Ann Cannon brings to the national market the tender story of twelve-year-old Charlotte, a Welsh immigrant who crossed America with a handcart company. Along the Mormon trail, Charlotte volunteers to care for the baby daughter of a woman who has died. At first, she is proud of herself, believing she has shown the adults that she is nearly a woman. But she soon realizes how difficult a task she has undertaken. Charlotte is frustrated by the baby's cries, her own lack of sleep, and not being able to spend the time she would like with John, who she wants to see her as more than a child. Eventually she can stand it no longer and she leaves the baby sleeping beneath the handcart on a rest stop, going on a walk with John instead of taking care of her obligation. When she returns, the baby is gone. Charlotte searches frantically, but finds the infant Charlotte has named Rose being cared for by Catherine Jones, a strange woman with a marked scar on her face. This coming of age novel demonstrates that the feelings that come into the hearts of adolescents remain the same through all generations. Read this one with a box of tissues handy.

This book describes one of the many Mormon journeys to what they called Zion (now Salt Lake City). Some of these brave folks pushed and pulled 700 pound hand-carts from Iowa City to the Great Basin. The story has a good mix of charactes and illustrates the trials and emotions experienced by these adventurers. I am a gentile (non-Mormon), and I enjoyed the story.

Charlotte's Story was a delight! In addition to being a fascinating historical account of life in the Florida Keys in the early 1930's, it is a story of self-sufficiency. Charlotte was a "city girl", but adapted quickly and well to life on an island. The story is written in a journal type form and gives almost a day to day accounting of life on the island. The characters that she meets and tells about are intriguing. As I read Charlotte's Story, I found myself wishing that I was living on an island like Elliot Key in the early 1930's!

Charlotte's Story, written by Charlotte Arpis Niedhauk, edited by Mary-Alice Herbert, and published by Laurel and Herbert, is a fascinating page turner as well as an important historical document of how a young couple managed to exist alone on an isolated Florida Key in 1934-5. Their survival reminds one of the manner in which people lived before the advent of electricity, supermarkets, running water, or any of the modern conveniences. Their "store" was the beach, where they would look for and find what they needed from raw materials cast forth by the ocean. Charlotte's resourceful husband Russ would make such objects as a dipper from a coconut shell with a handle carved from a madiera limb, a windproof ashtray from the bottom of a shell, fish and lobster traps, kitchen cabinets, and even a jewelry box from a coconut for Charlotte from their "lumber store," the beach. City-bred Charlotte learned to cope with mosquitoes, sandflies, and scorpians, and even how to scull a boat. Their island home was visited by a potpouri of strange, often frightening characters, who threatened theri lives and made off with their property. No one who reads the book will ever forget the couple's experience in the terrible hurricane of Sept. 3, 1935. According to a newspaper report, the barometric pressure was the lowest ever recorded in thehistory of world weather. Excerpts are given from Russ's diary, i.e."Violent wind squalls lasting from 20 to 25 minutes. Sometimes with wind bursts to 70 or 80 miles per hour....Charlotte is sitting on the floor in the open doorway. She saw the tide receed 50 feet before each squall, and then return with a rush. Each time a little higher. No waves visible. The wind has blown the tops off. Afraid for our boat at high tide...The roof of the old house is blowing off in chunks. I can't stop it." After the hurricane was over, the couple decided that being alone on an island had lost its attraction for them, and decided it was time to return to the homeland. At the beginning of their sojourn on Elliott Key, Charlotte seems a naive, somewhat helpless young female. It was a delight to see her grow into a resourceful, independent woman who was an equal partner to her husband. She wrote her story from notes and memorabilia almost a quarter of a century after they left Elliott Key. The first edition of Charlotte's Story was published in different form by Exposition Press in 1973. When the book went out fo print, the clamor for it was so great that Laurel and Herbert republished and reedited it in 1998. This is a book for everyone, Florida Keys residents, tourists, feminists and macho men alike; in other words for simply everyone who loves a good read.

Love where it takes you. Family is as important as the tantilizing flavors of these recipes. A must have for the Southern Cook. Especially liked Aunt Cindy's Sweet Potatoes. YUM!

Charlote brings her personality into this talented collection of receipe's for folks that have a taste for spicy flavors.

I made the Chicken and Sausage gumbo the other day, and WOW! and amazing mix of flavors. Gumbo is not as hard to cook as some people make it out to be.

I can personally attest to her talents of well thought out receipes. Try it out for yourself.

I recently read this with my six-year old son, and we both greatly enjoyed it. We were familiar with the Paramount film of the same title, and enjoyed reviewing the differences. E.B. White's prose is marvelous and is a nice exploration of words with a young reader. I particularly enjoyed the "special read along edition" as it helped my son follow along and pick up the reading at different points because it was so easy to see, and the illustrations were as well. I highly recommend the book and the version. We also recently read Trumpet of the Swan by the same author and enjoyed it as well.

The Special Read Along Edition of this classic is designed in size and print to be read along with your child.

The 47 black-and-white drawings by Garth Williams bring the story to life. 8 1/2" x 11". For all ages. 184 pages. Hardcover.

Since I read this book when I was twelve, the story has stayed with me. Eleven years later, while I lost my original copy, I have found myself searching for it again and again at libraries and in other places. Finally I found it here on Amazon and have ordered it so that I can read it again and again.

While the mystery isn't really much of a mystery at all, and is easy to solve, this story is heartwarming and compelling, and I truly believe that lovers of a good story should buy this book to keep and read again and again. Too bad it's out of print!

ok, I am doing a report on this book and I liked it very much. I came here to see what other people have said about it but no one has said anything. I guess that that is because it is so old, but it really is good.

I would give this book six stars if I could, it has all of the stuff you want in a work of pre-history. In fact, I am suprised that there aren't any other reviews of it.
There is a heroine who after a horrific tragedy developes an iron will and a vision given to her by the White Panther of a new and wonderfull land that she will not let go for anyone or anything. It is this struggle that moves the story along at a fast clip, will anyone believe in her vision, will she find her parents in the new land, will anyone come with her, was it all just a childish dream...?
This book could really get six stars, it is that good. A must for any collection.

This book has all of the things that make for a great work of historical fiction. Vivid descriptions of the landscape, complex characters, a strong heroine who is not Alya-perfect, and a driving theme that moves the story along at a fast clip. As far as the "Native Americans on their way to the new land of America" books go, this has to be one of the best, right up there with the Gears.
This book has twists, a spirit vision, a fight for survival and the dream of a new life that the heroine will not let go. I would give it six stars, this book is a must for any collection, a very gratifying read.

I read it last year when I was 13, I loved it just as much as I loved her other book People of the Mesa. She is my favorite author, I with to continue reading her books. :-) Thank you.

This tale of one womans struggle with revenge, hatred, and love is simply breathtaking. Nisha's war with her emotions and the people who destroyed her world is masterfully developed.

Each conflict draws the reader deeper into the intricately woven plot until they can identify completely with the main characters. This book simply cannot be put down.

The ending leaves things a bit too unsure, yet this only seems too add to the depth of the possibilites.

Rowena Graham inherits the home and restaurant of her sister Claudia after Claudia’s apparent suicide, but isn’t convinced that her sister would have committed suicide. Claudia quickly leaves behind her old life as head librarian after remodeling the house that hadn’t been changed since they were children. Claudia goes to work in the upscale restaurant, wears her sister’s expensive designer clothes and shoes and drives her Mercedes.

Rowena’s relationship with Claudia had always been turbulent; Claudia was unpredictable, self-centered and often cruel. After Rowena discovers Claudia’s habit of videotaping her ... antics with a string of lovers, Rowena is even more suspicious that one of the lovers might have been involved in her death. Claudia’s former therapist, with whom she claimed she had been having an affair, takes an interest in Rowena but she is reluctant to pursue the relationship with him and somewhat suspicious of his motives.

As the secrets, lies and distortions of her family life gradually unravel, Rowena is even more disturbed with her sister and deceased, alcoholic mother. Rowena had been made to feel for years that she was the plain, ugly unsuccessful sister. Her mother lied to the children for years about the disappearance of their father after the divorce when Rowena was 7.

The book explores the devastating effects of FAE – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. With the support of some wonderful friends, Rowena starts to get her life back on track and eventually solves the mystery of Claudia’s death. As in other books by Charlotte Vale Allen, you feel you know the characters so well that they have become part of your family, and you are reluctant to leave them behind when the book ends.

I recently discovered Charlotte Vale Allen by reading "Illusions", one of her older novels. I become so deeply meshed in the story that I literally wept at the end. I was emotionally drained and in a daze! She has a way of getting inside a woman's psyche. You know in your soul that she is an expert on the subjects about which she writes. "Claudia's Shadow" follows the theme that you just never really know a person, not even your own sister. I was captivated until the very end. I highly recommend her books. I'm working my way through all them. I've not been disappointed yet and I'm on my seventh one!

I've had this book for about 20 years and loved it. It's not for the inexperienced cook, but it is well written and it is easy to follow. It challenges even the experienced cook. Great illustrations of final presentation makes deciding what to serve easy. Wonderful book and now I have to replace mine, because mine was destroyed while overseas.

I have had this cook book for about 12 years now and am always pulling it out for new ideas and yummy recipies. Even though I'm no longer a novice and can cook without a recipe now, this book has been one of my favorites since I purchased it. It has color photos and detailed instructions to help anyone prepare successful, mouthwatering recipes. I like the fact that The Creative Cooking Course book not only covers all areas of the culinary arts, but general information on tools, kitchen arrangement, equipment, as well. I highly recommend it! D. Wood - Atlanta, GA

I really enjoyed this book by Charlotte Wilcox. I thought that it was one of the best books I ever read.
I think it was such a good book because it was on dogs and I absolutely love dogs. This book had lots of facts on Dalmatians. I thought that was cool. I wouldn't of known so much about Dalmatians if I hadn't read this book. It even had a picture in the book that told me some of the body parts of a Dalmatian like Withers are Hocks. They also had dog terms, life history, dog senses, words to know, to learn more, useful addresses, internet sites, and of course the index all inside of One book! This is why I liked the book about Dalmatians by Charlotte Wilcox.
This book made me lean towards wanting a Dalmatian. They are so cute. I learned that they were very useful dogs. They have many jobs like guarding military camps, being pets, fire station mascot, and coaching.
I think most people would like this book if they liked dogs. If they were willing to learn, this book would be the one to buy. It's a good factual fun book and you can't find to many of those just around the corner.

If you get a dalmatian this is a good book to find out information. It tells you stuff you might not know! I recomend this book for how to raise a dalmatian and ideas what to do with them.