Brontorina Apatosaurus wants to be a ballerina but she does not have the right shoes and she is too big! Despite Madame Lucilles best efforts Brontorina just does not fit into the studio. Just as it is decided that all is lost Clara's mother presents Brontorina with the 'right' shoes in just her ...
A very unique and touching story. At first I thought it was a tad on the weird side, but this love story quickly grew on me. This title is rather deep, and tackles some serious themes- comedy vs. tragedy, characterization, interracial love, and independence just to name a few. I recommend this ti...
What makes a classic middle grade book a classic? I know I’ve reviewed some here, such as Watership Down, James and the Giant Peach, The Giver, and Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing. But what makes those books classics and new books, such as Savvy by Ingrid Law, likely to be but not yet classics?...
Revisiting the scene of their greatest success, Return to Howliday Inn does a fair job of invoking that faux-fearful atmosphere, but, again, it's all too rushed.This is the last of the five Bunnicula books I wanted to reread, and having them all in paperback and next to each other it's obvious th...
I know, I said I wouldn't read any further Bunnicula books after I finished rereading Return to Howliday Inn and the four other "original" Bunnicula books from my childhood. I knew. Continuity freaks.But I couldn't avoid it. The book would just fall into my hands. Fall right into my hands from de...
"Everybody says you and Colin were kissing." "What? That's ridiculous!" "For heaven's sake, Joe, if you and Colin want to kiss, you have every right to." "We did not kiss," I told her. Addie shrugged. "Whatever." What was it with my friends? From the creator of The Misfits, the book that ins...
In "The Misfits", which takes place in Paintbrush Falls, New York, present time, the protagonist Bobby is in middle school and is an outcast because of his weight. He stays with his group of friends and other outcasts; Skeezie, the down to earth and mellow Elvis lover, Addie, a tall and very smar...
Something strange is going on at the Dew Drop Inn. The hand-lettered wooden sign dangles from a broken, rusty chain; the lawn is overgrown; the paint is peeling; the whole place looks forlorn and abandoned. But one of the boarded-up windows of the old inn has been forced open, and Sebastian an...
said Mr. Monroe. “Dog?” “Dawg,” said Bud. He flipped the fish in the frying pan. Spud spat. Dawg dragged himself to his feet and, drool and all, headed in our direction. “He looks a little like Max,” I commented, trying to cheer myself by bringing to mind a friendly bulldog of our acquaintance. “...
Skeezie: Always? Steffi: No, not always. Sometimes. This is one of those times. Skeezie: Yeah, we had enough rain last night. Why’s it got to rain today? Steffi: It’s not the fact of the rain that makes me sad. Skeezie: Is it because it’s keeping the customers away and there go our tips? Steffi: ...
One Friday afternoon, just before closing time, I heard a scratching sound at the front door of my office. When I opened the door, there before me stood a sad-eyed, droopy-eared dog carrying a large, plain envelope in his mouth. He dropped it at my feet, gave me a soulful glance and with great, q...
Beating, torture, and trafficking of women remain common and are broadly accepted. —The New York Times Grandma and I sit reading the New York Times,dusting the pages with powdered sugar from thejelly doughnuts we have smuggled into the House ofHealthful Eating. We exchange conspiratorialwinks as ...