Product Description

Melkorka is an Irish princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom -- but this all changes the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Trapped in a world both unfamiliar and cruel, Melkorka finds that her powerlessness gives her clarity. That she is the master of what she says. Choosing to take a vow of silence, Melkorka becomes an object of fascination to her captors. And then she realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Psychologically griping!
The only reason why anyone would give this a negative review is based on the fact that it is somewhat depressing, but the world is not all about sunshine, especially the medieval ages!This book is historically accurate and shows the plight of medieval life for captives and women.This is a novel that will please both adults and teens.

frustrating!
the tale has an interesting concept and i knew there was not going to be a fairy tale ending;however, i was hoping for some action and emotion on the main characters part besides giving up! the author narrates that the main character is constantly keeping up hr spirit and blah blah blah. i thought she just stood around and let her life be taken from her hands. she nevr really struggles or firghts for freesom or anything. i especially did not like the "happy" ending. she resigned herself to her fate without a struggle. i was vey disappointed.

Kind of Disappointing (Some Spoilers)
This book involves old time princesses and Ireland. That was more than enough to make me want to read it while I'm in my historical fiction phase. And it was...interesting.

Set in the 900s, Melkorka and her sister are forced to run from their town to save Melkorka from a terrible fate. While running for their shelter, they're captured by a slave ship. In time, Melkorka's sister manges to escape but Melkorka is stuck there. The only thing she can do is be silent. So she doesn't talk for the entire book after being captured. I think she said something once, to a bird, but that was it. And the ending is so open-ended. I knew it was over, yet kept turning pages trying to find the actual ending or some explination. She probably won't write a sequel either.

But in all, I did enjoy it. It was a good story and I'm probably going to try to read more of her books.

Disturbingly Gripping
The story of Melkorka. A Viking wants to marry her and in order to prevent it, she and her sister run away. They don't get far however, because they are captured and sold as slaves. The sister escapes. Melkorka doesn't.

At first it seems like a tale of magic and folly but as the story continues and horrible things are done to Melkorka. And the ending tries to be hopeful, but doesn't exactly succeed.

I like it, surprisingly. I found it a good book. But it is NOT a happy book. Not in the slightest.

What saved it for me is that it's based off a real event/legend. Which changed it from the creepy imaginings of the author's mind, do the creepy reality of people.

Not a fairy tale Princess (or retelling)
I might have liked it if I had known from the beginning what it was, but I didn't. I had hoped that Melkorka would become the princess whose vow of silence takes her on a quest to rescue her brothers who are ensnared (ala Grimm).Napoli has produced several recent works in which the story takes one of those familiar tales and reimagines it, so that didn't seem unreasonable.However, this is unequivocably something else.I have a sneaking suspicion that Simon and Schuster have put this book at a disadvantage with lots of readers by building this unfair expectaion that the book can't meet, which would explain the range of reader ratings.If this looks and smells like a fairy tale revisited, we want it to be one.I like the concept of taking a snip of history and creating the story from which it sprang, but it needs to be clearer that this is the direction we are taking, and then more attention needs to be paid to the history. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (13)

Moving and funny
I absolutely devoured this unique book. "I Can't Tell You" is an excellent read. It is filled with humor and emotion and I felt an incredibly strong connection to the main character, Jake, and his "relationship" with hisfriend, Xandra. I felt and related to Jake's desperation to tell Xandra he's in love with her, and his struggle to hold her at arm's length as not to ruin their close friendship. Jake's despair over watching Xandra be with someone else and losing his best friend, Sean, is entirely realistic.

Frank uses realistic teenage language, and does not try too hard to sound like a college student - in my opinion, she is right on target. The format of this novel is a little difficult to adjust to at first, but I had no problem with it later on. At times, however, I wished this book could have been written as a "regular" novel, as I strived for some details that could not be explained through Jake and Xandra writing on napkins, dry erase boards, etc. The ending of this book was also a disappointment, which is why I only give this four stars. I desperately wanted Xandra and Jake to end up together - when they didn't, I felt as if all the hope I had for them diminished, even if it seems both characters are going to be all right without each other.

All in all, this was a great read and I highly suggest it.

Unique Read
I first read this book when I was 14, I am now 19, and read it about 15 times since, and it has been in the hands of about 10 of my friends. I love this book. It is interesting how it is all threw passed notes. I love the game, I used to play it all the time with friends, I just do it by myself now. I truly love this book and recommend it, and I wish Hillary Frank wrote more books.

Page Turner
Jake makes the decision to stop talking after he has fight with his best friend. During the fight he said some awful things that he can't take back. Jake thinks if he starts communicating in writing instead of talking, he will have more control of his words.

I couldn't put this book down. I wondered what it would be like to communicate with written words only. Would Jake be able to survive in college with only written communication?

This was a very interesting premise for a story and I enjoyed it very much.

Talking + me = trouble
"Talking + me = trouble." Though it's simple and to the point, the statement of main character, Jake Jacobson, describes most of the events in I Can't Tell You, by Hillary Frank.The novel, however short, is full of realistic occurrences, like the loss of close friends, relationships gone wrong, and learning how to cope with your mistakes.The story's ability to relate to high school and college students makes it a spectacular page turner for teens of all ages that are just looking to escape the fantasy world and unravel a realistic, relatively simple, yet enjoyable read.
The plot, though basic and easy to follow is very likable and readable.Jake Jacobson, a college student, and his best friend, Sean have a falling out over a few things Jake said about Sean's previous relationship.To protect himself from losing anymore friends or making any other mistakes through speaking, Jake decides to write notes instead.Through his note writing he gets closer to his friend, Xandra, and soon he begins to think of her as more than a friend to wrestle and joke with, but as a girl he might actually love.
Interesting and unique writing techniques are used by Hillary Frank in I Can't Tell You.Written entirely through notes to his friends, and to his unborn sister, it's easy to get an insight on how Jake might be feeling at any given time and therefore it's easy to become attached and to keep reading to find out if Jake will ever open his mouth again.
I Can't Tell You is a quick and interesting read that I suggest all young adults pick up from their local bookstore or library, curl up in a comfortable chair and read to the end. Through romance, college life, and "the funny" I've come to find that this novel is one I've wanted to read on more than one occasion, and I highly recommend it.

Quick read, is that a bad thing?
I am writing this the morning after reading I Can't Tell You, the entire thing, front to back, etc. etc.Once I got used to the clever all-journal style of writing it was easy to just breeze by and get 190-something pages done in three hours.
I liked it, as a boy who considers himself *very* masculine I find it hard to admit but, "I liked the love story" I was sweet, and largely original.
But it's more than that, as a Senior in High School who keeps a journal (like the narrator), has a seething disdain for my peers (the narrator gets there around page 30) I really saw an authentic portrayal of my situation.Crazy that a woman author could do that huh?
Why did I give it four stars? Because I never trust five star reviews, and you shouldn't either.
Oh and the English Proffessor in the book 'speaks' exactly like mine, so while being cool, thats creepy to have Mr. S talking to me through a book I'm reading in bed.
END RAMBLING ... Read more

Product Description

Long Pond Cay, in the Bahamas, is a magical white-sand island, and twelve-year-old Trey and silent seven-year-old Lou love to visit its loneliness. But one day the magic becomes nightmare, and suddenly they are in another world, strident, polluted, and overcrowded -- where little Lou is hailed not as a mute Bahamian boy but as the mythic hero Lugh, born to bring terrible destruction and renewal.

Carried betwween worlds in a zigzag adenture of mounting tension and danger, the children risk their lives not only to save the alien world, but to ward off a new, parallel threat to their beloved Long Pond Cay. The forces of myth and nature explode together in an amazing climax.

This is a deeply moving fantasy told by an internationally acclaimed Newbery Award -- wining writer, who knows and loves the Bahamian islands. Its vision of a spoiled world ominously like our own will haunt the reader for long time to come.Amazon.com Review
In her 11th affecting fantasy novel for young adults, Newbery Medal-winning author Susan Cooper (The Dark Is Rising sequence) writes again of the clash between good and evil. Bahamians Trey, age 12, and his mute brother Lou, 7, find themselves tugged between two parallel worlds: their own happy island life, threatened by big-business developers, and a murky, sinister otherworld called Pangaia, entered accidentally through a magical window between worlds. In a series of journeys between the two realms, Lou is saluted by underground rebels as their mythic savior Lugh, and the siblings are asked to lead the Greenwar against the Government ("the destroyers"). Along the way, Trey and Lou encounter hideous mutant insects, murderous floods in tunnels, helicopter attacks, and capture by the pro-progress, high-tech Government. Although the plot is occasionally convoluted, Susan Cooper fans will be drawn deep into the story, with its zealous Luddite-styled green guerrillas and the equally ardent progress extremists. Lou and Trey are enormously likeable, and the tropical island setting is beautifully portrayed. Ultimately, nature, myth, and destiny crash together in a breathtaking climax that will leave readers of all ages contemplating the direction our own world is taking. (Ages 9 to 13) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

As always, excellently done
I am a big fan of Susan Cooper's work, and Green Boy did not disappoint.The style differs slightly from her other books I have read, but well it should, as it is set in the Bahamas.The plot is compelling and the descriptions of the Otherworld left me haunted by the environmental possibilities of our own world.Clearly she has a message here.However, the story works on its own and is a good read.

Green Boy
Trey, who is 12, and his muted brother, Lou, who is 7, are hanging around by a pond in the Bahamas. It seems like such a normal thing but they somehow enter a somewhat scary new world called Pangaia. It is very dirty and is filled with buildings. The brothers come back to this mysterious place various times in this book. They face many unusual things throughout this book, which if you want to know you may read this book.

Now to some people this may seem exciting, but to me, not really. It is a somewhat well written book but it is a little bit too... hard to explain but environment obsessed. I had to keep myself reading this book, which is never fun. If you are going to read a fantasy or Science Fiction book, I would not recommend this being your answer.

Caleb Watson
Susan Coopers vividly imaginative book Green Boy is perfect for anyone who has an ever-wondering imagination.
The setting of this book is in the Bahamas on an island called Long Pond Cay, but it also takes place in an alternate dimension that looks like Long Pond Cay. The main characters are a twelve-year-old boy named Trey and his mute seven-year-old brother Lou. They are both round and dynamic characters in the fact that throughout the book their personalities constantly change.
I think this book is interesting because Trey and Lou jump between worlds to try and save one while their own is being destroyed. They have to deal with their divorced parents; their dad is the head of one of the construction companies trying to build Sapphire Island resorts on Long Pond Cay. While they are in the other world for around a day it is only about an hour in their world.
The main conflict of the book is that Trey and Lou have to find a very rare star shaped shell to unlock a door to save the other world. The problem with this is that they are very hard to find and Lou is the only one who can open the door. If they find it or not that is up to you to find out.
I would not recommend this book to some on who does not like books with strange plot. This book is a good book for someone who has a very unlimited imagination. There in lies the question do you join Trey and Lou on their adventure to save their world as well as the other or leave it to the next person, but by then it could be to late.

Cooper's Environmentalism Disappoints
I am a die-hard fan of Susan Cooper. I have read all of her books multiple times and never get tired of her incredible talent of weaving flawlessly together the elements of myth, fantasy, magic, and the timeless fight between good and evil. I was very excited to read "Green Boy"...and was very disappointed. Terribly disappointed! The story is basically a heavy-handed environmentalist tract, flimsily placed in a fantasy plot. I can't imagine what she was thinking. It is difficult to connect to any of the characters, and Cooper's usually flowing and descriptive prose is jarring and disconnected. The plot is contrived and clichéd, and I finished the book with a relieved sigh because I got through it, not because I had a desire to read it again. Though I will never pick up this book again, it hasn't tarnished my opinion of her other works, which are definitely worth reading over and over again.

Fantasy blends with more than a touch of realistic settings
Trey and his silent younger brother love to visit their special Bahamas cay, but when they discover that their visits are bringing them to a frightening future world, linked to their own, their become involved in fighting off an environmental threat to their own beloved home. Fantasy blends with more than a touch of realistic settings in this fast paced fantasy. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Mountains aren't meant to be climbed and there are no such thing as dragons
Phillip Reeve effortlessly spins his latest tale around disproving the above statement.The author is a master at writing stories that capture the true magic of fantasy, while at the same time rewriting all of our preconceived notions.This is a great adventure story with memorable characters, and has a rich descriptive tone rarely seen in children's literature.

Brock is a dragon hunter and Ansel is his squire.Of course, Brock really knows that there is no such thing as dragons and spends his life scamming poor villagers into parting with their money after he miraculously slays their dragons.Ansel is a mute boy sold to Brock by his father.They make for quite a pair; Ansel who is unable to speak and divulge Brock's secret, and Brock; a con artist who dreams of being a hero.Their journey up the mountain, where they encounter Else, the girl meant to be a sacrifice to the dragon, and their discovery that yes, there is such a thing as dragons make for a gripping tale filled with action.

The author includes lots of descriptions that go far in setting the mood and ratcheting up the tension.His use of language is beautiful without being overdone.Parents be forewarned that there are some gruesome scenes when a couple of the groups horses and one of the group members are eaten by the dragon.Perhaps my favorite part of the novel is near the end when Ansel is able to no longer see the dragon as an evil entity, but realizes it is just an animal.A fantastically well written novel that packs a lot of story into its mere 186 pages.This is a solid recommend for kids in grades 5-8 as long as they aren't overly squeamish.

But If There Were...
Much as he did in his fictional debunking of the Arthurian legend, Here Lies Arthur, in No Such Thing as Dragons Reeve deals with con men and the origin of legends in the context of the realities of life in the Middle Ages. He gives us Brock, a knight in rusty armor who goes from village to village conquering dragons--or rather, the fear of dragons (as one of his more educated and cynical clients puts it). Somewhere along the way, Brock purchases a young mute boy named Ansel, who comes to believe the pseudo-knight's assurances that dragons aren't real.

Until at last they come to a little village high on the mountainside, where the sly villagers have already sacrificed a young girl to appease the dragon they claim roosts up on the icy peaks. Accompanied by another con man posing as a friar, the dragon-fighting team goes up the mountain, planning to pretend to vanquish the beast and then claim the spoils of victory.

To Brock's astonishment, there really is something up there. But here again, Reeve imagines what might be the real thing--not the sentient, romanticized creature of fairy tale fame, but a vicious and terrifying animal. The little group suffers as they confront the creature, even as they must battle the bitter wintry conditions on the highest slopes.

There's an adventure here, but Reeve seems just as interested in character, if not more so. He wants to know why Ansel is mute, and whether the boy will ever speak again. He wants to think about how a man like Brock might have good in him as well as ill. He wants to consider the fear of the villagers as well as their communal ruthlessness in response to that fear. He wants to show us unlikely feats of courage, although not precisely the ones you would expect. And that, more than the plot itself, is what makes this a very good book.

In addition, No Such Thing as Dragons offers us the joy of reading the work of a gifted wordsmith. Reeve's language is delicious. Then, as if Reeve weren't talented enough, he provides the interior illustrations for the book, too, elegant little pen-and-ink pieces that start each chapter.

I also like the way Reeve includes common tropes about dragons, but gives them his own spin, making, for example, their reputation for hoarding treasure more of a magpie characteristic than a human one.

Plus, the author does intense things with setting, using the snowstorms and glaciers, rockslides and freezing nights on the mountain to pummel his characters--and his readers. Like the dragon, the mountain is unforgiving and utterly inhuman, yet natural. The cathedral scene, with its evocation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and even King Kong, is another wildly successful use of setting.

No Such Thing as Dragons is a short book at 186 pages, but it's well worth it: a compact, well-told tale combining the best of historical fiction with a sprinkling of fantasy, besides touching on themes like freedom and even animal rights. Reeve gives us a story that feels entirely true, up to and including its (non-)title character.

Note for Worried Parents: This book is for middle grade readers, but it does have a couple of horrific descriptions of a man and a horse being devoured by a monster, also various scenes of peril, some hard-hearted villagers, and a couple of con artists. The overall message is one of kindness, courage, and hope, however, as exemplified by the main character, Ansel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lasting Friendship and Holiday Spirit
In an age where children are coaxed by Sony Playstations, and the wintery outdoors; it's hard to find something simple that they can cuddle up with in the corner and quietly explore.

The story of Annabelle's Wish seems tofacinate both younger children and more experienced levelreader's.

Because its from Golden Books interactive series the childcould "sound off" characters at any point in the reading. Thebook offers large bold illustrations, a clever plot twist, and originalnarration.

As all Christmas classics remind us, this book does make youthink about the reason of the Season, and try to make your Heart feelwarmer. It builds on the folklore of Santa giving the farm animals"voices" once a year on Christmas. And thefriendship thatbuilds between a mute boy and the calf, Annabelle,born on this Holiday.

Although Tommy and Annabelle are itsmain characters, the storey isabout more than the "special" gift they exchanged. It was abouthow others around them put aside their personal differences to cometogether in Friendship.

Your child can easily relate to the animals andthe frienships found in the storey. And if they understand what is beingshown by "unselfish giving" recreate for your Family a specialand powerful magic. ... Read more

Product Description
Hero, a girl who does not speak, begins to do odd-jobs for her enigmatic neighbor, Miss Credence, whose house holds a shocking secret, at the same time that Hero's sister returns home with an abandoned boy and another secret. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Keep This Book Under QT!
I didn't like this book.It was just too weird.

Hero, 12 is selectively mute (selectively mute as distinguished from electively mute in that the person speaks in specific instances to certain persons).She was named for a character in Shakespeare's "As You Like It."Her siblings have the odd names of Athol, 23 Ginevra, 21 and younger sister Sapphira comprise the family along with their conventionally named author parents Mike and Annie.Annie is a lover of words and Ginevra follows in her footsteps by writing a book about how intelligence is stimulated by vocabulary enrichment.Sapphira gets on everybody's nerves with her use of arcane words such as "collieshangle," "cogger" and others.

Ginevra returns home with boyfriend and baby on the way; Hero is hired to work in her neighbor's garden and do light housekeeping.Plenty of weird things take place in this book and the girl in the attic was just too implausible to be taken seriously, even on a literary level.The ending is just as bizarre as the rest of the book.Forget this book.There are better books about elective (choosing not to speak) mutism and selective (speaking only under specific conditions) mutism.

Inner and Outer Lives
Another fine book from Margaret Mahy dealing with the complex emotional lives of teens. Hero, the silent one, struggles to deal with her loving, but clueless family of geniuses. Mom is well-known author on childhood genius (based on her own children's lives), Dad is a stay at home mom, her older sister uses her gift for math and physics to wreck cars and her brother is a secret script writer for a steamy soap opera. Amid this chaos Hero lives two seperate lives, an inner life of fantasy adventures and outer life mostly defined by her voluntary decision not to speak, which puzzles and frustrates her family.
A chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor lady at once expands Hero's scope for innocent fairy tales while at the same time forcing Hero to confront the darker side of the fantastical. As her curiosity takes her into the neighbor's own bizarre life she learns the awful consequences of living a fairy tale and the differences between voluntary and involuntary silence.
Plenty of plot and not without touches of humor, Hero's quest to unite her innner and outer selves provides a thoughtful look at growing up and finding one's own voice in the world.

a multi-stranded story such as I expect from Margaret Mahy
A difficult but rewarding story, and it reminds me of some of Jan Mark's latest books and of FIRE AND HEMLOCK by Diana Wynne Jones. If anyone else has noticed this, I'd love to hear from them. ... Read more

Product Description
Having taken over the job of speaking for her younger sister Amaryllis when a family tragedy causes her to stop talking, Mack resents having to step aside when she is no longer needed as a mouthpiece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

??????????
I read almost half way through this book and I could no longer stand it.This book was mostly deatails and no story.Details about what this looked like and what that looked like and what she looked like and he looked like.Get on with the story.What a waste.100 pages of this book can be summed up in 2-3 sentences.

Book that's Worth a Read.
This book was one that I will recomend to girls ages 9-13. This is a great book for anyone who has delt with the loss of someone that they've lost. After her father dying, Mack's (main character) little sister stops talking. Once their constantly moving small family settles down for awhile, things start to change for Mack and her family. Her mom gets a new boyfriend, which makes Mack extreamly uncomfortable, and someone having an unwanted crush on Mack also makes her feel quite umcomfortable as well.
This book was a great read, and as the other reviewer said before me: It is not extreamly boring!! It is an interesting and great book to read, and I liked it because I could really relate to Mack. This is one that I would highly reccomend!!!!!!

Memory Jug, it's too descriptive and uninteresting.
I read Memory Jug by Patricia Martin and i gave it two stars. I rated it two stars because the plot was pretty weak. The story dragged and was very uninteresting. The author went into way too much detail on describing small things. She spent about five pages describing the christmas tree in thestory and only one on something more interesting like the memory jugitself. The characters were pretty believable because they did things likeplaying in the snow, going sledding, and they showed sadness. ... Read more

Product Description
Vacationing on a farm in West Virginia near the haunted glass factory where crazy old Irwin Loop used to make marbles, eleven-year-old Jenna decides to use the place to shock her mute younger brother into talking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An exprience you'll remember for a lifetime.
A heartwarming story you'll want to read again and again. Imposible to put down. One of the best books you'll ever come accross.One for all ages. ... Read more

Product Description

Everyone in Sam Keeperman's fifth-grade class thinks the new boy, Buddy White, is strange.

Buddy won't talk, or smile, or even pick up a pencil, and he walks all hunched over, like someone caught in the rain. Some of the kids make fun of Buddy, but not Sam. That's because Sam knows what's bothering him: Three months ago, Buddy's mom was killed in a car accident. She used to clean Sam's house, and ever since Sam found out what happened to her, he can't get her out of his mind. Sam sticks up for Buddy, but the other kids start picking on Sam, too. Even Sam's best friend turns against him.

The more time Sam spends with Buddy -- and the more Buddy comes out of his shell -- the more Sam understands what it means to lose someone you love. And what it means to be a friend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Understanding Buddy
I think that ~Uderstanding Buddy~ is great book because it can really happen to someone!! Buddy is all alone and Sam is caring enough to talk to him when he comes to Sam's school. Sam asks him about his likes and dislikes. Sam feels like he needs to talk to Buddy about Buddy's mom because if you keep your feelings inside to long you can like explode!! It is great that Sam and Buddy start to talk to each other at the it is aawesome book about a kid solving problems.

You have to READ it!!

Touching Story
I liked this book.It's a very touching story.

It will help young people learn to put themselves in another person's shoes and be compassionate.

A moving story of sadness and struggle � and friendship
New boy Buddy White is strange: he won't talk, smile, or interact with them; yet only Sam knows that the new boy's mother was killed in a car accident three months earlier. When Sam tries to defend Buddy without revealing his secret, he finds himself in trouble with friends who fail to understand either boy. A moving story of sadness and struggle � and friendship.

...............
It was.............a little to youg for me, and I'm twelve. I found it very boring, and at times I was so frustrated with it that I wanted to rip it up. Otherwise it's fine.

A wonderful book
My kids absolutely loved this book.They insisted that they bring it to class so that the teacher could read it.It is touching, warm and very well written.I recommend this to parents of all children ages 8-13. ... Read more

Product Description

Florida: 1933

Customer Reviews (1)

deep look at the Depression Era south
In 1933 Clemson and Melba Dockery accompanied by their nine years old son Tugwell drives from Moultrie, Georgia to Yazoo City, Florida, to visit his father on his birthday.Clemson tries to outrace a speeding train, but fails leaving nine years old Tugwell Dockery as the only survivor.His older sibling, eighteen years old Broda "Bro" Joe is in jail for running alcohol.His paternal grandfather seems indifferent so his Great Aunt Lulu picks up the traumatized child, who no longer can speak.

However, circumstance lead to Tug going to his grandfather's house, which is near the place where his parents died.Bro worries about his younger devastated brother and does not believe his grandfather will care for Tug.Bro escapes from prison with the objective to insure that Tug gets the help he needs to overcome the tragedy.

BRO is a deep look at the Depression Era south that will leave the audience needing a bookcase worth of tissues.The cast tugs at the readers' hearts as each one struggle with what life has dealt them; Tug especially will receive much empathy.Though character driven, historical fiction readers will want to join the pack of new fans that this long time top notch author (see A DAY NO PIGS WOULD DIE) will garner.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
The minute she had opened the trunk, she knew there wasn't anything like hope in it. Just awful musty things, but each one with a kind of terrible dark halo around it. She picked up that piece of old lace. She saw that stain -- pale, brownish in color. She knew it was blood. Somebody's blood. There was violence in that trunk, and dark secrets, and she did not want to know them.

Curious about the old homestead where she now lives, Jerry finds an ancient trunk in the basement that contains, among other things, an old piece of bloodstained lace, some letters, and a battered doll. The objects in the trunk have stories to tell -- stories about the Spanish Inquisition spanning nearly five hundred years and stories of secrets locked deep in the bloodlines of Jerry's ancestors.

Kathryn Lasky's powerhouse novel is a dramatic historical saga that brings the reader face-to-face with some of the worst atrocities ever committed against humankind in the name of God. But above all, it is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about a girl who, in connecting with her own past and faith, is at last able to face her own demons and liberate not only herself but also future generations of her family from the long chain of suffering and silence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Slow From The Start
Blood Secret by Kathryn Lasky is a book that starts out slow from the beginning. Since I am not very much into Histroical Fictions or Biographys this book was very tiresom to read. You follow the main character Jerry as she finds a mysterious trunk that holds many different stories of her ancestors. Sense the book often changes form Jerry to her ancestors point of veiw it is very hard to follow. Overall I would not recomend this book to someone who is looking for a quick start to lots of action.

Blood Secret.
Jerry hasn't spoken since her mother disappeared. The 14-year-old has been labeled with "elective mutism", and has been bounced from children's homes to foster families until she is finally placed with her great-aunt in New Mexico. After exploring the old family relics in her aunt's basement, the strange objects there seem to call to her. Upon handling them, she somehow relives her family's past history and uncovers family secrets going back to the Spanish Inquisition. She finds out that she is from a long line of secret Jews, which explains why her aunt lights candles and prepares a special meal on Friday evenings without mixing milk and meat.By uncovering these secrets Jerry also finds her voice and begins to speak again.

While Lasky creates an interesting and likeable character in Jerry, there is some confusion about how Jerry is able to discover the stories of her ancestors.Is it a dream?Does she travel back in time? Do ghosts or spirits tell her?Or, do the stories just magically come to her?Additionally, while the family tree in the back of the book is helpful, the six different narratives from the past are difficult to follow and it is hard to figure out how they relate to each other and to Jerry.Several other novels tell the story of the Secret Jews (Secrets in the House of Delgado by Gloria Miklowitz and The Cross by Day, Mezuzzah by Night by Deborah Siegel, for example), however Lasky's story attempts to bring the history to the present day. Ages 12 and up.Reviewed by Rachel Kamin

Truth of the Secrets
Blood Seceret was a thriling story. It Gripped and pulled me in to the book. I loved the way the book not only entertains it makes you think. I didn't knowa lot about the Spanish inquisition: but this book descibes the pain, suffering and fear that all the Jews felt! I felt really connected to the characters through out the story. I felt their joys and pains as they battled the obstacles in their lives. I felt the book could get confusing at times, I didn't know who or what they would be talking about. I didn't like the ending; I felt it didn't tye things together well. It just left he reader hanging. But over all I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it to everyone.-Mid-Prairie kid

Interesting, though choppy, historical fiction
I found "Blood Secret" to be a disappointment after enjoying Ms. Lasky's contributions to the Royal Diaries series.The time in history about which the story speaks is a very fascinating, yet turbulent one.Turbulent like the writing itself.Their was no reason to skip around so much, and no solid explanation as to why the main character, Jerry, is able to witness all these things by touching inanimate objects.
Although the Jerry's plight of trying to connect with her heritage left me discontented, the book has piqued my interest in the Spanish Inquistion and all that it touched.

Recommended Reading!
This is the story of Jerry, a selective mute who goes to live with her elderly aunt Constanza after the mysterious disappearance of her mother.Jerry's story takes an interesting turn as she discovers the existence of a trunk full of artifacts in her aunt's cellar.Jerry finds herself drawn to the trunk and its contents and as she delves into the items, she is transported into the world of her ancestors,Jews living in Spain during the time of the Spanish Inquisition.Their stories become part of Jerry's story and her own eventual dealing with her past.While the book's premise is a bit far-fetched, the stories themselves are believable enough and Lasky does an admirable job of pulling you into the story and caring about the events.I learned a good deal about the persecution of the Jews during this time period but I never felt like I was being taught a lesson.Lasky is a good author and this is one of her best.Recommended! ... Read more

Product Description

On Wednesday, November 25, at 2:43 P. M., Eastern Standard Time, Branwell Zamborska is struck dumb. Nikki, his baby half sister, has slipped into a coma. Branwell dials 911, but when the emergency operator answers, he cannot speak. He cannot explain what is wrong. He cannot utter a sound.

Vivian Shawcurt, the au pair from England, takes over. She tells the emergency medical team that Branwell dropped Nikki and shook her.

Nikki is taken to the Clarion County Hospital, and Branwell is sent to the Clarion County Juvenile Behavioral Center.

Branwell's dad asks Connor, Branwell's best friend, to visit the Behavioral Center to see if he can break the silence and find out what happened. Connor knows that Branwell loves Nikki. Why would he hurt her?

Connor finds a way to communicate with Branwell and, with the help of Margaret, his older half sister, he begins to investigate the events leading up to the silence. Slowly he discovers what Branwell's problems really are and what it takes to help Branwell reveal what happened that Wednesday afternoon.

More than a detective story -- though that element is here -- this many-layered tale explores in E. L. Konigsburg's unique manner basic human needs and emotions with suspense, excitement, and deep understanding.Amazon.com Review
What happened on Wednesday, November 25, 2:43 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, to cause Branwell Zamborska to become mute? All anyone knows is that he called 911 because his baby sister, Nikki, had stopped breathing, and when he was unable to speak to the operator, Vivian, the English au pair, came on the line to say that Branwell had dropped the baby and shaken her. His best friend, Connor, begins visiting him at the juvenile behavioral center, where he has been sent while Nikki remains in a coma at the hospital. Working out a code they both can use, Connor begins the long process of trying to communicate with his friend to find out what really happened. With the help of his own half-sister and some canny detective work, Connor uncovers a complex, multilayered tale of human desires, adolescent confusion, and a touch of menace.

E.L. Konigsburg, brilliant Newbery Medal-winning author of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The View from Saturday, has honed her skills to a fine point. Her keen understanding of young people is matched by her ability to create suspenseful, page-turning masterpieces. This beautifully written story is darker than some of her others, with a remarkably true glimpse into a young man's inner world. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (165)

Silent to the Bone
Friendship: the state of being a friend; association as friends. "Friendship," also, "depends on interlocking time, place, and state of mind," as the author had said. Though true for Branwell Zamborska and Connor Kane, the real definition cannot be put into words - literally. Silent to the Bone by, E.L. Konigsburg, tells the story of courage, faith, and above all friendship. Konigsburg did a fabulous job writing this novel, as it was easily relatable to a teenage life, like mine. With his best friend silently locked up in the behavioral center, for something he is positive Branwell didn't do, Connor's whole world is turned upside down. There is nothing he can do now but testing their friendship and getting the information Branwell needs to talk. Will Connor's effort pay off in helping break the silence that is Branwell Zamborska?

The main characters in Silent to the Bone are, Branwell, Connor, Margaret, and Vivian.Branwell, though now silenced, is the awkward but respected son of Mr. Zamborska, who ironically loves to talk. Connor is Branwell's devoted best friend, determined on breaching Branwell's silence. Margaret, Connor's half-sister, is also devoted to both helping break Branwell's silence and hoping Nikki, Branwell's injured baby half-sister, will come out of her coma. Vivian is the Zamborska's British au pair in charge of taking care of Nikki. How credible these characters are plays a big role in believability of the entire plot, and all of the characters in this novel are extremely lifelike. In both their personalities and behaviors, and could easily be real people in our everyday lives.

The setting of this present-day novel, Silent to the Bone, is primarily at Branwell's prison - the juvenile behavioral center. Every day he can, Connor goes and visits Branwell, communicating with him in their secret unique way. When Connor isn't visiting Branwell, he'll be at his half-sister Margaret's house. The behavioral center is believable, as teenagers are commonly blamed for things they didn't do. I've had my fair share of being blamed as well, easily connecting me and my life to the characters and theirs; a job well done on Konigsburg's part.This novel's setting is effective, as it shows how much Connor values their friendship and also that he is willing to help him break his silence.

The plot of this book consists of Connor's struggle to get Branwell to talk. "Male Voice: ...what happened? British Accent: He dropped her. She won't wake up," after his accusation from the 9-1-1 phone call, Branwell's silence began. Since his silence insisted upon his guilt, he was sentenced to stay at the behavioral center, until Nikki was to get better, if she ever did. Truly valuing their friendship and believing in Branwell, Connor visited him every day, communicating by blinks. When their secret messages turned up results, it was up to Connor to find the pieces to put together to know what really happened on that Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Konigsburg did a superb job adding twists and suspense to the plot; my attention was always held, and my mind always reading between the lines, connecting me to the characters. Brace yourself for the surprise ending - I was shocked.

The friendship and devotion in this book made it insanely hard to put down. From reading this book I learned the value of friendship and how hard work pays off in the long run. I love the way E.L. Konigsburg inserts humor and suspense into such a generic theme, making it a more exciting read. I would definitely read other books by her. This novel is relatively easy to follow along making it a good read for younger readers, although the lessons learned can apply to anyone. This book is now among my favorites, and I'd gladly recommend it to anyone in need of a good book. The bond between Branwell and Connor is strong; will Branwell ever speak their individual meaning of "the state of being a friend"?

A different kind of mystery
Silent to the Bone is about a child named Branwell Zamborska who stops talking after his baby sister is hurt.Nikki, Branwell's sister, is not breathing and Branwell calls emergency services, but he stops talking.His English au pair Vivian comes on the line and screams that Branwell has shaken the baby.Nikki ends up in a coma and Branwell is taken into custody.Branwell goes to a juvenile behavioral center because he refuses to talk, which does not help him if Nikki dies and criminal charges will be brought against him.Branwell's best friend Connor comes to visit him while he is detained and devises a plan that allows Branwell to communicate with Connor without speaking.Through this code, Branwell sends Connor out to discover the truth of what happened on the day that Nikki stopped breathing.The mystery of what really happened on that day unravels as Connor finds himself saving Branwell.

This was surprisingly darker than what I am used to by Konigsburg.The manipulation of the culprit is intense.I loved going through the mystery with Connor.It was always interesting to find out where Branwell was going to lead us.It also gave a very empowering feeling to younger readers because they ultimately are the only ones that can communicate and save the day.All of the adults are missing too many clues.On the negative side, I never felt compelled to read this book.There were quite a few times that I put it down in order to read something else.It is not exciting and gripping.For the most part, it is a slow moving novel that has a lot of entertaining parts that don't need to be read right away.As a teacher, this makes me nervous because I feel like a child would not be as patient as I am.They will probably put the book down and forget about it rather than pick it back up a few days later and continue.There is a lot more thinking and talking about thinking than actual action within the whole story.I guess that is what happens when one of the main characters does not speak.

All in all, I gave this a 3/5 stars.I liked it, but I will probably not push it towards my students or read it again.

A mystery with a twist...
Synopsis:

Branwell is a 13-year-old boy who loves words.He has a best friend named Connor.When an au-pair named Vivian comes in to Bran's house, she disobeys the au-pair rules.She smokes (against the rules), she has a boyfriend coming to the house (against the rules) and she doesn't watch the baby, Nikki. Vivian seduces Branwell to keep the secret about her breaking the au-pair rules.One day when Branwell comes home Nikki is breathing funny, so Vivian goes in to the baby's room and then tells Branwell to call 911.When he calls 911 he can't talk anymore.Connor his best friend needs to figure out what happened the day of the 911 call. Connor also needs to figure out with the help from his half-sister Margaret what happened to Nikki.To figure out what happened to Branwell, Connor needs to make cards that have words on them, point to them and understand what Branwell means when he blinks at them. Connor need to do this because Branwell can't talk since the 911 call.Morris JJ's pizza holds secrets essential to the investigation, so Connor and Margaret need to find out what he knows.

Message:

I know that a message of this book is you should stick with your friends even if they can't stand up for themselves. Another part of stick with your friends is that you should stick with them if you had been friends for your whole life.I think another message from this book is that you should always figure out the truth before you start believing random people like Vivian, because they might use information you don't have against you.The last message of this book that I found is that you should tell the truth and stay true to what you believe even if someone else wants you to change, even if you are scared or if someone is using you to hold secrets.

Opinion:

I really didn't like this book until things started moving along quicker.At the beginning of the book I didn't like it because things didn't have action in them.I started liking it toward the end because I had background knowledge on things that happened.One of the main reasons I didn't like this book is the story line.I didn't like the story line because there weren't things happening during the book, it was just figuring out things that happened previously.For example, I think that Vivian should have tried something on Connor like she did on Branwell.In the end though, I thought this book was pretty good because Connor wasn't as clueless as in the beginning of the book.I liked the middle of the book because it was where Connor started finding things out with help from Branwell.I also liked the end of the book because the criminal (Vivian) got sent away and the innocent (Branwell) got justice.I think that if you read this book you should not abandon it within a couple pages because it really starts getting better towards the middle of the book.

Audrey's Book Review
Synopsis:

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Koningburg is a book about trust and the lifestyle of two young boys, Branwell and Connor. Nikki, (Branwell's younger sister) was dropped and fell into a deep coma then went to the hospital. When Vivian (Branwell's English au pair) brings out her worst, by bribing and seducing to bring them on her side so they won't mess up her plans, it's hard for Branwell to get past that day. That's when he became silent. Branwell doesn't speak because he was in shock from his little sister's incident. Then Vivian blames Branwell for dropping beloved Nikki. Vivian tries to pull people in to liking her to get them on her side.

Connor (Branwell's best friend) strives to prove Branwell is innocent.Connor makes cards with familiar words on them so he can understand what Branwell wants to tell him. He will prove that Branwell is innocent by telling Branwell's story for him because Branwell can't speak.

Margaret is Connor's older sister and is helping Connor prove Branwell is innocent. Margaret helped communicate with Branwell. This was easy for her because she went through all the heartbreak in his past, and has her own family problem experiences too.All this is happening while Connor and Branwell try to push their way through all this tragedy, trying to dodge their temptation of the beautiful, enticing, and charming Vivian on the way.

Message:

I think that the message of the story is that when you are pressed in a tough predicament, you don't take the easy way out like Vivian did. I think that's how Branwell got in a position where he couldn't defend himself. That will only bring you more trouble. When you come out with the truth sometimes you'll be forgiven, and sometimes you'll end up with more superior consequences.



Opinion:

I think that Silent to the Bone covers a lot of realistic concepts in life, like problems between family and friends. It makes readers look at writing in different perspectives, and also makes them contemplate choices differently in life. It made me realize how thankful I am for the things I have, and the people that care for me. I personally now recognize that some people can be very greedy, and they do many things to make it worse, even they don't realize.

When someone is stuck in a situation where they can't help themselves, you should help them in any way you can. I say this because I would want help if I were placed in that situation. I think that the plot was interesting because it always kept me wondering about events, I had to think hard about some things to get a clearer understanding. This helps you become a stronger reader.

Erin's Review
Synopsis:
Branwell Zamborska loves words; he had about five words for almost every object. Wednesday November 25th at 2:43pm, Branwell went silent. His half-sister Nikki fell into a coma at only six months old. Vivian Shawcurt, the English au pair blamed Branwell for dropping his own baby half-sister. Connor Kane (Branwell's best friend since daycare), wants to be a loyal friend and prove Branwell is innocent. Connor makes twelve cards and starts writing common things they did together that might lead up to who was there that Wednesday in November, who dropped Nikki, and what led up to when and why Branwell's silence occurred. Connor made the twelve cards because it was his only form of communication between him and Branwell.

Message:
Tighten the knot between family and friends because in this book, Silent to the Bone, the majority of people felt left out of either a marriage or a relationship.

Don't fall for temptations because they may not seem like bad ideas at the moment but later on they will come back to haunt you, as Branwell and Connor's temptations did.

Have trustworthy friends that even if you do something wrong you can count on them for their trustworthiness, like Connor would be a loyal friend to Branwell even if he did something wrong.

Opinion:
I enjoyed Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg because the author started the story in a staged action. It was definitely a book you would not want to put down. I highly recommend this book to students in a high reading level at least 11 to 12 years old. This book has unexpected twists, turns and actions.

... Read more

Product Description
A young girl in a new school tries to help a deeply troubled boy and is forced to confront the pain and abuse that hurt him and caused him to withdraw. A first novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (80)

A good read
This is a good, short read for anyone looking for a little entertainment. Some of the main characters- Ginny and Caulder mostly- can be a little annoying at times, buy overall the reader gets a good sense of who they are. I really enjoyed the plot and thought behind Smitty, the climax and proceeding pages just seemed cut a bit short. I wanted to know more about Smitty. There are also some slight inaccuracies, psychologically speaking, but it's nothing huge and glaring. I enjoyed reading this book, all and all. And would definitely recommend it.

Beautiful.
I was in Junior High when I first came across this magnificent book. I was a librarians assistant and was putting books away. I saw the cover art of Smitty floating and the title and instantly thought "Science Fiction section" I checked in the computer catalog to make sure I was assuming correctly. After I found out it wasn't a science fiction novel I was intrigued...why was this boy floating? So I checked it out and read it. I fell in love just like everyone else who has ever read this book. I read it every year or so. I have my own battered copy and have made several people read it. I even bought my niece a copy for this past Christmas. Sometimes we all need assured that we're not the only alien on the planet. Smitty and Ginny's relationship is not normal which makes it so special. She can be a bit over emotional and he's reserved, if not stunted, emotionally by the end they come to balance each other out really well.

Intense, Powerful Read!
The Only Alien On The Planet was a well written, thought-provoking masterpiece. Lately, I've been complaining that a lot of YA books lack the wow factor. Well, I finally found one! The beginning was a little slow due to the character development, but I did enjoy it. I definitely got to know the characters on a personal level. After a few chapters, the book became very addictive. I simply couldn't put it down, it was attached to my hand until I finished it. At first, Smitty's character was very mysterious but also very interesting. I wasn't sure if he was an actual "alien" from another planet or just someone who people thought was weird. It ended up being the second one, nothing about this book screams creature from another universe hehe. I fell in love with him from the get-go, even though he never said a word. His story touched me and I was quickly engulfed in his life. He was a typical teen with a blank facial expression and no voice. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this intense read, this has now been added to my fave books of 2009. :)

outstanding
My daughter needed this book for her summer reading requirments and you couldn't purchase it in book stores until September.They weren't printing it again until then.This book was just in great shape and shipped in a very timely manner.

The Only Alien on the Planet
I love love love this book. I read it a couple of times when I was still in school, and I came across it online and had to order it so I could read it again.

I noticed that it reminds me a lot of the Twilight series, so if you're a fan of those you'll definatly enjoy reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description
When the substitute for Mr. "Fab" Fabiano never shows up and his sixth-grade students are on their own, they set out to prove that they can run the class by themselves. With a little ingenuity and some careful planning, they might just succeed. But when a fight breaks out between Bastian Fauvell and Rachel White over a classmate, Tommy Feathers, who died six months earlier, everything begins to fall apart. Can Rachel deal with the anxieties that plunged her into silence the day Tommy died? Inventive and uniquely constructed, "Flying Solo" follows Mr. Fab's students hour by hour as they tackle the challenges of an unusual school day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

AWESOME BOOK
F lying Solo

Have you ever been in classroom by yourself for a couple of minutes? Well these kids in Flying Solo had no teacher for a whole day. Flying Solo is a fictional book by Ralph Fletcher he has written more than 1 book and all of them are great like Flying Solo.

Flying Solo is about 4 students(and the rest of the class)and they realize they have no teacher so they want to prove kids rule and decide to run the class themself.

You will meet these 4 chracters along the way. Rachel who has stopped talking because a fomer student of her class Tommy Feathers died six months ago. He liked her but she didn't feel the same way and she was always a little harsh on him, so when he died she blamed herself. Bastian, whose dad is in the military, has to move a lot and today is his last day. He is worried about his dog Barkley and has no idea what to do with him. Jessica who is pretty much a neatfreak and will learn to hang a little loose. And last but not least is Sean who is sort of having rough time in life because his mom and dad are divorced. he lives with his dad and his dad's girlfriend barely 10 years older than him and acts like his mother.

This book is a great book. I loved every page of itand I think you might like it too. But don't take my word 4 it you should read it!!!!!!!!!!.YES YOU =)(=

Losing faith in amazon.com
Ordered book.Got an e-mail that my order was successful and being processed.THREE WEEKS LATER, I received an e-mail that my order was canceled and a refund was being processed.Said the company could not fulfill my order.Unfortunately, this was for students who needed the books.Very dissappointed.Probably won't go this route again.

Flying Solo
Flying Solo is an amazing book that keeps students on the edge of their seats.It is filled with an amazing adventure for students to react to and debate moral issues on.Students are able to connect with many of the characters in the story.It left my students wanting more!

Flying Solo
Tommy feathers (a student) dies and Rachel (main character) stops talking. No teacher or sub shows up and the class runs it on there own. The class gets caught. It's a sad story from kids dying and its heart breaking to read this book, this is why I like this book.

Flying solo
The book is about a class that has no sub and no teacher and they vote to see if they should tell someone or not. I loved the part were Bastian gives Sean a big present. I also loved the part were Rachel does something kind of unexpected. Last but not least I like the end. I loved every part in this book. I would totally recommend this book. I would give this book five stars. ... Read more

Product Description
The Supplement Treatment Guide Book to Understanding Katie is meant to supplement the story book, ‘Understanding Katie,’ in order to help others understand Katie’s feelings, explain Katie’s actions, and to introduce tactics/techniques for parents, teachers and treating professionals that can be used in order to help and offer support to a child with SM in times of stress and frustration.By reading ‘Understanding Katie,’ adults involved in the life of a child with Selective Mutism and social anxiety will hopefully begin to comprehend how this child feels and perhaps learn productive ways in which to help.

For individuals learning about Selective Mutism, there are certain important concepts to understand. The Supplement Guide goes over in detail, necessary therapeutic terms and that should be used to help the child suffering in silence.

To truly understand how to HELP the child with SM, individuals need to ‘SEE" Selective Mutism as a true communication anxiety. Treatment should never be geared towards getting the child to speak immediately but helping the child progress through the stages of communication in a step-wise fashion which is based on the child's present communication anxiety level.

Treatment should be focused on the WHOLE CHILD, not their mutism. The Supplement Treatment Guide to Understanding Katie will therefore help parents, teachers and treating professionals SEE SM from the correct perspective and therefore be able to help ease the child anxiety while at the same time, help the child build their self esteem as well as communication and confidence in social settings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review from a special education teacher
I am a special education teacher and I have searched high and low for a book that would be beneficial for me, my student, and the parents.After reading this book, I realized that this book is a necessity for anyone who comes in contact with a selective mute child/person/student/relative... ECT... I have gained many techniques and information from this book.Prior to this book, could not find any decent books relating to the selective mute except this one.Not only is this book "decent" it should be mandatory!If you do not purchased this book you will be missing out valuable information that the doctors don't even know! ... Read more