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Customer Reviews (7)

Thought provoking
If only the original fairy tales were this richly written...perhaps our children would be more drawn to fine literature. Hawes has a gift for bringing her characters to life. She provides a perspective within each tale that is unique and sometimes cynical but always thought provoking.

Fascinating old tales told again with a difference
We are in a dark wood wandering in these fascinating retellings of well known fairy tales, as if we entered them from another direction; it is an amazing forest, full of things we think are familiar and characters we thought we knew well and paths that we know ended in a village or a cottage but no longer do. In one, a good witch, whose joy is to fly with her sisters at night, comes into possession of a small mortal girl and by the springing up of that amazing thing, human love, gradually makes the girl her life and postpones her desire to join her sisters. Flight becomes a memory until the good witch is not sure she remembers how -- but the girl is human and when she grows up so beautiful in her tower, lets down her hair to a waiting lover. In another, Cinderella goes to the ball and happily marries, but her greedy desires after the marriage estrange her from her prince who becomes not a shining gallant but something sadder and estranged by her desertion....and so on.

BLACK PEARLS: A FAERIE STRAND is for little girls grown into adolescence and even into their adult and older years...the same stories we loved told for us again now that we have grown up and have begun to understand the many paths of the human heart.

I am the author of several historical novels including MARRYING MOZART, the story of Mozart in love.

lovely as petal, sharp as thorn
Once upon a time, there was a woman who was so caught up in a book that she did nothing all day but read it, from cover to cover.

_Black Pearls_ is a gem. Louise Hawes' dark, sensual fairy tale retellings and Rebecca Guay's evocative illustrations work perfectly together to form one of the best books of retold tales that I've ever read. I checked this out from the library, but I've resolved that I simply must have a copy of my own to treasure.

Hawes' prose is perfect for the genre. Her writing is beautiful without being heavy, and she has a talent for conveying visceral images in arch,elegant turns of phrase. She's also got a knack for metaphors. They're sometimes unexpected, sometimes familiar, and always perfectly fitting for the character who thinks them. (Rapunzel's witch compares hatred to poisonous mushrooms, Gretel notes that her angry stepmother is "set and stiff as beaten cream," and one of the seven dwarfs sees a bedraggled Snow White as a diamond that has not yet been cut.) My favorite metaphor in the book comes from the Snow White retelling as well: "watching the orange village at the bottom of the fire tumble into ruin".

My favorite among the tales is "Evelyn's Song," which tells the story of the golden singing harp from Jack and the Beanstalk. It's a haunting tale of servitude and freedom. The other stories, too, look at the old tales from new angles and explore the tangled emotions that lurk within the archetypes.

I would recommend this collection to anyone who enjoyed the Datlow/Windling fairy tale series, Tanith Lee's _Red as Blood_, and though Hawes sets her tales in "once upon a time" rather than our time, Francesca Lia Block's _The Rose and the Beast_.

...And she read happily ever after.

Perfect Title for Story Gems
The intriguing title is perfect for this collection of "twisted" fairy tales. (The lustrous pearl, once considered the "Queen of Gemstones," was valued above the lives of enslaved divers - men whose lifespans were cut short by the dangers of the dive.) In this story collection, Hawes transforms seven fairy tales with her magical pen: Rapunzel; The Pied Piper; Hansel and Gretel; Cinderella; Jack and the Beanstalk; Snow White; Lady Godiva.

The reader enters the backdoor of the moldering palaces of our childhood, drawn by Hawes's evocative wording and dream-inspired characters. Behind overgrown hedges of blood-red blossoms and menacing thorns, we find complicated emotions - forbidden love, desperate longing, suicidal despair, wrenching guilt.

The richly-detailed, black-and-white illustrations are a fine complement to the luscious wording. This short story collection would be a fine addition to a classroom library for teens. It would make a splendid gift for an imaginative teen reader/writer. Leave an extra copy on the night-table of your guest bedroom.

Rare and Powerful Stories
Lush, Buoyant, Terrifying, and Heartbreaking. What Hawes has accomplished with her new collection of stories, Black Pearls: A Faerie Strand, is nothing short of Brilliant! This is not just a retelling of the oldest and most cherished fairy tales you heard as a child, but a bold and breathtaking re-envisioning of such memorable stories as the Pied Piper, and Hansel and Gretel. Through Hawes' powerful imagination and stunning prose, these stories have "grown up," infused with a mature and wondrous new charm.

At first glance you won't recognize the names of the stories in the Table of Contents; Hawes has chosen to rename her tales. But for those of you intimately familiar with these unforgettable classics, you will not be far into Hawes' first story, "Dame Nigran's Tower," before you recognize the theme of Rapunzel. But what's different is that Hawes has chosen to tell the story from the witch's point of view, and not the horrible witch from the original tale who was so easy to hate and fear with her warts and pointy nose and bony hands, but a beautiful witch who risks her magical ability to fly for a chance to experience the power of human love. These are compassionate, sophisticated stories that will hold you spellbound for hours, long after you've put the book down.

But be warned: not everyone in these stories lives happily ever after. Through the vehicle of these re-imagined tales, Hawes' artfully exposes human nature in all its forms--at once raw and devastating, then beautiful and courageous--unwilling to take false paths for happier solutions. Hawes stays true to the story she's fashioned, committed to the characters she's shaped, faithfully following them through the dismal, dank forest if that's where they lead. But even at their darkest, these stories manage to lift you up with their boundless energy and daring, their genius and empathy, their unwavering heart and soul.

Hawes is known for her virtuosic writing and her ease of transitioning between genres, producing YA Novels, Middle Grade Novels and Picture Books, and several short fiction collections. Her work has garnered awards from the Children's Book Council, the Young Adult Library Services Association, the Center for Children's Books, the New York Public Library, and the International Reading Association. It is due to her amazing command of language and literary genius that Hawes is able to imbue these mature stories with fairy tale magic. Through the enchantment of Hawes' magnificent prose, I was transported back in time, not to my own childhood, but a realm where time has never existed, and yet, in terms of human spirit, not so different from today.
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Customer Reviews (3)

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This book is a wonderful cross between history and fantasy. I'm more of a fantasy type person, but I found this a wonderful story with just a touch of romance. I must warn you that it may seem strange at first due to the fact that it's in first person, but as the story goes on, it feels more welcome.

The Vanishing Point
Everyone takes feminism for granted. No one who reads this book will ever do so again. Young readers will learn what it was like to try to "follow your heart" if you were a woman in the days of the Renaissance. Lavinia Fontana, a genius and probably the most famous female painter of the Italian Renaissance, did not have an easy path. Forbidden to paint because of her gender, she has to convince a boy who works in her father's studio to pretend her paintings are his so that she can learn and get materials so she can paint--in secret.

Readers will want to rise up in rage against Lavinia's father, though, like Vini, they will eventually come to some tolerance of him.

A heartrending story with a great end, The Vanishing Point is a must-read.

A Must-read for both adults and YAs
This is a beautiful, richly-detailed portrait of a young girl in Renaissance Italy.Readers will laugh, cry, and experience Vini's hunger for the art she is forbidden to explore.We follow Vini as she grows to understand more about her parents and herself.Teens will identify with her as she learns more about the nature of life, love and longing.Adults and some perceptive teens will appreciate the symoblism of Vini's awakening adulthood as she "breaks the strings" that have controlled her young life, just as they control the puppets on the town square.Excellent historical detail enlightens without sounding pedantic.After I finished it, I handed the book to my 17-year-old daughter.She couldn't put it down, until she turned the last page.I have recommended this book to many adult friends, and so far, no one has been disappointed! ... Read more

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• New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age
• Girls’ Life Magazine, Ten Best Summer Reads
• Featured in Teen Discussion Groups @ the Library

“…flowing prose and vivid characterization…Hawes deliverers a rewarding read.”
—Publishers Weekly

“…behind the kidnapping drama, Hawes’ eloquent words reveal complex truths of family love and sorrow.”
—Booklist

“Hawes is excellent on the day-to-day difficulties of caring for a toddler, especially in secret…”
—Washington Post

“Hawes deals poignantly with loss and longing in a novel that is full of disappointment and heartbreak but that in the end offers hope.”
—The Horn Book

Customer Reviews (7)

Tender and Realistic.
When Feena Harvey sees a little boy being abused by his mother, she 'rescues' him from her. Soon, she is hiding out with this little boy, named Christopher, with help from the most popular girl in school, Raylene Watson. Througout the course of this book, Feena stuggles with the difficulties all parents face, her relationship with her own mother, and the idea of right vs. wrong. Feena and Raylene's situation is not the every-day kind of things everyone faces, but still plausible. 'Waiting for Christopher' gives a realistic portrayal of child abuse. While the ending is sad, it, again, strikes as true-to-life. The friendship between the two girls is very well thought out. I can relate to Feena's feelings towards Ray before they became friends, and Feena's amazement afterwards, that Raylene would actually WANT to be friends, is perfectly believeable. Overall, 'Waiting for Christopher' is a touching story without being overly sappy, and a very good read.

Still Waiting
"Waiting For Christopher" is a good book in its own way, but really didn't really stick out to me. The fact that it made me cry within the first 10 pages kind of turned me off to it. It is not badly written, but it lacks a way to grab the reader in and keep them intrigued. Also, the ending of the novel was just too depressing for me.All-in-all, it was a good book with an okay storyline.

A HOPE FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER
Being the third child of my eight sibling family, I found this story to be a very inspirational one to me. Waiting for Christopher is a story of how a young girl by the name of Feena Harvey had a very close relationship with her baby brother Christopher whom many call Christy. Like all the big brothers and big sisters in the world, we feel honored to have a younger sibling look up to us, listen, and follow us. Feena was like that, but even a better big young sister. She was four years old and at first she couldn't understand why her brother always had shirts that would say "U.S. Breathing Team". Yet, Feena's joy of enjoying her little brother soon vanished for her little brother dies and she never understood why. Little Christopher died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) which at time was incurable and unstoppable. For everyone it's painful to loose a love relative but for a 4 year old it was confusing, for she had no idea how to take him out of the underground and play with him. Feena's family moves to Florida from her hometown Connecticut where all her memories of Christopher stayed behind. Yet, at her new home every one hopes to start a new and fresh. As a 14 year old in Connecticut she feels lonely and lost. Soon she witnesses and discovers that a toddler is being abuse from he's mother at an amusement park. To Feena's surprise he's name is Christopher. Having lost her little brother, she feels as if this is a time to save this young baby from dying. In a way Feena feels she will bring back Christy. One day when the toddler's mother abandons him at the amusement park Feena takes him and cares for him very secretly without telling anyone including her parent's. Yet, she doesn't act alone she has a friend named, Raylene who is with her throughout the journey. Her feelings towards this act of kindness begin to trouble the 14 year old. She no longer knows what right from wrong. Soon she realizes that her actions could be called two things: a hero or a kidnaper. This is a very inspirational story of a 14 year old, which has guilt for the lost of her little brother. Yet, feels she can take that guilt away by saving another little baby's life since she couldn't save her own little brothers. My feelings are strongly of this book and I highly recommend this book to all the Big brothers and sisters out there. Most of all one must read this book to understand the point of view of this young girl who seems to be caught up in confusion.

Acting on Impulse
It is quite common for children to see things in black and white terms and not worry about the details caught up in the shades of gray.In the book, Waiting for Christopher, the main character, Feena Harvey, a high school student who doesn't quite fit in, decides to act.She sees a young boy named Christopher being physically and emotionally abused by his mother.When Christopher's mother seemingly abandons the young toddler in the parking lot of a small amusement park, Feena doesn't consider the shades of gray or what can happen to her, she acts.Feena "kidnaps" Christopher and begins to secretly take care of him.Feena immediately recognizes that this young boy shares the name of her deceased brother, whom, she has never been able to grieve for.

Feena has never had many friends, and books are her constant companion, but after a mishap involving a young, popular, African American student in her school, Raylene, she thinks she may have met someone that shares her love for reading.After finding Raylene's copy of a book by Zora Neale Hurston, Feena decides keeping the book and reading it will be much less embarrassing than trying to return it.After kidnapping Christopher, Raylene and Feena form an unlikely bond of friendship and the two young teens try to care for the boy as best they can and protect him from his mother.

This is an emotional book that really sheds light on some of the complexities of child abuse and neglect.It was about two brave girls who made countless sacrifices to protect a child that they felt adults would not.It is also a story about friendship, as the two get to know each other they learn that in spite of their cultural differences they share a lot in common.This is a touching story that reminds us that sometimes we have to deal with what is in front of us and not worry about the shades of gray.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay of
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A story of courage
Teenage Feena sees a small child being abused by his mother. With no thought for the consequences to herself, she rescues him. But oops -- in the eyes of the world, this is called kidnapping. Now what? Louise Hawes tells us what, in a story that is subtle, nuanced and achingly plausible. Before it is over, Feena confronts: 1) the day-to-day worries every mom knows, 2) some frightening insights about herself, 3) an adult world with a skewed idea of right and wrong, and 4) her own powerlessness in the big, bad world. The story ends ambiguously, but as it must. This will give teen readers plenty of material for probing thought and discussion. ... Read more

Product Description
In Anteaters Don't Dream, Louise Hawes deftly portrays lovers at the end of their patience, marriages on the verge of decline, children reeling from abuse, and parents devastated by loss.

But many of these stories have a sardonic, humorous edge as well: in the title story, a jaded architect learns to take his dream life more seriously when a female co-worker threatens his career. In "Mr. Mix Up," a mother becomes infatuated with the clown at her son's birthday party. In "My Last Indian," a menopausal woman goes native. And in "Salinger's Mistress," a young woman lies about having an affair with J. D. Salinger. . . until Salinger himself calls her on the phone!

Whether Hawes' protagonists are rich or poor, male or female, young or old, their voices are convincing, varied, and human. With equal portions of wit and pathos, Anteaters Don't Dream is a versatile collection by a remarkable prose stylist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Love, Loss and Laughter
The short stories are linked by their connection to humans at the core of their being in critical times: death of loved ones, death of relationships, and death of self. But in those moments we also see rebirth and the strength people contain. Hawes shows people at their most vulnerable, and at their strongest, all with a delicate humor. These stories have male and female protagonists of all ages facing a range of crisis, and yet, the reader is effortlessly, and irresistibly, drawn into their inner world. "Anteaters Don't Dream" connects us to each other by allowing us access to the fundamental human experiences of loss, love and laughter all at once.

Quirky and surprising!
"Anteaters Don't Dream" is a quirky and surprising collection of short stories, with the emphasis on story! It would be easy to heap on adjectives of praise for Hawes' prose--bright, fresh, vigorous, inventive--but it's the stories themselves, infused with humor, intelligence, and warmth that held me spellbound. In "Dawson's Folly," a father builds an elaborate tree house for his son, an enterprise wrought with unexpected and troubling consequences, and in "Mr. Mix-Up," an almost shamanic birthday party clown becomes more than mere entertainment. All the stories in this collection breathe, bleed and pulse with characters I cared about, and themes that reverberated long after the final punctuation. Hawes didn't just me draw maps to destinations...she took me places I've never been and brought me back again and again, reflective, affected and amazed! ... Read more

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Aliens for camp counselors?T.V. star for a day?A talking snake for a pet?All routine for eleven-year-old Nelson Malone, whose life is filled with the kind of fantastic adventures most boys only dream of. ... Read more

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Everybody is happy about the new Middle School cafeteria except the two ghosts whose graves were disturbed when it was built, but four sixth-graders are the only ones who can see the Pilgrim girl and Native American boy. ... Read more

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Befriending the ghosts of Quick Fox and Prudence, whose graves were disrupted by the building of the new school cafeteria, Allie, Dina, Quinton, and Bradley must help the wandering spirit of a Native American baby. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

A must-read for a pre-teen dealing with grief--or an adult!
This quasi-fantasy tale relates the story of 15 year-old Franklin whose Japanese-American girlfriend is killed in a car accident, then returns to him in spirit form to guide him through his grief.Hawes' young adult story would be bibliotherapuetic for a young teen who has experienced the loss of a loved one.The story also speaks to intercultural relationships and tolerance.Franklin's mother is raising him alone, and begins dating; which is another emotional challenge for Franklin, who is already dealing with more than a fair share of problems.The writing itself makes use of poetry and beautifully descriptive prose, providing young adult readers with a lesson in descriptive writing.

Awww,beautiful
I so loved this book. I'm a big fan of what I guess you could term supernatural romances and this is one of the best I have ever read.This book shows that true love never dies, not even after death.It lives on. The book is fiction, but I was still so deeply touched by it.It could have been real. Pick this book up. You will love it.

I laughed, I cried.....
Rosey In The Present Tense was an awesome book!This bookteaches you about how to cope with death, but not only that, but abouta a boy that won't let go of his girlfriend's death. Franklin just can't imagine life without Rosey in it, and he thinks he sees her...but is this a dream, or is it reality?Read the book to find out what happens next!This was an awesome book, and I encourage you all to read it!It makes you laugh, it makes you cry....all around, its a GREAT BOOK for young adults!

rosey
This book is a very great book. It was rosey who is this beautiful girl who has long black hair and she is very nice. There's this guy who had fell in love with her. He sleeps thinking of her, when he is a wake he just yhinks of her evry day and night.oh, and how great it felt to be with her,how deliget to hold her. It was like a dream had come true. He found roseyand automatical just fall in love. Rosey had felt the exact same way as herboyfriend. The sad thing is that they didn't really spend their lifetogether for a long time. Rosey went and left him behind. She went up toheaven, but david always think that she is there still with him. David newthat she was gone, but he just doesn't want to think that she had left himabout two years ago. Rosey and david is very much in love, but their loveis not close as it use to be. Yet still they still got each others in theheart.

I cried from the start!
Not because the book was unrealistic or overly romantic, but because it centered on such a genuine relationship. This short book was funny, touching, rich. One more example of what fine writing is being done foryoung adults in this country! I'd recommend it to anyone of any age. ... Read more

Product Description
Nelson Malone is a normal sixth grader, but the things that happen to him are out of this world. Ghosts, rock stars, dinosaur eggs and a solo airplane flight highlight these humorous adventures in which a boy’s best daydreams come true. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Lovely Story
This is a beautiful story with lovely illustrations.We originally checked this book out from the library and decided this had to be a part of our family library at home.We also purchased an additional copy to give as a gift.

Beautiful Artwork and Nice story
This is a very beautifully illustrated book.The colors are stunning.It is also a good story.

a beautiful book, a compelling story
What a great gift for a young child. The writing doesn't talk down to kids but keeps their attention. The story is tightly constructed with a strong woman character (so hard to find in books sometimes!) - combined with a sorccercer and a snake what more could you ask for. Set in ancient Egypt timeless ideas about power and family are raised. The pictures are gorgeous!!! ... Read more

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Word count: 1506. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Kliatt, published by Kliatt on September 1, 2004. The length of the article is 334 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Hawes, Louise. The vanishing point, a novel.(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
Author: Claire Rosser
Publication: Kliatt (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2004
Publisher: Kliatt
Volume: 38Issue: 5Page: 10(2)

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article, Young Adult Review

Distributed by Thompson Gale ... Read more