My Dad's a Birdman by David Almond; ill. by Polly Dunbar Candlewick Press, 2008 128 pages David Almond is something of a Renaissance author. He does it all: plays, novels for adults, novels for teens, short stories. Across these genres and age groups, he's known for an eerie brand of supernatural realism that seamlessly blends … Continue reading Poetry in Motion
Of Fairy Tales, Family, and Friends
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Alfred A. Knopf, 2005 262 pages The Penderwicks is a fresh but near-timeless novel. Even without its National Book Award trophy, it would be a classic-in-waiting, destined to entertain many generations of readers. Set on an estate … Continue reading Of Fairy Tales, Family, and Friends
Finding Community in the Midst of Dystopia
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Houghton Mifflin, 2000 215 pages Lois Lowry is easily one of my favorite children's authors, and Gathering Blue is my favorite Lois Lowry novel. Set in a future, post-apocalyptic dystopia reminiscent of the early Middle Ages, the book tells the story of a teenage girl named Kira. In Kira's ruthlessly … Continue reading Finding Community in the Midst of Dystopia
Read Like a Girl 