Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles #1) by Philip Reeve Scholastic, 2001 373 pages I've always been fascinated by steampunk, possibly because I'm fascinated by all things Victorian. For those unfamiliar with the term, "steampunk" is essentially a combination of Victoriana, industrialism, and technology - whether in stories, movies, fashion, or art. The genre usually … Continue reading Mortal Engines
The Best We Could Do
The Best We Could Do By Thi Bui Abrams, 2017 336 pages Last August, I took a business trip to San Francisco for a conference I attend every year. On the final day, I had several hours post-conference to myself, so I took some time to walk down to the old ferry building and visit … Continue reading The Best We Could Do
Seeds of America
Seeds of America trilogy: Chains, Forge, and Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson Atheneum, 2008-2016 I'm going to come right out and confess it: the Revolutionary War has never held much interest for me. In fact, American history as a whole and the Colonial period in particular have never quite captured my imagination the way other … Continue reading Seeds of America
The Little Ships
The Little Ships: the Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II by Louise Borden; ill. by Michael Foreman Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2003 32 pages When Christopher Nolan's movie Dunkirk came out, my husband and I had already been waiting months to see it. He's English, with grandparents who were all personally involved … Continue reading The Little Ships
Wildwood
Wildwood By Colin Meloy; ill. by Carson Ellis Balzer + Bray, 2011 560 pages Not long after I graduated from college, my employer assigned me a business trip to Portland, Oregon. I was feeling city-starved, and Portland was high on the national radar as a hip urban area, so I was excited to go. I … Continue reading Wildwood
Anna Banana and Me
Anna Banana and Me by Lenore Blegvad; ill. by Erik Blegvad Aladdin, 1985 32 pages In many ways, I wasn't raised to be a leader, or to be adventurous. I grew up in a conservative environment, surrounded by traditional ideas of femininity. My parents generally laid down tighter limits than my peers' parents did - … Continue reading Anna Banana and Me
Jane, the Fox & Me
Jane, the Fox & Me by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault; trans. by Christelle Morelli and Susan Ouriou Groundwood Books, 2012 104 pages When I was a kid, I often felt as though I lived in friendship limbo. I always had 2 or 3 very close, loyal friends, but I was never part of the … Continue reading Jane, the Fox & Me
