Tag Archives: young adult

The Shakeress – Kimberley Heuston

It is the beginning of the 1800’s. Naomi, her older brother Ben, and her younger siblings Eli and Glory have been left orphaned by a house fire that claimed not only their parents’ lives, but that of the baby as well. They have been sent to live with Aunt Thankful, a woman who does not live up to her name but instead takes everything on herself as a burden and a curse. Rather than being grateful that the four children survived the fire, she complains about the extra work and expense of raising them, and she informs Naomi that she … Continue reading →

Author Review – Jane Yolen

Jane Yolen is one of the most prolific authors of historical/medieval fiction currently on the market. Her eye for detail and rich descriptions lured me in from the start, as did the indepth knowledge of history she displays. As a lover of history myself, I was hooked. Let’s learn a little more about Jane Yolen. She was born in 1939, the oldest in her Jewish family. Her father worked as a journalist for the newspapers in New York, and her mother was a social worker, holding that position only until Jane was born, and then retiring. She too was a … Continue reading →

Soldier’s Heart – Gary Paulsen

I’ve always been fascinated by the Civil War, and so was very excited to read “Soldier’s Heart” by Gary Paulsen. This is the true story of Charley Goddard who joined up with the First Minnesota Volunteers when he was just fifteen years old, after walking a distance from his hometown so no one would know him and then lying about his age. Charley was the oldest in his family. His father died some years before, leaving Charley, his mother, and his little brother to fend for themselves. There had been rumors of war for some time, but they didn’t think … Continue reading →

Girl in a Cage – Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris

I’ve mentioned just how much I enjoy the young adult historical fiction of Ann Rinaldi. I’m delighted to say that I’ve found another superlative author to add to my favorites list – Jane Yolen. I have read some of her adult fiction novels and found them to be very well done, and today I’d like to share with you “Girl in a Cage,” which was nominated for the Utah Young Adults’ Book Award and co-written with Robert J. Harris. History tells us that Robert the Bruce had one child, a daughter named Marjorie, who was captured by the English and … Continue reading →

A Little Sisterly Advice — Jennifer Stewart Griffith

In “A Little Sisterly Advice,” Julia is going away to college at Utah State University. After living with her socialite sister Bianca for the summer, she feels ready to hit the books and hit the keys, as well – a talented piano player, she’s going to major in music. It will be hard to leave home; she’ll miss her family, but they aren’t too far away and she can go home for weekends. However, that is something she’s been warned not to do. Bianca says she’ll get more dates if she stays on campus during the weekends. Bianca has, in … Continue reading →

The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty – Ellen Emerson White

“The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty” is one book in a series entitled “My Name is America,” which takes incidents in history and dramatizes them to make them more accessible to a younger reader. I’ve had the chance to read several volumes in this series and found each of them to be well-researched, touching, and educational without being heavy-handed. This installment of the series tells us about a young man who enlists in the Vietnam War shortly after his graduation from high school. His father gives him a journal to take with him, and asks him to keep a record … Continue reading →

Giving the Gift of Taboo Books to Teenagers

This last Sunday, USA Weekend featured an article by Elizabeth Kaye McCall about giving books to teenagers for the holidays. She states: “A new generation of teen-friendly books is attracting readers 12 and older, so why not consider giving a good book this holiday season?” I’ve always loved getting books as gifts, so I read on with interest. “Teens find good books through word of mouth online, says Diane Roback, children’s book editor for Publisher’s Weekly. And author blogs and websites (like those by Sarah Dessen and Meg Cabot) attract younger readers.” I certainly agree with that. But further down … Continue reading →

The Jimmy Fincher Series — James Dashner

“A Door in the Woods” is the first book in the Jimmy Fincher series. An assortment of strange events occur in which Jimmy finds himself facing a door out in the middle of the woods, and he goes through it to discover that he holds the key to saving the world. He can’t believe what he’s hearing; it’s so far-fetched and beyond anything he’s ever imagined, but the world is being overtaken by an evil force and he is the only one who can do something. As we go with Jimmy on his adventures, we see him receive certain gifts … Continue reading →

Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel – A Worthy Follow-Up Tale

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In Anne of Green Gables, Anne made her way in Green Gables. In the sequel, once titled Anne of Avonlea, but now renamed with the somewhat lackluster title “Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel,” Anne is grown and has fully realized her career as a schoolteacher. As she continues to write stories and, as a result, get said stories rejected, Anne once again attempts to make her way in a society that, at first, has no intentions of accepting her. Taking a position as a teacher at an all girls boarding school in New Brunswick, Anne immediately finds herself at … Continue reading →