One of my favourite young adult writers is Libba Bray, and not only because she has the same initials as me, or because as my husband pointed out, if you squint your eyes her name resembles “library”. She is not afraid to experiment with different genres- indeed her first trilogy was a wonderful 19th centuryContinue reading “Why I think All Girls Should Read This Book”
Category Archives: Books
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”
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”
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”
Book review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
If you’ve browsed the YA shelves lately, you will have probably chanced upon a thick-ish book with a black and white cover. The title is written in old-fashioned script. The photo on the cover is of a pudge-faced girl in what looks like a turn of the century shift, a sort of tiara shading herContinue reading “Book review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”
The Political education of our children: some thoughts on Something Fierce
I recently read the 2012 Canada Reads selection, SomethingFierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter by Carmen Aguirre and it got me thinking about my own politics. And consequently, the job I am doing instilling a political consciousness in my own children. If you haven’t read it, you should. It is a riveting, eye-opening revelation ofContinue reading “The Political education of our children: some thoughts on Something Fierce”
Three Historical Novels + One Steampunk for the Middle School Child
I have taken it upon myself to try and read all the books in the school’s English Curriculum. These are divided between books the whole class reads and books that only sections of the class read for their reader’s circles. The latter are divided by student interest and/or student reading level. Of course, I haveContinue reading “Three Historical Novels + One Steampunk for the Middle School Child”
Lina Branter 