On Pandora St. You can’t. Well you can, but the road back is overgrown and thorny, with many hidden potholes. Yep. That is about as much wisdom per coffee ratio that I have today. Which, of course, won’t stop me from spouting more un-wise random thoughts. It has been about a week and a halfContinue reading “Random Thoughts on Going Home”
Author Archives: linabranter
More YA Dystopian Novels
Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth I have been on a tad of a Dystopian novel kick lately. While reading this last addition to the increasing list of Dystopian YA books, I had an epiphany. No, perhaps that is too strong a word for the small glimmer of light that brightened my brain pan forContinue reading “More YA Dystopian Novels”
YA MUST-READ: A Fault in our Stars by John Green
The Fault in our Stars by John Green Oh, John Green. What can I say? This time the Greenster, the Greenmeister the Greenonator , has penned a tome that deals with such heady topics as love in the midst of death. And when I say ” in the midst” I mean in the chomping downContinue reading “YA MUST-READ: A Fault in our Stars by John Green”
Two Post-Apocalyptic YA Novels
Blood Red Road by Moira Young (Dustlands #1) At the risk of giving away too much at the beginning, I LOVED THIS BOOK! There. I said it. You can leave for the library now. Go put your name on the holds list. No? Want to know why I loved it? Blood Red Road isContinue reading “Two Post-Apocalyptic YA Novels”
On Being a Revolutionary Turtle
[I wrote this over a week ago. Since then I have joined in the casseroles almost every night going on two weeks. The talks between students and government have broken down.] Kitchen casualties of the Casserole protest It is hard for me to make noise. I have spent a lifetime trying to take up asContinue reading “On Being a Revolutionary Turtle”
Two Great Canadian Youth Novels I think Should be Taught in the Classroom
I know. How Cancon of me. But I gotta say- it does get my knickers a bit knotted up to see how many American and British books are showcased in our English classes and how little Canadian content. So I have made it my informal, quasi-mission to find books from Canadian authors that could workContinue reading “Two Great Canadian Youth Novels I think Should be Taught in the Classroom”
The Old Hotel2Tango Goes the Way of the Dodo
J’s studio circa 2007. he let the riffraff in, obviously…. Remember this article in the March 6, 2012 issue of the Montreal Gazette? The one where they talk about how Mile End is “taking bold action to protect artists?” And yes. Here comes the irony, folks. A couple weeks after this article appeared, the artistsContinue reading “The Old Hotel2Tango Goes the Way of the Dodo”
Middle School Reading: Tinfoil Sky by Cyndi Sand-Eveland
Mel and her mother Cecily have left Craig, drug dealer and all round creep, in the middle of the night. They threw what belongings they could find into the pinto and headed toward Cecily’s hometown, where they hope to stay with Gladys, Cecily’s mother until they can get back on their feet. But things don’tContinue reading “Middle School Reading: Tinfoil Sky by Cyndi Sand-Eveland”
Middle School Reading: The Agency series by Y.S. Lee
The Agency Series by Y.S Lee Volume 1 Mary Lang is a twelve-year old, half-chinese, half-irish London ragamuffin about to be hanged for thieving when she is offered the chance of a new life at Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. The Academy is an unusual institution run by two very different young ladies, Ann Treleaven,Continue reading “Middle School Reading: The Agency series by Y.S. Lee”
Follow up on the stupidity of telling your kids to follow their dreams post
Just heard this Ted Talk entitled “Why you will fail to have a great career” from economist Larry Smith at a Ted-Ex talk in Waterloo, Ontario. If you have 15 minutes, give it a listen- it is about all the excuses we make to NOT pursue our interests, which in turn ensures that none ofContinue reading “Follow up on the stupidity of telling your kids to follow their dreams post”
Lina Branter 