bookshelf

THE BOOK OF VIRTUES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Name: THE BOOK OF VIRTUES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Author: William J. Bennett
ISBN: 0-382-24923-2

edited by William J. Bennett ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1995

bookshelf

A book with a mission—its purpose, in some people's minds, could not be more timely nor more necessary. Like former Secretary of Education Bennett's Book of Virtues (1993) for adults, this is a collection of short stories, poems, fables, and excerpts organized into ten chapters: Self-Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty, and Faith. Each begins with a brief essay; these are sharp and to the point. Most of the entries, from a wide variety of cultures and eras, have a sentence or two of nonprovincial context to make the link to the featured virtue. The selections are compelling and appropriate, by contributors ranging from the well known to the obscure. This is not a book to hand to children to read through by themselves, but for sharing in short spans with a thoughtful adult. Along with other readings, from the concurrent to the adverse, it could serve as a basis for an ongoing series of discussions among families or in classrooms. The virtues espoused, assumed to be objective categories rooted in common sense and in universal moral imperatives, are as perennial as the grass, and even if they have become buzzwords in today's political climate, the book is not just for the ethically challenged. (Anthology. 11-13)

Pub Date: May 1, 1995

ISBN: 0-382-24923-2

Page Count: 384

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1995

Categories:

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
OUR COUNTRY'S FOUNDERS
edited by William J. Bennett

- BOOK REVIEW
SACRED HONOR
edited by William J. Bennett

- BOOK REVIEW
BODY COUNT
by William J. Bennett & Jr. John & John P. Walters

bookshelf

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

LARGER THAN LIFE

by Craig A. Doherty & Katherine M. Doherty ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 1993

bookshelf

Brimming with hero worship, the Doherty's account of ``the most well-known celebrity in the world,'' ``living proof that the American Dream [is] still alive...'' has an Algeresque flavor. Product of a small Austrian town, his competitive instincts honed by a demanding father, Arnold cast about for something at which he could be The Best and settled on bodybuilding (which he revolutionized), and films (for which he now commands eight-figure salaries). The authors cover the high spots of his career and business ventures, focus on his association with the Special Olympics and other causes, and dwell at length on his courtship and wedding (want to know how long Maria Shriver's train was?). Though mentioning his talent for self-promotion, they dismiss the ruthless Arnold of Wendy Leigh's ``unauthorized'' biography, offering instead a portrait of a giant with a sense of purpose, a heart of gold, and an impish sense of humor. Lipsyte gives a more evenhanded view in Arnold Schwarzenegger: Hercules in America (p. 1463). Source notes; appendices; bibliography; b&w photo insert and index not seen. (Biography. 11-13)

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1993

ISBN: 0-8027-8236-1

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1993

Categories:

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

- BOOK REVIEW
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
by Craig A. Doherty & Katherine M. Doherty & photographed by Lewis W. Hine

bookshelf

RIVER DANGER

by Thomas J. Dygard ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 20, 1998

bookshelf

A canoe trip for two brothers becomes a race for survival in this latest novel from Dygard (Running Wild, 1996, etc.). Eric, 18, is none too pleased when his father asks him to help his brother Robbie, 11, earn a scouting award for paddling down the Buffalo River. But when Eric stumbles across a “chop shop” of stolen automobiles, he’s taken hostage and left with only the hope that his younger brother will come through and rescue him. Middle graders will find much to like in Robbie, an honestly rendered, annoying, anxious, and eager-to-please pre-teen. While Dygard weaves in plenty of information about canoeing and camping, it’s the common sense and quick thinking Robbie exhibits—walking, at night, to a nearby highway to get help without giving in to panic—that readers will remember. The car thieves radiate enough menace to make Eric’s peril real in this compelling story of bravery and family bonds. (Fiction. 11-13)