Tag Archives: young adult

April and the Dragon Lady – Lensey Namioka

It’s Literacy Month! But it’s always Literacy Month at the Pinkston house – we’re all obsessed with books, even my two-year-old. One of my favorite library finds this last week was young adult novel “April and the Dragon Lady,” by author Lensey Namioka. April is the teenaged daughter of Chinese American parents. She lives with her father, her brother, and her aging grandmother, her own mother having passed away some years before. Because April is the daughter, traditionally the care of the house and of her grandmother falls to her, and she doesn’t think to question it. Her brother, Harry, … Continue reading →

Mira, Mirror – Mette Ivie Harrison

We all know the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. But we don’t know a lot about the wicked queen, and we know even less about her magic mirror. “Mira, Mirror” by Mette Ivie Harrison takes us on a journey through a different perspective of the fairy tale, into the past of the wicked queen and that mirror. The book is told through the point of view of Mira, a young girl who doesn’t possess any real beauty of her own. She is sold to the neighborhood witch for a cord of firewood, and becomes an apprentice to … Continue reading →

The Crimson Oak – E. M. Almedingen

This young adult novel was set in a time of Russia’s history where education was only allowed to the rich, and peasants were allowed very little at all. The author was born in Russia and the story is rich with culture and heritage. Our main character is Peter, a boy who dreams of more. One morning, he had the rare treat of a whole day off to do whatever he wanted. His mother asked him to go pick some berries, and he didn’t want to do it, but he sighed and headed off anyway. On his way back from the … Continue reading →

Please, No Zits! and other short stories for LDS youth – Anne Bradshaw

Anne Bradshaw has written countless articles for the New Era about phenomenal youth all over Great Britain and the United States. She is also the author of two fiction novels, “Terracotta Summer” and “Chamomile Winter,” set in England. She has just released a collection of short stories aimed at LDS youth entitled, “Please, No Zits!” There are sixteen stories in this volume, and I’d like to share some of the highlights from my favorite inclusions. First was “Rock Bottom in a Jail Cell.” Alex has made some bad decisions in his life, decisions that resulted in a drug addiction and … Continue reading →

Billy Creekmore – Tracey Porter

“Billy Creekmore” by Tracey Porter was an unexpected delight for me. The story of a young boy who was left at a cruel orphanage, I thought it would be depressing and gloomy. It did have depressing moments, but Billy’s spiritedness and determination to survive pulled it out of the gloom and made it remarkable. When Billy was born, he opened his eyes and gestured at the ceiling, saying, “There.” It shocked his midwife so much, she said he must be communing with spirits. His mother’s heart was weak to begin with, and she didn’t survive the birth, and his father … Continue reading →

Author Interview — Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Last night I reviewed “Whale Song” by author Cheryl Kaye Tardif. Today Cheryl is joining us for an interview. Cheryl, thank you for stopping by on your virtual book tour. I have so many questions I’d like to ask. First off, how long have you been writing, and what are your previous books? I have been writing for most of my life. I was a paid journalist at 14, writing a weekly column for a small BC newspaper. I really enjoyed it, but even then, my passion was writing fiction. I went on to publish articles and poetry in other … Continue reading →

Whale Song – Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Young adult novel “Whale Song” by acclaimed Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif is the story of Sarah, a young girl who is leaving her Wyoming farm and moving with her family to Vancouver Island. Her father is a scientist who will be studying the killer whales that live in the oceans near the island, and he has found his family a wonderful home to stay in for the next few years while he carries out his studies. Sarah isn’t sure about being away from Wyoming for so long – all her friends are there, and she doesn’t like the idea … Continue reading →

The Wednesday Wars – Gary D. Schmidt

The unfortunately named boy Holling Hoodhood is starting seventh grade with a strike already against him – he’s the only Presbyterian in a class full of Jews and Catholics. While the other children are excused early on Wednesday afternoons to attend temple and mass, Holling is stuck at school, and he’s sure his teacher hates him. No doubt she was looking forward to Wednesday afternoons completely free, but with this one lone Presbyterian to look after, she’s trapped, and she takes it out on him by making him read Shakespeare’s plays. He doesn’t realize until later that she’s actually doing … Continue reading →

Hope Was Here – Joan Bauer

I really enjoyed “Hope Was Here” by Joan Bauer, the story of a teenage girl who doesn’t know where she belongs, until she finds a place that’s better than anything she could have imagined. She was born prematurely and underweight. Her mother, a flighty, irresponsible woman barely older than a girl herself, took off and left her at the hospital, after sticking her with the impossible name of Tulip. Hope’s aunt Addie took her in, raised her, allowed her to change her name, and gave her a backbone of security. With just one flaw – they’ve had to move frequently. … Continue reading →

Just Ella – Margaret Peterson Haddix

Usually, when we hear the words “and they lived happily ever after,” we think that’s the end of the story. The adventure has ended, and there is no more. Cinderella lived happily ever after with her prince, didn’t she? Well, didn’t she? In “Just Ella,” author Margaret Peterson Haddix explores the “what if.” Ella has gone to live in the castle preparatory to marrying the prince. Gone are the days when she would sit in the ashes or scrub the entire house for her evil stepmother – she is now the one in charge, and she’s not sure she likes … Continue reading →