Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace; ill. by Lois Lenski Thomas Y. Crowell, 1940 113 pages As the parent of a school-age child, I'm all too aware that bullying is a hot topic. My daughter's school handbook has a section on bullying (they call it "harassment" or "assault," depending on circumstances). The parenting blogs I read … Continue reading Betsy-Tacy
Girl Sleuths and the Boys Who Appreciate Them
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stuart; ill. by Carson Ellis Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007 485 pages As a girl, I loved mysteries, and I especially loved Nancy Drew. Most of the mystery stories and TV shows of my childhood starred heroes, not heroines (think Columbo, Encyclopedia Brown, and Magnum). But … Continue reading Girl Sleuths and the Boys Who Appreciate Them
Popularity vs. Purpose
Babymouse: Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Random House, 2005 96 pages Think of comics, and what comes to mind? Superheroes? The Sunday paper? What about serious literature? Unless you're a librarian, or maybe a bookseller or critic, probably not. But, if you know where to look, you can find … Continue reading Popularity vs. Purpose
Read Like a Girl 