7th Grade Revolution is ‘based on true events.’ The book drops us in the story after the 7th grade has revolted, and the students learn of their success. But I’m left with questions. How did they revolt? Why? And why was it successful? Was it some sort of plan by the staff as a learning exercise? And why did it make national news? (This is about the extent of the ‘true events.’) As I read, there were some questions that did get get answered. I […]
Deserving of Its Newberry Honor
Last year my daughter read and did an oral presentation on The Book of Three, first volume of The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. To help her with the project I re-read it and reviewed it for Cannonball 8. I read aloud to her at bedtime and her most recent choice was book two of The Prydain Chronicles, The Black Cauldron. Re-reading these books as an adult has been an eye opener to the craft of Alexander’s writing. Previously unnoticed seeds are planted in this book that don’t […]
The way audiobooks should be
This is an awesome audiobook production! Tamora Pierce, the author, reads the narration, but all of the characters have different actors who voice them. And they do an awesome job! (Honestly, Tamora Pierce sounds a little stodgy, like she’s reading to a child, and you can tell she’s very deliberate with her words and annunciation. But hey, she’s not a voice actor, and it creates a noticeable difference between the narration and the actors. And you get used to it!) (In listening to the interview at […]
Just as good as I remembered!
So, my library was having a new front door installed, so everyone had to temporarily enter through the basement door, which is where the bargain sale books are. So, despite having *two* stacks of unread books at home, I bought some. One of them was Tamora Pierce’s First Test, which takes place in the “medieval and fantastic realm of Tortall.” I loved these books when I was younger, so I forked over my $0.25 for a bit of nostalgia. The King’s Champion Alanna the Lioness […]