Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (Today Show Book Club #25)

Average customer rating:

What a weird strange trip

Laugh and learn about sea mammals

3 1/2 stars would be more accurate

Fluke

great

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (Today Show Book Club #25)
Christopher Moore
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Coyote Blue

ASIN: 006056668X
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Amazon.com

In his entertaining adventure-in-whale-researching, Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings, Nathan Quinn, a prominent marine biologist, has been conducting studies in Hawaii for years trying to unravel the secret of why humpback whales sing. During a typical day of data gathering, Nate believes his mind is failing: the subject whale has "Bite Me" scrawled across its tail. Events become even stranger as the self-proclaimed "action nerds," Nate, photographer Clay, their research assistant Amy, and Kona, a white Rasta (a Jewish kid from New Jersey), encounter sabotage to their data and equipment. They also observe increasingly bizarre whale behavior, including a phone call from the whale to their wealthy sponsor to ask that Nate bring it a hot pastrami and Swiss on rye, and discover both a thriving underwater city and the secret to what happened to Amelia Earhart.

Thoughtful, irreverent, and often hilarious, Moore has crafted a tale that contains a bit of the saga of declining whale populations due to hunting and habitat destruction, as well as his over-the-top, decadent wit as applied to scientific methodology and professional jealousies. Moore notes a pasty, rival scientist "looked like Death out for his after-dinner stroll before a busy night of e-mailing heart attacks and tumors to a few million lucky winners," and that killer whales (which are all named Kevin), are "just four tons of doofus dressed up like a police car." Smart, sincere, and a whale of a story, Fluke is terrific. --Michael Ferch

Book Description

Just why do humpback whales sing? That's the question that has marine behavioral biologist Nate Quinn and his crew poking, charting, recording, and photographing very big, wet, gray marine mammals. Until the extraordinary day when a whale lifts its tail into the air to display a cryptic message spelled out in foot-high letters: Bite me.

Trouble is, Nate's beginning to wonder if he hasn't spent just a little too much time in the sun. 'Cause no one else on his team saw a thing -- not his longtime partner, Clay Demodocus; not their saucy young research assistant; not even the spliff-puffing white-boy Rastaman Kona (né Preston Applebaum). But later, when a roll of film returns from the lab missing the crucial tail shot -- and his research facility is trashed -- Nate realizes something very fishy indeed is going on.

By turns witty, irreverent, fascinating, puzzling, and surprising, Fluke is Christopher Moore at his outrageous best.

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By turns witty, irreverent, fascinating, puzzling, and surprising, Fluke is Christopher Moore at his outrageous best.

Customer Reviews:

What a weird strange trip.......2007-08-01

I've only recently discovered the writings of Christopher Moore, but I'm now on a quest to read all of his books, and I can't tell you why. They are all uniquely quirky and funny. Each of his novels is a fairly quick read with a love story, a mystery, and some sort of paranormal element thrown in for good measure.

His style of writing makes his books so easy to digest. You don't have to think, just giggle.

I started out by reading "LAMB" and actually 'learned' some religous history. I found his account fascinating and exciting. It led me to want to read more of his writings, and I've been glad that I have.

Fluke is a great book, but its premise starts to get a little strange. If I want to start thinking about my impact on the planet, I stick to "ISHMAEL".

I recommend Christopher Moore as an author and this book as a second or third book of his to pick-up. To get a flavor for his work, start out with "YOU SUCK - A LOVE STORY" and then either this or "LAMB".

Laugh and learn about sea mammals.......2007-07-28

Christopher Moore cracks me up.
His absurd humor is addicting.
Get the audio book and you can laugh while driving.

3 1/2 stars would be more accurate.......2007-05-30

For anyone looking for a break from the mundane, cliche novels that are out there, then Christopher Moore will certainly fit the bill; and Fluke is no exception. The story is of a whale biologist and his eventful (and unbelievable) research in Hawaii. Of course, Moore's insane and inane plot devolves from there.

Although this book delivered a few laughs, I did not find it nearly as funny as "A Dirty Job" (although Moore's comments on "advanced poop-chute technology" should not be missed).

The plot overall is as crazy and unexpected as you would expect from Moore, but seems to drag a little toward the end. Also, I was not terribly happy with the resolution of everything.

The characters are very likeable, but do not seem to do much growing over the course of the novel.

Fluke is worth checking out if you are a fan of Moore's, or if you have some free time on your hands, but you may be better off getting it at the library.

Fluke.......2007-04-12

My husband and I listened to this on vacation in San Diego. We spent alot of time on the freeways. Fluke kept us laughing and entertained the whole time!

great.......2007-03-31

I liked this book so much I've now read several more of his. This one is still the best so far. Clever, fun, fast paced, unpredictable! I recommend it highly.

Dear Mr. Blueberry (Aladdin Picture Books)

Average customer rating:

book
Endearing for the young child/ Instructional for the classroom teacher
A lovely children's book
Excellent Book
Disappointed

Dear Mr. Blueberry (Aladdin Picture Books)

Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689807686

Book Description

"Dear Mr. Blueberry, I love whales very much and I think I saw one in my pond today. Please send me some information on whales." It's vacation time, so Emily has to write to her teacher to help when she discovers a blue whale living in her pond. Mr. Blueberry answers that she must be mistaken, because whales live in the ocean, not in ponds.

Throughout the summer, Emily and Mr. Blueberry exchange letters, until Emily has a happy surprise to share with her teacher. In the process, Emily learns a lot about whales. And Mr. Blueberry leans even more about imagination, faith, and love.

Customer Reviews:

book.......2007-05-09

This is an all time favorite in our preschool. Had trouble finding it until now. Great service. Good book.

Endearing for the young child/ Instructional for the classroom teacher.......2007-01-12

Wow! This book serves a plethora of functions... From the very young they will be enchanted with the beautifully jewel toned colours on the pages... If your child likes ocean animals they will learn all about whales in this beautifully told tale of the growing bond between a young student and her teacher as Mr. Blueberry teaches and corrects her misconceptions of whales habits and habitats. It is a great vehicle to use in the classroom to teach letter writing, writing notebook, and several other writing workshop minilessons. Great literacy selection... My son who is 6 as well as my class of aged 10 and 11 year olds adore this book on many different levels... ;)

A lovely children's book.......2005-11-13

I've been using this book with my kindergarten and first grade to introduce text illustration. They absolutely love it. I get applause every time I read it.

The illustrations are beautiful watercolors inspired by Emily's view of what is going on in her back yard.

My favorite part of the book is that readers are not told conclusively whether there was actually a whale in Emily's pond. It preserves a bit of the magic of believing that Arthur the whale was real.

A wonderful book for boys and girls.

Excellent Book.......2005-09-21

I loved this story. My third grade students enjoyed the playful letters between Emily and Mr. Blueberry. We are studying animals in science and they are doing a research project on an animal. We are modeling a writing project after the format of this book. They are writing the letters from both perspectives using the animal they are learning about. They are enjoying being the 'expert' on their animal.

Disappointed.......2005-08-02

Reading the reviews for this book I thought it would be a more substantial book than what I found. It is a cute idea, but it is lacking in content. Very disappointed...will probably end up as a garage sale book.

Average customer rating:

brilliant, beautiful, powerful folk tale of girl power
Has its problems, but still works.
The film is certainly better
Excellent coming of age story
Lyrical....

The Whale Rider
Witi Ihimaera
Manufacturer: Harcourt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152050167

Book Description

Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. Her people claim descent from Kahutia Te Rangi, the legendary "whale rider." In every generation since Kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. Kahu is his only great-grandchild--and Maori tradition has no use for a girl. But when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the Maori tribe, it is Kahu who saves the tribe when she reveals that she has the whale rider's ancient gift of communicating with whales.
Now available in simultaneous hardcover and paperback editions.
Feature film in theaters in June 2003!

Customer Reviews:

brilliant, beautiful, powerful folk tale of girl power.......2007-05-05

I love this movie, so I decided to read the book. As with any book on which a brilliant and well-executed film is based, it's a challenge for the reader to fall in love with the original story. The film was very faithful, and so it wasn't difficult to love this novel as well. But there are some deficiencies. First of all, the characters seem more real and dimensional in the film than the book. This is especially true of the heroine, who seems a mystical and distant child in the book, but comes off more real through Keisha Castle-Hughes' portrayal. Second, the film is much more realistic, only slightly testing the boundaries of reality and disbelief. The book is much more fantastic, though it contains more insight into the tribe's culture. And yet, the book is utterly powerful, honestly moving, and incredibly beautiful. It's a brilliant modern folk tale of a Maori tribe threatened by the modern world to hold onto its traditions. The chief (Koro) rejects his great-granddaughter Kahu who has broken the male line of succession. Koro tries desperately to maintain his tribe, reinforce the old traditions, and keep their connection with their totem animal, the whale on which their ancestor traveled to their lands. Meanwhile, Kahu desperately seeks her great-grandfather's love, not to mention acceptance. It slowly becomes obvious that Kahu--despite her gender and great-grandfather's rejection--is deeply connected to the whales and the sea (which is actually a taboo for a female to engage in), and is the salvation of her tribe. Obviously, fate and destiny care not for gender and traditions, as this girl is apparently destined for great things. It's an incredible story of family, destiny, strength, girl power, expectations, traditions, and culture. Grade: A

Has its problems, but still works........2006-08-24

Witi Ihimaera, Whale Rider (Harcourt, 1987)

This relatively obscure little book exploded after being adapted into an award-winning film. The book still hasn't gotten as popular as the movie, though, and that's something of a crime against nature. I have not yet seen the movie-- I wanted to read the book first (and will likely see the movie next week)-- but I know how the whole book-to-movie thing usually goes. And it's usually a crime against nature when the book doesn't get popular even after the movie's a big hit, so I'm playing the odds on that one.

As for the book itself, it's quite a good little tale, full of a young adult kind of magic realism that's likely to make the reader, if he hasn't already, consider the link between magic realism, the literary cliché du jour, and folktales. Ihimaera gives us the Whale Rider creation myth while telling us the story of a Maori chieftain who refuses to see that his granddaughter Kuha is developing into the new chieftain before his eyes because of his traditional beliefs that a male must take the position. (Despite, we find out, the fact that women have held the position in the past. Hard-headed old sod, eh?) We spend much of our time just learning about the characters, with Ihimaera throwing in some interesting perspectives at times; for example, narrator Rawiri, Kuha's uncle, leaves New Zealand for two years to run a coffee plantation in Papua New Guinea (and this allows for some rather odd humor, as well as a blistering excoriation of modern racism in the region), and we find out about Kuha's development only through letters and phone calls for a while. Yet it is rare that Ihimaera takes his focus off Kuha for more than a paragraph or two at a time.

A lovely tale, well worth your time, whether you've seen the movie or not. *** ½

The film is certainly better.......2006-05-31

Like most people, I bought the book after watching the film... in fact it took me ages to find the book because here in Spain it was called "the legend of the whales". Anyway, I thought the film was very moving and since when I'm obsessed with a movie I buy also the book, I did.

The first thing that surprised me was that the girl is not called Pai, but Kahu, and second, that it was told from the uncle's perspective rather than the girl. I though it wouldn't be good because on the film the uncle is a rather minor character... and in fact, it isn't.

I found the story dull and had to make myself keep reading. The only good thing I can say is that at least it explained a lot of the myth of Paikea, which in the movie wasn't explained that much. Other than that, there wasn't anything to keep me hokked to the book.

Niki Caro is a great scriptwriter because she made a fantastic film from this rather forgettable book.

Excellent coming of age story.......2005-11-20

This is an excellent coming of age story for a young girl, or boy! Readers will find delightful lore and learn something of New Zealand. The movie wasn't a disappointment, though I'm glad I read the book first.
Chrissy K. McVay
author of 'Souls of the North Wind'

Lyrical...........2005-09-21

Simple without being simplistic, here's a magical tale of destiny and love. Essential reading for those who have become world-weary and cynical from the constant battering of our scientific-material world.

Average customer rating:

Great for Special Ed Preschoolers with audio
My Daughter LOVES This Book!
Classic sing-a-long
Wonderful!
Baby Beluga

Baby Beluga (Raffi Songs to Read)
Raffi
Manufacturer: Crown Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0517709775
Release Date: 1997-08-12

Book Description

Raffi's signature song and the top seller in his Songs to Read series, Baby Beluga is now available in a quality board book edition perfect for his youngest fans.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Special Ed Preschoolers with audio.......2007-09-26

Baby Beluga is a fantastic book for the class I work in. The three and four year old special ed students LOVE this book along with Raffi's music being played. I strongly recommend it for any child. I'm purchasing the book and the CD for my nephews who do not have any disabilities because I know they'll love it too.

My Daughter LOVES This Book!.......2007-08-23

My daughter is crazy about this book, and she has been since she was about 8 months old. I think the fact that you can't help but sing the story when you read it makes it much more interesting. I've never actually heard the whole song before, so I can only guess if I'm singing it correctly. She loves it though. As always, the cardboard pages make for a very durable baby book.

Classic sing-a-long.......2007-07-03

It's great to have a classic song in book form with attractive illustrations. It's one of my 11-month old's favorite bedtime books. He turns the pages while I sing him the tune. The pages are sturdy enough for him to turn them himself.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-29

This board book is a wonderful addition to our collection of books as the colors and images grab my son's attention and he can see the words that accompany the song I sing to him often. What a wonderful idea to create a book using the Baby Beluga lyrics.

Baby Beluga.......2007-05-28

A fun book for preschoolers! As a child care professional this is a book (and CD as well) that the children enjoy. They actually can see the pictures that go with the words of the CD. A must have for all Family Child Care Providers!

Average customer rating:

Even my husband grows quiet when I read it...
Fabulous
My two year old son's favorite book!!!
Good story to read to a child.
The Snail and the Whale

The Snail and the Whale
Julia Donaldson
Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0803729227

Book Description

When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale, the two travel together to far-off lands. It's a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend?

From the creators of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo comes this touching tale of adventure and friendship. With vibrant illustrations and rhymes that are both playful and lyrical, here is a story that shows us that even the smallest creatures can help others in a big way.

Customer Reviews:

Even my husband grows quiet when I read it..........2007-08-28

I picked this book up during a trip to Cape May, NJ and it quickly became my family's favorite. The cadence of the writing and the pictures gets my 3 year old's attention, and the underlying message is what gets mine. Even my husband grows quiet when I read it. The description of the fishes' "feathery fins" and sharks' "hideous toothy grins" is just perfect.

A great lesson to be learned, one small act of courage can change anyone's life and can always make a difference.

Fabulous.......2007-03-08

Another great rhyming book from Julia Donaldson. She does a great range of books and they appeal to adults and kids. They are so easy to read and it is a joy to follow the simple yet exciting stories. She is a gifted story teller and the illustrations are just intriguing.

My two year old son's favorite book!!!.......2007-02-07

My two and a half year old son loves this book! The illustraions are wonderful and he follows the story. It's one of the best books we have. Highly recommend!

Good story to read to a child........2007-01-25

A lengthier book to read to a child which has a good rhyme and story. Would prefer type size to be bigger and bolder.

The Snail and the Whale.......2007-01-11

A really beautiful book;the illustrations and the plot make this book work. The rhyme scheme keeps children interested.

Average customer rating:

A simple tale , with an artfully told message
Very wordy, disappointing denouement
Pretentious and tedious...kids immediately smell it as false
An excellent childrens book
True Friendship

Amos & Boris

Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374403600

Book Description

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sea in his homemade boat, the Rodent, and soon finds himself in extreme need of rescue. Enter Boris. But there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life of whaling about and Amos has gone back to his life of mousing around, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale.

The tender yet comical story of this friendship is recorded in text and pictures that are a model of rich simplicity. Here, with apparent ease and concealed virtuosity, Caldecott medalist William Steig brings two winning heroes to life.

Customer Reviews:

A simple tale , with an artfully told message.......2007-05-16

Even a little child can make a difference!

This is one of the most empowering concepts for a young child to grasp. It is the message at the heart of this story.

When the whale saves a mouse drowning at sea, we are happy to see a creature so big, helping one so little. But later, when the mouse is able to return the favor by saving the beached whale, we cheer him on!

Steig's prose is rich and draws you into the story. He gives us a phosphorescent sea, an immense starry sky, and a mouse's quivering daintiness. Artfully done as well, are his presentation of some very grown up concepts: having ambitions in life, whether we go to heaven when we die, and having to move on and say goodbye to a dear friend.

My son and I enthusiastically recommend this book!

Very wordy, disappointing denouement.......2006-09-20

I saw all the positive reviews here, and bought Amos & Boris to read to my two-year-old. I am often disappointed in aspects of the stories in children's books, and having to read them over and over, stories that my son likes that have endings that bother me can really get to me, so I'm always looking for the good ones.

Amos & Boris is definitely over my two-year-old's head, but even from my perspective in reading it to him, I found the sentences wordy to the point of wearying, as another review mentioned, each one a very long breath. The concepts are rather complicated for a kids' book, as well.

And I also didn't like the inconsistency--some things, like what a mammal is, are explained, but other things, like what it means when a whale "sounds", are not (which considering that "sound" has another, more typical meaning, seems like it would help in the story).

It looks like there are many fans of this book, but I also find the ending completely untethered to the rest of the story, and it comes out of nowhere, which I tend to see in the less-good kid's books. It is also a very quick wrap-up compared to the dragged-out feeling the book has until that point, and just doesn't seem worth the journey.

From an adult reader's perspective, it's not as frustrating as some other children's books, but I would not recommend it, especially if you plan on reading it to your child.

Pretentious and tedious...kids immediately smell it as false.......2006-07-09

The tedious, self-serving prose in this book reads as though the author loves the sound of his own narative voice WAY too much. His endless, conjunction-addled sentences leave smart kids looking -- aching -- for the POINT. Steig sets up a sweet and caring friendship between a mouse and a whale -- certainly an unlikely pair -- but instead of playing with the natural contrasts there, he overburdens the story with his heavy-handed voice. There is so much focus on despair and helplessness that the story bogs down...and sinks under the weight of Steig's ego.

An excellent childrens book.......2005-08-23

I am actually 28 but I bought this book as it was my favourite book as a child. It is such a lovely story and I would recommend it to all children (and parents).

True Friendship.......2005-03-30

This is a heart-warming tale of friendship between two unlikely animal characters. The use of animals in a story is classic Steig who delves into a fantasy world and leaves the human world behind. This is a great read aloud book for young children when studying the themes of friendship or survival.
The use of elaborate vocabulary also makes this a great story for independent older readers as well. Being written in the third person, the reader is able to experience the emotions of Amos. Steig illustrates this book beautifully with ink sketches and watercolor washes. Truely a terrific book!!!

Average customer rating:

Peggony-Po
Andrea Pinkney
Manufacturer: Jump At The Sun
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786819588

Book Description

Peggony-Po is no ordinary sailor boy. From the time he was in burlap booties, he could climb the mainmast faster than you could say Thar she blows! He can tie a knot to rival any of the crews and swim more swiftly than a dolphin. But the most unusual thing about Peggony-Po? He was carved from the piece of driftwood that saved his father Galleons life, after he tried to capture Cetus, the biggest, meanest whale of them all. Ever since the day Galleon wished upon the northern lights and Peggony-Po magically came to life, the boy has vowed to seek revenge on Cetus. And now, with the whole ships crew betting for or against him, Peggony-Po sets out to do just that.Set on a nineteenth-century whaling ship, this is a swashbuckling original tall tale by an award-winning team.

Average customer rating:

could have been better
Stranded
Review od Stranded
Stranded
Stranded

Stranded
Ben Mikaelsen
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786820594

Book Description

Adventure story for children.

Customer Reviews:

could have been better.......2006-04-28

"Stranded" is about a girl in seventh grade living on a boat. Before the book starts, she was in an accident that cost her her right foot. Koby feels that the other kids at her school treat her differently than everybody else because instead of a foot, she now has a mechanical strap-on leg she calls her "leggy". If you're grossed out easily, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Koby (the girl) finds injured whales she wants to help, but, when she tells her parents about them, they don't believe that she ever found them. Her parents argue and within the first several pages, her mom moves ashore and takes Koby with her. But Koby continues to go out searching for the whales. Once she knows where they are, she asks her mysterious friend, a retired sea captain named Nickeljack, for something to put on the whales' injuries, but when she finds them they are even more hurt and beached. She spends the night trying to keep them alive. When the Coast Guard (which had been put on alert by Koby's mom) found her the next morning, she was filthy and cold, but the whales were alive. The story becomes more complex after this. This book is about how Koby deals with her leg problem, her parents, and the whales who need her help.

Personally, I thought this book could have been better. A lot better. She may be in seventh grade, but Koby acts like she is six years old. She makes a huge deal out of her missing leg, and how her "leggy" isn't the same as her old leg. Also, it's too convenient that she finds the whales on the same day that her mom moved out.

The book is supposed to be written from Koby's perspective, but in the book's dialogue Koby refers to her parents as "mom" and "dad." This book is great for anyone facing a dilemma involving a missing limb, because it goes into great detail about her mental struggle, and how she overcame it. It's also good for anyone (though it's unlikely) who found an injured whale and doesn't know what to do. From my position, though, it is not a great book. I wouldn't advise it to most people.

Brian Bruzzo

Stranded.......2006-04-28

The main character of this book was a girl named Koby who loved ocean. Koby meets lot of difficulties with her parents fighting and arguing over and over again. Koby is a girl that thinks that she is alone. In her mind she thinks everybody at her school hates her because she got into an accident that made her lose a right foot that had to be replaced by a wood in a form of a foot. She had many troubles along the way to the end by how she had a wooden foot. Koby lost her foot when she was eight years old but this story is about her when she is now twelve.
During the story she meets pilot whales. She tries to help the whales but she took very long time to earn their trust to help them. Koby couldn't leave them alone because they were badly hurt. The author wrote this story to express how hard and harsh it would be for a girl to live with a permanent space between her right foot and her shoe.
I thought this story was pretty well made how Koby dealt with pilot whales and her parents. The book made me think of my grandma on my dad's side because she lost her whole left knee down to her toes and now she's on an electric wheel chair. I liked how Koby never gave up on things during the story. I didn't like how Koby called her right wooden foot. I recommend this book for people who love whales and animals. So if you are even 1% interested in this book read the STRANDED!

Review od Stranded.......2006-04-27

Koby, a young girl, has to live her life missing a foot and having parents that fight all the time, often about her, and to top it all off, she has no friends. The only thing that can set her free is dinghy and being out on the open ocean. But when Koby finds herself stranded with two pilot whales, her life changes greatly.
I think this is a great book that captures you and takes you on a journey about a small girl making a big difference. This story is a wonderful story about friends that Koby never thought she'd have.
If you like stories about adventure, friends, and animals, you'll love this book.

~Nina

Stranded.......2003-03-25

Stranded
By: Ben Mikaelsen This book, named Stranded, is one of the greatest book I ever read. This book pulled me into the book cause it was amazing. It grabed my attention. So I kept on reading the book and it got better and better. It was about a girl named Koby. She has one leg that is fake. She moves into a new school and a has no friends there. Everyone looks at her cause she's the only one with a fake leg. She gets frustrated at them looking at her leg. She got used to it so after few days she forgot about it and no one looked at her fake leg. She is one of those people who doesn't give up if they fail. They just try their best. She has no friends at this school. After school she goes and finds a stranded dolphin on the beach. She takes care of it. She is really good at taking care of animals. What will she do?
I like this book because of many things. The book is interesting, fun, wild, and has lots of things in common with me.
I like it cause she helps other animals and tries to do other thigs too, like bringing their family together and getting some friends."Dad, I want to help." Koby just wanted to get her parents together, get friends, and save the dolphins. She is just caring about everything. She is just a kid. That is why I like this book.
I dislike this book because it was sad and mean. Koby couldn't get any friends. She was new so no one liked her. They always stared at her fake leg. It was so sad. How would it feel? If you were Koby and you had no friends how would you react? It is so sad. She is just trying to fit in the school and people don't welcome her and they make her sad.What bad friends.That is so mean. I would tell my mother to move out of her. It is so sad and mean. "Koby walked up,a couple of girlsturned and noticed her exposed leggy. They smiled."
My favorite part of this book was when she was having P.E. and there was an activity she was good at. The captain was the most popular girl in school, Becky, chose Koby 7th pick. Their team was losing and Koby caught up and won the race. They were so happy to win. They got to be friends and were really close friends after that. Koby was so happy. That was my favorite part of the book.

Stranded.......2003-03-25

Stranded
By: Ben Mikaelsen
Reviewed by: W.Yoon
Period: P.5

This book, named Stranded, is one of the greatest book I ever read. This book pulled me into the book cause it was amazing. It grabed my attention. So I kept on reading the book and it got better and better. It was about a girl named Koby. She has one leg that is fake. She moves into a new school and a has no friends there. Everyone looks at her cause she's the only one with a fake leg. She gets frustrated at them looking at her leg. She got used to it so after few days she forgot about it and no one looked at her fake leg. She is one of those people who doesn't give up if they fail. They just try their best. She has no friends at this school. After school she goes and finds a stranded dolphin on the beach. She takes care of it. She is really good at taking care of animals. What will she do?
I like this book because of many things. The book is interesting, fun, wild, and has lots of things in common with me.
I like it cause she helps other animals and tries to do other thigs too, like bringing their family together and getting some friends."Dad, I want to help." Koby just wanted to get her parents together, get friends, and save the dolphins. She is just caring about everything. She is just a kid. That is why I like this book.
I dislike this book because it was sad and mean. Koby couldn't get any friends. She was new so no one liked her. They always stared at her fake leg. It was so sad. How would it feel? If you were Koby and you had no friends how would you react? It is so sad. She is just trying to fit in the school and people don't welcome her and they make her sad.What bad friends.That is so mean. I would tell my mother to move out of her. It is so sad and mean. "Koby walked up,a couple of girlsturned and noticed her exposed leggy. They smiled."
My favorite part of this book was when she was having P.E. and there was an activity she was good at. The captain was the most popular girl in school, Becky, chose Koby 7th pick. Their team was losing and Koby caught up and won the race. They were so happy to win. They got to be friends and were really close friends after that. Koby was so happy. That was my favorite part of the book.

Average customer rating:

Deep Wizardry is a classic!

great book

Gripping from start to finish!

I didn't think it was possible, but...

Two Wizards, Many whales and one Giant Shark!

Deep Wizardry (digest): The Second Book in the Young Wizards Series
Diane Duane
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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High Wizardry (digest): The Third Book in the Young Wizards Series

So You Want to Be a Wizard (digest): The First Book in the Young Wizards Series

A Wizard Abroad (digest): The Fourth Book in the Young Wizards Series

The Wizard's Dilemma (The Fifth Book in the Young Wizards Series)

A Wizard Alone: The Sixth Book in the Young Wizards Series

ASIN: 0152049428

Book Description

Something stopped Nita's hand as it ran along the bookshelf. She looked and found that one of the books had a loose thread at the top of its spine. It was one of those So You Want to Be a . . . books, a series on careers. So You Want to Be a Pilot, and a Scientist . . . a Writer. But his one said, So You Want to Be a Wizard.

I don't belive this, Nina thought. She shut the book and stood there holding it in
her hand, confused, amazed, suspicious--and delighted. If it was a joke, it was a great one. If it wasn't . . . ?

Customer Reviews:

Deep Wizardry is a classic!.......2007-08-29

Caution: the book itself really *is* magic -- when you finish it, you won't be the same person you were when you started it.

This is the book you give your kids because you know that not only will they be in good hands but also that they will become better people for having read it.

"Deep Wizardry" (written decades before Harry Potter) is one of those timeless books that will live in the hearts and minds of everyone who reads it.

great book.......2007-07-16

this series is reall good and great fun, rather on the lines of harry potter...I highly recomend, NOT just for kids.

Gripping from start to finish!.......2007-05-23

Thirteen-year-old Nita "Neets" Callahan, and her best friend, twelve-year-old Christopher "Kit" Rodriguez, never could have fathomed that they would become full-fledged wizards before they even hit high school. But the last few months have made it quite clear that that is exactly what has happened. Since coming across two separate copies of the mysterious book "So You Want to Be A Wizard..." both Nita and Kit have found themselves thrown into a tumultuous roller coaster ride filled with triumph, despair, and a whole lot of magic. Their first mission, leading them to a battle with the Lone Power, to protect Manhattan from succumbing to a lifetime of dark and cold was a success, but the two friends can't help but wonder if their future missions will have the same results. However, at the moment, neither one wants to think about it. In fact, all they want to do is contemplate the fun they'll have during their summer vacation. When Nita's parents announce that they'll be spending a glorious two weeks living beyond their means in a rented beach cottage in Southhampton, Nita is thrilled. She'll be able to cast away the muggy Manhattan weather for some rest and relaxation romping among the various beaches along the sunny, slightly tropical Southhampton shores, away from traffic, smog, and, hopefully, magic. While the vacation sounds thrilling to Nita, however, she can't help but feel as if she's abandoning Kit by leaving him all by his lonesome in the city. After all, they're used to relying on one another when it comes to magic, and can't even contemplate the trouble they'll be in if something should arise during their time apart. So, clearing it with her parents, Nita gets the okay for Kit to accompany her family on their eagerly awaited trip. The two can't wait to toss their jeans aside and don swimsuits for their two weeks out of city limits. But, from the very beginning, it's quite obvious that rest and relaxation are the last two things on their agenda. When Nita is approached by a dolphin while swimming the stress of the school year away, she calls upon Kit to assist her in aiding a fellow wizard in need. There's a catch, however. This wizard is not your typical, run-of-the-mill human. Rather, the wizard, who goes by the name of S'ree is a whale. To assist S'ree, both Kit and Nita must do something extremely foreign to them: shapeshift. It is only by completing this task that they will have the ability to join an exclusive group consisting of whales and dolphins that they will be able to take part in an ancient, and, unbeknownst to them, fairly deadly, ritual. Their task will not be easy. Not only do they have to find the strength, and ability within themselves to keep their human mind, and not become stuck in their sea creature bodies, but they must also face characters much more deadly, and frightening, than the Lone Power, such as the sharp-toothed Master Shark. Master Shark is another player in the deep-sea ritual, and he'll be doing something that he has much experience with - eating someone. The most terrifying thing is that the someone he'll be eating is one of the young wizards.

It has been quite some time since I first met the young wizards - Nita and Kit - within the pages of SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD. Yet I instantly fell into a comfortable familiarity with them as I dove into DEEP WIZARDRY. It is obvious that, from the previous installment, and the horror that Nita and Kit overcame within the pages of SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD has assisted them in growing - both mentally and physically. That newfound maturity is displayed quite a bit within the pages of DEEP WIZARDRY, as both Nita and Kit must face some extremely difficult, and grown-up issues, such as death, love, and family. Nita's difficulty in divulging the information regarding her powers to her family weighs heavily in this particular installment. While her younger sister, Dairine, seems to have already put two-and-two together to come to the conclusion that Nita has some sort of strange power, her parents are under the impression that she's sneaking around with Kit romantically. Nita is forced to reach deep within herself to find the strength to let her parents know the truth - even if they disown her for it. While it seems as if that is the largest struggle Nita must face within DEEP WIZARDRY, it doesn't quite compare with the growing feelings and attachment she has formed towards Kit. Feelings that are confusing and exciting at the same time. While Diane Duane hasn't made romance the main focus of the tale, she has floated the idea of the two young wizards someday getting together out there, making the reader attuned to the possibility. Kit, on the other hand, seems to have slightly more freedom than Nita within this tale, mainly because his parents are out of sight, and he only has the Callahan family to contend with. That does not leave him anymore reckless than before, however. In fact, it is within DEEP WIZARDRY that Kit shows an extremely protective side of his personality in his gestures to keep Nita safe; while, at the same time, he faces many inner struggles as he attempts to keep his human mind, even when in the body of a sea creature. Duane has, once again, penned a compelling story that keeps the reader engrossed, and excited to come back for more. Gripping from start to finish!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I didn't think it was possible, but..........2007-01-31

THIS BOOK COULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST!!! I can't even begin to exsplain how incredibly, unbelivably, insainly wonderful this book really is. From the vary first page where nita, goody good nita, trys to sneek out of the house without her mother noticing, I was instantly adicted. As in the fist book, and thouse to follow, the story is full. New characters are added and their meaning equally important. A thrilling tale that tests nita and kits newly found friendship, their will to do wizardry, their personal strength and mental will. Fear mixes with exileration in this epic underwater adventure. Unlike many serieses the second book esaly lives up to the freakishly high set bar of the first, even posibly sucseding it. I reconmend this book to anyone who likes deep thrilling fantaces. It is amazingly fantastic!

Two Wizards, Many whales and one Giant Shark!.......2006-11-28

Just to make sure, if you have not read Book One: "So, you Want to be a Wizard?", do not read this review, and do not read this book until you have finished book One, this is book 2. You will not understand very much if you skip book one and this book will lack depth for you. Ok, enough said. On to the actual review:
If I were to say a simple statement about this book, it would be shortened to a simple "Wow", period. But, there's always more to a book than saying "wow" and leaving it at that.

So, the story follows two young wizards: Nita Callahan and Kit Rodriguez, who have just finished fighting the manipulative "Lone Power" in Manhattan (See book one "So, You want to be a Wizard?") they are now on vaction at a beach, or so they thought. After going for a smim, Nita encounters a dolphin who knows the new senior(essentially the "most wise and educated" wizard) of that area and soon the two wizards are sent head over heels into a huge ceremony that may be more than they bargained for.

Nita starts by rescuing the stranded senior, tranferring her blood to save the dying whale, S'reee, and is then asked to help in the ritual that is performed each year to bind the Lone Power at the Bottom of the Sea before it can recreate the fate Atlantis suffered. S'reee tells the young wizards that she needs help, and of course, Nita and Kit volunteer. Nita offers to sing as the "Silent Lord", but during the Song of Twelve, many of the whale wizards sing the ritual songs as they have done many times, but they also enact the fates of those singers as well. And that means that Nita has to do what the Silent Lord did so long ago: accept the deadly gift of the Lone Power and then kill death by sacrificing herself to the Pale Slayer... A giant Shark!

With her mind on the song and how she will deal with her oath, Nita and Kit also have to worry about Nita's parents who are growing suspicious, and Nita's nosy sister, Dairine. As they move forward, Nita discovers that the Pale Slayer, Ed, has more to him than a cold, matter of fact killing machine and that his views on life, though he is not a wizard is not entirely wrong... even if that means Nita will have to die.

A moving, accurate book with whales, sacrifice and thrills beyond the scope of the normal seas! Fantastic Read! (Look for the next book "High Wizardry, Book 3 if you liked this one).

A Humpback Whale Tale (Go, Diego, Go! (8x8))

Average customer rating:

Diego's always hip in our house

A Humpback Whale Tale (Go, Diego, Go! (8x8))

Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416915117

Book Description

Oh, no! A baby humpback whale is stuck on a rocky island. Join Diego as he twists and turns in this adventure through the rainforest and ocean! After reading the story, children can learn exciting facts about humpback whales!

Customer Reviews:

Diego's always hip in our house.......2007-05-15

These books are simple - but our almost three-year-old's a big fan!

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