Mystery of the Waterloo Bagpipes

Rating:
Summary: Small town setting like "Stand By Me"
Review: Just finished reading this book. Really enjoyed it. Brought back warm, personal memories of good friends and growing up in a small, rural town back in the fifties. I had a dog just like MacKenzie. Reminded me of the movie "Stand By Me." Loved the stuff about bagpipes. Very interesting. Would definitely recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Would make a great movie!
Review: My daughter is thirteen years old. For the past two days she's been talking about this book she just read. To see what all the excitement was about I picked it up and began reading. I'm glad I did. It's been a long time since I read a "young adult" book, but this "Mystery of the Waterloo Bagpipes" really kept me interested all the way through to the exciting end. I really liked the story line about the old pipes, and being a history buff, was fascinated with the description of the events surrounding the battle at Waterloo. The small town, set in late summer, gave the story a warm, cozy feeling as did the friendship between the kids. Having a daughter, I was very glad to see the character "Spike" interact so well with her friends and ultimately take a stand and demonstrate her bravery, along with the boys, during the final confrontation with the evil Simon Gein. And the dog MacKenzie. . .I loved her! She gives new meaning to the word "spunk". This is really a great read for kids as well as adults. A wonderful ending. It has the word "movie" written all over it.

Rating:
Summary: Small town setting like "Stand By Me"
Review: This book could have been written in the 50's - it is so filled with great family values. The children are truly engaging and the relationship they have with their parents is exemplary, and the friendship they have with each other leaves one longing for the days before school-age violence. Don's descriptive writing allows one to see the environs quite beautifully, and I found myself wanting to purchase a home on their street, where I could be one of the neighbors, and enjoy the fair with them. I laughed and I cried with this book - the mystery itself was a great "yarn," as it ends with the "good guys" winning. Thanks. Don for the great read - get back to that desk now, and give us a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Back to great family values
Review: This book could have been written in the 50's - it is so filled with great family values. The children are truly engaging and the relationship they have with their parents is exemplary, and the friendship they have with each other leaves one longing for the days before school-age violence. Don's descriptive writing allows one to see the environs quite beautifully, and I found myself wanting to purchase a home on their street, where I could be one of the neighbors, and enjoy the fair with them. I laughed and I cried with this book - the mystery itself was a great "yarn," as it ends with the "good guys" winning. Thanks. Don for the great read - get back to that desk now, and give us a sequel.