1.   And publishing executives note that, in giving kids what they want, the scary fare is at least enticing reluctant readers to crack open books.

2.   Anything to avoid spending a total of three hours cracking a book and rarely having to worry about being crushed by homework.

3.   But to earn high marks, buyers must crack the books.

4.   Friends complained that he never seemed to crack the books, but always performed well on tests and projects.

5.   He planned to crack a book and flip through some word lists but he also vowed to have some fun after his part in the competition was over.

6.   In the library of Pfozheimer House on a recent Friday evening, Aric Christal, left, and Brian Joseph crack the books.

7.   Now, when Tryon comes home from school, he can pump iron before he cracks the books.

8.   Robinson has barely been able to crack a book at Indy.

9.   She has to crack the books and work on the next paper due in her American Studies class at Wellesley College, where she is a senior.

10.   Susan says she did not actually crack the book but had Mary read it to her as they drove from Cambridge to New Haven, where Mary attends Yale.