Re: sales tax on on-line purchases: Yes, that's why I pay sales tax on CA vendors who participate in Amazon's Marketplace. Any state where Amazon has a physical presence must collect sales tax; Amazon finally caved in to states' pressures. However, IF the independent vendor has no physical presence in my state but is shipping it to me from another state, then I am NOT obligated to pay CA sales tax or report it on my state income tax. Amazon always indicates any amount of sales tax if you go through the regular "cart" checkout. Or, if you're like me and use the One-Click ordering, it can be seen almost immediately under "Open Orders" - you have 30 minutes to cancel an order made in error. Realistically? Sales tax is a modest amount and the benefits of: - not having to drive my car around - not having to find parking - no schlepping all over a store looking for sometimes-obscure little items or a specific brand - no waiting in line - no dealing with surly check-out clerks - most important: perusing user reviews to see if a new product I'm interested in, actually works as intended or if something else would work better (consumer reviewers can, and do, name other brands/models -- I've done it myself as one of Amazon's top consumer reviewers). ...all make Amazon Prime well worth using them for 85% of my non-grocery purchases.

Well, since we are recommending good books, I'll put in a word for the one I'm reading. Where'd You Go Bernadette is turning out to be warmer and deeper than what I thought it would be. Started out as a riotously funny story about a woman with an illustrious though somewhat mysterious past who is now married to a Microsoft genius, living in Seattle, a place she hates with the passion of a thousand burning suns. She has a precocious daughter who attends a crunchy-granola private school. I won't reveal any more, but the characterizations are laugh out loud funny. The structure is very clever, interspersing emails, reports, media reportage, even FBI dispatches with straight up narrative. I definitely recommend it.

Try "Chinese Cinderella," a memoir written by Adeline Yen Mah. Her story takes place mostly in China where she lived with her father, stepmother, numerous siblings and extended family. Her own mother died giving birth to her and she felt largely unwanted and rejected during her youth. In our local library, this book is shelved with adult non-fiction but my own pre-teen and several of her friends read it and found it fascinating. Another good choice would be "Secret Girl" by Molly Bruce Jacobs. Another memoir, it covers Jacobs building a relationship with her mentally retarded sister living in an instituion. Jacobs' privileged family essentially warehoused the sister in a state home, igngoring her and only telling Jacobs of the sister when Jacobs was a pre-teen herself. This book, too, is considered an adult book but I did allow my daughter to read it. While I don't have a specific book in mind, your daughter may enjoy reading about the Romanov family, especially Anastasia and her sisters and brother.

Okay you got my curiosity on this....so I went and checked them out......and bought myself one along with some markers. But I have a question I'd like some feedback on.....A young lady friend of mine (late 20's or early 30's) was just diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer yesterday. I thought that one of these books (whether she colors or not) would be a welcome respite from all she may be going to go through, so I purchased one along with some markers to gift her with. I would like to add a little note in the card but am not sure if I should include a personal note, like is that okay etiquette? If so, any ideas? The card I purchased is a 'thinking about you" sort of sentiment.