My Ántonia is a portrait of a life well lived that begins in early childhood and moves all the way through adulthood—with all the foibles and mishaps in between. What a beautiful, lovely, rambling na…
A writer who can turn a nice phrase is a craftsman, but an author who slips you inside a character’s skin without you noticing is an artist. Christopher Paul Curtis is a master artist in the Newbery-…
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy is a very special book. It is by no means a ‘feel-good’ book, but it is one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. Everything in this book is …
Penny's idea of Heaven involves butter pecan ice cream, the Dodgers, and her big, loud, Italian family. But this summer isn't exactly heaven. She's living through a horrible haircut, days filled wit…
Marjane: "I wanted to be a prophet."Grandmother: "Marjane, come here and help me stand up."Marjane: "Don't worry, soon you won't have any more pain. You'll see."Grandmother: "In that case, I'll be you…
I considered myself a pretty mature sixteen-year-old, but I had nothing on Hattie Inez Brooks, the protagonist of Kirby Larson's beautifully-crafted novel Hattie Big Sky! At sixteen, orphan Hattie (…
Set against the stirring backdrop of the early days of the American Revolution, Johnny Tremain is the story of a young apprentice silversmith whose talent is surpassed only by his high opinion of hims…
A book full of so much emotion, the detail and characters will dwell in your heart as you read about and get acquainted with the members of the Willie handcart company. In the Company of Angels follo…
Lost by Jacqueline Davies is a great piece of historical fiction. Davies has taken two headline events—the disappearance of heiress Dorothy Arnold and a factory fire that killed 141 people--that both …
In the tradition of great classic fantasy, Elizabeth C. Bunce weaves a world that readers will love to get lost in! Star Crossed tells the story of lady-in-waiting Celyn Contrare—also known as Digger…
Shortly after the death of Governor Boggs of Missouri, Detective Calvin Pogue is sent on a search by the late Governor's family to find the would-be assassin. The book carries two stories at a time; o…
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman is probably the book that instigated my addiction to children’s literature. This book has the complexity, themes, and depth to reach an audience beyond childr…
