I loved this book.... And Lake Monsters even looks as good as it reads. The cover and design of the book are very stylish, which helps you get into it. There is even a map in the front of the book laying out the islands described inside. I frequently referred back to this map to get my bearings. And it helped me see truly what a sense of isolation the characters must have felt. You know I have to say, Lake Monsters didn't turn out to be what I expected; in the end, I think it actually turned out to be better! The book is not so much about hunting for and actually finding the monster inside the lake. The danger - which is even more terrifying - lurks elsewhere on the island. The protagonist's attempt to get his life together and do something meaningful by searching for the monster in the lake is intercepted by unforeseeable events, and scary isolationist island Vermonters. I love the beauty of Vermont, but after reading this book, there is no way I would ever set foot on such an island. Lake Monsters really has made a lasting impression on me. And the unexpected twist of an ending left me shocked and with my jaw on the floor. Lake Monsters will become one of few books I'll enjoy reading again and again!

One isolated island, a bunch of crazy off-beat characters, a
mysterious monastary and a "monster". That's what you get in the latest re-print by Hardscrabble Books. Originally titled Dark Twilight this is actually Joseph Citro's first novel. Citro is really one of the true under appreciated writers of all time.

I am 61 years old and I read this series when I was in grade school. I read them over and over and they made a great impression on me. Each story made me feel as though I were a part of history. I admired these young girls and their families so much!
I have searched for years to find them and could find no one who had heard of them. I would recommend them for every young girl's library. They teach a lot about honesty, courage, and strength of character in addition to their historical value.
I am so thrilled to see these books in print once more.

Faith is a young patriot girl that goes to visit her aunt near Fort Ticonderoga during the Revolution. She learns a secret about the fort that helps Ethan Allen capture it.

We own all of the books the Nearings wrote and this one is a gem. There are those who may think that what they did and wrote about from the 50's to the 70's has no bearings on todays world (2003) but nothing could be further from the truth. Their wisdom on building a stone home, organic garden, composting, and simply realizing that one doesn't need as much materialism as one may think is timeless. The book is out of print but you can buy used copies here on Amazon.com and I urge you to but a copy if you have the slightest interest in simple living, frugality, inner peace and tranquility, preventative health issues, healthy eating, a positive mindset to age one hundred or energy conservation.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. If you can find a copy, get a hold of this book to learn about how these counter culturists lived their lives in health and peace. Some folks may believe that the Nearing's style is bolder than they are used to, and this is because these people did not sit in ivy towers writing theories, they lived their lives based on their principles, which is admirable in my eyes.

I am an elementary school teacher and found this book to be a great way to introduce Vermont to my students as part of our fifty states theme unit. We've had fun learning new facts about each of the states and this book, as part of the Discover America Alphabet Series, is an ideal way to share the diversity of our states, their traditions and to learn interesting facts about each one. The pictures in this book are vivid and are great for sharing a special viewpoint of Vermont. The facts are interesting and encourage and promote a child's interest in the state. I highly recommend this book!

I ordered the series, Discover America State By State for our primary school library. When the books arrived, I couldn't give them up! I had to own them myself! So I paid for this set and ordered the second set for the library. The publishing company claims the books are intended for children ages 4-8 years. However, my husband and I were awed at the beautiful artwork representing each state and the wealth of information to be gained, some obvious, some very trivial but nonetheless interesting. I teach second grade. Many of my students have never been outside our state. What a fantastic way to introduce them to the beauty, contrasts, and wonder of our very own nation! I could spend the whole school year teaching language arts, social studies, and science using this set as my textbook.

I sat in my back yard and read and read and read. I had to put it down to prepare dinner or I would have been there throughout the night! I LOVED this book! I particulary enjoyed the character of Nathan who told the story. He is a young man who befreinds a difficult seventy year old man who holds a secret. I could not let go until I discovered that secret.
I found the descriptions of the scenery in Vermont, whether it be the trees, mud season, snow covered mountains, rushing rivers or whatever. fascinating. I I have never been to Vermont but am already planning a trip based on what I have read. The title "Mirror Lake" is appropriate because it plays a large part in the story. If there is an actual Mirror Lake, I would like to find it. I intentionally seek out first time authors and this book is one of the best in that category that I have read. It reads with clarity which I do not come across often. I can visualize the characters and can certainly see it as a film and hope that that will be the case. There is something for every reader: love, mystery, beautiful scenery, characters you can believe in. I am looking forward to re-reading it - I found myself cheating by skimming through it in order to find answers!

I couldn't put this book down. It was riveting as so little fiction is. Beautiful writing, suspenseful and really teaches something about life and love. one of the best books I've read in years.

Greene is a natural born storyteller. I fell quickly under the spell of "Mirror Lake" and its story within a story. The prose is very lyrical, with lovely descriptions of the Vermont landscape. There's a little bit of everything: romance, suspense, drama. I read the whole thing in one weekend - I just kept coming back to it! Summer reading at its best...

A moose for Jessica is a heartwarming story about a cow named Jessica who live in vermont. She falls in love with a moose named josh. This is a true story and it really touched my heart. Despite there differences Jessica and Josh found true love. I get a tear in my eye everytime i read this book. I highly recomend this book to any warm hearted red blooded american.

I loved this book. Not only for the heart warming story it told about the Moose "Josh" but by how the moose got close to the animals and humans who lived on the Carrara farm. Fantastic!!!

I agree that this book is very good; however, the title is misleading. I live in northern Vermont and expected to see some nature walks in my area; however the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont was totally ignored! The title of this book should be "Nature Walks in Northwestern Vermont, Especially the Champlain Valley" because that is the area addressed.

Take a hike but bring along Nature Walks in Norhtern Vermont when you do. In clear, concise prose, Elizabeth Bassett describes natural phenomena and explores human history as she leads you through the 43 walks. The book includes maps, driving instructions and a clear set of walking directions for each walk. You will better understand the geology, flora, and fauna which surround you and have a clear picture of how this land has been used over the millenia. Historic tidbits include Native American settlements, colonial artifacts, Revolutionary War lore, and tales of the Vanderbilt Webb familiy's environmental showcase at Shelburne Farms. The walks include ecosystems not always associated with northern Vermont: sand dunes, bogs, pitch pine forest, and river chasm. More traditional walks include waterfalls, potholes, Arctic-alpine tundra, and northern forests. Grab a copy and take your sturdy shoes, snow shoes or cross-country skis and set out!

This is a light-hearted book.......great to relax with a cup of tea or coffee for an uplifting experience! A great reminder to be careful what you pray for or what you ask others to pray for!!

Suzy's sence of humor is great. She really knows how to tickle your funny bone. She really knows how to tell a good story. I've read all her books and I can't wait till her next one is out what a treat. This one really touched my heart. Keep up the great work Suzy. Your #1 fan.

I was fortunate enough to receive this wonderful cookbook as a gift...I have enjoyed making a number of the incredible recipes ~ particularly the salmon fillets in puff pastry and the Boston salad with pears, blue cheese and walnuts. What perfect items for a dinner party ~ easy and a beautiful presentation. My guests think I've been slaving in the kitchen for days! Thanks to my dear Vermont friend for sharing this little gem with me!

I was in Vermont. I could smell the smells and see the land. I could taste each recipe. This is now my favorite cooking tool. I cook and my family reads from the book. Thank you for this wonderful treasure. I will visit!

If you can work your way through a pint of Guiness Stout or sing a respectable Danny Boy--this book will warm the cockles of your heart.Mr Douros weaves an excellent presentation of Ireland's turbulent history from its origin and works his way to a rollicking climax of the activities of a group of present day Irish nestled in a remote section of Vermont that would make any Irishman believe he was back on the old sod.
Mr.Douros again has demonstrated his ability to get to the ROOTS of of any ethnic challenge presented him.Being a displaced irish Vermonter and very familiar with the subject matter,I enjoyed every page to the utmost.

After reading Basil Douros' first book about his Greek heritage I could hardly wait to read Roots of the Blackthorn Tree, a story of his wife's Irish heritage. Although I am only one-fourth Irish I could relate to many of the experiences the poor Irish had to undergo when they moved to this country. I was raised in the Middle West with no running water and an outhouse about 50 feet from the main house. All 5 children took the Saturday night bath in the same large galvanized tub using the same water. These and other experiences going back to Ireland when it was invaded by the Celts are related in amazing detail. The Great Irish Potato Famine, which led to the large immigration of the Irish to the United States,is vividly described. Those who are descendents of the Irish who immigrated to Vermont will be especially interested in the living conditions described in that area of the country in the nineteenth century. The book was so interesting I read it in two evenings.
P.S. All my life I have heard the term shillelagh, not knowing where it originated or what it was used for. Now I know!