and settings are amazing, except for our main hero, Traveling Jack. He is never really described, but that is a technique of King's where we insert our own ideal image into Jack's place. This would have served me better if I could have easily figured out if Jack was White, Mexican, Asian or African American. His ethnicity is a mystery that is not addressed.

And the end. Jack has such incredible adventures, it is easy to forget he is twelve. The end ends well, but reminds us many threads are left unexplored because this was a child's story. The authors allude this isn't the end of Jack's life, a life which has other magnificent stories, but as far as I can tell, no other novels have been written about Traveling Jack, the man of many worlds. That left me a little disappointed, as the Black House, the sort-of-sequel, sounds like Jack decided to just forget his entire adventure. I may read it in few years. Eventually.

This was a good book to read while sitting through a 20+ hour bus ride, which is where I read my copy. While good, the story doesn't even make my personal top twenty-five, but I can see how you can really fall in love with it if you haven't read thousands of books.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and Compelling
Girl Power
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Brief But Compelling...
Insanely compelling

The Foretelling
Alice Hoffman
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316154091

Book Description

Now available in paperback, The Foretelling is a transformative story that asks many profound questions, for which there are many answers. Rain is girl of the Amazon tribe of women warriors, born in a time of blood and fear. As the future leader of her people, she must seek and hold fast to her inner warrior. What she encounters along her poignant and harrowing path toward her destiny-a kind young man, a strange, recurrent prophecy, and a condemned baby brother-lead her, against odds, to forge mercy, love, and peace.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Compelling.......2006-07-15

My name is Doug Hiser, author of the 2006 novel,The Honey Bee Girl. I have been reading and collecting Alice Hoffman books since I discovered Turtle Moon. I have read them all and The Fortelling is my favorite. I loved her narrative and moving story. In some ways it reminded me of Clan of the Cave Bear and also of mystical ancient cultures that we see only in dreams. Alice Hoffman's prose is the main reason I fell in love with her books. She is the magic realism of writing the way Michael Parks is of the dreamlike reality of art and Frank Frazetta is the master of fantasy painting. The Fortelling is a short work of literary genius accessible to everyone. She has deep intense knowledge of the emotions and feelings that most people can only guess about. Discover her writing through this compelling work and then find your way into her other books. You won't be disappointed. Doug Hiser

Girl Power.......2006-06-08

One of Alice Hoffman's few YA books, this story of an Amazonian princess will capture you like no other read. The ways of the women warriors are brutally intense, and for the first time are questioned, by Rain, who vies for her mother's attention but still attempts to defy the ways of tradition. The characters are strong, each of them contributing to the choices made by Rain, for good or bad.

The Foretelling is a gripping book from beginning to end. Your care for the young princess grows as you learn more and more about her destiny, and her will to change the fate of her people to peace. Her strong connections with horses and bears seem spiritual, and make this story of pain and violence almost gentle and compassionate. I guarantee everyone will enjoy it.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-04-17

In this intense yet complicated fantasy story, Rain attempts to gain her mother's notice and acceptance by being the best of warriors in their Amazonian tribe. The product of a rape when her mother, Alina, wasn't much more than a child herself, it is hard to gain the Queen's approval. Although Rain knows that she's been raised by Deborah, the wise priestess, to one day be Queen herself, she also pays attention to Deborah's promises of a much grander destiny.

Rain doesn't totally understand the Queen's desire to so thoroughly destroy her enemies, even though her own cousins, Astella and Asteria, are two of the fiercest warriors in the tribe. When Alina takes Penthe as her companion, and Penthe's daughter Io seeks to be Rain's sister, matters become even more complicated. Rain wants nothing more than to ride her horse, Sky, to garner her mother's approval, to earn the place as rightful Queen that will someday come upon her.

On her first journey alone, Rain comes upon a bear cub, which she takes back to camp. She names him Usha, and together with Io the two girls raise the cub as if he were a horse. Although Rain and Io soon discover the mistake of doing so, it's too late--Usha is killed in battle, and Rain still doesn't have the love and acceptance of her mother.

THE FORETELLING is a coming-of-age story set in a fantastical land of the Amazons. Rain is a compelling character who, although she tries so hard to be vicious and fierce like her fellow tribe-members, always leans more towards peace for all men and compassion towards her enemies.

Not to be missed by lovers of fantasy stories!

Brief But Compelling..........2006-03-22

This book is short and that's unfortunate because I think the story could have been made longer but regardless it was a very compelling story. I liked how it was written and Rain I instantly loved as a character. Amazon women I have always heard of and reading about them was really interesting and fun.

The characters were strong, the dialogue was always short and to the point, and the story telling itself in Rain's eyes kept you hooked. I also read Practical Magic and that's how I got to know the name Alice Hoffman and I'm glad I did because both Fortelling and Practical Magic were worthwhile books.

Insanely compelling.......2006-03-16

My first contact with this book was through an excerpt printed in an issue of Writer's Digest. It was a total of seven paragraphs from chapter one, enough to introduce me to the character named Rain and the haunting, lyrical way in which she reveals her people and their way of life to the reader. Enough to leave me itching for more of the story, to the point where I went out and bought it right then and there.

Most books don't do that, or if they do, you bring it home and then realize that it's really not as gripping as you'd thought it would be from that little snippet. The Foretelling doesn't disappoint, though--it moves along at a steady pace that fits the story being told like a glove, while sparing no room for elaborate description. This is the story of a girl who was an Amazon Queen-to-be, told exactly as she might have told it herself, and I'd recommend picking this one up for the first time when you have a chance to sit down and read the whole thing from cover to cover.

Grimmy: King of the Heap (Mother Goose And Grimm)

Average customer rating:

FULL OF GOOD LAUGHS
Grimm is "The King of the (Trash) Heap"!

Grimmy: King of the Heap (Mother Goose And Grimm)
Mike Peters
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0312860692

Book Description

He's the Big Kahuna. The Top Banana. The Kings of the Heap!He's bold. He's dashing. He puts the pomp is pompous. More important: He's never met a leftover he wouldn't eat. He's Grimmy! Lord of the realm and master of all he surveys. Okay....so big deal if his kingdom is an alley and his castle a garbage can. Grimmy is the Henry VIII of canines. And his millions of bullish fans worldwide wouldn't have him any other way.Hail Grimmy! King of the Heap!

Customer Reviews:

FULL OF GOOD LAUGHS.......2000-09-25

The jokes are fast, furious, and really funny. The price of the book is worth it just for one particular comic strip... it's been years since I first read it, but I still get a hearty laugh every time I read the "St. Francis" gag.

Grimm is "The King of the (Trash) Heap"!.......2000-06-27

"Possibly the most informitive comic book ever written" -Me

"Five stars, three thumbs up" -Me

"Tells historical information, left out of text books, in a funny way (may not be true)" -Me

Book Description

In the tradition of the children's classic Are You My Mother? , a heart warming story by a breakout team

Speaking to every child who has ever been lost, this warmly illustrated book is perfect for bedtime and story hour. Poor Piglet has lost her mama! All the other mother animals offer help-the duck with a cuddle, the sheep with a daisy chain, the dog with a roll in the mud-but nothing will do for Piglet but to find her mama. "OIIIIIINK!" she cries finally in despair, and "OIIIIIINK! There you are!" cries her mama. Reunited, they cuddle, make a daisy chain, roll in the mud-all the things the other mothers offered, but now, with her mama, Piglet laughs and joins in. AUTHOR BIO: Margaret Wild's books have received many awards in Australia over the years. She has been shortlisted and commended by the Children's Book Council of Australia many times for such well-loved picture books as , and Thank You Santa. Stephen Michael King's books have received wide acclaim in Australia. A number of them have been published internationally and he has been nominated several times for Children's Book Council of Australia awards.

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL BED-TIME STORY - A WELL DONE LITTLE BOOK........2007-09-15

Piglet has lost her mom and starts her search. This is a wonderful little bed-time or read along story for the little ones. The art work by Stephen King is great and the text by Margaret Wild is easy to follow. Piglet, in her quest for her "lost" mom encounters various barnyard critters such as a duck, dog, horse, can and several others. All these friendly animals try to make piglet feel better in offering her different activities such as the horse who asks her to dance in the daffodils. Piglet of course just wants her mom. The story is cute, kids seem to like it and it is fun to read to the little ones. With the well done pictures, great text and nice story, what more could you want. Recommend this one highly.

precious story about how there's no one like Mama.......2007-04-26

While you shouldn't be tricked into buying a book by the cover, this one did for me! The illustration on the front of the two cute pigs was just too adorable to pass up. The story is about a Piglet looking for her Mama and while she finds other animal Mamas on her search, they just aren't HER Mama. Heartwarming bedtime tale.

If you have a little one that loves their Mama.......2007-01-11

This book is so adorable and is a must if you have a little one that just LOVES their Mama so much.

Adorable story.......2006-03-07

This book is about a little piglet that has lost his mother. He goes around looking for her, encountering other animals along the way that invite the piglet to join them in some sort of activity. The piglet only wants her mama. When she finds her mama, they enjoy all of the activities together ending up taking a nap snuggled up together. This is an adorable book to read with your child. My 20 month old daughter, snuggles up beside me before bed while I read it to her.

Average customer rating:

King of the Golden City
Mother Mary Loyola
Manufacturer: Catholic Heritage Curricula
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0976469103

Product Description

Product Description: The King of the Golden City is a fascinating tale which breathes into the heart of the child a deep understanding of Holy Communion and an intimate love for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Originally published in 1921, this classic tale has long been a favorite of young and old. This quality gift edition, featuring 8 full color paintings, is a perfect book for preparing and celebrating a child's First Holy Communion. While this book is a beautiful preparation for First Holy Communion, it is so powerful that it is recommended to be studied again in 5th grade using the comprehension questions. This book was originally written for a young child who asked Mother Loyola what she must do to prepare for her First Holy Communion. The child asked for a story with hidden messages. Guide your child in discovering the full meaning of this allegory with The King of the Golden City Study Guide which may be downloaded from Free Catholic Curricula. 120 pages. 6" x 9" Softcover. 8 full color paintings. Shrink-wrapped. ISBN 0-9764691-0-3

Money Hungry (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Money Hungry -- 6-005 The Review!
Money Hungry
A GREAT Book ( A kid's review)
Money, Money, Money
better then expected

Money Hungry (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books)
Sharon Flake
Manufacturer: Jump At The Sun
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 078680548X

Book Description

Thirteen-year-old Raspberry Hill is always scheming about ways to make money. She's starved for the green stuff, and will do just about anything legal to get it-wash cars, sell rotten candy, skip lunch, and clean houses. She is obsessed with making money, having money, smelling money, and touching money. Raspberry is determined that she and her momma will never be homeless again. When they are approved for a Section 8 move to a nice house in Pecan Landings, Raspberry thinks things are looking up. But after their apartment in the projects is robbed, and protests by the rich folks in Pecan Landings force them out of their new house, Raspberry must do everything in her power to keep her world from crumbling.

Customer Reviews:

Money Hungry -- 6-005 The Review!.......2007-05-10

We are students of Middle School 118 class oo5. We are experienced a great urban book called Money Hungry. This book is wild and adventures that anyone and everyone can relate to this book. We are reading this book because it is very interesting.
In the book an thirteen -year-old girl named Raspberry Hill is an starved for money she will go to any measure to get money. Raspberry dreams of moving out the projects seems to be running away from her like their trying to win a race but shes not winning .
The book was very good and it is a good book to read in your spare time,the book has humorous parts but there is mostly true parts that has a meaningful statement.
I would recommend this book to anyone in this age of 10-14, because it shows whats going on in our everyday lifetime.

Money Hungry.......2007-04-18

Have you ever wanted money so much that you were hungry for it? Then, read Money Hungry by Sharon G. Flake.

In this book, a girl named Raspberry is always hungry for money. So, she tries to make as much money as she can. She tries to make money by selling old candy, cleaning homes, and getting a job. When her mom finds two hundred bucks, she thinks Raspberry stole the money.

My favorite part is when she tried to earn her money back by getting a job at the gas station. When Raspberry's mom found all the money it was like my mom finding all the money I saved up once.
I recommend this book because it helps you understand the purpose of money and that if you don't tell your parents about money, large consequences comes your way.

So, read this book to find out what happened to Raspberry. Does she get the money back? Does she get in trouble by selling old candy? How much money does she make from cleaning the house? Read this book to find out what happens.

A GREAT Book ( A kid's review).......2007-01-28

This was a great book. It taught me that money is not the best thing in the world and that I should appreciate the things I have today. I recommend this book. I can't wait to read Begging for Change.

Money, Money, Money.......2006-09-13

Money Hungry by Sharon G. Flakes is about a girl named Raspberry. She loves money. she sell's things in school and on the streets. she also sells things that make her class sick or dose it??? She gets in big trouble. To make it worse her mom is datind hre best friends dad!!! Is her mom trying to get back at her because she hates her money ways or is she in LOVE??? Raspberry dose'nt know but one thing she dose know is that it is NOT COOL !!! Will raspberry stop her money ways? Or will she continue to be the hustler that she is??? Read the book and find out.

better then expected.......2006-05-23

Well, when first picked up I wasn't expecting much from the book. I had met the author earlier on, and decided to finally read one of her books and this was the most appealing.

Money Hungry is about young Raspberry Hill who does almost anything for some money, even if it's just pennies. The book follows her as she goes through her drama stuffed life of a slight crush, family issues, and the obsession of money. It also ties in with the lives of her friends... mentioning the teasing, family problems, and racial hardship they all have to endure.

When I began reading I figured it'd be another one of those teen drama books that are good, but not great, but it was defiantly more. The book really caught me off guard and surprised me in a few parts, mentioning scenarios that really made me (a person in a pretty good lifestyle) pause for a minute, reread, and go "what?!". You really feel for her, and get what she's going through when she speaks to you of why she obsesses over her money so much, and when the bad things come rolling your heart will ache. It opens your eyes to people's personalities... what some people do when they're in a bad position, but still shows you the kindness in peoples hearts, and how it remains despite all the bad.

Money Hungry is a fast read, the days and pages fly by like real life... fast and full of meaning when you're experiencing it, but somewhat of a washed memory when it's over, and only the most dramatic days remaining like ink spots. It has some pointless and unnecessary points, but they defiantly add to the book. I'd recommend this to any teen, it'll catch your attention.

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