Harbor Me is a timely intermediate novel about the importance of stories, of empathy, and of understanding. It’s about how the things that make us different can bind us together and make us all better–if only we’re willing to connect with each other. Six kids of varied backgrounds are put in a room together one … More Why Stories Matter: Harbor Me, by Jacqueline Woodson
Harry competes in the Triwizard Tournament while Voldemort plans his return. Turns out there is still magic for adults in the Harry Potter books–once Harry gets a little older. … More Rereading Harry Potter as an Adult: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling
I’ve had a curious relationship with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It’s a rollercoaster, really, and it all comes down to the ending of the book and the terrific movie adaptation by Alfonso Cuarón. You see, when I first read Prisoner fifteen years ago I didn’t really like it at all. I thought the ending was … More Book Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling
Although it’s the second book in the series, Chamber of Secrets was actually my first experience reading Harry Potter. Fifteen years ago I was 18 years old and attended a birthday party for one of my older sister’s college friends. Everyone spent the night at the friend’s house and in the morning I woke up … More Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling
Fifteen years have gone by since I first read Harry Potter when I was 18. I used to reread the books regularly but over time I began revisiting Hogwarts with less frequency. The fifteen year anniversary of my first reading seemed like a good time to do a little test to see how well J.K. … More Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling
“Maybe, thought Ben, we are all cabinets of wonders.” As a devoted fan of Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I had high expectations for this book. To be perfectly blunt, I was disappointed. It would be easy to make a pun about being not-so-wonderstruck after all. I’m going to try not to do … More Book Review: Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick
“Courage is one thing that no one can ever take away from you.” First off, I should probably admit that I’m a bit of a Gleek–even though I readily admit that Glee is something of rollercoaster in terms of quality–and Kurt Hummel is my favorite character. So I’m a Chris Colfer fan, and when I … More Book Review: The Land of Stories, by Chris Colfer
Supposedly Fun 