Julia's Kitchen Wisdom by Julia ChildSubtitle: Essential Techniques and Recipes From a Lifetime of Cooking
Stars: ****
This little volume is a small book of cooking wisdom from none other than Julia Child which was released in honour of the Julie & Julia movie with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams that came out. Although I like cooking, I'm still learning and I don't know the fancy names of most techniques or the specific way to do them. This book is different from your usual cookbook because it's less about recipes and more about technique, although there ARE some recipes.
Contents are as follows: Soups and Two Mother Sauces, Salads and their Dressings, Vegetables, Meats/Poultry/fish, Egg Cookery, Breads/Crepes/Tarts, Cakes and Cookies and Kitchen Equipment and Definitions. Here is a very SMALL list of things you'll learn: Using Simmered Mushroom Caps as garnish, Cooking with Wine, How to properly dredge, How to tell when homemade bread is done, and much, much more. My only real complain is lack of photos. There were some times I would have liked picture demonstrations but for the most part, I suppose you can get by without photographs. I especially like the last chapter which explains the difference between baste, beat, blanch, fold, mince, puree, saute, toss and more.
You can find a MUCH better review of this book at Books I Done Read. Thanks to Random House for the book.
Buy Julia's Kitchen Wisdom
at Amazon.com 
Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah ... and searching for hope by Christina KilbourneStars: *****
Summary: Maxine and her best friend Leah used to have so much fun chatting with boys online. So what if Max and Leah lied about their ages and where they lived? But when Leah disappeared, Max realized they weren't the only ones telling lies online. Through her daily journal entries, Max shares the crushing loss of Leah and her desperate efforts to move on after all that has happened.
This was an AWESOME book but also heart-wrenching. This particular story isn't true but unfortunately, kids and teens being abducted by someone they met online IS true. Sharing this story with your preteen or teen may scare them but it will hopefully scare them from sharing personal information online.
The story is believeable and includes everything that a person in this situation would go through. The before part, right after the incident, finding out bad news, going to counselling, doing bad in school because you're depressed, working with the police, working things out in your mind and coming to terms with what happened, healing and moving on.
Other Reviews: Semicolon
Thanks to Lobster Press for the book!
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at Amazon.com 
Psychos, Players, Punks and Pervs: How to Become the Ultimate Guy Detector by C. Dean Hall, M.S.Stars: ****
At first look this book seems like a book for rape prevention but it is intended as more than that. Here's a quote from the publisher:
"Our research proves doctors, therapists, teachers and parents all agree that it [the book] stands apart because of its uncanny ability to engage, inform and protect girls regardless of their age or level of maturity. Our hope in publishing this book is that we may have played a small part in helping you, and the girls you love, to safely lead happy, healthy lives."
You can take a look at the Table of Contents and download some sample pages at The Guy Detector (the website for the book.) It is intended for teens to collage age but I would recommend 18 and under. I showed it to my 20 something friend who is dating and she said it was young for her. The book is more for those who haven't dated yet or haven't dated much or seriously. It has some good points although I can't say I necessarily learned anything but then I'm not the target age and I'm married so it's not like I'm dating either. I do plan on sharing it with my daughter's when they're older though.
For the sections on psychos, players, punks and pervs shows you how to spot one (e.g. Players view every female as a potential score and identify women who are insecure and need to feel loved, attractive or important.) You'll also find a story about a girl who got caught up with that type of guy (doesn't say whether it's a true story or not) and finally some advice on how to get away from that guy. The only problem with the book is it's hard to find. Amazon.com has it, Barnes and Noble and Chapters do not. You can buy it online from The Guy Detector website too.
Thanks to Inner Vista Press for a copy of this book.
Buy Psychos, Players, Punks and Pervs
at Amazon.com 
Backtalk: 4 Steps to Ending Rude Behavior In Your Kids by Audrey Ricker, Ph.D and Carolyn Crowder Ph.D.Stars: ****
This is a short, (under 200 pages,) book to help you end backtalk from your kids from preschoolers to teens. I have a back talker so I was interested in reading this book. (Fireside (S&S) 1998) It has some good points which I've implemented (when I'm not already too frustrated to do them hehe) and it's helped. I can't say it works 100% mainly because I am not doing the 4 steps all the time, properly. That's the problem with any behaviour system book... it requires you to do each and every step in order, properly or it doesn't work. This sounds easy before you have kids but once they're here, you realize it's not that simple. It does have some good points though and also includes how to deal with your children's friends who backtalk.
Buy Backtalk
at Amazon.com
