Growing up in Shelby County, Indiana, the setting for the classic book and home of the annual Bears of Blue River Festival, this book has always held a special place in my heart. It was one of the first books I was ever read in school and as I got older, I found myself in many of the exact places that were used in the book, such as the Blowout Hole which is where the Fire Bear supposedly fell off the cliff and exploded.

The actual story is even more interesting. In that part of Indiana, there are many natural gas pockets deep in the ground. A settler had been burning brush and caused one of these pockets to explode, creating a deep hole (Blowout Hole) where the Flat Rock River and Conns Creek flow together. Both streams flowed backwards for a week, and the windows on houses were shattered for miles around. In fact, a childhood friend of mine lived in one of the nearby houses and it still exhibited a crack from foundation to roof from the mighty explosion. The tiny farming community even made the front page of the New York Times.

Anyways, just wanted to give you some background. If you're ever in the area, go visit the fields and streams south of Waldron, Indiana and your sure to see some of the settings in Majors' book. You'll probably come across a lot of Native American arrowheads and other artifacts as well--if you look close enough.

And if you haven't read the book, do so at once!!!

Back in 1973, my teacher would read this book to my first-grade class during "reading time." I liked the story soooooo much I asked my mom to order the book. She finally got it from Lazarus of all places and it was sent to our home in Danville, IN in hardback. The story and imagery are great (and sometimes scarrrrrryyyyyy!) I have lost that copy, but am now ordering a copy for my sons (ages 10 and 6) so that I can read to them the wonderful story of Balser and the ferocious bears of Blue River. What a treat for them! john marysville, oh

In 2001 my father age 82 mentioned this book as the only one he remembered his father reading to him as a young boy. I'm his son at age 59 and decided to get a library copy for us to read again. Dad doesn't read much anymore but he devoured the book which brought good memories back. I liked it as well because it gave me a family "connection" over 3 generations, and the book is also easy to read and good reading to boot. Our ancestors settled in Indiana in the 1830's and they lived next to the Flatrock River(in the book)Had to buy a copy for family keepsake

On city streets and suburban sandlots, millions of boys have played the nation's game. Growing Up Baseball recounts the stories of those few whose childhood dreams of playing in the big leagues came true.

Noted oral historian Harvey Frommer joins his son Frederic in collecting interviews and published commentary together with photographs to create the first thorough oral history of the "growing up" years of baseball's greatest heroes. Readers will discover new experiences in the words of those who lived them, including:
-- Bob Feller, the winningest pitcher in Cleveland Indians history
-- George "Sparky" Anderson, the only manager ever to have won championships in both leagues
-- Monte Irvin, who was already past 30 years of age when he made his major league debut in 1949
-- Jim Palmer, who won three Cy Young Awards and four Gold Gloves with eight 20-win seasons

In addition, Growing Up Baseball features interviews with singular figures such as Bobby Thomson, Don Larsen, Red Murff, Keith Hernandez, Mel Parnell, and Ralph Kiner, and is framed with inspiring commentary by coaches, relatives, teachers, friends, rivals, and scouts.

Growing Up Baseball contains a rich and varied montage of memories from players and fans across generations and cultures. Compelling, informative, and overflowing with a deep and abiding love of America's Pastime, it will delight and inspire anyone who's ever treasured a well-worn glove or thrilled to the crack of a bat.

Growing Up Baseball is the first oral history that reveals the dreams of a select few who actually made it to the major leagues. In their own words, players like Nolan Ryan, Bob Feller, "Sparky" Anderson, Jim Palmer, and Bob Tewksbury share their early memories of playing catch with their dads or baseball with their brothers in the neighborhood or on the farm. These experiences ignited the dream and indelibly shaped the futures of the sixty-nine players highlighted in this book authored by father and son, Harvey and Frederic Frommer. During their first-hand interviews, the authors discovered such interesting facts as:
•Dom DiMaggio polished his fielding skills playing catch with brother Joe on the steep hills of San Francisco
•Bob Feller was lucky to have a father who built him a complete baseball field in a pasture on their Des Moines, Iowa far m in 1930-the first "Field of Dreams."
•Keith Hernandez started at age five to catch and hit tennis balls thrown to him by his minor league infielder father.
•Monte Irvin played many years in the Negro Leagues until his dream of making it to the majors came true at age 51.
•Bob Tewksbury still has memories of wet baseballs from playing in the early spring snows of New Hampshire.
From baseball's greatest players to those less frequently remembered, the heart-warming stories in Growing Up Baseball are a reminder that there is a time in a player's career when everything seems possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed GROWING UP BASEBALL. It was definitely a memorable reading experience. --David Dewse

This book begins with how identity theft occurs and progresses to methods of detection, finding the perpetrators and finally how to regain your identity. Vacca gives you a quiz to assess your vulnerability to identity theft. Then leads the reader through methods to protect both personal and client information from intrusion, damage or theft. The book is full of precautions such as why you should use only a gasoline credit card at the pump. Particularly helpful are extensive case studies of real life examples. Whether you are an individual, business owner, web operator or corporate employee, Identity Theft by John Vacca will educate you to America's fastest growing crime.

How often have you heard in the news or read the headlines about a progressively maturing technical threat? Then, did you think that this particular threat (virus, credit theft, identify theft)just might concern you, but its too technical to really bother with? John Vacca has taken one of the most serious threats to infiltrate our personal lives, and made it so simple to understand and to guard against, that you'd be foolish to once again tell yourself, "Odds are, it won't affect me so I won't bother with it!" Criminals are evolving, and they're resorting to far more creative ways and means to elude and to fool authorities. Would someone go to the trouble to steal your identity just to withdraw [money]from your bank account? He certainly would, once shown just how simple this type of thievery can be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's interested in safeguarding his/her own identity, finances, credit history, and criminal history (or lack thereof)! I was certainly surprised how just a few security checks here and there can make a world of difference.

How many times have you disposed of items containing personal information (e.g., credit card statements, Electric Bills, etc.) without destroying them first or utilized a personal computer in a public place (e.g., Airport, Train Station, etc.)? After reading Identity Theft you may think twice. John Vacca presents an informative text that enlightens the reader on current methods employed by identity predators and how to protect yourself and your business. Mr. Vacca also addresses the Internet environment and the increasing use of E-Commerce, and exposes the dangers that exist both from the user and developer perspectives. For the IT professional, Identity Theft offers many informative essays on the use of Digital Signatures, Smart Cards, Optical Cards and Encryption as protection methods. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

This book is one of the best books I have ever read on the subject matter of American Revolutionary thought. Bailyn masterfully synthesises the source material to show the influences and assumptions the founding fathers and people of america were working under. He shows how they essentially took the thought process of the previous 100 years of English thought to the next logic conclusion for their situation. He shows how they didn't break from the past but harnessed it to their needs. Of course, the other large conclusion one takes from the book is just how much the thoughts behind the revolution were affected by Enlightenment thought: Montesqui, Locke, the ancient romans, and how little christianity influenced it in any substantive way. The obvious 'flaw' of this book is how it essentially ignores the questions of socio-economics and of how the founding fathers 'betrayed' their ideals on the question of slavery. But, I would contend that both are outside the realm of the argument. Socio-economics are obviously important but do not explain the forms that ideology take. and the betrayel of slavery is essentially a story of the constitution and the great sectional compromise, not of revolutionary idealogy. All in all, an excellent source of what our founding fathers were thinking when they founded the country.

This is probably the finest book on the American Revolution published in the second half of the twentieth century. No-one can truly claim to understand the Revolution without having read this book in its entirety. In it, Mr. Bailyn gives a full and thorough analysis of the causes and perceptions of the Revolution on both sides of the Atlantic. The politics, journalism, and thought of the time are all carefully scrutinized and both painstakingly and wittily described. Seldom has one book so completely altered the understanding of a period as has The Idealogical Origins.

The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn is smartly written with political sophistication towards the American Revolution. If a person studies the American Revolution you have to read this book... for without reading this you will have a difficult time understanding the emergence of eighteenth-century thought on the why the revolution came about.

Documentation is there for reference as well as the American ideological positions which can be found fully formed as far back as 1730's. This is a good solid work and should be on all bookshelves of anyone who studies the American Revolution and the Men who strongly believed in it. A good starting point.

Well done and outstanding... eminetly fascinating.

I've always enjoyed the Betsy-Tacy books but have never read Emily of Deep Valley...until about a month ago. By getting on this website and reading all the accolades, I had to discover for myself if it was worthy of five stars and I wasn't disappointed. What a wonderful book! Any girl that has ever been a "wallflower" as a teenager, can relate with Emily. Any girl that has ever suffered an unrequited love, can relate with Emily. Any girl that has cared for an older grandparent, can relate with Emily. Her kindness and optimism towards life was contagious and refreshing. Like someone else wrote, I to, would love to be Emily's best friend. I'm older now, but I enjoyed this book as much as if I were a teenager. In fact, I just shipped this book to my 17 year old daughter who's an exchange student in Switzerland. Emily will remain in your heart and mind long after you read the last word. The book made me smile and cry. She's a heroine for any young girl to emulate, and I thank Maud Hart Lovelace for creating such a character as Emily Webster. No wonder it was Lovelace's favorite work! She paints such a vivid picture of Emily and her friends and her grandfather and the home she lives which is situated over a marsh. The sights and sounds come alive of the year 1912, and of small-town America. Please do yourself a favor, and buy this book.

I admit, I only bought this book because I am such a Betsy-Tacy fan, and I felt that anything by Maud Hart Lovelace had to be good. I doubt very much whether I would have been interested in this book if it had not been written by Lovelace, but I thank my lucky stars that I was led to this book! Yes, as the cover states, it is a Deep Valley book, but it is so much more insightful and meaningful, even in today's world, than the other Deep Valley books. Emily's need to contribute toward the cause to help her fellow man is absolutely inspiring in today's world of "hustle and bustle."

In my opinion, the book began a little slowly, but after a couple of chapters, it drew me into its story in a way that a book has not done for me in quite some time. Emily's development into a self-confident adult is so inspiring to those readers who are searching for meaning in their own lives. Although I loved all the Betsy-Tacy books and have one or two on my bedside table at any given time, I believe that this book is the hidden treasure of the whole Deep Valley series.

This book was so entertaining, and so meaningful, that I would suggest reading it to just about anyone!

In my youth, I read every Maud Hart Lovelace book I could get my hands on -many ,many times. As an adult, I have been trying to collect these beloved books. Although the Betsy-Tacy series has been republished and a beautiful novel for adult readers - "Early Candle Light" - "Emily of Deep Valley" and "Carney's House Party" are out of print and I haven't found them in years of trying. Please republish these gems from my childhood. With the founding of the Betsy-Tacy Society a few years ago, I'm sure I would not be the only buyer.

Randy Johnson is very informative and contains alot of useful information...once you understand what he is trying to explain. In my opinion this is not the book to read if you have absolutely NO idea how the mortgage process works and how and what lenders do in that process. If you are a total novice , the terminology Mr. Johnson throws around may sound very cryptic; and his examples might make sense to you if you were either a finance major in college or have some minor experience with terms of finance. In my opinon, the total novice should read another book for the basics before coming to this one . I recommend Eric Tyson's Mortgages For Dummies. It is very concise, clear, easy to understand and concentrates solely on the basics. After you have acquired some basic knowledge of the lending process, then come back to Mr.Johsnon for some serious nuts and bolts tips and strategies. To me, that is the best way to maximize the insider info and stratagies mapped out in Mr. Johnson's book. However, for those of you versed in the lending lingo and who have been around the block a time or two when it comes to the home buying process, this book is definitely a must read. You need look no further for info that really will help you to save money on your next loan or refinance(but I still recommend MFDs , it can compliment or elaborate on alot of the info mentioned in Randy's book). So, all in all, a good read for the novice and for the semi-pro.

This book is written by a mortgage industry insider and makes the claim that it will reveal the inner workings or even secrets of the process of obtaining a mortgage. And there is some interesting detail concerning ARMs, lender rate sheets, zero-point loans, etc.

But I think the book lacks organization and consistency. Like a lot of "insider" books it needed to have been read by a lot of "outsiders" for coherency before publishing. The author is not consistent in using the terminology that he defines at the start. He often is not clear about when he is talking about the firm originating your loan or the ultimate buyer of the loan. He creates as much confusion as clarity in his sloppy use of the terms: rebates, points, loan discount points, or loan origination points. Furthermore, for a detail-oriented book I was surprised that section numbers of a standard settlement form, 800, 900, 1000, etc, were not referred to when discussing closing costs.

I would have like to have seen more realistic discussion about the ability of a consumer to force a loan originator to reveal or discuss the profit margin on a loan as the author suggests one do. As far as I know American businesses are not in the habit and in fact resist revealing markups to consumers.

For some readers this book may be just what they are looking for, but I suspect that for most the detail is just not presented in a way that makes it particularly understandable or usable.

This is one of the books I bought when I bought my first house. It's a fine reference source if you want to know what all the different mortgage options are (e.g., what's the difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage, what indexes are ARMs tied to, etc.). And the author--Randy Johnson--makes honest recommendations on which mortgages best suit certain typical lifestyles or income scenarios. Also, one of the books great strengths is the discussion of how many discount points to pay. The one thing I found missing, though*, was at least one real-world scenario that you're likely to see used if you visit a mortgage broker in my neck of the woods [Silicon Valley], or other high-priced regions. And that is the use of a 'first' and a 'second' mortgage in a so-called "piggyback financing" or "80-10-10 financing" arrangement which can help you eliminate Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). There's no in-depth discussion of this technique--which is very common--which I found incredible. There's all this advice on getting an ARM tied to the CD index vs. the LIBOR index with a balloon payment if you stay in your house for 3 years instead of 10 years and so on and so forth...but nothing about getting a conforming, fixed-rate, 30-year first mortgage and a smaller second in a technique to reduce your overall payments during the lives of the loans. It's a simple technique, and very worth a detailed analysis, but I couldn't find it. Anyway, like I said, if you want to know esoteric information about mortgages, then this is a worthy book. It helped me, it's just a little shy of a full-fledged 5-star effort.

*Please Note: The review written above pertained to the 1st edition which I initially gave a 4-star rating. The second edition--which I now own also--has effectively covered "Piggyback" loans (i.e, 80-10-10 transactions), which I think propels this book into a solid 5-star work. The second edition also has updated information on shopping for a mortgage on the Internet, and some [though not all] of the examples that show different types of mortgages have had their interest rates brought more into line with present-day (i.e., 2002) rates. This is an excellent book for folks who want to know all about mortgages.

It's 1859 in Whittaker, Michigan. Belle Palmer has just suffered a grueling escape as a slave from the north, and has been separated from her father. She finds safety with the Best's, a free black family. Which includes the handsome Daniel Best, an educated 18-year-old boy. Belle falls in love with him, but not before she finds out that he is already engaged to the pettiset girl of color. What she doesn't completely realize, is that secretly Daniel loves her too.

This was an excellent historical romance aimed at sharing the truths of slaves and what they had to go through, and love. Obviously Beverly Jenkins is quite the writer, being able to write romances for not only adults but teens as well. I hope to read more by her.

Avon True Romance presents Harlequin-style fare: beautiful people fall in love at first sight and then must overcome some conflict to be together, the conflict usually being that one of them already has a significant other. In this series, the beautiful people happen to be young adults.
In Belle and the Beau, a prominent black family takes in a fugitive slave girl who falls for their oldest son, who is already practically engaged to fast Francine. Details about the abolition movement in the United States are neatly woven throughout the story as the Best family educate Belle about the Underground Railroad, Frederick Douglass, and anti-slavery conventions. She even learns to read. Jenkins really presents an intelligent romance with accurate historical details and fleshed out characters.
The stories are predictable, sweet and innocent, but the writing is solid, the covers attractive and the historical details accurate. I don't think any teens will pick these up if they are already avid fans of adult series romance, but younger teens may find them appealing and won't find any objectionable material -- perhaps to their dismay.

Belle has lived all her sixteen years in slavery. As a young girl she lost her mother, who was sold away. Her father has decided that he wants a better life for himself and his daughter, so they flee Kentucky, hoping to reach freedom in Canada. But the two are separated, and Belle finds herself lost and alone in Michigan. She is found by the side of the road by Daniel and Josephine Best, the children of free black parents who operate a station on the Underground Railroad. Belle finds herself taken in by the Bests, being treated like a member of the family. But while enjoying her newfound freedom, she also longs for news of her father. And though she doesn't mean to, Belle finds herself falling in love with Daniel, even though he is already engaged to another. Can they ever be together, and will Belle ever find her father again? I highly recommend this book to teenage girls who enjoy historical romances.

Mark Curriden and Leroy Phillips, Jr. in Contempt of Court look at the case of Ed Johnson, a black man given a stay of exection by Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan after he was tried and convicted for rape in a misguided and injudicial trial. The Supreme Court was ignored and the poor man was lynched which provoked the Supreme Court to the unusual action of becoming involved. This is a well written and exciting telling of the events and will carry the reader along on a wave of outrage. It is sure to be turned into an exciting film. It does not, unfortunately, tell the whole story of lynching, nor is to trying to. This one action by the Supreme Court belies the inactivity of the court and the justice system to stem the tide of lynching and racial injustice. But that story is told in other books and the reader will find this particular book a fascinating footnote on legal and racial history in America, both good and bad.

Contempt of Court presents a history of a long-ago legal proceeding, an important one now nearly forgotten. Curriden and Phillips keep it engaging from start to finish. They've done a wonderful job of recreating the passions and pressures of a southern city in the Jim Crow era. Readers get more than an understanding of the law. They get to know the people who participated in a landmark case -- from Noah Parden, a black lawyer who battled overwhelming odds to take a poor man's case to the Supreme Court, to Sheriff Joseph Schipp, who let a lynch mob subvert the rule of law. The book offers many well-drawn scenes, such as the crime against Nevada Taylor, Parden's audience with Justice John Marshall Harlan and the lynching itself. All are sketched in great detail. And there's the jail-house prayer service the African-American community held for Ed Johnson, an innocent man, who facing death, found dignity and faith in God. Contempt of Court proves that American law isn't only about legal arguments. It's also abou living, breathing human beings, with their capacities for heroism and evil.

Black man accused of raping a white woman. Shakey identification. All white judge, jury, police, sheriff, and all lawyers on both sides. A death penalty case. A jury in the midst of trial jumps up and threatens to rip the defendant's heart out on the spot. He is found guilty. From date of crime to guilty verdict--one week. Defendant advised by his own lawyers after trial: you have two choices, waive appeal and let the State execute you, or appeal and let the mob lynch you.

Then two Black lawyers take up the case. The Supreme Court is horrified at the gross miscarriage of justice, and issues a stay. But the mob, with the Sheriff's apparent approval, decides the legal process is just taking too long, and lynches the defendant.

Contempt of Court tells this story in great detail, bringing all of the characters to life. A fascinating history of the role racism played in the courts at the turn of the century.

But the heart of the book is what followed the lynching. Unlike most cases which were quickly forgotten, the Supreme Court itself instituted contempt charges against the Sheriff for failing to carry out its stay of execution. This is the one and only contempt proceeding ever tried in the Supreme Court itself. It also marked the first time the federal courts had ever sought to review a state court criminal proceeding--setting the stage for such well known rules as "Miranda" and the exclusionary rule.

I completely agree with the blurb on the book's cover. This volume belongs on the shelf next to Simple Justice and Gideon's Trumpet.

This was a very, very good book for children, and, I believe, adults. With Betsy and her new friend Tacy, you'll be feel like you are right along with them. It's a good book to read when you're lonley. Even when my friend Kristin, who is usually inseperable from me, and I are in a fight, these books always seem to... erm... calm me down. It's better than listening to Grease music or doing yoga in your brothers room or dancing in the rain, really , it is. I reccomend this book to readers of all ages.

This book begins with a little girl's fifth-birthday party; in my family it has become a tradition to give it to any little girl for her fifth birthday, and it's always wonderful to do so, because you feel you're sharing something really special.

Betsy and Tacy are imaginative and adventuresome and wholly appealing. Though the setting is far removed in time (far, at least for a small child), the characters and situations remain appealing and true, particularly the relationships between younger and older sisters.

This is just an ideal book to read to a child too young to read it -- the series grows with the person, so that after a few years the child can read on her own, and Betsy and Tacy can keep her company all the way through high school.

For my 8th birthday my Mom and Dad gave me the Betsy-Tacy Treasury which contained this book and Betsy-Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over Big Hill, and Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. I have just finished the whole thing and now I am 11. I have read it many others times and I find it amazing that I still appciate it at age 11. Whenever we go to the libary I look for smaller printed books but even though this has fairly large print I think it is a wonderful book. I found it when I was in organizing my family's books and started to read it and couldn't put it down. I loved this book and if you do you should read the rest of the Betsy-Tacy book series.

This book captures the essence of people with passion, whether it be golf, music, nature...Vold writes from the heart and makes me wish I could meet each of these legendary women. For those who play gold, i believe there is also technical wisdom that might help any golfer who shares a passion for the sport with the women in the book.

Harvey Penick was a legend whose wisdom and teaching became part of golf's magical lore. Different Strokes, The Lives and Teachings of the Game's Wisest Women, is destined to become one of the great golf books of all time. It will become a welcome addition to the golf addict's library and snuggle proudly next to the tomes of the beloved Penick. In fact, Mr. Penick is probably smiling, knowing there is now a treasured addition to golf's folklore from the distaff side. Author Mona Vold, a writer and golfer, has written a remarkable book -- full of golfing tips and philosophy. But is is more. It is the story of a group of incredibly talented women who not only loved the game and were successful at the game, but wound up their careers "making the game simple and fun" for thousands of their students. Meet Dot Germain, Annette Thompson, Shirley Spork, Peggy Kirk Bell, Kathy Whitworth, Betty Jameson, Gloria Armstrong, Wiffi Smith, Jackie Pung, Phyllis Meekins and many more. Mickey Wright, Ellen Griffen, Patty Berg, Babe Zaharias and Glenna Collet Vare, women whose impact on golf was enormous, come alive in this entertaining book. Their stories are facinating and fantastic, and you'll root for Vold to do a sequel.

For those of you who have just begun playing golf and for those of you have already become addicted to the sport, this book is for you. Vold makes women golf legends like Kathy Whitworth come alive with the stories of the hardships and fun of the originators of the LPGA. But this is not just a book of stories. There are valuable, common sense tips that you can use today. (although don't try to use them all at once...you'll go crazy) I will treasure this book and will make it the centerpiece of my growing golf book collection. Read it!