Rating: 
Summary: Many Stones
Review: "Home? If I were there right now, I'd reach for my pile of stones." In this story, Berry Morgan uses stones as a relief method, by placing them on her stomach, especially since she has a tough family life. Her mother, who tutors mentally challenged kids how to read, write, and talk, is the only normal person in her family. Her father lives in California with his girlfriend, and her sister, Laura who was in South Africa helping the children down there.... Well, she is dead. She was brutally murdered, only a year before Barry and her father go to South Africa for her memorial service.
One day, Barry's Father turns-up at her home is Washington DC, and has asked Berry to come to South Africa with him for Laura's Memorial Service. Barry goes, but with a major chip on her shoulder. Barry has a major problem with her father barging in on her life and wanting her to come with him on an adventure in an unknown country. While they are there for 11 days, her father has planned a little more than just the memorial service. They go to Cape Town, Kruger National Park, and a little bed and breakfast. She is really snippy with her father, and they really don't get along together will at all. But as the trip goes on, the two of them learn their differences and get along better each day. This book is about how two people learn to get along better and as the days that they are together stacks up.. I would recommend this book for kids older than 12, and even adults, because it is a good book and I would reread it any time, that's how good it is.
Rating:
Summary: Many Stones, A Compelling Novel, A Fierce Plot
Review: A compelling story by Carolyn Coman, published in 2000. Berry Morgan, a seemingly lost narrative of teenage adversity quite possibly makes this book out to be one of Coman's better pieces. Carolyn Coman is also the author of Tell Me Everything, What Jamie Saw, and Bee and Jacky. What Jamie Saw received a John Newbery Honor Award, and is also, "Laced with spiritual and literal magic," praises New York Times. This intriguing novel depicts the story of a picture perfect family, shattered by the death of Berry's older sister, Laura. She is found to have been brutally murdered in while in South Africa, volunteering at a school teaching children. Berry's estranged father, who until the murder and since his divorce from Berry's mother, hasn't been around much. A year and a half after Laura's murder he decides to completely uproot Berry. He takes her to go to South Africa to attend a memorial service at the school where Laura volunteered. He takes her away from her home, her boyfriend Josh, away from her life. On their journey they do much more then attend Laura's memorial service. Their father, daughter bond strengthens and they learn a lot about each other, Laura, and themselves. They both begin to realize that their problems and grief seem minuscule in comparison to an entire countrie's search for peace and resolution. I enjoyed this book, not only for its plot, its symbolism, and its description, I enjoyed this book for its message.
Rating: 
Summary: Truthful and timely
Review: Another outstanding book by Coman. (I've read "What Jamie Saw" and "Tell Me Everything" as well.) This novel deals with the "new" South Africa, something I know about because I lived in South Africa from 1995 to 1998, during the beginning of democracy in a country torn apart by apartheid. Coman obviously has been to South Africa and spent some time there because all of her observations are right on the money: the friendly but blatant racism of some (not all) whites; the expressionless faces of most blacks; the descriptions of Jo'burg, Cape Town and Kruger Park. Her observations were uncanny. Then Coman compares the troubled main character, Berry, with South Africa--a difficult feat for any writer, but Coman pulls it off skillfully. The ending packs a punch with Berry stating her anger at her sister's death and recognizing the pain that many South Africans still carry from the apartheid years. What a book! I do recommend it only for older readers because some profanity is used as well as a reference to Berry's ongoing love affair with a "typical" American teenager.
Rating: 
Summary: overrated
Review: Berry is one strange cookie. Self-absorbed is an understatement. Why is she so mean to her father? ...
Rating:
Summary: overrated
Review: Berry is one strange cookie. Self-absorbed is an understatement. Why is she so mean to her father? ...
Rating:
Summary: You have no idea how good this book is...
Review: I liked this book because there is death in it. Not like that is good, but I like to hear the reasons why, and how it happened. In this book Laura, the girl that died, was killed by having her head split open by a rock! That is not good at all. It is very sad what Berry is going through. She doesn't even want to be with her dad.
Berry doesn't want to go with her dad, even though she is going to a nice suite. She is being treated like she is a very important person. I don't know why she hates it, I would LOVE it!!! Those are all the reasons why I like the book.
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Summary: A happy ending, but not anything like cinderella!
Review: If you love your mother but aren't so crazy about your father your gonna love this book, youll see that your not alone. Berry is stubborn, rude, and angry, but as in most stories it all turns out okay. Its a short but satisfying book.
Rating:
Summary: A happy ending, but not anything like cinderella!
Review: If you love your mother but aren't so crazy about your father your gonna love this book, youll see that your not alone. Berry is stubborn, rude, and angry, but as in most stories it all turns out okay. Its a short but satisfying book.
Rating:
Summary: an enthralling novel
Review: in need of a subject for a book report, i came across this book while searching through my school library. little did i know the depth this book possessed. the author, carolyn coman, has an amazing ability to create rich characters that are extremely realistic. berry's struggles and changing attitudes toward her life make for a very interesting read. the novel is almost depressing in a way. while berry has to learn to live with her tragedy, the reader does as well, and its very easy to dive deep into this novel. it's rather short, and probably could have been longer, but power isnt always judged by size.
Rating: 
Summary: Quick but not Light Read
Review: Many Stones by Carolyn Coman is a story about a teenage girl, Berry, who travels to South Africa with her estranged father to attend a memorial for her brutally slain sister. Just describing the plot makes for a long sentence yet somehow the book comes in at a slim 158 pages. This is my main criticism of the novel. It's hard to get into such a deep story about family tragedy so quickly. The reader kind of jumps right into the troubled lives of Berry and her family with little back story until a few chapters in. Short as it may be, the book stll has several touching moments and may very well be a welcome change for someone looking for a quick read but is tired of the fluff that usually entails.
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