This story journals the development of Papa's illness as seen through the eyes of his granddaughter. It explores the child's reactions to losing her beloved Papa as he goes through the various stages of his mind debilitating disease. Feelings of confusion, loss, and sorrow are explored and validated in this touching memoir. Eventually, the child comes to appreciate that our loved ones are never really gone from us, as long as we remember them.

This is a wonderful book for children of all ages that may dealing with separation, illness, death, or any source of personal loss. It is also an excellent resource for parents who want to validate their children's fears and feelings about loss.

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This is a true story about a little dog, lost in the woods with her three puppies and her brave and courageous efforts to care for them and survive against all odds.

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Story is based on a true story. The author after about 60 years wondered why she remembered that a certain lady (that she did not know real well) made a rag dog for her when she was very sick at 4 years old. She can't remember anything else that far back. Then after reading "The Celestine Prophecy" by James Redfield, she decided that the lady must have put a lot of her loving energy into the doll while making it, and that is the reason the memory of the gift lasted.

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Taxi tells the experiences of Anika, a 13 year old girl, who was born in South Africa, and has since lived in a few interesting places with her family. Her family includes her younger brother, Mom who is a celebrated painter, Dad the engineer and Monet, the little black Schnauzer, and together they have lived in places as far a field as the Deep South of the US, Washington DC, Holland and now China.

Taxi tells the story of Anika’s life, as seen through her eyes. Sometimes bitter sweet, sometimes very sad, as she struggles with growing up while frequently moving, even across whole continents. She tells the story of making peace with her surroundings, her experiences, good and bad with school, and ponder the meaning of life. Through her words we get to relive China, and experience this vast continent with its unique customs and food.

Taxi is a most entertaining read that will be enjoyed by young and old alike, and provides a fresh look at happiness and joys of growing up, if not in the most conventional way.

A Few Good Women by Inga Fredrikson Ferris: The author, as “Freddy”’ takes you with her as she faces all the indignities one can expect in Marine Corps boot camp, and some that we unexpected. On their last day, the drill instructor makes a big mistake, creating total chaos. Yet his parting words to them are “Yew women are stupid”.

Freddy is sent on to the Naval Air Tactical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma where for five months she studies to become an Aviation Machinist Mate, learning about all the things that can go wrong with a plane, and how to fix it. As he also learns that her bunkmate, Kilgallen, has recently spent ten years in a convent.

She fells uncomfortable around such piety until she discovers that while “Kil” retains great respect for her church, she has broken several Marine Corps regulations in order to get a transfer here from Washington, DC. (“There’s four hundred women there for every man, and all the men are marries.”)

That degree was not earned in mathematics or mechanical aptitude. Kil soon realizes it would be of little help to her here. She declares, “I’m a poet, a dreamer and a lover, and they’ll never make a mechanic out of me.” Clutching her rosary, she climbs up on her bunk and takes the problem to a Higher Power.

Theirs was the only entire class to transfer together to El Toro.

Sondra Metzger, editor of the Women Marines Association “Nouncements,” wrote of A Few Good Women, “Once I picked up this book, I had a hard time putting it down… It was a very interesting and easy read… Inga has a style of her own…gets to the point without being to descriptive and wordy. I really enjoyed her story telling, and I think you would too. Thank you, Inga, for sharing your experiences.”

Virginia Allred, past president of the National Women Marines Association, writes "For me, this book was a step back in time, an honest, vivid account of what life was like for Women Marines who served in World War II. The fast-paced dialog with clear verbal expressions makes for a quick and enjoyable read."

But this is not only a women’s book. Men, too, are curious to know what really goes on inside the women’s squad rooms. When my buddy, Pat Graves Smith, received her copy of A Few Good Women, Bob, her husband, would not let her have it until he finished reading it.

And Ted Fuller, columnist, writes that it’s “A candid, often graphic personal account that provides a long- overdue salute to the valiant, innovative women who served their country well.”

Diary of a Beckwatcher is a day to day story of Water Bailiff Jack Carter describing events that actually took place during a career spanning more than thirty years conserving salmon and sea trout stocks in Cumbria’s Lakeland Rivers.

The story begins in 1976 when as a rookie Bailiff Jack encounters his first offender. The seven man Bailiff team is headed by the highly respected Joe Marwood who is also Jacks father in law. All the team members have their own patch of river to patrol and the book outlines Jacks relationship with each one of them and of course all the many and varied poachers and illegal operators encountered. Salmon poaching was rife in south Lakeland in the seventies and eighties, but by the late nineties due to many years of successful prosecutions together with changes in demand for wild salmon finding a poaching incident became a rarity. Less unemployment and cheap farmed fish have made the risk very unattractive to most would be poachers. There are those die hards of course who never change.

The story of an aboriginal woman born on the trap line near Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories, 1935. See life on the land through Terry's young eyes Travel by dog team with her grandparents who adopted her. You will understand how she felt loved living in the remote wilderness . She lived with all that was wild and free. Never lacking anything she had fresh air,sky,hills,valleys,rivers,lakes,nature and animals. Her people were rich in traditional food, good health and freedom. Maps,pictures illustrations legends,and stories make the north come alive The reader learns, of the values and spiritual teachings, they taught her to respect. We learn of her sadness and losses in Residential School. Here nuns and priests were unsuccessful trying to break Terry's cultural spirit The experiences she had through spousal abuse, many women goes through. Terry here speaks out against violence, unfairness and injustice. Despite many illnesses and obstacles she was determined to win, no matter what. Writing this book, caring and respecting one another's beliefs and culture is Terry life dream . Learn Respect for Land, Water, Nature and all life on it, so our children and future generations will enjoy Mother Earth. Find inspiration in Terry’s message of personal courage.

Ahhh...sex, drugs, acne, & all that good stuff… Are you worried that you’re one of the few that didn’t lose your virginity? Are you pressured to smoke weed or to get “stoned?” Hate that you might have to give up your diet of cold pizza and chocolate to keep a blemish-free and smooth face? Yep, our teenage years…one big crapstorm after another. Although we may suffer through some hard times, we can get through this with good advice, confidence, and grace. We, the students of Union High School, feel your pain, because most of us probably went through the struggles that you are experiencing as of now. Remember, these years can still be some of the best years of your lives. We wish that what you will read will not only enlighten you but also entertain you (just read the chapter on sex). Our teenage years are like a roller coaster ride; sometimes, we are on the top, and sometimes, we are at the bottom. …isn’t life just great

Melvin Siggelkow was born in North Dakota in 1904, the youngest of six children. His mother died in the spring of 1905. The family emigrated to Saskatchewan in 1909. Melvin spent most of his childhood on a homestead in southern Saskatchewan He attended country schools going into, but not completing grade five. He learned how to work at a very young age. Melvin stayed with his father and helped him farm until 1927. He then moved to Montana working with his brother farming and custom harvesting. He did a lot of traveling during his free time and had some interesting adventures. He ended up in Minnesota during the early 30's, working on a road crew. Then back to Montana where he met and married Velma Belle Draper in 1936. They spent eight years in Portland, Oregon, then back again to Montana. They had four girls. In the course of his life Melvin owned or ran three different pool halls, three grocery stores, and a freight and coal business. He worked hard at whatever he did. Melvin died in Scobey, Montana in 1999 at the age of 94. This book is a brief account of his life, the joys, the struggles.

A collection of commentary and opinion, by a Korean/Cold War era veteran, originally produced as a series of e-columns for a veterans’ group on the internet. It covers the past eight years, from 9/11/01, through President Obama’s election, and the end of 2008. The subject matter ranges widely, touching on current events related to politics, economics, social issues, pop-culture, the Afghan and Iraq conflicts, the war on terror, and much more, along with a few of the author’s original cartoons and illustrations, inserted here and there, as visual punch lines.

Written in a conversational style and tone, with a tongue-in-cheek and slyly satirical perspective, it’s sometimes insightful, often provocative, while providing food for thought about many of these events and issues. Its contents are structured for easy browsing whenever the need for a quick bit of maverick outlook might arise.

Everybody's Favorite Brother (A real DC story) is a book about family life, faith, inspiration, growing up in the inner city, and black family life. It is a semi autobiography of the author, written about how his favorite brother's life touched his entire family. It is an inspirational book for children and for people of all ages. It is written in the hope to motivate and inspire children to live on the right side of the law. Through some of the authors, and his family, trials and tirbulations he tries to connect to the young reader with realism by showing the consequences of one's actions. It is an awesome and dramatic read for adults as well, because it deals with spirituality, faith, drugs and family life. This is a true story written from the authors memoirs. Everybody's Favorite Brother is about a black family growing up in Washington, DC in the 1960's and beyond. It deals with the pitfalls and success stories of inner city youth. Although it is written about a black family it deals with families of every ethnicity. This story chronicle's the life of two brothers, one living a regular life and the other living in the fast lane. The author was a regular kid with dreams and aspirations to become successful in life. He dreamed of playing football one day, going to college, and playing in the NFL. He was big on education, reading and sports. It was his love for sports that spurred his desire to read and become successful in life. Although he sometimes ventured away from his dreams, he always kept hope alive that he would be successful. He realizes later that his dreams were attainable if he had received more direction from mentors and/or adults. The author's sibling, JT, who is their favorite brother, lived in the fast lane. A young man that could make you laugh and frown in a moments notice. A troubled youth who was raised in a good, stable home but found the bad element of the streets very easily. He did not take to school and books like his younger brother (author); however he used his life as a model to show him that the fast lane led to a dead end. JT lived his life as if there was no tomorrow. He lived his life at twice the speed of people who strive to be successful by following the laws of the land. Although a troubled youth, he was still a good mentor, protector, companion and caring individual. Everybody's Favorite Brother is sort of a modern day Black version of the television mini-series "Rich Man, Poor Man". Which was about two brothers, who grew up in the same home but lived two different ways, one taking to crime and the other becoming successful. Life has its way of showing us things that we never even imagine were real. Through the authors' faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he learns that God is Omniscient (all-knowing), Omnipresent (everywhere) and he truly speaks to us in many ways. Job 33:13-17 Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? For God does speak- now one way, now another- though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride.

The Onehunga Boys Home, an orphanage on Mt Smart Road Auckland during the 1940’s and ‘50’s New Zealand, was home to thirty boys of various ages and backgrounds. The Orphanage became the Home of Kevin at four and a half, his brother at eight and his mother, recently deserted by his father, appointed as Assistant-Matron.

‘One Tree Hill’, is a collection of short stories set during Kevin’s years, five to thirteen. The boys and events are as remembered but sometimes when recall is hazy, Kevin resorts to creative invention. A central focus is One Tree Hill, because much time was spent playing on it’s slopes.

Loyalty, security, commaraderie, empathy, friendship, and identity are themes throughout the stories. Character development, mainly concerning five friends, serves up sufficient substance enabling readers to develop an appreciation of all the Home boys.

From the first story to the last, Kevin and friends are involved in escapades, part of their daily routine. Mostly, Kevin the child speaks, employing conversation, humour and life commentary. Older Kevin enters occasionally with different viewpoints. Constant banter among the five is the glue binding the Home kids together. One Tree Hill is a memoir based on Kevin's recollection of events in that place and time. Each story is a woven basket of fact and fiction but which is which at any time in the story doesn't affect the reader being drawn into the experiences of the boys.

“ Devil with a Halo” is a story of the incredible journey of a young impoverished and streetwise boy, growing up in Washington, D.C. during the Civil Rights Era. As you follow his journey from retrospect, you will sometimes laugh until you cry; and other times cry until you laugh, as you experience the many adventures and misadventures of my character “Peter.” You will see how he struggled to find balance between the ways of his alcoholic and abusive father, and those of his devout Christian mother.

The story describes the damage [and recovery] Peter experienced as result of his abusive, and later, absent father; and how the will of his mother always kept him from falling off the edges of life that he insisted on straddling . While on his journey, Peter rarely acknowledged barriers to his own experiences, or denied himself the satisfaction of his curiosities about life. His antics and his Ebonics filled conversations during his earlier years should amuse you; and you will be thrilled to see how he was able to pick himself up by the so called “Bootstraps” to grow and start developing beyond his artificial boundaries.

The intent is to tell an amusing story about the hardships experienced by a young boy - in a way that will expand discussions of the plight of children and youth when fathers are absent, ineffective, or abusive. "Devil with a Halo" shows young people [with various risk factors] that improving their attitudes can supplement their aptitudes; and how to overcome barriers inherent in their own lives, by making choices and decisions conducive to more acceptable outcomes they can live with, and be proud of.

The book concludes with a substantive review of underlying messages inherent in the story, and a strong call to help save our children and youth.

In 1904, author Sergie Waisman’s grandparents, Bella Feinberg—an exotic seventeen-year-old Jewish maiden—and Russian officer Sergei Naryshkin met, fell in love, and married, over both their families’ objections. When Sergei was assigned to the Russian military post at the tip of Manchuria, China, they established the roots of both Waisman’s Russian heritage and his birth country, China. Following the Russian Revolution, Sergei and Bella raised their children in Harbin, China, where their grandson was born in 1944. Sergie grew up during the Chinese Civil War and under communism. His father was arrested by Russian occupation forces and banished to Siberia, never to be seen or heard from again. But even without his father around, Sergie discovered his roots. He immigrated with his mother and sister to the newly established state of Israel in 1953, where he would eventually serve in the Elite Paratrooper unit in the Israel Defense Forces. Sergie’s adventures would eventually take him to the United States, where he met a woman—born in the same Manchurian hospital he was—in who would change his life. This autobiography offers not only the tale of one man’s life and rich, varied cultural heritage, but also a unique perspective on historical events of his many lands that he witnessed firsthand.

In 1904, author Sergie Waisman’s grandparents, Bella Feinberg—an exotic seventeen-year-old Jewish maiden—and Russian officer Sergei Naryshkin met, fell in love, and married, over both their families’ objections. When Sergei was assigned to the Russian military post at the tip of Manchuria, China, they established the roots of both Waisman’s Russian heritage and his birth country, China. Following the Russian Revolution, Sergei and Bella raised their children in Harbin, China, where their grandson was born in 1944. Sergie grew up during the Chinese Civil War and under communism. His father was arrested by Russian occupation forces and banished to Siberia, never to be seen or heard from again. But even without his father around, Sergie discovered his roots. He immigrated with his mother and sister to the newly established state of Israel in 1953, where he would eventually serve in the Elite Paratrooper unit in the Israel Defense Forces. Sergie’s adventures would eventually take him to the United States, where he met a woman—born in the same Manchurian hospital he was—in who would change his life. This autobiography offers not only the tale of one man’s life and rich, varied cultural heritage, but also a unique perspective on historical events of his many lands that he witnessed firsthand.