Excellent Book for Already Talented Readers
348234
This is a terrific book for ideas all across the board!  I bought this book after flipping through it at a friends and was excited to see so many hip and unique ideas.  I modeled my wedding invitations after an example from the book and have gotten compliments from all of the invitees!  This is an amazing "get you thinking" book.  The only drawback, there are no instructions or tips for carrying out the projects, so... you should have some crafting/design knowledge before picking this book up.  I would highly recommend it for adventurous souls who want to create something out of the ordinary, or for anyone looking for fresh, new ideas.  I've even purchased another copy to give as a gift to a design-oriented friend!
4823866
Got this book over weekend and could not put it down. The young writer who is only 17 years old captivates the reader from page 1 and keeps you engaged with vivid presentation of interesting characters, imagery humor, whimsical description ,sparkling plot and interesting twists . Keeps the reader guessing what is going to happen next.
Fascinating book which will charm any age reader. I am in late forties and really enjoyed reading this book.  Regarding the author Qasim Raza he is only 17 years old and already showing so much mastery over fantasy/fiction.  Marvelous effort by a young guy. I am looking forward to a sequel to this novel and highly recommend this book to readers of all ages . You would love the twists in story and it will leave a positive impact at the end.
Cover to cover this book is very entertaining and could be a good motion picture .
Go get a copy for yourself. You will not regret.
326391
As a retired elementary teacher, I am always on the lookout for engaging new literature for young readers. Guinevere is a wonderful book for the student beginning to master chapter books and longer stories. I loved the imagery, new vocabulary and page-turning storyline. It is a story that will capture the modern reader, even as it takes her back to times of long ago. Highly recommended!!!
1252862
This is such a great book for young readers and those who can't yet read.  Wonderful story so full of love and tragedy, beautifully written, hopefully more stories from this talented young woman.
4507927
Christine Fonseca does it again in her second book about giftedness. This book is full of advice and tips for gifted students on how to deal with stress, get along with others, and avoid the trap of perfectionism. It seems like no stone is left unturned as the author covers every facet of a gifted child's life. The book is easy to read and is organized into sections regarding school, friends, and family. Also, there are quizzes and tip sheets that are beneficial to young readers.
4395704
My son is nine and in the fourth grade. He is a bit behind with reading and does amazing with this book! Not only that he was able to relate this book to the real world and as an English teacher, myself, this was great to see! Great book and an excellent book for those kiddos who need a high-interest book at an easier level. I would highly recommend.
3017546
I bought a couple copies of this book for two diverse families with young children in the DC area. The parents gave great reviews - an excellent book for a child who is learning to read. The rhymes are fun and the illustrations are vibrant with much to keep a child's attention beyond text, itself. Parents have said the unconventional approach to the rhyme scheme is useful in helping kids develop early language/reading skills.
1902703
Susan Patron, author of the "Lucky" series, has another winner on her hands with this book. The story presents the life of PK, a middle child with near adolescent older sister, and near kindergarten young sister. PK struggles with finding her way, with what makes her unique and special, in the end she discovers what differentiates herself from her siblings (I won't spoil it). My second grade daughter loved this book, devoured it, though as a precocious reader, this may not be for all second grade readers. The illustrations are in a modern trend and add to the interest as well. Highly recommended.
4763857
My first graders absolutely loved this book. They choose it over and over again during independent reading time. The illustrations and text are great for newly fluent readers.
3966018
An ingenious melding of talents. The young artist has an amazing sense of line and color, and his stories are beautifully incorporated into the larger narrative. I also enjoyed hearing more about Isabella, the precocious pug, especially the story of her resistance to costumes. This book is perfect for young readers who are writing and drawing their own stories as well as for the parents who treasure their work.
2453629
Colorful characters and the author's benevolent interest in their failures, foibles, and successes are among the special qualities of this book. Nancy Elizabeth Sephton, Editor and Author, Berkeley, California
I found Mr. Batchelder's presentation through example to be both instructional and entertaining.  As a student of handwriting analysis I found that I absorbed the principles without even trying.  Mike Goodman, Bike Shop Owner, Atlanta, Georgia
This is an ideal book for the novice in handwriting analysis.  The chapter titles are clever and grabs attention.  The traits in bold type makes it easy to identify in the appendices.  The book is fun to read and easy to follow.  Most importantly, it is accurate.  Elois S. Barrett, C.G.A. Certified Graphoanalyst (1973, Columbia, South Carolina
This unique collection of handwriting specimens and their accompanying analyses will provide, for those new this art, a fascinating inside look at the theory and complexity of the art of handwriting analysis.  Helen Harvey, Well known Atlanta, Georgia Potter and Artist
The author, Joshua Batchelder...ever a gregarious, optimistic, and enthusiastic student of human behavior, gathers a book full of interesting people and makes them even more interesting by his careful attention to their unique personalities as revealed through their handwriting.  Helen Harvey, Well known Atlanta, Georgia Potter and Artist
3845181
Here's what I learned about my dependent high school readers after using Davenport's Over-the-Shoulder miscue analysis technique:

1.  The student I thought was a low-functioning reader read fluently and with expression.  His recall was stunning.  He was in my class because of his behavior and poor school performance.  He was one frustrated kid but liked fooling teachers into think he was stupid--that was his power.  He also had a tough time finding a book to read but now is hooked on "Ghost Soldiers," a non-fiction account of a POW rescue in WWII.  He is a model student in my class.

2.  Another student thought every sentence of dialogue meant a new speaker was speaking.  He thought there were 10+ characters speaking in the scene he read (and he read beautifully!) aloud to me.  We were both completely lost in his retelling, and he was shocked to learn how authors set up dialogue in print.  Standardized tests would have never revealed that misunderstanding (or solved it).

3.  A third student discovered that when she finds little words inside the big words, she can say the parts and suddenly knows the word--everything falls into place for her.  She routinely mumbled past the bigger words, not even trying to read them because they looked so intimidating.  She was shocked when she found she actually knew the words--"just not in print," she reported to me.

I could go on and on--and I thought I knew my students as readers before reading Davenport's book.  I thought I knew the boy who read so fluently and with such inflection that I was convinced he was misplaced in my class until I heard his retelling and understood that he didn't understand a thing he read.

Davenport provides solid, simple strategies for all kinds of readers, including the reader who unknowingly substitutes words and completely changes the meaning of the passage but doggedly continues on.  Davenport lays out how it's completely manageable to have 20 dependent readers in a single class and still target their weaknesses to help them become independent, confident readers.

I love getting to know my students this way because reading is, of course, an invisible process, but Davenport's methods brought me closer to knowing my students' processes more than think alouds, more than writing to learn, more than all the best strategies I've encountered (not that I'm abandoning think alouds, writing to learn, and cool strategies--I just know who needs what and can adjust my efforts accordingly.

It's a great book, and if you're lucky enough to live near Portland, Oregon or near Eastern Oregon University, take Davenport's Miscue Analysis Class--I'm grateful (and so are my students) that I did!
863502
The second book in the new series, The Legends of the First Empire, by Michael J. Sullivan, takes readers into a much larger world than the first book.  We learn of other races and locations in the world, and we are introduced to new people.  The scope of the action is much larger, and characters in the book face new challenges in a rapidly changing world.  This book is a real "page-turner," full of action and suspense.  At the same time, Sullivan gives us characters that come alive on the page, with insight into what motivates their choices. Sullivan is a master of balancing fast-paced action and unexpected plot-twists with vivid characterization and insights into people and their cultures.

I became a fan with Sullivan's first book and have eagerly read every book published so far, with no disappointments.  His work is even better when reread, as I then can appreciate more his skill in foreshadowing and in writing very satisfying conclusions.  At 75 years of age, I have read thousands of books, especially fantasy/sci-fi, historical fiction, and literary fiction, and I believe Mr. Sullivan is making a place for himself among writers whose books endure.
4053386
I love this book!  I could not wait to read the next chapter.  The detailed descriptions provided by the author are amazing. The glossary is an added bonus and an excellent tool for the young reader.  The book is appropriate for all ages.  I am eager to read more writing by Mr. Collins.
1720357
I got a chance to meet the young aspiring author and was very impressed.  She has a vision not usually seen at that age.  I bought the book for my wife but ended up reading it first.  I was very impressed and eager to read more and more.  I finished the book and can't wait to read the other ones.  I don't read much, but she pulls you in and I wanted to keep reading that's talent!
2695371
I love this book for my students who are beginner readers even though they are in middle school. These books scaffold on their knowledge. Thanks!!
3845083
From a format standpoint, this book is an excellent example of how to approach, research and write for a "popular" audience on a complex subject. The language is pleasantly free of obstructive technical  jargon and supplemented by plenty of anecdotal evidence. Publishers should  view this book as an example of why professional writers will usually give  you a better book than would-be experts with writing ability.
The best  part of this book is its separation of the concept of  "giftedness" from the tyranny of numerical test scores. Though  the book doesn't go this far, as I come away from reading the book and then  reviewing my own experiences, I grow convinced that the word  "gifted" should be replaced by the word "lopsided." It  is the imbalance of attributes that causes "gifted" people the  most trouble -- too much of this combined with not enough of that.
What  the book did not do for me is map out steps I could take as soon as I  finished reading to either reduce or eliminate the "gifted"  predicament. It was content to "prove" to the reader that life  for "gifted grownups" was no walk in the park. Well and good --  but what now?
With this in mind, the two books that should be read along  with this one are Shame: The Power of Caring by Gershen Kaufman and Work  Abuse: How To Recognize and Survive It by Judity Wyatt and Chauncey  Hare.
This is the first book on this controversial subject. Hopefully, it  won't be the last.