When Riley and his mother move to her rural Vermont hometown from suburban New York, he has trouble accepting his new life--especially Sam, his mother's friend. Sam is the town outcast for refusing to fight in Vietnam, unlike Riley's great-great-great-grandfather, whom Riley believes was a Civil War hero. This heartfelt, thought-provoking story probes the meaning of heroism and illuminates the courage of conviction.

Adult/High School-A comprehensive academic resource with information and glorious color photographs on virtually every aspect of weather. Although written by three different meteorologists, the text flows seamlessly from one topic to another. Grouped in broad subject areas, spreads cover what makes weather, weather extremes, watching the weather, and current and changing global climate. The thoroughly labeled photos show seemingly every type of weather on every continent and the Earth from outer space. Clear, colorful graphics clarify concepts that cannot be shown in photographs, such as the energy cycle or types of lightning. Approximately three-fourths of this volume is devoted to these outstanding images. The print is small, providing more information than one might expect. The content goes beyond simple weather to include a discussion of climate and its effect on the flora and fauna of a region. An excellent resource.-Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.