SURVIVING THE SILENCE is an informative book that emphasizes the need to tell of one's pains, sorrows, and experiences to other people who care and can help in the healing process. Through this book, Charlotte Pierce-Baker affirms that no one is an island and that people should tell the truth to those who can help them. Rape is not just presented as a criminal act that hurts only the women, but Pierce-Baker shows that it affects everyone the woman holds dear such as husband, children, parents, and friends. Anyone who is concerned about helping and comforting other people should read this book.

This book has helped me in ways too numerous to count. I have purchased copies for friends and recommended it highly to others. As African-American women we have the dual burden of sexual and racial violation. Our African-American men are suppose to protect us - not rape us! White men and society has been raping us for years and justifying it. Charlotte Pierce-Baker and the other survivors have laid the foundation of healing. From each of the stories I found Strength. I learned that I was not 'going crazy.' I learned that this inner turmoil of racial responsiblity, societial perceptions and the deeply embedded history of rape toward African American Women was not an uncommon pandemonium of thoughts. I listened and felt the pain and suffering. I discovered that the death of my former self 'REALLY DID HAPPEN' and this new Woman I have become must once again discover her strength. My strength. As my 1 year anniversary approaches, I am re-experiencing the symptoms. Yes, I am dealing with this unbearable pain, once again. But the worst part is over, because I survived! Loud and clear. I SURVIVED!

Also recommended: Can I get a Witness, Black Women and Depression; Yesterday, I Cried; Too Blessed to be Stressed; After the Silence;

It is incredibly powerful and intense. The end of each chapter, where Pierce-Baker responds to the survivors draws the stories together in a meaningful way. Also, this is the first book I have ever seen that gives voice to the men who support survivors of sexual violence. I read it in two days, despite work and classes, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the effects of sexual violence.

This book was about the famous story of the king who wanted everything he owned to be gold. He was a very greedy king and he did not appreciate what he already had. So one day he got his wish. However the king soon learned that being able to turn things into gold with one touch was not all good. The king ended up turning his young daughter into to gold, and was miserable. He didn't want the golden touch anymore. I like this book because it is humorous way for the child to learn not to take for granted what they already have. The illustrations were also great. The king learns that gold is not the only thing that is valuable. I would use this book to introduce the importance of family and friends and how some people believe that money is the only thing that can bring happiness.

This book is golden. The pages just shine with color. The age-old story is here, but with stunning illustrations.

I've sent this to my much younger sisters and they loved it! It's on the top shelf of their bookshelf in a special place. You won't toss this one on the floor. I bought another copy for myself. I can't wait to read it to my own children.

When you browse subjects, go under children's books and you can search for authors and illustrators. Anything illustrated by K.Y. Craft is a keeper. i.e. Twelve Dancing Princesses, Cupid and Psyche, and Pegasus.

"King Midas and the Golden Touch," retold by Charlotte Craft with illustrations by K.Y. Craft, is an outstanding version of a classic tale. Although you may have read or seen versions of this story before, this book is truly special.

The story of King Midas, who gains the power to turn anything he touches to gold, is a tale with an important lesson. The story teaches us to not be greedy, and to treasure the people and things that we take for granted. These are important ideas for both children and adults. Charlotte Craft presents this story in straightforward, yet elegant language. A typical line: "The roses glistened with the morning dew, and their scent gently perfumed the air."

But it is Kinuko Y. Craft's breathtaking artwork that really brings magic to this collaboration. Each illustration looks like a classic painting by an old master--lovingly detailed and alive with rich colors. K.Y. Craft's realistic portrayals of people, animals, and plants are an effective complement to the fantasy elements of the story. This book is both a timeless tale and a stunning work of art.

Laura Charlotte is an amazing children's story about the love of a family throughout generations. Laura's mother tells her about her favorite childhood memory and the history of her stuffed elephant, Charlotte. This book has been a favorite in my family and gives a sense of love to the reader.

On January 28, 1999 I wrote the review of Laura Charlotte, and more than a year later it is still a favorite bedtime story of my, now almost 7 year old, daughter. It is one that my husband and I never tire of reading to her, and as any parent of a small child knows, THAT is a great recommendation in itself!

On January 28, 2000 I wrote the review of Laura Charlotte, which I signed "Albuquerque Reader". More than a year later it is still a favorite bedtime story of my, now almost 7 year old, daughter. It is one that my husband and I never tire of reading to her, and as any parent of a small child knows, THAT is a great recommendation in itself!

This book was created by a true dream team, beloved author Charlotte Zolotow and gifted illustrator Garth Williams. It begins with a little girl who is too little to know about time. She is so young, we learn, that she doesn't know the days of the week yet, or the months, or even the seasons in order. She has memories of things like a crocus in bloom, a snowman, Valentines, a turkey dinner, and a Christmas tree but they're jumbled up in her head in no particular order.
One morning when the little girl wakes up to find that snow has fallen during the night she excitedly wants an explanation. After her mother explains about snow and winter, the little girl wants to know, "What's next?" As her mother continues throughout this delightful story to explain what season or holiday comes next, Zolotow's story gives us charming details that Williams transforms into pure magic. We eventually traverse the whole wheel of the year and return to the little girl's winter birthday where she makes a wonderful wish. This is a beautiful book in every way and is certainly the best I know of for teaching the traditional American/Christian holiday cycle and the flow of the seasons in northern America. It's lovely.

Charlotte Zolotow's Over and Over is a wonderfully worded story, and the pictures are engaging! My children love how the story begins during the first snow of winter, and comes full circle ending with the little girl's birthday in early December. We feel happy and excited seeing the little girl travel through her year, defining the seasons and sharing in the joy of each holiday and special occasion. This is one of our favorites! We read it over and over and never grow tired of this enchanting story.

I found this book again in the library the other day after not having seen it since I was a little girl. I must have studied the illustrations in perfect detail because I remember them as if it were yesterday and not 20 years ago. Definitely, one of my favorite books as a child!

Simply Live It Up gives each of us an opportunity to fine tune our living space which includes family and friends since they are in our realm of daily activities. I followed the simple steps in this book and my life has been more wonderful each day with better communication within famiy and friends, with greater abundance of love and acceptance coming into our life each and every day. I now bring all of this to my clients.
These were my goals and I am meeting them every day.
The fine tuning can come in different ways but once you have your Purpose combined with your Values and Beliefs, you can only imagine the wonders that will liven up your life to give you more of your time to do and enjoy things and people you want.

I've recommended this book to all of our clients and customers because it gives you things you can do today to easily make your life better. I particularly enjoyed their chapter on the PhotoReading whole mind system which tells you how to read books at remarkable speeds with heightened comprehension. And if you ever have questions, both authors are very responsive to mail and telephone calls. It is obvious that they live what they teach.

I now have tools to get me out of stuck places and a framework for managing my life from a wholistic perspective. Tina Anderson, Management Consultant, U.S. Arm

The book is very well written. If you loved "Here Comes the Brides" you will love this book. If you don't know what "Here Comes the Brides" is, but love historic romances, this book is great. The writer caught us up on what happened to our favorite characters on the tv series. I read the book in just a couple days I couldn't put it down.

If you loved the TV Show "Here Come The Brides," you need to read this book. Charlotte does a wonderful job making this book a believable continuation where the series left off. I really enjoyed it.

I loved it. A wonderful historical romance. The author skillfully adapted these characters in time and adapted them to real historical events that were happening during that era. One of the best books I have read in this genre. This author has one of the best grasps of her characters that I have read in a very long time. Bravo.

Hands on information. Very user friendly. For deposition or court. Makes the process easy to understand.

My attorney recommended it to me and it really helped. If you are a primary litigant or have been forced to testify. I have a much better understanding of how I fit into the process and how the system works. I highly recommended this book for anyone who must appear in court.

When asked what I wanted, I would say there isn't anything I need. With the stress of family court facing me I couldn't enjoy even my birthday. My best friend came through again. The copy of 'Witness Guide' he gave me as a gift has eased the burden considerably. Easy to read with sound advice. I needed it for my child custody case and ended up using it for a company deposition. I highly recommend this book.

I am working my way through all of Ms's Allen's 37 books and this is my 15th. The one I like best so far is Matters of The Heart and I wish she would write another pithy one like that. It is hard to believe that a woman could be a recluse for 27 years in this day and time. I loved what I learned about ordering on the net everything one could want or need. Ms. Allen is currently writing a sequel to this and I will probably read it too.

"Fresh Air" is, of course, a realistic, contemporary novel, dealing with such issues as child abuse and spousal abuse (as do many of Charlotte Vale Allen's other novels). It vividly re-creates settings that range from Hollywood to suburban Connecticut to Harlem. It's even Internet-savvy. But the key to its appeal is something age-old and fundamental -- a fairy-tale quality -- that's hinted at by the nicknames of the heroine, Lucinda Hunter: "Ella" and "Cinders," which add up to "Cinderella." Lucinda, a movie star's daughter, is like an exiled princess, isolated and living in emotional poverty, when, if she only knew it, a world of love and connection, her true kingdom, is within easy reach. Katanya, the little African American girl who frees Lucinda from her self-imposed prison, is the classic facilitator, the fairy, the squire, the wizard, who breaks the spell and makes a new life possible.
This big-hearted story features a wide variety of voices and interesting characters. Some of its people, when "Fresh Air" ends, we may feel we're only beginning to know -- but a sequel, evidently, is on the way. It'll be worth the wait!

For the most part, Lucinda Hunter has not left her Connecticut home in twenty-seven years. Rarely she will leave to go into town, but that takes quite a struggle for her to achieve. Shockingly, Lucinda is the daughter of the late great actress Lily Hunter and a noted screenwriter in her own right. However, when her mother died, Lucinda learned that her father was a black man. Unable to cope with not knowing whether she belongs to the white or black race, both or neither, she became a hermit.

Lucinda looks out her window to see a young African-American female playing in her yard. The girl invites Lucinda outside. Surprisingly she goes and soon a bond forms between the nine-year-old Harlem resident Katanya Taylor, in town as part of the FRESH AIR program, and the recluse. As they become better acquainted, Kat helps Lucinda overcome her agoraphobia one step at a time.

FRESH AIR is an engaging contemporary tale that showcases how modern communication systems enable an individual to hide from society as everything can be ordered on line. The story line focuses on friendship, as everyone needs someone to care about. Lucinda is an incredible lead character and though Kat acts more like an adult than a preadolescent, readers will find her charming too. The support cast provides the audience deep insight into Lucinda as Charlotte Vale Allen gifts her fans with a deep psychological drama.

Harriet Klausner

I think the part of this book that hooked me was Honoria's energy towards everybody around her. In a time when many people still looked at black people and assumed they were nothing more than hired help, Honoria hired May as her personal assistant and treated her as an equal from day one. When the son of Honoria's best friend comes to her for help (wanting to prove that his fiancee was murdered, and didn't commit suicide) she reluctantly agrees to ask around and see what she can find. Toss in her loyal housekeeper, Mick (her Russian lover who everybody thinks is her husband), and a smattering of other characters and you've got a great story. Aside from the actual story, I liked the fact that the author kept the number of characters minimal so that you didn't have any trouble following who was whom.

This is the first book I have read from this author, but will not be the last. I sat down for a short break, thinking I would read a chaper or two, and ended up reading the entire book in one evening. I simply could not remove my self from the world of Honoria. If you are looking for an escape, this is it!

Mood Indigo is my favorite book. The writing is excellent.

Mood Indigo is brilliant; it kept me guessing "who did it" until the end. Usually in mystery books I can tell right off the bat who the killer is. But not this time. And usually I can say at least one thing I didn't like about a book. But not this time.

I highly recommend Mood Indigo to anyone who wants to read a mystery with exceptional characters in a time before the internet and cell phones. I guarantee you will not be disappointment.

Charlotte Vale Allen has written many books, all different, and Mood Indigo is no exception. She makes you care about the characters.

Mood Indigo is a must read for mystery buffs. Once you've read the book you will see why it's my all-time favorite book.

This was a great, handy book to have while visiting southern California. I have been on two of the tours so far. Both were accurate and fun. I am origianally from California, but live in Dallas now. This was a nice way to refresh my memory of the area, and find out new places to see. It is a must have if you are planning to spend some time in the southern California area.

You will have fun reading this handy little book even if you don't go on the variety of tours it has to offer. The concise, often humorous, descriptions are full of little known facts on people and places all over L.A. There are museums, parks, landmarks, cemetaries and unique attractions I never knew existed and it was a great experience seeing them for the first time. Most of them were FREE! Pocket Guide to L.A. is not your typical Hollywood guide book. It is a entertaining and educational activity book that covers a wide range of interesting places to visit again and again. It would make a great gift.

What a great Book! This is the best guide to L.A. that I have seen. Not only does it contain over one hundred of the best attractions, but it also has five self-guided tours around the greater Los Angeles area.

Four of the tours stop at famous landmarks and the homes of the biggest superstars in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. Celebrity biographies are provided for more then 60 of the greatest stars of today and yesteryear. Some of my favorites include Brad Pitt, John Travolta, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, Dustin Hoffman. Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, and Elvis Presley.

The final tour is a walking tour exploring downtown Los Angeles. This tour unveils the various cultures, historical facts and gives you a feel for the future of the city of Los Angeles. Featured are water parks, beautiful gardens, mini-museums, three different ethnic communities, architectural feats, and much more.

Not only does the book have very accurate driving directions, but it contains GPS coordinates for those who like to navigate with GPS. Additionally, it contains a very innovative GPS Adventure Game which is a type of cross word puzzle where you are given GPS coordinates and clues. You travel to each GPS coordinate, read the clue and determine the answers. The game's route follows pretty close to the route of Adventure Tour I, so you can play the game at the same time that you go on the tour. For example, one clue is the tomb inscription, "She did it the hard way". The GPS coordinates take you to Forest Lawn Memorial Park to Bette Davis' tomb. Another clue is "A winged lady holding an electron", and you are guided to GPS coordinates at The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences where you see a thirty foot Emmy (the answer) and many more busts of the greatest television stars.

The book was well planned and is very convenient. I highly recommend the "Pocket Guide to the Best of Los Angeles" to everyone.