On one level, this is the story of Bea, an abused, bedraggled, emotionally broken beagle who has escaped from a research lab. The author finds her by accident, takes her home and, through infinite patience and understanding, gradually brings out the happy and sociable animal Bea was meant to be. The wallop comes in the final chapter, a powerful, solidly grounded and reasoned call to arms against unnecessary animal testing-and most of it is unnecessary-that every year takes the lives of some 20 million animals in the U.S. alone. A must read for every pet-owner.

As a former beagle-owner, the story of Bea touched my soul. This is a beautifully written book, full of stories to which all dog-owners can relate. How wonderful to follow Von Kreisler's adventures with Bea over a period of many years, to be reminded of the joys, sorrows, and rewards of raising and loving an animal. Bea's story reminded my wife and I so much of our dear departed beagle - it motivated us to go out and rescue or adopt one who needs a good home. Thank you for giving us the idea and the courage to make another dog a part of our lives!

This book is a must for anyone who loves beagles, or anyone who has taken in an animal in need and nursed that animal back to physical and emotional health! Dog lovers will fall for Von Kreisler's touching, amusing story of Bea's transformation from battered-and-broken lab animal to cherished pet. Well written and entertaining, this book made me laugh and cry. I've already recommended it to all my family, friends and fellow beagle rescuers!

This book was excellent!! It was very romantic and emotional. Jessica Wakefield helps save Nick Fox when Clay Dipalma hurts him. She also tells him something very important CLay said. So, Jess wants to testify, but Nick knows it's too danegrous so he offers to testify instead to prove that Clay killed Steve Riveira. They have to pretend to be broken up for awhile, so Clay won't try to hurt Jess to stop Nick from testifying. Soon lots of emotional things occur and Nick tells Jessica that he has to give her a bodyguard that will pose as her new boyfriend. He's a rookie cop named Graham Stevens. Anyway, she's really sad and disspointed, but she agrees. Then, on her date with Graham, she begs him to get Nick to meet ehr soemplace. Graham agrees and arrages her and Nick to meet by his house up in the mountains. So they reunite, and Nick and Jess get really intimate, romantic, and Nick is so sweet and romantic with her. He gives her a night to remember, and they even go in the hot tub together. It's really romantic and sweet. They toast to their relationship lasting forever. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Wakefield has a feeling that her boyfriend, Tom Watts slept with Dana Upshaw. After finding a condom package under his bed with seven missing, presumed used, she has a feeling he used with Dana. Meanwhile, Danny Wyatt feels coonfused and depressed, but he finally visits Isabella. Also, Everett girls are in Oakley Hall for a visit, and they are all after Winston Egbert, especially Brenda. Denise Waters feels jealous. Anyway, the parts with Nick and Jessica are really romantic, emotional, and sad. The night they shared was so romantic, emotional, and memorable. This book is great!

This book was soooo great! It was really emotional. Jessica Wakefield tells Nick Fox what she heard Clay Diplama say. So, Jess and Nick have an idea to testify to prove that Clay killed Steve Riveira. They have to pretend to be broken up for awhile, so Jess won't get hurt. More emotional things happen, and Nick tells Jessica that he's going to give her a bodyguard that will pose as her new boyfriend. Graham Stevens. Anyway, she's really sad, but then Graham arrages her and Nick to meet by his speacil house. So they reunite, and Nick and Jess get really intimate, it's so romantic. He preparesa hot tub, food, and everything. It's really, really sweet. They toast to their relationship lasting forever. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Wakefield is nervous abotu confronting her boyfriend, Tom Watts. After finding a condom package with seven missing, she ahs a feeling he used them on Dana. Meanwhile, Danny Wyatt feels bad abotu what he did to Isabella Ricci in her time of need, so he decides to visit her. Everett girls are in Oakley Hall, and there all after Winston Egbert. Denise Waters feels uncomfortable. Anyway, the parts with Nick and Jessica are really romantic, and sad. But the night they shared was so romantic and memorable. This book is great!

Nick and Jessica show their true colors in this book- and show how much they love each other. Nick is so sweet and romantic with Jess when they meet at a safe house. Be prepared for tears! This book and the next book 'Love Me Always' will make you totally feel for Jess. Elizabeth thinks Tom slept with Dana, which is obviously true, but personally it shouldn't matter that he did because if she slept with Todd, well, it's just not her business and 'sweet Lizzie' shouldn't be getting involved. Another couple, Danny and Isabella, are also going through a tough time. Poor Isabella and Danny. You know they love each other, so why the heck is the author already seperating them? Other then the Liz-Tom-Dana drama it should be full of laughs because Oakley Hall is being invaded by high school girls and they all seem to really like Winston- expecially Brenda and Denise starts to get a little jealous. This book is the best one of the whole SVU series! You won't be disappointed!

This book is profound and potentially life changing. This book really fleshes out what it means to take the example of Jesus Christ seriously and the ramifications that might have in our "universe". It is an easy and enjoyable book to read -- hard to put down.

I was privileged to know the author of "Through the Valley of the Kwai", Rev. Ernest Gordon, for many years. Ernest Gordon died January 16, 2002. He has always been and will forever remain my hero. His story, first published in 1962, was republished in the 1980's as "Miracle on the River Kwai" and will enter its third printing February 2002 under yet another title, "To End All Wars". It is a powerful and moving first-hand account of how faith, love, fellowship, and the enduring human spirit transcended the unthinkable horrors and hatred of war and transformed the hearts and lives of men on both sides of the battle line. After recently attending Rev. Gordon's memorial service, we were presented with an unbelievable and sobering gift: a preview screening of a new movie, "To End All Wars", based on Ernest Gordon's book and scheduled for release around August 15, 2002. I would encourage every adult reader to see this powerful, disturbing, and ultimately victorious film. Just weeks before his death Rev. Gordon attended a private screening of the long-anticipated movie along with the movie's producer, Jack Hafer. After the screening, Rev. Gordon slowly approached the anxious producer and with strong emotion in his Scottish brogue proclaimed, "Jack, you caught the heart of it." Like his book, this movie has the power to change you! May the heart of it "catch" you, too.

This book will move you like few others. It portrays a typical soldier who becomes a loyal follower of Jesus Christ. This is NOT a war story, but a story of the good that is possible within mankind. A must read!

There are a number of books now available on the wines of the Rhone, an area of the wine world with increasing public awareness, and deservedly so. Parker has updated his own volume, but appears to be unaware of any of the efforts of others in the field; he is certainly unprepared to acknowledge the body of work into which his new book will rest. Any book of this type of thoroughness with no bibliography seems to this reviewer to miss the point a bit...

Parker's book is full of the usual indulgences - a preparedness for hyperbole, for speaking with absolute authority and for the general impression that the author is more important than the winemaker. The wines are afforded their status because he writes about them, alas; we would prefer, I suspect, a writer who realises the wines are his reason for being, rather than the other way around.

Nonetheless, the book is a solid effort of research and the tasting notes are a testament to an awful amount of time and care - and love - devoted to the subject. Parker knows the Rhone, and he conveys his enthusiasms well. Recommended.

As a French and especially a French born in a little town located at 20 kilometers from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, I am really amazed that Mr Parker get to know the wines of my own country so deeply. He really understands their 'spirits' and he is - as no one that I know of - able of explaining them and detailing them in beautiful, and in the mean time, trully informative and practical ways. This Rhone Valley's guide - because I consider this to be a real guide even though it is a shot from one author alone - is really pleasing to read and to use. It is motivating! This is a masterpiece to be highly considered by all wine lovers in the sense that the wines from the Rhone area were - and maybe still are - not very well considered by all wine drinkers. Because Mr Parker, as a well know master taster with a huge knowledge about the wines and wine producers of the Rhone Valley, did write this book, people might now get a better understanding of what these wines are, how they are made, and who is doing them best. Mr Parker loves powerfull wines... (so do I) ...I am not suprised that he wrote such a book about this region because the Wines of the Rhone Valley ARE VERY powerfull - but not all of them. This is what you will learn by reading this book. You will find plenty of details as well as plenty of very good addresses there. This book is definitely THE reference for now. Give it a try. It is worth it. And if you visit the Rhone Valley wine country, bring it along with you or you'll miss most of the fun: tasting the good, the excellent and the exceptionnal. A la votre.

Parker has done it again. The book give the reader exellent insight into the wine world of Rhone. Major growers are described in detail, not only covering the wines, but history as well. Later vintages are covered with tasting notes. I will not call it negative, but the book demonstrates Parkers 'tast dictatorship': He either enjoy a wine or not.

This is one of the best SVHSY books, because it focuses on all the characters. Will invites Melissa to dinner, and she lies and says she has a family thing. Her secret plan was to actually meet Will and take him to dinner herself. Only when she came to pick him up at the zine office, he was kissing erika brooks! Meanwhile, Maria finds a bunch of flowers on her desk and figuires they are from Ken. So she buys him two tickets to see Friction. When he sees the tickets, he buys her earrings, so she buys him balloons! But Ken never sent her the flowers in the first place, because they agreed to keep valentines day low-key. They eventually find out and have a good laugh about it. Also, Liz is finally over Conner and totally ready for someone new. She starts getting secret admirer notes, but the author doesnt tell who it is. (well, actually I KNOW who it is. I think its Jeffrey French. Im pretty sure its him.) Jessica, on the other hand, shares a nice valentines day with jeremy. Tia has no boyfriend, but she got flowers thinking they were from trent, but they were really from jessica, because jessica wanted to get tia and trent back together. Andy thinks Dave does not want to be seen in public with him when he sees him in the park, but Dave apologizes and they make up.Basicly, it's a great love story!

This book was revloving around one thing- Valentine's day and how everyone takes it. I was so glad to see Liz FINALLY move on with the whole-Conner-thing. She deserves better treatment! I wasn't really sure who it was-Liz's secret admirer is a BIG surprise to me! I'm glad Jessica and Jeremy are doing so well. I think Jade and Evan are over-analyzing everything, and Ken and Maria's day was really funny-but kinda predictable. Andy's day is pretty good-he sees Dave again. Conner and Alanna--unnnmmmm...

This was one of the best Sweet Valley Senior Year books. It was mainly about Liz and gets a secret admirer. It sorta left you hanging in the end, but i think it is jeffrey because in one of the future SVSY books the description says jeffrey is elizabeth's boyfriend now. It was also about the will/erika saga and how melissa catches them kissing. Anyway it was full of suspense and stuff and was REALLY good.

I just finished reading "Fatal Convictions," and I can only say, what an incredible book! I couldn't put it down. Ms. Geller is a fabulous storyteller. I'm looking forward to her next book...

Even after reluctantly closing the book for the night, I found myself still going over the details of what I had read, wracking my brain to figure out who the murderer was.

With lots of descriptive power, the book almost immediately drags you into the story. You are almost shocked by the sheer fury unleashed by the killer, but never become jaded.

This book keeps you guessing(and reassessing your guesses) up to the very satisfying ending.

Please finish that next book, Shari! Your fans are waiting impatiently.

This is a "can't put it down" novel. I did not know who did it until the end and was shocked. Keep up the great work, Ms. Geller!

If you were given only one Goosebumps book to read, this should be it. It's about two kids who "haunt" their neighborhood, by howling behind bushes at neighbors and throwing rubber spiders in a boy's bedroom. But one night they decide to go a little further. There's a famous town attraction of a haunted house--it is haunted by the spirit of headless boy who got his head ripped off by a ghost! They've visited it a hundred times on tours. One night they decide to join the current tour group, and then wander off searching for the head of the headless boy. Do they find anything? Read this story and find out! This book is very exciting and adventurous--I recommend it to everyone!

This was the first Goosebumps book I read. It was so good. It was fun to read. I thought this book was very, very cool. I liked the ending because it was surprising. I thought the story was the best. Whenever I go to my school's library I will get Goosebumps. I am reading another one now! Keep up the good work, Mr.Stein. If you make another book I am sure it will be cool.

This is the best one! I reccomend this book to ANYONE. I have almost the whole series.I've had them for about 5 years and i'm just now starting to read them.I just got finished reading "The Beast From The East".Now i'm just starting on "Say Cheese And Die"."The Headless Ghost" is the BEST one!

Jessica Wakefield was almost raped by her former boyfriend, James Montgomery. In this book she deals with it, and finds the effort to speak up. Her ex-husband, Michael McAllery has some kind things to say to her. Elizabeth Wakefield supports her also. Meanwhile, Lila and Bruce fall in love, and Alexandra falls in love on the campus hotline. Maia Stillwater gets the courage to speak up. It sends James down. This book deals with rape and sexual assault greatly. This book is excellent!

This is one of my favorite Sweet Valley University books. It deals with serious issues, and I reccomend it to anyone. Jessica Wakefield, who was assulted by her former boyfriend, James Montgomery, is wondering what she should do about it. Maia, who was raped by James, is afraid to speak up. Jessica was afraid, at first, but eventually spoke up. Also, she has a trial with James in court. Elizabeth totally supports her, as do Steven and Billie. Also, her former husband, Michael McAllery says a few kind words to her. Anyway, Jessica deals with the fact that James almost raped her, and hopes that people will believe her. Meanwhile, Alexandra Rollins fidns love on the campus hotline, little does she know who he really is. Lila and Bruce fall madly in love and are rescued. Anyway, back to the Jessica/James trial. It was so beautiful! The way Jessica felt confident was so wonderful! And when Maia testified, I was so proud of her. Also, the march was awesome! The way it built up Jessica's confidence was great. The trial was awesome, too. This book deals a lot with date rape and sexual assualt. Jessica and Maia helped save a lot of people. Also, Mike McAllery is so sweet to Jessica. Anyway, this book is a must have!

I think the first 11 SVU books are the best ever-written. this particular book follows Jess/James' trial, and has a relieving, courageous (Maia) outcome. It deals with the outcome of rape-assault, and I think the book emphasizes the importance of speaking out! I think the male reactions in the book are pretty realistic...and Jessica's fear, the whole thing is just so REAL! I also like the march on-campus, I know a lot of colleges are doing those nowadays.

This book is a good start for all new students of Afrocentric Studies. This give a basic overveiw of information that has been researched by master teachers such as Dr.John Clarke, Dr.Ben, Gerald Massey, John G.Jackson, G.M. James, and many others. I would highly recommend this book to the highschool student as well as the freshman of college. I would also recommend this book as a refresher for the advance student of African Studies. This book can be used much like a christain uses a bible concordence.

From the introduction of this book, you get the idea that Anthony Browder is very influence by the work done by John G. Jackson, John Henrik Clarke, and Yosef ben-Jochannan. These three men have done some of the most profound research and writing on early African history and the Nile Valley contribution to civilization. The writings of these men contain a lot of scholarship, which to many people may be very difficult to read and understand. This is why this book is so important. Anthony took what Jackson, Clarke, and Jochannan wrote about in their books and translated it so that the average person could read and understand.

The theme of this book is centered on early Africa, early Africa's stolen legacy and early Africa's contributions to civilization. It also puts an emphasis on how those early contributions was translated into today's American society. In chapters 1-3, Mr. Browder talks about the people of early African civilization. He tells where they came from, who they were, what they did, and when they existed. He puts a special emphasis on the many accomplishments of the early African people. In chapters 4-7, Mr. Browder talks about the stolen legacy of early African civilization. He shows how other civilization took what the early African contributed and made it its own. He goes to great links to show and prove that what the Europeans claim as theirs was actually African in origin and rightfully belong to the African. In addition, he explains how American society has adopted early African symbols into its government structure. The finally chapters 8-10 are designed to assist the African/African-American mind to cope with the information given in chapters 1-7. The last chapters all have to do with building pride and understanding where we still must go and what we still must be.

The period of this book stretches from about 4000BC into the present. The book is structured as to give a chronological development of early African history and its gives you a progressive pattern of how this history has contributed to civilization.

The first seven chapters of this book are excellent. I have read many books on the subject of early African history and its contribution to civilization. This book is the easiest to read and understand. I believe that my son when he reaches the age of 10 would be able to read and comprehend this book. The only weakness of this book is chapters 8-10. These chapters I feel are an extension of his earlier books The Browder File Vol. II and I. I feel as though these chapters have nothing to do with the basic theme of this book, which is centered on early African history and its contribution to civilization

Overall, I think that this is a very good book for young children or for adults who have an interest in learning about early African history.

This book is excellent for learning about Kemetic (Egyptian) origins. Everything that Bro. Browder says in this book is backed up with hard evidence. This book should be required reading for all. It opens your mind up to things that I bet you never knew. Unfortunately, most people will not read this book for different reasons. It is up to those of us who do have this book to spread this important information.

Because Lily Brewster and her brother Robert live in a big house and drive a Duesenberg, their neighbors in Voorburg-on-Hudson assume they're well off. They don't know that the pair, wiped out in the crash of '29, will inherit their late great-uncle Horatio's estate, including that grand house and automobile, only if they satisfy his executor, Elgin Prinney, that they can support themselves for ten years. And what better way to support themselves than investigating the odd murder-like the case of a mummified corpse Robert finds in Horatio's long-disused icehouse, or the more recent demise of local vegetable grower Roxanne Anderson's lecherous husband Donald? Both these pale homicides are eclipsed by a subplot in which Jack Summer, editor of the newspaper Lily and Robert don't own, goes to Washington to report on the Bonus Army March-an episode that has precious little to do with the murders but at least generates some emotional warmth when President Hoover sends in troops to fire on the veterans of the world war. Even the home-front intrigue has less to do with crime and punishment-the tiny mystery breaks every rule for plotting the detective novel-than soap opera, as Lily's heroic sacrifice in getting her hair permed twice in order to pump a key witness upstages any interest in whodunit. The lack of momentum in Lily's and Robert's hardcover debut won't surprise Churchill's fans, who may well be curious to see how she handles a tale set in the '30s, the spiritual matrix for her contemporary Jane Jeffry series

At one time siblings Robert and Lily were card-carrying members of the idle rich, living off their father's fortune. When the stock market crashed in 1929, the duo was left destitute as their father committed suicide. Sadly, neither has a skill to earn a decent living--upper-class style, that is. However, a relative comes to the rescue by dying and leaving his vast estate to the brother and sister if they move into his mansion in Upstate New York and support themselves for the next ten years.

It proves very difficult to find work in 1932, but neither sit idle. Robert finds a body on the property and is determined to find out who he was, especially since Lily's new friend Roxanne is believed to have killed her husband though no corpse has been found. Lily knows her friend did not commit any homicide and decides to prove she is right. Is amateur sleuthing acceptable under the stipulations of their inheritance? The Brewsters do not care because they believe they must do the right thing regardless.

Jill Churchill has written a delightful historical cozy that captures much of the ambience of America's Great Depression. The bewitching Brewsters brood is adjusting to a radical lifestyle change while trying to help a neighbor. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is enjoyable: the characters are engaging, the plot strong and vibrant, and the mystery cleverly executed.

Harriet Klausner

Someone to Watch Over Me by Jill Churchill is the third book in her Grace and Favor series. The previous two titles, Anything Goes and In the Still of the Night were delightful mysteries and Someone to Watch Over Me is a welcome addition to this series.

Set during the Depression, the once wealthy Brother and sister Lily and Robert inherit their uncle's mansion on the Hudson River. But the inheritance is predicated on the English law of Grace and Favor where they must live in the house for a period of time before they can rightfully own it. And their uncle added one more element to this inheritance in that both Lily and Robert must have jobs in the area and live only in the house before they inherit anything. The house comes with an array of interesting people who work for them in addition to some of the townspeople who quickly become part of their lives.

Unfortunately, times are tough for all including Lily and Robert who few in the village know that their family was a casualty of the Depression early on and their fortune no longer exists. With both their parents now gone, they must figure out a way to make ends meet. They come up with one idea after another to bring in some much needed income while they also somehow become amateur detectives. As she did in her two previous books, Ms. Churchill presents first one murder victim and then another as Lily and Robert become entangled in solving the murder And not content to have only one main plot at work, Churchill fully explores the plight of the average person as they deal with the Depression. A most interesting part of the book is when the author describes the workers march on Washington, DC for wages as well as their living conditions in tent cities erected around this area.

While I enjoyed the mystery angle of this book, which is enough to satisfy most mystery readers, it is the description of the area around the Hudson and the characters that really interest me in these books. Now once again I am waiting for the next title in this series to find out what everyone is doing and how life has been treating all of them.