The Story of a Bad Boy is one of my favorite books. It's interesting, humorous, and touching, and gives you an inside look at the life of a boy in Massachusetts in the early 1800s. I love the author's style of writing. It seems to make the story all the more humorous, and brings you back to those olden days. I also love this book because it's a true story, and this kid led a life full of adventures and mishaps. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Tom Sawyer because these two books are similar, and the two boys have the same type of mischievous personalities. Yet in spite of similarities, Bad Boy is unique because it's true.

We live in a world of fantacy and of real life.This book gives you a glimpse into the life of a real American boy.

Although I purchased this book specifically because Susan Klein grew up on Martha's Vineyard (an island I adore), I fell in love with it for the childhood she describes. Many of the short stories (some only a page) describe the idyllic childhood of days gone by - when a 5 year old could ride her new bike unsupervised, and older children formed teams to play strategic games for hours on end. But Susan Klein does a remarkable job of encapsulating all that growing up entails - the real and the imagined pains of childhood, as well as the joy. She touches upon so many subjects that you might mistakenly think it is a heavy read - broken families, religion, the challenge of making ends meet. But mostly it is a collection of stories that will warm your heart, and sometimes make you laugh outloud. Now, if only there were a sequel so I would know what happened to her best friend David...

This book reminded me of my own childhood, even though it took place in another generation and very far from my home town. It is a book everyone can relate to.

Klein's way with words and descriptions is incredible! She has had such intriging experiences, such as her father leaving them at such a young age, her intruduction to bigotry and segregation, and such wonderful happenings on "her own little island."

She talks of making jam, riding on the "flying horses", and of cook-outs on the beach (with at least one lobster per person).

It truely is a beautifully written book and I reccomend it to anyone who would like to be transported to another time and place for just a short time.

Thank you Susan Klein!

Excellent book! Not only does the author spell out, in complete detail, the best trout streams in Southern New England, he provides basic maps of all the areas mentioned as well as a list of the feeder streams as alternatives to the main rivers he discusses, if you want to have a better chance of not running into anyone else while on the water. In most cases, he also includes a listing of essential flies (including sizes) that you should have if you want to catch the fish. I've planned several day-trips using this book alone and have absolutely no complaints. All the info he provides is clear & accurate. If you live in MA, CT, or RI and love to flyfish, GET THIS BOOK! You won't be sorry you did.

In Trout Streams Of Southern New England, native New Englander and experienced angler Tom Fuller presents a trout fisherman's guide to the streams, rivers, lakes and ponds in southern New England with all of their variety and fertility sustaining trout year-round. Trout Streams Of Southern New England features 27 maps of the major watersheds, complete access directions, up-to-date information on regulations and stream conditions, recommended patterns to match the hatches, hatch charts and fly recipes. Trout Streams Of Southern New England is informative, practical, and a terrific guide for fly fishing day trips, weekends, or extended vacations.

Dr. Herndon has produced a magnificent collection of narratives that have been derived from a variety of primary source documents. Her book is a must for any serious student of colonial history, and would be quite useful for someone doing genealogical research.

The author has done a commendable job of balancing research and art; unlike many books from this genre, the book is both academically challenging and eminently readable.

Dr. Herndon has given life to voices who would have otherwise remained silent for eternity. The individuals and families in the narratives had a story to tell, and the author has provided a magnificent vehicle for these compelling micro-histories.

This book is really informative, it presents cases from wonderful unpublished and untapped sources, like the Providence Council Papers, different town clerks' papers, etc.

For genealogy in Rhode Island, MASS and CT, this is one great book to have. The author presented all the challenges on these families very well. It really is well done, wish she'd come out with another one. The service getting this book was fast.

I read this book little by little. I wanted to savor every story that this author shared. I have been to Vermont and it has many wonderful memories for me too. This beautiful state has so much to offer. My favorite part of the book was the section of family remembrances of early years. I recommend this book to all nature lovers, family oriented people, and those who love New England especially the Green Mountains of Vermont and Lake Champain.

Vermont Life Stories....is a delightful offering of memories of years past and ongoing happenings of the present in Vermont. Margaret spent the summer vacations of her youth, along with her family, in various camps on Long Point, North Ferrisburg, Vermont. Her dad was a Presbyterian minister and took his family of six to Vermont most summers. Many experiences of being out on Lake Camplain, trout fishing in the beautiful, rushing mountain streams, picnics, hiking, mountain climbing - Camel's Hump is a favorite, as well as card games, reading and get togethers with friends made over the years. Margaret takes you all over the New England area, reminiscing and revisiting favorite spots with her three sisters, sometimes all together when they have their Berger Girls reunion every two years, and sometimes with only one sister at a time over the years!
Then Margaret and her husband, Whitney Doane Morse, were privileged to buy their own camp and enjoy continued pleasure in Vermont with its beautiful fall foliage and snow covered mountains. Whitney keeps the camp and lot beautitul and in good repair. Margaret does gardening, putting local flora in a rock garden setting, remembering her Dad's rock gardens. There are outings in her Boston Whaler purchased with funds left toher by her mother. When her sisters visit, they are usually out on the lake revisiting Kingsland Park, The Dean's Islands also known as The Three Sisters and the Little Otter River to name a few.
And so the stories continue to come. The book truly is delightful, spiritual, uplifting - filled with love of God and family and God's awesome creation - our world, especially Vermont. Margaret has shared her thought and feeling and her generous nature with all of us. READ THIS BOOK! You will be enriched!

nd lot beautiful and in good repair. Margaret does gardening, putting local flora in a rock garden setting remembering her Dad's rock gardens. There are outings in her Boston Whaler purchased with funds left to her by her mother.
And so the stories continue to come. The book truly is delightful, spiritual, uplifting, - filled with love of God and family and God's wonderful creation - our world, especially Vermont. Margaret has shared her thoughts and feelings and her generous nature with all of us. READ THIS BOOK! You will be enriched!

Good book...but the other review is wrong..it did not start in New York, but New Hampshire.
I recommend this book to anyone. It's great!

Morris had a spat with his wife and to punish her he insisted that she not pick him up from work. He would walk home, about 15 miles. In that brief walk he had an epiphany. The next day he asked his students which would teach them more, a semester in class or a semester walking. Unanimously they voted for walking. Morris rounded up some money and 18 months later took his class for a walk, from upstate New York to Nova Scotia.

Experimenting with various walking styles, supported by an old van for lunch and equipment transport, Morris and a dozen students, his wife and two of his kids took a trip out of New York state and into their minds.

If you liked Peter Jenkins or if you are just wondering what the US is all about, explore a small part of it with Morris and his class. You will read this awe inspiring book over and over again.

As a collector of 19th century text books, I was interested to find that this book and others, are being reprinted for use by homeschoolers.
This book, while a fascinating historical reprint, really serves to demonstrate what was WRONG with schools 2 centuries ago, and to dispute the belief that modern schools are bad and old fashioned schools were good.
When the blue backed speller was first used, students were expected to simply memorize columns of spelling words, and recite them, orally, for the teacher. That was pretty much the sole curriculum for the first several years of schooling. (After which they moved on to actual reading books.)

Can a modern family use this book? Sure, in combination with other texts, and with more modern teaching methods. Is this book the secret to literacy? No. And anyone familiar with history would know that functional illiteracy is not a modern problem. Students a century or two ago were just as likely to leave school barely able to read or write. The only difference was that, at that time, it was possible to get through life fairly easily with minimal or no literacy. Children who really struggled in school during the 19th century simply LEFT. With no compulsary attendance laws, the poor student would leave school after a couple of years and go to work on the parents' farm, or in the factory, or be apprenticed out to learn a trade.

I'm sure this book would be of some use to a homeschooling family. But the reason homeschooled children tend to learn more rapidly than their public schooled peers has nothing to do with the books being used. It has to do with the amount of time and attention paid to the needs of the students. There are far better books available for families who want to home school; books that take into account modern knowlege about how children learn. (Webster believed that it was not necessary for children to know the meaning of the words they learned to spell. He believed that rote memorization was the best way for children to learn.)

This is a reprint of a book that America used for 150 years to teach school children how to read. It is an excellent resource for homeschooled kids and for any parent who wants to teach their own child how to read.

I taught my five year old daughter how to read, using this book and McGuffey's Readers. When we finished Noah Webster's Blue Backed Speller, she could read anything - from the KJV Bible to the local newspaper with extraordinary comprehension, accuracy and speed.

Quite frankly, I was amazed at how easy it was to teach my little girl how to read. And it became a real precious time - spending 45-60 minutes each day with her for about 6 weeks, reviewing the lessons in this book.

After our incredible success, I ordered extra copies of this book and gave them away to friends who were frustrated with public schools and teachers explaining why kids weren't reading by 2nd grade.

My friends also had good results with this book and they bought their own copies to give away to more friends.

My little girl is now a rising 8th grader and she is a voracious reader and an excellent student. Her favorite subject is English. I can't recommend this book enough.

I bristle when I hear tales of the rampant illiteracy in our schools. Teaching our little ones to read does not require massive federal spending or enormous budgets. It requires love, patience, parental involvement and Noah Webster's Blue Backed Speller.

It really is just that simple.

Here's the wonderful story of a man who set himself a goal--to live in the country--then figured out a way to earn a GREAT living to support that goal. Lyman Wood is (is he still alive?) a direct marketing/mail order pioneer who spent 60 years or so selling everything from $400 Roto Tillers to PRAYERS by mail. He also worked as an advertising and marketing consultant from his rural home. The stories in this book are inspiring AND instructional. This is a book filled with passion. It's not just biographical, it's "how-to." And best of all, it's FUN to read! I recommend it very highly to would-be entrepreneurs and to those frustrated entrepreneurs who occasionally need a "lift."

I read the book for the first time several years ago. Since then I've kept in on my desk to refer back to for practical advice about starting and running my internet business.

Much of Lyman's wisdom and insight into the mail order business is directly applicable to developing e-commerce sites for business customers: writing copy that stirs the reader to take action, measuring and testing the results of each ad, starting small and growing the business out of the profits it generates are a few of many gems he practiced.

In the book, his passion for doing what he loved, from a place that he loved, with people that he loved was inspirational to me. When I met him in person, he was also a great encouragement to me.

I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in in "Making a life" while making a living.

I grew up in Waldoboro, ME, the home of Moody's Diner. Now, 30 years later, when I go back to Waldoboro, I always stop in for a meal at Moody's. The food is wonderful diner fare, the prices are very reasonable.The atmosphere never changes. It is a step back to another era.

I purchased this book at L.L. Bean in the early 1990s and it is one of my favorites. The 'Gingerbread II' recipe is one of my staples; it makes the house smell great while it's cooking and it is a very hearty dessert -- a real crowd-pleaser! I also love the 'Lemon-Ginger Chicken Salad' recipe which includes green seedless grapes and is served in half a cantaloupe. I've taken the recipe to many pot-luck dinners and it always receives favorable comments. The zucchini-orange bread and banana bread recipes are also part of my list of "old stand-bys"

The pictures of Moody's through the decades are great, too. You won't go wrong with this cookbook!

The only thing better than the outstanding art design of this up and coming guide to dining in Boston and Cambridge is in fact the restaurants chosen for this delightful publication. All of Boston's favorite restaurants are featured, with map, menus, and a picture of the dining room included. Restaurants are grouped by location, which is helpful when you have an area of town in mind. All in all I place its value up there with my Zagat's guide to dining in Boston, and find that these two publications compliment each other nicely.

I bought this book in the middle of a book buying spree. Unsureat first, it is now an essential part of my dining guidecollection. My girlfriend and I use it quite often. The sidebars with sample menus and other tidbits of important information like hours and dress code are really helpful. I've discovered many new restaurants with this guide. Highly recommended if you live in or around Boston, and even if you plan on visiting the city for vacation. Thanks for the great dining publication!