Jen Robinson's Book Page

The Diamond in the Window: Jane Langton

I've been meaning to re-read The Diamond in the Window, the first book from Jane Langton's Hall Family Chronicles, for a few months now. I decided that the 48 Hour Book Challenge was an excellent excuse to re-visit this old friend. The Diamond in the Window is the story of Eddy and Eleanor Hall, who live in a fantastic house in historic Concord, Massachusetts. I particularly enjoyed these books as a kid because I grew up in Lexington, right next door to Concord, and it was easy for me to picture the Hall's house and neighborhood. Langton's children's books also have just the right touch of magic, mixed in with real-life, to make a real-life kid feel like anything is possible.

Things are tough for Eddy and Eleanor. Their Uncle Freddy is perpetually confused, and their Aunt Lily is overworked, struggling to pay back taxes on their house so that they don't lose it. And then a wonderful thing happens. Eleanor and Eddy discover a hidden staircase that leads to a secret room at the top of their house. The room has toys and books, an elaborate castle built of block, and two small beds. They learn from Aunt Lily that the room belonged to their aunt and uncle, Ned and Nora, who disappeared when they were children. Aunt Lily's fiance, and Uncle Fred's friend, Prince Krishna, also disappeared.

Eddy and Eleanor promptly decide to search for the missing Ned, Nora, and Prince Krishna. They uncover a clue-filled poem, and start having fantastic shared dreams (or are they dreams?), in which they uncover secrets from the poem. These dreams are wonderful experiences, overlaid with menacing fright. But slowly, the determined children work through the clues, and the dreams, trying to find their missing aunt and uncle, and uncover a treasure that will save the family home.

The Diamond in the Window is filled with excellent adventures: kids turning into toys, and mice, and wandering inside of mazes. Some of the adventures hide larger lessons about loyalty and being true to who you are, but the lessons are rarely overt. The story is also filled with historical references about the Revolutionary War, and Walden and Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott. Again, not so overt -these things are part of the world that Eddy and Eleanor, and especially Uncle Freddy, live in.

I couldn't really say how well this story will hold up for kids who aren't from Lexington and Concord, and who don't fondly remember it from their childhood. But I suspect that that Jane Langton taps into universal themes of mystery, adventure, and fantasy fulfillment that will please anyone. I'm glad that I visited again.

Book: The Diamond in the Window
Author: Jane Langton
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Original Publication Date: 1962
Pages: 256
Age Range: 9 to 12
Time Spent: 2 hours

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place: E. L. Konigsburg

My next 48 Hour Book Challenge entry is The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place, by E. L. Konigsburg. The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place is the story of Margaret Rose Kane, sent off to summer camp while her parents travel in Peru. A clique of girls and an unsympathetic camp director make Margaret's camp experience miserable. Fortunately, Margaret's Great-Uncle Alex rescues her, and takes her to the home that he shares with his brother Morris, at 19 Schuyler Place. Margaret loves her uncles, and their home. She especially loves the three whimsical and breathtaking towers that they have built in their back yard over the past 45 years. She realizes in Chapter 7 that "(l)ike a kiss or a walk in the woods, the towers were meant to be experienced, not inventoried", and she takes them as they are.

Before long, however, Margaret realizes that something is amiss at 19 Schuyler Place. Her uncles are cranky, and they aren't doing their usual summer work on the towers. Margaret is aghast to learn that the city has called for the destruction of the towers, allegedly for the sake of safety, but really for the sake of gentrification of the neighborhood. By the time Margaret learns about it, the towers have only 9 days left until their scheduled destruction.

But instead of giving in to despair, Margaret fights to save the beloved towers. She knows instinctively the three steps required to change something: 1) being unhappy with the way things are; 2) having a desire to change things; and 3) having a plan. I'm not sure how a 12-year-old would know this, but I think that it's a wonderful thing to include in a book for a 12-year-old (or a 38 year-old or a 99-year-old) to a read. Margaret muses: "(a)nd the choices of a single person can change future history even if that person is underage and does not have a driver's license or a credit card."

And so Margaret sets out, with a band of unlikely and unlike allies, to save the towers. One aspect that I liked about The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place is that it doesn't gloss over the details, like handling calls of nature from awkward situations, and the cruel nicknames that young girls can have for one another. The story has humor, quirky characters, and a range of range of personalities. Margaret experiences triumphs and setbacks, friendship and heartache. The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place is well-written, without talking down to the reader, and relays a strong positive message to kids without ever feeling like a "message book". I recommend it for summer reading.

Book: The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place
Author: E. L. Konigsburg
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Original Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 296
Age Range: 9 to 12
Time Spent: 2 1/2 hours

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

The Devil's Arithmetic: Jane Yolen

My next 48 Hour Book Challenge entry is The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen. This book won the National Jewish Book Award, among others. The Devil's Arithmetic is the story of young Hannah, a modern-day Jewish girl from New Rochelle, who opens a door, and finds herself living during the Holocaust.

The modern-day Hannah is weary of her family's Passover Seder gatherings, especially her grandfather's rantings and ravings about the past. She knows that her Grandfather Will and his sister Eva survived a concentration camp, the only members of their family to do so. But it's hard to relate to that, in modern-day America.

When Hannah goes to the door to let in Elijah (part of the ritual), she finds herself in another world, living the life of her long-ago namesake, Chaya Abramowicz. It's 1942, and the recently orphaned Chaya is with her extended family in a Polish Jewish shtetl, celebrating her uncle's wedding day. Before the wedding can take place, however, Nazi's appear, and begin the dreaded process of "relocating" the villagers. The remainder of the book follows Hannah/Chaya's experience traveling to and living in a concentration camp. Gradually her memories of life as Hannah desert her, and she becomes immersed in her terrible surroundings.

The Devil's Arithmetic is a powerful story, utterly gripping, though not for the faint of heart. Jane Yolen doesn't shrink from the realities of the Holocaust, though she doesn't dwell on gory descriptions. The book introduces children to the story of the Holocaust in a much more powerful way than simply learning the facts ever could. Reading about the feelings of a protagonist their own age as she experiences the indignities and terrors, large and small, makes the Holocaust much more real. Though no easier to understand.

You can read Jane Yolen's thoughts about the book on her website. She says, "Writers and storytellers are the memory of a civilization, and we who are alive now really must not forget what happened in that awful time or else we may be doomed to repeat it."

Book: The Devil's Arithmetic
Author: Jane Yolen
Publisher: Puffin Books
Original Publication Date: 1988
Pages: 170
Age Range: 12 and up
Time Spent: 1 hour, 45 minutes

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Ruby Holler: Sharon Creech

I'm continuing the 48 Hour Book Challenge this morning with Ruby Holler, by Sharon Creech. Ruby Holler is the story of "the trouble twins", 13-year-old Dallas and Florida, who have spent their lives living in the dilapidated Boxton Creek Home. They've had many failed foster parent experiences, some terrifying, some grim, and they are very wary of adults. They remind me a bit of Tony and Tia Malone in Escape to Witch Mountain (another pair of twins who seem unable to keep out of trouble, and who no one seems to want).

An elderly couple asks the twins to come and live with them in their country home in Ruby Holler (named for the red maple trees in the fall), to help with a project. The twins by this point have serious trust issues, and keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. But Tiller and Sairy Morey are different from anyone that the twins have encountered before. Together, the four embark on a series of adventures in the lush, rural Ruby Holler.

This book reminded me a little bit of Louis Sachar's Holes, with the bleakness of the Boxton Creek Home, and the quirkiness of the Moreys (although the main setting is the exact opposite of the setting in Holes). Throughout the book, we learn about the various other homes that the twins have lived in, gradually coming to understand their prickliness and acting out. In parallel, we watch Dallas and Florida, and Sairy and Tiller, gradually changing one another. It's a story about love and patience and second chances, and suspense and adventure, too.

There are many small things to like about the book. I love the way that Sairy and Tiller are with each other, two halves of a whole, with their own unusual endearments. I smiled at the way that Dallas has of painting a positive future with words, even when things seem bleak. And I laughed out loud at some of the wonderful foods cooked up by the Tillers: mission-accomplished-cake, be-nice-to-orphans brownies, and welcome-home-bacon. Even the names of the dreadful owners of the Boxton Creek Home, the Trepids (as in, the reverse of intrepid?) are clever and apt.

This is a book that you'll enjoy while you're reading it, and feel good about afterward. It's suitable for fairly young kids, with lots of dialog, and short chapters. The bleak incidents in Dallas and Florida's past have an exaggerated quality, like a Roald Dahl story, rendering them less disturbing than they might be otherwise. This book won a much-deserved 2002 Carnegie Medal.

You can read about the inspiration for the story on Sharon Creech's website.

Book: Ruby Holler
Author: Sharon Creech
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Original Publication Date: 2002
Pages: 310
Age Range: 8 to 12
Time Spent: 2 1/2 hours

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Children's Literacy Round-Up: June 17

Here are a couple of literacy-related stories from the wires this week:

• I learned from a story at NorthJersey.com that Highlights Magazine will print it's billionth copy this week. Highlights Magazine was started 60 years ago, by retired Pennsylvania teachers Garry Cleveland Myers and his wife, Caroline. My favorite quote from the article: ""All that we do -- and will do over the next 60 years -- will focus on helping children in their development of creativity, sensitivity, literacy, and ability to think and reason," said Highlights CEO Kent S. Johnson, a great-grandson of the founders."
• I read in a June 14th article in the Salem, NJ Sunbeam about a new joint effort by the United Way and Salem County 2000 to encourage parents to read to their children. The two groups have placed "Book Banks" (bookshelves containing children's books) at strategic locations around the county: hospitals, doctor's offices, the county correctional facility, etc. The idea is to provide books in places where parents often end up spending time waiting with their kids, so that they can use the time to read together. What a great idea!

Dawn Undercover: Anna Dale

The next book that I read for the 48 Hour Book Challenge (my fourth and last for the day) was Dawn Undercover, by Anna Dale. Dawn Undercover features Dawn Buckle, an 11-year-old London girl who is so ordinary that people never notice her. Her own family seems scarcely aware of her existence. Her teacher doesn't even know her name. It's a big day when another kid notices her enough to ask to borrow her pencil sharpener. Dawn takes self-effacing to a whole new level. She's like the anti-cool girl.

It turns out, however, that being unobtrusive is exactly the right qualification for being a spy. Also, because no one else ever notices her, Dawn has plenty of time to notice details of the world around her. This is another excellent spy trait. A clandestine government agency called S.H.H. (Strictly Hush Hush) swoops in one day and hires Dawn for a special undercover project.  Dawn's family (a bit Roald Dahl-esque, if you ask me) is completely unperturbed by having their 11-year-old go off to learn to be a spy, and sees her off cheerfully.

Dawn goes to work for a division of S.H.H. called P.S.S.T (Pursuit of Scheming Spies and Traitors), where she is trained in spying, gets some cool gizmos, gets a new name and identification documents, and goes undercover on a case. I personally thought that that the acronyms for the S.H.H. divisions were a bit too cute (there's also A.H.E.M., P.U.F.F., etc.). But kids might think that they're funny. Many of the spies also attended Clandestine College. The whole naming aspect reminds me a little bit of the Harry Potter books, but with far less subtlety.

Dawn Undercover has a distinctly British flavor, though not so much that it will be confusing to kids. There are references to lorries and nits and crisps, but they meaning should be clear from the context for most U.S. kids. Anna Dale lives in Southampton, England, and I like it that the publishers didn't edit all of the British terms from the American edition.

There were a couple of other things that I liked about the book. Dawn's relationship (and yes, you have to call it that) with her woolen donkey Clop is priceless. She infers advice from his positions and "expressions", and treats him as a trusted friend. I also loved the appendices to the book, with a key to the acronyms, a glossary, a key to Morse Code, and other useful spy info.

Overall, I thought that Dawn Undercover was a fun read. I didn't find it edge-of-my-seat riveting, but I didn't predict all of the twists at the end, either. And I do I like the idea of an 11-year-old girl being trained as a spy and saving the day. The book is likely to appeal to kids who feel ignored or unappreciated, but know deep down inside that they have some unique attribute that could make a difference.

Book: Dawn Undercover
Author: Anna Dale
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 360
Age Range: 9 to 12
Time Spent: 3 hours

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

The Case of the Missing Marquess: Nancy Springer

This has been on my to read list for a while, so I decided to tackle it next in the 48 Hour Book Challenge: The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery, by Nancy Springer. This is a quick read, but I would still place it at a slightly older age range than my previous two reviews of the day (12 Again and The Four-Story Mistake). There are detailed descriptions of the slums of 1888 London (complete with painted woman and beggars crawling in the street) that might be a bit much for younger kids.

The Case of the Missing Marquess is the story of Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. Enola lives with her mother on the family estate, Ferndell Hall, until her mother disappears on Enola's 14th birthday. After seeing her illustrious brothers for the first time in 10 years, and after performing her own investigation at home, Enola sets off to track down her mother. On her way, she proves herself a worthy successor to the famous detective, with her own, unique talents.

Without giving too much away, let's say that Enola turns the frustrating trappings of womanhood (skirts and bustles and corsets) to her advantage, in a very clever way. She makes deductions based on her own experiences, and solves a case that has more experienced minds stymied. She also possesses a flair for drawing that comes in handy for a fledgling detective. I think that she might be a cool girl, actually. She's brave and smart, and doesn't depend on anyone else for help. She's a bit of a tomboy, but I think that's almost a required attribute for admirable nineteenth century girls. I'll look forward to seeing how Enola (which spells Alone, backwards) progresses in future books. Overall, The Case of the Missing Marquess is a quick but atmospheric read, with a protagonist strong enough to carry a longer-running series. I think that kids (boys and girls) will enjoy the ciphers sprinkled through the book, too.

Book: The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery
Author: Nancy Springer
Publisher: Sleuth Philomel
Pages: 216
Age Range: 10-14
Time Spent: 1 hour, 35 minutes

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

The Four-Story Mistake: Elizabeth Enright

By way of self-indulgence, I decided to continue the 48 Hour Book Challenge by re-reading an old favorite: The Four-Story Mistake, by Elizabeth Enright. This is Enright's second book in the Melendy family quartet, after The Saturdays (which I reviewed here). In this installment, the Melendy family (Mona, Rush, Randy, Oliver, Father, Cuffy, Willy Sloper, and dog Isaac) move from New York to a big house in the country called the Four-Story Mistake. Times are a bit tough, because World War II is going on, and they don't have a lot of money. But the house, and the 30 acre grounds, and the local village, prove to be paradise for kids.

I believe that I mentioned this in my Saturdays review. One of the things I like best about Elizabeth Enright's books is that she knows what kids will find fun and cool, and she sprinkles her books liberally with the right stuff: caves and hollow trees, a window-lined cupola on the roof, brooks, ice skates, secret rooms, picnics, and tree-houses, to name a few highlights. 

The other thing that strikes me on re-reading The Four-Story Mistake is Elizabeth Enright's wonderful writing. She offers paragraph after paragraph filled with dead-on little truths and humorous moments. She shares characters who feel like real people. Randy, the younger Melendy daughter, is my favorite (and one of my cool girls) but the rest of the family is lovable, too. I can especially identify with Randy's joy in finding out that her new bedroom has a window seat, where she can "curl up and read, just like a girl in a bookplate." Here's an example of the dialog from Chapter One:

""That suitcase looks as if it were laughing out loud," Randy said.
"Oh, stop being whimsical," snapped Rush."

I also love Oliver who, at seven, thinks that a damp basement room filled with old books is paradise, and knows that it will be more special if he keeps it a secret. He's this sturdy, determined little kid. When he learns to skate or ride a bike he just plods on through, trying until he can accomplish his new task. Rush, the older brother, is a boy's boy, always wanting to be outdoors, running with his dog, building tree-houses. But he's a piano prodigy, too, and a vigilant watcher of his sister Mona (a budding actress), making sure that she doesn't get a swelled head. Mona is a bit too overtly feminine for my taste, but she still shows moments of coolness. Near the end of the book, Mona is the one to suggest a late night summer visit to the brook with Randy and Rush.

There's not much of a plot to this book. It's more a series of small adventures, and the story of a family adjusting to a new home. But there are dozens of perfect little scenes that bring a smile, or a tear, to your eye. Oliver's exploration of the basement, and Enright's description of the basement's smell and atmosphere, reminded me exactly of the garage basement in my childhood home. The Christmas chapter made me cry. The family is just so happy! There's snow and carols and anticipation and making gifts for each other, and being okay with having fewer presents this year because of the war, and knowing that they're lucky to be together. I can't explain it, exactly. Soppy sentimentalism, I guess. But it made me cry. In a good way.

I'm so glad that I spent this time re-visiting the Melendy family. I loved them when I was a child, and I'm happy to report that, if anything, I love them even more now. If you have a couple of hours to spare, and you could use some laughter and warmth, I highly recommend this series. But start with the first book, The Saturdays.

Book: The Four-Story Mistake
Author: Elizabeth Enright
Publisher: Henry Holt (reissue edition)
Pages: 196
Age Range: 9-12
Time Spent: 1 hour, 50 minutes

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

12 Again: Sue Corbett

Ever since I read Free Baseball, by Sue Corbett, I've been wanting to back and read her first book, 12 Again. Therefore, I decided that 12 Again would be my first book for MotherReader's 48 Hour Book Challenge. Here's a brief review.

12 Again is the story of 7th grader Patrick, and his mother Bernadette (or Detta). Patrick chafes against his responsibilities as the oldest of three son, with two working parents. This causes friction with his mother, right up until his mother disappears on Labor Day. Detta has gone to sleep in her mother's house, and wakes up as a 12-year-old herself. For the rest of the book, the viewpoint shifts between Patrick and the now 12-year-old Detta, as Patrick tries to find her mother, and Detta tries to find her way back to her family.

I enjoyed this book because of the wish fulfillment aspect. How cool would it be to wake up in your 12-year-old body, but with all of you adult knowledge? You could get straight A's in school easily. You'd have a better idea of how to make friends, perhaps. It's something I think about sometimes, in idle moments. If I could go back to my 12-year-old self, with the knowledge that I have today, what would I do differently? Could I stop September 11th? Could I prevent the tragedy that happened to one of my friends? Would I major in something to do with books in college? It's endlessly fascinating to think about.

But back to the book. I thought that the mechanics of Detta's time travel were a little bit confusing, and I saw a few loopholes (Why didn't Detta go the library and get a Hotmail account - why did she need to email from her own computer?). But I liked the family dynamics between Patrick and his brothers. And I liked Patrick a lot. He's a kid who tries to hide from his friends the fact that he likes to do well in school, but can break the rules when he needs to. I empathized with his struggles as the oldest child, constantly having to nag and/or care for his younger brothers (I was the oldest of four, myself). There's also a wonderful school librarian who plays a small part in the story. She's fleshed out much more than she needs to be for her role in the story - I suspect that she's based on a real person. She adds warmth to the story.

All in all, 12 Again is fun escapist reading, with a few more serious things to say about family dynamics, putting too much pressure on the oldest child, and telling people you love them when you have the chance. I recommend it.

Book: 12 Again
Author: Sue Corbett
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Pages: 227
Age Range: 9-12
Time Spent Reading: 2 hours

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Friday Morning Visits: June 16

I plan to be reading this weekend (because of the 48 hour book challenge), instead of visiting other blogs, so I'm bringing you my blog visits post a couple of days early. Here are a few things that you shouldn't miss.

• Liz B. from A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy has a new blog (with her friend Chris). It's called Librarian's Most Wanted, and it's about what Liz and Chris have on their "to read" and "to watch" lists, and why they picked these books or movies. I think that once you trust someone else's reading opinions, knowing what else they want to read and why is extremely useful information. It's sure to be a hit.
• I learned from this post at A Fuse #8 Production that Annette Simon's Mocking Birdies (reviewed here) made the list of American Institute of Graphic Arts' AIGA 50 books/50 covers for the year. It's a wonderful book, with a gorgeous cover. You should definitely check it out. My congratulations to Annette!
• And speaking of A Fuse #8 Production, our very own Miss Fuse was interviewed on a local news station in New York. She'll be taking over the world before we know it. Miss Fuse is also collecting votes right now for the top 25 children's books of the past 25 years. You can see the full set of nominations on her site. She asks votes to pick 3 picture books and 3 fiction titles. It's a great list!
• In sadder news, Sally at All About Children's Books announced this week that once she's finished reviewing her current stack of books, she'll be signing off. She's concerned about the time she spends on the Internet instead of with the real people in her life (OK, aren't we all at risk there?), and she has family/religious reasons for wanting to get the internet out of her house. She needs to do what's best for her, of course, but she'll be missed.
• Not to be missed: Kelly's Tuesday round-up of children's book reviews at Big A little a. Young adult books continue to be very popular. I had a record (for me) five reviews in this round-up. I've been in a pretty good reviewing groove lately. But there are many many other great books to learn about. 
• In a cross-blog collaboration, Susan at Chicken Spaghetti hosts a guest article by Michele from Scholar's Blog: An Intro to Terry Pratchett. If you've thought about reading some Pratchett, but been daunted by the sheer volume of his books, this article can help you to get started.
• Students for Literacy Ottawa is looking for summer reading recommendations and reviews. You can find details here. There is a prize for contributing: "Lyndsay will personally mail a snazzy Frontier College Ottawa pen in an envelope coloured with her very own Crayolas to any SFLO volunteer who submits a contribution." In a shameless plea for attention, the post also features a photo of a naked man reading a script.
• And, on a blog that I've only just discovered, Jennifer from Snapshot writes about her seven-year-old daughter's book addiction. If you're here reading this, you can probably relate.

Happy reading to all! I'm starting the book challenge at noon (PST).

Poetry Friday: Langston Hughes

Dream Deferred, by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

---

I think that you're supposed to say that last part in a dramatic whisper. Because of the 48-hour readathon this weekend, I'm not sure whether I'll make it back to post links to other Poetry Friday entries. I'll be reading!

48 Hour Book Challenge this Weekend

If you've been paying attention at all, you'll know that this weekend is The 48 Hour Book Challenge, a gauntlet thrown down by MotherReader. The idea is to read and review as many books as you can over a 48-hour period (fourth-grade level and up, no reading 100 picture books). It's not too late to participate, if this catches your interest.

I'll be reading. I checked out several books from the library this week, and also have a stack of books from a recent bookstore binge. Definitely more than I'll actually have time to read. Fortunately for me (not so much for him), Mheir is on call this weekend, which buys me extra reading time. And while I'd love to see my father, he's 3000 miles away, so that's not in the cards either. I plan to start on Friday (tomorrow) just as soon as I can get my work done for the day, and continue until that time on Sunday.

I also have to share with you one other post about plans for reading this weekend. Tadmack from Finding Wonderland is planning to use the cool girls list as a guide to what books to read for the challenge. And I quote: "What I am inspired to do, though, is read the Cool Girl novels this weekend that I haven't yet read. I may not get them all written up in time to qualify for the 48 Hour Book Challenge, but I'm already making lists and gloating because Liesel, main character in Markus Zusak's latest novel counts as a cool girl, and that one's already next to my bed."

I love it! I do have a goal myself of reading about all of the cool girls that I haven't met yet, but I'm not ambitious enough to try that this weekend. Tadmack is my new hero.

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.