5 comments about The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1).

1. I probably can't do any more justice to this books then has already been writen. Yet it seems that I am going to try. I first read this book years ago, before their was even a third book. I have recently re-read the entire series. I believe that this original is the best of the three. The charactor's are real and the world is unique. Pullman is not the type of author to hand you a happy ending on a silver platter. His charactors are very realistic. If you have yet to read this controversial trilogy then I would urge you to start.



2. Now I know why I never bothered to read this book before. It doesn't at all live up to the hype. The only reason I am giving it 2 stars as opposed to 1 is because I think the animal daemon's as an outward manifestation of the soul is a cool idea. The grammar was atrocious (on purpose) in order to show how the lower class spoke, but I just found it distracting and annoying. The constant action was tiresome as well. It felt like a marathon! The best books lead up to the action or insert smaller stories within a large one in order to create a certain flow. This is what makes Harry Potter so wonderful (not to mention JK Rowling's amazing characterization). The Golden Compass lacks both.
   
   People claim that this story is original, which I completely disagree with. Quite a few times I was rolling my eyes, especially when Mrs. Coulter explained that they cut the daemons away because they bring "troublesome thoughts and feelings, and that's what lets Dust in" (384). So really, the daemon is that little voice inside your head and dust is sin. This is a typical Christian viewpoint of the corruption of sin.
   
   Another thing that really bothered me was this prophecy that included Lyra. The way it was worded was bad in itself. Pullman writes, "She is destined to bring about the end of destiny...If she's told what she must do, it will all fail; death will sweep through all the worlds; it will be the triumph of despair, forever. The universes will all become nothing more than interlocking machines, blind and empty of thought, feeling, life" (310). The only reason I understand this is because I read Paradise Lost. It's the same idea of Satan questioning human ignorance. Adam and Eve were in a state of childlike innocence before they ate from the tree of knowledge. So in a way the Gobblers and the church become God by attempting to prevent children from growing up...though they are far more vicious and twisted than Milton's God. Do yourself a favor and read PARADISE LOST rather than this poor interpretation of it.
   
   I don't care about the characters in this story. A good writer will pull in readers right away with an original protagonist. Lyra is the typical girl who acts like a boy. It's completely dull. She should have some other distinguishing trait, but she doesn't (unless you count endlessly lying as one). The minor characters are simply there. The only part of the book that touched me at all was when they found Tony, whose daemon was killed. His funeral was quite sad.
   
   Now for the more disturbing parts of the book... violence towards animals is rampant. Lyra herself confesses to killing a bird and roasting it. That's a real nice idea for kids reading this book! Another example is when Iorek cut open a seal and started smearing its blubber over his rusted armor. Then of course the battle between the two bears where Iorek rips the other one's jaw off, and then (once he's dead), his heart. Disgusting! I've read plenty of violent descriptions like this in ADULT books, but these morbid scenes should not be in stories for children.
   
   Bottom line, this is not at all captivating. There's really no good or bad side, it's a book of gray. Young children should not be reading this, it's more for a teenage and adult audience.



3. The book: good book, weak ending. (true of the other books in the series, too)
   
   The audio recording: fantastic. A cast of several different actors give truly excellent performances. It is so easy to get swept into Lyra's universe with the varied and compelling voices reading this book. In particular, Lyra and Bjorn Berneson were *perfect*. Pullman himself narrates which is a nice plus.



4. I first became interested in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy after seeing the film based on it (The Golden Compass (New Line Platinum Series Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)). I found the screenplay to be disjointed and lacking, so I decided to read the original novel in order to have a better idea of important missing background information.
   
   Lyra Belacqua is a wild child growing up among stodgy scholars at Oxford's Jordan College. She's content sneaking around slinging mud, engaging in street fights with rival schools, and avoiding any real sort of education. Her daemon Pantalaimon is her voice of reason. And here is Pullman's first masterpiece: daemons are human souls that are present as an accompanying animal; they are connected to their owner, yet have distinct personalities. Generally, a daemon is the opposite gender of its human. Only children have daemons that are able to shapshift; once they reach puberty, their daemon will maintain that form.
   
   Lyra and Pantalaimon witness an attempted murder that would have had devastating consequences for them both, and intervene. And so starts Lyra's journey to the North; to Svalbard, a reimagined Norway that's a dangerous land swarming with cliff-ghasts, ruthless Tatar tribes, and armored polar bears. Her secret weapon is an alethiometer, the titular "Golden Compass" that allows its user to ask a series of questions in order to discover the truth. There are very few in existence, and fewer still that know how to accurately read it. Lyra is one of those few.
   
   Along the way, she becomes involved with the gyptians, a Gypsy-like seafaring tribe, a Texan balloon pilot, a friendly witch, and an exiled prince that aid her on her quest to reach her Uncle Asriel. Richly imagined and brimming with tantalizingly complex science, Pullman's universe is, much like Tolkien and Rowling's works, a self-contained universe that possesses its own form of religion (as many have noted, Pullman's works are anti-religion, or at least anti-organized religion), history, geography, and science. The book is much more richly nuanced and imagined than the film adaptation, which does a dreadful disservice to the original novel by omitting the final chapters.
   
   A note: if you consider yourself to be very religious, you may not want your children reading these books, as there are numerous anti-religious (specifically, anti-Catholic) sentiments within, as well as discussions of castration and scenes of at times extreme violence, including towards children. Pullman, an atheist, takes issue with the dangers of organized religion; as one character puts it, "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling." However, the His Dark Materials trilogy is beautifully written and imagined and has much to recommend it.



5. Maybe it was all the hype I got from friends who'd read it and recommended it, but it seems over-rated. Gets off to a slow start and doesn't really pick up and become a page-turner until Lyra falls through the ceiling and is in real danger. However, at that point I started to have a hard time suspending my disbelief over the fact that this 11-year-old can understand what's going on, be that clever, and have the conversations she's having. It's all too perfect. Still, I must admit that I have already put a reserve on the second book from the library, because I want to know what happens, so in that respect it's successful.

5 comments about Oliver Twist.

1. Dickens was a genius, and this work, written when he was in his early 20s, exemplifies that fact. The plot is a bit cliched, and deus ex machinae are everywhere, but, good Lord, the characterizations (and the accompanying names) are superb. The wry insights, the gentle cynicism, the not-so-gentle look at the poorhouses, the indelible imagery, the seamless shifts from comedy to tragedy and back again, all make for an unforgettable book--no matter how many forgettable film adaptations have been made. A joy to read.



2. Along with "Great Expectations," "Oliver Twist" was one of my father's favorite books by Charles Dickens. The book starts with the birth of Oliver Twist. His mother sadly dies, and Oliver is at the mercy of the brutal orphanage. (Headed by Mr. Bumble.) When Olvier Twist asks for more food in his famous line: "Please sir, I want some more...," the orphanage decides that this is intolerable. They offer 5 pounds to anyone who will take Oliver off their hands. (Though in the defense of the orphanage, they do refrain from sending him somewhere that is obviously unfit.) Oliver ends up in the employ of the undertaker Mr. Sowerberry. Mr. Sowerberry is half way decent to Oliver. But that is more than can be said for Mrs Soweberry, Noah, and Charlotte. Oliver runs away, and it is not long before he runs into the Artful Dodger. The Dodger convinces Oliver to join him in Fagin's employ. Fagin is of course the head of a band of thieves. Though, in all honesty, is Fagin really a villain? He takes better care of the boys than the so called legitmate firms. To be sure, he is a little crafty, but what are his intentions? He's trying to survive in a difficult time. Well, it is not long before Oliver winds up with the law on his tail. In this 2nd novel, we can see what made Dickens so successful. While the situation of so many people chasing Oliver is disturbing, Dickens offers comic relief by giving a comical explanation: "'Stop thief! Stop thief!' There is magic in the sound. The tradesman leaves his counter and the carman his wagon..." Well, Oliver is judged innocent, but not before Charles Dickens gives a fierce (but still comical) literary attack on the courts. Dickens is best known for his concern over the poor in these hard times, but we should not neglect his fierce and comical side. Well, the tension is released as Oliver is taken in by the kind Mr. Brownlow. But all can not be quiet for long. Fagin is concerned over Oliver's disappearance. (Why wouldn't he be? Oliver could tell where he resides.) Dickens starts to tighten the situation again. Nancy along with Bill Sikes (who unlike Fagin does not really have redeeming qualities) goes after Oliver. There is also a Bill Monks after Oliver as well. Oliver is captured. Fagin shows another redeeming aspect when he warns Oliver to be careful around Bill Sikes. Bill Sikes then takes Oliver on a job that ends in Oliver getting shot. But all is not lost. Oliver befriends the benevolent Rose Maylie, and she helps Oliver back to health. (We later learn that Rose Maylie is Oliver's aunt.) But there is more bad news. Oliver's half brother Monks still wants to get a hold of him. Monks runs across Mr. and Mrs. Bumble. (In an attempt to give Mr. Bumble some redeeming aspects, Dickens has him marry the down on her luck Widow Corney.) Through the destruction of a certain locket, Monks is able to secure the inheritence for himself. But there is more to come. Nancy pities Oliver and wants to return him to Mr. Brownlow. But Bill Sikes is starting to fear that Nancy will turn him over to the authorities. Tension increases as the psychopathic Bill Sikes clashes with the more human Fagin. Nancy conveys Oliver to safety, but soon afterwards, Bill Sikes brutally murders her. It is not long before Bill Sikes is persued by the mob, and perhaps Dickens was expressing a contempt for rage filled mobs even when they persue a killer. Oliver is of course saved and for the most part, the story ends happily. For the most part: Poor Fagin is arrested and the courts are not so merciful. Some of his acts were criminal, but he was just trying to survive. Did not Fagin treat the boys better than the orphanage? Fagin is judged guilty, and Dickens makes sure we feel some sorrow over his doom. Fagin's sorrow is so evident with one of his final lines: "What right have they to butcher me?" While this is only Charles Dickens's 2nd book, it does show Dickens's ability to skillfully combine disturbing events and cynical comedy, as well as bringing several plots together, and creating fully 3d characters.



3. "Oliver Twist" was assigned reading for my sophomore English class in 1967, and did not finish it until today. To this high school student, it seemed too depressing to hold my interest, even under compulsion. When I recently started this again in preparation for watching "Oliver" at the Muny I was presently surprised. I now understand why this is a classic and maintains a loyal following. The story held my interest in what would happen next. I could see the traits of the characters and the development of the plot while progressing through the story. I am glad I rediscovered "Oliver Twist". Whether you are interested in classical literature or just a good story, it is a good choice.



4. Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" is regarded among the 19th Century's greatest works of fiction in any language. With its vast array of characters and vivid depictions of the lower rungs of Victorian society, this Dickens classic--an extraordinary study of social Darwinism--will remain such a classic for years to come.
   
   And this Dover edition is the best for the price. How can you go wrong?



5. Excellent work from Charles Dickens. Every child in the world should read this book.

No comments about Letters to My Mother: A Message of Love, A Plea for Freedom.

5 comments about Whatever Happened to Janie?.

1. Have you ever seen the pictures of the children on the milk cartons and thought glad that has not happened to me? What if you saw your own picture? Would you believe that it was true? These are just a few of the difficult questions that Janie was faced with. Now Janie is trying to figure out who is lying, the milk carton or her "parents".
   Thankfully to relieve her mind somewhat Revee is there to help. Revee is the boy next door, literally. Janie is head over heels for Revee her long time friend neighbor. Revee is very understanding but also is older and wanting to do more than just talk. Revee is taking Janie's feelings into consideration, for now.
   I really enjoyed the book and thought that it was well written. What I mean by this is that it gave you the right clues at the right times but never gave too much away at the wrong times. Along with this, I found it to be suspenseful because of the odd placed clues. I thought that the book had a great tragedy line that gave it a very good base. I whinded off the base well in specific details. The book definitely had a good ending. It really laves you hanging wanting to read the sequels
   I can not personally relate to Janie. Although, I have been in situations where I am very confused and I am thankful for whatever shoulder I have to lean on until I am balanced on my own feet. I also worry a bunch. Thankfully my worries are not as extreme as Janie's. Now the questions that Janie is crossing are becoming much more complex and unfortunately so are the answers.



2. Before you read What Ever Happened to Janie, I suggest that you read the Face on the Milk Carton first. Because every thing that happened in the Face on the Milk Carton continues in What Ever Happened to Janie.
   
   Following the events in the Face on the Milk Carton, Janie is forced to live with a family she didn't know or love in New Jersey and she can't have any contact with her other family or friends for three months.
   
   I personally love real life stories and that is why I enjoyed this book so much because it held my interest and it had many twists.
   
   Even though I enjoyed this book I found the first one to be more existing and interesting.



3. After The Face on the Milk Carton, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. It wasn't what I expected, the story was interesting, but the emotions were fascinating. I felt that the author was full of insight and that she was able to capture what a child in the situation might feel and the way she would express it.



4. After reading "The Face on the Milk Carton", many wonder what happened after the phone call that ended the book. "Whatever Happened to Janie?" picks up where that story ended.
   
   At times, "Whatever Happened to Janie?" is a remarkably sad read as it sees the main character torn between two families. Now living with her biological family, Janie/Jennie finds herself struggling with her identiity as she begins life with the Spring family. Not wanting to let go of her past life, she finds conflict with the siblings that are adjusting to her while failing to form a bond with her new parents. Janie/Jennie must decide who she wants to be and live her life within those limits.
   
   Just as the previous book ends with a cliffhanger, this one does also. A slightly less provocative ending finds the Springs seeking revenge on the trail of Janie's kidnapper Hannah. While some may want to continue to the next book in the series to resolve this subplot, purists may have already decided the first book was enough. And as good as the first book was, they may be right.



5. Janie is taken from her adoptive parents, the Johnsons, and goes to live with her biological parents and four siblings, the Spring Family. Although all of the Spring family members are eager to include her, she desperately misses her adoptive parents whom she is allowed no contact with so she is emotionally aloof. As things start to improve, though, they experience a setback when the FBI shows up to question Janie. Finally, Janie asserts her desire to return to her adopted family, and her biological parents love her enough to let her go. However, Janie's siblings, angry and upset that they are once again losing their sister, journey to New York to find the woman responsible for everything.

5 comments about City of the Sun: A Novel.

1. City of the Sun: A Novel This was recommended to me but I resisted for a while. Wow am I sorry. This is an award deserving book. Brilliant writer, no wasted words, great characacter portrayal and he has a way to make you feel the raw emotions running throughout this novel. Can't wait for his next work.



2. This was an EXCELLENT thriller! I haven't previously read anything by David Levien, but I'm going to check out and see if he has any other titles.
   
   I was a little leery of the story at first, since it deals with the disappearance of a child, but the characters are so real and engaging that I was quickly sucked into the story.
   
   This is a read that kept me up late to finish it, and I highly recommend it!



3. The situation in "City of the Sun" is gripping and the story chugs along at a terrific pace. Frank Behr is a keeper and his sense of determination is palpable. The writing is blunt. If you're looking for flowery prose, seek elsewhere. "Behr banged his palms flat on the table, causing silverwawre to jump and rattle. Paul's salad bowl capsized and the restaurant went silent for a moment. Behr felt his pulse throb in his neck. He fought for control and for air." The plot gains strength as Behr and the father of the missing boy join forces, then sags a bit as they wind up for the final assault on evil, which we know all along they will encounter. I think the book would have seemed that much stronger if the police had done an exhaustive job of finding the missing boy and if the contempt between Behr and his former boss was a bit more original. Behr is fighting lots of demons; those demons needed to have as much grit and reality as many of the evocative images that stitch this plot together. Finally, I would have liked a final few scenes that tell us how Paul's wife (Carol) fared at the end. That thread is left dangling.



4. After reading the reviews this book, I was pretty pumped up. But a quarter of the way through, I wondered if I had the same book. My version was a MP3 download. I listened to it when I was going to Curves three times a week. Compared to listening to a bunch of ladies cackle, it was great. Compared to other thrillers I've enjoyed, it doesn't stand up. There were too many parts that I found unbelievable. This is also I book I would have skimmed through. I couldn't do this with the MP3. Well, I could, but I'd run the risk of losing my place and starting all over. My player isn't the most impressive of models, but I've learned to deal.
   
   When I reread what Publishers Weekly had to say, "Fans of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch will be particularly delighted." stood out.
   
   That must be the problem. I am not a Harry Bosch fan. Really liked THE LINCOLN LAWYER though. When another book comes around by this author, I won't shy away. I will, however, make sure it's audio, preferably CD so that I may use the fast-forward option. You know, just in case.



5. I must agree with those who pointed out how "by-the-numbers" certain aspects of this book appear to anyone who has read more mature authors within the same genre. Still, with an unusual but well crafted premise, interesting characters, and an investigation that, once set in motion, overcomes one obstacle after another, this was a four star book all the way to the last few chapters.
   
   Perhaps it was the screenwriter background in Levien that precipitated the unnecessarily adventurous and violent action scene at the end of the story. However, what was meant as a climactic finish comes across as not only contrived, but also beyond the limit of the most elastic of credibilities. What's worse, once the reader's "I-believe" button ceases to work, he cannot fail to realize how illogical and out of character the behavior of both the investigator and his employer have been in previous scenes as well as the final one.
   
   Undoubtably, Frank Behr has promise, but he's still work in progress. I hope his next outing will provide the reader with auxiliary characters that are a little deeper than cardboard cutouts and a less violent but more logical climax.

4 comments about Double or Die (Young Bond).

1. Charlie Higson's Double or Die is the pivot on which the Young Bond series turns. Double or Die both pulls from past books and points to the future. Where SilverFin infused Bond with his fearless instinct and Blood Fever developed his brawn, Double or Die works his mind (and ours).
   
   Thematically, Double or Die is an adventure of the mind. Bond and his band of friends must decrypt puzzles and clues contained within a mysterious cipher sent by a kidnapped professor. Higson plays the motif throughout as references to skulls and the brain abound. Where Blood Fever was bright and expansive, Double or Die is dark and contained. While this may make it a lesser Bondian adventure for some, the smaller scale allows Higson to work in greater texture and detail, making Double or Die the most vivid and visual of all the Young Bond novels to date. It's also the Young Bond novel that showcases its 1930s setting the best as Higson peppers the book with delightful period slang and long forgotten brand names.
   
   The body count in Double or Die is lower than Blood Fever, but Higson doesn't skimp on the gore, especially during the terrific climax on the London Docklands and inside an abandon pneumatic railway (wonderful Bondian locations both). The fact that the henchmen comes away from each encounter with Young Bond missing another body part is grisly good fun. Higson adds a surprising postscript to this book that is unlike anything that has yet appeared in a Young Bond novel. I will leave it to the reader to discover it, and decide whether it belongs in the Young Bond universe.
   
   Absence of a Bond Girl (or any female for that matter) is missed during the first two thirds of the book, but the arrival of the perfectly named Kelly Kelly and her "Monstrous Regiment" (a sort of cockney street urchin version of Pussy Galore's Flying Circus) is a highlight of the final third. Higson again toys with romance, but one gets a sense he's nervous about scaring off his youngest male readers. At the risk of getting a schoolyard beating, I admit that I'm looking forward to the "love story" Higson promises will feature in his fifth Young Bond novel, By Royal Command (due for release in the UK in September).
   
   The measure of any James Bond continuation novel, and novelist, is how they compare with Fleming. Charlie Higson matched Fleming with the excellent Blood Fever. Now, with the complex and thrilling Double or Die, Higson appears to be steering the Young Bond series toward even higher literary achievement.



2. I won't go into plot details as this has excellently been done by John Cox in the first review for this book. Actaully I agree with all of his comments and wish I had gotten mine in first. As a Bond collector and fan, since the late fifties, of all things relating to 007 I can be very picky. I cannot be in the case of Charlie Higson and his third venture into the young Bond. Each one gets better and in each you see the beginnings of various things that the older and more mature James Bond will have as part of his personna. And thank you Mr. Cox for indicating that there will be at least two more in the series. Actually, going year by year until Fleming's first book there could be another fifteen or more.
   
   I'd rather dwell on why I consider the writing of these books so superior. While I loved John Gardner, who actually wrote more Bond books than Fleming, there was still a special flavor missing. Gardner is a brilliant writer and his other fiction, whether spy or mystery, was and remains superior to his Bond work and anything put out by Ian Fleming himself. Others have tried to write Bond novels and have really missed the mark when it came to that flavor thing as I call it.
   
   What made James Bond stand out in the books, in my own mind, was a special touch. Something that only Ian Fleming seemed to be able to do and even the best of the Bond films could never perfectly capture. Yes, I have my favorites among the films, but that is not what this is about. The Fleming books are books I could read over and over and still find something new. Not great fiction, but still unique in its own way.
   
   Magically Charlie Higson has found that flavor and I have no doubt that were Ian Fleming alive he would greatly approve of Higson's handling of the young James Bond. Higson has obviously taken great care in studying Fleming's Bond and has turned the hints about 007's past into a stories that explain all about Bond as a man. As I said above, I eagerly await the next one like I used to await the Fleming books.
   
   Hey Amazon. Mr. Cox mentioned a 5th book! How come you aren't advertising the 4th one? Mr. Cox apparently has his finger on the pulse of what Charlie Higson is doing. PLEASE share with us Mr. Cox or Amazon.



3. As a parent of a child who loves to read it is often a struggle to find one or two novels a week for him to read. I would not recommend this book at all.
   
   I enjoyed the first two books in this series. Although they were scary and involved violent death, I felt they were border line OK for my son who is 8 to read, and they were James Bond which I love. I did not want him to read this one, and after he started the first chapter he was not interested. This is not a book for younger kids.
   
   This book is as violent as any adult written thriller, but lacked sexual content. I was very disappointed in the plot, which is just one chase after another. I would like to ask the author WHAT HAPPENED???



4. I liked the story it self but the book started coming apart in 3 sections until I had a cover and 3 lose sections of the text. Not a very enjoyable way to read a book.

5 comments about The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 3).

1. ANOTHER great book! I also loved this book! I zipped through this book so fast I had to reread so parts to make sure I got everything! I read this book in one night! I'm so glad that Evelyn and Will didn't fall in love! I hope they don't! I just can't wait for the fourth book!



2. The third installment in the Rangers Apprentice series is as good, if not better than the others. The action really starts from when Will tries to escape with the Kings daughter. The action just starts rising from there. I give it a four out of five, because it can always be improved.



3. After the events in the previous book, Will and Evanlyn have been kidnapped and taken to Skandia. And Will's mentor Halt has sworn to rescue them, no matter what it takes.
   
   This installment followed two main storylines, jumping back and forth between Will and Evanlyn's predicament and Halt and Horace's journey to rescue them. Skandia is the "Icebound Land" where the inhabitants are mercenaries, and where Will and Evanlyn are forced into slavery. Halt and Horace must face knights and ruthless warlords that challenge them along the way. With plenty of adventure and suspense, this is a fantastic, fast-paced fantasy series. The main characters are chivalrous and brave, with high ideals. This series has become a fast-favorite of mine and my family. And as before, the mild-cliffhanger ending left me reaching for the next in the series.



4. I read this book a few weeks ago and read the whole thing in one night. The story just keeps you wanting to read. If you are looking for fantasy or adventure this book is just right for you. The only problem with this book is that it keeps you hanging. That is why I am so excited to get a hold of the new book. All of the Ranger books have been so much fun to read. Read this book if you don't want to miss out on one of the best fantasy books ever.
   
   Applejuice



5. I struggled through the first few pages of the Ranger's Apprentice Book 1, but then I was caught up in the story. My seventh grade students-reluctant readers and excellent readers-have devoured this series as well. The author wrote this to entice his son, and in so doing, he has given a gift to teenage readers. The plot is exciting, the characters believable and likeable, and Flanagan's subtle humor just adds to the delight of this series. I just received the fourth book in the series; can't wait to read it. A sure fire hit for teens, even those that think of themselves as nonreaders!

5 comments about Saint (Paradise Series, Book 2) (The Books of History Chronicles).

1. This book had me hooked from the very beggining. It was exciting and I had a hard time putting it down. The suspense through out the book was incredible! I was thinking to myself, "Someone has to make a movie about this!" However, unfortunately the end of the book made this book a very average book instead of an all time great among Christian fiction works. It became extreamly fictious in nature and became more like an epic comic book battle rather than the suspensful story that although was hard to believe still had you saying "this could actually happen". I feel as though the book did a complete 180 degree turn at the end. Again, I really felt throughout the book that this was a great book and I ended up being extreamly disappointed. I recommend those who enjoy reading to still read this book just keeping in mind that the ending is somewhat wacky.



2. I was so excited when I found Ted Dekker - finally another Christian author along the lines of Peretti. I love the idea and I really wanted to love his books. I was almost rooting for him before I ever read a page of his writing because I wanted someone new to read that was good.
   
   What I've found as whole for Dekker books is that they are ALMOST good books. It's like he's lacking that X factor that makes them truly good reads. I continue reading them thinking that I enjoyed the last one, but I never get to the point that I feel like I can read the books for the enjoyment and not notice places of poor writing throughout.
   
   The attempt at intertwining theology/philosophy, even in small bits, with the plot of the books doesn't seem to work well for Dekker (with perhaps the exception of the Circle Trilogy). The fact of the matter is that Dekker may be a decent author in general, but he has a really poor background in philosophy and/or theology, making it hard to ignore the very apparent flaws as you try to enjoy the fiction - especially if you're a person who wants theological accuracy even in your fiction reads. Thankfully, this particular book is more about the interesting and suspenseful plot than getting a point across (at least for the 1st three quarters of the book), which makes it just a little easier to swallow for those distracted by the inaccuracies of events tied to the supernatural in his books.
   
   With that said, I have enjoyed the book as a whole. It does seem to fizzle at the end a little. The story is very engaging and even suspenseful at times up until you near the end of the book, at which point it is a bit disengaging. If a let down at the end turns you off, don't get the book. Personally, if I had to choose based on what I know now, I would still read the book. It's fun, enjoyable, and you just don't find a lot of this type of writing out there for Christians. In my opinion, it's worth getting.



3. I have really enjoyed the writings of Ted Dekker, especially the Circle Trilogy, so I bought the Paradise series (Showdown and Saint). Both books are great, however "Saint" left me with mixed feelings. From the beginning (and through the whole book actually) it seemed too similar to the Jason Bourne trilogy with the whole assassin-with-no-memory plot. However, those who are unfamiliar with the Bourne series most likely will not be bothered by this, as even I who have read all three books soon just ignored it.
   Most of the book flowed fairly well. There was plenty to guess about, and Ted keeps you trying to guess it yourself before he tells you. I personally was close in my guesses about the true identities of Carl and the Englishman, however I was not right on either of them. Ted keeps the action going well also with plenty of descriptions of training sessions with Carl and later with chase scenes, however those chase scenes once again reminded me too much of Bourne.
   The ending of the book is the main part that left me with mixed feelings. The book built up so much climax that the ending was just too short. In my opinion, Carl found his real identity and power too quickly for the background that had been set up so thoroughly. Also, the final showdown just seemed too simple and Carl avoided it too easily. Also, what was with Englishman's "trump card"? It was referred to so much, then it never seemed to be used. Plus, the one possible instance I can think of it being used was the part that Carl avoided too easily.
   
   Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it had just enough drawbacks that 4 stars is the absolute most I can give it. If you have read the Circle Trilogy and/or Showdown, than I certainly recommend this book. Otherwise, it is your decision. This certaily is not Dekker's best effort, but it is still a pretty good book.



4. Ted Dekker is one incredible author. So many of his books are so different from each other as if written by someone else. This book is one you can't put down. Never guess the ending. Wow! I have all his fiction and can't get enough.



5. Dekker delivers a knockout hit with his new mind-blowing tale, Saint.
   
   Welcome to the world of Carl Strople, also known as Saint. A first rate assassin, he trains to efficiently kill. He has endured memory wipes, identity stripping, and grueling tests that push his body and mind to the limit. But then doubts slink unbidden into Carl's mind and he wonders who he really is. He doubts the reality that has been drummed into his brain as a black ops sniper. Can he survive the truth?
   
   As is true of any other Dekker book, little can be told without revealing an interesting plot point. No spoilers here. Just know that you will be taken on a ride that slams you one way, then another until you relinquish your preconceived notions and succumb to the story. And it's not only Carl's story, it's ours.
   
   Story is what Dekker does best. This one will not disappoint. In fact, those who have read Showdown will be jazzed to see the many correlations to Saint. And in the midst of it all, Dekker weaves in a parallel to life that will stalk you until you deal with it. Prepare for your brain to be rocked, your emotions to be squeezed, and your soul to be stirred.
   
   This comes most highly recommended. It is hands down the best novel I read in 2006. Dekker admittedly pushes the envelope with every new novel, but I disagree with those who say his works are too violent or over the top. He deftly deals with weighty themes in original ways. Saint is a must-read.

5 comments about Kidnapped (Scholastic Classics).

1. This is a very wonderful book. When David Balfours father dies his his greedy uncle tries to get all the money of his fathers. So he plots to kill David. His uncle has him on a boat to the American Colonies to have David be a slave. On the way the boat is shipwrecked. He becomes friends with the only survivor a rugged Highlander from Scottland named Alan Breck Stewart. They plan a rebellion to claim Davids fortune from his greedy uncle.



2. I am a big fan of Robert Louis Stevenson as opposed to Charles Dickens or something like that. His books have a reasonable length and they are full of adventure and easy to follow.
   
   This book had a fairly simple premise and was not as exciting or memorable as Treasure Island and not as fascinating as the Dr. Jekyll ad Mr Hyde narrative, but it was good and simple. I remember this book as a kid, maybe in fourth grade that when he was in the brig and shipwrecked, and headed for slavery I stopped reading because I thought it was all to dark.
   But this time around I found the tale a bit more amusing. I guess a lot of this story is a story about finding maturity through hardship. Its hard for me to say that it's a coming of age story as I read somewhere. The moral of the story is not so clear, since the character doesn't really mature too much in terms of voice or role relative to Uncle or Alan. Instead his hardship, sort of grants him some reasonable part of his inheritance, but nothing to great, just something to live a normal life by.
   I liked this book. It took me only about 5 or six hours to read the entire book. It never got overbearing and it realised what it was for.



3. Kidnapped (Scholastic Classics)
   
   
   
   
   i am very satisfied with the quality and speedy shipping of this product.



4. Oh, what a great book! Robert Louis Stevenson strikes a perfect balance between action and description.
   
   As previous reviews have said much about the plot and the worth of reading this wonderful book, I will add just a bit. Buy a copy of this tale for any child aged ten or older, and they'll have a story of adventure to read over and over again as they grow up! I guarantee it will be a work they'll remember with great fondness. And do yourself a favor and read a tale of intrigue that only Stevenson could have written. This is definitely not just a book for children and teens!
   
   For those who have difficulty with the Scottish terms, in the Scholastic Classics paperback edition there is a full glossary in back, and I found not one word missing from it.



5. I know this book is considered a classic loved by most but i found it to be a big let down. its not that i consider it just a kids book or have a low opinion of stevenson, i think treasure island is one of the best adventure stories ever written. kidnapped falls somewhat flat in comparison. the story is simple and gets repetitive with david balfour essentially running through the highlands with Alan (whom i found it be a very annoying character) for half the book. at times it looked like i was reading a bad version of the count of monte cristo (a much better book)but instead of adversity creating a cunning mature man hell-bent on a meticulously planned revenge we get a snot nosed little kid who has a very low opion of 'highland savages'. the only part of the book i found exciting was when he was held captive on the ship and that was too much a of repeat of treasure island for comfort. also stevenson always seemed to be writing something that was geared for popular cosumption and while this works in his other works it didnt seem to work for me here. of course he was no charles dickens but i thought books like dr j and hyde to be far more in depth look at society, greed, and desire in general.

5 comments about The Face on the Milk Carton.

1. The Face on the Milk Carton is a thrilling book that made me realize just how precious common sense isto have and use. It taught me to be careful around strangers. Carolin B. Cooney did a great job making an intense book with a good message. I would rate this book a four out of five because it had a positive message which stuck through the whole book.And the ending kept me guessing which i like and in the middle of te book the story got confusing, but it was made up by the ending. Anyone who enjoys a book that keeps them guessing, thrillers, mysteries, romantic, and adventurous stories, this book is for you! THis book starts off strong and ends strong.



2. I read this book for a young adult literature class. In it I expected to read about the story of Janie Johnson/Jennie Springer discovering that she was kidnepped, who her real parents were, andthe events that come with such a situation. I am glad that this is part of a series because I didn't get exactly what I expected. Janie Johnson does discover one day that she had been kidnapped as a little girl. She discovers that the people who have raised her as long as she can remember are not her real parents, and that they honestly believe that they are her grandparents. This book focuses on the mental turmoil and internal conflict that Janie/Jennie has as she tries to piece together the puzzle that has been spilled out before her. Unfortunately the plot doesn't have much of a pace at all. We are repeatedly sucked into her "daymares" as she begins to remember things from before her kidnapping. The only change that happens in the story is when she becomes romantically involved with the boy next door. There is alot of inuendo and talk about teen sex. I think this is something many parents might want to know before they give it to their kids to read. I'm not saying kids shouldn't read it. It is after all a fact of high school life. But parents should be made aware of what their children are reading and should set the standards for their



3. It's really sad, but I love it! We're reading it in our 6th grade class and we all love it. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone!



4. When i first saw this book it was from my friend. I got it out of the library and started to read it. It was amazing. That Janie could go through all of this and still not go crazy.(even though she sorta did.) Reeve is an amazing charecter and i think Cooney really brought out the teenagers life with friends family and a love life. An amazing book and I can't wait to read the others.



5. It was a wonderful book. there was a lot of detail to descibe the cherecters. It was also a cliff hanger which I loved about the book, and other books. It also had a little over romance, which droped my rating by .5, but there isnt a 4.5 option so I settled for 5. The romance enhanced the book, but not what happened when Janie and Reeve almost did going home from New Jersey. Yet, I cant imagine the book without Reeve. Other than that it was a fabolous book.