Shaking the Nickel Bush

Rating:
Summary: Great Books
Review: All of the Ralph Moody books are great. Check out Little Britches and continue on the path. These books are full of Great Values like hard work and honesty. Kids love them as do adults. Great for family reading time.

Rating:
Summary: Another great family book from Ralph Moody
Review: I first read this book aloud with my family as an adolescent about 30 years ago. I read it with my own children, and now it is time to think about reading it with my grandchildren. This book tells of the great adventure of life, lived with the eternal knowledge that--though mistakes and poor judgment will be made by all of us--they can all be made right with determination, responsibility, and faith. This story of two boys facing overwhelming challenges together, and discovering that there are few problems that don't have at least one solution, and you're sure to find it if you just don't give up. Exciting, encouraging, challenging, funny, and inspiring--all can be said about this book.

Rating:
Summary: Another great family book from Ralph Moody
Review: I first read this book aloud with my family as an adolescent about 30 years ago. I read it with my own children, and now it is time to think about reading it with my grandchildren. This book tells of the great adventure of life, lived with the eternal knowledge that--though mistakes and poor judgment will be made by all of us--they can all be made right with determination, responsibility, and faith. This story of two boys facing overwhelming challenges together, and discovering that there are few problems that don't have at least one solution, and you're sure to find it if you just don't give up. Exciting, encouraging, challenging, funny, and inspiring--all can be said about this book.

Rating:
Summary: Dissappointing compared with rest of series
Review: The first few books in this series were so good - this one was dissappointing. I enjoyed the wholesome nature of the early books (and the last two), but this book was written entirely about the time when Ralph was lying to his family about his whereabouts and employment, hanging around with shady company and engaging in questionable activities. The author wrote about his own life, but some details about the lying and stealing could have been ommitted and made the book more consistent with the wholesome tone of the early books in the series. The book is interesting and more action-packed than most of the later books, but I would not recommend this one for family reading. The early emphasis on honesty and integrity are entirely lost in this book, with no apparant remorse over the loss. The series is often advertised as being perfect for families, but the later books are not materials I would endorse for young people. It's an entertaining book, but I don't feel I'm a better person for having read it. It does not come close to the standard set in the early books in the series.