Finally reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, which, if you don’t know it, is a writer-book that starts off by advising writers to dig into their pasts. For some reason it struck me this morning that, although both sides of my parents’ families gossip and definitely have a few legendary stories, neither side really […]
Family Stories (Where did they go?) Read More »
(A story) Daphne had been kicked out of her friend Nina’s house because Nina got grounded. It happens, you get grounded. Ugh! It was so frustrating! One minute they were playing video games and the next everyone was in tears. In. Tears. It was so unfair, too. None of the parents would believe JUST HOW EVIL
How to EXPLODE Someone Else’s Brains with the POWER OF YOUR MIND Read More »
When I was a boy I lived in England and considered it the most ordinary place in the world. It was America that I was fascinated with, if you can imagine that. I thought that you could find anything in America. Did you know that the Jolly Green Giant lives in America? Most of you
The Man Who Ate Gene Wolfe: A Story Read More »
Welcome to the Containment Facility of The Criminal Currently Known as Mme. Bientot No pictures, film, or sketches of any kind. No Exceptions. No metal, glass, or other shiny objects, including pens and eyeglasses. Do not think of your name, any nicknames or aliases; do not think of the names of your parents, children, or
Fiction: Things You Must Not Think When Visiting Mme. Bientot Read More »
I don’t want to lecture you about your boyfriend. You already know what I think. Instead, let me tell you how we met. It’s either that or you’re grounded. —Okay, Dad. So I’d gone to the zoo a week ago when the zombie apocalypse started. Your mom was wearing a leopard-skin wrap with the claws
**** Excellent Male main character who should appeal to both boys and girls. There’s a girl character later on, but you never really get into her. Gran, although not a ten-year-old, definitely rocks by the end of the book. About 100 pages. In short: Ten-year-old Sam Jones has about had it with getting shuffled off to Gran’s
Book Review: The Dreables Read More »
**** Excellent. The book has two narrators, a boy and a girl, both with fun stories. Abut 150 pages. Thunderbird by Deb Logan In short: Twins Janine and Justin are stuck at their father’s dinosaur-digging camp for the summer. While most kids would be thrilled, they’ve seen it all before. However, when Janine is
Book Review: Thunderbird, by Deb Logan Read More »
Another incredibly lucky day. I don’t know. I was overwhelmed this morning by Emma Hunneyball’s review of Exotics 1: In Rachael the author De Kenyon has drawn a heroine who is intelligent, brave, fierce and loyal. Rachael is superb: she is an open-minded girl who is able to accept bizarre truths about her existence and the
Book Review: The Exotics Book 1: The Floating Menagerie Read More »
**** Excellent. The main character is a boy, but a strong girl character is with him throughout most of the book. About 100 pages. Peter Swift’s Fright Files: The Broken Thing by Peter Swift In short: Stevie likes horror movies and books…but when he discovers a real haunted house and a real haunting, he chickens
Book Review: Peter Swift’s Fright Files: The Broken Thing Read More »
**** Excellent. The main character is a boy, but a strong girl character is his partner throughout most of the book. Abou 200 pages. Jack Dervish, Super Spy JC Andrijeski In short: After Jack’s superspy parents go missing, he hides in their secret lair for years…learning how to be the perfect spy. Now he has
Book Review: Jack Dervish, Super Spy Read More »
