I am trying to make a mid-career change and enter teaching. In order to become a teacher in Massachusetts, you must pass the MTEL Communications and Literacy Skills test. This test requires very recent knowledge of comprehensive English grammar/reading/comprehension skills. The last formal English grammar class I had was more than 25 years ago and I did not know how I was going to prepare for this test. Then I found this book! It was a very accurate representation of the test material. I would not take the test without using this to review-whether you graduated from college 1 year ago or 25 years ago.

This book is a wonderful escape for anyone who picks it up, but if you are familiar with Cape Cod or the coastline of New England you'll find it even more appealing. The people and places so accurately described in Taber's work will make you a convert and read all of her books. Her prose is so superb that you forget you're reading at all and feel that you're having a conversation with Gladys herself. Gone from this world for over two decades, Gladys is still alive with such a presence in these pages that I open her books when I need comfort and I feel as if I'm speaking to my grandmother. An accomplished professor of Writing, a Wellesley grad, a naturalist, and a New Englander, Gladys Taber will remind you that all is and can be right with the world.

While on the island of Nantucket I read this book and used it to take my own walking tour of many of the houses and historic buildings on the island. It is extremely well written and had hundreds of full color photos of the buildings, ocean, boats, and all that makes Nantucket so special. A must read for those planning a trip to the island and for those who visited and want to relive the pleasure of their trip.

The Nantucket Table is beautifully illustrated, crisply written, and full of tasty recipes. Try the salmon in parchment and grilled leg of lamb. Fabulous. This book is a real winner.

I've taken to reading history lately, but only those works written by those actually there. This is Mary's own personal diary, kept for her two years of captivity by Indians in 1675. This is one of my more cherished books.
Her village was attacked by Indians and all present killed or taken hostage. Her neighbor's murders were described.
*Mine is a 1930 edition signed by the owners of the only 1903 edition which it was reprinted from.
Read what life (and death) was really like with the Indians as neighbors. Not the "history rewritten" version we are being taught.

-The 5 stars are for it's value to me. It is not written by a great author, nor is it many hundreds of pages long. It is a straight forward diary.

Nature Walks In The Berkshire Hills is the latest title in the AMC "Nature Walks" series. This "hiker friendly" guidebook includes 42 nature-rich walks for all ages and abilities; detailed descriptions of flora, fauna, and geology; summaries of distance, time, and level of difficulty; detailed maps and directions for each walk; driving and parking information; local tales, legends, and lore; useful names, addresses, and phone numbers; trip planning and safety advice. This handy little pocket sized compendium is ideal for planning outdoor excursions in the beautiful and natural New England country that is just two hours from Boston and New York City.

N.C. Wyeth studied under Howard Pyle, the father of American illustration, and it clearly shows in this book about the Pilgrims. In 1940 Wyeth was commissioned by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York to paint the murals used to illustrate this book, completing fourteen murals in five years before dying in a car accident. Wyeth proposed a historical series entitled "The Ballad of America" that would begin with the Pilgrims and continue through the California gold rush, but Met Life decided to limit the series to the Plymouth colony. Wyeth challenging the prevailing belief of Pilgrim society as unremittingly grim by painting scenes that reflected his romantic and lyrical style. He expanded his original vision to include scenes of wildlife, trying to give an idea of the beautiful land the Pilgrims found in the New World.

This book was inspired in part by the restoration of the murals in 1984. The text accompanying the illustrations is by Robert San Souci, who provides details on what is known about the real pilgrims. While not as dramatic as the illustrations he did for "Treasure Island," "Robin Hood," and "The Last of the Mohicans," these murals have their moments. Particularly memorable is one of the Pilgrims standing on a hill, watching a ship sail back to England. The mural of Thanksgiving seems odd because there is only one Indian seated at the long table awaiting the turkey (while the text recalls how "Chief Massasoit arrived with ninety men, women, and children"). Young readers will learn something about the Pilgrims from reading this book, but the chief charm is clearly the murals by Wyeth. Certainly these deserve to be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Ideal for planing your trip to New England area. You will have several routs to explore this part of the country. Tips, Maps and Photographs that give you a very good picture of your trip. This will help you to don't miss any of the important places of the road.

i think that it was a great book since i live in new endland it was kinda scarry

NEW ENGLAND OUTPOST: WAR AND SOCIETY IN COLONIAL DEERFIELD, by Richard I. Melvoin is an excellent historical account of early Western MA. If you have ancestors who lived in Deerfield in the colonial era, it is fascinating to read about their lives. I visted Deerfield in June 2000 and reading the book is an excellent preparation for a visit.