General Ledger Software and Accounting Principles Third Edition Set

Book Description

In print for over a century, it is the definitive guide to cane sugar processing, treatment and analysis. This edition expands coverage of new developments during the past decade—specialty sugars, plant maintenance, automation, computer control systems and the latest in instrumental analysis for the sugar industry.

Customer Reviews:

Sugar cane handbook.......2006-03-12

The Sugar cane handbook is compilation of the procedures for manufacturing sugar from cugar cane; the practical and easy to follow procedures and the experiences detail in the book are just very good.

Every person in charge of sugar cane milling and processing sugar cane must have it as handbook to consult.

Aicardo Roa-Espinosa PhD
President of Soil Net LLC

Great reference.......2000-11-25

Not exactly light reading, but great reference book, just look at the contents:

Part One Raw Sugar Manufacture

1. Sugarcane, James E. Irvine

2. Sugars and Non-sugars in Sugarcane, Margaret A. Clarke

3. Methods of Cane Purchase, James C. P. Chen

4. Outline of Raw Sugar Process and Extraction of Juice, James C. P. Chen

5. Purification of the Juice, James C. P. Chen

6. Heating and Evaporation, James C. P. Chen

7. The Crystallization of Sugar, James C. P. Chen

8. Purging, packing and Warehousing of Raw Sugar, Len K. Kirby

9. Raw Sugar Quality Criteria, James C. P. Chen

10. By-Products of Cane Sugar Processing, James C. P. Chen

Part Two Cane Sugar Refining

11. Raw Sugar Purchase, Marketing and Receiving, Fred R. Hill

12. Affination and Clarification, Richard Riffer

13. Decolorization, Richard Riffer

14. Evaporation and Pan Boiling, Thomas N. Pearson

15. Centrifugation, C. Frank Stowe

16. Sugar Drying and Conditioning, Chung Chi Chou

17. Packaging, Warehousing and Shipping of Refined Products, Jeffery C. Robinson

18. Refined Sugar Products, Chung Chi Chou

19. Specialty Sugars, Andy C. Chen and Amhed Awad

20. Plant Maintenance Program, George Fawcett

Part Three Production and Process Controls 21. Definitions and Terms in Sugar Factory and Refinery Controls, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

22. Chemicals Used as Sugar Processing Aids, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

23. Sugar House and Refinery Calculations, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

24. Chemical and Process Control (Raw House), James C. P. Chen

25. Technical and Sucrose Loss Control (Refinery), Joseph F. Dowling

26. Microbiological Control in Sugar Manufacturing and Refining, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

27. Energy Conservation, Keith Sinclair

28. Total Quality Management System, Leon A. Anhasier

29. Computerized Sugar Manufacturing,

Part (A) Conceptualized Computer Control, Michael R. T. Low

Part (B) Process Control and Integration, Shyam Ambardar

30. Automation of a Sugar Refinery, Naotsugu Mera

31. Environmental Quality Assurance, James C. P. Chen and John Green

Part Four Analytical Procedures

32. Sampling and Averaging, James C. P. Chen

33. Special Laboratory Reagents, James C. P. Chen

34. Polarimetry in Sugar Analysis, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

35. Instrumental Analysis for the Sugar Industry, Chung Chi Chou

36. Determination of Density and Total Solids, James C. P. Chen

37. Determination of Ash, James C. P. Chen

38. Determination of pH, James C. P. Chen

39. Determination of Color and Turbidity in Sugar Products, Chung Chi Chou

40. Determination of Dextran and Starch, Walter Altenburg

41. Analysis of Sugarcane, James C. P. Chen

42. Analysis of Juice, James C. P. Chen

43. Analysis of the Syrup, Massecuites and Molasses, James C. P. Chen

44. Analysis of Raw Sugars, James C. P. Chen

45. Analysis of Refined Sugar Products, Thomas Wilson and Stanley Bichsel

46. Analysis of Bagasses and Filtercake, James C. P. Chen

Great reference.......2000-11-25

Not exactly light reading, but great reference book, just look at the contents:

Part One Raw Sugar Manufacture

1. Sugarcane, James E. Irvine

2. Sugars and Non-sugars in Sugarcane, Margaret A. Clarke

3. Methods of Cane Purchase, James C. P. Chen

4. Outline of Raw Sugar Process and Extraction of Juice, James C. P. Chen

5. Purification of the Juice, James C. P. Chen

6. Heating and Evaporation, James C. P. Chen

7. The Crystallization of Sugar, James C. P. Chen

8. Purging, packing and Warehousing of Raw Sugar, Len K. Kirby

9. Raw Sugar Quality Criteria, James C. P. Chen

10. By-Products of Cane Sugar Processing, James C. P. Chen

Part Two Cane Sugar Refining

11. Raw Sugar Purchase, Marketing and Receiving, Fred R. Hill

12. Affination and Clarification, Richard Riffer

13. Decolorization, Richard Riffer

14. Evaporation and Pan Boiling, Thomas N. Pearson

15. Centrifugation, C. Frank Stowe

16. Sugar Drying and Conditioning, Chung Chi Chou

17. Packaging, Warehousing and Shipping of Refined Products, Jeffery C. Robinson

18. Refined Sugar Products, Chung Chi Chou

19. Specialty Sugars, Andy C. Chen and Amhed Awad

20. Plant Maintenance Program, George Fawcett

Part Three Production and Process Controls 21. Definitions and Terms in Sugar Factory and Refinery Controls, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

22. Chemicals Used as Sugar Processing Aids, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

23. Sugar House and Refinery Calculations, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

24. Chemical and Process Control (Raw House), James C. P. Chen

25. Technical and Sucrose Loss Control (Refinery), Joseph F. Dowling

26. Microbiological Control in Sugar Manufacturing and Refining, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

27. Energy Conservation, Keith Sinclair

28. Total Quality Management System, Leon A. Anhasier

29. Computerized Sugar Manufacturing,

Part (A) Conceptualized Computer Control, Michael R. T. Low

Part (B) Process Control and Integration, Shyam Ambardar

30. Automation of a Sugar Refinery, Naotsugu Mera

31. Environmental Quality Assurance, James C. P. Chen and John Green

Part Four Analytical Procedures

32. Sampling and Averaging, James C. P. Chen

33. Special Laboratory Reagents, James C. P. Chen

34. Polarimetry in Sugar Analysis, James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou

35. Instrumental Analysis for the Sugar Industry, Chung Chi Chou

36. Determination of Density and Total Solids, James C. P. Chen

37. Determination of Ash, James C. P. Chen

38. Determination of pH, James C. P. Chen

39. Determination of Color and Turbidity in Sugar Products, Chung Chi Chou

40. Determination of Dextran and Starch, Walter Altenburg

41. Analysis of Sugarcane, James C. P. Chen

42. Analysis of Juice, James C. P. Chen

43. Analysis of the Syrup, Massecuites and Molasses, James C. P. Chen

44. Analysis of Raw Sugars, James C. P. Chen

45. Analysis of Refined Sugar Products, Thomas Wilson and Stanley Bichsel

46. Analysis of Bagasses and Filtercake, James C. P. Chen

Good Source of Sugar Process Engineering Information.......2000-05-08

This book is, in many ways, a good companion volume to the other standard text in sugar cane engineering (Hugot, Handbook of Cane Sugar Engineering). Chen and Chou's book is oriented to the sugar processing aspect of sugar manufacture. The book is more about how to make sugar than how to make machines that make sugar.

The Cane Sugar Handbook covers raw sugar manufacture, refining, process controls, and analytical procedures.

The text is illustrated well with many line drawings, charts and graphs, and a few black and white photographs.

There are many useful data tables in the appendix. The text is fully referenced to papers and articles .

All in all a useful reference work to keep in your desk's top drawer (right next to Hugot).

Average customer rating:
Cane Sugar Handbook, A Manual For Cane Sugar Manufacturers and Their Chemists
Guilford L. Spencer George P. Meade
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VAPYXW

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Cane sugar handbook;: A manual for cane sugar manufacturers and their chemists,
Guilford L Spencer
Manufacturer: Chapman and Hall, limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007E40HI

Amazon.com

We're living in a sci-fi world, but we hardly seem to notice it. Recounting the history of our most successful space program, the editors of Air & Space and Smithsonian magazines reawaken the reader's attention to the fantastic in Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years. Featuring hundreds of beautiful, enlightening, and sometimes funny photographs (many never before published), the book has compelling visual appeal for all ages. Uniquely focused on the personal experiences of the astronauts who lived and worked aboard shuttles and space stations, the text is largely made up of interviews and written reminiscences of these often-inspiring adventurers. The subjects roam from the mundane (What did Mir smell like?) to the reverent (What's it like to see the effects of war from space?). The two main parts of the book are each arranged chronologically: first following the missions from 1981 onward, then looking closely at the experience of space travelers, from training through launch and recovery. To the editor's credit, they don't shy away from retelling the story of the Shuttle program's most defining moment--the 1986 Challenger disaster. Though it's every bit as chilling to read about many years later, the context of later dedication to safety and noncommercial uses heightens the value of the sacrifice. A glossary, detailed mission list, and thorough illustrated guide to shuttle operations round out the book, making it a valuable reference and an important reminder that our species has achieved something heroic. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

An unprecedented look at the Space Shuttle experience, as told by the astronauts themselves. The editors of Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine wrote all of the people who have flown on the Space Shuttle since 1981 with a simple request: Tell us your best stories. The astronauts' fascinating and candid responses reveal the drama of the Shuttle experience, from launch to landing, like no other book has to date. More than 300 stunning pictures selected from deep in the NASA archives, most have never been published. Personal anecdotes drawn from written submissions or original interviews with 77 Shuttle astronauts. Historical section highlights in words and pictures the greatest accomplishments of the Shuttle's first two decades. Complete with brief descriptions of all 103 flights from April 1981 to April 2001, Space Shuttle includes a foreword written by astronaut Jim Lovell, who was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the film Apollo 13.

Customer Reviews:

About Time! Shuttle voices that need to be heard!.......2006-03-26

I am a huge fan of any DK books - the fact that this is a DK book about the space shuttle is AWESOME! First the basics - this book is not technical, nor will it show schematics of the shuttle. It is bits and pieces of memories from shuttle astronauts placed between eye-popping photos of the shuttle, Earth and of astronauts at work.

Second - the astronauts represent a varied sample from the Astronaut Corps. While there may be some famous names interspersed throughout, most comments are from relatively 'unknown' astronauts. This makes the book even more valuable that 'common' astronauts (can any astronaut truly be called 'common'?) share their humanity through words and visions. They are 77 voices from an amazing community - listen when they speak.

This book would be a great addition to any space flight collection. Its oversized print would relegate it to the coffee table, but imagine the conversations it would start...

Wonderful Photography, Nice Snippets from Astronauts.......2005-02-05

This book includes wonderful photography of the shuttle and space and earth as seen from the shuttle. It also has short little snippets from the astronauts about their experiences. These range from the mundane to the humorous to the inspirational.

Beautiful picture book of space.......2004-07-26

This book has awe-inspiring photos in full-color and many that are full-page. It's an oversize book so you get some huge photos of space! You'll see the astronauts floating around and doing their work, too, but the best photos are of the earth and its amazing beauty when seen from a distance. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is, like a lot of high-quality picture books, the text isn't the best. Some of the astronauts are good writers and write great entries about how being in space changed them - made them appreciate life more, and so on - but other entries are dry and could have been edited out. Also, the astronaut writing the page has their photo somewhere in the book, but not on the same page as their writing. It's hard to keep track of who wrote what unless you take the time to flip back and forth to the index, look up the astronaut's photo, and compare that to their writing. The actual shuttle itself and how it works is not covered much until the final couple pages which do include a good graphic about the shuttle's parts.

The Best Book ever!.......2004-04-29

I made a good choice by selecting this book. This is the best space book i have ever read. If you are interested in space shuttles and astronaut stuff, then look no further, cuz this is the one u are looking for. The book is well organized and the astronauts experiences are really thrilling and emotional. It will make one really feel how its like to be an astronaut.

beautiful, just beautiful.......2004-03-28

i wont have a bad word said about it. some of the photos in this book are really inspiring.
if it wasn't for the love i have for it i would say that it should be thrown with considerable force at anybody who is, after two decades of such ground breaking work, still in doubt about the worth of the shuttle.
just a word or two on the title - '...the first 20 years'. theres a review just down a bit which suggests that it should be the '..most recent 20 yrs' as the book is all about the two decades between 1981 and 2001. i would like to offer that the shuttle programme is only 23yrs old so the 'first' 20yrs IS the 'most recent' 20yrs.
also, i am delighted to read that someone else gets confused when a story told turns out NOT to be related to the picture beside. don't get me wrong, i think it was a good decision to match up the stories with photos which are in some way relevant but i think that its actually done so seamlessly that i tend to think that they are two of the same and end up disappointed and slightly confused when i realise that they aren't.
before i read this book (and reading the expressions on the faces of the astronauts is definately included), an astronaut was no more than the holder of the most amazing profession there is. now they're all people, who have fought so hard and so long to earn a place at the forefront of humanity. i'm so glad that someone finally decided to tell their story.
really very impressed and somewhat bewitched.

Liftoff: A Photobiography of John Glenn (Photobiographies)

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Liftoff: A Photobiography of John Glenn (Photobiographies)
Don Mitchell
Manufacturer: National Geographic Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0792258991
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Book Description

War hero, test pilot, American astronaut, and U.S. Senator—for John Glenn, serving his country has always been a joyous adventure. How does a boy from a small Ohio town grow up to become one of the most enduring heroes in American history?

Young readers find out as they follow his inspiring story from his schoolboy days in New Concord, Ohio, to his adventures as a highly decorated Marine Corps pilot in both World War II and the Korean War, a test pilot, one of the seven Mercury astronauts and the first American to orbit Earth, a successful businessman, a U.S. Senator, and, at the age of 77, the oldest human being in space.

Don Mitchell skillfully weaves highlights from John Glenn's extraordinary life with inspirational quotes and dynamic images to create an intimate portrait of a man whose challenge to young people everywhere is to become dedicated "to a purpose larger than themselves."

This superbly illustrated book follows the life trajectory of a very focused, highly competitive man, driven by a sense of duty to his country and an innate sense of obligation towards others. Readers will find themselves inspired to "liftoff" to new heights of achievement.

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Astronauts at Work (Explore Space!)
Deborah A. Shearer , and James Gerard
Manufacturer: Bridgestone Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0736811427

Astronauts Work in Space (Community Helpers)

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Astronauts Work in Space (Community Helpers)
Carol Greene
Manufacturer: Child's World
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1567664067

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Scientists who work with astronauts,
Lynn Poole
Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007HIX7I

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Space exploration
Jane Pofahl
Manufacturer: Instructional Fair/TS Denison
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 156822799X

Space Pioneers: Astronauts (Scientists at Work)

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Space Pioneers: Astronauts (Scientists at Work)
Louise Spilsbury , and Richard Spilsbury
Manufacturer: Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1403499519

Spectacular Women In Space (The Womens Hall of Fame Series)

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Spectacular Women In Space (The Womens Hall of Fame Series)
Sonia Gueldenpfennig
Manufacturer: Second Story Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1896764886

Book Description

Space is the final frontier and these ten women have established their place on it. This collection of ten biographies features women who have made an important contribution to the exploration of space. Included are Jerrie Cobb, who could only dream of flying above the atmosphere; some of the first women in space, Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride; and members of the current generation of women astronaughts such as Julie Payette and Ellen Ochoa. This book shows the particular challenges faced by women in their quest to discover more about our universe. Photographs and sidebars containing fun facts and quotes are included.

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We Work in Space (Where We Work)
Angela Aylmore
Manufacturer: Heinemann Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1410922448

Why Why Why Do Astronauts Float in Space? (Why Why Why? Q and A Encyclopedia)

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Why Why Why Do Astronauts Float in Space? (Why Why Why? Q and A Encyclopedia)
Chris Oxlade
Manufacturer: Miles Kelly Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

It's by far the best book in English on Los Cabos........1999-10-27

A wonderful book on Los Cabos by a woman who obviously loves the place. It's well written, it has elegant drawings by the author and excellent photos by her husband, Herman H. Zwinger. In fact it's by far the best book in English on Los Cabos, with coverage of the plants and animals, fish and birds, ocean and desert, mountains and arroyos. A lot of the area's history is woven in and out of the book and in the appendix is a great chronology of Baja (including the capture in 1587 of the Spanish galleon Santa Ana by Thomas Cavendish at Cabo San Lucas), and painstaking lists of the plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians of the Cape Region.

A Desert Country Near the Sea : A Natural History of the Cape Region of Baja California

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A Desert Country Near the Sea : A Natural History of the Cape Region of Baja California
Ann Zwinger
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OM15ZS

Book Description

Don't hit that boat! Learn the ``collision Regulations,'' or Rules of the Road, from this handy guide. It's an illustrated plain-english explanation of these often confusing rules. Includes a unique quick-reference ``situation guide'' to get you out of jams fast.

Customer Reviews:

Good but basic.......2005-10-26

It seems like a pretty good book for a casual boater but if your interested in getting a USCG license, the information will be covered in the other (more) complete guides.
When I purchased "Get Your Captains License" the "One Minute Guide.." was paired up with it so I purchased both. Getting the One Minute Guide is worthless if you already have the larger book.

Excellent Synthesis and Distillation of the COLREGS.......2005-06-08

The Navigation Rules (Inland-International) is the official publication of the United States Coast Guard, under international treaty, that describes in detail the collision (avoidance) regulations (COLREGs) which have evolved over the centuries and which are required knowledge for every mariner out there from the skipper of double-hulled oil tankers in Prince William sound to a dinghy on the lake.

Unfortunately, the official rules read like the international bureaucratic regulations that they are. They make no distinctions, for the most part, between typical and unusual situations, and as a quick reference source -- or even an understandable reference, period -- they leave much to be desired.

I've looked at a lot of supplemental materials for teaching the NAVRULES, due to the deficiencies as a textbook of the official book, and I've settled on this one as being the best primer for the recreational boater. To be sure, anyone trying for a Six-Pack or other commercial license will need a heavy-duty study guide, and this isn't it, but I suspect that about 90% of what needs to be learned for the regular Coast Guard exams can be learned in this book. (I've passed the Nav Rules exam myself, and I can only think of two or three questions that might not have been covered by this book -- which are also not explained well by the official COLREGS, anyway.)

The "One-Minute Guide" is actually a decision-tree chart on the inside of the book, and it's simple and easy to understand. As such, this is a great book to stick in the boat. You may (or may not, depending on vessel length) be required to carry the official COLREGS aboard, but you are required to know them. Having this book around on your boat (and/or in your "reading room" at home) is probably a lot more useful.

Other than the "one-minute guide", the rest of the book is a very well-organized and well-illustrated distillation of the rules and what they mean. For each rule, this book provides a short explanation of the actual rule, and then a sidebar explanation of "what it means". It also has useful sidebars of examples from the history of boating collisions and accidents of how the rules have come into play, and exteremely well-done diagrams for most of the often-confusing situations. There's a handsome four-color section illustrating the required night lights and day shapes. The index is a little brief -- which means you have to read through this book in order to really understand it and use it as a ready reference, since you have to know the types of rule that apply to a given situation -- but then again you should read it all the way through, anyway. At about 100 pages, and with the often entertaining case studies peppering the text, it's a lot less boring to do so than you might think. And for the price, it's well worth it as insurance.

As noted elsewhere, this is not a reference on Navigation AIDS (buoys, etc.) or the art of navigation -- the Navigation Rules are a specific and narrow body of marine law intended to prevent collisions at sea.

The best way to learn the Nav Rules is probably still through experience -- riding along with somebody who will drill you out on the water in a variety of situations -- and short of a multimedia CD, few learning aids will replace experience for a thorough first-hand knowledge of the COLREGS.

All in all, I give it four stars ande a strong recommendation for value for the price for the recreational mariner and a somewhat weaker recommendation for passenger-carrying masters. You may want to buy two copies, one for the boat and one for the home.

True to the name.......2003-08-29

It's true, it's a fantastic book for learning the "Rules." But also true to the name, it's a guide, to be used by beginners or those who need to revisit the rules. I read and then bought the book due to it's value, but like any guide... is useful only if you have the actual REGS to refer back to. Enjoy and learn from this book as it's meant, but don't think it's an end all and be all. Be careful! Don't be fooled into thinking you are an expert after reading the book, but use it to solidify your knowledge in a far better way than simply picking up a copy of the actual REGS and reading them. They, like any document, are very very dry. Wing does a great job providing a guide for beginners, but the meat is found elsewhere. Bravo on the attempt!

strictly colregs.......1999-08-23

This book is strictly what it says it is, a quick reference to the Colregs. Nothing about buoys, channel markings, or charts (except for traffic separation schemes as marked on charts). Handy color tables for required lights on all vessels. Not bad.

Amazon.com

You'd think living in a town called Harmony might be a peaceful experience. For Lucas Cantrell, however, on the verge of graduating from high school, it's anything but peaceful. According to everyone else, Lucas has his life laid out--a career in his father's business after college, a sports scholarship if he wants it, and a cheerleader girlfriend who's looking forward to marrying him someday. Ack! Luckily, the mysterious Allie--a former '60s radical with a secret past--befriends him, and together they begin to sort out his future, and her past. Barbara Shoup offers up a rare, complex portrait of a young man who feels things very deeply.

Book Description

Stranded in Harmony is the story of Lucas Cantrell, a young man who feels estranged in his small hometown, doomed to live out the life his parents and girlfriend have planned for him. After befriending Allie Bowen, a woman with a mysterious past, he begins to envision a life of his own and finds the strength to make the choices that will carry him into a much larger world beyond his tiny town.

Customer Reviews:

Stranded in Harmony is Sometimes Out of Sync........2007-05-04

I loved Barbara Shoup's other novel Wish You Were Here so much that I simply had to order this book through our library exchange program. While Harmony is a good story about the consequences one can suffer for making stupid mistakes, I occasionally found the character Lucas Cantrell to be singularly annoying and wishy-washy. It's like his new friend Allie remarks to his old friend Ronnie: Lucas doesn't know what he wants. His constant bad moods weigh the story down, and he should have dumped Sarah long before he did. At the same time, however, Shoup has written a really good story about a boy's conscience when he does stupid things as a sort of warning to young readers to think twice about their actions. She also makes it possible for young girls to see that boys are more complex than they often seem, and for this reason the book gets a high rating.

A Day Stranded in Harmony.......2002-02-21

Stranded in Harmony
By: Barbara Shoup

Stranded in Harmony by Barbara Shoup tells the story of the hardships and good times that one teenage boy goes through during the most crucial times of his life. Lucas Cantrell lives with his parents and younger sister Dawn in a small town called Harmony, Indiana. They live a small town life. Everyone knows each other and news travels as fast as wildfire throughout the town. The book is told from Lucas's point of view, and Lucas takes the reader on a journey to witness his life and true feelings as if everything were happening right in front of their eyes.

Lucas is the star football player on his high school team and is a very good student. He doesn't go anywhere without his best friend Bill who also happens to be Dawn's boyfriend or his girlfriend Sara. Lucas's first three years of high school flowed very smoothly. He went to school and got good grades, played football in the fall, and went out with Sara on the weekends. How much better could life get! But ... then came his senior year!

Unbeknownst to Lucas, many problems will arise during his senior year. These problems occur in all aspects of his life. His family, friends, girlfriend, and even himself are all things that Lucas struggles with. As these events occur many things go through Lucas's mind. "When did I change? When did I quit believing that there was a whole world out there, just waiting for me to step into it? When it happened, why didn't I notice? Suddenly, toward the end of the summer before my senior year in high school, I started thinking about these questions all the time. I felt as if I'd just awakened from a long sleep. That dead-to-the-world kind of sleep, with no dreams. And I looked around and thought, This is what I've settled for? This is my life?" (p. 2)

One of these problems is with the person that he would least expect it to be, his girlfriend Sara. Sara has been Dawn's best friend ever since they were little. And it turns out that Dawn was the one who convinced Lucas to ask Sara to the eighth grade dance. This began their relationship of four years. A problem arises when too many assumptions are made, instead of talking things through.

Another problem arises with Coach Petrie, Lucas's football coach. At the beginning of the season he appointed Lucas as the captain of the football team, so in return, a lot of things were expected of him. Leadership and setting good examples are among these things. As the season progresses, Lucas slacks off because of his problems, and his talk with Coach Petrie results in an outcome that Lucas doesn't really like.

Lucas is also offered a football scholarship to play football in college. A scout from Manchester College sees a lot of promise in Lucas. This situation causes many mental difficulties for Lucas. Because of his recent loss of a love for the game, and lifelong ambition to go to Indiana University, Lucas debates over what he should do. Mr. Cantrell also puts a lot of pressure on Lucas to make this decision. It has been Mr. Cantrell's dream to see his son play football collegiately. Should he take the scholarship and fulfill his father's dreams or live the life that he wants to live?

Besides the many problems that arise, two other characters play a key role in Lucas's life. These people are Ronnie Dale and Allie Bowen. Ronnie Dale is one of Lucas's relatives. When Ronnie was seventeen, he became very ill and has been bedridden ever since. Ronnie lives alone in a cabin, and it is the responsibility of the Cantrell family to take care of his every need. A majority of this responsibility goes to Lucas. It is his job to bring Ronnie his dinner every day and keep him company for awhile. Allie Bowen is introduced into Lucas's life through Ronnie Dale. By observing his daily routine, she takes an interest in Ronnie Dale. After being given the permission, Allie begins to make regular visits to the cabin to keep Ronnie Dale company. When Lucas begins to run into problems, he confides in Allie for help. After awhile a friendship develops and they both learn more from each other than they had expected. Allie helps Lucas with his history project and through this she unveils her mysterious past.

I would recommend this book to any teenager who wants be assured that they aren't the only ones in this world who have to make difficult decisions day in and day out. A peek into the mind of Lucas, a college bound senior, allows the reader to feel for the character and gives the impression that one is living Lucas's life along with him. The reader learns about Lucas's problems and travels with him along the road of recovery. Stranded in Harmony is a book for anyone who enjoys seeing a person work through their problems and succeed at doing so.

Great twist on coming-of-age theme........2001-11-05

Shoup's novel holds appeal for teens and adults, alike. Protaganist Lucas, a popular high school student with an itch to discover the world outside of Harmony, Indiana, learns some valuable lessons during the fall of his senior year from a mysterious stranger to New Harmony and a local character who opted out of life years ago. A great read!

absolutely fabulous.......1999-01-04

barb is my aunt and ive read all of her books and this is my favorite book that she has written. It is about as good of book about a high school kids life as ive ever read.

The book was hard @ times to follow...............1998-12-03

"Stranded in Harmony" was kind of hard to follow at times, especially when scenes of the visits w/ Ronnie Dale were occuring. It was kind of hard to understand what the relationship between he & Lucas. All in all, it was well-written. I believe that it could have been a teeny bit better, but she did her best. Bravo to Barbara Shoup :o} I am patiently waiting for her next bit of work.....

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Stranded in Harmony

Manufacturer: Recorded Books LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0788742469

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