2 comments about For the Duration: The War Years: A 26 Fairmount Avenue Book.

1. My kids have loved all of the 26 Fairmount Avenue books so we eager to get this one as soon as it was available. It is another engaging book for kids.



2. Tomie was all excited because Mr. Conklin chose him to be in a special choir. Twenty students were going to be singing a medley of patriotic songs, one from each branch of the service. "Anchors Aweigh, my boys." It was going to be a lot of fun, but when they hit "Army Air Corps anthem," particularly the line "We live in fame or go down in flame," he got all upset and ran into the boys' room and started to cry. He could only think about his cousin Blackie, a corpsman, who had died in the war. His brother Buddy, who thought he was nothing but a sissy, was mad at him for making a scene. Buddy later complained to his mother, Floss, "He's a big sissy. Everyone thinks so."
   
   The things Tomie was interested in annoyed Buddy big time. He loved to write in his diary, but probably the thing that aggravated him most was his was crazy about going to "Miss Leah's Dancing School." He was going to be in the big recital and had a great part. When he brought his tap dancing shoes to school, the other boys had a field day with him. They stole them and teased him mercilessly and Buddy just looked the other way. Now that hurt. Nothing seemed to go right for Tomie. He was just a boy who was marching to his own drummer and doing a darn good job at it. His diary key was missing, his brother hated him, he was a target for bullies and cousin Anthony (Blackie) was stolen from his life. The war years were hard and everyone said everything was "for the duration," but just how long was that going to be?
   
   I loved this little story, but felt so sorry that Tomie had such a hard time during the duration. It is a story of a young, talented boy who didn't quite fit in with the crowd and was made to pay for it by bullies (including his brother). I'm very pleased to see that people are coming forth to talk about bullying and this autobiographical tale emphasizes the hurt that is inflicted. It also shows a resilient, special young man who weathered the storm. Not all children do. This is written as if it were a simple novel and is quite easy to read. I fell in love with little Tomie and I think you will too! Tap, tap, tap!

5 comments about The Thousand Year War in the Mideast: How It Affects You Today (An Uncle Eric Book).

1. I thought this book is a very useful read and does much to inform about the historical roots to the mess that is currently the Middle East. There are ancient hostilities and tensions that are beyond the understanding of many of the policy makers that determine the direction that nations take in the Middle East.

   Maybury does an excellent job explaining 'why they hate us so' which was a seemingly unanswered question in the days after 911.

   However, I felt that Maybury did great disservice to his readers by not explaining that the crusades were in response to hundreds of years of Muslim advance, often brutal and murderous in nature. All the countries we now know as Muslim countries were once considered Christian. Istanbul was once Constantinople, the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. Maybury paints the Muslims as innocent victims without presenting the more honest view that the Muslim religion was birthed in hostile, war like advance. Muhammed essentially conquered Mecca and Medina to make them Muslim; they did not convert voluntarily.

   This oversight was quite disturbing because it is the oversight that one hears from the Muslim extremists. They often refer to the crusades without any reference to their own heritage of bloodshed.

   While I tend to agree with his assertions about the role the USA should play in the Middle East, I feel that Maybury lacks a thorough knowledge of the religious ideology that drives the Muslim extremists who are seeking to become the norm.




2. 
   This book is not the best way to learn about the history of the Middle East. Not if one wishes to learn in detail of what has happened and when. However, if one wanted to learn the why of these events, this book is invaluable. It provides a simple clear cut reason for a conflict that has been going on for more than a millenium and to which, even today, no end seems in sight.
   
   Continuing in his favourite style of writing letters to his nephew, Chris, Richard Maybury applies the operation of his two basic laws on events that have shaped, and are still shaping the history of Europe over the last thousand years.
   
   The two basic laws read as follows: 1) Do all you have agreed to do: 2) Do not encroach on another's property. Evidently, they are based on the equality of all human beings and oppose the use of force to wrest anything from anyone. As history is replete with power play, especially where emperors, kings and eventually governments are concerned, it is not difficult to see how the wanton abuse of these two laws, backfire on those authorities and organizations who do not adhere to them. In this book, Maybury begins by analyzing the Crusades, (Christian aggressors to the Holy Land, which was not their own and which they wanted to take by force), goes on to examining the authority of the Church, and finally ends up with a bird's eye view of European politics that led to World War I. Application of his logic on these diverse, seemingly unrelated events, makes their outcome almost self evident. Richard Maybury also speculates on the connection between the thousand year old animosity between the Western World (symbolized by America) and the Islamic World (represented by the Arab countries), leading onto the terrorist attack on Sept.11, 2001 (this is added later as the book was originally written in 1999). He shows clearly the role of the Allies (mainly Great Britain and France) as the aggressor in the conflict and how this role has been taken over in later years by the United States of America, a country which was created in order to preserve this very freedom. And especially, how the role of 'global policeman' adopted by America is accepted by the Rest of the World and officially justified in the name of ' protecting American interests'.
   
   Each one of Richard Maybury's books is a fast read and this one is no exception. Maybury's strength lies in his crystal clear clear logic, and his total fearlesness in confronting contentious, emotional issues. Highly reccommended if only to stretch your minds to see a greater picture than the one given out by the authorities-that-be.



3. Best historical perspective on the insider/outsider and local/foreign tensions in the Middle East. The approach given by Maybury will clear up questions you may have about imperialism and political domination as they are attributed to western powers--there have been massacres and despots and wicked abuses of power in the Middle East since the beginning of time. There are no simple resolutions to the conflicts of today, so at least attempt to understand why and how the conflicts continue to simmer until they occasionally break out in open war. Please read it! For reviews of similar books, see also the resource pages at civilsociety at seedwiki. Thanks, Richard, for this great book. Write more!



4. This is an excellent book on the conflict we see going on in the Mideast and spreading worldwide.
   The author has condensed the history of conflict in the Mideast over the last 1000 years and maintains the reasons for the situation today has its roots from the earliest days of Islam.
   Although the author makes very strong cases for his arguments,not everyone will agree with him on all points. Not so much in anything he actually says;but what he overlooks and does not say.
   This book has history actually starting in the 6th Century ,with the beginning of Islam and essentially overlooks everything before that.Particularly the Biblical times and the centuries of Christianity in the Mideast.
   Most of the author's ideas are argued ,based on how the Islamic world sees things as a result of the Crusades,approximately 1000 years ago.He gives little weight or argument to the spread of Islam during the centuries before that,which resulted in the Crusades coming about.
   So ,as my title suggests; this book is a good analysis of the Mideast ,if yuo want to look at history beginning with the birth of Islam and particularyy after the Crusades ;and even more particularly from the Islamic point of view.
   All that aside,no matter what version of history you want to accept;the important thing is how does the world deal with what is happening today.
   The author has two ideas running through this book that he proposes as the reasons for this conflict.
   These two ideas are;
   "Do all you have agreed to do."
   and,
   "Do not encroach on another,s property."
   
   History has witnessed conflict from the beginning of civilization ;with endless wars and conflict by every country and culture that can be attributed to those two ideas.However;each "side" sees violations in these ideas from their own viewpoints.
   This book is well worth reading to see the Mideast conflict from the Islamic viewpoint.



5. Excelent treatment of the Mideast situation that actually makes sense. Easy to read and full of references.

1 comments about September 11 (We the People: Modern America series).

1. I looked at several books on 9/11, trying to find one that was approriate for my nephew (age 8) who recently became interested in the subject. I found this book to be the best of lot. It is straightforward and honest without being too scary. Some books dwelled more heavily on the socio-political aspects which lead up to the attacks, and in some cases were a tad on the "preachy" side, or, examined the subject so deeply that a younger child would likely find it boring. Others had a touchy-feely "let's all love one another" tone that somehow de-emphasized the horror of that day. This book tells what happened in clear terms that an young reader can understand, and has several pictures showing details such as the damage to the towers and the Pentagon without being too disturbingly graphic. The child I purchased it for is a third grader, and he was able to read and understand it and, most importantly, I think it helped him to comprehend the significance of an historic event he is too young to remember.

5 comments about A Spy On The Home Front: A Molly Mystery (American Girl Mysteries).

1. Molly McIntire is spending two weeks at her grandparents' farm. As always, she spends most of her time with her friend Anna, who lives on the next farm. But WWII has brought a change to the community: Anna's parents, who are German, are suspected of being loyal to the Fatherland. Rumors abound and also affect Anna's older brother Max, who works at a nearby airfield. Then Molly's aunt Eleanor is involved when propaganda flyers are found hidden in her airplane when she makes a stop at the airfield while shuttling it to Texas. Could Max be the culprit? Or is it someone else at the airfield? Molly is determined to find out.
   
   This is a good historical mystery for younger girls, who will learn some history painlessly--in fact, adults will learn things as well; I had never heard about the pro-Nazi group the Silver Shirts mentioned in the book. I also enjoyed the way everything wasn't wrapped up at the end of the story; pretty much like real life.



2. The year is 1944, and nine-year-old Molly McIntire is ecstatic to have the opportunity to spend a full two weeks at her Grammy and Granpa's farm. Like the previous summers visiting her grandparents, Molly spends the majority of her time with her very good summer-buddy Anna, a German girl. The two girls spend the hot, summer days swimming, eating cookies, and getting into all sorts of mischief. But this summer, things aren't so happy-go-lucky. When Molly's Aunt Eleanor, a pilot for the army, flies into town with a handful of propaganda fliers in her plane. Soon Anna's older brother, Max, is taken in by the FBI as the main suspect in the case. Molly now knows that it's up to her and Anna to solve the mystery, and clear Max's name, or else Anna may never see her beloved older brother again.
   
   I have been reading the AMERICAN GIRL books since I was about 5-years-old, and even as I got older, my interest in the series never dwindled. So you can imagine how happy I was to hear that PLEASANT COMPANY was releasing the new AMERICAN GIRL MYSTERIES series. Molly, as always, is an exciting character whom middle readers will love, and identify with. Alison Hart has done a fantastic job with this mystery, and I can't wait to read the rest of the AMERICAN GIRL MYSTERIES, as I'm sure they are just as fascinating.
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper



3. This was a great book. i own all the ag misterys(samantha, molly,kaya,and kit). it also teaches kids that even if we are difrent we can still be friends.



4. This is another in the History Mystery series from American Girl, in which a young American girl is confronted by a mystery that will test her resolve and her ability. This is another story of Molly McIntire, a ten-year-old girl living on the home front during World War 2.
   
   It's summer, and Molly is spending two weeks on her grandparent's farm. But, a dark cloud appears when Molly realizes that her friend's family is being harassed because they are immigrants from Germany. The situation goes from bad to worse when Molly's aunt, a WASP (Women's Air Service Pilot) is arrested by the FBI for carrying anti-war propaganda in her airplane. How did the leaflets get into the plane, and who put them there? This is a mystery that Molly must get to the bottom of...and before she leaves for home on Sunday!
   
   Overall, my fourteen-year-old daughter and I found this to be a great book. The mystery is very well written, keeping you wondering just who is up to what. Also, I liked the view that the book gave into the American home front during WW2, and the fact that the author handled it without being heavy handed.
   
   So, if you have a younger reader who likes a good mystery, then get this book. It is a wonderful addition to the Molly series of American Girls books, which my daughter and I both highly recommend.



5. The story is exciting, and the ending bittersweet, which is quite fitting given that the book concerns the internment of German-Americans as well as German citizens during WWII.
   
   However, the historical notes section of the book is quite troubling. Opposition to American entry into the war prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as general political opposition to Roosevelt, is equated with support of Nazism. Furthermore, Hitler is described as wanting to eliminate all who were not white Christians, when in fact Hitler asserted the superiority of the German race and despised the Christian religion. Does the author not know that millions of Christians were also killed by Hitler including those of the Jewish "race" who were Christian converts or even Christians of mixed ancestry?
   American Girl is a big enough business that they could hire a decent editorial department. Our daughters deserve history which presents fair arguments instead of the kind of propaganda that would make Joseph Goebbels proud.

2 comments about Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation.

1. It's time for the big play at school! Everyone has learned their parts and people are lining up outside the Forest Lake Elementary School auditorium door preparing to go in to see "United or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation." The cast of thirteen has been posted on the bulletin board and you can even buy something at the bake sale before you go in. Thirteen students, each encased in a costume in the shape of the state they are representing, are ready for their curtain call.
   
   The opening scene begins with the September 3, 1783 Treaty of Paris at the end of the American Revolution. The students, errrr, the states, have declared their freedom and now the hard work has just begun. The Articles of Confederation would no longer work and the states needed to unite in order to unify the country. Delegates from Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York sent delegates to Maryland to work out the particulars. George Washington, the commander in chief would lead this closed door convention. Could these fifty-five delegates actually come together, hammer out any number of details until they were . . . "United at last and ready to govern" themselves?
   
   This book was very exuberant and the dynamic artwork was colorful, very busy and enticing. The characters had a very "Simpsonish" look about them. This book is what I've dubbed a hybrid book, a cross between a graphic novel and regular text. The history is relayed in a straightforward manner throughout the book while the cartoon-like characters relay other important bits of information in their cartoon bubbles. In the afterword there is a brief history of the Constitutional Convention, a simple map of the thirteen colonies and a comprehensive notes section with additional information relative to the text. One example would be "Who printed the money?" This is not an in depth historical text, but an excellent one for the reluctant reader or someone looking for a brief overview. Hey, is that Vincent Ang playing Virginia?



2. This book is a playful comic book style introduction to the political process that resulted in the development of the Constitution of the United States. It adeptly explains how the state delegates met to discuss the problems created when thirteen separate state governments, each with their own rules and monetary system try to trade with one another. Representatives of five states agree to convene another meeting to discuss creating a form of federalized government to enable them to trade more easily. Dialog balloons enable the interjection of amusing fictionalized comments expressed during the process. Created within the framework of a class play with a multicultural cast enables a process that was actually taken on by 55 white men to seem more inclusive. Children wear costumes that identify their state by their abbreviations; it would have been helpful if the map of the states had included these abbreviations.

5 comments about Year of Impossible Goodbyes.

1. Sookan is a 10-year old girl living in Korea in 1945. The Japanese have taken over and force communist ideas and laws onto the Koreans. Each day, Captain Narita inspects the house and backyard. Their backyard holds a shack that is used for sock-making. The sock-girls would work day and night trying to meet their quotas. Koreans are deprived of rice and money. The children, including Sookan and her brother Inchun, have to attend a very strict Japanese run school. When the Japanese leave, the Koreans rejoice, but are shortly taken over by the Russians. Things begin to get worse, and Sookan, with her mother and brother, try desperately to escape to the South where the Americans are.
   
   This historical fiction book takes you along the incredible journey of 2 children as they take drastic forms of lifestyles to earn the freedom they deserve. The beginning of this book started out slow, but took fast pace when the Russians were introduced. The author has a wonderful writing style that truly makes you feel like you are part of the story, especially near the end. This is my favorite book and I recommend it to everybody of all ages. Do not miss out on this surprisingly realistic journey.



2. This book is about a 10 year old girl named Sookan and she lives with her mother, grandfather,aunt, and little brother. They live in North Korea in 1945. Her and her mother and aunt work in a sock factory for the Japanese soliders in World War II. They had a Captain Narita and he came by and it was her sister's birthday and mother went to go get a book from older sister at the convent. Mother gave it to her and Captain Narita told his men to destroy it. Sookan's mother can't even have a garden or else Captain Narita will have his men step on them. Her father is in the military and her sister is in a convent. Also, her older brothers were sent away tp labor camps. The war ends and the Japanese lose. The Russions take over North Korea and brainwash them into loving Russia, so Sookan and her brother must go to South Korea because she thinks that her dad and older brothers and sister are waiting for them. She hopes she will find freedom in South Korea. I think that is really sad to not have your father around or older brothers and to have to work in the sock factory. Also, I liked how her and her brother stood side by side. This book is a Fantasy book and the theme is Fictional.



3. i read this book when i was 12yrs old and i promised myself that i would go to korea and to the dmz zone to see what she described in the book. i am now 23 yrs old and i have spent 18months in korea and am learnig to speak korean as well. when i visted the dmz i was moved to tears, with memories from this book. This book is recommended for young readers but as an adult, u would like this too. I am buying this book now b/c it is worth it 100%.



4. I read this book when I was in 5th grade... that was 16 years ago! This book has made such a lasting impression on me. This is the first Asian Historical Fiction I've ever read (which is my favorite genre). I still remember the imagery the author wrote and a lot of the pain that the main character went through. This is easily one of the best books I've read in my life.



5. Note: I am posting this review for my classmate Jon Bush, who wrote it.
   
   It is 1945 and although the Japanese control everything in Korea, Sookan sits with her grandfather under a beautiful pine tree in their yard and they meditate and Sookan feels a little Buddha passed on from him and this is her favorite time of day. I liked this so much and just wanted to hear more about the little Buddha, and the love.
   
   Then the girls come to work at the sock factory, desperately trying to make the quota each day while being paid little or nothing.
   
   Meanwhile the Japanese soldiers come by unannounced and feel free just to walk in and take whatever they like and if they see something beautiful they simply destroy it for the sake of causing pain, and trample over lovely flowers. But Sookan's mother has hidden a tiny packet of seeds, a symbol of hope.
   
   Koreans working for the Japanese even cut down the beloved pine tree, and this is too much for Sookan's Grandfather to bear, and soon he dies. But a part I really loved was when Sookan takes care of his feet, what torture he endured! But also what rage she must have felt!
   
   Then Sookan is sent to Japanese school where the children are treated harshly, not even allowed to use the bathroom!
   
   Then the Russians come and Sookan and her family have to pretend to be loyal Communist Party members while at the same time planning to escape to the south and freedom, where other family members have already gone. I liked this, but again, I wanted more. Loved it. What fear they must have felt. I also wanted again to hear more about the anger.
   
   Then Sookan and her brother make the heroic escape to the south overcoming tremendous adversity, treachery, and confusion. It is bittersweet because they have survived while other loved ones have not.
   
   I completely enjoyed this book. It has hope for anyone anywhere suffering from oppression.

5 comments about Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI.

1. I read this book to see if it would be a good thing for my daughter to read so she could learn a little more about the war. I really thought the author did a great job in the way he dumbed it down for the readers that don't have military backgrounds. This is a good read and I encourage anyone and everyone to read this book.



2. "That's what death does. It defines life. What would life be without death?" These are the truthful words of Ryan Smithson, a 19 year old GI engineer during the Iraqi war. "What would crying do? We have to rise above death. We have to laugh in its face." These motivating words keep Ryan going throughout this heart-wrenching book, The Ghosts of War.
   The Ghosts of War is written by the main character, Ryan Smithson. Just out of high school, Ryan decides to join the army as a GI engineer after witnessing 9/11 thinking that if he didn't do anything nobody would. Ryan does a superb job describing the effects of war on someone. The bonding of soldiers, the terror of watching people die, and the depression of losing someone you love. Ryan leaves behind his friends, family, and wife behind in order to fight someone else's war.
   The Ghosts of War is a well composed non fiction book built for the strong hearted. Unlike most war books, The Ghosts of War isn't as profane as others. Unfortunately, this book should only be read by middle school students and older because of mild violence and some profanity.
   If you've ever read or seen Black Hawk Down you can get a visual on what The Ghosts of War is like. They both do a very good job describing the horrifying effects of war. How real life and death are. How when it comes to war, the only thing that matters is the soldier standing next to you. Both books are well composed and I recommend them both.
   The Ghosts of War is well written because Ryan did a good job structuring his book and keeping his sentences fluent to keep your attention throughout the book. He also does a good job with describing his experience in the army without using unneeded profanity. I really enjoyed this book because it is action-packed and funny at times but starts out slow which is bad.
   All in all, The Ghosts of War is a very good book and I am glad to have read it. I recommend it to those who want to learn about the Iraqi war and those who are looking for a good book.



3. Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI, by Ryan Smithson
   
   Not often does a book leave me speechless, but the difficult subject and beautiful writing in "Ghosts of War" did. Ryan Smithson was 19 when he was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Army Reserves. He tells the story of his platoon and so many like it overseas, the ones who are working to rebuild the country and make it safe for other troops and citizens, the ones who interact with villagers and the poorer people of Iraq. Not the ones who are busting down doors, searching for weapons caches or other types of activities that make the news. Smithson and his fellow soldiers are the unsung heroes of the war.
   
   Smithson writes a moving memoir, that starts with his reaction to September 11, 2001, and his decision to join the Army Reserves, to his year long deployment overseas. The book ends with his return home and the difficulty in adjusting to life again, after living in a combat zone, and how he used writing as therapy for PTSD. The bulk of the book is about his year in Iraq, a year in which he saw the human side of war. Many of the most moving parts of the book are when he describes encounters with Iraqi children, who were almost pathetically grateful for something as simple as clean water. "Ghosts of War" is also a power emotional and mental journey for both the author and the reader, as Smithson ponders what freedom really means, what is faith - questions that are answered during training, missions, and reflection.
   
   I just can't say enough about this book. I've always been against the war, but it was a general feeling. Reading "Ghosts of War" made me think about the individual soldiers, people who joined the armed forces because they want to do something, they want to protect American freedom. A particularly enlightening part for me came near the end, when Smithson went to a high school with another recruiter. On the way to the high school, the other recruiter told Smithson that the kids they were about to see wouldn't really care to hear them, wouldn't listen - they'd think he was just one more brainwashed grunt. I know I felt that way when I listened to recruiters in high school; but as I said, now my opinion is very different. I will now appreciate and thank the soldiers I see. Thank you for opening my eyes.
   
   "Ghosts of War" is an excellent book for adults or young adults, especially teenagers who are considering joining the armed forces. Smithson's memoir gives an accurate picture of army life, from basic training to deployment and back, that may answer questions they didn't know they had. It's also a great book to open discussion between parents and their children, about the war, about the army. I had my own father look at it, as he had been in the Reserves during Vietnam, and the book prompted many questions for me to ask him.
   
   The writing is moving and will suck you in; I didn't want to put it down once I started. Some of the experiences related left me tearing up, and some had me cracking up with laughter. Overall, a wonderful book.
   
   5/5.



4. First of all, I suggest this book to anybody who is currently serving in the National Guard or Reserves, you'll really be able to relate to it. Even if you're Active Duty, and especially if you've been deployed. I couldn't put the book down. I could relate in almost every way possible when Ryan went through the phases of Basic Training, it brought back good memories and made me laugh. It was difficult reading the parts about where he wrote home, I just think of all the other soldiers overseas right now. I also could relate to the book because Smithson is from a town near where I live, so all of the places he named, I knew where they were, so it gave me a really good picture. I finished the book in two days, and I suggest this book to anybody. I don't think it used profanity too much, this is the military, that was Iraq, it paints a good picture of his exact feelings and makes you feel like you're there in the moment. I give this book 5 stars, and I will read it again.



5. Great story. A must read. A great personal account of both the good and the bad of the Iraq war. While a very serious subject, Ryan lightens the mood at times with perspectives not covered by the media. I laughed at some of the embedded humor that only those who served in the military would understand. Highly recommend.

5 comments about Molly: An American Girl : Box Set (American Girl) (The American Girls Collection).

1. I don't think you can wrong with the American Girl books. The stories are wonderful. If you can't afford the hard cover these are just as wonderful. Keep them in the box and the books will stay nice and neat for many hours of reading.
   
   We especially love the Molly books because it is close enough in history that our daughters can relate (this happened when grandma was a girl).



2. Molly is very likeable. We read her late in the series and found it not as interesting as some others in the sets, but were not let to skip a night while into it.



3. The American Girl series greatly impacted me as a child, and continue to do so as an adult. My seven year old and five year old nephews just love listening to the stories about Molly. They love the history and they love the illustrations. I recommend this series to anyone...young or old, boy or girl.



4. Its not that I hated Molly McCintire's character, although I thought she and her siblings needed to be kinder to one another and I wondered why her mother allowed them act like that, but the problem is her books are so...boring.
   I don't find myself very excited about her story. It would've been more interesting if she did something exciting for her country! Her story takes place in war, right? And another thing, why can't the news of the war affect Molly a little more? Why can't she stand up strong for her country? I know exciting things were short to come by because she's not really in a battlefield, but come on, make the books more tantilizing! I have trouble finishing them when I read them, I just can't force myself to stick to it!
   I am in no way saying other people can't like it, you can like it if you want, its your choice. But for myself I found this collection so bland.



5. Gave these books as a gift to a granddaughter. She and her sister both are
   reading and enjoying all of them in their spare time during summer vacation.
   They have read several of the other series and love the small American Girl dolls. Great gifts!!!!!

5 comments about I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust.

1. At the time of the Holocaust, Elli was a very young girl. The Nazi regime killed many of her family, imprisoned her and so many others in concentration camps, kept them on starvation rations, and worked people to death. Truly terrible and tragic! It was extremely brutal, senseless, and ruthless violence against Jews and others.
   
   What amazed me wasn't so much her story, but it was her transcendence from victim to an educated, joyful, caring, generous, and still beautiful lady.



2. This is a wonderful book, I am looking forward to reading the other two books in the series



3. I could not put this book down. I will admit it was quite depressing at times as a "human being" that these terrible thing's took place and quite scary that something of this magnitude occured. The writing in this book is simple and straight foward. The descriptions (camps,food,clothing,injuries,emotions ect)written about in the book are very "real" to the reader. My heart goes out to the author and her family. There are no words to say how sorry I am to them for this terrible injustice. This book should be a must read in every school across the country. I will pass it on to my four children as such in my home so that they can read and remember "just how hard life can be."



4. At the age of 13, the author - then called Elli Friedmann -- was taken to Auschwitz as part of the campaign to rid her native Hungary of Jews.
   
   Young Elli enjoyed a relatively normal existence in 1944, worrying about capturing the attention of a boy she liked, or whether she would make the honor roll, when her entire life changed in a matter of weeks. First, the Jewish families in her tiny village were forced to leave their homes and move into a ghetto, where they remained for several weeks until transport to the labor camp was available. There, Elli and her mother Laura were separated from her aunt Serena and brother Bubbi, forced to work endless hours in extreme temperatures with little food, water or rest. Meanwhile, the family worried about the fate of Elli's father, who had been taken with other Jewish men from the ghetto shortly before their deportment.
   
   The book, divided into short vignette-like chapters, details Elli's experiences in the camp -- meeting her other aunt and two cousins in such diminished circumstances, contrasting with the happy childhood summer she once spent in their large, boisterous household; watching others die horrific deaths at the hands of the Kapos; struggling to maintain a sense of dignity and girlishness amongst such ugliness and insanity; and more.
   
   Despite having read a large number of other Holocaust memoirs, Bitton-Jackson's story still stands distinct. This young girl's story, full of plain-spoken facts, is guaranteed to make a lasting impression in readers' minds for years to come.



5. I was looking for a biography from the holocaust, I was not too sure of this one, however---it was great. It was very touching and has inspired me to read more on the subject. I cant wait to get the other books written by this author...

5 comments about LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary.

1. I ordered this book for my son as a reward for his report card thinking it would ship between 7-10 days. He has special needs and looked each day for this book to arrive, after the reasonable time I checked the shipping status and it said not yet shipped and that it would arrive between April and June and we are in February! He was so sad to hear we aren't buying this book. I never saw in the listing that the item would take so much time! Shame on you!



2. According to Amazon if I order this book it will take "Two to five months" WTF??? I've never heard of such a thing. What's the problem?



3. In brief, my 6 year-old son absolutely loves this book. It's funny to hear him reference the different sets from the encyclopedia (essentially this is a Lego Star Wars encyclopedia, when they were made and which characters come with the various sets.
   
   The print and paper stock is very high quality plus the book includes a "hard to find" mini-figure (Luke at the end of Star Wars).
   
   Well worth the price.



4. My 8 year old is a huge lego fan and is a StarWars fan as well. Because the pictures are illustrated so well, he is able to build similar models from the legos he already has. Which means I don't have to buy all the different sets. This book has opened his imagination for ideas to build new things.



5. I got this book because I'm a Lego collector and I love star wars.
   This has helped me to see what all is out there, and to find out about some of the spacial mini figures in some of the not so popular sets.
   
   Not sure what other star wars sets you want to buy, then get this book, it will help you make up your mind.