I read The Silver Brumby when I was nine years old and I still
remember the whole book today. I wish I could find these books for my children so they can learn and love the work of Elyne Mitchell.
I spent ten years looking for one copy and it is a treasure to me. Pity today they don't publish this series. For me is one of the most beautiful histories that I read and open my heart and imagination to the world of horses and the country of Australia.
I recommend this book to all that love animals and adventure.
Thowra is always in my heart.

Like many people, this is my all time favorite book. Elyne Mitchell makes you feel like you are really there with Thowra and his herd in the Secret Valley. It's such an amazing book that it's a shame that children now can't read it or aren't able to get hold of a copy. I first found Silver Brumby Kingdom (the fourth in a series of seven, i think!) about four years ago and ever since i've been trying to get hold of all the books. So far i've managed to read the first four books and would really love to read the last three. About a year ago, The Silver Brumby was released and I rushed out to buy a copy and waited impatiently for the rest of the series to be released, but so far there has been no more of the series released and now I don't think The Silver Brumby is availiable to buy. I wish the publishers would read these reviews and see how much people want the series to be released. When they released The Silver Brumby, there was hardly any publishing and no-one knew that they had even been released. Please email the publishers and hopefully they will see how much demand there is for good books like these.

The fifth book in the series by Elyne Mitchell, after the storyline strayed for four tales to focus on The Silver Brumby's progeny, Thowra is finally back in the limelight (though he was never anything less than the star of the series, being the legend that he is.) Abandoning his normal range, he heads north to face new enemies and new adventure, all detailed in Mitchell's typically detailed and poetic descriptions. Definitely a required part of any fan's collection, this one is worth every penny/cent/whatever currency it's selling in.

I picked up this book and I could NOT put it down. What a wonderful journey described here....how she interlocks traditional medicine with Navajo, how harmony and positive spirit is such a process in the healing world. You will not be disappointed with this read. I have shared this with all those close to me. Make it part of your list

The story of Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord's courage and determination to bridge the Navajo world with modern medicine is excellently written. For those of us who've had little exposure to the ways of the Navajo world, this book is part history and part culture. As America continues to find new ways to maintain and improve health care, it's refreshing to consider how living a balanced life has the potential to make a huge difference. Alvord's story, artfully told with the assistance of Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt, a former New York Post reporter, is by turns heartwarming, soulful and inspirational. In the spirit of full disclosure, I should note that Elizabeth is now a co-worker of mine.

This book was outstanding. Once I began reading about Dr. Alvord's journey from Western Medicine to Navajo Medicine and back, I could not put it down. Those of us in the nursing field have often known about this connection to help patients heal faster and better. This excellent book describes a journey combining local medical technigues with western medicine. Highly recommended for all persons in the health care field, especially those of us in the Nurse Practitioner field.

It seems quite a few of us were introduced to this wonderful book in the same way -- having it read to us in the third or fourth grade. My elementary school principal read it to us in third grade, a chapter a week. He was a tall, affable man, and to me he -was- Arthur Price, the teacher (what's your name?) At least, until the first plot twist hit us. What disturbing imagery! What true fear we felt for Ellen! What feelings we had as she walked through the school as an outsider trying to fit in. It's a true shame this book went out-of-print long ago and hasn't been rediscovered since. Those of us who know, however... we know well. When was the last time you checked any personal items for obsidian?

My elementary school librarian began reading this book to our 5th grade class just before school let out for the summer, and didn't have time to finish it for us. I didn't get to hear the ending, but I never forgot the beginning. Ellen finds the crown on her pillow, goes out for a walk, and comes back to find her house burned to the ground and her family gone. Then she is on her own. For fifteen years I never forgot this book and wondered how it ended. Unfortunately, I didn't even know the name of its author. One night I wandered into amazon.com, tried searching for it by title, and arrived here. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who also remember it. I was lucky enough to track down a used copy and persuade the seller to hold it for me. By the time I collected it he told me that the book was extremely well-sought after and that he could have sold it at least forty times over. I finished reading it tonight, fifteen years later. Someone needs to wake up, buy the rights to it and reissue it. It would make an excellent movie also. In fact, I'm going to bookmark this page and keep checking back to see what else people have to say about it in the future.

Like many of you, I was in fifth grade (mid-1960s) when I discovered this book. Our school librarian knew I loved books, and she pressed this one into my hands as soon as she received it. :) Along with _The Phantom Tollbooth_, The Silver Crown is one of my most memorable childhood reads. I don't remember the plot so much as the imagery -- dark, tense, and electrifying. I looked it up today thinking it's something my 12-year-old might like to read while he waits for the next Harry Potter book. I'm so sorry to see it's out of print. I guess I'll read through the rest of the customer reviews to see if anyone else has been able to find it. Judging from the lasting impression it made on the pre-Gen X consciousness, it looks like the publisher would do well to re-release it!

This book was about a girl named Abby Hayes. She doesn't feel as good as her two perfect sisters and her genius brother. She feels left out and wishes she could change. Her many struggles make her a stonger person each day. She collects calanders and loves to write. She also wants to be a professional soccer player, but everyone is telling her different ways to play while she wants to learn on her own. It is very hard for her and she wants everyone to leave her alone. In her diary you can find out how everything goes in her new fifth grade year as she comes upon new challenges.

Abby Hayes feels alone and different in her perfect family. Her mother and father both have really hard jobs that Abby doesn't understnd, her 6 year-old brother is a genius, and her "Super Sibs" are twins who always fight and are exact opposites: one's athletic, one's academicly top of her class. And she is a "frizzy red-haired nobody." She strongly believs she is adopted.
As the book flashes back in and out of Abby's journal you learn that she loves to write, her best friends are Jessica and Natalie, she HATES Brianna and Bethany, who are best friends and big pests. You also find that Abby desperatly wants to become a soccer star so she can be in the "Hayes Book Of World Records." Plus her super sib Eva (the athletic one) has never played soccer. Will Abby make it through as a soccer champ? You'll just have to read to find out! ;)

I would give the book The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes #1 five stars. My favorite part in the book is when Abby writes in her diary and talks about her life. In her diary she says that she wants to be a soccer player and how her brother is a genius. Anne Mazer the author of the book is a very good writer. She makes the story interesting. When she talks about the characters she makes it sound like they are real people. I love to read her books and I hope you will to.

As a child, I was encouraged to read, but was warned by my third grade teacher to "stay away from that science fiction." It was not a difficult task; most books in our elementary library were NOT science fiction...if they were, they consisted of green, slimy creatures disguised as humans by day and terrorizing student by night. Naturally, science fiction did not appeal to me at all.

Until I ran across The Girl with the Silver Eyes. To my third grade mind, it was painfully long, kind of hard to follow, but extremely interesting. It is the sole thing that piqued my interest in all things scifi.

Now, as a high school senior and avid science fiction fan, I reread The Girl with the Silver Eyes. For a child's book, it is extremely intriguing. It's science fiction and a suspenseful mystery all in one. It can most easily be compared to a junior version of The X-Files: weird, eerie, yet disturbingly accurate. However, when I was younger, I found the plot boring in many spots, not enough action. At the time, I merely blamed this on my youthful impatience. But even today, I still find the storyline a bit thick in parts, and nearly impossible to continue to the next page. For me to say that reading this book was an intellectual chore is not an exaggeration.

Any child reading this book will quickly lose patience with it, it has so many slow sections. Its surreal plot and wonderful scifi appeal is for the extremely patient only.

This book was definitely different from other books I have read in a good way. The main character is Katie Welker. She has silver eyes and telekinetic powers. She is used to being alone in an apartment all day long. She would rather be alone than being with other kids her own age. When she tries to make friends they don't accept her. They are too threatened by her appearance and her powers. Even her own family feels threatened by her! Can you imagine what that must feel like? On top of not being able to make friends another horrible thing happens. Katie overhears a neighbor saying that they might have caused her very own grandmother's death. You have to read the book and see of they catch her listening and find out if she can find more people with silver eyes! I feel that this book was well written. If you do not have patience I don't suggest this book for you. You have to wait for all of the action to begin. But it is worth the wait! I would mostly recommend for girls ages 8 to 12. If you would just like a good book to read this is the one for you.

Katie is a little girl who is a bit unusual to say the least. Born with silver eyes and an uncanny ability to make strange things happen, Katie has been a loner for most of her short life. After the death of her grandmother whom she has lived with for several years she goes to live with her divorced mother and this is when her problems really start. Digging into the past Katie finds out that she isn't the only child who is, well a bit strange. Friends of her mother who all at one time worked for the same medical company also have strange children. Children with silver eyes and strange powers like telekinesis and mind reading. As Katie tries to find her fellow "silver eyes" she is watched from afar by a man who could be a friend or a foe. This is a well-written children's science/mystery fiction book for the younger reader but it can also be enjoyed by older kids and adults alike. A quality book that makes reading fun and exciting.

This book gets off to an odd start with the switch of the narrator. I understand why it was done, but you don't know who the narrator is until a few pages in. However, once you get used to the fact that Tegid is narrating, it's a deep read with rich descriptions and an activity that bounces you all over, which can be distracting.

It's an interesting book about the right of kings and of sovereignty. What exactly does a king mean to the people, the land or to himself? I think that this is a question that bothers Llew throughout the book. The answer isn't clearly defined, and you see the destined king stumble, but the pondering of the question is a valuable task.

That said, I would say that there is a lack of depth to the plot. You know that everything is supposed to come out right at the end. Things that should be difficult to accomplish are dispatched with ease. However, I enjoyed this book and will pick up the 3rd book in the series to finish it off.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. The whole trilogy is a great story that is really hard to keep your mind off of. The characters and the plot is well thought out and the essence of the battles and good vs evil is almost overbearing at times. Lawhead has great description, and describes each scene well. If you like a book that will stretch your imagination with celtic culture and mythology this is a great series to read!

Seldom do I read a trilogy I truly enjoy where I don't want to start the third book. The beginning of the third book leads to the end of the trilogy and this isn't the "Never Ending Story". Llew, the misplaced warrior, grows to meet his destiny. One wonders if the land will die before he finds it. Plenty of loose ends to entice you to read the third of the series, but you would want to anyway. Mythical, mystical and heroic, this is well worth the read.

When the Dark is Rising, Six shall turn it back, Three from the circle, Three from the track. Wood, bronze, iron, Water, fire, stone, Five will return and one go alone.

I am 32 now, and first read The Dark is Rising when I was 11. I am now buying the set for my 9 year old daughter. I can still remember the poems better than any I learned in class. The writing is so multi-faceted, so defined. Like Will being the seventh son of a seventh son, and Merriman Lyon being Merlin. Although I applaud JK Rowling for the way she has turned kids onto books with Harry Potter, this is far, far better, and was ahead of its time. If Susan Cooper had had the marketing clout that JK Rowling has, this book would be better known and more widely read. In a time when Celtic music and influences are at their height (think River Dance, the Corrs) these books are in their prime. As an adult, read this series before giving to a child. The magic and the writing will never leave you, they are truely classics. Start with The Dark is Rising, and read Over Sea..... as a prequel afterwards. Equally suitable for girls or boys.

I first read The Dark is Rising as a child, and was ensnared by Susan Cooper's enchanting story of Will Stanton and his quest for the Six Signs, ensnared more deeply than any other book I had read before it. This book introduced me to fantasy and the wonder of the Middle Ages--the author uses a unique blend of fact, fantasy, and history in this series, with some Celtic lore, some proven facts, and just enough pure magic to make it enjoyable.

The books related the quest of six people to stop the world from being taken over by the Dark after the Light has reigned in peace for so long. The series begins with the three Drew children, Simon, Jane, and Barney, who are set upon a quest under the guidance of their forbidding Uncle Merriman, in Over Sea, Under Stone, in which their quest is to find the Holy Grail. In the Dark is Rising, Will Stanton is introduced and, again under the guidance of Merriman, initiated as the last of the Old Ones, the guardians of the earth. His task is to find the six Signs. In Greenwitch, a traditional Celtic tradition is brought to light by Jane, the only girl in the group, that befriends the lonely spirit and asks for her help in deciphering the inscriptions on the grail. The Grey King is the fourth book, and perhaps the most powerful, for it introduces Bran, a freakish albino who has never been accepted. Will befriends Bran and finds out that Bran is not only part of the prophecies, he is key to their plans, for they must awaken the Sleepers, warriors who will aid them to fight the Dark. And finally, the last book, Silver on the Tree, in which all of them are reunited: Simon, Jane, Barney, Will, Bran, and Merriman. In it they discover how far the reach of the Dark is--and how powerful the Light can be.

All of the books start with poems that prophesize the actions in the books and give convoluted clues as to what will be needed to stop the dark forces of the earth from taking over the world. Mentioned are the Holy Grail, the Six Signs, Pendragon, the Greenwitch, Sleepers, harps, an entire verse in Welsh--don't try to understand them; just enjoy them in their beauty. When you finish the books, you'll look at them again and suddenly understand everything.

This series of books made me want to be a writer when I grew up. I remember distinctly reading these books and realizing the power that authors have to create a world and populate it with living characters. Ms. Cooper has created a universe in which magic lives just under the surface of the "real" world--her theme, that the power of magic is accessible to believers, and that we have a responsibility to fight against evil in both the real and magical realms, continues to resonate with me and many other readers.

I highly recommend The Dark is Rising series to children and adults. It's for a slightly older audience than the Harry Potter series, and makes a nice next level for kids who want more.

I am thrilled that the series is still available and I am adding it to my collection in the hope of passing it on to the children in my life. That, and I'm going to re-read them myself-- they're just too good to pass up!

Jane is a rich young woman living on an Earth remade by natural disasters. She falls in love for the first time with a robot called Silver, and feels like her life has been thrown into disarray. One of her friends, Clovis (a gay man), helps her to be with Silver, and Jane runs away from home to live with Silver in one of the worse-off areas of the city. Silver and Jane live happily for some time, with each teaching the other what it means to be human, to be living, until the company which created Silver seeks to reclaim him due to his "flaws". Tanith Lee's fascinating novel is the story of growing up, of becoming one's own self apart from family and friends, of developing one's own beliefs and persona. This is the type of book which gets better the longer one digests it. It's a celebration of first love, even one that ends sadly.

Before I started reading this book, I expected it to be an amusing and maybe kinky sci-fi romance. The more I read, the more I was impressed not only with the well-written love story, but also with the heart-warmingly poetic writing, and most of all with the thought-provoking philosophical themes that lie just beneath the surface.

This book raises ideas about what the personality of a perfect human might be like. Silver is programmed to act human, but he is not programmed for negative emotions such as pain, fear, or anger. His kindness and eternal patience help Jane, the highly sensitive and sometimes paranoid protagonist, to come to grips with her life and her attitudes. Tanith Lee blurs the line between humans and robots, giving insight by comparison on what makes humans tick and what potential we have to better ourselves.

Though this book is not as well-known as many fantasy classics, I consider it right up there with the best. If you enjoy fantasy or science fiction that has an interesting storyline *and* some deep meaning, do yourself a favor and read this book.

Tanith Lee really, really shines in this novel. I don't think her writing was ever so good as in this book. Her character, Jane (Jain) is exceptionally written, superbly realistic, heartbreakingly wise. Her lover, Silver, at first infuriated me with his cold, non-human perfection -how can a robot love you, and does he really love you if he is programmed to love everyone else just as much?- but as the story grows, Silver skyrockets into a real, true character, as human as they come.

This is a beautiful love story, and it's definitely withstood one test; it's being reprinted!!!! Most books, once out of print, stay that way, sadly (the book Fire and Hemlock by D.W.Jones comes quickly to mind). Also, I must say The Silver Metal Lover passed another test; so far, all (twenty-five) reviews already up here are five-stars. Does this ever happen?

To anyone who hasn't read the book; Go directly to your nearest bookstore and buy a copy! Then, sit down somewhere comfortable and with access to lots of food and tissues, because you won't be getting back up for a long time, and when you do, you'll be drenched in tears. When I read it the first time, I could NOT put it down, and I had classes the next day (I ended up reading till dawn)!

This book truly is timeless, beautiful, heartbreaking. Highest recommendation!

As a Bible teacher, missionary and chaplain, Oswald Chambers' love for God is shared in this book in a way that is both inspirational and challenging. Avoiding "formula" Christianity of the "pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by" genre, Chambers calls his readers to a determined and purposeful abandonment of the things of this world, and to a habitual and concentrated identification with the suffering of Christ for the sake of the world, with a view toward the joy that is set before us.

Having been originally written from about 1910 to 1917, the style of these short talks may necessitate more meditation on the part of the reader than more contemporary books would, but the gems of thought contained therein will more than reward those who will make the effort.

If you want to be called to the next level of discipleship and commitment to the cause of Christ, this book of daily devotionals will certainly be a great source of motivation and encouragement.

If it wasn't for Oswald Chamber's wife, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST would never have been published. After Chamber's death, his wife collected some of his writings together into this devotional book. Praise God for such a woman of noble character.MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST is one of the best daily devotions around. Chambers doesn't mess around with wishy-washy, look-at-the-Jesus-in-my-pocket Christianity. Instead, he delves deep into the essence of what it means to be a Christian. Chambers knew the importance of a moment and this book is full of wisdom in living a life pressed out to the best, giving one's utmost for His highest. There isn't another daily devotion to compare.

This little book has impacted my personal Christian walk more than any other book besides the Bible.

Mr Chambers has managed so well to sublimate his life to the control of the Almighty that I continuously sense God's Holy Spirit speaking through the pages Mr Chambers wrote.

It's as if God reaches through the mere two paragraphs per day and grabs me by the lapels saying "I want YOU! I want ALL of you! Just trust ME to take care of your every need..."

I deeply appreciate this call to a whole hearted Christianity in today's pluralistic society. Oswald Chambers is an author whose work I will read and re-read into the foreseable future.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA were the most wonderful and important books I read as a child. I am still upset by this set HarperCollins has published in the last few years that has re-ordered the seven volumes chronologically based on the historical line in the novels. This is apparently according to Lewis's wishes, if so, Lewis was wrong! The best part of the series was reading "The Magician's Nephew" sixth and discovering with a beautiful and never-replicated surprise about all the things that happened before "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." (See several reviews below that already say this better.) By all means buy these books for your children, godchildren, nieces and nephews, but PLEASE, specify that the FIRST time they read them that they read them in the original order: LWW, PC, VDT, SC, HHB, MN, LB. They will reread them for the rest of their lives, in every possible order, but something great and beautiful and unsurpassed will be stolen from them if they read The Magician's Nephew first.

Clives Staples Lewis has created a mythical world which absolutely captures the human mind. The Chronicles of Narnia contain exciting plots, which all converge upon each other at the finally of the series: The Last Battle. Through out the books weaves the morals and beliefs of Christianity. These books do a wonder job of telling the story of the Bible, from the instantaneous creation of the world to the death of Aslan (Jesus). The way God cares about every one and desires us to enjoy life through Him, to the last battle and final days at the end of the world (of course Lewis did not know what was going to happen, yet it is still an interesting idea). In one of the best written books of all time, the land of Narnia comes alive with lovable and evil characters. The battle between good and evil is made abruptly apparent in this book as a small country goes through its history fighting for what is right. Light and darkness collide in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe as four kids explore the land which they will rule. For a time it appears as though the evil side emerges victorious; but it is found that the White Witch as not the ability to peer far enough back into the depths time. This book it one of the most important of the set, because contained in it is the most important message of all time. My father used to read the Chronicles of Narnia to me when I was younger, now I read them on my own. When he did this he stressed, Christianity is having the relationship with God, like the youths had with Aslan. I think these are very well written books and I would encourage any one to read. I uphold C.S. Lewis as a great writer of the centuries and I praise his books (all of them) as magnificant.

This review is of the Harper Collins one-volume edition, "The Complete Chronicles of Narnia", ISBN 0060281375:

Are these books for children or adults? Lewis originally wrote them for kids, but I'm an adult and I read them regularly! They are true classics, marvellously written and essential reading for any age. This edition is one of the best I've found. It is a sturdy hardback, well-bound with good paper. The illustrations are marvellous! They aren't large and obtrusive - they don't overwhelm the text. But they truly capture the magical, mystical feel of the stories. I was taken by surprise when I first read this edition - the books are in a different order than I was used to. I'd previously read them in order of authorship, while this edition places them in chronological order. I believe I like it this way better, now that I've gotten used to it. The price is actually quite low for the quality of this book, too. Of all the editions I've seen of this must-have collection, this is the best one I've found. If you want to buy the Chronicles of Narnia, buy this edition!