[PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS AN EARLY EDITION OF THE BOOK "Four Dead in Ohio" by William Gorden. It was reprinted and updated in 1990.]

Alright, we all know that it was the national guardsmen, but who gave the fatal order to fire?! This is one of the best books on the subject, and believe me, I've been looking at them all recently. Michener's book was comprehensive, but may have come out too soon. Davies' book was too conspiracy minded, but did move the case onto the front burner. Aided by the longer view of history and time to inquire, reflect, and learn, this book gives adequate coverage of all time periods... pre-riot, attitudes, facts, photos, aftermath, trials, settlements, and probable motives and suspects. I found Gordon's writing very accessable, a mixture of human emotion and factual account, challenging testimony and statement in the light of subsequent testimony and further research. By far, the most comprehensive look at what happened and why... and pulls no punches when it lays out who was at fault and why. I tend to agree with his conclusions, though author Gordon admits that we will never truely know until one or more of the National Guardsmen steps forward and tells his/their story. And that will narrow the field of suspects even more. Perhaps that is why they agreed among themselves not to speak. They don't have to.... only time, (and these books) will tell!

One or two concerns with this book: The map on the inside cover has a differing location of the various victims than other books. In fact, photographs SHOW different figures laying or falling in different spots. (In fact, many of the books differ between themselves on where the four fell. I don't understand how and why this happened yet....)

I also enjoyed Davis' book alot, as it has SO MANY photos.. I find I flip back and forth to Davis' book to cross check things.
As with other books that were published earlier, the Kent State story continues to unfold... see other reviewers for further developments that have happened since publication. Perhaps another edition with updates and corrections is in order:

**This book is criticized by some "who were there," as it does not promote their agenda. (But then everyone has attempted to spin May Fourth to their advantage.) If there are factual errors, I did not spot them on the first reading. I enjoyed this book, despite the criticism. But, perhaps the best view is gained by reading MANY authors and MANY points of view. That's why I continue to seek them out...and to question their points of view with people who were on campus then. Inquire, reflect, learn.

I know I did. And I'm still searching out others....

Zachary Kent's juvenile biography of George Bush for the Encyclopedia of Presidents suffers from the fact that it was the last volume in the series, published in 1989. As a result, it actually covers only the first (half) day of the Bush Presidency. However, of the other juvenile biographies I have found on the first Bush to be President, one only goes as far as the night of the election, and a couple of others cover the first week and first year of his Presidency respectively. Only the volume in the "Our Presidents" series covers the entire four years Bush served as President. Ironically, that particular volume ends with the election of George W. Bush, who has his own volume, which basically ends before he has a chance to do anything in the White House as well. Like father, like son.

However, in terms of providing the details on how George Herbert Walker Bush made it to the White House, Kent fulfills his mission. The book begins with Bush being shot down during World War II and being rescued by an American submarine. Young readers will learn how Bush met and married Barbara, started three successful oil companies, and compiled an impressive political resume as a U.S. Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican Party, head of the U.S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and a professor at Rice University before deciding to seek the Republican nomination for President. Ronald Reagan won the nomination instead but selected Bush to be his Vice President. The book ends with Bush's successful 1988 campaign to be the first incumbent Vice President since Martin Van Buren to win the White House.

Despite the fact this juvenile biography does not cover his actual Presidency, it is interesting to get a sense of where Bush stood when he entered the White House. Kent's coverage of the campaign covers all the key points, from Bush's celebrated interview with Dan Rather of CBS, his controversial choice of Dan Quayle as his running mate, and his successful "Thousand Points of Light" speech at the Republican convention. When this book came out Bush's infamous "read my lips: No New Taxes!" pledge was seen as a sign of strength. Another strength of the book is that it relies heavily on actual quotes from Bush and other political and family figures. The rear of the book includes a Chronology of American History starts with Eric the Red reaching Greenland in 982 and highlights Bush's life from his birth in 1924 to his election in 1988. While it does not tell young readers anything about his term as President, this volume does provide the best account of Bush's life before that point and a concise coverage of the 1988 campaign.

Okay, I admit it. I read this book just because my favorite teacher from high school wrote it. When you haven't seen a man for thirty five years, then you find out he's written books, you are compelled to read.

Western novels are not my favorites, but, like I said, I had other motives for choosing The Ghost of Blue Bone Mesa. And I am happy to report that I am glad I chose it. Not only is it good story-telling, but I learned some things along the way. Good old Mr. Conwell is still teaching me, after all these years.

Conwell's story flows with precision. His storytelling never lags, drawing the reader into his narrative. His colorful language is a plus. This is a great read for fans of the genre, and it is a quick, fun read for those of us who are longtime fans of the author!

Kent Durden's "Gifts of an Eagle" was a rare find at the Public Library, and one of those books you want to own once you've read it. There is something about "Lady", the eagle that Kent and his father raised, that reveals a personality, a wild conciousness that was quite marvelous to witness "firsthand". Kent and his father got a liscense from the state of California to capture and raise this golden eagle, (something I doubt is even possible any more, which makes this a piece of history too.) For anyone who loves eagles, you will never get a more personal experience than this. Jeff

Peter Kent has put forth a wonderful children's book as both writer and illustrator of "Go To Jail". It plays like a "Where's Waldo" of famous (and infamous) prisons throughout history. The Tower of London, Doge's Prison, the Bastille, Devil's Island, Alcatraz, and many more are intricately laid out across a two page spread with accompanying text briefly sharing notes of interest and tidbits of facts regarding the focused keep.

Within each picture there is an incarcerated cast to be located. Every prison will have it's kind jailer, the cruel jailer, the Governor (or head jailer), the prisoner that has adapted and made himself comfortable, and the one that's trying to get away. One will also find a prisoner's pet in each lock-up, as well.

I must admit, though, that my favorite part of the book is in locating the famous prisoner in each scene. Within the front and back covers is the Rogues' Gallery where you will find a listing of Who's Who among the illustrated fortresses for you to locate. Al Capone, Josef Stalin, and Sir Thomas More, just to name a few.

All in all, this is a very unique and surprisingly fun (for it's topic) book. It may be a little morbid for the very young, but I definitely recommend it as a child will actually learn something historic while enjoying its game-like structure at the same time.

However, I am forced to rate this "version" of Kent's book a mere four stars as compared to the "original" which I gave five to. The sole reason for a lesser recommendation lies entirely in the title. "Go To Jail" is just too Monopoly-esque for me. Instead, I prefer "Behind Bars" that was published a year prior in the UK by McDonald Young Books. Other than differing titles, they are one and the same. So take your pick. Either one will make a wonderful edition to a child's library... or an adult's!

In 1896 South Bass Island, Ohio, tomboy Tess Barrett has two reasons to be excited. Today is her twenty-first birthday and her fiancé, Peter Maxwell, Captain of the Lady of Lake Erie steamboat, is returning home after a few months sailing. Tess is elated, but is concerned that she and Peter have quarreled over her outrageous behavior and his disenchantment with the island that she loves.

However, their reunion goes poorly as Peter is attracted to another woman, who quotes and enjoys Shakespeare like he does. Tess finds her world further out of control when her father hires Adam Nichols as the new vinedresser for the family wine business. She regards him as a malicious beast, while Adam thinks that Tess is a pampered brat. However, the feuding pair somehow falls in love with each other. Still, with the lack of mutual respect and her prior engagement, even the matchmaking skills of her father (and clandestinely his father) seems doom to failure.

When it comes to homespun fun, no one writes better novels than Kathryn Kent, whose latest "Our Town tale is a fabulous addition to one of the better American romance series. WINE COUNTRY brings to life the gay nineties with a beautiful story line and terrific characters. The secondary players add a genuine feel to the plot and Adam is a phenomenal lead protagonist because of his flaws. However, it is the unconventional Tess, who turns this book into one of the better historical romances of the year. This reviewer recommends this novel and Ms. Kent's previous book in this series, GRAND RIVER because fans of the sub-genre will have a grand old time.

Harriet Klausner

I found this to be a good book to have on hand when I go to train shows. It gives you a good idea of the rough value of a piece before you begin to haggle with a dealer.

Greenberg's 2000 edition provides a quick and portable reference for buying, selling or trading Lionel trains. This easy to navigate guide features a concise description of each item by production number, date of manufacture, variations and the suggested fair market value. It has been very helpful in bidding for Lionel toy trains on internet auction sites. A must have book for the serious collector.

Thanks for scholars like Nicholas Delbanco who hunt down biographical details that enrich our knowledge of famous authors lives. Here is a book that offers a savory meal for the literary gourmet. Henry James liked donuts. Stephen Crane chain smoked. Conrad the English stylist spoke with a thick Polish accent. Ford Madox Ford embellished his recollections with untruths. H. G. Wells treated offers of help with cocky independence.

The author contends that for a certain interval these men associated with and admired each others literary accomplishments. "South of London in 1900, a galaxy of talent assembled that beggars in accomplishment anything the English language has since produced." He provides quotations and photographs that demonstrate social intercourse between the big five. Between the initial overview and the concluding summary, three chapters provide respectively a view of Stephen Crane on a visit to England to meet the other masters of ficti! onal prose, a study of the collaboration between Ford Madox Ford and Joseph Conrad, and an examination of one of English literature's most famous disputes - James vs. Wells.

I found the book informative and interesting and recommend it to any admirer of any of the five writers singularly or in combination. About those we admire our curiosity is insatiable. Did Shakespeare like his eggs over easy or sunny side up? We have his Hamlet, his Lear, isn't that enough? Some might say no. We have Crane's "Open Boat", Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", Ford's *Good soldier, James' *Ambassadors, Wells' *Time Machine*. Still, it's natural to inquire about the virtues, quirks, and foibles of their creators. *Group Portrait* gives us a taste of the traits that rounds out these illustrious authors.

A sad epilogue to which Mr. Delbanco refers in his lead chapter is that this literary summer was so brief. Crane died in 1900. Eventually the other associations wither! ed. By 1906 the friendship between Conrad and Ford had coo! led. *Boon* published in 1915 dissolved Wells' ties to James with its ridicule of the latter. For a while there was Camelot albeit a loose confederacy of brilliant writers. A genius needs a tough ego to sustain him for the long haul to fortune and fame. An alternate lesson from *Group portrait, perhaps one not intended, but nevertheless patent, is that collaboration must eventually give way to ego.

In Kent's book, the reader is given a quick account of the main events and commanders involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign. It is a very readable, reasonably detailed chronicle of the American side of the episode. For a historical book, the material is not dry nor highly analytical. In fact, it reads nearly as easily as an action adventure novel, and can be finished in a couple of evenings.

This book is from a discontinued series called Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century. The books covered political movements, battles, campaigns, personalities, and weapons. Each gave an informative and concise account of a wartime person or event. This is number fourteen in the group of campaign books in the series.

Despite the book's brevity, the author is able to describe the significance of the island-hopping collision and the extraordinary growth of the island's strategic importance in the minds of the two nations involved. The exhausting conditions and frighteninglyclose combat faced by soldiers are effectively conveyed also. Tactical level details of battles, individual personalities and individual heroics are covered very briefly. Major land and sea battles are described well and minor battles are also mentioned, but air actions are only passingly spoken of, though the value of air power and the difficulty of maintaining it are emphasized.

Many photographs have been included as evidence of the violence and hardships faced. More maps and diagrams should have been included to make the narrative description easier to follow, however.

Especially for those who would give up reading a long account which goes into fine details, Guadalcanal: Island ORdeal will give a good understanding of the campaign in a single book. The reader will gain an appreciation for the catalyst which allowed American Pacific forces to take the offensive.