Today, I’m happy to welcome our current intern, Hayley Schoeppler, again. You guys may recall that she did a review of Mara, Daughter of the Nile for us in March. Today, she takes a look at Hattie Ever After for us. Hattie Ever After, Kirby Larson. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2013. 240 pgs. Ages [...]
For a parent, there’s nothing scarier than sending a high school graduate out into the world—and in fact, the world looks pretty scary these days. Not to mention confusing, even in matters that used to be taken for granted. Up until about ten years ago, for instance, it was a given that high-school grads eyeing [...]
In an earlier post I wrote about beginners “Bibles” and Bible storybooks. That was followed up by a post on the methods and merits and of the most popular English translations, then Bibles for elementary-age readers. Today, as we’re thinking about high-school graduations and college-bound sons and daughters, I’d like to look at Bibles aimed [...]
Chasing Jupiter, by Rachel Coker. Zondervan, 2012, 221 pages. Age/interest level: 12-up. Our story begins in small-town Georgia, 1969—but 16-year-old Scarlett’s world seems even smaller than the town. Since her rebellious older sister Juli is sneaking out at all hours, so much responsibility falls on Scarlett that there’s no time for friends or extra-curricular activities. [...]
Introduction There are very few modern books that I see as really significant. But I see the Kai’ Ro series–an urban interpretation of Pilgrim’s Progress–by youth minister, Judah Ben, as one of those series that may actually help change the landscape of Christian publishing. How you ask? His book brings the Christian rap movement–a kind [...]
I first encountered the Latin phrase Ave Atque Vale in a historical novel whose appeal (the novel’s, that is) was almost entirely nostalgic. It means “hail and farewell,” a way of saluting the past while at the same time leaving it behind. A valedictory is a farewell address, and right about now high schools and [...]
This post has been planned for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to acknowledge a potentially sensitive connection with the victims of the recent Boston bombings. Books like the ones I’m discussing below can be great windows into the world of someone who suffers a physically altering tragedy such as some of the bombing [...]
The False Prince (2012) and The Runaway King (2013), by Jennifer A. Nielson. Scholastic, about 350 pages each. Age/interest level: 10-up. When we first encounter the orphan known as Sage, he’s running full-tilt with a cleaver-waving butcher at his back and a stolen beef roast clutched in his arms. It seemed like a good idea [...]
A good poetry anthology is like going to a friend’s house with a basket, and being told, “Oh, you must read this one, and this one, and THIS one is my favorite!” as the bounty overflows. Going to another friend’s house with another basket will introduce you to some of the same treasures, but different ones [...]
Arthur Conan Doyle published the first Sherlock Holmes story in a British periodical in 1887, to moderate interest. Three novels and fifty-odd short stories later, the great detective’s creator killed him off in order to devote more time to other writing projects. But by then he had become beloved of high and low alike, and [...]
These three books have nothing in common except their general category and the fact that the first two won honors in the ALA Youth Media awards for nonfiction this year. The fact that both Titanic and Moonbird won in two age categories–middle-grade readers and young adults–makes me wonder if there’s not that much quality nonfiction [...]
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