After the discussion of trilogies (and Martini-Corona’s eternal John Christopher obsession), I decided this project wouldn’t be complete without a Tripod book. The Tripod trilogy (…heh) might have been the first major YA science fiction trilogy, and is certainly a classic.
If you somehow missed these books, the premise is that aliens invade, in giant metal [...]
Tags: Old-School Apocalypse April · Reviews
Sorry it’s been awhile. Fortunately the 7th grade trip to New York was not apocalyptic in the slightest. Anyway, speaking of New York, it’s the setting of today’s old-school apocalypse! In the future, everyone lives in vast suburban Tracts in little boxes made of ticky-tacky. All Cities have been evacuated and sealed, deemed too filthy [...]
Tags: Old-School Apocalypse April · Reviews
1. No Brownies at Bake Sales, but Doritos May Be O.K. raised my blood pressure way more than a whole plate of brownies (mmm… brownies):
Nine months after effectively banning most fund-raising food sales in city schools, a city panel will vote Wednesday on an amended regulation that will allow student groups to sell items [...]
Now that the Cybils winners are all official ‘n stuff, I can review the finalists from the Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction category. Here they are, in one speedy blowout:
The Prince of Fenway Park, Julianna Baggott
Check this premise, people: the famous Curse on [...]
Tags: Reviews
Why do we often find it so hard to criticize the stories we love? Why do we feel we have to deny their flaws in order to love them? (*cough*Twilight*cough*)
I just read an excellent article by Mitali Perkins in the April School Library Journal, “Straight Talk on Race”. She designates five [...]
The kids are always horrified by this, but sometimes we get rid of books. Usually there’s a good reason. Sometimes there’s a very, very good reason. I want to share with you some of the best that cross my desk on their way to the “free books” cart…
Crosbie, John S. Crosbie’s Dictionary [...]
Tags: Libraries