5 comments about Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo.

1. "Mean and Lowly Things" is a phenomenal account of the trials and tribulations of herpetological field work in one of the most remote places of the world. Jackson tells her story of collecting amphibians and reptiles in the swamp forests of the Northern Congo without bias and in a way that highlights and accentuates the reasons why someone would long to camp in a secluded swamp forest to catch these creatures. "Mean and Lowly" gives down-to-Earth and easily accessible insight into the little-known area of herpetological field work. Jackson shows exactly how mundane things such as drinking water and dry clothes can be hard to come by in the field, yet how tenacity, passion and curiosity can overcome just about any seemingly insurmountable odd. From impossible government bureaucracies and maggots that grow in your skin, to traditional village customs and published scientific data, "Mean and Lowly" truly covers everything one has to deal with as a scientist in the field in an easy and enjoyable read meant for anyone. It is a wonderful and tantalizing book filled with stories that will make you want to leave for the rain forest tomorrow.



2. Mean and Lowly Things is a gripping firsthand account of Kate Jackson's adventures as a herpetological fieldworker in the Congo. While the book provides the reader with scientific detail it's written in a style which brings the experience of conducting field research vividly to life, and as such it mirrors the best travel literature. Keen observations of culture and life are balanced by frank description of the frustrations, fears and feelings of inadequacy which all travelers undergo when venturing to the fringes of the map.
   
   It becomes obvious within the first few pages that Jackson passionately believes in the epigram from Aristotle that opens the book: "To understand the world, we must understand mean and lowly things." Every page of the book breathes the excitement of discovery and the wonders of the forest, and she returns again and again to the message that there is indeed great value in studying toads and snakes.
   
   The opening chapters deal with Jackson's early years of study and work in museum collections, which provides a fascinating insight into the world of hard science with a personal angle. But we really get into the meat when she finally organizes her own expedition to a remote field camp deep in the African Congo. The skills needed on such a venture weren't taught in graduate school. They were simply things that had to be figured out for oneself through a process of trial and error. And when dealing with venomous snakes, errors can be costly. We travel with her as she learns the ropes on a trip marred by civil war, cultural barriers, and a medical evacuation due to raging infection caused by a scraped leg that came into contact with contaminated swamp water. Despite this experience, she comes away with "an altogether irrational longing to return."
   
   Jackson goes back to the Congo for two more expeditions, which are also described in the book. Her focus is on the work and on the phenomenon that she observes, and in that sense, as well as in the way she brushes aside discomfort and understates real dangers, her writing style takes one back to the great 18th and 19th century explorers who first described Africa's mysterious interior. In camp she slept beneath a patched orange tarpaulin on a simple groundsheet, covered in a mosquito net: a situation that caused her Bantu guide to quit because the living conditions were too harsh. The inedible food prepared by her cook - bland manioc which tasted like "a cross between a chunk of wood and an overcooked potato", and soup made with smoked fish which was often half rotten and infested with maggots - caused her to lose 10 pounds in the course of 5 weeks. And then there were the seemingly insurmountable cultural barriers.
   
   But all of that discomfort and frustration is eclipsed by the wonders of discovery and by the thrill of the chase. It's a message of life lived passionately, with purpose, and to the fullest. All of us could benefit from that.



3. The reason that scientists don't know much about the reptiles and amphibians of the Congo, we learn in Kate Jackson's gripping Mean and Lowly Things is because it's a very difficult place to live and most scientists would rather work in places less remote. As a new Ph.D., Kate Jackson doesn't have much of a choice; she can go to the Congo and find snakes on her own, or she can play second, third, or fourth fiddle to some other researcher in a place with running water. Choosing the road less traveled seems to have made all the difference because Jackson turns out to be made of exactly the mettle needed for surviving in climates of perpetual damp, heat, bureaucracy, poverty, and, oh yeah, maggots, biting ants, malaria, sleeping sickness, foot long millipedes and of, course, cobras.
   
   Reminiscent of Raymond Ditmar's very out of print Snake Hunter's Holiday Jackson plunges into the submerged and remote forests of the Congo with a resolve and story telling ability that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Whether cheering along as she captures venomous snakes, or cringing as she describes discovering that maggots are growing under her skin, either way, it's a gripping and enjoyable book that makes you appreciate those people for who intentionally choose the difficult path, try harder when things seem hopeless, and persevere.



4. Kate Jackson is a much-accomplished scientist at a releatively young age. I do happen to know Kate on a personal level...yet her blend of skills still amazes me. She is one part curiousity, two parts courage, and three parts intelligence. Her most impressive skill to me (with my more literary bent) is her sure ability at narrative---her descriptions pull you into the jungle and make you feel your rotting socks in the jungle heat. I think everyone should read Kate's book, as I am sure you have never met anyone like her either.



5. "To understand the world, we must understand mean and lowly things." - Aristotle
   
   Kate Jackson recounts her expeditions with the flare of the best natural field scientists from Jane Goodall to Frank Buck - every bit as fascinating and courageous. Scientific exploration - hardships, danger, daring, mysteries, accomplishment, exotic cultural surprises. Including a glimpse into modern scientific camaraderie around the world and government bureaucratic malfeasance. Highly recommended glimpse of an intrepid person enjoying herself physically and intellectually.
   
   "No person who is enthusiastic about his work has anything to fear from life." -Samuel Goldwyn

5 comments about Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road.

1. I've recently finished reading this book and found it to be absolutely wonderful. Rather than simply entertaining me, the reader, it allowed and encouraged me to question the way of things, the Why? of life. It told me that struggling was understandable and necessary. It let me realize what I already know and hoped, and I took breaks while reading to reminisce about difficult times, which led me to remember also the truth, beauty and humor in them.
   
   If you are having trials in your life, or are questioning your own Whys?, I recommend this book to you.
   
   I remind myself that sometimes the answer in front of me is "No", so that later the answers can be "Yes".



2. I loved "Blue Like Jazz" it was a awesome book. I followed it up by reading this book which didn't catch my attention at all! It was about a road experience that wasn't even interesting. Save your time and money!



3. This is a good book. The humor between Donald and Paul reminds me of Bill Bryson's in A Walk in the Woods. No super deep spiritual findings here but some familiar questions for anyone who's been a Christian for any length of time. It's good to read honesty written without reservations. I'm currently reading Blue Like Jazz and TPD reads more like a narrative than BLJ. My guess is if you like the thought process of BLJ you will like this book. Great book about a road trip to read on a road trip. Recommended.



4. This book is by the popular author Donald Miller. I read his book "Blue Like Jazz" and enjoyed it. I was going to stop with that book, but a fellow blogger noted that this was his favorite of the Miller books. I am not sure I share the same sentiments, but I certainly did enjoy the book. As Donald travels and reflects on his life with God, I seem to join him in reflecting on my own life. I guess there is a part of all of us that desires to travel with the Lord. This is why it seems that people enjoy taking mission trips to various parts of the world and nation. There is an excitement that follows as one journeys with the Lord. I guess I can relate because I traveled a lot with the Lord. Also, I would have enjoyed this book more if I read it in college while I was single. The open road is not the same with two small children crying in the back seat. Nevertheless, the book was good, not so much for the spiritual insight, but for the adventure, the friendships, and the trip. As you travel with Donald, you cannot help but travel through your own life too.



5. I bought this audio CD because I love Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz" and think he's got some profound things to say. It's so centered on a young man's quest/non-quest/quest to find out whether there's anything to quest for that it didn't speak to this 40ish woman the way his other books have. However, I still got something out of it and recommend it highly. I think it would speak loudest to kids in their late teens. Good stuff.

1 comments about Jammin' with the Jonas Brothers: An Unauthorized Biography.

1. I read this book before I gave it to my Granddaughter. I am truly impressed by all the Jonas Brothers. Nick Jonas sounds like a wonderful, spiritual and gifted, young man. The entire Jonas family sound like a great support group for these boys, as they climb the ladder of success.
   The book is a very fast read. Most of it is taken from interviews. I will give you a good insight into the boys. If you like the Jonas Brothers, you will love them more, after you read this. If you don't know how you feel about Jonas Brothers, after you read this book, I think you will be a fan. I know I am.

5 comments about I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon.

1. The book was written in an interview clip format. All the contributors offered their perceptions of Warren's character and his unusal behavior patterns. I read one review from a person who knew Warren personally and felt like the book contained some distorted information, particularly since it was authored by an ex-wife. Having never met the man I have no way ascertaining fact from fiction (which is usually the case in any biography). I did find the book intriguing and entertaining. After reading the book my perception of Warren was of a person who never found happiness or contentment for any real period of time. To quote Ecclesiastes, he was continually "chasing after the wind". He was a great songwriter who touched a lot of people's lives, some positively some negatively. But then again, don't we all.



2. Zevon had a lot of time left to get his story down before he died, so this oral history cum bio is unusually rich with comments from most of those who knew him best. A wife beater, alcoholic, drug addict and sufferer from several mental illnesses, including OCD, Zevon's wacked out, excessive life is nonetheless fascinating, at least in this account by his ex-wife. I've never looked into his music beyond "Werewolves," but this very long tome made me want to, which is always the point of these musical life chronicles. Zevon knew that death would make his work a lot more valuable. He was right. But at least he certainly got the most out of things while he was here on the planet. Makes you kind of envious, in a darkly bizarre way. Well worth reading for fans of rock bios and, of course, those few Zevon fanatics.



3. As Billy Bob Thornton says at the close of this book, it's astounding to me when someone says they aren't familiar with Warren Zevon's music. I was 18 when I became a fan. I had never heard lyrics so challenging and one of the wonderful things about this book is that it sheds some light as to how Warren came up with some of those lyrics. Crystal Zevon has emerged from the task of writing this book as a wonderful writer - this couldn't have been an easy book to write. Popular music is laden with artists of little or no substance - we simply don't have enough music from people as talented as Zevon was. I had the pleasure of seeing Zevon live twice and this book made me go back and look at more of his music. It's a tough read at times -Warren could be hard to like, yet this book is an incredibly written, interesting look at an artist I'll always admire and appreciate the work of. On a closing note, I find myself wishing there was some live concert videos of Warren's tours available - he was incredible the two times I saw him.



4. I saw Warren Zevon twice. In 1995 at a Peoria show the last song was "Werewolves" and a fight broke out as two bikers, who tried to get on stage, were hustled out a side-door by security. The rest of the biker gang followed to join the mayhem but Warren just kept singing "ahooooo". 1n 2000 I saw him Philadelphia and in between songs he was engaging in self-deprecation about some movie in which he was involved. In a totally supportive way I yelled "that's ok, Warren, we still love you". He stopped, stared down at me (apparently he stared a lot at people) and then growled in a very harsh tone, "how can you love me, you don't even know me"....if I hadn't been so stunned into speechlessness I would have said' well, it's not unconditional, M-F-er. But, my musical hero had crushed me and I was too hurt by the tone of his words....apparently he did that a lot to people, although ultimately he was right: I didn't know him......
   Thanks to this remarkable book, by the only woman he married, I feel like I got to know WZ a lot better but the story is not always pretty. He was a tortured, and torturing, soul but his ability to have friends and lovers (and this fan, too) find forgiveness is undeniable. Crystal Zevon captures all this along with the painful dissent into hell that alcoholism can take its victim (and those who know him or her). She said in the conclusion that she went through a range of emotions in writing it. A mark of a good writer is when they can elicit emotions in the reader and she certainly did that for me: anger, disgust, love, humor, compassion, etc.. ....When I ordered the book I was expecting a traditional biography but the technique of interviews and diary entries works very well. A chronological thread is achieved by arranging chapters according to his discography although dates for the corresponding time periods in his life would help the reader with a timeline. In some cases I found some of the interviews almost repetitious. One of my favorite things about the book was learning how many of those classic compositions that Warren penned (many with others) came into being.
   So what else did I learn? His family background includes a gangster father and Morman mother. He worked with the Everly Brothers as their musical arranger. He was fond of self-recorded porn. The "lean" and the "stare" were ways he used space and silence to get people's attention (or disarm them). He had a love of books and a fondness for the life of luxury, i.e. Four Seasons hotels and Prada fashion. Spain was a very special time in his life. He had a wide circle of literary friends he cultivated and with some of whom he played music. He hit women and friends and had obsessive-compulsive disorder, leading to lots of gray clothes. He began drinking again after the diagnosis and was under the influence when he sang "Knockin on Heavens Door" on the last album. His career seemed on the ropes until his diagnosis when he went on to make his greatest record (and finally get the recognition he deserved)....but more importantly, he got to see his grandchildren before he was gone from us.
   When he died I figured I would always have a spot where I would keep WZ in my "heart for awhile". After reading this book, he'll be there for a long while and I'll hold his memory a lot closer. I look forward, however, to more Zevon music when his son's Jordan's album comes out in April. I am sure his father's good influences will be there. From the book, it sounds like Jordan's come to grips with the bad influences (and Warren had plenty of those).



5. Very sad tale about a guy who's talent ne'er waned, even when he was drinking, drugging or sexing himself to death. Took a lot of people with him, most of whom are quoted here, and you really find out what it was like to be close to him.
   
   Reason I gave it 4 stars: The one thing missing that the writer could never have known was what Zevon's rising and falling star looked like from the outside, and how it affected the rockin' culture as a whole. A lot of that perspective gets covered as a matter of course, but some of it is missing simply because almost everyone interviewed was very close to ground zero.
   
   That's also what makes this book so riveting, and I think it had to be written this way. Best stories: When Waddy Wachtel first meets Zevon when trying out for the Everly Brothers band, and when Zevon wants to play a Spice Girls tune when subbing for Paul Schaefer on Letterman.
   
   Lastly, one previous reviewer notes, very accurately, that it's repetitive and grim. Well, that's exactly what active addiction ultimately becomes, and that's what we're being let in on here.

5 comments about Hole in My Life.

1. Hole in My Life
   By Jack Gantos
   "You don't just end up homeless, hung-over, sleeping in your car with all your worldly possessions because you have control of your life." That is one of my favorite quotes from this book, and there are many more, too. Hole in My Life was one of the best books I've ever read alongside Go Ask Alice. One reason is that it is a biography (the author wrote about himself), and another reason is because it connected to my life a whole lot more than I expected it to.
   Jack Gantos was an ordinary aspiring writer just trying to get into a nice college. Then one of his friends offered him ten thousand dollars to help crew a boat loaded with smuggled drugs to New York. He has an adventure that looks good for his future, but eventually takes a turn for the worse.
   I really liked this book, mostly because of the description the author used and much of the word choices. For example, "...with the needle in my arm and the blood blooming into the syringe..." or when he's explaining his drunken stupors he uses the phrase "power barfed." I love this category of writing and I'm pretty sure I always will and I encourage many of you to read it because you will probably learn many life lessons. Even if you do think you'll never get caught. I used to think that, too.
   By: Jaime Erlenbaugh Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin



2. Hole in my Life by John Gantos was one of the most compelling reads that I have found in a very long time. Rather then writing just a memoir, his use of musing, self-discovery, and character building create a story that reads as a dripping dramatic novel.
   Gantos uses musing in a very smooth manner throughout this novel. His first chapter, and the openings of many other chapters consist of him reflecting on the event past by grabbing the readers attention and foreshadowing towards an unknown future. He also uses musing to bring humor into such terrible situations. For example, when talking about the arrest that brought him to prison, he references about how prisoners have some funny stories about their experiences of "getting caught." By using past and present tense fluently throughout the novel, Gantos transitions through this time in his life in a very well-written re-creation.
   The main point that Gantos is trying to make is that throughout these events he went through, he changed from wanting something from his life to taking charge and pursuing his goals. One statement that he commonly uses is that he "needs to stop thinking about being a writer and just be one." It takes him being secluded in jail to realize that the possibilities for him to create a life out of his ambitions are endless.
   Rather than using many characters to help describe his personality, Gantos specifically centers on his own thoughts, feelings, and emotions to give the reader an image. The connection the reader feels towards Gantos throughout the novel is based on his descriptions of how places, people, events, and objects have changed him for better or worse. He builds a strong structure of description that changes the feeling of the book from a memoir to a fantastic, story-driven rollercoaster. I couldn't help but feel his sense of anguish as he was thrown into a spiral of tumultuous events.



3. I came online to order this book. I just got this audio tape from the library and listened to it in the car with my "pre-teen" children. Its a great story and his delivery of the tale is funny and dry and compelling. He never gets preachy or plays the victim. We hated getting out of the car when we reached our destination because we needed to know how the story ended. I didn't get it as a "lesson" to my kids--I didn't even really know what it was about. But it turned out to be a great lesson and entertaining at the same time.



4. Jack Gantos' "Hole in My Life" is his autobiography and story of how he left his hometown to become a writer and ended up in a federal prison along the way.
   His memoir is very well written and truthful. He describes very well his situation and the quirky characters he comes in contact with. He shows that the road to becoming a writer is rarely smooth and how spending time in jail, in fact, helped his writing career.
   I recommend this book to anyone wanting the real story of a troubled kid that is both well written and meaningful.



5. I have talked with my high school students about the fact that although there are defining moments in life, we should not let one moment define who we are for the rest of our lives. This is a great story to exemplify this point! Although drug use and sales are important components of the novel (and serve to attract the attention of adolescent readers), drugs are not glorified, which is an important point that parents and educators should be aware of if asked to defend this book choice. It can also be used for students to see how one author "found his voice" and became a writer. Interesting read that will hold the attention of even reluctant readers.

1 comments about Mouse Trap: Memoir of a Disneyland Cast Member.

1. Mousetrap is definitely an informative tale. The problem is it just isn't a very exciting one. It's not the authors fault entirely. He wasn't a captain of The Jungle Cruise or a driver of The Monorail. Just a manager and crew member at a New Orleans Square restaurant for most of his DL stay, so most of his writing is on his experience there. He writes in details about his experience becoming a Disneyland "Cast member" and all the classes, policies, procedures, and day to day operations at the park we don't get to see. This is all well and good but by the time I was half way through this book I felt exhausted and, sadly, bored. A detailed explanation of every backstage area of the park, no matter how boring or mundane it was? Spending page after page after page talking about uniform and locker procedures? It was a chore to read, and there just weren't enough interesting facts or new information about the behind the scenes workings of DL to keep me that interested. I'd recommend it for hardcore DL fans only. Interesting idea for a book but too many facts drag it down and make it lose the Disney magic.

5 comments about All But My Life.

1. Despite the horrors around her, and fellow prisoners dying and becoming mentally unbalanced every day, young Gerda Weissman managed to survive several Nazi camps from the late 1930s through the grisly end of World War II.
   
   Imagine being a teenager, wrenched away from your beloved parents, older brother and home -- and never seeing any of them ever again. It would be enough to make anyone unstable, not to mention bitter. Yet somehow, Gerda emerges from her horrifying ordeal stronger than she began. As her body heals in a hospital run by the Allies during the spring of 1945, Gerda begins a relationship with Kurt Klein -- a young soldier who urges her to tell her story.
   
   Now an elderly woman living in Arizona, Gerda Weissman Klein is able to see just how far she's come from the young Jewish girl living a priviledged life in Poland. Yet at the same time, her writing style allows readers to see clearly just how that same persona has managed to live such a rich, eventful life to the fullest all of these years.
   
   I've read many Holocaust memoirs, though I must say that Gerda's story is beautifully and distinctly told.



2. I read this book a long time ago and just got done listening to the book on tape for the second time. It is the most powerful representation of the Holocaust I have found. Please read this book if you want to learn about the Holocaust from a gifted author and survivor.



3. This book was gripping and I could not put it down until I finished it. It's so hard to believe the hardships so many endured for being Jewish. A must read. Beautifully written with rich detail.



4. I have read many of the holocaust books out there but this is the one I pass on to friends to read. Especially moving is the liberation of the prisoners at the end of the book. I wish all schools made this mandatory reading. What a way to learn history! This author is quite an incredible woman.



5. This is one of the first Holocaust survival stories that I read. It is by far one that has stayed with me in the most detail.
   
   I'm not going to give the story away I'm just going to say you will cry and rejoyce in this story. It will touch you to core of your very being.
   
   I must read for EVERYONE!

5 comments about Personal History.

1. Fantastic, gripping book, though it bogged down for me near the end with the minutia of labor/management disputes at the Washington Post. Still recommend highly.



2. My only regret is that I did not pay more attention to Katharine Graham and the Washington Post while she was alive. Through unveiling her own insecurities and illustrating how she moved into one of the most powerful women in the world, I learned US History and the trials of a CEO woman in the 1960s and forward.
   
   Ms. Graham reveals much about "inside Washington" and does a particularly good job of making the "players" come to life. I really hated to see the book end. Yet, Ms. Graham did what she set out to do -- documented a time in our history. Kathy Condon Executive Coach



3. This is a great book about a great woman! Interesting to see how even the privileged have difficult experiences in life and how it all only depend on us. We are very capable of achieving our goals and this book shows that even though it might not be easy, in the end, it can be very rewarding. This book shows a great insight in the history of newspaper business and politics.



4. It is long (642 pages), and the print is small. Why would anyone want to read it? Because every page has something of interest in it. And because this is not only the personal history of Katharine Graham, but a view of the United States from a woman reluctantly thrust into power by the death of her Washington Post husband. The time covered is from the early 1900s, when her parents met, through the early 1990s. Think of how life changed during that time.
   
   Mrs. Graham was raised by nannies in New York while her parents were busy helping out in Washington. She showed her independence by attending the radical University of Chicago and working before she married. When Katherine's father stepped down from management of the Washington Post, her husband, Phil, took his place. When Phil became ill and died, it was she who became president of the Washington Post Company.
   
   Constantly during this sweep through politics, labor relations, corporate management, the rise of feminism, the importance of communications, and much more, Graham weaves her personal growing consciousness of where she and other women stand in relationship to it all. She writes of the help she received and downplays her own acumen in becoming the only woman in the Fortune 500. Never does she flaunt who she was, who she became, and the power she held.
   
   Every page brings not only her personal insights about the (mostly) maturing of America, but also explains how she gains confidence while remaining concerned with and involved in her own family as well. An excellent read, but don't expect to finish it in one reading.
   
   by Judith Helburn
   for StorycircleBookReviews
   www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



5. Absolutely perfect biography. Graham's book is frank in ways few would care to be. Her leadership of the Washington Post has been much talked about, and I'm a big fan of the paper, so it was a fascinating story. When she took over the Post in the 1960s, women could not be found in too many positions of power. She honestly discusses her difficulties, self doubts, and mistakes in ways one is not likely to find in many other places. Since I find politics interesting, I appreciated Graham's insights into the development of media over the twentieth century and her candid insider thoughts on some of the most important and powerful leaders of the 20th century.

5 comments about Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust.

1. Throughout the duration of World War II, the lives of Jews across Europe took a turn for the worse. As the Nazi's reign of terror extended, Hitler and his followers grasped every aspect of Jewish life and turned it upside-down. . Survivors True Stories of Children in the Holocaust, by Allan Zucco and Mara Bosuvn, is a gripping book entailing the true life stories of eight children living during the time period and their amazing determination to survive through the Holocaust. Each story uniquely depicts the riveting events each child endured in their struggle to survive. All eight stories demonstrate the childrens' bravery, valor, courage, and wisdom beyond years in heart wrenching experiences. Each child remained strong as their world and everything they once knew fell down around them.
   
   I found this book interesting, informing, and tremendously motivating. This book holds the attention of the reader exceptionally well. When you thought the character had no alternatives but to give up, you were immediately surprised by the courage they found within to outlast the struggle. For example, when Mathei Jackel, age ten, was placed in a boxcar all alone headed for a death camp, he somehow managed to escape out the door and remain free from the terror of the Nazis. You were left with the impression that he had no way out of the boxcar, which was headed towards his demise, and surprised when he escaped with his life. While keeping the reader involved with the stories, the book also enlightens the reader with many important facts pertaining to World War II and the Holocaust. Facts such as dates, historic locations, and vocabulary terms can be referenced to from the book and its glossary located at the back. Through reading the novel, I was able to learn many of the conditions the Jews faced. I was able to learn about the rations of food they were expected to live on and the daily routines they anticipated such as digging trenches, constructing war materials, and making long strenuous walks to various concentration camps. Above all, the stories included in this book were motivating and ultimately inspiring. Lines such as,"I don't know how, but I am going to survive...I can't think any other way," let the reader realize to never giving up is an important value to have in reaching your dreams. Hearing what each character endured made you realize anything is possible when you set your mind to it. The will and courage each child had made you want to strand up and make a difference. Many morals and life lesson ran through the simple yet captivating stories of each child's experiences. Life lessons everyone can find valuable such as going for your dreams and believing in yourself were key in each story. Although this book was an amazing read it, it's not suitable for all ages.
   
   Even though the book was well written and exceptional, it provides some vivid descriptions that an immature audience could not handle. Due to its graphic nature, this book is well suitable for a mature middle school or older audience. Mature audiences can benefit from its lessons and values such as courage represented in each story.
   
   The book could have been improved if it had included more about life of Jews before the Holocaust and the invasion of the Nazis. Readers could have understood how the lives of the Jews were completely turned upside-down by the Nazis' evasion. Readers also could have gotten to know the characters better by knowing more about their everyday life prior to the struggles they faced.
   
   Being a high school freshman, this book relates to many pieces of literature included in the high school curriculum. Books such as To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, are related to this book in the sense that they both value courage in the activities the characters peruse. In both books the characters demonstrate both moral and physical courage. The Book also relates to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird because in both the characters are treated differently because of others ignorance. In both characters are faced with racism. In both books the characters face a loss of innocence due to dealing with adult conflicts and things children should have to face such as death and the slaughter of people due to racism.
   
   
   
   
   I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.



2. I didn't realize this was a children's book until it arrived. I'm glad I didn't or I might have missed out on this fine collection of experiences. Because it is a children's book, it gently glosses over some of the horrors these holocaust survivors saw. Those scenes are not removed from the story, but, the specifics are left to your own mind.
   
   Each chapter tells the story of a different child's experience.
   Two children were part of the kindertransport, but didn't go all the way to England. Another was on the ill-fated ship the St. Louis. A shocking reminder of how some survived and some didn't by the smallest of decisions.
   
   I have already read it many times. I intend to share it with my nieces when they next visit. The next generation must know that the Holocaust did exist. That over six million people died not for 'who' they were but for 'what' they were (Jewish, Gypsy, Gay, etc.). Unfortunately, nothing seems to unite people like having 'someone' to blame all your problems on. The Nazis and countless others both before and since have made that very clear.



3. This book should be read by everyone that is emtionally mature enough to handle it. I am writing this review as a warning to parents that might purchase this book for a younger child based on the "Reading Level: 9 - 12" rating and the fact that it is a Scholastic book. My 4th grader's teacher recommended this book but I am glad I took a look at it first. Here's an excerpt from the book taking place as one of the children is being smuggled out of a ghetto by her father hiding her under his coat. The following exchange takes place between the guard and the man ahead of them at the gate:
   "Hurry up!" shouted the impatient German guard.
   "It's here somewhere. I know it is."
   "You don't have a pass, do you?" snarled the guard. "You're trying to sneak out of the ghetto, trying to fool me."
   "No really, I have - " The man never finished his sentence. The guard shot him.
   Hearing the loud bang, Luncia jerked. Her father wrapped his arms tight around his coat to keep her still, but her whole body trembled uncontrollably. He's going to shoot us all, I know it.
   
   I know that my 4th grader is not ready to read this kind of material but this is an excellent book to be read by everyone that is ready for this type of material. Very well written information that we all should know and never forget.



4. I purchased a class set for my 6th grade class. I feel this book was very appropriately written for this age. Of course there are parts to the stories that are "unbelievable" and sad to read, espcially for me as an adult. However, children these days are exposed to much more by media and often with less sensorship and thought. These are wonderful stories that teach history, empathy, and human strength.



5. an excellent collection of true stories of children of the holocaust. each story captivates your heart and keeps you reading to end. It will inspire you to do more to keep horrific things like the Holocaust from ever happening again.

5 comments about The Cross and the Switchblade.

1. This book was very interesting reading. I was familiar with Teen Challenge, but not familiar with how it started, only with the way I've seen it change people's lives. Also, I was born in 77' so to read about gangs and drugs in society during a previous generation and Wilerson's attempt to reach out was a world I hadn't been exposed too. My picuture of the 60s is of Mayberry, not the streets of New York, so it shattered some of my misconceptions.
   
   Motivating story and an easy read worth your time.



2. The story of what God can do with a chosen vessel, and a heart of obedience.



3. This Book changed my life when I read it in jail in summer of 1970,after the hippie years of many many drugs and all that went along with it.I would surely be dead now if not for this book and the Lord Jesus who caused David Wilkerson to write it.Jail was the only place I would have stopped to read it at the time.So I am sure the Lord wanted me there then.I have been reformed since that day.I am presently giving it to my son who also has the bad addiction gene which seems to run in my family .He is currently serving 6 Months in mandatory County Rehab.So he too will have time to read it . I just pray that anyone who has a friend or family member who has an addiction of any kind will send this book to them to read it. They won't read the Bible but they will read this book- The Story of Rev. David Wilkerson,His life saving Teen Challenge Outreach and Nicky Cruz,whose life was also forever changed in this book.Praise God for this Book!!!



4. Just saw that there is an old movie, with Pat Boone, made from this book.
   Don't know how the movie will be yet. However, I like to give good reviews for books that deserve them and many years after having read this one - which I had virtually forgotten til today - I still see it as one of the most profound witnesses to what a life in Messiah should reflect. Amazing story. It will bless you and humble you.



5. This book is based on a true story. A true testimony to the power of God. The kind of transforming power still available today. The impact of this true story has continued to touch and change lives forever. The movie is also very powerful if you get the chance to view it. Thank God for men and women who continue to listen to God's voice in a time that many naysayers say the sitution is hopeless.