I pleased to know that people care to write about women in such great ways. Everyone should know that it was not only men who shaped teh west they needed us ladies.

Should be required reading at Fairmont State College. Having moved away from WV in 1950, the year of my graduation from FSC, I was unaware of this hysterical scandal until an old friend sent me a copy of it on its publication. For shame, Fairmont! Wonder how many copies of this book might be found in the library at Fairmont State? One hopes at least one...

I am from a small town in Eastern Kentucky where, when I was growing up, coal mining was king. Though I've never set foot in a coal mine, I am here to tell you that this book captures the essence of life in the hills.

This is an outstanding novel. It is far, far better than the tepid musings of that better known and celebrated mountain scribe, the liar Chris Offutt. It is a damned shame that "Those that Mattered" is out of print.

excellent courtroom drama made all the more fascinating in that it is told from the perspective of a fair-minded small town judge.interesting reflection on the use of cameras in court. a socialite's mores are weighed by jurors who are not her peers in the fast lane.

Author and West Virginian Jeanne Mozier has compiled more information about what West Virginia has to offer than most of us would ever want to know in this labor of love book. From the mundane to the amazing, Mozier takes us through a whirlwind tour of the natural and man-made wonders of the Mountain State. It's clear that Mozier loves West Virginia, and if we cannot find ourselves matching her enthusiasm for the Mail Pouch Chewing Tobacco factory in Wheeling, we can still appreciate her efforts to bring to our attention the highlights - no matter how modest - of West Virginia's contribution to the US tourist industry.

I have to admit, I love these type of books. I often go off the beaten path in my travels, in search of the forgotten tourist trap or the weather-beaten historic marker. Since I live close to West Virginia, I've had the opportunity to visit many of the sites that Mozier mentions in her book. Some places are real gems, such as the bathhouse in Berkeley Springs and Shirley Dougherty's Harpers Ferry Ghost Tour (I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the supernatural. Shirley's unique storytelling style makes the modest fee well worth the money). As a guide to all those other West Virginia wonders that I have yet to see, this book is invaluable. I have yet to taste the succulence of the Pepperoni Roll (the state food of West Virginia?!?), but Moziers' mouth-watering description has piqued my curiosity.

If you are planning a trip to West Virginia, or if you will be merely passing through, pick up a copy of this book. Then go visit the New River Gorge, see a mummy, sit in George Washington's bathtub, climb an Indian burial mound, and walk the streets where John Brown once led a slave rebellion. And when you stop at a gas station for a fill-up, don't forget to pick up a pack of Pepperoni Rolls.

I thought that I had either heard of or visited all of the quirky places within the State of West Virginia! Wow was I wrong!

Most of my family comes from this wild wonderful State so I'm always reading books about traveling throughout the State.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something different for a vacation or weekend getaway. With this book, you can plan to explore a section of the State and find those quaint and eccentric parts that make up Americana.

"West Virginia: Facts and Symbols," by Kathy Feeney, is a concise and informative reference work. Its 24 pages contain an easy-to-read text and many excellent full-color photographs; it is a suitable book for younger readers.

The book includes a map of the state, representations of the state seal and flag, a short list of places worth visiting (such as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park), a list of vocabulary words, a short bibliography for further reading, and an index. Subjects addressed include population, natural resources, the state motto ("Montani Semper Liberi," Latin for "Mountaineers are always free"), the capitol building, the state bird, etc. There are some particularly nice wildlife photos.

The one thing this book lacks is a list of famous West Virginians. There are no photos of any of them. In fact, except for the characters on the state flag and seal, not a single human being is pictured in the entire book! This lack of the human element detracts from an otherwise fine book (and, by the way, I have noticed this lack in the other books in the series). Still, the book's other fine qualities make it worth recommending.

"West Virginia" is a fast reading introduction to the history of the Mountain State. Beginning with a brief section on the region from Revolutionary times, the book quickly moves on to the Civil War era which gave birth to West Virginia statehood.

The Unionist sentiment in the Western part of Virginia resulted, in 1863, in the only case of succession of a portion of one state from another in American history. The Civil War in West Virginia is portrayed both in its military and political aspects.

Williams tells the story of the evolution of West Virginia from the political, economic and social perspectives. The fabled Hatfield-MCcoy feud is given ample attention, as is the Hatfield who served his state as governor and United States Senator.

In a state with an undistinguished political history, Williams introduces the reader to a series of governors, senators and political bosses who struggled with absentee landowners, rail and coal concerns and labor leaders to lead West Virginia through the 19th and 20th centuries.

The story of West Virginia is a story of hope and despair, promise and danger, fulfillment and disappointment. Through it all Williams presents its story as a drama, partly heroic and partly tragic. Not a partisan Mountaineer booster, Williams tells the good with the bad. For anyone wishing to know the history of our country, state by state, this book fills in one piece of the American mosaic in a most pleasant fashion.

This is a good book to bring along on day hikes. Clear photos and identifying information. It is not about gardening wildflowers.

Missing may is a story about a girl who lives with her aunt and uncle, before her aunt dies. It could have been a nearly ok book, but the characters spend too much time thinking and moping and nothing interesting really occers.If you like books that are mainly people feeling miserable about life, check it out- but I wouldnt suggest it to anyone.

Summer, a seventh grader, from Ohio, lives with her Uncle Ob, in West Virginia. Her best friend is Cletus, who in Summer's opinion is crazy.

The night of May's funeral; Ob went out into his Chevy and just sat there. All three of them try to communicate with May by doing anything they can. They even tried putting whriligigs out in May's garden. When that didn't work, they went to see Reverend Miriam B. Young, also known as the "Bat Lady".

Missing May is a heartwarming story with special and emotional parts. It had it's up and downs but it still is very sad. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever read a book. It is a story I will remember forever.

I am a student at West Virginia State College taking Children's Literature. As part of our assignment, we were to read a Newbery Award Winning Book and write our personal review.

This story is about what life was like for some people in the mountains of West Virginia several years ago. It is rich in portraying cultural history of West Virginians. This is important to me because I am a strong believer in learning about one's culture and heritage. I have the goal to teach West Virginia History to 4th or 8th Graders someday and will definitely use this book as part of that.

In this book, Rylant seems to be honest with her words. It seems as if these things could actually happen or actually did happen. I grew up near Deep Water Mountain and have passed through there several times. As I read the book, I tried to picture where this had taken place. I wondered if Summer was actually a real person and still alive. This book touched me in many ways.

This book would be an excellent aid in allowing someone to learn about dealing with the death of a loved one. I felt as is I could relate to Summer and Ob because my grandmother passed away a few years ago and I had to learn how to deal with it in my own way, just as Summer and Ob did too.