Dashti is a determined young woman. In becoming the maid of a distracted and frightened princess, she unwittingly becomes a prisoner with her in a darkened tower. Dashti remains positive and industrious during her confinement. Her mistress is unpredictable and unhealthy but Dashti remains devoted and trust-worthy. In addition to the confinement and darkenss of [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘literacy’
August 2, 2009
Torrie and the Dragonslayers
Author: K.V. Johansen Copyright Date: 2009
Torrie is not the prince or the princess, not the sorcerer or witch. It takes a bit to figure out what Torrie is. Torrie is an Old Thing, a furry, short creature, more human than animal, quite a likable creature and the narrator of Torrie and the Dragonslayers. Torrie and [...]
July 31, 2009
GPS: Website Gold
Today I ran across an astonishing blog of book reviews, Becky’s Book Reviews. What makes this website gold? Becky read. She reads a whole lot. She reads everything and then she writes about it. I feel I am reading a bunch and I’m reading for work most of the time. [...]
July 31, 2009
House of Many Ways
Author: Diana Wynne Jones Copyright Date: 2008
“A chaotically magical sequel to How’s Moving Castle” quoth the cover of this book. It is exactly as it says magical and chaotic. It vaguely reminds me of Piers Anthony in its apparent randomness. Things come together in the end for the great climax of the novel but it [...]
July 31, 2009
The Mealworm Diaries
Author: Anna Kerz Copyright Date: 2009
Jeremy and his mother have moved from rural Nova Scotia to Toronto. Jeremy has some major adjustments to make in life and in school. Funny and poignant, this story is a marvelous read. The text is relatively simple but not over simplified. Short chapters will appeal to struggling readers. Jeremy [...]
July 31, 2009
Special Edward
Author: Eric Walters Copyright Date: 2009
Special Edward is a simple and straightforward story. Written for the pleasure reading of students with reading difficulties, it recounts the experiences of a high school student who decides his life would be easier if he was designated as a special needs student. Edward is a funny and believable protagonist. [...]
July 31, 2009
Impossible Things
Author: Robin Stevenson Copyright Date: 2008
I like impossible things and I love them in this short novel. Robin Stevenson creates a cast of lovable, quirky characters and allows them to triumph over their trendy and cool nemeses. I must admit I love stories with underdogs and outcasts and Impossible Things is a great re-telling of [...]
July 31, 2009
Dear Jo
Title: Dear Jo
Author: Christina Kilbourne Copyright Date: 2007
Dear Jo has an action driven plot line told through a reflective diary format. Kilbourne’s characters are well-developed and consistent with the exception of the police officer whose behaviour feels a bit over-friendly. The embedded educational element dealing with online safety is a bit strong and feels didactic. [...]
July 31, 2009
War Brothers
Author: Sharon E. McKay Copyright Date: 2008
War Brothers is an outstanding piece of realistic fiction. We follow the lives of several boys and a girl as they survive being captured by Northern Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Sharon McKay is kind to the reader and allows us to see the situation through the eyes of [...]
July 31, 2009
Tweaked
Author: Katherine Holubitsky Copyright Date: 2008
Gordie Jessup is just trying to survive as his family falls apart in the face of his brother’s addiction to crystal meth. A compelling story which never lets you go. Told in a diary style with the intension of highlighting the troubles and pitfalls of drugs, Holubitsky never gets [...]
