Twelve Kingdoms, The - Hardcover Edition Volume 1: Sea of Shadow

Book Description

For high-schooler Yoko Nakajima, life has been fairly ordinary--that is until Keiki, a young man with golden hair, tells Yoko they must return to their kingdom. Once confronted by this mysterious being and whisked away to an unearthly realm, Yoko is left with only a magical sword; a gem; and a million questions about her destiny, the world she's trapped in, and the world she desperately wants to return to.More than just a fantasy story filled with horrific monsters, half-beasts, and magicians, The Twelve Kingdoms centers around a world reminiscent of Chinese mythology and rife with civil and political upheaval. Sea of Shadow, the first volume of this ongoing seven-volume epic, takes you on a wild ride that leaves you questioning the bounds of reality and fantasy."An exciting, fast-paced adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats."--BookLoons.com "This is a fantasy novel displaying a grand imagination and soaring adventure."--ActiveAnime.com"Fuyumi Ono weaves a bewitching tale of strength in adversity, bravery despite fear, courage above all, and trust â€" in yourself and in others."--Yabookscentral.comFuyumi Ono was born in Oita Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from Otani University with a major in Buddhist studies. During college she was a member of Kyoto Universityâ€™s mystery story club for readers and writers of the mystery genre. In 1988, she made her publishing debut in Kodanshaâ€™s teen-targeted X-Bunko Teens Heart series. Besides The Twelve Kingdoms, Ono has written other novels in such genres as mystery and horror.

Customer Reviews:

Astonishingly good.......2007-06-25

I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up all night to finish it, and went to work the next morning like a zombie. The story is extremely well-written and the translation is handled perfectly. I did not expect the character development to be so in-depth--this book is a must-read for both children and adults. I can't wait for Book 2 to come out!

A fun read..........2007-06-19

I enjoyed the anime series and since it's based on novels instead of manga I figured I'd read them. The book takes you deep into the world of the twelve kingdoms, and also into the mind of the heroine, Yoko, who is dealing with her own faults while trying to survive in an unfamiliar and hostile world. The author's descriptions give a vivid account of what it's like to be Yoko by mentioning "other senses" type of details, by which I mean senses other than sight. We hear about sounds, smells, and most importantly how things feel. The story is rich and complicated, but not so much that one can't put things together. I enjoyed this book, and anyone who is a fan of anime or manga would probably like it as well.

Good ending, lukewarm beginning and middle.......2007-06-12

I wish there were half-stars on Amazon, because my actual rating for this book would be a three and a half. For most of the book (i.e. the beginning and middle), my reaction was merely that it was okay. I had liked the premise for the book, which was why I bought it, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations as I began to read. After the initial set-up, I felt like the same things kept happening over and over again: Yoko fights demons, almost dies, gets help from strangers, and then the cycle repeats. There are also long periods of reflection, both in Yoko's mind and in conversation with "herself" (the blue monkey), which always seemed too similar to one another as well; there wasn't much progression until the final conversation. The whole idea of the "good girl" and Yoko's eventual lack of trust didn't feel natural too me~it was as though I could see the author pulling the strings, purposely feeding me information to get me to believe these character traits that just didn't seem to develop properly.

Don't get me wrong, though~there were quite a few things about the book I did enjoy, especially the ending. While much of the book gave me a humdrum feeling, by the time I closed the book I was left with the impression that I actually liked it. I am now even looking forward to the next volume. In short, the ending saved this book for me, which is why I wish I could give it three and a half stars instead of three. There were also other enjoyable points/ideas as well: I especially liked the concepts of beastlings, egg fruit, and the various other demons in the story, among other things. I just wish I was able to like all of the book, not just parts.

Outstanding !.......2007-06-09

I have seen the Anime version and was very pleased that the book is so different. I cannot wait untill the next book is released.

Beautiful Read.......2007-06-02

This book was a joy for me to read, plain and simple. I am an avid anime and manga fan, and I was intrigued by this book, simply because I had heard a friend mention the 12 Kingdoms anime long ago. I was surprised and delighted to find this book was worth far more than I paid. The book is very well written and I had trouble putting it down. The story is captivation and keeps you guessing, weaving a very surprising and I enjoyed it, just when you think you finally start to understand, you are taken in a whole new direction. The world put forth in this book seems limitless, and the characters, most notably Yoko, grow in such a fantastic way it's hard to put into words. I am very pleased and recommend this to anyone who has a hint of imagination, a taste for adventure and a love for the unknown

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

Average customer rating:

Biased didacticism, not history.
Used in teaching about WWII
who was hitler?
The Children Loove Hitler
Truth from the other point of view!!!

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Manufacturer: Scholastic Nonfiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439353793

Book Description

"I begin with the young. We older ones are used up . . . But my magnificent youngsters! Look at these men and boys! What material! With them, I can create a new world." --Adolf Hitler, Nuremberg 1933 By the time Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, 3.5 million children belonged to the Hitler Youth. It would become the largest youth group in history. Susan Campbell Bartoletti explores how Hitler gained the loyalty, trust, and passion of so many of Germany's young people. Her research includes telling interviews with surviving Hitler Youth members.

Customer Reviews:

Biased didacticism, not history. .......2007-04-16

Halfway through listening to this book on CD, I wondered why it seemed like the author was talking down to me. The writing was very simplistic and the extremely irritating narrator felt obligated to remind us that Nazism was bad by reading every race-related word with the utmost sarcasm possible, e.g. "Hitler wanted a 'puuuuure' (tee-hee) 'Aaaaaryan' (rotfl!) 'race' (hahahaha!)." This book also felt the need to explain even the most elemental German terms, the most hilarious being when the author told us that "Heil Hitler" means "Hail Hitler" in English. I was kind of offended at the condescension until I finally looked at the CD case and saw that the book was meant for grade-school kids. It contains some interesting accounts of time in the Hitler Youth, but nothing too revelatory. I guess the point of writing this book was to tell kids that racism is bad and not to be conformist. The author goes overboard though by declaring that "All scientists agree that race is only skin deep". (That quote may not be verbatim.) Even leaving aside questions of intelligence, that statement is a blatant lie, as widely varying racial susceptibility to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. will attest. Does Ms. Campbell Bartoletti really want children to be independent thinkers, or does she merely want to indoctrinate them in her own egalitarian ideology?

Used in teaching about WWII.......2007-03-07

When pairing this book with books about World War II from the Allied perspective and the Jewish perspective, it really provides a completely different point of view. It allows students to see the historical event from more than one view, and this will encourage them to be open-minded and willing to see the points of view of others in life.

who was hitler?.......2007-02-13

this is a good book that tells the story of adolf hitler's little army the hitler youth.this book tells the story of many people tha died when hitler was a leader i relly like this book because i had heard of his little army and some of the people that were in his army. this is a very good book if you want to learn of hitler's power

The Children Loove Hitler.......2007-02-09

What do you think it would feel like if you lived during the time of World War II? The book Hitler Youth tells stories of children during this time period. There are many main characters telling the story of their lives during World War II.

The layout of this book is an easy read, but there are a lot of words and pictures on a page. There might also be a word in German that might be hard to read, but there aren't that many.

If you are interested in reading this book, then I think you should be at least in sixth grade or up. It is not a complicated book, but I think that Middle schoolers have more of an interest in World War II. I also think that this book would interest people who want to know what happened to the children during this particular time.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti has written other great books besides the Hitler Youth. She wrote Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, and Dear America: A Coal Miner's Bride.

Hitler Youth is a great book for studying, or for a free read. I recommend this book to read to anyone interested in World War II. I think it is important for people to know what happened the late 1930's to the early 1940's, because it had such a big impact in the world.
PR7

Truth from the other point of view!!!.......2006-11-30

This book is really good! It tells the story of young people of Germany. Usually the books on WWII focus on the victims of the Holocaust and the Allies, but this book tells the point of view of the Hitler Youth. I think this shows how the young people of Germany were also targeted. Hitler manipulated his way to become the chancellor of Germany. This book has a lot of interviews with Hitler Youth boys and girls. They tell their story and how they felt about the war, school, and their life. I strongly recommend this book to adults and young people.

Average customer rating:

Not worth buying.
Computer libraries won't want to miss this.
Practical Poser 7
Intermediate to Advanced Level Book

Practical Poser 7 (Graphics Series)
Denise Tyler
Manufacturer: Charles River Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 1584504781

Book Description

Do you want to take your Poser skills beyond the basics and put the new features of Poser 7 into practice right away? If so, you've come to the right place. Practical Poser 7 is an updated edition of this best-selling reference for intermediate to advanced Poser users. It teaches the tasks you want and need to know to get the most out of Poser 7 for achieving professional, commercial-quality work. This edition covers new Poser features, including new animation functionality, morphing tools, and more. Learn texturing and material techniques from a master texture artist, and explore the work of Poser pros in the beautiful color section!

Customer Reviews:

Not worth buying........2007-08-24

I bought this book thinking it would be as good as Practical Poser 6. It isn't. At best this is an intro to Poser possibilities. It doesn't completely walk you through anything. It hints and suggests you might be able to do some things with Poser 7 but then directs you to free websites to actually learn how to do them. If you can use Google, then you don't need this book.

Computer libraries won't want to miss this........2007-03-12

If you have the basics down with Poser and want to move to the next level, PRACTICAL POSER 7 is for you: the computer user who already has some grounding and wants to move up. It's an updated edition of a best-seller and covers all of Poser 7's capabilities, from saving custom faces in the Face Room and using the Hair Room to add hair to clothing to texturing, creating custom morphs, UV mapping and more. With black and white screen shot examples throughout, you can't go wrong - and many a graphics teacher will want to use PRACTICAL POSER 7 as a classroom text. Computer libraries won't want to miss this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Practical Poser 7.......2007-02-06

Authors should use Adobe Tutorials as a model. Practical Poser 7 is a text for reading, not a tutorial for doing. It is not self contained with all materials needed to do the tutorials. It is also obviously keyed to stimulate purchases from Content Paradise. Needs considerable improvement. Not intuitive.

Intermediate to Advanced Level Book.......2007-02-01

This book is listed as a beginning to intermediate level book. I think it's actually a little higher than that. It presumes that you have at least reviewed the Reference Manual, and hopefully worked through the Tutorial Manual. This is a tutorial style book. It takes you through a series of steps that will teach you more about the design of a person than you imagined.

After going through this book, I'm not going to say that the people making the next Harry Potter movie will jump at the chance to hire you, but I will say that you'll know a hell of a lot more about the computer creation of characters than you did when you started.

The key is to make characters look real. And here the authors point out little things like what do the fingers do in the hand that isn't reaching for something. And how do you make the torso bend with the body so that it looks real.

All in all, quite an exceptional book that I highly recommend. These people know what they are doing and know how to write about it.

The CD supplied with the book has a wealth of material including:

All the files used in the book and all of the images
Numerous Poser figures from a variety of sources
UV Mapper Software (Classic version)
Additional material from previous versions of this book

Cirque Du Freak #11: Lord of the Shadows: Book 11 in the Saga of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak: the Saga of Darren Shan)

Average customer rating:

Cirque Du Freak #11
Great books
Cirque Du Freak #11
Best Book Ever!
Lord of Shadows Book Review

Cirque Du Freak #11: Lord of the Shadows: Book 11 in the Saga of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak: the Saga of Darren Shan)
Darren Shan
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316156280

Customer Reviews:

Cirque Du Freak #11.......2007-07-09

I was very satisfied with the service from this vendor. The book arrived in the time frame promised and in good condition.

Great books.......2007-01-21

Sent on time product was what I ordered and expected. I am very happy with my purcase.

Cirque Du Freak #11 .......2007-01-21

Darren Shan is a wonderful writer and mygrandson and I love his books keep up the good work Darren you make reading great not only for young people but is old grandmas too Jan

Best Book Ever!.......2006-12-14

This is the best book ever. It's the best book out of all of the whole series. I am really upset. Darren is going to become the Lord of the Sahdows.

Lord of Shadows Book Review.......2006-11-04

If your searching for a comppelling, and entertaining book, then Cirque Du Freaks Lord of Shadows is the perfect book for you. Just like the previous 10 books in this series, there is a twist and turn at the end of every chapter. This book is about Darren Shan, a half vampire prince who is searchiing for Steve Leanord, his ex-best friend. Darren is out to kill him so that the vampires win the War of Scars. By doing this Darren will become the Lord of Shadows. The question is, is this a good thing? Evana, a witch who can see the future, tells Darren he will have too much power and kill all of the vampires and humans and even his own friends. However, Darren insists that he would never kill for the fun of it. Darren believes that it's possible to win the War of Scars and not be a endless killer. Evanna keeps telling him that it is impossible to change the course of the future. Will Darren Shan be able to kill Steve Leonard, win the War of Scars, and not turn into a insane killer? Read this amazing book that will keep you guessing.

Average customer rating:

Historical fiction at its finest
A well told story for any age

Megiddo's Shadow
Arthur Slade
Manufacturer: Wendy Lamb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385747012
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

Fueled by anger at the death of his two brothers in World War I, 16-year-old Edward abandons his ailing father on their farm and leaves Canada to enlist. After proving that he can tame any wild horse, he's is sent to Jordan to fight with the Cavalry.

Luckily, his horse is the extraordinary Buke; in battle, a trooper's horse is the key to life and death, and his true companion. In the harsh desert, Edward is grateful for the camaraderie of his tent mates, Cheevers and Blackburn,and letters from Emily, a nurse he met at base camp. As they close in on the enemy Edward finds that the glory and noble vengeance he seeks is replaced by the horror of war and the realization that he must fight not only to survive, but also, to kill.

Customer Reviews:

Historical fiction at its finest.......2007-07-30

Arthur Slade dedicates this novel to the memory of the five Slade men who served in World War I, his great grandfather, grandfather and great uncles. The dates of the youngest one jump out at the reader, "Private Percy James Slade, 1897-1918 (KIA.)

If my memory serves, I do not think there is a village or town in France and England that does not have a memorial to the fallen of The Great War. World War I does not loom as large in the memory of Americans. In Megiddo's Shadow, Slade takes the reader to a lesser known front of that war, to Palestine in the Middle East.

Sixteen-year-old Edward Bathe leaves his farm in Saskatchewan, Canada and joins the army after receiving the news that his beloved older brother Hector has been killed in France. All he wants to do is get to the front and kill the Hun who took his brother's life but upon arrival in England he is transfered to the Fifth Imperial Remount unit to break horses. He chafes at the assignment but does meet a horse who will be part of his future when he is reassigned to the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. Slade describes the role of these units on his website :

"Yeomanry were different than cavalry--they were trained to be foot soldiers and mounted soldiers. The idea was that they could ride quickly to their destination and dismount and fight. Or they could charge. They were even taught to get their horses to lay down, so they could use them as cover. The regiment was also trained to use the sword or lance in a charge."

Edward and his horse, Buke become part of the British Expeditionary Force in Palestine. The description of desert warfare is unforgettable.

"A month later, in July, I was sent to hell...

...We fed and watered our horses, working through the night because the day would be too hot for us to lift a finger. As the sun rose, it revealed a desolation only the Devil could've dreamed up: a low, flat valley of white marl and salt, spotted with swamp, stony plain, patches of dense scrub, and a thin layer of dry grass. The land had never know rain. Lumps of dried flesh--dead camels--lay here and there as though dropped from the sky, a sky that had never seen a cloud. A hot breath of wind drove the salty dust into my eyes. Occasionally, a thirteen-pounder gun would roar just to let the Turks know that His Majesty's troops were still here."

Very much a classic boy-goes-to-war novel in the tradition of The Red Badge of Courage (Tor Classics), All Quiet on the Western Front or Fallen Angels, Edward experiences the comradeship of soldiers, a first love and the grim reality of warfare. He faces the loss of those he loves and his faith in God as he struggles to find meaning and survive.

Slade relates his grandfather and great uncles' true stories on his website. They are as gripping and heartfelt as the novel and are very much the inspiration for this book. The letter Edward and his father receive about Hector is taken almost verbatim from the real letter the Slade family received about Percy Slade.

Moving, emotional and wrenching at times, this is historical fiction at its finest. I will be reading more of Arthur Slade's writing in the future.

A well told story for any age.......2007-01-22

A sobering story, well told. It follows the journey of 16 year old Edward Bathe, from the Canadian prairie, who joins the army to fight the Huns in France in 1917. Instead, he finds himself in the cavalry on his way to the Middle East. The story is well researched, full of details about army life, and also chronicles the emotional turmoil and growth of Edward. There are a few twists in the story and Slade's writing propels the reader forward. While intended for the young reader, Megiddo's Shadow was very much enjoyed by this 'mature adult'.

Average customer rating:

SHADOW PUPPETS
Shadow Puppets
Bean's Shadow
Human interest dimension trumps geopolitics
Ender series full review-its a pitty but you will read it...

Shadow Puppets (Ender, Book 7)
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Tor Science Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0765340054
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Amazon.com

In Shadow Puppets, Orson Scott Card continues the storyline of Shadow of the Hegemon, following the exploits of the Battle School children, prodigies who have returned to an Earth thrown into chaos after the unifying force of the alien invasion they stopped in Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow has dissipated.

Foremost among these whiz kids is the brilliant Bean who, in Shadow of the Hegemon, rescued his comrades from his nemesis--the dastardly Achilles. Now, the down-but-not-out evil genius is again scheming towards global domination and vengeance against the irrepressible Bean. It's up to Bean and his newfound love, Petra, to outwit the young psychopath and save the world. Meanwhile, the other Battle School children are called to serve again as an expansionist China threatens the stability of post-Bugger War Earth.

Shadow Puppets is, for better or worse, exactly what readers have come to expect from Card. There are thought-provoking musings on geopolitics, war, courage, arrogance, good versus evil, and the concept of children wise beyond their years dealing with grave responsibility. Unfortunately, many of these furnishings are looking a little frayed around the edges, but fans will enjoy an exciting, fast-paced plot and a suspense-filled conclusion. --Jeremy Pugh

Book Description

A Sequel to The New York Times Bestselling Enders's ShadowBestselling author Orson Scott Card brings to life a new chapter in the saga of Ender's Earth.Earth and its society has been changed irrevocably in the aftermath of Ender Wiggin's victory over the Formics--the unity enforced upon the warring nations by an alien enemy has shattered. Nations are rising again, seeking territory and influence, and most of all, seeking to control the skills and loyalty of the children from the Battle School.But one person has a better idea. Peter Wiggin, Ender's older, more ruthless, brother, sees that any hope for the future of Earth lies in restoring a sense of unity and purpose. And he has an irresistible call on the loyalty of Earth's young warriors. With Bean at his side, the two will reshape our future.Here is the continuing story of Bean and Petra, and the rest of Ender's Dragon Army, as they take their places in the new government of Earth.

Download Description

Earth and its society have been irrevocably changed in the aftermath of Ender Wiggin's victory over the Formics. The unity enforced upon the warring nations by an alien enemy has shattered. Nations are rising again, seeking territory and influence, and most of all, seeking to control the skills and loyalty of the children from the Battle School. But one person has a better idea. Peter Wiggin, Ender's older, more ruthless, brother, sees that any hope for the future of Earth lies in restoring a sense of unity and purpose. And he has an irresistable call on the loyalty of Earth's young warriors. With Bean at his side, the two will reshape our future.

Customer Reviews:

SHADOW PUPPETS.......2007-10-07

Although not the best of the Ender or Shadow series, Orson Scott Card does not disappoint. The portrayl of Bean and Petra growing up is good reading.

Shadow Puppets.......2007-06-11

awesome. the book is right in line with Card's series, Ender's Game. i was hooked & couldn't put it down. i recommend the entire series to anyone who wants a book that keeps you hooked till the end & keeps you coming back for more.

Bean's Shadow.......2007-05-06

Not as good as the first in the Ean series but still good enough. Card's criticism of US foreign policy is obvious i nhis narrative but it's still a worthwhile read. (I'll try and do this without spoilers)It's after the end of the Bugger War and the battle school children have all returned home (oh well, no major spoilers then) but like most precious and valuable military resources, someone is kidnapping them to try and take over the world (guess who) and Bean has to stop them. Long story short, expect another action packed sci-fi thriller by Card. OH and we get to see and hear more about Peter Wiggin.

Human interest dimension trumps geopolitics.......2007-03-30

This novel continues the story of Bean and Petra's struggle against the evil genius Achilles, last seen in Chinese custody. When Achille usurps the office of Hegemon, Bean, Petra, and Peter Wiggin must all go into hiding, where Peter experiences a taste of humility and a renewed relationship with his parents and Bean and Petra fall in love and decide to start a family. These human aspects of the plot are its strongest elements and raise this story above the level of its predeccessor.

The weakest point in any of the Bean novels is always the political dimension. I've never been convinced by Orson Scott Card's take on geopolitics. In his worldview, everybody seems to be waiting for a messiah, whether it's the united Muslims and their new caliph or the western world and the office of the Hegemon. The manner in which the character Virlomi incites wide-scale civil disobediance among rural Indians against Chinese occupation by dropping stones seemed particularly silly.

Still, I enjoyed the resolution of the Achille storyline and am intrigued by the plot threads that Card hasn't resolved yet--Bean's terminal giantism, his relationship with Petra, and the fate of their missing embryos.

Ender series full review-its a pitty but you will read it..........2007-02-28

I have read the whole ender series, but with a strange sequence which may have affected the way I view the different books in the series. The first book I have read was the Shadow of the Hegemon, thanks to a tourist that had left it in the library of a hotel in Skiathos island. This book got me hooked, but it confused me also as I didn't know if I should start reading the next books or the previous ones.

The general pattern in the whole series is:
The beginning book is Ender's Game. Then we have two subcategories, one the Shadow series (which, with the exception of the first book, take place on earth and are more within military strategy) and one the Ender series (which take place in space and are more into new sci-fi ideas). Shadow series probably can be read from everyone, while I guess that the Ender series (especially from Speaker for the Dead onwards) would be read mainly from sci-fi fans.
Below are my comments for the books of the series, in the order I have read them and a marking (10 is the highest mark):

Shadow of the Hegemon: The first book I have read, and which I could not leave from my hands. I finished it in 2 days. It was fast paced action, very smart plot and after reading it I believed that Orson Scot Card (OSC) has invented/re-invented a new genre of literature. That of military strategy and adventure combined with brilliance/mind games and hidden portions of romance. Such books always existed but this seemed to be THE book. It was like the way Dan Brown re-invented books with trivials and puzzles, together with fast paced adventure. I strongly recommend it to everybody that likes such type of books. (mark: 10)

Shadow puppets: The sequel to the above. I found it interesting but somehow boring as the above story developed little and the focus was on the characters (maybe too much focus so that it seemed to me that it was slightly mumbling jumbling. Strategy, brilliance and adventure seemed to be very low here. I would not recommend it for anybody to read it in isolate, unfortunately you have to read it if you want to go to the next book. I really believe that OSC made a mistake here (deliberately or not) as this book should have been told in 50-60 pages and be included in the previous or the next book. (mark: 6 but you will read it because you will want to read Shadow of the Giant)

Shadow of the Giant: (see below)

Ender's game: A really great book to read, probably the best of the series, however, as I had read its sequels first, when I reached the 80% of this book, I had predicted the end. However, it's at the highest standards of sci-fi, military strategy, adventure, brilliant mind games and very good depth in the human aspect of the characters. In comparison to the shadow series, it is more "space" sci-fi, while shadow series have much lesser sci-fi elements and are more down to earth. (mark: 10)

Speaker for the dead: Another great book, but different style. Less adventure, more human aspect, more maturity. Brilliance yes, but not military, sci-fi yes (some great ideas) but not spaceship style. (Mark: 9)

Xenocide: A good sequel of the previous novel. In certain points more brilliant, in other sections more boring, however is again a very good sci-fi book. The only flaw in these series (Speker for the dead, Xenocide, Children of the mind) is the idea behind one of the alien species described which I found outrageously extreme, however if you ignore it becomes first class reading. (Mark: 9)

Children of the mind: I think that OSC has wrapped up his case pretty badly in that one. It's a fair book except the fact that I felt that OSC mumbles jumbles for one third of the novel not having decided how to end it. In other critiques I have found it described as nice approach to moral dilemmas, however, moral dilemma is when you describe it once and make your choice, while here the dilemma is repeated and repeated... I felt like I was watching a movie worth 10 oscars and the end did not worth to be included even in a cheap video movie. And again, many open ends at the end (for possible sequels). (Mark: 7 but you will read it as you will be hooked from the previous ones).

Ender's shadow: Having read Enders Game and Shadow of the Hegemon, I found this book probably the best of the series, which of course is my subjective preference. I could characterize it as probably the best book I have read ever! Not to repeat myself, it has all that Shadow of the Hegemon and Ender's Game have, and even more...(Mark: the absolute 10).

Shadow of the Giant: When I read shadow puppets, I said, "that's it, OSC has lost either his talent or his appetite for good writing...", so I was pretty unwilling to read it. Fortunately I decided to, as it proved to be a good one, were I believe that OSC has nicely wrapped up his story, with two small flaws.
* The one is described below (its end needed to be slightly more complete) and,
* The other is the fact that although he describes certain smart battles, he does not focus enough on them as it seems that he is in a hurry to wrap all things up. It had all elements to become a masterpiece but it ended up being a good to read book (Mark: 9)

In general, both series have three categories of good stuff:
1) Some great sci-fi ideas (battle room, battle games, fantasy game, ansible, aia, Jane, in/out travel, raman varelse etc)
2) Great military strategy, mind games etc combined with adventure
3) In certain books, depth of characters, moral dilemmas etc
And two main bad stuff:
1) Mumbling jumbling in certain books which was completely unnecessary (either OSC wanted just to produce and sell another title - see shadow puppets- or he could not decide how the story will continue-see last book of Ender series).
2) One of the alien species described in the Ender series was so too outrageous even for sci-fi that made it look ridiculous. The idea behind it was brilliant in sci-fi terms, but he could try a different living organism...
Finally, OSC has left open ends in both series (probably for next sequels), however I believe that there are two things missing. a) the story of the Hive Queen and the Hegemon, told in a metaphorical manner so it means much for humanity. b) In ancient theatre, a story should end in a way that brings "katharsis" to the story, and the souls of the readers. I believe that the end of the shadow of the giant may be smart for commercial purposes but it was very unfair to the reader as it did not bring full "katharsis".

Dragonwings: Golden Mountain Chronicles: 1903 (Golden Mountain Chronicles)

Average customer rating:

A Good Book--4 stars
Upset
snooze fest
Dragonwings
Dragonwings

Dragonwings: Golden Mountain Chronicles: 1903 (Golden Mountain Chronicles)
Laurence Yep
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064400859

Book Description

Will Windrider
take to the skies?

Moon shadow is eight years old when he sails from China to join his father, Windrider, in America. Windrider lives in San Francisco and makes his living doing laundry. Father and son have never met.

But Moon Shadow grows to love and respect his father and to believe in his wonderful dream. And Windrider, with Moon Shadow's help is willing to endure the mockery of the other Chinese, the poverty, the separation from his wife and country'even the great earthquake'to make his dream come true.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Book--4 stars.......2007-04-27

Dragonwings is a good book to read because you have a good feeling to know someone's dream came true, like Moonshadow's father's dream. Moonshadow is a young man. When he was just eight years old, he had a chance to join his father who he had never seen before in the United States. He went through a difficult time passing immigration. This book talks about how Chinese people settled down in Chinatown and the experience in 1906 with the big earthquake in San Francisco, and then how Moonshadow and his father relocated to Oakland. Moonshadow's father is a good kite maker, and he has a fabulous dream to make a flying machine. Moon Shadow writes a letter to the Wrights telling them how his father likes to fly too, and wishes they can help him. The father's dream came true when he made a flying machine in 1909. Lawrence Yep's historical novels shows rich traditions and the culture of the Chinese community. I will recommend this book to people who are American born Chinese because they can learn from this book about how difficult it was for their ancesters to get into this country, and how they worked so hard and how they survived in white society, so they will appreciate them. Overall it is a good book to read, I just have some words that were hard to understand for me, maybe because they are too old fashioned.

Upset.......2007-04-18

I was honestly upset with this book not as good as i thought it would be, I mean the story was just boring overall.The only thing I thought was interesting that they used kites and I would be curious to ask the author why.

snooze fest.......2007-02-22

horrible
I am 13 years old and I hate this book
we read it in english class this year. About two people actually fell asleep reading it in 5th period. Really boring. There was one exciting part to the story. The names are hard to keep track of. I also don't like the fact that all throughout this book the boy refers to the white men as "demons". At first I thought the book was suposed to teach a lesson. But in the end it didn't
don't buy this book

Dragonwings.......2006-11-30

Wow,this is the best book I've ever read in years.This book starts off with a boy named Moonshadow,Moonshadows mom,and grandmother.They are in there farm allways workinging in the farm and not having any fun.
Moonshadow always wonders how the goldenmountains (America)looks like.When Moonshadow visits the goldenmountains and finds his dad there.The white demons (white people) are mean to the chinamen and all yhey care about is themselves.

Dragonwings.......2006-05-25

Moonshadow starts out as a shy little boy who lives in China who was curious about The Land of the Golden Mountain (America). Men from China would go to America in search for a better life. This is what Moonshadow's father did. One day Moonshadow was told that he had to choose between either staying in China and never knowing his father or being taken to his father in The Land of the Golden Mountain, he chose to leave. On the boat he was very frightened because he heard the older men telling stories of how they were almost tortured in America which did not make it any easier for Moonshadow to leave China. When he arrives he encounters a couple of "scary" things before they get to where he will be staying. Everyone with the last name of Lee works in a Laundry Shop, which is owned by Uncle Bright Star and White Deer. Moonshadow is greeted with Demon (white people) clothing. He already doesn't like what he sees. Moon shadow faces many difficulties such as being mugged, robbed, being picked on and racism through out the whole story. Towards the end of the story Moonshadow's father Windrider discovers that he wants to peruse his dream and he will need Moonshadow's help to achieve that dream. When he tells everyone that he will be moving out they are hurt and angry. They live by a white demoness and her niece, Miss. Whitlaw and Robin. While they are living there Windrider works as a handy man for Mr. Alger. Everything is perfect until the Earthquake comes. Miss. Whitlaw and Robin, Moonshadow and Windrider have to separate. It is up to Moonshadow to take over there new house because father is working on his dream but, will he finish in time and will it work? You find out!

Ender's Shadow (Ender, Book 5) (Ender's Shadow)

Average customer rating:

A Painful Revision of a Masterpiece
A Deux Ex Machina of the series
on going tale
Enjoyable but not without its flaws
It's deja vu all over again, and I love it!

Ender's Shadow (Ender, Book 5) (Ender's Shadow)
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Starscape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765342405

Amazon.com

Ender's Shadow is being dubbed as a parallel novel to Orson Scott Card's Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ender's Game. By "parallel," Card means that Shadow begins and ends at roughly the same time as Game, and it chronicles many of the same events. In fact, the two books tell an almost identical story of brilliant children being trained in the orbiting Battle School to lead humanity's fleets in the final war against alien invaders known as the Buggers. The most brilliant of these young recruits is Ender Wiggin, an unparalleled commander and tactician who can surely defeat the Buggers if only he can overcome his own inner turmoil.

Second among the children is Bean, who becomes Ender's lieutenant despite the fact that he is the smallest and youngest of the Battle School students. Bean is the central character of Shadow, and we pick up his story when he is just a 2-year-old starving on the streets of a future Rotterdam that has become a hell on earth. Bean is unnaturally intelligent for his age, which is the only thing that allows him to escape--though not unscathed--the streets and eventually end up in Battle School. Despite his brilliance, however, Bean is doomed to live his life as an also-ran to the more famous and in many ways more brilliant Ender. Nonetheless, Bean learns things that Ender cannot or will not understand, and it falls to this once pathetic street urchin to carry the weight of a terrible burden that Ender must not be allowed to know.

Although it may seem like Shadow is merely an attempt by Card to cash in on the success of his justly famous Ender's Game, that suspicion will dissipate once you turn the first few pages of this engrossing novel. It's clear that Bean has a story worth telling, and that Card (who started the project with a cowriter but later decided he wanted it all to himself) is driven to tell it. And though much of Ender's Game hinges on a surprise ending that Card fans are likely well acquainted with, Shadow manages to capitalize on that same surprise and even turn the table on readers. In the end, it seems a shame that Shadow, like Bean himself, will forever be eclipsed by the myth of Ender, because this is a novel that can easily stand on its own. Luckily for readers, Card has left plenty of room for a sequel, so we may well be seeing more of Bean in the near future. --Craig E. Engler

Book Description

Welcome to Battleschool. Growing up is never easy. But try living on the mean streets as a child begging for food and fighting like a dog with ruthless gangs of starving kids who wouldn't hesitate to pound your skull into pulp for a scrap of apple. If Bean has learned anything on the streets, it's how to survive. And not with fists. He is way too small for that. But with brains.Bean is a genius with a magician's ability to zero in on his enemy and exploit his weakness.What better quality for a future general to lead the Earth in a final climactic battle against a hostile alien race, known as Buggers. At Battleschool Bean meets and befriends another future commander - Ender Wiggins - perhaps his only true rival.Only one problem: for Bean and Ender, the future is now.

Customer Reviews:

A Painful Revision of a Masterpiece.......2007-09-06

Ender's Game is a much-loved science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card. It is well-written, has surprise twists, and contains characters readers can identify with. It is also a near-perfect example of a stand-alone novel - the vast majority of loose ends are tied up, redemption is found, and readers generally go away content.

So where's the problem? Well, most authors, once they've had a major success, seem to be unable to leave their popular creations alone. Ender's Game gained a decent (but not nearly as good) sequel in _Speaker for the Dead_. Then came the disappointing _Xenocide_ to continue the series. Finally, _Children of the Mind_ rewrites what seems to be established facts in the series' universe. In the end, many readers are left scratching their heads and feeling disappointed; they are almost envious of their friends that decided to avoid the three follow-up books and read something new.

BUT THE SERIES DOES NOT END THERE. Card continues the saga (and opens up a new avenue for sequels) with _Ender's Shadow_. This book takes us back to the original Ender novel by following the life of Bean, a character established in Ender's Game. The "new" material on Bean (primarily his early life and genesis) is both clever and interesting. When Card brings Bean to Battle School and covers the same events in Ender's Game, however, he fails horribly - because he changes and revises the events in the original masterpiece to fit his new work. For instance, the beginning chapter conversations in _Ender's Game_ simply do not make sense if _Ender's Shadow_ is correct. Established events are impossibly distorted to the point where they seem artificial. Worst of all, the character of Ender is trashed and diminished in order to make the new hero, Bean, seem more necessary.

This is one of the few books I wish I could unread - not because I want that portion of my life back, but because it damages my view of a much-better work. I can not recommend this book to anyone that has already read (and enjoyed) Ender's Game.

A Deux Ex Machina of the series.......2007-08-28

This book is a difficult one to rank. For a solo-novel, it's pretty good. For a novel that's shadowing 'Ender's Game', I think it's a deux ex machina, meaning, not good. It's not a bad book by any means. It just probably would've been a lot better if this book stood by itself, under a different character, any random character, but exiting out Ender Wiggin. Please. Because then it actually would've been a solid winner, if just for that concept alone.

Sadly, 'Ender's Shadow' is the book that will make you change the perception of the character that is Ender. Meet Bean, the boy who seemed to be the closest to Ender in 'Ender's Game'. We find out that Bean was from the Netherlands in Rotterdam, living life as a street urchin, begging for food and just using his brains to keep alive. With his smarts, he befriends Poke, a girl who leads a group of kids. With his smarts, he makes the group of kids get something to eat, though that required getting a bully to do most of the job for them. In this Poke picked the wrong bully, one named Achilles due to his crippled disposition. In being some kind of psycho killer, Achilles kills Poke for her making him weak, and the only way Bean could survive is to make sure he uses his smarts to go to Battle School. There, he eventually finds Wiggin, and the story pretty much goes downhill from there.

The plot has already been discussed, and although I'm all for giving a very detailed description of what Bean does that he becomes Ender's second-in-command, I would rather not say, because it's that bad. For one, the characters...

Bean is supposedly this being who is more advanced than any human out there, surviving off of the streets since he was one, due to his super brain. But he is also a difficult character to get attached to because he shares no attachment to anyone whatsoever, has this very cold, I'm-better-than-you-attitude that makes you kinda want to hug something else and leave Bean behind. I know Bean's isolated because he's so smart, and he feels it, but I would like to see some likeable qualities in a character, and Bean sadly, does not have them. Not that I hate him. I just don't care either way for him to want to know him.

Bean, being smarter, even smarter than Ender Wiggin, is the one who seems to guide Ender to every right corner. I mean, that kills off 'Ender's Game' right there. So it *wasn't* Ender who saved the earth from Buggers, or Ender's struggle to achieve something of himself. All this time it was Bean. So if it was Bean, why did Graff and all the other guys dote so much on him and not give Bean some honors? Even though it's explained, it's a pretty vague one. Bean eventually finds attachment with the kids he works with, but you still just don't care.

Achilles, one of the main villains in 'Ender's Shadow', comes off as a disgusting bug that needs to be squashed quickly. He's not even a faintly interesting villain, and since we know absolutely nothing about him, he's even less interesting. Also, him being a bully when he's handicapped is so laughable. Did Card for once go to a poor country and watched the real urchin kids? Handicapped children do not last long, and mostly get killed. Achilles would have died a long time ago. And since it is never told how he even became a bully, or how he survived on the streets so long, it's...well, we just don't care. The rest of the urchin children aren't that interesting, and how the youngest have to lick off of wrappers to get the last sheen of sweetness from them...something like that, will never work in real life. Sorry for being too realistic, but we expect more from 'Ender's Shadow'. The emotion, the things that made up 'Ender's Game'...this book completely butchers it. It does have one redeeming quality, however. It's somewhat interesting, but it would have been way better off if it just never tied up in Ender's Universe. I give you my verdict of an average score of three stars.

on going tale.......2007-08-08

For any reader who thinks they understand the whole story here is a book that lets you look though the eyes of another character and gives you insight to a tale you already know the ending to.

Enjoyable but not without its flaws.......2007-07-31

Ender's Shadow is an enjoyable read, and I recommend it to those who would like to spend more time with Ender, Petra, Bean, and our friends from Ender's Game.

The main flaw in this novel is conceptual. Broadly speaking, the premise of this book is the familiar mantra "everyone thinks they're the main character," invoked by writers to remind themselves that villains, supporting characters, and even The Barman At The Inn should be people with their own motivations, goals, and perspectives and not just convenient robots for advancing the plot. The way this develops in the novel is more along the lines of "Bean is actually way smarter than Ender and everyone else." Bean, formerly supporting cast, has become the main character... and he overshadows everyone in the supporting cast, new and old. His nemesis is a new character who seems to be Evil and Unlikable for no particular reason than to provide Bean with a nemesis.

The biology technobabble requires significant suspension of disbelief for anyone well-informed about child development. It's a plot point that a particularly gifted, undersized infant is strong enough to lift the cover of a toilet tank.

Despite these flaws, it's a fun romp in the world of Ender.

It's deja vu all over again, and I love it!.......2007-07-13

First of all, I never thought Ender's Game needed a sequel, much less a parallel story. I always felt that the first book should stand alone as an independent classic, even as I understood, as a writer, that if I had been blessed with such strong story material, I probably couldn't have left it alone either. So, to the point: Ender's Shadow is longer and slower than its famous predecessor--but it is also very, very good.

The character of Bean is the "shadow" mentioned in the title, and if ever a sidekick lived in the shadow of his partner, Bean is the one. It seems, however, that Bean has a story, too--one that is, in many ways, richer than Ender's, and one that the author takes several more pages to tell (occasionally to the book's detriment). People who are worried (or hope) that all of the same scenes have simply been rewritten from another point of view can cast that suspicion aside. The story bones of the bugger war are all there, but the personal story of Bean is all his own. In fact, some of what we learned in Ender's Game about the outcome of that war may be ... well, slightly one-sided, and Bean's contribution to that climactic event in the so-called simulator is a revelation worth reaching.

I didn't really want to read it. I wasn't looking forward to it. And yet, the book won me over. Kudos, Mr. Card.

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire fantasy "Teeth.")

Average customer rating:

Wow!
The Magic Flute, made more magical
"The Magic Flute" Retold
Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan...
Poorly Done

Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689869991

Book Description

A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!

In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....

Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.

In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.

Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2007-09-02

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I don't really like romances, and I wondered if I'd be bored. I figured I'd read a chapter and put it down. I was sure wrong about that.

Cameron Dokey's got an amazing way with words and how she weaves them together: It's magical and the story flows together brilliantly. I just couldn't get over how likable she made the characters: ALL of them, not just the "good guys." The "bad guys" are not all bad, nor are they hopeless, and problems are resolved in interesting ways. I couldn't tell you who my favorite character is (though I lean toward Lapin, who is Mina's best friend and defender, player of the bells.) They have depth and their feelings are interesting, not dull or run-of-the-mill, and these characters do not have any yawn-ish conversations, either.

The story is fun and easy to follow, but it's not simple, as in predictible. In order to prove his love, Prince Tern (how cool of a name is that?) agrees to "Boss of the Day" Sarastro's conditions of a very interesting set of trials: And Sarastro's daughter, Mina goes with him. Ever wonder how mourning doves came to be? Clever Cameron Dokey tucks this into the trials that Tern and Mina endure.

I won't give away anything about the ending other than to say it is very satisfying, on more than one level. I will definitely pick up another Once Upon a Time book by Cameron Dokey!

The Magic Flute, made more magical.......2007-08-13

The Magic Flute isn't one of the classic Grimms' fairytales, so I wasn't at all familiar with it and failed to recognise it in the blurb. The story looked intriguing nonetheless: Sarastro, "Mage of the Day", and Pamina, "Queen of the Night", have a daughter who spends her life with her mother until she is 16 - whereupon she must leave to live with her father. The blurb then promises treachery and betrayal when Pamina lures a prince into a deadly agreement to win Mina as his bride.

Cameron Dokey puts a new spin on this story with first-person accounts from different - and very likeable - characters - mainly Mina, but also an orphaned girl who is brought up by Sarastro, Gayna; Lapin, a boy who owns a magical set of bells (not a flute), and Tern, the prince. Through their voices you get a glimpse of how they think and of how fate unfolds.

This is also a story of opposites. Night against day. Mina against Gayna. Mina with Statos and Tern. Gayna with Statos and Lapin. Love against hate and treachery. And of course, good against evil.

While everything seems quite separate at first, all the threads do wind together in the end quite satisfyingly. Everything that Sarastro does is based on trying to outwit a prophecy about Mina. The only problem is that, careful as he is, he may not have all the cards in his hands.

The tone of the book was refreshingly modern even though it is set in "a time that was young and many things were commonplace that are now forgotten". Sarastro and Pamina don't speak to each other, so Mina grows up wondering what her father is like. Sarastro tears her from her mother when she is just shy of 16, breaking the original agreement and causing a great deal of defiance on Mina's part. Gayna is hopelessly in love with Sarastro's guard Statos, but he's not interested in her. It makes absorbing reading.

And in the background there is Lapin, whom I count as my favourite character. He inherits a set of magical bells which can call your true love to you. While he practices listening to the music of his heart, he ends up calling birds instead. Lots of birds.

What Lapin and Pamina do after Mina has been stolen away by Sarastro is ingenious, and entirely within the rules of the game. I felt the blurb was totally misleading when it claimed that Pamina had lured Tern into a set of deadly trials. Sarastro set those trials, and Tern agreed to rescue Mina of his own free will.

Of course everything ends well and all live happily ever after. The story is shorter than I would have liked but it's very easy reading but sticks with you for a long while after. That's the best kind of story to own.

"The Magic Flute" Retold.......2007-07-09

"Sunlight and Shadow" was the first book in the "Once Upon a Time" series that I read. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.

The story is a retelling of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", but it still manages to be original. The author puts some nice twists on an old story that was interesting and pretty original to begin with. It can be a little confusing because there are several narrators who switch without much notice, but it's not too hard to figure out. The plot has nice pacing, and the book is just the right length.

Best of all, she gives life to characters who were previously flat and stereotypical. The characterizations are nothing really special by themselves (still better than the stereotypes, but they're pretty typical of this kind of book), but it's interesting to get insight in the the characters' thoughts about events.

The writing was well-done. The romance was all right, but it seemed a bit shallow. But it was good for love at first sight, which was what it was in the opera. The author did a good job with it considering her resources. She does include a few themes about life in general, but they were nothing we haven't seen before.

I was not familiar with "The Magic Flute" before reading this, but it was a good way to introduce myself to it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still worth my time.

Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan..........2007-04-11

I was excited about this book because "Magic Flute" is one of my favorite stories. However while I did find myself enjoying it, I am not sure if I really appreciated this particular feminist take on it. Sometimes I think that a feminist take on an old beloved tale is great, however there are other times where it just distorts the story. I think that Nights Daughter by Marion Zimmer Bradley probably has a better attempt at having a feminst take on the story. And for an even better treat, score a copy of the Ingmar Bergman production of Magic Flute through netflix or your local library.

Poorly Done.......2007-03-11

The good side of this book is the writing style. It is moody, and the descriptions are interesting. On the other hand, the characters are shallow and not rememberable. The story is confusing, unbelievable, and jarring. The author attempted to tell the story from five different points of view without clarifying when this switch between people was made. The character's voices are not distinguishable from one another. The author draws you out of the main story line several times to tell you pointless back stories on other characters. Dokey's novel Beauty Sleep has the same flaws. Her best in the Once Upon A Time series is The Storyteller's Daughter and Golden.

The Secret of the Old Clock/The Hidden Staircase/The Bungalow Mystery/The Mystery at Lilac Inn/The Secret of Shadow Ranch/The Secret of Red Gate Farm (Nancy Drew, Book 1-6) (75th Anniversary Gift Set)

Average customer rating:

Nancy Drew 75th Anniversary Box Set
A LITTLE OUTDATED
A terrific book series and an exceptional value
Nancy Drew or the Best Way of Life
Like a Treasure Chest in an Old Attic

The Secret of the Old Clock/The Hidden Staircase/The Bungalow Mystery/The Mystery at Lilac Inn/The Secret of Shadow Ranch/The Secret of Red Gate Farm (Nancy Drew, Book 1-6) (75th Anniversary Gift Set)
Carolyn Keene
Manufacturer: Applewood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557091544

Book Description

Teenage sleuth and cultural icon Nancy Drew is still going strong more than seven decades after her first adventure was published. The more than 30 million copies of the Nancy Drew franchise in print prove that this teen detective is as popular as ever. And her popularity is still on the rise with award-winning video games, a much anticipated television movie, and a massive relaunching of the series planned for spring 2004. Perhaps the first embodiment of Girl Power, Nancy Drew has an appeal that is both enduring and international - she is currently translated into thirteen foreign languages. The Nancy Drew 2004 Calendar features twelve classic book cover images and synopses to engage adults and younger readers who have experienced these beloved books, as well as those who have yet to discover the timeless Nancy Drew.

Customer Reviews:

Nancy Drew 75th Anniversary Box Set .......2007-10-05

This boxed set of the first six Nancy Drew books is beautifully presented and the hardback books are an exact reproduction of the first edition stories originally published in 1930 which makes them unique as other less expensive editions are updated, rewritten, condensed and the most recent editions now contain cartoon type drawings which in no way represent the original books.

Nancy Drew books are classics and this is a beautiful keepsake for any literature lover - something to be kept in the family and handed down from mother to daughter as my daughter intends.

A LITTLE OUTDATED.......2007-07-09

OVERALL OK,BUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IS RACIALLY OFFENSIVE.BOOKS WERE WRITTEN IN THE 1930'S AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE CHARACTHER'S AND LANGUAGE.THE PUBLISHER ADMITS AS MUCH IN A NOTE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKS.

A terrific book series and an exceptional value.......2007-05-12

When this book series arrived, the first impression that it made on me was that it was a sturdy and quality product. The wholesome nature of the Nancy Drew series makes this a must-have for your children's library. If you are looking for a great book series that will pass down the generations, this is a very good choice.

Nancy Drew or the Best Way of Life.......2007-01-18

The first Nancy Drew editions give to the readers the appearance of an idealistic world, with a great contrast between good and evil.
It is not so simple : each character is in a way an image of the truth of human people and shows to the youth what is dangerous or forbidden.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to replace those stories in the context of her time : the Great America, a little bit too conservative, with big differences between social condition of poor and rich people, and especially of white and afro-american people.
As the matter of fact, the point is : Nancy Drew belongs to the high Society. She has more possibilities and abilities than most of people.
But it is one of the reason for which she offers too dream and fantasy.

Like a Treasure Chest in an Old Attic.......2006-08-01

I started reading Nancy Drew mysteries in the late 1960s, so most of the books I read had already been updated. I did always seem to prefer the older versions when I could get my hands on them, because I loved the illustrations, but I did not know that even the older versions I read were condensed versions of the original books that were written in the 1930s. Thus, when I found the collectors' edition for sale on Amazon, I just had to make the purchase. Was it worth it? I discovered that I already had copies of most of the mysteries on my bookshelf, which meant that even though the stories were slightly different, it was not like reading a completely new mystery, so I was slightly disappointed on that count. On the other hand, the illustrations in these books are superb, and the old-timey dialogue and character descriptions really make me feel like I have stepped back in time, or maybe just found a treasure chest in an old attic, so I would have to say that yes, it was worth it. In sum, if you have already read the titles in the collectors' edition and you aren't much for re-runs in general, then maybe this Amazon purchase is not for you. But if you used to be or still are a big Nancy Drew fan, and/or if you just have a thing for things of the past, then I think you will love this lovely collection of Nancy Drew mysteries.

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