Sarabeth Silver is a teen who lives in a trailer park with hermom and cat, Tobias. When she transfers schools during the middle ofthe year, she starts to envy a clique of four girls - Patty, Asa, Jennifer, and her "idol", Grant. Sarabeth is taken by surprise when Grant "adopts" her and becomes her best friend, AND allows her into the clique.

Sarabeth still favors Grant through her transition. But when Patty reveals a shocking secret to her they become very good friends, much to Grant's dismay. Patty's secret could force her and her mother out of their glamorous mansion or cause her more pain than she has ever experianced.

This book was very good. The only complaints I have is that some plots were not developed fully and Patty's secret (I'm not a surprise spoiler!) was. . . well you'll have to read the book and find out!

Silver Norma Fox Mazer Sarabeth Silver's mother is determined that she will live a great life that is better than her own. Sarabeth's mother makes her transfer to another school where all the rich kids go. At first Sarabeth does not fit in, but she soon becomes part of a clique of the most popular girls. As Sarabeth grows closer to the group of girls, she finds out a horrible secret that proves rich people don't have it all. This book is a definite page turner. Once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down. It keeps you at the edge of your seat until you are finished. This book is perfect for teenagers. Once you start reading the book, you might notice that you can relate to the characters.

Sarabeth Silver lives with her mother in Roadview Trailer Park. Her mother had her at sixteen, and her father was killed in a ... accident. Sarabeth is moved from her plain old public school to what she calls a 'snob school'. She admires pretty, popular Grant Varrow and is amazed when she ends up friends with Grant. Grant is in a clique with her best buddies, Patty, Asa and Jennifer. At first, Sarabeth feels left out by Grant's other friends, but soon they grow close; all except for Patty Lewis. Patty is beautiful, but she has moods, and is cold towards Sarabeth. But why? Silver was the most AMAZING book. I've never read one as good.

I thought this book called Swimmer by Shelley Gill was a great book.It told good facts for kids.I can't wait till Shelley Gill comes to our school on Monday.This book is terrific for kids of all ages.Salmon are great to learn facts about during their growing.Our fifth grade teacher Mrs.Allen read this book to us.

I Liked the book because it was telling how we fish and I hope she will love coming to our school Monday. What I learned about this book was that a killer whale is big.She is a great author.I gave it 5 stars.I like happy and scary books.

I thought that Swimmer was a GREAT book! It was full of fun and ineresting facts about Salmon, and their life stages. It also had some pretty cool facts about Alaska. My teacher read it to us and I learned a whole lot! This book is great for ALL ages. And it's excellent for book reports too! So any time you're not busy you should really read this book!

What a wonderful story! This book should be read by young, old and those in between - it has a great message & lesson to be learned from this book. These two women had a great deal of courage; but despite their age, they were able to overcome the challenges which they were faced & the tribe which deserted them had to come to them for help. All races and cultures can learn from this book.

I purchased this book originally because I am interested in the whole idea of living off the land and also of the strength of women overcoming incredible odds. I had given it to my 75 year-old aunt to read first, because I didn't think I could get to it anytime soon. I had told her about this book explaining that I was looking forward to reading it. She was familiar with the ways of the Alaskan natives and their culture, and explained to me what the book description told of the Athabaskan Indian culture. She read the book in one day and loved it, telling me I made a wise choice in getting this book. Well, I read the book today (in one day), and I loved it as well. It's an awsome book of survival, of overcoming adversity, of the strength and wisdom of women. It's a book of human nature, of how when times get tough, it changes people, sometimes NOT for the better. It's a book that tells of how, when you think you have it tough, you don't. And when you actually do have it tough, you will surprise yourself when you find the courage and instinct for survival within. This should be mandatory reading for all women. Mothers should give it to their daughters when they are going through a tough time. It will give them the confidence to move forward, knowing they will come out a better & stronger person for doing it. Great book! Thank you Velma Wallis for writing it!

I read this story about 2 years ago and recommended for it Ophra's bookclub review. It is so uplifting and shows that someone of age can still be worthwhile and make something of their life, regardless of the situation they might be in. An older person has a lot of worth left to give to themself and others. Reading the story of how these two old women survived against the odds and how they helped themselves and each other to cope was inspiring. How they were left by family and friends and still moved on to survive, it something that happens to some of the aging people today. I reread this book every now and thenwhenever I feel down. The book helps us to remember that we can do anything we want to do, if we want it bad enough. It also helps us to remember that we are never too old to be helpful. An aging person has a lot of widsom to share if they can't share anything else. Talk to an aging person about their life and learn something new and maybe interesting to you.

I have just finished the trilogy. It wasn't until the end of the last book that I realized that I was waiting for something good to happen. In each of the books, I kept thinking, "what else could go wrong?" and "how much worse can it get?". Well in each case we found out! I kept looking for the magic and warmth and happiness that came out in Jean Auel's and Linda Lay Shuler's books. The stories were good, but they were emotionally depressing. The end was not bad, but it was very predictable for the most part. I hate to sound so harsh, because the stories were good. Perhaps if I had known this ahead of time, I would have enjoyed them more. I would recommend these books to a friend, along with what I have just said. When Sue's Storyteller trilogy is finished, I will read them too. I will apply pessimistic optimism: "Expect the worst and hope for the best!"

A couple of years ago, I bought a book called Mother Earth, Father Sky by Sue Harrison. Ever since then, I've found myself searching for the next book to come from Sue Harrison. Each book of hers that I've read so far has been so good I never wanted to put it down! Brother Wind is such an awesome story. I certainly hope Sue isn't going to leave it a trilogy. I want to know what happens next! What happens to the Whale Hunter village, the twins- how do they grow together-, the Seal Hunters-how do they find a new way to provide food for themselves? I loved this book. It was full of suspense and love. I would recommend any and all of Sue Harrison's books to those who are interested in Native Amercan tales or who love a great story.

I started reading Sue Harrison with her novel She who Remembers, her writing style kept me on the look out for more of her books. Mother Earth Father Sky; My Sister the Moon; Brother Wind: The trilogy does leave you wanting for more with the interest in what happens next, this makes me hope that she will continue the story with at least 2 more books. There are so many opportunities and challenges for a writer to continue in this fashion. Will Sue hear the cries of the people and continue this saga. I as an avid reader do hope so. I do suggest that the reader starts with the first book and move the trilogy in that fashion. I started with My Sister the Moon and then moved on to Mother Earth Father Sky ;Brother Wind not by choice but by accident. Regardless I really enjoyed this book, and I recommend any and all of Sue Harrison's books to those who are interested in Native American tales or who love a great story.

I have been reading the Kate Shugak series in order this fall and just finished Breakup. By the time I finished the first chapter, I was already laughing. As each chapter continued, I just laughed harder and harder. This is one of the best female sluth series I've read yet (other good ones are Nevada Barr, Sue Grafton, etc.).

In Breakup, Kate experiences a neverending series of unfortunate events that are guaranteed to make you laugh. The mystery plot is not as prominent in this story as in the previous ones, but the humor and action more than make up for it. I definitely recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys mysteries set in exotic and/or natural locations. My only hope is that you will start at the beginning of the series and read them in order. It's worth it!

I've enjoyed all the Kate Shugak books but this one rates as the best. Kate faces charging bears, tourists from Beacon Hill, falling jet engines, the Alaskan version of the Hatfields and McCoys and the obligatory murder. And in the process the real Kate Shugak suddenly comes together and shows us the person we always knew was there. She once again demonstrates that Kate is not a person to be messed with (the more descriptive expression is not one I will write where anyone of any age can read it). But in all the daring do, in all the life and death experiences she goes through, those of us that love her know that the hardest for her to face, the one that takes the most courage is when Kate stands at a meeting of the tribal elders and acts as an advisory. She has begun to accept the heritage left to her by her grandmother. The only 'bad' thing about this book is that if you haven't followed Kate through her other books, you can't see what a victory this is for her. Thank you Dana Stabenow for giving us not just a female sleuth but a well-rounded person we can enjoy reading about and admire.

This is the first book of Dana Stabenow's that I bought. Within minutes, I giggled. A few more pages, I laughed. Before the book was finished, I had to stop and wipe the tears from laughing so hard.

I could relate to Kate's experiences. Maybe it takes living through an Alaskan break up to understand what humans and fate are really capable of that made this so funny. Perhaps it was recognizing former headlines from the newspapers. Irregardless, it was the first Kate Shugak book I read, but not my last. I immediately went out and bought the rest and I have a copy of each new one, too.

It's not your typical mystery. The murder does appear secondary to other activities: falling 747 engines, grizzly bear encounters, parents from Outside visiting daughters. If you want a slice of authenic Alaska from a real Alaskan, you can't go wrong with Ms. Stabenow. If you want pure entertainment, you can't go wrong with BREAK UP.

Why have I bought five copies of this book? Because each time I loaned it out, I never received it back. It's one of those books that I read again and again. But please don't ask to borrow my copy. I know a lovely bookstore that will sell you your own copy.

This book is a travelogue beautifully illustrated with many of the author's own photographs from his travels around North America. While beautifully produced I have two basic problems with the book;

1) The photos just aren't very interesting. While you can go to the author's website and read all about his many thousands of dollars in camera equipment, none of this seems to have helped him take any better photos. While technical well executed, the photos lack any unifying theme. The subjects are drab. I would recommend going to a flea market and buying old issues of National Geographic instead.

2) The author's travel narrative is just plain bad. I only got thru the first three chapters of the book. The author seems to lack any deep understanding of the places and people he visits. The book fails to convey any meaningful sense of place. The prose itself has a bit of a freshman term paper feel to it.

For excellence in travel-writing, i would recommend any of Bruce Chatwin's books, such as In Patagonia. For insteresting looks at places in America, very few writers can equal William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highway".

I first ran across this book online in 1995 or so when the World Wide Web was just starting. The story of Philip's "time off" from MIT, the why and where, caught my attention immediately for a number of reasons: the excellent photography, the reason for his time off (the death of his dog) and the MIT connection. What Philip does is rather unique, that is, merge excellent travel writing with excellent original photography to tell the whole story (most books liek this rely on different authors and photographers, and hence there is a certain disconnect). Since discovering the online book, I have pointed dozens of friends to it, and I believe all have gone on to become fans of Philip's writing and photography. I imagine I will give away a number of copies of the printed versions as upcoming holiday gifts.

I have long been a fan of "Travels with Samantha" on the internet, back when Mosaic was the only graphical browser I could find. I realize that the author initially never intended on putting it to print but in the back of my mind had always hoped he would. I've referred many, many people to his website and have encouraged them to look beyond the photographs and read the entire work. I myself have read and re-read it several times and never tire of it. In many ways, it has rekindled my own desire to go out and discover the North America that so many of us feel we'll never have time to see. The book is exceptionally well crafted and is easily worth the asking price. Highly recommended!!

The Blue Bear is one of the best and most concise expressions of the meaning of life that I have ever read since Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. Especially Schooler's experience with the Kingfisher and the crows. It's a beautiful story about love and friendships between man and nature, man and himself, and man and God, however one envisions Him. I could not put the book down once I started to read it. Schooler's quotes from Michio's book seemed to hold a very personal message for me.

This book had more impact on me than anything I've read in the past few years. I've never especially wanted to see Alaska (too cold) and never appreciated it as a special place, but Lynn Schooler's writing pulled me in to the land and its enchanting forms of life and interesting residents. I kept thinking how brave he was to write as he did about his demons and pains and the healing he painfully found, as elusive for most of us as the Blue Bear itself. I taught classic English literature for years, and I know powerful, gripping language when I see it. This is the real thing. If I could write to Schooler, I'd tell him how moving his book was. Read it right away, and slowly.

This book is true literature. The authors discriptions are very visual. I could not put the book down. It is more than just an adventure book. It is a story of true intimacy,personal discovery and tragedy. Schooler opens himself to the reader as if he is sharing his personal intermost secrets to his closest friend. It changed my life.

The Milepost provides the Alaska and Yukon bound drivers with all of the support (lodging, gas stations, dining, vehicle repairs, medical, etc.) and sight-seeing information needed to have a safe, comfortable and informative journey. It details this information on mile-by-mile basis which allows the traveler to know the joys and potential hazards of the trip. It also provides this same detail for all of the major roads that lead to and from the Alaska Highway - within NW Canada and throughout Alaska. Also a necessary reference for the traveler who flys to Alaska and rents a car in Anchorage or Fairbanks. It also provides history and trivia of many of the little towns in the Alaska Wilderness. Alaska adventurers should also consider getting the book, Discovering Denali if they are going to explore Denali National Park.

The Milepost has provided the Alaska traveler with all of the support (lodging, gas stations, dining, vehicle repairs, medical, etc.) and sight-seeing information needed to have a safe, comfortable and informative journey. It details this information on mile-by-mile basis which allows the traveler to know the joys and potential hazards of the trip. It also provides this same detail for all of the major roads that lead to and from the Alaska Highway and throughout Alaska. Also a necessary reference for the traveler who flys to Alaska and rents a car in Anchorage or Fairbanks. It also provides history and trivia of many of the little towns in the Alaska Wilderness. I get this book every time I had to Alaska. Alaska adventurers should also consider getting the book, Discovering Denali if they are going to explore Denali National Park.

This guidebook has provided the Alaska traveler with all of the support (lodging, gas stations, dining, vehicle repairs, medical, etc.) and sight-seeing information needed to have a safe, comfortable and informative journey. It details this information on mile-by-mile basis which allows the traveler to know the joys and potential hazards of the trip. It also provides this same detail for all of the major roads that lead to and from the Alaska Highway and throughout Alaska. Also a necessary reference for the traveler who flys to Alaska and rents a car in Anchorage or Fairbanks. It also provides history and trivia of many of the little towns in the Alaska Wilderness. I get this book every time I had to Alaska. Alaska adventurers should also consider getting the book, Discovering Denali if they are going to explore Denali National Park.

I am a certifiable 'Alaskaphile!' I love all things Alaskan. To me, the fact that the book was a mystery was an added bonus. I read it for the Alaskan setting.

What I enjoyed about Stan Jones' novel was the authenticity of the native culture in 20th century Alaska and believability and likeability of the characters. It is apparent that Mr. Jones is a student of human nature because he has used his powers of observation in crafting characters that literally leap off the page and sit down on the sofa next to you. There was nothing stereotypical of the portrayal of native Alaskan characters, situations or customs.

It is apparent that Mr. Jones has a deep knowledge of life in a small bush town. He also interjects a panoply of uniquely Alaskan ingredients....the autonomy of the native corporation and men behind it...the wide array of people who live in a bush town...alcoholism...suicide...alternative means of transportation...law enforcement in the bush.

Mr. Jones weaves the characters together in a gentle, flowing way. His story-telling is masterful. But the greatest asset of White Sky, Black Ice is Mr. Jones depiction of individuals regardless of heritage in an honoring way. For that reason, I couldn't put it down because I cared about the characters and wanted to see the outcome.

It's a great book!

Black Ice, White Sky, is the first in a series of Nathan Active mysteries written by Stan Jones. Mr. Jones has won many awards for his articles on environmental issues and has several years of experience as a bush pilot under his belt. His knowledge of Alaska and respect for the Inupiat people play a major role in the success of this novel and a success it is! Mr .Jones weaves a wonderful web of mystery into a little town called Chuchki where Nathan Active has returned to work as a policeman. Nathan Active was born here but was adopted out when he was baby to a white couple in Anchorage. I found myself immediately relating to Nathan, he was an outcast in his own town,with his own people. there was a constant struggle between his Native Self and his upbringing in Anchorage. Then the suicides started. I won't give any thing else away but I will say that from this book I learned many things about Innupiat Culture and about the constant struggle of their young people with alcoholism,and their self esteem. This book echoes the cries of Native People everywhere, and touches on a very serious problem. For me this was much more than a mystery, it was an Eye opener. I would definately reccommend this book to non mystery lovers as well, and I am holding my breath till the next Nathan Active novel hits the shelves

This is what I (who has seldom been moved to contact an author - and never to have rec'd via a commercial forum) had to say to the author, Stan Jones:

Hi, I have just read _White Sky, Black Ice_ (was reading through the John Straley backlist, so was in an "Alaskan" mood), and *really* enjoyed it. Are there to be sequels?.

I am drawn to Alaskan/SW US mystery fiction for no more solid reason (that I can fathom), than that the culture/geography becomes a character in itself. It was refreshing to have such a young protag (lots of room for the afore-mentioned sequels ), and the utter "otherliness" of the experience (we have few Inuipaq in New Zealand).

This is all a long-winded way of saying I really liked the book and hope to see more of Nathan Active (and am less coherent in person!) -- Cheers, Helen .

Some(mystery)novels give you a journey, some have characters you like, and some add the geography as another character - WSBI does all of these - for me. Apparently there *are* to be more in the series - and I, for one, can't wait. H

Every Canadian should read this book as our northern frontier people and the NWMP come out very well in it, especially when you compare it to the chaos that reined in Alaska for so many years after America purchased it. I found this book extremely entertaining and of course the similarities of climate and people in Alaska to our Yukon makes it seem like almost like a history of our northern territories as well. Anyone who is a Michener should not consider their readings of his works complete until they read this book. It's more of fictionalized than a lot of Michener's books, but that makes it even more entertaining.

Simply put, this is just a great book. Michener has got to be the only author that can keep me page turning for over a 1000 pages! Though it took me a while to read, I had the sence that I was reading 10 fantasic novels that all related to the same place. Of course, that's Michener's style. The Source is still my favorite Michener novel, but this one came in a close second. Having read 4 of his books now, I'd say that this one differs in the way Michener carries his characters from Chapter to chapter. You really get a sence of wonder for the history of the land and it's intregue as you read about a character who reappears as an older person in another chapter. The last few chapters are great, as you understand more about the main characters family histories than they do! Alaska really book ends itself well. Some Michener novels cover such a broad spectrum of time that the chapters feel detatched and all together seperate. However, Alaska remains a novel first and foremost about the land itself, and there is just as much wonder and danger in the last chapter as the first. I'm so glad I read this book and can't wait to read another of Michener's books.

I really enjoyed reading Alaska. The way Michener always goes into such detail explaining his characters and their struggles is very interesting. The descriptions of the land made me feel like I was right there with all of his characters. It gave me a whole new outlook on the state. I always thought of Alaska as just a cold place but he showed me in his writing how beautiful the state really is. I always learn about the history of the places he writes about. My mother's uncle went to Alaska during the gold rush, hoping to make his fortune so I was able to associate with that part of the novel. I would recommend this book for reading because it is a very enjoyable book to read as well as a lesson in history and geography.