... realistic first-person narration... intimate view of a closeknit family...." Booklist
"...an engaging coming of age story especially appropriate for middle-school readers...both entertaining and insightful reading for all ages." Midwest Book Review
"...mixes adolescent angst with martial arts philosophy...a robust story of family life and friendships...." Flamingnet Reviews

ASK YOUR LIBRARIAN TO ORDER THIS ONE ISBN 9780976547969 5.5 X 8.5 in., 168pp. Perfectbound: $17. list

Jack Ordway, an “A-R-M-A,” (American of Really Mixed Ancestry) has a variety of school adventures, encounters race prejudice, performs a piano recital, and is supported by family, teachers, friends, and the harmony-promoting philosophy of aikido, the basically defensive martial art, as he participates in the unfolding of a family tragedy.

    CLICK to hear a piano selection from Jack's recital.

Here is part of a scene from the book. Jack Ordway is participating in his first aikido lesson at Mr. Tri's dojo:

I'll tell you something I have discovered. You know how on TV these guys get socked in the mouth real hard and they sort of look annoyed, but they never bleed and later they never puff up or say "Ow, it hurts!" or anything? I mean, they hardly ever even fall down. Let me give you a clue here. In real life when you get socked on the side of the mouth, you feel it. I mean like if you are hit by somebody as big as Dan Grady, you fall down. And then pretty soon you bleed and then you swell up and it hurts. And then you say "Ow!" all right. I am having less and less faith in the media, as my grandpa says.

The BUZZ about John-Browne's Body & Sole

Excerpt from John-Browne's Body & Sole

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The music for this page is from Robert Schumann's Kinderszehnen.