Breakout, by Kate Messner is amazing! I loved how it was written in letters and documents. I have one thing that kept me from giving it five stars though. The characters are supposed to be in middle school I'm pretty sure, but they do not seem as mature, or educated in society matters as middle schoolers these days are.

Very good book/series!

This Cookbook Nook Mystery featurn

Kushtakas were half man-half otter, spirits of those who had drowned. These phantoms appeared to those in danger of drowning and offered to rescue them, but aimed to turn them into kushtakas too. Only those with respect for elders and traditions and a strong will from ascetic practices were able to resist these spirits. The shamans were healers and could see into the future and tried to use their powers against the kushtakas. There are beautiful illustrations at the chapter headings. This is a nice book of native American legends.

This memoir by a woman who feels herself a bit of a misfit finds her calling training horses. She is asked to help out at a ranch for prisoners finishing off their sentences, most of whom have been drug dealers and addicts. By teaching the residents patience with training the horses, she finds a number of them react with love and care for the horses and overcome many of their personal difficulties.

This book has truly moved me. The way Peretti goes about painting the scene and developing the plot may confuse you at first, but towards the second half of the book, you come to realization of what is all points to. From the analogy of sin as the dragon, the town of Hyde River being men's attitude towards sin, and finally Levi, the despised "crazy man" just like Jesus, constantly trying to guide us away from the path of destruction, though we ignore him so much. For the christian that is getting too satisfied with life, this is a must read. Sin is crouching at the door of your heart, don't let it consume you.

Roberts, a longtime political commentator, has written an interesting book on the wives and mothers who participated in the American Revolution and the early political life of the Republic. Based largely on the letters women wrote to their families, friends, and political leaders, the book sheds new light on women's contributions to early American history. There are wry asides comparing life and politics then and now.

For the Tlingit and Haida peoples, both shamans and kushtakas, land otter spirits of those who had drowned

This is the first in a new series of Georgia B&B Mysteries. It is a pleasant read with eccentric small town

This show business biography of Meryl Streep marches through her movie roles and co-stars but leaves one wanting to know more about the person as opposed to the actress.