Ships Without A Shore by Anne R. Pierce

Some books can be read in an afternoon...others take a few days. And then others take a larger amount of time and a larger commitment. "Ships Without A Shore" is one of those kinds of books.

But it is worth taking the time.

Anne R. Pierce is not just an author...she is a scholar who as put her life into examining social and political issues, especially concerning children in our current society.

Anne's observations are solid and thorough. From current child-rearing styles to the amount of violence in children's media and how it affects our youth, Anne covers a wide range of topics.

I do have some concerns, however minor they might be. First and foremost, in a book of 249 pages, there are only FOUR chapters--with no breaking points. That makes for some daunting reading, but this is only a personal preference.

Second, and more concerning...Anne's book can read like a textbook, which I personally think it should be. But for the casual reader, a book such as this could be overlooked, and that would be tragic. The message of this book is for parents, caregivers, potential parents, and society at large.

Finally, it was difficult for me to find the solutions Anne offers to the problems she carefully and analytically points out in our current societal structure concerning our children. I would have appreciated a final chapter either summarizing the positive changes that need to take place, or actually stating a workable plan of action we as society could be taking.

However, having said that, I don't think you'll find a more complete and thorough examination of the faulty and destructive ways we raise our children in today's society. Don't take my word for it. Check out "Ships Without A Shore" for yourself.

I'm giving this book three out of five bookmarks, with a tiny sailboat as a charm.

Happy Reading!

Deena