Product Description
This book will teach you step-by-step how to perform addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, square roots and cube roots on a Chinese abacus. It also explains the ancient 'extra bead' method and the 'suspended bead' method. Great for both children and adults. Clearly explained with text and pictures throughout every stage of your calculation. A preview of the book can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/1018833 Note: This is the compact book size version 6"x9" of the larger 8.5"x11" original (ISBN: 978-1-8479-9943-6). Ideal size for travelling. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

abacus
this book helped alot in how to understand the abacus especially in teaching my children

The most useful book on the Abacus
This is just the book I was looking for to help me understand and use the Abacus. I had tried others and they just did not go into the detail needed. It is fantastic. Lots of examples all beautifully illustrated with diagrams. It even covers the difficult topics like square and cube roots. I'm sure others will find it helpful too.

Great Book
I bought this book wanting to learn how to use an abacus and have had no previous experience- I'm pretty sure I hadn't even held one before.This book is very easy to read and the directions are very clear.I strongly suggest it!

Greatbook
This is a great book on a hard to find subject. Gives clear step-by-step instructions as well as practise problems and history. If you want to learn the abacus, this book is all you'll need ... Read more

Product Description
The abacus is as useful and effecient a machine today as it was when it was first created centures ago.Whether you're an expert in the latest computer technology or you're mastering arithmetic and word problems for the first time, it won't take long to learn the basics (and even the not-so-basics) of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing on this ingenious and fun-to-use mathematical tool.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

The Abacus:The World's First Computer System + Abacus
The text is poorly written and too much text is spent on explaining ancient counting devices and very little text explaining the abacus.The amount of time spent explaining the use of the abacus itself could be considered an 'epilogue' in back of the book and is completely in error with very poor examples for its operation.It is a shame that this book is still on the market.I do NOT recommend this paperback in spite of the free -- somewhat small -- abacus.

Spectacular Abaci
This book is an excellent resource for kids that are struggling with math. Math becomes fun, and even competetive. The abacus, though somewhat primitive in the eyes of a novice, or to someone that has never seen one in action, is an excellent tool for helping children to understand and perform great mathematical feats. This book is a step by step, easy to understand guide to the ancient technique of the abacus, and I strongly encourage any parent with a struggling child to purchase one.

poor and dated
This book has some nice anecdotal information on the abacus.The one that comes with it is actually fairly nice.It is a Chinese 2/5 with 9 columns.This is not really enough for multiplication and division problems.Still it isn't a bad one.The algorithms for using it in the book are wrong.For instance you properly add and subtract going from left to right.You should actually do it this way on paper.Try it, it's easier than right to left.Yes they work but are not how to use it properly.If you want to really learn how to us it get Takashi Kojima's book, "Japanese Abacus:Its Use and Theory".This book will really teach you how and includes the standard tests for third and first degree certification.Understand that most modern use of the abacus is based on the 1/4 Japanese Soroban.You will never use both 5 count beads on the top, just one.And on the bottom you will use 4 of the 5 beads.You might get confused learning proper use with a Chinese Suan Pan(abacus).Still they are nice and some have larger beads easier to work than those on a Japanese Soroban.I use an abacus for teaching my first grade twins math.They are great for kids learning how to carry etc.When I was in highschool calculators were new and expensive.I used a Soroban with my slide rule.with some practice you can actually do some remarkable things with one even in the day of cheap calculators.For an alternative place for getting an abacus check out Tomoe Soroban on the internet.

A good introduction to this magical "machine"
This book is an excellent introduction into how to use the abacus.I think some of other reviewers here missed the point of this particular text -- it wasn't meant to be the end-all official reference of how to use an abacus.It serves it's purpose well:If you've always been curious about the little device that can be as fast as a calculator (in some people's hands), this is a good, short, book to give you an overview of the basic usage of it.If you want to become an abacus expert, I'm sure you could find thicker more expensive books that would suit you better.
In addition to lessons on how to do basic math, the monotony of the exercise chapters are broken up by a sprinkling of history, story, and lore behind the development and use of the abacus.
Overall, this is a good, brief, book which can answer the question, "How does that thing work?"Best of all, it's short enough that you could read it in an hour or two.

As a side note, the abacus it comes bundled with is also good for this introductory purpose.It's small, and unless you have tiny fingers, you'll probably bump beads unintenionally -- but for the price, it's good enough to satisfy your curiosity.

Delightful--entertaining and informative
I spent years mildly curious about the abacus--particularly, any time I saw film of schoolkids or shopkeepers in Asia producing inerrant sums and differences with their fingers all a blur. Then, I saw this book, bundled with a little wooden abacus, and decided I'd give this ancient calculator a try.

I found the book an delight, with its friendly discussions of the history of the abacus, its variant forms from land to land (Chinese vs. Japanese, etc.), and, even its jolly little excursion into binary arithmetic on the abacus.Yes, I suppose it is a short book, and it doesn't spend a lot of pages on mathematical drill, but how many pages do you need?It's not like there's a complicated operating system or scripting language for this venerable tool...just the curious yet undeniable pleasure of sliding beads along sticks, just as people have been doing for centuries...

I should also mention that the abacus makes a great conversation piece, sitting out on the top of your Pentium tower at work."My new palmtop," I tell everyone who asks. ... Read more

Product Description
This book will teach you step-by-step how to perform addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, square roots and cube roots on a Chinese abacus. It also explains the ancient 'extra bead' method and the 'suspended bead' method. Great for both children and adults. Clearly explained with text and pictures throughout every stage of your calculation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The only Abacus book you will ever need.
This book is easily the best book out there for learning the abacus, especially for people with no previous abacus experience. It is so clear that it is not just for adults butyoung kids can use it. There are lots of examples all beautifully illustrated with easy to understand diagrams. The book has complete step-by-step instructions, starting with some easy examples and then moving on to more difficult ones. It didn't take me and the kids long to start using the abacus and we enjoyed every minute of it. I am also going to get the smaller pocket sized edition to read on the train on the way to work.
I definitely recommend it.

Worthless, completely flat with no real abacus theory
I've given this book a thorough run-through now and the conclusion I've come to is that it teaches absolutely nothing worthwhile.

The entire explanation of how to use an Abacus is completely obvious and lacking any method.For example, in addition there is an example of adding 6421 + 425.When adding 400 to 6421, it says in column 3 (4 + 4):"Upper deck, register1 bead to add 500; lower deck, unregister 1 bead to minus 100."Obvious.

The proper way to perform 4 + 4 on an abacus is to consider the complement of 4 with regards to 5.The complements with regard to 5 are (4 & 1) and (3 & 2).Since we cannot add 4 more beads to the lower register, we set the 5 bead on the upper register and subtract the compliment of 4, which is 1.The book doesn't touch the concept of complementary numbers on 10 or 5.

The difference is subtle.The explanation that you add 5 and then subtract 1 (as 5 - 1 = 4) to add 4 is correct; however, it requires mental calculations.The explanation of complementary numbers on 5 (4 & 1) and (3 & 2) and complementary numbers on 10 (9 & 1) (8 & 2) (7 & 3) (6 & 4) (5 & 5) makes much abacus work mechanical.It's the same difference as teaching someone to compute (97 - 105) via the borrowing method rather than telling them to instead compute (105 - 97) and make the result negative.

Sections on Multiplication and such necessarily require more solid theory.

Heffelfinger & Flom have a better guide online.

Best book on the subject that I ever read.
I have long been interested in the abacus. I bought my first one when I was
14 or so. It came with an instructional pamphlet that was hard to follow.
This book has clear explanations and even exercises to make learning how to
use an abacus easier.

You still need to practice.

very happy and counting
This was a great starter, better than what came with the abacus when I bought it! ... Read more

Product Description
Designed as a comprehensive supplement to Janson's History of Art, Sixth Edition, Hartt's Art, Fourth Edition, Gardner's Art Through the Ages, Eleventh Edition, and Stokstad's Art History (Revised) — but also appropriate as a stand-alone brief reference volume — this handbook defines the most common terms used in discussing the history of visual arts, relating them to specific works illustrated in these standard volumes.Topics covered include art terms, processes, and principles, gods, heroes, and monsters, Christian subjects, saints and their attributes, Christian signs and symbols, chronology of painters, photographers, sculptors, and architects, as well as maps, and a directory of museum websites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

pretty slim for an A-Z record of Art History
I was expecting a much more deeply detailed book for something calling itself an A-Z handbook.Many of the words my Art 101 teacher gave us were not listed in this book.I'm still trying to figure out why she recommended this book to us!

Art History Handbook
I had no problems with the seller, the book is in great condition and it came pretty fast.

Wrong Addition
I recieved this book from Amazon via Usedbooks 123 and recieved wrong addition. I did send e-mail to try to get correct edition, but instead they stated "I could keep the text and they would refund my money"...I have yet to recieve a refund!

Complete for a beginner ...
I recently purchased this text along with Janson's History of Art (5th ed.). Although this handbook was written with Janson's 6th edition in mind, it has not taken away from my cross-referenced learning experience. Throughout the text, there are references to examples (illustrations) in History of Art (or other popular art history texts) which help in applying the "theory" (if you can call it that) with the "application."

The text has a wide range of art terms key to the study and analysis of art history. The section on Christian subjects, signs and symbols has helped me decipher the icons depicted in Christian-themed pieces of the Renaissance.

My copy of the text is bound somewhat backwards towards the end. The Index and Artist Chronology pages, for example, are divided and unordered ... but it does not take away from the text's usablity!

All in all, I believe this text has been a great investment.

From Abacus to Zeus
In Abacus to Zeus, you will find a wonderful, concise, approachable 'quick and dirty' reference for those new to studying the visual arts. James Pierce brings together many of the pesky, essential--and formerly,ellusive--details in an accessible reference. Deffinitions withillustrations, terms and stories of mythology, religious art,and achronology of artists and architects (complete with pronunciationguide--indespensible for those of us who remain unilingual) work welltogether to make this book a find! ... Read more

Product Description
What forces were behind Japan's emergence as the first non-Western colonial power at the turn of the twentieth century? Peter Duus brings a new perspective to Meiji expansionism in this pathbreaking study of Japan's acquisition of Korea, the largest of its colonial possessions. He shows how Japan's drive for empire was part of a larger goal to become the economic, diplomatic, and strategic equal of the Western countries who had imposed a humiliating treaty settlement on the country in the 1850s.
Duus maintains that two separate but interlinked processes, one political/military and the other economic, propelled Japan's imperialism. Every attempt at increasing Japanese political influence licensed new opportunities for trade, and each new push for Japanese economic interests buttressed, and sometimes justified, further political advances. The sword was the servant of the abacus, the abacus the agent of the sword.
While suggesting that Meiji imperialism shared much with the Western colonial expansion that provided both model and context, Duus also argues that it was "backward imperialism" shaped by a sense of inferiority vis-à-vis the West. Along with his detailed diplomatic and economic history, Duus offers a unique social history that illuminates the motivations and lifestyles of the overseas Japanese of the time, as well as the views that contemporary Japanese had of themselves and their fellow Asians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Modernity and colonization, still a useful volume
The reviews for this book here on Amazon are divided, and you can understand both responses, respect and rage.

This volume is what it claims to be: an account of colonization, Japan of Korea from the late 1890s to the early 1920s (but ending before the more brutal culling of the Imperial War Machine in the 30s and 40s).

The first half collects the various arguments made in Japan from the 1860s onward: cultural, racial superiority, expansion and capitalism, contending and competing with the West, in the creation of justifying colonization. Particularly useful if the reader has the basics on the ideology of colonialization, Albert Memmi, Franz Fanon, Edward Said etc. Or the other way around: for the reader who is reading up on colonial writings would find the non-Western discourse on colonialization interesting, the discourse on racial destiny and the Japanese "burden" to enlighten Asia, compared to the "White Man's burden."

The second half of this book catalogues, with official figures and many personal accounts of Japanese life in Korea, for the middle-class and aspiring middle-class entrepreneurs who sought to take advantage of the colonial government and the expansionist policies of the time. And it is particularly useful as a (scholarly) portrait of people, history written from the bottom up, instead of mainly from governments policy and war.

The book is written by a Japan scholar, from Japanese documents, so the reader must take into account the sources (and sympathies) involved, the author's lack of current Korean, Korean sources and scholarship, and the text's (near) absence of Korean agency alongside the efforts at Japanese economic absorption. It offers only a hint (in the occasional phrase) at the tolls of economic policies on "normal" Korean people as people (human beings with lives and names), in its report of the lives of "normal" Japanese. But perhaps that is not this volume's purpose.

For a volume written 10 years ago, it's a valuable and readable resource, more useful when read with the collected essays in "Colonial Modernity in Korea" that was published around the same time (Eds. Gi-wook Shin and Michael Robinson, 1998) for a fleshed out view of life in the late 19th century and early 20th.

Hopefully, almost 10 years after this volume, and with the emerging generation of East Asian scholars, trained in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, we'll find fuller, more nuanced and complex accounts of history.

An interesting examination from the Japanese point of view
I wrote a thesis in college about the Japanese seizure of Korea, and my main argument was that there was no nefarious plot to take over Korea; rather, the annexation was the result of conflicting elements within the Japanese government. (The annexation was, of course, a victory for the reactionary elements.)

This book illustrates that there WERE elements within the Japanese government who wanted to help Korea reform. They certainly had ulterior (read: self-centered) motives in doing so, namely economic/financial gain. But there was, at least according to this book, a noted absence of imperialistic/expansionist attitudes by Meiji Japan towards Yi Choson Korea, at least for a time.

It is a challenging examination of that time from the Japanese point of view, and it certainly merits a reading from the serious historian.

good one
Somebody says that it was biased because it was written by Japanese documents. But his remark is questionable because there should be books written by various sources, not only by Korean scholars. On the contrary to his opinion, books based only on Korean information sometimes look distorted because of the Korean governments' anti-Japan propaganda.
Viewed from both sides, truth can be seen.

important work but biased and boring
This is a scholarly work and not "popular history."I say the book is important because this is really not a covered subject.Aside from being a bit boring and confusing for people not an expert in Japanese political hisotry during Meiji, I found it disturbing that the author cited only Japanese and English sources.And the majority of English sources are old (1960s).In the intro, the author freely admits he neither speaks or reads Korean (!)

So, this is a one sided version of history (from the imperialist side).We will have to wait for some of the very good Korean accounts to be written or translated into English.In the meantime, try Bruce Cumming's work on Korean modern history.

Excellent Book
This is an excellent book. I appreciate the sharp research and insightful interpretation of this period of East Asian History. My only criticism would be that I wish the thesis of Archaic, medieval-millitaristic form of imperialism as practiced by Japan and Russia in their colonial expansion was elaborated upon. Otherwise, I do buy into Professor Duus apologetic of defensive mechanism turned into opportunism (and eventually tyranny and abuse). This is not an easy book to read however, and requires an ability to read history in a objective manner. It is written from a selective point of view, and as Professor Duus explains in the introduction, it is a book wiha an emphasis on the Japanese experience (ie. primarily Japanese documents, testimony, statistics, etc). In my opinion, it makes for interesting reading when a book is relative to an unpopular perspective (another book in that vein would be "Redcoats and Rebels: An English Perspective of The American Revolution")and there should be dissension in interpretation if one is to have a decent historical dialogue. One should remember as one reads the book that the period between the Meiji restoration and Korean annexation was a period in which Japan was in the process of becoming a wester-style imperialist power. What I find facinating is that Japan conscioussly decided to play the European colonial/economic game; but ancient Confucian reverberations unconscioussly dictated how the game was to be played by the Japanese.The "onne-san" idea regarding sibling relationships, (ie. older brother/youger brother), as a basis political and economic relationship that led a struggling-to-become-western Japan to intervene "on behalf" of a reticent-Yangban-entrenched Korea is credible and, if one is familiar with the hierachial nature of Japanese society, logical.Finally, as an asian-american who was brought up despise Japanese imperal expanision in East Asia, (and the cultural smothering, tyranny and brutallity that went with it), it was hard for me too to swallow the possibility that Japan inacted in its expansion as a defense mechanism, but the evidence as disscussed in this book is compelling. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Short and Sweet
Kojima's book is short, but teaches nearly everything you need to add, subtract, multiply, and divide on the Japanese soroban. Missing is how to handle negative numbers when adding and subtracting. (Perhaps this is covered in Kojima's advanced book.) The other review is correct to say that what Kojima teaches can be applied to the Chinese suan pan. The exercises are a valuable part of the book. Mental calculation is presented, but the use of "abacus thinking" for paper calculations is absent. It would be nice to see this book in print again.

The bible
If you want a book on how to use a Japanese abacus this is the bible for it.I see other books written that have not been properly researched and really teach usage technique wrong.If you really want to learn how to use a Soroban or even a Chinese Suan Pan this is the book to get.The challanges listed between the Soroban and calculator were before the days of modern pocket calculators but with practice you can still get real fast.Practice the exercises in this book and you can rely on a Soroban just like a pocket calculator.If you have a 2/5 Chinese Suan Pan don't worry this still applies.Actually the 2/5 was developed for the Chinese weight system that was based on 16.It's actually a hexidecimal calculator!If you do computer hex math a 2/5 might actually be very helpful!The 1/4 and 2/5 refer to the number of beads on the top and bottom.Top beads count as 5 and bottom as 1.

Japanese Abacus: Its Use and Theory.
This is one of the few books about how to use an abacus around.Even though there aren't that many books out there, Kojima does a very good job of explaining how to use the abacus, in a step by step manner. The bookstarts off with a brief history of the abacus then proceeds to how to useit for addition, subtraction, multiplication and then division.The bookalso goes into cube roots! The book also has some simple tests after eachchapter and at the end of the book to see how much you have improved.All in all the book is very well written and if you have any interest inthe abacus, this is a good book to have.

Good explanation, and good as a reference.
This book goes through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on the abacus, explaining clearly how to do each.It builds up the proper finger movements bit by bit through very clear examples.You really canjust read this book and learn the proper modern methods for the Japaneseabacus. It also has some interesting history at the beginning, and testsat the end to allow the reader to rate himself according to first few ranksin the Japanese kyu system... Great book -- I use it all the time. ^_^ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Could have found this much info in the dictionary under abacus!
What a total waste of money!With shipping I paid over $11 to get a dictionary definition of abacus.Don't buy this book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best available introductory text on abacus or soroban
I do not believe this title is in print, but it's worth looking for!I certainly did.This is the clearest explanation of how to use the abacus that I have come across.Particularly good are the chapters on multiplication and division, which are not quite as straightforward operations as are addition and subtraction.

Don't confuse this with Takashi's follow up book, Advanced Abacus: Japanese Theory and Practice - it's what the title says, more advanced.It deals, as I recall, with such items as fractions, and even square roots.Of interest nonetheless, it will not teach you multiplication and division.(After a 50 year hiatus, I decided to finally learn those 2 operations in addition to addition and subtraction, which I had taught myself as a young child!) ... Read more

Product Description
These homework texts provide an opportunity for shared activities between parent and child. They provide two activities a week, a variety of formal written practice, and informal shared practical activities. The activities focus on key number skills, and there is advice for parents. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Recent Irish History
It's not possible to compress the rich history of Ireland into one small book, but this book which spans about two centuries is well written and concise. The book was assigned for a Stanford University Continuing Studies course and was a very interesting overview of recent history. The themes of Irish dissension against the British were well developed.

Good review of Irish history
We are going on an educational trip to Ireland and the book was on a reading list prepared by the guide. Easy read and good background info for the trip

Best Ireland Primer
Robert Kee's "Ireland: A History" is, simply put, a fine introductory overview of modern Ireland. By "modern" I refer to the time from a bit before the Viking invasion (roughly 797 C.E.), through the Free State to the founding of the Republic and into "The Troubles" of today. For my money, the book's major flaw was its brief, superficial treatment of ancient Celtic Ireland. There is so much more to Ireland's Gaelic past than Kee covers that one will need other books to fill this gap. As a dual national -- I'm an Irish and a U.S. citizen -- I did not really "need" Kee's book to learn of modern or ancient Ireland, or the supplementary works I later bought to cover the pre-Viking material his "Ireland: A History" did not; I already knew a fair bit about this as a function of my birth. [A Dublin-born Irishman gave me Kee's book to read while I lived in Cyprus, where English-language books are very dear, and one reads what one may already have read or known to save money.] As a further note, ultra-Republican friends of mine scoff at what they characterize as Kee's "royalist/loyalist" leanings, dismissing out of hand anything he has to say as not quite "shamrock green" enough for a "True Republican" to be citing him as a source on anything Irish. I personally did not find Kee a propagandist for the Crown, so do not subscribe out of hand to this IRA carping. I can grouse, however, at Kee's or his editors' failure to state in which Dublin museum hangs the heartbreaking painting of "The Flight of the Earls," found on page 38 of the book. On one occasion, I'd sought out the painting in the National Gallery in Dublin, only to learn it hung in another museum -- which was closed the day I went after it. Notwithstanding this, in my humble opinion, for those not of Irish extraction or citizenship (or ultra-Republican bent), Kee's book is a good, easily readable, healthy introduction to the Emerald Isle. It is devoid of any blarney-sentimental cliches or slanderous stereotyping of the "glib, gab-gifted, Guinness-gulping" Irishman. And it pulls no punches at Britain's guilt for its arguably deliberate genocide of the Irish in the Great Famine of 1845-49 and those lesser ones that grass-stained starving Irish mouths and blood-stained the 19th century. But it will fill in only so many blanks in one's understanding of that ageless island and its early people, with their lost-in-mists religions, languages, superstitions, culture and monuments. Those wanting more will have to buy other works, such as Peter Beresford Ellis' "The Ancient World of the Celts," for instance. Overall, I found Kee's "Ireland: A History" a good survey course in Ireland, so much so that I bought it as a gift for a friend of Irish extraction, who'd developed a keen interest in tracing his own roots -- and in applying for Irish citizenship. On balance, Kee's book is worth the money and the read.
Anthony O'Neill Miller

Ever wonder what the fighting in Northern Ireland was all about?
A very comprehensive view of the Ireland/England/Great Britain relationship.
Excellent historical perspective over the last 800 years.You can't tell the players without a score card.You begin to believe Senator Mitchell when he said something like venomous statements made by members of either side might reference a happening of yesterday or 400 years ago.Having just done a whirlwind tour of Ireland, it really helped me to understand much better what I saw there. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

early May Karr
This is her first poetrybook, before Liars Club, but it does have biographical themes. It is interesting to see her husband thanked for his editing. I am not a big poetry fan, but I ahve all 4 of hers and like most of it. ... Read more

Product Description
This textbook allows independent practice of mathematical skills. It presents the concepts at an appropriate reading level. Activities with an investigative or process-skill focus encourage creative and mathematical thinking. Problem-solving is included. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent novel
Luke Wakefield is a failure. He has been a loser all his life. Even his failure is a failure. One day is queuing at the post office when the man in front of him simply falls dead. Luke decides to pocket the dead man's final epistle and leave the post office. Back at home he discovers that the letter was written by a Sebastian Firbank to his wife Marian Firbank in which he unmistakably states that he killed her. This event takes Luke on his mission to trace Marion's relatives, a long and patient investigation and a search which will in itself enrich his otherwise empty life.
In this entertaining and very well written novel we see a man bewitched by the death of a woman he has never met. His `crusade' to find her body is fuelled by the bleakness of his personal life and takes the form of a bizarre chase leading to an astonishing conclusion and unexpected happiness. Unusual and intriguing. Definitely worth reading. ... Read more

Product Description
Abacus is a middle-grade novel that whisks readers along with AP,the 12-year-old protagonist and science geek, who travels through timewith Kate, his oh-so-bored 15-year-old sister. Their journeys to Arthurian England, the Wild West, and Ancient Egypt, get them into some very tight spots, but AP uses his broad knowledge of science to help them escape. And stalking them on every trip is a hooded stranger whose attacks show he'll do anything to stop them.Besides being a fast-paced and engaging novel, the story has someadditional features including:• easy to follow instructions at the back of the book for repeatingAP's experiments• separate supplemental reading lists for kids, parents and educators• extra notes that delve deeper into the historical times and settings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Highly recommended for shared reading and genre study
As a grade 5 teacher, I'm always looking for something different to enrich my literacy program. Abacus, by Chris McGowan is the perfect vehicle to introduce Science Fiction genre to junior students. It tells a tale of the adventures of 12-year-old scientist-extraordinaire, AP and 15-year-old ho-hum, Kate, who embody the archetypal brother and sister relationship. Even though Kate is tired of AP, concern for her brother exceeds each conflict in the story as they learn to trust each other and work together. This book is full of narrow escapes and deadly peril as the characters jump through time to King Arthur's Medieval England, the Wild West and the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the Ancient Egypt of Pharaoh Ramesses II, and back again. AP uses the "magic" of real science combined with his knowledge of History to get them out of each tight spot. Time-travelling purists need not worry about how their actions could change the present. AP explains the time travel paradox: nothing they do in the past will have an effect on the future - as soon as they leave, everything they did will disappear with them. Most novels end with a tidy conclusion, but this book sets the stage for a series.
For the teacher, there are supplemental readings to expound on the "real" history of the times and places visited in the book. In addition, there are comprehensive instructions to bring each of AP's experiments to life in your classroom, which can be tied in to several strands of the Grades 4-6 Science and Technology curriculum.


A Review by C.O., Grade 5 student

Abacus by Chris McGowan is a science fiction adventure story that is set in spectacular places, primarily in the past. There is a lot of science in this book connected to the abacus, a time-travelling machine, and to the `inventions' that AP, one of the main characters, makes during his adventures. AP, a 12-year-old boy, and his 15-year-old sister Kate, travel into the past with the help of a magical abacus that allows them to travel through time. Kate and AP meet both friends and enemies in their travels, witness some interesting events and also get into some very difficult situations, including being threatened to be killed by a man named Robert Drew. This man is a constant stalker of Kate and AP, and is always trying to steal the abacus from them. When each adventure is over, Kate and AP always manage to get back to 2010, but then want to go somewhere else back in time. Each new trip is its own dangerous and exciting adventure story.

One of the main themes that occur during the book is how Kate and AP learn to trust and rely on themselves and each other. Throughout the story they develop the ability to think and act quickly and this helps them to get out of many bad situations. An example of this happened in 1524 when Robert Drew grabbed hold of Kate and threatened to kill her if he didn't get the abacus. AP gave up the abacus to Robert Drew and then Kate stomped on his sore foot. Robert Drew fell to the ground, Kate grabbed the abacus and they made a run for it and escaped safely.

I really enjoyed reading Abacus. It was a very exciting book that was hard to put down. The author used fascinating settings for each adventure and combined this with a lot of interesting characters and a lot of action. There was never a dull moment in the book! I highly recommend this book for all ages.

Amazing -- fast paced adventure with science and history!
Having read this book before publication, I have to be the first to tell parents especially how much their kids will love it. It's a time-travel adventure featuring a very realistic brother-and-sister team: 12-yr-old AP and his 15-yr-old sister whose constant teasing but genuine protectiveness of each other will ring true for any reader with siblings. The fast-paced fact-based story takes readers from Arthurian England to the Wild West to Ancient Egypt and each section is jam-packed not only with action, but also will fact -- history and science combined, but not in way that kids will scoff at.

If you are a middle-grade teacher with students aged 10-13, I highly recommend introducing this book in your classroom, either for independent reading or as a way to incorporate science into your lesson. AP uses science to get himself and his sister out of edge-of-your-seat emergencies (and back to present-time) and step-by-step instructions for his experiments are provided at the back of the book. They are simple and fun and a great way to get students excited about science.

And it's a wonderful read, too! ... Read more

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In this latest World Stories collection, original stories depict children from traditional Taiwanese backgrounds as they learn how to deal with changes brought on by the contemporary world. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

History, Drama, Soap Opera - It's All Here!
This was the first Beatrice Rubens book that I have read and I could not put it down! I found it on a "take one, leave one" shelf in a hostel and I'm glad I took it - spent a lovely week on the beach reading it nonstop.

I was sorry when it ended. She creates characters with depth and humanity and it almost too easy to identify with their sorrows, internal struggles, and external stressors. But it's not all sad- there are certainly moments of joy, as well.

If you are a fan of Jewish literature and studies of family bonds, loyalty and relationships, then you will enjoy this book even more!

I am looking forward to reading more of her novels.

Enjoy!

GREAT BOOK on Jewish History; Historical Fiction
This is the third time I'm reading this book. My mother-in-law first gave it to me over 20 years ago. Over the years I re-read it and while on a cruise I wondered what to take for pleasure reading and this book came to mind. You get deeply involved in the character's lives and you get an honest feeling for what life must have been like for the Jewish people who migrated across Europe and to the U.S. If you like historical fiction this is a great book. And if you like stories about Jewish history, The Source by James Michener would be another great read. Book arrived in great condition and was as described by seller. Can highly recommend this seller also.

"Brothers" by Bernice Rubens is a totally enthralling read . . .
Amazon please correct the error pointed out by a previous reviewer !

Bernice Ruben's absorbing narrative takes one on an unforgettable literary journey following the lives of four generations (from Tsarist Russia where service in the army equalled 25 years to Stalinist Russia and life in its horrifying Gulags) of the Bindel family as they fight for survival in an anti-semitic and very hostile world. One of my top 10 of all time reads - and I am indeed a voracious reader - Ruben's extraordinary book epitomizes human endurance, resilience, faith and love

Which Brothers?
Buyers beware! BROTHERS by Bernice Rubens is NOT, and has nothing to do with BROTHERS by Ted Van Lieshout. I have no idea why AMAZON confuses the two, nor do I have any information on Ms Rubens book, but Van Lieshout's book BROTHERS was marketed as a teen novel. It is not and should not be restricted to that market. It is for anyone with a heart, a profoundly beautiful and well written slender volume of about 155 pages that will fill your heart with love and understanding as the 16 year old narrator comes to terms with his family life, his homosexuality and his grief by writing in the diary of his deceased younger brother. You will want to, and be able to, read this in one evening, but you will never forget it. The Dutch author is a highly rated poet as well as a children's book author in his native Holland. While his prose is certainly poetic, it is direct and simply worded in a voice believably teen. The translation is equally direct, admirable and transparent. The ISBN number is 0 00 711231 9. That is the one to get if it sounds anywhere near as wonderful to you as it actually is. Not only does AMAZON wrongly list this Ruben book here as the hardcover version of Van Lieshout's book, but it gives no info or review of Ms Ruben's work, which surely is a diservice to her and her publisher. Do get Van Lieshout's book, you will love it! My five star rating applies to his book, not Ms Ruben's, and I apologize to her for that, but I know nothing about her book.

Long-winded and rambling
I won't waste any words on this book, as the author has wasted enough.Not recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

V review
I was thrilled with my purchase. I really believed that the book would not be available. Good job finding it. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Delightful set of short stories by Jane Gardam
This little volume of short stories by Jane Gardam is great!I just finished it and will reread it almost immediately.The stories are so well-written and varied that they are like miniature jewels of many hues.There are a number of typos sprinkled throughout (which is a little surprising - I plan to write to the publisher about it - maybe they can make the corrections in the next printing).I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes well-written English literature.I plan to send copies to bibliophile friends as gifts. ... Read more