Tag Archives: fiction

Ella Minnow Pea – Mark Dunn

I truly enjoyed “Ella Minnow Pea,” a first novel by playwright Mark Dunn. By the time the book drew to a close, I was astounded and impressed by the ingenuity, cleverness, and humor of this author. Off the coast of South Carolina is a fictional island called Nollop. It was founded by a man named Nevin Nollop who, you will be greatly interested to know, was the inventor of the sentence, “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dogs.” Because of Nollop’s love of language, everyone on the island is very literate, uses a variety of long words to … Continue reading →

Whirligig – Paul Fleishman

“Whiligig” is a very thought-provoking young adult novel. Bruce Bishop is sixteen and determined to play everything right in his new private school. He concentrates on wearing the right clothes, knowing what to say to the right people, and always being “cool.” Coolness is very important to him, and as the new guy, he’s got to play it for all it’s worth. One night a friend invites him to tag along to a party, but forgets to tell him that there’s a theme – everyone is supposed to wear either all black or all white, so they can play a … Continue reading →

Someone’s Hiding on Alcatraz Island – Eve Bunting

This young adult suspense novel was really creepy—but in a good way. That is, if creepy can be good . . . Danny is a fourteen-year-old boy with some larger than average problems. A gang at his school, known as the Outlaws, has targeted him. He witnessed a mugging and turned the attacker in, not knowing he was the brother of one of the Outlaws, and they have vowed to make him pay. And when they say “pay,” they really mean it – these boys have committed assault and battery on many of the kids at school. Tired of being … Continue reading →

Silent Witness – Amy Maida Wadsworth

Annette Rodriguez has just learned that her husband, Tony, is dead. A victim of reckless drunk-driving teenagers, he died on the operating table while doctors tried to put him back together. With two children to care for, Annette is suddenly alone, not knowing what she should do. She has lived in San Antonio her entire married life, and it’s now her home, but she feels she should move back to Choice, Utah, where she grew up. Her mother, Pat, is a bitter woman. Years before, Annette’s father was found embezzling tithing money from the Church, using his position in the … Continue reading →

The Quilter’s Legacy — Jennifer Chiaverini

Sylvia Compson, owner of Elm Creek Manor and operator of the Elm Creek Quilt Camp, has finally accepted Andrew’s offer of marriage. He’s been courting her off and on for years, proposed three times to be refused three times, but he’s never given up. Now his persistence is finally being rewarded and he couldn’t be more delighted. Sylvia, however, is starting to wonder what she’s gotten herself into. The other ladies from Elm Creek are leaving bridal magazines on her desk, looking at wedding cakes, sharing their opinions about dresses and flowers, and basically having the time of their lives, … Continue reading →

The Serpent on the Crown – Elizabeth Peters

Neither Emerson nor Amelia have ever been able to abide hysterical females, although Emerson and Ramses both feel a gentlemanly sense of obligation to assist them out of their hysteria. When the dramatic and yes, hysterical, Mrs. Petherick approaches the family and tells them of a black afrit (spirit) who stole the life of her husband and is now trying to kill her, they find her story interesting but aren’t inclined to believe her. What does hold their fascination is a solid gold statue she gives into their care, telling them she believes the statue is cursed, and if she … Continue reading →

How to Be Cool in the Third Grade – Betsy Duffey

As the countdown toward the first day of school continues, I offer “How to Be Cool in the Third Grade” by intermediate author Betsy Duffey. Robbie is excited for the first day of school. Last year was awesome, but last year, he knew how to be cool. It was easy to figure out what was cool in second grade, but now he’s faced with a new challenge – what’s cool in third grade? It’s a whole new playing field now – the kids are older, the teacher is different, the trends have changed – how can he figure out what’s … Continue reading →

Rosie’s Big City Ballet – Patricia Reilly Giff

If you have an intermediate reader who is interested in ballet, “Rosie’s Big City Ballet” is for you. Rosie takes ballet once a week, and she thinks it would be nice to become a ballerina some day, but she sometimes forgets to practice, and there are times when she’d rather be outside playing than thinking about her assignments. She has an older neighbor named Amy who is in the chorus at a ballet in the city, and she invites Rosie to come see a performance of “Romeo and Juliet.” Rosie is delighted, and even more so when she gets to … Continue reading →

Author Interview — Anderson, Littke and Morris: Part Two

I’m very pleased to bring you part two of our exclusive interview with LDS authors Nancy Anderson, Lael J. Littke and Carroll H. Morris. If you missed yesterday, click here to catch up. I haven’t yet had the privilege of reading your series, although it’s on my wish list. Can you tell me, and our readers, about it? Lael: “Almost Sisters” is the first book of the series. In it, three very different women — Juneau from Pasadena, CA, Willadene from Wellsville, UT, and Erin from Minneapolis, MN — meet at BYU Education Week in 1980— Nancy: That might sound … Continue reading →

Bet Your Bottom Dollar – Karin Gillespie

In “Bet Your Bottom Dollar,” Elizabeth Polk has just come off a bad engagement. Thinking that her high-school sweetheart, Clip, is the love of her life, she blissfully agrees when he proposes, only to be shattered a short time later when he leaves her a note under her windshield wiper, written on a bag from a fast food restaurant, calling the whole thing off. The next thing she knows, he’s hanging around with one of the fastest women in town. Work is the constant in Elizabeth’s life, and she throws herself into it like never before. She’s the store manager … Continue reading →