Posted in Books

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti, copyright 2007

“Some guys give you the edgy feeling of dogs behind chain-link fences, and some give you the nervousness of high…

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Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Marla Frazee copyright 2006

“Hey, Bill!” I yelled. Bill is my dad’s for-other-people name. “Where’s your razor?” Dad came skidding into the bathroom so…

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Jazz by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers copyright 2006

With fluid, sinuous illustrations and red hot poetry, Jazz, a collaboration between award-winning author Walter Dean Myers and his son,…

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Posted in Miscellaneous

Reviewing books for Children’s Literature

I ended 2006 by becoming a reviewer for Children’s Literature (www.childrenslit.com), a company that contracts with Barnes & Noble’s website,…

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Burger Boy by Alan Durant, illustrated by Mei Matsuoka copyright 2005, first American edition 2006

“Benny liked burgers. Benny LOVED burgers. Burgers were the only things Benny would eat. ‘If you don’t watch out, you’ll…

Continue Reading... Burger Boy by Alan Durant, illustrated by Mei Matsuoka copyright 2005, first American edition 2006
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An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, copyright 2006

“They like their coffee like they like their ex-boyfriends: bitter.” Take one self-absorbed anagram-fanatic child prodigy (Colin), his hirsute and…

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Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons, Copyright 2002

“Girlhood’s stigma against competition and desire can never allow girls a healthy outlet for their feelings or the kind of…

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Boy Proof by Cecil Castelluci copyright 2005

“Previews are like a little taste of candy . . . I am always amazed at how much better the…

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Shug by Jenny Han copyright 2006

“Nothing is worse than looking like you are trying too hard. I have always wondered why that is. Trying hard…

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The White Deer by James Thurber, copyright 1945

Jorn raised his sword. The Black Knight kept his own sword at his side. “There’s magic here, I warn you,…

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