Mark Stewart (1)

Why? Why? Why? It's a question I often ask myself about the treatment of the creatures on this earth and it was also a question that came to me many times whilst reading this collection of short stories. Why does man wreak so much havoc on the earth? Why are we so cruel to the living creatures we share our world with?

Mark Stewart's stories look at the fates of, amongst others, a shark, whale, rabbit, squirrel, polar bear, rhino and elephant. Creatures great and small and all hunted or mistreated in some way.

When the author approached me to ask me to review this book I asked him if it would break my heart. He said no, but that I might shed a tear. I didn't do that but I felt an overwhelming sadness. The stories are very literary in style, quite wordy and I struggled with that a bit, but they're also lyrical and moving and it's obvious Stewart cares deeply about the natural world.

I've long been a supporter of various animal charities, finding it hard to comprehend the cruelty in the world. If you care too then you may find these stories well worth a read. Not an easy read at all but the reader is put right into the heart of each story, imagining how each creature feels. It's heartbreaking stuff and The Absence of Wings is an important lesson to us all in how to behave and how not to behave.… (más)

This book is a biography about Ichiro Suzuki, a Seattle Mariners hitting and fielding star who won the MVP and Rookie of the Year Award in 2001. He became the first Japanese player in the Major Leagues. The biography describes what hardships Suzuki went through to get into the Major Leagues. It also takes us through the journey of how he came to the United States and what his family is like. This book is a biography because it is an accurate account of Ichiro Suzuki's life and shows the true nature of the subject. It also shows both the good and bad of the baseball player. Genre: Biography, Age Appropriateness: middle school… (más)

Stewart, Mark. Scott Gomez: Open Up the Ice. Illus. by AP/ Wide World Photos, Inc, and various others. Brookfield, Connecticut; Millbrook Press, Inc. 2001. 47 pp. Intermediate.

Scott Gomez, a Hispanic American, makes it into the NHL and works hard for a spot on the Devils. Striving to make it into a major sports league where 95% of the participants are White is a challenge, but Scott has the drive and skills to push through. He doesn’t come from a hockey family, and is a second generation American. He grew up in Alaska with his family, and started skating early on. From there, he was tied into hockey with the help of his father, Carlos.

Alaska Content: With there being very few major league sports players from Alaska, it’s nice to see a biography about them.

Activity: How has Scott’s family shaped his life? Without his family’s encouragement, do you think he still would have made it into the NHL?

Keywords: Scott Gomez, hockey, Alaska, Hispanic American, bibliography… (más)