Collaboratively compiled and edited by Gwen Solomon (TechLearning.com), Nancy J. Allen (Texas A&M University), and Paul Resta (University of Texas at Austin), Toward Digital Equity: Bridging The Divide In Education brings together writings from twenty-three experts in educational technology, who offer practical and affordable ideas for teachers, administrators, and education policy-makers charged with preparing the next generation for the digital age. Emphasizing ways to enhance the learning environment for optimum potential, Toward Digital Equity is a superbly presented and highly recommended resource for educators at local, district, state, and/or federal levels of responsibility.

This is a great Guide to Kings River Canyon to Northern Sequoia. It includes trails, history, geology, ecology, campsites, trees, wildflowers, animals and an updated USGA plastic topographic map.

Like Eric's first book, this book is definitly a journey to read about. Easy to read, excellent flow, a hard book to put down once you pick it up! Again, highly recommended reading for teens on but especially teens who need an inspirational boost.

I have been a teacher of an american culture class at the state college leval for the past six years and this storie gives incredable insight into the american experience. It was great! It will be required reading in my class.

Magnificent prints directly from the old glass plates - the originals. These are kept by the Western History Section of the Denver Public Library. I have had the folio since about 1975 and continually find nuances in these pictures that I had previously missed. I also wonder what a copy brings at present. Not that I would part with mine!

Karen R. Jones' very specific title, Wolf Mountains: A History Of Wolves Along the Great Divide, will hold special appeal to those interested in American and Canadian wildlife conservation in general and wolf conservation efforts throughout Canada and the United States in particular. Karen Jones provides a blended focus on Canadian and American national parks, and the wolf's place in their ecological systems, including examining interactions between wolves and people in four Rocky Mountain regional parks. The different terrains and histories of these Canadian and American parks (including the Yellowstone National Park), makes for a fine foundation for surveying the history of human/wolf encounters from early to modern times.

Years ago, I read a book with similar passion and depth of character..."A Time to Kill," Grisham's first book. Let's hope this book launches Bunn on a similar literary trajectory.

After witnessing the detention of an American female activist in China's Guangdong Province, we follow the struggles, personal and professional, of Marcus Edgewood as he attempts to hold liable a sports-gear giant, New Horizons. Edgewood and the activist's parents are looking for answers, but a conspiracy of some sort seems to stand in their way. Edgewood's struggles, though, are more than professional. The issues he deals with have been dealt with in a number of legal thrillers, but rarely so delicately as Bunn accomplishes here. This book is about much more than crossing mere cultural divides.

Though the pace trods a bit slower than a standard Grisham thriller, this book sweeps you along with its rich characters and locales. (I would've enjoyed more scenes in China, but then I've traveled there extensively and maybe that's an appetite all my own.) Bunn showcases his abilities here like never before. When you're done reading, these characters will continue walking through your thoughts, the detailed settings will stand solidly in your mind, the more than occasional moments of literary gold will set themselves in your memory. In addition, his brief but appropriate spiritual moments leaven the mood with thoughts of "The Great Divide" we must all face at some point.

Despite an abundance of secondary characters, Bunn masterfully maintains each individual's uniqueness, including blacks and Asians with only an ounce of stereotyping. (Aren't stereotypes based on at least some truth usually?) He juggles the emotions, the trial, and the relationships with care and compassion. Though I found certain aspects of the trial to lean inordinately in the plaintiff's direction, I'm no legal expert and I was more than willing to let them slide in favor of the author and his loveable--and despicable--cast.

If Bunn follows this one up with another legal thriller, I'll pre-order the book. He seems to have found his niche. Hopefully, he'll also find the audience he deserves.

The two novels of T. Davis Bunn I'd read previous to this effort both revolved around Christmas sentimentalism, and were somewhat trite and disappointing. Not so with "The Great Divide". As a reader who has thoroughly enjoyed practically all of John Grisham's books for their legal drama, thriller suspense, and clean content, I was delighted to find that this effort by Bunn practically matched Grisham on all counts! Not only that, Bunn is extremely talented in his use of the English language, with delightfully descriptive language, metaphors and similes, and vivid characterization. In almost all regards it is quite different from his earlier works. Bunn's other efforts were more distinctly Christian in character and theme, and although this novel is not specifically Christian (aside from the involvement of a church community as part of the story line) it is far more suspenseful and successful.

The story-line features Marcus Glenwood, an attorney who is recovering after a terrible car accident which claimed the lives of his two young children and destroyed his marriage. When asked to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of Gloria Hall, Marcus is initially reluctant. But as he discovers the truth behind the claims of Gloria's parents that she was abducted in a Chinese factory run by the American sports clothing manufacturer New Horizons, he agrees to undertake legal action against the manufacturing giant on their behalf. With one of Gloria's friends, Kirsten, as his ally, and with several of his former colleagues as his nemesis, the suspenseful court-room drama slowly builds up momentum, with several attacks on Marcus' life outside the courtroom adding a chilling spice to an already chilling tale. Slowly, Marcus uncovers the horrible web behind New Horizons, and the truth behind the disappearance of Gloria Hall. The only thing that remains a mystery to me in the end is the significance of the title!

The bittersweet ending is somewhat satisfying, but is dampened by the startling thought that this could be a true story, a story where the endings are not happy. One cannot help get the feeling that Bunn is using this novel to unmask human rights abuses in Chinese sweatshops, and expose the support of these abuses by giant manufacturers of sporting clothing who bow to the almighty dollar. It does not take much imagination to substitute the name "New Horizons" for the name of a contemporary manufacturing giant of sporting clothing, and raise questions about their practices and ethics. One of Bunn's final acknowledgements is very telling, where he acknowledges the help of his wife, an international attorney, whose "first thesis was on the issue of human rights violations within the Chinese lao gai prison network." While thoroughly enjoying this book as a work of fiction, I could not help but get the cold feeling that behind the fiction was a great deal of fact. This novel will do more than just awaken your suspense, it may also awaken your conscience.

WOW!

What a super book! This was the first T. Davis Bunn novel I had the pleasure of reading. It was a gift or I might never have discovered a wonderful book and author.

I fell in love right away with the author's pace and way of storytelling. I could hear the drawls of the friends Marcus made in the rural part of North Carolina. I could see his home, the trees behind it, and each of Bunn's characters clearly in my mind (this is rare for me to be able to picture and imagine a book so vividly!).

It scared me that this book, and the subject matter, could actually be true. New Horizons could be any number of companies located in the US. That makes it so real, and so scary.

If you aren't sure if you like legal thrillers, this is more than that. You CARE about the people in the book, worry about them, and get scared with them. The heartwarming hospitality shown by various southerners is just as I imagined it, the same as is the good ole boys network working against them.

Read this. You won't be disappointed.

Scraping Heaven is a beautifully written story. Cindy Ross describes the landscapes so vividly, you imagine yourself there. She talks about the family and social dynamics so openly, you feel like you are with them on their journey through the Continental Divide. As in life, it's not all about beautiful views and happy times. She doesn't leave out the hardships of bad weather, failing equipment, and strained family and friend relations. She also shares with you the joys of nature's rewards and the kindness of strangers. You experience life's lessons along with them.

My favorite parts are those involving their son Bryce. I'd often laugh out loud, even days later, just recalling stories of his antics. "It's only recently that Bryce's three year old brain has realized that the Oscar Meyer song he likes to sing is about one of his favorite foods. He is so taken by this discovery that he shouts to every hiker he sees on the widened, graded trail that leads to the parking lot: 'Do you know that an Oscar Meyer wiener is a hot dog?'"

It was thoughtful of her to have an Epilogue, updating you on her and her family's lives, because by the end of the book, you feel like you know them, and so would naturally be interested in how they are doing these days.

I would recommend this book to hikers and non-hikers alike. It keeps you interested and entertained from the inside cover until the last word.

I had no idea when I began reading "Scraping Heaven" that it would be such an exciting story, so full of love and emotion. I have long been a fan of true adventure books and have read many, and the best. And "Scraping Heaven" is now included among those I will recommend to friends. I thought it was so brave of Cindy to include the issues of her heart- to question her parenting skills, to examine her marital relationship. Who among us hasn't done that at some point, but NOT for public scrunity! It took courage to be self-critical, and to be honest about what she wanted from her husband, her children, and her life. There were times when I laughed out loud, and times when I shed tears for her.
I was pleased to read in the epilogue that her sense of adventure has not waned, and that she continues to seek out exciting ways in which to relate to nature. Perhaps one day Cindy will write another book, dealing with how she is living life to its fullest.

Helen Keller said,"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." And it is with this in mind that seasoned trekkers Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter set out to hike along the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico with their two toddlers, Sierra and Bryce,and a string of llamas. When Ross (A Woman's Journey) and her husband first met, two of the main loves they shared were of hiking and the outdoors. But when their children arrived, they were afraid they would have to wait years to return to the wilderness- until hearing of the docile nature and great versatility of the llamas, inventing more efficient ways to wash diapers on the trail and keeping two toddlers entertained, warm and healthy while trying to stay sane and absorb the vast beauty of the trail that drew them. After 2 months, 500 miles, bags of candy, wet and smelly socks, lightning storms and temper tantrums, what their friends and family thought would end early in disaster was completed with success and the desire to do it all over again. That summer in 1993 ends five years later as the Ross family returns summer after summer to the Continental Divide Trail in their quest to grow closer and be one with nature.
NOT ONLY ARE READERS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE SHEER BEAUTY AND AT TIMES FRIGHTENING DANGERS OF THE TRAIL, BUT THEY ALSO WATCH TWO CHILDREN GROW AND LEARN TO CALL THE TRAIL THEIR HOME. WELL WRITTEN, CAPTIVATING AND INCREDIBLY EDUCATIONAL, THIS ADVENTURE IS A LESSON IN THE SIMPLICITY AND THE BEAUTY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

This is a wonderful book that covers just about everything-the war on drugs, affirmative action, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the race wars. Larry Elder does a fantastic job of displaying how multiculturalism, big government, and a senseless bureaucracy are eating away what makes this country great.

I enjoy reading books from non-white voices that cover issues of race and sexism and class, so I can rest assured that I'm not just an "angry white man," as Phil Gone-a-hue puts it.

Larry paints a very optimistic future-IF, however, the government takes about 10 steps back and gives more freedom in every area of life, and letting the public learn from their mistakes instead of handing out entitlements. Great read from my favorite libertarian!

Larry Elder follows up his first book, "The Ten Things You Can't Say in America" with "Showdown," a call for a return to limited, localized governance and liberty linked to personal responsibility. Elder's not the first to defend the Founder's design, not even the first black - Walter E Williams and Thomas Sowell have been championing less government for decades, but Larry Elder adds a strong voice to that choir and proof that what the Left likes to say about Libertarian blacks, that they are "out of step with mainstream black America," is wrong. In fact, Elder would retort that people like himself, Professors Williams and Sowell, Condy Rice and Colin Powell ARE more indicative of the mainstream than their more visible Left leaning cohorts like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

"Showdown" is a very well researched book. Elder backs up his points meticulously. He chronicles Santa Monica's disastrous "Living Wage" bill that recently passed...a bill that's already cost the area lots of entry level jobs. And the new California movement of "Visitablity" - an ordinance that would force private home owners to install ramps and other means of access, apparently for disabled door-to-door salesmen.

Throughout "Showdown" Elder shows a government run amock. It's a quick and entertaining read and one that'll make you think twice about so much of what the media passes off as gospel.

Showdown is my second reading of Larry Elder. His first book, 10 Things You Cant Say in America, was very impressive. However, his second book Showdown is even better as you can see a maturity in his writing.

Elder, with his strong wit and skill at understanding the current poltical fevor in the US, artifully outlines many of issues affecting this country and the lack of our leaders to attack these issues head on.

On of my favorite chapters is when Elder talks about the Jessie Jackson shakedown of corporate America. Very eye opening. Why dosent the media talk about this man in the light spoken by Mr. Elder? Jessie Jackson is clearly not the saint the media makes him out to be. Wonder how so? Read the book.

Elder has a fluid style that moves your rapidly through the book. His research this time is better and his examples are vivid. I was very impressed with this work. While he does take serious issues with the liberalism that affects this country, he also takes on the Republicans as well for not walking the walk even though they talk the talk.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to take an eye opening look into the issues affecting this great country of ours. Elders has clearly matured as a writer and I cannot wait until his third revealing display is published.

How funny this book is and just full of anecdotes about the nunnery and priest's parish. I was especially intrigued by the murder mystery in this book and loved all the expose parts also. Its a timely and exciting book for sure.

This book shows real insight into the monastic life and includes the sex scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, even including murder. It has some very funny happenings to the nuns and priests in the book and is a page turner. I couldn't put it down.

I met this author at a book signing and told her to write a sequel because the book ended too soon. She married the priest she met at retreats and college classes; they adopted stray dogs and a baby from another country. It was a courageous book of her own first hand knowledge and involvement in sex scandals in the church. What she and others like her endured made her stronger she told me. I give her a lot of credit for telling the truth and for the humerous side of her life as well. I forgive the few typos in the book and found it a really interesting book and unique in its format. It is graphic and could offend anyone who is narrowminded and afraid of the truth in living color.