Hooking Up: A Girl's All-out Guide to Sex And Sexuality

Hooking Up: A Girl's All-out Guide to Sex And Sexuality
Average customer rating:

Shortcomings

Amber Madison

An informative book for this new generation

Serious Omissions, Flippant Style

Strongly Recommended Resource

Hooking Up: A Girl's All-out Guide to Sex And Sexuality
Amber Madison
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sexuality | Health | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Sexuality | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books
Nonfiction | Dating & Intimacy | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1591024706

Book Description

Where does a young woman find straight talk about sex? From her friends, siblings, school? And how can you tell whether the information from those sources is accessible, accurate, and complete? Books will give facts, but the clinical approach of most books on sex makes the subject as approachable as a cold instrument in the gynecologist's office, and certainly offers little insight into the emotional issues and real-life dilemmas that surround sex and sexuality.

Now Amber Madison gives you just what you've been looking for: comprehensive and accurate information delivered in a style so down-to-earth that it's just like talking to your older sister or one of your best friends. Now there is an educational book about sex that is as captivating as a novel, and as fun as a slumber party. Hilarious, uninhibited, and chock full of must-have knowledge about safer sex and sexuality, Hooking Up gives you a tour of female anatomy plus frank talk on a slew of meaningful issues concerning sexual activity and intimacy. Revealing her own experiences and sometimes humorous mishaps, Amber covers topics ranging from safer sex and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy to being comfortable with your own body; being aware of stereotypes surrounding female sexuality; and understanding guys' bodies, emotions, and their insecurities. She teaches you how to avoid being pressured into sex and equips you with the tools to be safe and responsible if you engage in sexual activities. All medical information has been reviewed and endorsed by both Margaret Higham, MD, medical director of Tufts University Health Service, and Diana L. Dell, MD, Duke University Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In a voice that is both informative and engaging, Amber will educate, entertain, and empower you—or a young lady you care about— to deal wisely with the questions, decisions, and consequences that surround sex and intimate relationships.

Customer Reviews:

Shortcomings.......2007-07-11

One of the reviewers - David L. Jenkins, from Virginia - comments, "How graphic is the chapter on the benefits of Abstinence? Counter culture concepts can be just way so.... freaky." Translation: there *is* no chapter on abstinence, as I found out when I actually read the book. Evidently this was meant to be sarcasm, but without a broader context a "clever" one-liner like this zinger becomes unintelligible.

That said, I do wish Madison had spent somewhat more time on abstinence, so I knocked off a star for that.

I was also disheartened that the book is coached entirely in "girls with guys" terms and seems written exclusively for heterosexuals. There *is* a "Chapter 14. Sexual Orientation: Gay? Straight? Questioning", in which the words Gay and Straight are crossed out. This chapter feels like an afterthought and one that really is restricted to the questioning element - "Gee, how do I know if I'm gay or not?" Only one page is dedicated to being gay as an actuality, with the header "I'm Pretty Sure I'm A Lesbian - So Now What?," followed by facile bulleted paragraphs -

- You are not alone.
- You are still normal.
- You are still at risk. (ie. of contracting STDs, or of becoming pregnant if you still choose to have sex with men)
- It will be OK.

That's...nice?...but here's an experiment: try "I'm pretty sure that I'm Straight - So Now What?" and see if one page is sufficient.

No, the author wrote a book to cover *that* eventuality. And here's the thing: much of the information in this book is something to which women across the spectrum can relate. Had Madison simply used more inclusive language throughout the book she would have done beautifully. Instead she wrote a book that purports to be a "girl's all-out guide to sex & sexuality" but wrote it in a way that makes it seem needlessly exclusivist. So that's where my second star went.

The intent of the author, as she said was to both write from her own experience, and from an youthful vantage, as someone who is still close to a lot of the concerns that young women are facing. I think she did a good job of that for the most part and agree that, for the most part, it grants the book its strength and appeal, *and* usefulness. If she ever does come back to it in second edition form, though, I hope that she will consider:

A. Giving abstinence a little more coverage (just because other books do doesn't mean you need to compensate by neglecting it), and
B. Writing the book so that it is more inclusive in its sense and sensibility.

Amber Madison.......2007-03-29

This book was extreamly informative and funny. This book was a quick reader and unlike every other sex book is short but has a ton of information. If you want a book that is easy to get through and informs you about any chicks struggles with sex and sexual this book is it.

An informative book for this new generation.......2007-03-21

Amber Madison demonstrates the importance of connecting with her audience. The book is written for teens, by a young woman who has experienced this chapter in her own life. "Hooking Up" is not a textbook, it is a book that may entice adolescents, both male and female, to read each chapter in its entirety.

Teenagers will do what they want in this new hooking up generation and the book is simply a resource to provide young adults with important information regarding some of the common issues faced by sexually active beings. The knowledge provided to young women (and men) via this book increases awareness, paticularly about topics relating to sex such a STDs, pregnancy and good decision making strategies.

During this generation of casual flings and hookups, it is the notion that women are in danger of being viewed as sexual beings that often elicits fear throughout society. Perhaps a book that rightfully suggests the natural needs of women and men alike provides the solution.

Serious Omissions, Flippant Style.......2007-03-16

As far as medical facts and mechanics go, I have no quarrel with this book. I am troubled, however, by its omissions and general tone. It says nothing about love or marriage. Its style is breezy and jocular to the point of being flippant, undermining any serious statements it might contain. I don't see wisdom here.

The book regurgitates 1970s Feminist views of sexuality. Unlike this author, many Feminists of that period now believe that they were at least partially wrong. Some acknowledge that the sexual revolution has been a disaster for women.

The book's index indicates that there is something about love on 17 pages. Examination of those pages, however, fails to reveal anything on that subject. "What's love got to do with it?" Nothing, evidently. There is no index entry for "marriage."

Perhaps the most serious statement in the book is about losing one's virginity, p 74. "Make sure that you are morally and spiritually at peace with the idea of having sex before you do it." That is excellent advice but it is undermined by a statement on p 73 on the same subject, "For some (the right guy) means someone who says he loves you, and for others it means someone who says he knows your last name."

We should, I think, try to live our lives so that we can be happy. This requires living so as to minimize regrets. One can always try to forgive oneself, but when serious mistakes pile up, the subconscious will not allow that and unhappiness results. This author's attitudes are a guaranteed recipe for unhappiness for many, probably most, girls and women.

Young readers of this book should also read and seriously consider the ideas expressed in "unhooked" (Laura Sessions Stepp, 2007) and "A Return to Modesty" (Wendy Shalit, 1999).

Strongly Recommended Resource.......2007-03-13

One of the most important things that can be done to encourage adolescent and young women to make safe, responsible decisions about their sexuality is to provide them with the tools and information necessary to make those decisions. Amber's book, Hooking Up-A Girls All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality, does just that, and does it in a very balanced way. She discusses the positives AND the negatives associated with a variety of behaviors and decision-making processes, and presents girls with the information necessary to understand how and why their bodies and emotions function as they do.

Amber writes in a conversational tone and with a sense of humor that makes the book an easy read and, perhaps more importantly, easy to comprehend. The book covers just about everything young women need to know in a short, concise format that is not intended to be a treatise on the subject, but rather an introduction to what they need to know to understand how their sexuality impacts them and their bodies at this age. It is also a good read for guys who want some insight into what women face as they learn to manage their own sexuality.

This book accomplishes its purpose so well that I have placed it at the top of my "Must Read" list for teenagers and young women. I wish I had had this book or a book like it when I was in high school, and I'd definitely recommend that any parent give it to their daughter.

Dear Soldier: I Pray for You Every Night Before I Go to Bed

Average customer rating:

Reviewed by Ashley Denis
A warm tribute filled with children's sincerity
just precious!
Such a Great Little Book
Awesom book

Dear Soldier: I Pray for You Every Night Before I Go to Bed
Barbara W. Baldwin , Amber Baldwin D'Amico , and Heather Baldwin Duff
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Motivational | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591454808

Book Description

This collection of letters from across the United States written in each child's own hand, offers active duty soldiers and veterans and their families comfort, reassurance, and a delightful dose of humor.

Customer Reviews:

Reviewed by Ashley Denis.......2007-06-13

This collection of letters was both colorful in its words and in its pictures. Whether children are asking our soldiers to please come home safe, what guns they use in Iraq, or telling them about the pets they have in their homes, these children are all very aware of what is going on in Iraq; they know they are there fighting for our freedom and risking their necks to do it.

As you turn the pages, taking a look into each child's perception of the war, and learning what questions they desire to ask of our soldiers, you'll notice you have an array of emotions. Laughter is not a stranger as you read through these letters, especially when you read something like "how do you take a bath?" or "I have lots of friends here. Some are tall like a house, and some are short, but I like them anyways." Other times you feel your heart wrench at how considerate some of the letters are; "Try not to get hurt, ok? One thing the earth doesn't need is more hurt people." Or "You make me confident in everything. You make me feel safe in what I do." Statements like these are raw and real emotions that children are pouring out in their letters to these men and women in Iraq.

It is so inspiring in reading about the concerns children can possess for people they don't even know, as well as the innocence of a child when they ask the most simple of questions because they are truly interested in what type of food these men and women like to eat, and where they live, and what they do in their spare time when they are not being soldiers.

I found myself laughing on one letter, and crying on the next. Not only is this book a compilation of letters to our soldiers, I believe it is also a small piece of the positive side of life; an inside scoop into a child's creative mind as it spills over onto the letters with which they write; "I hope this letter from me will make you feel at home. I hope this letter will make you feel a little less scared. ...Whoever gets this letter, please don't die. If you do die with my letter so that will let the world know that I care for each and every one of you out there in the war."

I think Tim, says it best in his letter when he says "if you get hurt, make sure you get to a doctor!"

A warm tribute filled with children's sincerity.......2007-06-05

"I pray for you every night before I go to bed."

While volunteering to assemble care packages for our troops serving in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, Barbara Warfield Baldwin and her daughters came across heartfelt and compelling letters to the troops from local children that served to brighten the Baldwins' days. Dear Soldier is the compilation of many of these letters and pictures.

Meant to uplift the troops' spirits as well as boost the morale of the general public, Dear Soldier will have you reading out loud to whomever is in the room. The honesty and sincerity of kids is great. With phrases like "I hope that yall find that Osama Bin ladin," and "My brother says that he wants to be in the war. I'm thinking I might join him," you can see why these letters mean so much to our troops. And with lines like, "you might think I'm stupid but I made it to forth grade so I make A's and B's, so there," you can't help but laugh and share.

These letters and drawings are photocopied so you don't only get to read them, but see the handwriting and erase marks. Seeing what is important to the children as they were writing is precious. My primary criticism is that for some reason a couple of letters were repeated in the compilation. But don't let that sway you.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a great book to give as a gift, especially to our serving troops.

just precious!.......2007-02-19

I saw this book in the store, read part of it...and cried..lol. This is one of the most precious things I have ever seen! As an Army wife, and a soon to be teacher, I got this book to use at home and in the classroom. AMAZING!

Such a Great Little Book.......2007-02-16

I bought five copies to hand out to several military units. They are morale boosters. Those kids are awesome and so endearing. Thanks doesn't do justice the range of emotion their letters caused.

Awesom book.......2007-01-01

This is such a wonderful book and as vet of Viet Nam War I really appreciate the authors for doing this book. Whether we support the war or not we need to make sure the veterans aren't treated awful like many from my generation were. These are brave men and women who are at war to help keep our country free. I personally do support the war and President Bush's efforts to defeat the terroists. I have been involved helping veterans over 30 years.

The Amber Forest: A Reconstruction of a Vanished World.

Average customer rating:

Bob Newman's review explains everything
Bugs, Plants, Frogs in Sap Tip Us to Primeval Jungle
Amber

The Amber Forest: A Reconstruction of a Vanished World.
George, Jr. Poinar , and Roberta Poinar
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Quest for Life in Amber (Helix Book)
Lebanese Amber: The Oldest Insect Ecosystem in Fossilized Resin
Amber: Window to the Past
Amber
Amber: Golden Gem of the Ages: Fourth Edition

ASIN: 0691057281

Amazon.com

Long thought to be unique to the Baltic region, amber--fossilized tree sap, often bearing the remains of ancient plants and animals--is widely distributed throughout the world. Here entomologists George and Roberta Poinar take readers on a tour of one out-of-the-way amber bed, located in the rainforest of the Dominican Republic, that formed over a period between 45 and 15 million years ago. This particular amber, formed mostly from the pungent sap of the algarrobo tree, attracted many curious creatures, including stingless bees and scorpions, as well as bits and pieces of material that happened to be floating by: hairs from a long-extinct Antillean rhinoceros and a saber-toothed tiger, spider webs, and seeds from plants that now take on slightly different forms. The Poinars' findings show that the prehistoric Antilles region, formed from large-scale volcanic and tectonic events, has declined in biodiversity, and they help give a more complete picture of the ancient climate than has hitherto been available.

The Poinars catalog the Dominican remains in great detail, and general readers may find their descriptions to make for slow going. But readers with some knowledge of or interest in paleontology, as well as collectors of amber specimens, will likely be fascinated by the window into the distant past that the New World amber affords. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

In Jurassic Park, amber fossils provided the key to bringing dinosaurs back to life. Scientists in the movie extracted dinosaur blood from mosquitoes preserved for millions of years in amber--hardened tree resin--and used the blood's DNA to revive the creatures that terrified audiences around the globe. In this book, George and Roberta Poinar use amber for a similar act of revival--only they bring back an entire ecosystem. The Poinars are world leaders in the study of amber fossils and have spent years examining the uniquely rich supply that has survived from the ancient forests of the Dominican Republic. They draw on their research here to reconstruct in words, drawings, and spectacular color photographs the ecosystem that existed on the island of Hispaniola between fifteen and forty-five million years ago. The result is the most accurate picture scientists have yet produced of any tropical forest of the past.

The specimens examined by the Poinars reflect amber's extraordinary qualities as a medium for preservation. Millions of years ago, countless plants, invertebrates, and small vertebrates were trapped in the sticky resin that flowed from the trees of ancient forests and, as that resin hardened into translucent, golden amber, they were preserved in almost perfect condition. Samples analyzed and illustrated here include a wide range of insects and plants--many now extinct--as well as such vertebrates as frogs, lizards, birds, and small mammals. There are even frozen scenes of combat: an assassin bug grappling with a stingless bee, for example, and a spider attacking a termite. By examining these plants and animals and comparing them to related forms that exist today, the authors shed new light on the behavior of these organisms as well as the environment and climate in which they lived and died.

The Poinars present richly detailed drawings of how the forests once appeared. They discuss how and when life colonized Hispaniola and what caused some forms to become extinct. Along the way, they describe how amber is formed, how and where it has been preserved, and how it is mined, sold, and occasionally forged for profit today. The book is a beautifully written and produced homage to a remarkable, vanished world.

Customer Reviews:

Bob Newman's review explains everything.......2007-09-23

This is a phenomenal book which will present a very thorough, and brilliant, "lecture" all in a single book. The hard bound edition is beautiful, and is a book I will probably never sell, it is an excellent book!

It really is like sitting through an Ivy League lecture, though it isn't something many will find too difficult to follow (I hope. . .) It is a rare find.

I should note, most people overlook the hardbound editions, which are often cheaper than paperback :)

Bugs, Plants, Frogs in Sap Tip Us to Primeval Jungle.......2004-10-18

Millions of years ago, a meat-eating animal snuck through the primeval forest in what is now the Dominican Republic. Taking a short break in the shade of the towering canopy, it sat on some bamboo shoots which broke off in its fur. As the animal continued on its search for its next meal, the shoots began to irritate it. Growling (as I imagine), it rubbed up against an algarrobo tree. Some of the irritating plant fell out, along with one or two of the animal's hairs. These things fell into some resin or sap which exuded from the tree. The sap preserved them perfectly. Later the large drop of sap fell to the ground, was covered by debris which turned to earth, burying the sap completely. It lay there for a million or more years, then the ocean rose, taking the object to the bottom, where it was polished or preserved for more millions of years. Finally, due to the tectonic movements of the earth's plates, the ocean bottom where the (now) amber lay rose up into the mountains of an island. When Europeans arrived there in the tiny fragment of time known as "history" in this whole unbelievable span, they dug out the amber and found the preserved proof of that one moment in an animal's activities a possible 25 million years ago !

Poinar and Poinar have created a fascinating scientific work with their reconstruction of what the forest of that epoch looked like. Using the thousands of examples of plants, seeds, petals, leaves, pollen, insects, and frogs or lizards that fell into the tree sap and were preserved like time capsules, they describe the ancient jungle long before any man trod this earth. They rely on the principle of behaviorial fixity-that is, the idea that species that fill certain ecological niches today did so in the past as well. They describe dozens of strange creatures, mostly insects (because they were abundant and small enough to get trapped often) that inhabit today's tropical forests as well as those in the past. The majority of the book is devoted to describing as many organisms as possible with an enormous number of black and white photographs and line drawings to help your imagination. They also have a whole section of color photographs of the actual amber pieces. At the end there is a short reconstruction (or summary) of the whole vanished forest as well as an interesting discussion of climatic change and the reason for the disappearance of many species between that time and the present. Not being a person with a scientific background, I found all these things excitingly different from my usual reading fare, but the language used-apart from having to deal with such terms as homozygotic, depurination, dehiscent, and phytotelmata, which don't exactly roll off my tongue-is understandable by any educated lay reader. I found THE AMBER FOREST one of the most fascinating books of science that I have ever read and one of the best books in any field that I've read recently. If learning about the symbiosis of plants and insects, parasites and hosts, ants and fungus, in fact all the biological world of a long-gone jungle, has any appeal to you, don't miss this work.

Amber.......2001-02-25

This book tells of the author's adventures looking for amber as well as facts about it.

Average customer rating:

A CHARMING STORY WITH LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Magnificent tale and artwork
A Wonderful Book for Kindergarteners and First Graders
Average Read, But For Age Limited Audience
Wonderful!

Amber on the Mountain (Picture Puffins)
Tony Johnston , and Robert Duncan
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 014056408X

Book Description

Amber's mountain is beautiful, but it is a lonely place--until the day Anna arrives, bringing both her friendship and the will to teach Amber how to read. Suddenly, Amber's world is filled with a new magic--and new challenges. But when Anna returns to the city, will Amber be able to keep reading on her own? Heartwarming. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review Tony Johnston's previous books include Grandpa's Song and Yonder (both Dial and Puffin). She lives in San Marino, California. Robert Duncan is a fine artist whose paintings have been exhi-bited throughout the United States. He lives in Midway, Utah.

Customer Reviews:

A CHARMING STORY WITH LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.......2005-07-23

Enhanced with subtle rich oil paintings, "Amber on the Mountain" is the story of a girl who wants to learn. Amber is a mountain girl who has no one to teach her.

And then, Anna arrives - a girl her own age whose father is going to build a new road. Although Anna has to leave the mountain before she can teach Amber everything she wishes, Amber perseveres in her quest to learn.

This charming story teaches the value of education, friendship, and the importance of working for what you want.

Magnificent tale and artwork.......2001-07-19

Amber on the Mountain is a beautifully written and illustrated childrens book.

The tale itself draws young readers into the high mountains where Amber lives.

Robert Duncan's nature paintings are realistic and breathtaking.

A simple, secluded mountain family with a darling young daughter who befriends a newcomer. A heartwarming story for the eyes and ears.

Amber on the Mountain would be a wonderful gift for a young reader. Pair this book with Tony Johnston and Lloyd Bloom's ' Yonder ' and you'll have an excellent gift.

A Wonderful Book for Kindergarteners and First Graders.......2000-11-09

This is a really special book. It is all about learning to read and write and why someone might want to do so. The pictures are among the best I've seen in any children's book. The story is well told. It's also a lovely story about friendship and giving. For a kindergartener or first grader learning to read and write it is particularly appropriate.

Average Read, But For Age Limited Audience.......2000-09-26

Probably best for 6-8 yrs. I read this story to my 4 and 6 year-olds. My 4 year old was quickly bored, because the story dwells on a topic that is not interesting for young story listeners--learning to read. My 6 year old was mildly interested, but there are too many books that she'd rather have read to her. The illustrations are as good as you'll see for a childrens book, but that alone can't salvage a dull story, that only a select age group will pay attention to.

Wonderful!.......2000-04-01

This book was wonderful. If you have never seen paintings by Robert Duncan, you have to buy this. His illustrations are incredible.

Average customer rating:

A great read all around!
Very interesting and easy to see the scientific adventure.

Quest for Life in Amber (Helix Book)
George Poinar , Roberta Poinar , and Poinar
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Genetics | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

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General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

The Amber Forest: A Reconstruction of a Vanished World.
Amber
Amber: Window to the Past
Lebanese Amber: The Oldest Insect Ecosystem in Fossilized Resin
Amber: Golden Gem of the Ages: Fourth Edition

ASIN: 0201489287

Customer Reviews:

A great read all around!.......1999-08-22

I was digging for books about amber to write a genetics report and chose this one. I couldn't have chosen a better book! It was more than a scientific study, it was an all around adventure book! The author draws you right in. I'd suggest this book to anyone anyday!

Very interesting and easy to see the scientific adventure........1998-09-28

This book is very interesting and easy to readers who want to know about scientific quest for ancient animals and plants in amber. The authors wrote this book very well to describe and explain scientists' life for exploring secret and truth of Nature. It isn't too scientific for people to understand about amber. And it isn't too plain to describe the scientific quest. I think this book is good for both students who are going to study biology and people who would like to explore the world of science.

Average customer rating:

Arthropods in Baltic Amber
Jens-wilhelm Janzen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Includes 72 pages of color photographs. Contents include: Keys and cladograms, Characteristics of the higher arthropod taxa in Baltic Amber, Color Photos, Appendix.

Average customer rating:

A Gem of a Book
Strong Female Protagonist - strong writing
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
I like this pennie girl very much
Just Like Being Home Again

Penny From Heaven
Jennifer L. Holm
Manufacturer: Listening Library (Audio)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
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Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book)
Gone Wild (Caldecott Honor Book)

ASIN: 0739331116
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Book Description

It’s 1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!

Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families–about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!

Jennifer L. Holm is the grandniece of Alice Amelia Holm, a Finnish-American girl born on the Nasel River in Washington state during the nineteenth century. The recent discovery of her grandaunt’s diary and her ancestors’ adventures in the Pacific Northwest inspired the character of May Amelia from her Newbery Honor Book Our Only May Amelia, available on audio from Listening Library. Ms. Holm produces television commercials and lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York, where she is working on her next book.

Customer Reviews:

A Gem of a Book.......2007-08-20

Being a Newbery Honor book, I had to give this book a read. I definitely wasn't disappointed! This was a beautifully written coming-of-age story that children and young adults will be able to enjoy for years to come. Jennifer Holm, author of the Newbery Award winning book, Our May Amelia, is back with another lovely book about children growing up faster than they should have too, but enjoying themselves on the journey.

Penny, a half-Italian girl living with her mother and grandparents in New Jersey, longs to know more about what happened to her father. Her died when she was very young and her mother never speaks of him. The only time Penny is able to hear his name mentioned is when she is over at her Italian grandparents house, where her myriad of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins never fail to talk about her dad. Penny loves spending time in this boisterous household where food is always delicious and her best friend and cousin Frankie spends most of his time.

Unfortunately, Penny's mother doesn't get along with her in-laws and doesn't like Penny spending all of her time over there. As her mother begins dating, Penny tries to break up the dates in order to matchmake between her mother and her father's brother, Dominic. Penny, more than anything, wants her two families to love each other as she loves them. After a tragic accident that puts the use of Penny's arm in jeopardy, the true colors of her family members really begin to shine.

Set in the 1950's this book is so much more than family problems. It has exciting baseball games, friendships, and a mystery of buried treasure. The characters are incredibly real and lovable. Uncle Dominic was probably my favorite of the cast, because of his quirkiness and mystery. This is a true gem of a book.

Strong Female Protagonist - strong writing.......2007-07-06

This delightful piece of historical fiction set in New Jersey in the 1950's explores the life of "Penny" who lives with a single mother and grandparents, but who has a whole other life on Sundays with her father's family, a large Italian American one with uncles who dote on her. The mystery that threads itself through this story is that no one will talk about her father, and how and why he died. Or, why the families do not intereact, except through her.

Strong writing, a strong female protagonist, and interesting sub-plots all make for a delightful coming-of-age story, very appropriate for the upper elementary and middle school audience.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-06-23

PENNY FROM HEAVEN, a new offering by author Jennifer L. Holm, is an excellent pick for middle grade readers. Set in the early 1950's, it tells a story of everyday life and rich Italian heritage.

Penny lives with her mother and her grandparents. At the start of the novel, she's almost twelve. Most of her time is spent hanging out in the neighborhood with her cousin and best friend, Frankie.

Bike riding would be fun, but Penny's bike was unfortunately backed over in the driveway. Going swimming in the city pool or taking in an afternoon matinee sounds like quality entertainment, but Penny's mom believes those places are breeding grounds for the dreaded polio everyone seems to be contracting. That doesn't leave much to do, but Penny and Frankie always seem to find something to get into. It might be an attempt to fix the leaky toilet that turns into a major repair job, or the secret mission to discover if great-grandma Nonny wears black underwear to match her old-fashioned black dresses.

Penny is surrounded by tons of Italian aunts and uncles, but she misses her father. His death years ago is still shrouded in mystery, one that Penny seems unable to uncover. Her mother is becoming interested in Mr. Mulligan, the milkman. Penny's attempts to pair her mother up with favorite Uncle Dominic fail miserably.

Day-to-day life is pretty predictable for Penny and her family until the unthinkable happens. After a tragic accident, Penny finds herself making plans for a very different life. Readers' emotions will be tested as Penny's story unfolds.

Jennifer L. Holm is also known for Newbery Honor book Our Only May Amelia (Harper Trophy Books) and her Boston Jane Series: An Adventure series, which is my personal favorite.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

I like this pennie girl very much.......2007-05-24

She is a lot like alice, a girl in anothr book I like very much, only her mother died insted of her father. Pennie is very kind, and a little bit funny and a little bit sad. I like the way she thinks things over. I think I might read it again, if my sister will let me borrow it again. If I can think of something to trade. Books are like gold and chocolate around my house, people keep it for themselves. If you are thinking of buying this book, do it. You'll love it.

Just Like Being Home Again.......2007-05-05

Since both my sets of grandparents came from Italy, I'm usually wary of books that contain Italian families; they are either ga-ga over the Mafia or do not seem authentic. I was in love with Penny's wonderful Italian family immediately; I knew all these people in my own family. My dad's mother even did her cooking at a gas-converted coal stove in the basement because it was cooler in summer and she didn't want to "mess up" the nice kitchen upstairs! The food (sfogliatelles!), the homes, the loving uncles, the men torn between pleasing their mothers or their wives, the one male cousin who's always in trouble, Grandma dressed in black making homemade macaroni and homemade gravy (not "pasta" and "sauce," which are "Med-i-gone" terms!)...wow, it took me all back. Holm has the early 50s atmosphere down pat...I wished I could open a door and go back to meet all her characters, visit the Sweet Shoppe and the family butcher shop, and listen to "Dem Bums" on the radio. I also was drawn into the growing mystery about Penny's father, which exposes a chapter in history that most people have never heard of. I'm glad I decided to purchase this book; if you are Italian, this is a must have.

The "Amber Gods" and Other Stories (American Women Writers Series)

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The "Amber Gods" and Other Stories (American Women Writers Series)
Harriet Prescott Spofford
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0813514010

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Kayla R. The best book
Forever Amber Brown
My Thoughts
forever Amber brown
Forever Amber Brown

Forever Amber Brown
Paula Danziger
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Amber Brown Is Feeling Blue (Amber Brown)
Amber Brown Is Green With Envy (Amber Brown)
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ASIN: 0399229329

Customer Reviews:

Kayla R. The best book.......2007-04-02

ForeverAmber Brown is a wounderful book about a little girl named Amber Brown. This book is by Paula Danziger. What happens in the book is Amber's best friend Justin has moved away, her mom is dating and really loves the guy. He askes her to marry him. She thought they shoud go to Justins house so they did. They stayed there for a few days. Her mom makes a big choice on to marry the guy or not. Amber brown is not happy with the choice and later she likes the choice and Amber says"Forever Amber Brown." This book is a funny book. This book can happen. There is way more fun and and a good ending to the book. This book is the best book I have read in years.

Forever Amber Brown.......2004-12-14

Amber Brown's life is beginning to get strange. At first she's going home, then to do her homework, the next thing her mom's boyfriend Max, asks her mom to marry him. All then she's going on a trip to Alabama to visit her best friend Justin, and Amber Brown is getting curious. Amber Brown is a very funny and cool in the books by Paula Danziger. The fifth book that I read was Forever Amber Brown.

I absolutely love her books because they're mostly funny. I love the little pictures that the illustrator drew. They're not fancy there just simple and that's what I like about them. I absolutely don't dislike anything about the books. I love the books that Paula Danziger writes about Amber Brown.

My Thoughts.......2004-11-23

Forever Amber Brown was the first book I read in this series. When I saw this book I wanted to know how it feels to have your mom and dad divorce. When I read this book it answered my question! If you have a question like me, Forever Amber Brown might answer it. In fact, its my favorite Amber Brown book! I hope you get to read Forever Amber Brown!!!

forever Amber brown.......2000-03-27

Amber brown is a young girl,who does not like herself.She wisshes that she could change and be someone else.She wants to be perfect,she always finds the bad things that are wrong with her She never notices the good things about herself. At the end of the story she realizes that she is not going to change Amber will always be forever ''Amber Brown''.

Forever Amber Brown.......2000-03-03

Danziger, Paula. (1996). Forever Amber Brown. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Book Description

Amber has captured the human imagination for centuries, as amulets, ritual cups, and beads dating back 10,000 years attest. It is a fascinating substance, one that offers a unique intersection of the fields of paleontology, botany, entomology, and mineralogy. The fossilized resin of ancient trees, amber preserves organic material--most commonly insects and other invertebrates--and with it the shape and surface detail that are usually obliterated or hopelessly distorted during the mineralization we associate with fossils. To look at an ant or a bee caught in amber is to look not at an organism that has been turned to stone, but at the actual remains of an insect that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, remains that retain an uncanny semblance of life. Amber also offers clues to the evolution of certain behaviors, capturing such interactions as parasitism--a fruit fly with a parasitic mite still attached to it--or mutualism--a bubble of gas indicating the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut of a termite.

Unique to this book are identification keys to the most common insect inclusions as well as practical advice on how to identify all-too-common fakes. Amber will bring the study of this and its inclusions within reach of anyone with access to amber and a good magnifying glass.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful little book!.......2006-03-20

What a delight to find a relatively short, concise book on the subject of amber. The book contains "scientific" terms for those who are interested in such things and yet is well-written and easy to understand for those who may simply want to know how to identify real or fake ambers. Beautiful close-up photos with identifying text are abundant. As a geologist and former teacher of young students, I found this book a true treasure-find!

Excellent Beginner Book!.......2005-04-06

If you are already a die hard fan of fossil amber, then skip this book. However, if you are new to the hobby of collecting amber then by all means get this book. This was the first book I ever purchased on the subject of fossil amber and I have never been disappointed. It has great photography and easy to read, informative text. It mentions Colombian copal, Baltic, Chiapas, Lebanese, Dominican and more. It mentions the different types of fake amber, altered amber, and fake inclusions. This book deals with much on the subject, just not in great depth. It has a place on my bookshelf and will always be a permanent part of my reading material concerning the subject of fossil amber. This would be great for junior high science class reading material too. Great for the young and old who are interested in an easy read concering fossil amber!

A book for Amber Inclusion Fans.......2002-01-17

This is only a small book of 73 pages. It gives you a concise and well written account of how amber was formed and where in the world it is found. The Baltic area is one of the more prolific locations, but it is also found in places like Dominica and Burma. It also provides information on fakes and how to test amber, with practical instructions on how to do so.

The book is full of beautiful, clear photographs. However the emphasis is heavily on amber inclusions such as insect and plant life. If you have amber and you want to identify the insect/plant in it, then this is the book you want. It's overall content has obviously been heavily influenced by the movie "Jurassic Park".

However, despite these good points it does have some significant weakness'. It gives little information on the colour ranges available in amber. Some sort of colour chart would have been useful. It also does not supply information on the care and storage of amber.

In short, this book is a great introduction to amber and it's inclusions, but does not extend beyond that into amber artwork or some practical areas of amber ownership/maintance.

Great for amature amber lovers.......2001-10-31

This is a great book if you want to know basics on amber. The further you go through the book, it explains more in detail. Great in depth photos & easy to understand. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. If you like amber, this is the book to buy.

Concise information, beautiful illustrations.......1999-05-19

I am developing a natural history museum exhibit on amber and I found this book to be the most helpful source of information. This relatively small book abounds with photographs that make the various inclusions found within ambers easy to identify. The concise information is up to date and well suited for those readers without a science background, as well as those with a Ph.D. Compared to the various recent magazine articles and technical journals and books I've read, using this book has been the most efficient use of my time. It also includes a list of further readings and a couple of web sites (one of which has already provided me with important advice for how to protect amber from degrading). I strongly recommend this book.

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