Fourth of July Books

a very good book from children 10 to 12 to read. This book is extra intresting because Madison gets kissed!

Madison finn is really excited to go to Far hills 4th of July bash. But when her mother goes on a buisness trip in southern U.S. she has to stay with her grandmother and miss the 4th of July bash. At her grandmothers house,she meets a boy that is staying next door. Then the summer fireworks start to really pick up in Madisons life.

Out of the first 9 books, the 9th one, "Just Visiting", is my favorite one. This book is about Madison having to visit her Gramma for the 4th of July while Far Hills has a big bash. Madison is really upset until she meets a young boy, Mark. They hang out almost every day and their love for each other grows. Then, when they both go to Winnetka's Fourth of July carnival, Madison and Mark see what REAL fireworks mean. This book is very romantic and I suggest it most out of the first 9 books. Buy "Just Visiting" today!

From the Files of Madison Finn Just Visiting

From The Files Madison Finn is about a girl who has to go to her Grandma's house for the Fourth of July. Madison would rather stay home with her best friends, and go to the parade. At least she had her computer and dog. Madison finds that it might not be as bad as it seems. Madison's Grandma Helen has a best friend named Mable, and they are neighbors. It just so happens that Mable's grandson Mark who is a year older then Madison is visiting. Madison thinks she might like him. Finally on the Fourth of July Madison and Mark go to the carnival together and they kiss.


Madison Finn has brown hair. She is thirteen years old and is an only child. Madison likes going to the lake with her friends, and loves summer vacation. Madison seems like a fun person to be around, and is popular. Madison's grandma Helen lives near Chicago. She has no pets and lives alone. She is old and has a friend named Mable. She is very organized and loves to paint. Mark has brown hair and loves to play tennis. He is fourteen years old, and helps his grandma every summer.


I enjoyed reading this book. It kept me busy and was easy to read. My favorite part in the story is when Madison and Mark kiss. I would recommend this book to a friend because it is exciting and you never know what will happen next. Also it deals with problems that could happen to any one.

This has got to be like my most favorite book next to like two others. It is so romantic to think that in only about a week you could get your first kiss, especially from someone as nice as Mark. I love tennis to, and the beach, and like everything they did together. I should have called the love connection sooner. I mean, it was obvious, yet so surprising you had to put the book down just to breathe.

Jim Remley has written a winning guide for anyone who wants to understand how to come out on top in real estate. The book is easy to read and in a pleasant conversational style. Remly is an astute businessman, exceptionally well organized and entirely pro-active. An enormously successful entrepreneur, he shows you how to do what he does on a step by step basis. You couldn't ask for more tips or ideas. If only more agents would read this book we'd have more millionaire agents and more happy clients.

This book it tells you all the obvious things, plus some other "childish" things - for example : set a target... if you make on average 2000 usd profit per sale, than if you want 100000 usd annual income...

then ... one page of graphs... you should close 50 sales !

Wow !

What groundbreaking discoveries.

Sadly, the other reviewers are only clones... this book deserves an F

Make Millions Selling Real Estate" is truly an eye-opener and full of practical secrets that are so simple and yet so powerful. I enjoyed the
book greatly and it really inspired me to spring forth in my real estate career.

Jim understands the challenge of being a real estate agent and has included lots of secrets of how successful agent have made it in this career. It is even amazing seeing how the painless prospecting can work for you.

Highly recommended for new agent and those who need a fresh approach to real estate sales.

Jim Remley's two books, "Make Millions Selling Real Estate" and "Real Estate Presentations that Make Millions" are two of the best books that I have read on Real Estate Sales in my 3 1/2 years in the business. I have read a ton of books. They are hands on, down to earth, and all meat, no fluff. These two books will soon become your profssional bibles. By the way his seminars are pretty cool too. - D. Farmer

This book is an excellent handbook in organizing your business and understanding how to measure its effectiveness. Some of the anecdotal moments are poorly written, yet the delineated processes and scripts are absolutely excellent (the guys a salesman...not a writer...). Out of all of the books that I have purchased or read regarding real estate, this would be my first choice to buy.

I couldn't put this book down. Wolff goes into great detail about this town, yet it's never boring. I also loved the way he tied in the thoughts of Stephen Crane and Bruce Springsteen to the political and social happenings of the town. While he uses the insights of these writers to great advantage, he also makes marvelous insights of his own. If you are interested in Asbury Park, or American social history in general, this is a must-read.

Not a Bruce Springsteen bio or critique and not advertised as one, 4th of July, Asbury Park: A History of the Promised Land by Daniel Wolff fits its eponymus title exactly.

Please excuse any hubris - it is not intended - but you will enjoy this book a lot more if you have an aquaintance and familiarity with Asbury (the only name by which it was referred). And, while my title aptly describes what this book addressses, I have to admit to being stunned by the history author Wolff presents.

Key to that is the knowledge that Asbury Park did not develop as city through what I'll call natural means. There was no influx of population that arrived and, other time, established roots and the attendant need for a municipal structure to meet public needs. Instead, it was the creation of a individual who in this day and age would be called a fundamentalist Christian but was profit-minded enough that he wanted to work on Sundays.

The creation was named Asbury Park after noted Methodist Francis Asbury and its mission, if you will, was to provide beach-related services to the quasi-rich. This is did with notable success to its customer-base while providing virtually nothing to the population that worked there. Its municipal government was based on the premise of "of the influencial, for the wealthy, supported by the down-trodden." This precept cannot be better depicted than by the fact that the blacks who worked in the city's nyriiad hotels and business not only lived literally on the wrong side of the railway tracks but also lived in an area not incorporated into the city until the 20th Century so that the administration did not have to provide services to them.

The Administrations also subscribed to the "no honor among thieves" doctrine by engaging in perpetual internicine warfare among themselves to win the mayoralty and patronage dispensations. But, irregardless of whomsoever was in power, there was adherence to the notion that public funds were - after appropriate skimming - only to be spent on the tourists. This left the city with an elegant ocean facing facade backed by a rotting infrastructure.

With the advent of cheap airfare in the 1960s, tourists ceased to come to the Jersey Shore, choosing instead sites in the Caribbean and Mexico. With the slowdown in revenue, the city collapsed inwardly and, by the 1970/1980 period devolved into the Beruit cum Baghdad appearance it has to this day.

Wolff portrays this history in a clear, concise fashion and does name the names and cite the crimes. His appraisals are scrupulously honest and fair. He points out that the tendency to fortget anything more than, say, five blocks from the boardwalk was not limited by race, color, creed or place of national origin; in a way, he provces that corruption is the best example of diversity.

All in all, an excellent book. It broke my heart to read it.

I am offended by this book.
It is politically correct,which in itself is a turn-off,but the author,Daniel Wolff,seems neither to understand the history of Asbury Park,nor appreciate the fact that that history CANNOT be viewed through a politically correct microscope.
To begin with Asbury Park,as well as nearby Ocean Grove were begun as strictly conservative religious communities...Wolff either does not understand the importance of this fact,or is himself offended by its implications.Furthermore,both communities were begun not as public,but as PRIVATE communities.Absbury park,unlike Ocean Grove,was not wholly owned by the Methodist church but was,instead,owned and operated by one man,james Bradey,himself a strict Methodist ...
To understand Asbury Park and not understand that THINGS WERE VERY VERY DIFFERENT IN THE 19th century is to not understand anything at all...Wolff seems intent upon grafting 21st century values and thinking upon a 19th century canvas,something that just does not work..
Take,for example,the problems caused by the black population of that time,who neither owned any property in Asbury Park,nor even lived within that communities borders..These people were,for the most part,employed as "menials",i.e.porters,cooks,maids and suchlike...It was a time when the sort of equality that is commonplace today was NOT commonplace..And Asbury Park,like any other BUSINESS VENTURE,depended upon a monied customer base in order to both thrive and expand...and in the 19th century that monied customer base,like it or not,was white,AND not a little bit bigoted against blacks..Sure,by today's standards such behaviour would not be tolerated,but it is apparent that Wolff does not understand that 1880 is not 2007,and that what today would not be tolerated in 1880,1890,1900,ect was both tolerated and commonplace.So instead of understanding this fact,and writing about Asbury Park AS IT WAS,Wolff instead makes his focus the fact that blacks,who were employed at various businesses in Asbury Park were nonetheless not wanted as paying customers whose presence tended to deter the monied white from coming there..
Wolff celebrates defiance..Instead of appreciating that the 19th century,for the most part was a far different,more conservative place that almost anywhere is today,he istead tends to deride the values that were prevailing and glorify the critics..One of these was author Stephen Crane,famous for the novel"The Red Badge of Courage"but,at that time,a relentless critic of everything Brady's Asbury Park represented..Most people who came to Asbury Park at that time had little problem with theprevailing atmosphere of conservative,religiously oriented standards(otherwise how could either Asbury Park of nearby Ocean Grove thrive,as they most certainly did?)but Wolff chooses to ignore this fact and instead zero in on the rebels,like Crane,who apparently felt that it was his job to spit on the status Quo..
Throughout the book Wolff makes the saga of Asbury Park one great big "civil rights"saga..Which,of course,it was not...Further,Wolff fails to understand why Asbury Park became the washed up slum that,until only recently,it was..Like it or not,the monied interests,both in terms of capital and the tourist trade,were largely dominated by whites who deserted Asbury Park when other more"exclusive"getaways presented themselves(in the more modern era of automobile and airplane travel),leaving the town largely to its black population,under which like every other big city in New Jersey,quickly degenerated into a slum...
Does this sound a tad bigoted?Maybe,but bigoted or not the fact remains that when whites fled the inner-cities and the old shore resort towns,the new black majorities there no longer attracted tourists or industry..
Wolff fails to understand that tourists WITH MONEY do not have to go to places like Asbury Park...They do not have to mingle,on an equal basis,with those whom they employ to cut thier hair or shine thier shoes..Sure,in a"perfect"world everyone would not only be"equal"but accepting and considerate towards everyone else,but unless you have been living with your eyes and ears closed,ours has never been a perfect world,not today,and certainly not in the 19th century,which was Asbury Park's heyday...So Wolff,failing to understand reality,instead paints his word-picture of Asbury Park in strokes that have little in common with reality..
Another one of Wolff's heroic figures is Bruce Springsteen..Wolff celebrates Springsteen's lyrics about the working man,and all of the rest of his contrived twaddle,as if the songs that have made it possible for Springsteen to enjoy a lifestyle far removed from just about anyone he ever encountered in Asbury Park somehow has meaning with regard to the city itself..Surely if Springsteen's lyrics did have any real relevance to the real Asbury Park,then Springsteen himself would still be living there..Instead he lives(at least part of the time)in Rumson,new jersey,the sort of rich beach community,populated mainly by rich whites like himself,that,in his book,Wolff so denigrates...
This book is trash..It has no idea what reality represents,either way back when,in the 19th century,or now,in the politically correct 21st century..Springsteen,wolff's anti-hero from Asbury Park,may sing about the disenfranchised,but like the white people of that long ago Asbury Park,he doesn't live among them..

This book is a great resource. As a person who grew up "down the shore" adjacent to Asbury Park, I've learned a tremendous amount about the area's history. Interesting read with a great level of detail and chapter notes. I had borrowed it from the library but wanted my own copy to add to my shore book collection.

Who knew that the history of a town that I had never heard of in New Jersey would yield such an interesting read? The town is set up in such a way that it resembles some of the seedy racist behaviors that all of us would like to believe don't exist anymore but need to come to terms with.
There is plenty of talk about Springsteen, but there is also plenty of well-researched information on the rest of the love-to-hate-'em characters in the town.

I feel that the praise for this novel, particularly on this site, has been somewhat extravagant. Though it is a decent first novel, it pales in comparison to Baxter's later work, which I read before reading this. I'm a huge fan of Baxter, however, I found the book anticlimactic and consequently unsatisfying. Using an unconventional narrative form, Baxter takes us backwards in time though the characters' lives. However, nothing happens. Yes, we get a great deal of insight into the lives of these characters, but they are, for lack of a better word, quite passive and frankly unentertaining. Where I can point out nothing wrong with Baxter's style or subject matter, I simply found that the book fell short of where I expected Baxter to take me. Still, if you're a fan of Baxter its worth the read, if only to get a taste of how his work has changed over the years. Check this one out from the library, but buy A Relative Stranger (a collection of short stories well worth the money).

If a modern novel could be perfectly written, "First Light" would qualify as a canidate. I admit that I'm partial to Baxter's writing, but you'll have to forgive me because he's a really good writer. He turns ordinary people into interesting specimens, looking at their lives through a literary microscope, making the reader want to look ever closer.

This is exactly what happens in "First Light." Baxter starts at a certain point in his main characters' lives, then proceeds backwards to the moment on one of their births. At each new intersection, we learn something about their lives, getting an understanding of how their experiences and views of the world are shaped. As the reader goes through the novel, he/she really understands why they are acting the way they do. As a literary device and metaphor, light figures prominently, and at the end of the novel we really do see the first light of morning, literally and figuratively, and wish to tell the characters how their lives will unfold. But alas, we can't, but we can analyze our own lives and wonder how we got to where we are.

This is one of Baxter's better works, and the four stars are to be taken as a comparison to his other writings.

Years ago, a friend read this book, then immediately gave it to me because, she told me, I'm also an astrophysicist who once lived in Buffalo, NY. Those facts are irrelevant -- I would have loved this book in any event.

Charles Baxter created the people in his book so exquisitely that I always feel I am there, traveling along in the story with them whenever I read it. I've never had such a close personal experiences with written characters.

He defines and develops his people as they alternately live in their present, and in their receding pasts; his creativity results in characterizations that are very strong.

I find myself unexpectedly writing this review after wanting to check if the book is still available; I'm not surprised to find that it is. And happily for me, as my copy is in pieces.

I just reread First Light, and it's even better on the second reading, in part because the reverse chronology takes on a whole new dimension when you have some recollection of what has happened earlier. It's a sensitive story of a brother-sister relationship, with all the resentment, competition and love that such relationships entail, and it's told by a man with an eye for detail and a prose style just about unmatched in contemporary American fiction. Enjoyed A Feast of Love too, but I think First Light is always going to be my favorite Baxter novel.

Baxter begins this book with a glimpse into the life of a family in a state of static malaise. Rather than take the story forward he begins drifting backward in time, layering in incidents and moments that start to explain how the family got that way. In the hands of many writers this would feel like a gimick, but Baxter has the grace and skill to pull it off beautifully. With each chapter our questions are answered and our understanding grows.

Very unique book that offers a realistic perspective on Chinese-American children. Can be used with any other culture when teaching children about adapting to the American way of life.

"Apple Pie 4th of July" (2002) by Janet S. Wong ("This Next New Year","Buzz") could have a multitude of functions in your classroom, depending on the age of your students and your subject. For older students in Language Arts (3rd-5th), this book will provide an example of character development. In this story, a Chinese-American girl tells her Chinese parents that their customers do not want to eat Chinese food on the 4th of July. The girl believes that people only want American food like apple pie on such an American holiday. Her parents continue with their plans of offering Chinese food in their market. Your students will enjoy reading about this girl and discovering whether or not she is correct. You will appreciate the manner in which Ms. Wong develops this character. Since the girl's parents were born in China, this book will function as an introduction to immigration for younger students (K-2). As the girl is living within two cultures, this book will serve you well in a unit on multiculturalism (K-2). You should include in any discussion the colorful illustrations by Margaret Chodos-Irvine and the fact that the girl is dressed in red, white and blue. The illustrations depict a cultural blend of the traditional 4th of July parade and fireworks with Chinese main characters and foods.

I did like the story. I read it to my 7 yearold son and we thought it was a good story to read. The little girl in the story did not think that her food that her parents prepared and sold would be something Americans ate on their holiday celebration of the 4th of July. How wonderful to be in America and have a place that makes oriental foods right down the street from whereever we live. The little girl is surprised that customers do start coming and her mother and father are quite busy preparing the food. The parents are not surprised, they seem to understand a little better than their daughter about the retaurant business in America. Americans love to eat!

I found the book great at identifying the problems Asian Americans face growing up in the American culture.

This story is told by an Asian-American girl whose family owns a Chinese food restaurant. The narrator is frustrated and discouraged by the separation of American culture and her own culture. ("No one wants Chinese food on the Fourth of July, I say.") However, as five o'clock arrives, so do a few surprises.

Wong's simple tale and Chodos-Irvine's striking illustrations combine to form an endearing story about how the combination of different cultures forms the true culture of America.

Reading Level: Grades 1-2

Three of these four [very] short stories relate to the holidays...

"Christmas Party" has (inveitably?) Wolfe in a holiday mood and role.

"Easter Parade" celebrates Wolfe's ongoing desire to stay home, no matter what.

"Fourth of July Picnic" recalls "Some Buries Caesar" a little bit.

"Murder is No Joke" is the only non-themed story here, and, in my view, it's the strongest for plot and characterization.

I hope we'll see these on audio CD or download some time soon...

Spend the holidays with Nero and Archie, and quickly discover Wolfe quick thinking as he solves the mysteries faster than you can turn the pages. The last one is particularly good, as Wolfe takes offense to the fool who tries to fool him. In the others, Wolfe himself is cast in the spotlight as the police begin to even suspect his involvement - but naturally, his intellect always bails him out.

Nero Wolfe is constantly getting himself into fixes through three character flaws. Arrogance, Cupidity, and Eccentricity. He must then shake off his indolence and use his intelligence to extricate himself from whatever predicament he stumbles into. Frequently he must extricate himself through the device of an elaborate caper designed to expose a killer while simultaneously burying his embarrassment.

Each of the four stories in this book has as its centerpiece an elaborate caper. In two of the stories Wolfe engineers a caper to extricate himself from danger; in the one the caper places him in danger; in the fourth, he is victimized by a caper and solves the mystery through sheer force of logic and deduction.

In "Christmas Party" Wolfe's fear that Archie is going to marry causes him to masquerade as Santa Claus and become prime suspect in a murder. In "Easter Parade" Wolfe's envy of a rival orchid grower causes him to stoop to petit theft and become embroiled in a murder mystery. In "Fourth of July Picnic" Wolfe discovers a murder at a picnic, attempts to flee without reporting it, and must expose the murderer before he himself gets arrested for obstructing justice. In "Murder is No Joke" Wolfe provides all the usual suspects with an ironclad alibi. How can he break an alibi that he himself provides?

Classic murder mysteries rarely bear any resemblance to reality. I've handled hundreds of homicide cases over the years, and the puzzles presented by real life homicide investigations bear no resemblance whatsoever to the puzzles presented in murder mysteries. You can imagine my pleasure on finding that Wolfe solved one of the mysteries in this book with exactly the same stratagem employed in a case that I prosecuted years ago. I've long since lost track of the investigator who solved that little mystery, but if I ever see him again, I'm certainly going to ask him if he has ever read any Nero Wolfe.

This edition now boasts "As Seen on TV!" on its cover, alluding to the fact that 1 (so far) of the 4 short stories herein has been adapted by A&E. Since 3 of the 4 are set during major holidays, Jane Haddam (author of the Gregor Demarkian holiday mysteries) was selected to write the forward. Apart from her forward and the afterward, the book is pure Stout, set after both _Black Orchids_ and _The Black Mountain_.

All four are murder investigations. The Ingram editorial review incorrectly implies that the killings were committed by 1 person - they're not. The cases are unrelated, and are only grouped in one volume because of a common holiday theme.

"Christmas Party" - The A&E adaptation is faithful to the story. Archie, having arranged for a day off, receives brusque instructions to cancel his plans and drive Wolfe out to Mr. Hewitt's for a special orchid powwow. He whips out a marriage license (!), with the news that he must attend his fiancee's office Christmas party that day. You've _got_ to read this one, if only for Wolfe's reaction to this. :)

"Easter Parade" - Rumor (via his gardener) has it that Millard Bynoe has bred a pink Vanda, but he refuses to admit it or display it before his wife wears a blossom for the Easter parade. Wolfe, giving in to acute orchid envy, has Archie arrange for a petty thief to steal it under cover of parade photographers. Unfortunately, that's the day that someone poisons Mrs. Bynoe, apparently with a dart shot from a fake camera.

When originally published in a magazine, the photos referred to in the text were provided in color as clues. The old hardcover edition of the book provided them in B&W; this edition omits them altogether. It's a pity, but does not detract from the story.

"Fourth of July Picnic" - Wolfe never leaves the brownstone on business; his friend Marko Vukcic (and by extension, his restaurant, Rusterman's) is associated with most of the things that can get him out. He has agreed to give a speech at the annual picnic of the Restaurant Workers of America, if they'll stop harassing Fritz to join their union.

"Murder is No Joke" - A different version of this story appears in _Death Times Three_.

Picking up the phone and calling a prospect seems like a natural thing for a sales professional to do. Yet, even the best, most seasoned salespeople avoid cold calling to steer clear of rejection. Paul S. Goldner teaches you how to cure your fears and shows you that cold calling is really just a numbers game: A certain number of calls is likely to produce a relative number of appointments and sales. Good prospecting techniques empower you to take control of your sales practices and determine your income. Goldner thoroughly covers every aspect of prospecting, including identifying the best times to call, defining your target market, writing a cold-call script, handling objections and getting past voice mail. Goldner's process will inspire even the most reluctant salesperson to dial that cold call. We suggest this as a fortifying read for anyone whose income depends on bringing prospects into the sales pipeline.

Paul S. Goldner's RED-HOT COLD CALL SELLING, 2ND EDITION offers sales personnel a tutorial which blends experience and examples with a different approach to cold calling. Novices to quota club attendees, pros and beginners alike will find chapters analyzing prospecting techniques for high-payoff approaches. From break-even hours and outside hours which assure success to smart definitions of target markets, RED-HOT COLD CALL SELLING provides many insights into what works, what doesn't, and why.

This book is about generating sales activity. It should appeal to anyone in sales who is tasked with growing an account base through new business acquisition and customer service. It is suitable for both the seasoned sales professional as well as the person just beginning their career in sales. Sales managers take note as there are some great resources and strategies for sustaining consistent activity levels.

Goldner begins with describing the importance of prospecting and the importance of tracking your daily activity. Throughout the book, the author provides useful tools to assist tracking your own sales activity. The main focus is generating sales appointments through telephone cold calling. To demonstrate the strategy, the author has several scripts, sample letters and other examples which can be used by anyone immediately. Overcoming objections, getting past the gate keeper, leaving effective voice mail messages and developing territory management strategies are also covered in this book.

This is a very well written book on the topic of prospecting and cold calling and highly recommended for sales professionals who are in a "Hunter" role and responsible for opening doors.

Eliot Hoppe
Author - Selling: Powerful New Strategies for Sales Success.

Never read James Patterson until the Women's Murder Club. Have completed the entire series and am hoping there will be more coming. His style is unique; short easy reading chapters, interesting characters and spellbinding. Had a hard time even answering the phone; couldn't put any of his books down!

This book i must say wasn't the best JP book i've ever read and i found that about half way through it slowed down a little but like all JP books the ending was thrilling and i was and i was glad to have read it.

My daughter brought this home from the school library and I'm ordering our own copy today.

I completely agree with the first reviewer. This is a very nice, simple story about lots of traditional activities on the 4th of July. Makes me want summer to hurry up and arrive!

We love the Magic Tree House series, and Mary Pope Osborne has created another wonderful book.

An extended American family celebrates a traditional 4th of July, in this lovely picture book. Starting the day with a children's parade, enjoying pizza and popcorn, buying tickets for a raffle, then enjoying carnival activities, face painting, balloons, and finally ending the day with a barbecue, and concert under the stars with fireworks finale, the family has a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day. The illustrations are a little hazy, very nostalgic and timeless, with colors that depict the warmth and fun of the day. Any child who has ever attended a city park 4th of July celebration will recognize the activities depicted here. The text is short and simple enough to be included in a patriotic themed storytime for preschoolers. This will be a great addition to a holiday collection for which not that many books for children have been written.

The idea for a Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery is an excellent one. This way fans, both male and female can read about their favorite characters working together to solve a mystery. The dectectives start out working on two different cases, that end up connected in the end. These novels are modern, and updated to meet the needs of today's kids. Older fans, will remember the old 70's TV series, that brought the three detectives together, this book reminded me as such.
In Murder on the 4th. Frank and Joe are in Bayport, investigating works of sabotage at a fireworks company called "The Dragon's Breath". The company just landed the account to put on the show in Seattle, for the 4th. However someone (or someones) is out to stop them from succeeding. There are plenty of suspects to choose from all of whom have motive to ruin the company. Of course there is also a love interest for Joe Hardy who falls for the owner's daughter. This assignment eventually brings them to Seattle where they run into Nancy Drew.
Nancy, along with Bess, is in Seattle for a celebration of the Orca Odyssey, the girls learn that a business man who is a major fund-raiser has been accused of murder. Nancy takes his case and sets out to find the truth.
Stolen paintings, a murder, and a plot to assasinate a top American official. This book is exciting, has cliff-hangers at the end of the chapters. Also great descriptions of Seattle and all of her landmarks such as the Space Needle. (Having lived in the Seattle area, it was a trip down memory lane).
Some criticism. Bess is portrayed as a naive girl, who only thinks about food and shopping. Why the author portrays her as such is beyond me. She is constantly asking when they can get something to eat. This got old very quickly.
Also, the Orcas. The back of the book makes it sound as if the whales are a major part of the plot. There not, there are paintings of them that are stolen, but that's about it. So don't think this is a book about whales or saving whales.
The book has an exciting ending, as soon as one mystery is solved, there is still yet another question to be answered and time is running out. A great book to read during the 4th of July, makes you feel as if your part of the action.
As a Jr. High Reading teacher, I recommend this book to anybody from Jr. High to high School students. Teachers may want to add this to their library. Parents can rest easy knowing their kids are reading a good decent book and building their vocabulary. Good for mystery lovers and those who like adventure books that move quickly.

This is a really fast moving book and I enjoyed it a lot.