I first delved into Harry Potter more than a decade ago. Since then, thousands of reviews have been written covering all seven of the books, so why add another? Two reasons: First, not everyone has read them yet. Yes, there is a generation of kids who have grown up with Harry, but there are more […]
Author Gloria Whelan, and What I Did This Weekend
I just spent a beautiful weekend on Michigan’s Mackinac (pronounced Mack-in-awe) Island celebrating my fifteenth anniversary. It’s located in the little-known Straits of Mackinaw, right where the state’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas meet, and in my opinion, there aren’t many places more beautiful in all of America. The whole area is sparsely populated, with lots […]
Savvy, by Ingrid Law, 2009, Book Review
Savvy is a uniquely styled book that won Newbery honors last year. Its most outstanding feature is the rhythmic nonsense words that flood the prose, creating a style all its own “Fibertygibbity,” “a fizz and a zing,” “jump and jive,” “razzmatazz,” “bumping, jumping,” “stumbled and tumbled,” “gewgaws,” and “…loosening his lip-lock.” Ms. Law has a very […]
Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, 2007, Book Review
I read this book last year, just before hearing Jay speak at a writer’s conference. I’ll admit, Mr. Asher has talent, his book is a page turner. It’s unique, shocking and well-put-together, but I have some serious issues with passing it along. Thirteen Reasons Why is the story of a high school girl who commits […]
Delirium, by Lauren Oliver, 2011, Book Review
Amor deliria nervosa, the disease that terrifies Americans. The disease that ravaged the masses, driving them to madness and death. Fortunately, there’s a cure. For 64 years now the public has been safe from irrational behavior, from pain, from fear–from love. But the cure is only effective for over-eighteens. And Lena is 93 days shy […]
Sea Cutter (Chronicles of Nathaniel Childe, Book One), by Timothy Davis, 2011, Book Review
“He’s not dead!” “Please Nathaniel. It’s been two years. He’s not coming back,” my mother begged. “How can you give up on him?” I yelled. Nat’s heart tells him his father survived the shipwreck. But where is he? Why has he left Nat and his mother to a pauper’s existence in New Bedford? Then […]
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula, by Elise Stokes, 2010, Book Review
I met Elise Stokes recently in a forum post discussing clean content in children’s literature. I was intrigued enough by our conversation to order her book, Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula. I’m glad I did! Not only are its pages free of objectionable content, they contain all the ingredients required for a superb adventure. […]