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Steve and his classmates at the Chefoo school in China--for the most part the children of missionaries--were interned in 1942. Resentment of the Japanese, particularly the brutal prison guards, became a way of life.Eric Liddell, by then a missionary and fellow internee, and a hero to the boy, charged him with an impossible challenge--pray for his enemies. But was it really possible to pray for the men who stood guard over them with guns?

Painfully, reluctantly, Steve began to pray and as he continued to pray, his heart was profoundly changed. At the end of the war the China Inland Mission (now OMF International) was seeking young men willing to go to Japan. Steve trained, packed, and went. ... Read more

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Looking back over 90 years of cricket, this collection of photographs is a visual celebration of the quintissential summer sport. From the village green to famous world-class cricket grounds, each picture captures a moment that is out of the ordinary in a game of technique, luck and skill. ... Read more

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Easy-to-use, reproducible lessons on literary terms, comprehension and analysis, critical thinking, related scriptural principles, vocabulary, activities, plus a complete answer key. ... Read more

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Designed specifically for players aged 7 to 11, this manualcontains a wide range of progressive practice drills to help youngplayers develop. Fun, educational and challenging, all drills areillustrated and cover the essential technical skills, including: warming up; batting; bowling; fielding; wicket keeping; conditioned games; cooling down. As well as easy-to-follow instructions, each drill containsinformation on the equipment needed, the space required, how toconstruct a safe and effective training session and how to organise theplayers. ... Read more

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From ants and beetles, to wasps and water bugs, amazing up-close photographs explore the fascinating world of insects. Readers learn about the body parts and daily activities of common insects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gross pictures... but good book for children
This book has some really gross pictures, however, I am pretty grossed out by bugs of all kinds... so this was a bit much for me.When my daughter brought this home from her school library, I really dreaded reading it to her and seeing all the pictures.I think that's why she got it, cause she always laughs at my reaction when I see any kind of insect.However, this book was good for new readers, and she was quickly able to read me the entire book with ease.There were not many challenging words for my 5 year old daughter. ... Read more

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The Wisden Book of Test Cricket, first published in 1979, is well established as an invaluable and unique source of reference essential to any cricket library. This new volume includes full scorecards and match reports from 1977 to 2000. Originally edited by Bill Frindall, this new volume brings collectors' libraries up to date, ensuring they have a complete and accurate record - essential for any truly self-respecting cricket enthusiast. ... Read more

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The Wisden Book of Test Cricket, first published in 1979, iswell established as an invaluable and unique source of referenceessential to any cricket library. This new volume includes fullscorecards and match reports from 2000 to the current day and acomprehensive records section. Edited by Steven Lynch, this new volume brings collectors' librariesup to date, ensuring they have a complete and accurate record -essential for any truly self-respecting cricket enthusiast. ... Read more

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Based on extensive research and interviews with leading sports executives, "Pommies" is the first book to investigate the management of professional cricket in England. Three years after the great Ashes victory in 2005, the England team has reverted to type. In 2007, it lost three out of four Test series and got nowhere in the ICC World Cup and Twenty20 tournaments. Since 1987, Australia has thrashed England 34-9 in Tests and won four World Cups to England's none. Today, Australia has five cricket stadiums with more than 30,000 seats to England's none. Their team is accessible to all on Channel Nine, but England fans have to pay GBP400 a year for Sky. Using Australia as the model and inspiration, "Pommies" explains what is wrong with England cricket and presents a radical plan to improve the national team and open up the game for fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

interesting critique of english cricket
If you take a look at the photo on the cover, you'll see the MCC members at their pavillion at Lord's.You'll note that the MCC crowd is all male, and all white.The MCC has played a major role in the management of English cricket since the 19th century.Pommies is largely about the failures of English cricket in contrast to the much more successful Australian game.Buckland is an Englishman, and has been frustrated by the English lack of success in international cricket, particularly in Test matches.

For the cricket-ignorant, English cricket is run largely by the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and the 18 counties that participate in the County Championship.The County Championship, which started in the 19th century, is based on 3-day and 4-day matches (with 2-day matches in 1919).Test matches are similar, usually lasting 5 days.Salaries are meager, especially when compared to professional sports in the US.Attendance, other than at test matches, is small.Spending 6 mid-day hours a day at a 3-day midweek County Championship match would certainly seem to require a passion for the game.So to sex things up and improve attendance, limited-over matches and 1-day matches were inaugurated decades ago.There is also now cricket under the lights and colored uniforms instead of the traditional whites.But the skills needed for these short matches are very different from those needed for 3-, 4-, and 5-day matches, particularly test matches.

Buckland describes the Australian tiered system--a pyramid structure designed in part to create an elite cadre of cricket players.England's structure, by contrast, results in a much flatter peak--the level of play in the 18 English counties is much weaker than in the handful of Australian States in the Sheffield Shield matches. (perhaps think of a new baseball expansion team compared to a team that has been winning 100 games a season).Cricket grounds in England are smaller than those in Australia.There is, however, perhaps an inherent problem with Buckland's thesis.If the purpose of English cricket is to win test matches, then Buckland has lots of very valid points.There is a lot of wonderful tradition in the County Championship, which has been going on since roughly the same time as professional baseball.Like baseball, there have been changes in the game, changes in the rules, but cricket, like baseball, is not that much different in its basics from the way it was played in 1900, say.The purpose of baseball is not to produce players for the Olympics (when baseball was played therein).Ditto basketball.English cricket is certainly quite hidebound--think of baseball pre-free-agency, perhaps, or think even of baseball today vis-a-vis drug policy.So there are a lot of good points to the book, but I would still hate to see the County Championship reduced to, say, 5 regions as Buckland suggests. ... Read more

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This is a striking and evocative look at over 90 years of cricket with each photograph capturing a moment out of the ordinary. Covering local, national and global cricketing events, from the village green to first-class competitions, top cricketers, great matches, famous world-wide cricket grounds, the majesty of the batsman, the perception of bowlers and the close finishes. Cricket is a game of technique and skill, luck and judgement. Synonymous with fair play and gentlemanly values it often has a ferocious and competitive edge. This book shows the popularity of cricket as the quintessential summer sport. ... Read more

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Fast bowling and controversy have been inseparable since cricket began, but there has never been a more clamorous uproar than that which occurred during the 1932-33 Test series between Australia and England. England, led by the haughty and slightly mystical Douglas Jardine, had the fastest and most accurate bowler in the world: Harold Larwood. Australia boasted the most prolific scorer of runs the game had ever seen: young Don Bradman, who had punished England's bowlers mercilessly during the 1930 tour. He had to be stopped. Jardine had the weapon and the strategy. The leg-side bouncer onslaught inflicted on Bradman and other Australian batsmen in 1932-33 by Larwood and Bill Voce, with a ring of fieldsmen waiting for catches, caused outrage at the highest level of government. Bodyline, as this infamous technique came to be known, was repugnant to the majority of cricket-lovers, and ultimately outlawed. In this work, David Frith has provided a history replete with anecdote on a sporting scandal that, 70 years on, continues to inspire controversy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Simply outstanding
A very balanced, authoritative and insightful analysis of a cricketing controversy that refuses to die.Each chapter is carefully researched and detailed, yet the book reads like an enthralling novel.At no point did I skip pages or become bored.Not only is this the story of the matches but also of the personalities, above all, Jardine, Larwood and Bradman.This is an excellent book, the best cricket book I've read to date on any subject about the sport. ... Read more

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Twelve-year-old Kia Yang-nicknamed "Little Cricket"-has always lived among her extended family in their tiny Laotian village. But their peaceful lives are shattered one day when North Vietnamese soldiers destroy much of their village, and Kia and her family are forced to escape the encroaching war. After three years in a Thai refugee camp, they finally receive heartbreaking news: only Kia, her brother, Xigi, and their grandfather may emigrate to America. In Minnesota, Kia is overwhelmed by her new life, isolated by culture and language. It is only when Xigi gets into big trouble and Grandfather becomes ill that Kia discovers that they are not as alone as she thought-and that others are more isolated than she'd realized.Set in Laos and Minnesota in the 1970s, this is a powerful first novel from a promising writer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Little Cricket
Little Cricket by Jackie is a book about a girl named Kia her and her family are leaving their village.Kia however must only leave with her brother and her grandfather and flee to the United States for safety.Kia doesn't want to leave behind the village in which she grew up in and have become to love.She and her family members are sent to Minnesota and must accustom themselves to the traditions and language of the state. Kia and her brother must now become part of the society.Grandfather has fallen ill and Kia finally finds it in herself to take care of him and realizes they may be alone.

Jackie Brown has presented an excellent book on finding oneself and relocated to another area in a time of war.

Beautifully written!
This book was labeled for children but it packs so much in it that all ages will enjoy and benefit. I am in my upper 40 and I read every page carefully. As I get older, I come to appreciate and respect my Hmong heritage.
I feel humble of how numerous authors (not of Hmong heritage) want to preserve our stories by putting them in writing (for whatever reason that drew them to do it). I have observed that many Hmong who want to preserve our ways but don't know how to write and those that are able to write seem to have no time or passion.
One of the surprising things that the author told in the story was that the grandfather sew paj ndaub. Though, paj ndaub was traditionally the work of women/girls, it was not uncommon for Hmong men to be very good at it as well especially in the refugee camp experience where the men found few things to do to fill their time. In addition, one of my uncles was famous for making the tab (the woman dress of the Blue Hmong). If one knows how complex, intricate, and the skills with great patience require in making such a masterpiece, one would appreciate its art.
I love the flashbacks, which the narrator tells each time Kia encounters a situation in her new home in Minnesota that caused her to make the comparison. Our experience, whether good or bad, becomes an integral part of who we are.
A great lesson for us all is that we need one another. We all need a little lift in some point in our lives like Kia, Hank, and especially Sam (at the end of the story). The author did not mention the presence of a dad in the Hank & Sam household, so I can only assume that Hank is a single mom raising a special-need son. While Donald Trump or Bill Gates may not need Kia and grandpa's help but for people like Kia, grandpa, Hank, and Sam and the rest of us need each other (no matter what heritage they're from). There is a Hmong song that part of it says, "...the poor lift the orphaned..." It seems that the majority of the rich is so busy getting richer and forget the one important thing that defines the true humanity of the human race--recognizing and aiding those who truly need it.
"...Kia would smile, not because she understood what was funny, but because these good neighbors made her happy with their joyous and quick laughter." I have found that Americans are the most cheerful of all peoples. I watched the summer Olympic on TV not long ago and I could tell which athlete is an American and which is not just by the sense of freedom and joy in their eyes.
It was also interesting that the author chose poker (why not gang, drugs, etc.), which got Xigi into trouble. I understand that casino gambling problem is rampant among the Hmong population in St. Paul/Minneapolis and surrounding. I believe the author wants us to learn a lesson here. It may be too late for the older people that are addicted to gambling and they may have to hit bottom before they "wake up" but our children must be taught that making an honest living by honest and hard work is the surest thing in life and gambling hoping for quick riches only bring despair and disappointment.
What a story beautifully and compassionately told! Thank you, Jackie Brown, for telling our story so well. I am inspired now to write my own story (for my children). It is my intention to make my spouse and all my children to read this book as well.
Khoua|

Nancy King
For a girl of twelve Kia has been through much in her short life.She has experienced the horrors of war, the confinements of a refugee camp, and the sorrow of leaving loved ones behind to travel to a distant and very different country.Here she discovers that by trusting others she is better able to adjust to her new life, and is soon able to help her grandfather adjust as well. Author, Jackie Brown weaves a thoughtful historical fiction that is as beautiful as the stories told by Grandfather's pa ndau (Hmong embroidered story cloths). ... Read more

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Through the medium of a cricket match the author endeavours to give a glimpse of life in a Sussex village. First we have a bird's-eye view at dawn of the village nestling under the Downs then we see the players awaken in all widely different circumstance of their various lives, pass the morning, assemble on the field, play their game, united for a few hours, as men should be, by a common purpose - and at night disperse. ... Read more

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Australia's leading cricket writer describes and analyses Australia's cricket supremacy over the last three decades - the players, the tactics, the controversies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great read if a little selective
I really enjoyed reading this book - all in one sitting on a flight to Singapore. It adds an inciteful and captivating description of the rise of the Australian juggernaut that ruled cricket for the last decade. There were also interesting peaks into the rise (and fall) of World Series Cricket and the emergence of player power.I guess my only dissapointment was that the narrative ignored some important Test series altogether, principally because they distracted from the theme of escalating dominance; but that aside, I would recommend this book to cricket nuts everywhere ... Read more