Category Archives: Children’s

The Mostly True Story of Jack, by Kelly Barnhill

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Thistle

Jack’s parents are getting divorced, and so Jack is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in middle-of-nowhere Iowa for the summer. At home, he’s used to being nearly invisible. He has no friends, the bullies ignore him, and … Continue reading →

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Son, by Lois Lowry

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Thistle

Claire is assigned to be a birthmother, but something goes wrong during her first delivery. Now, she can’t stop thinking of the son who has been taken away from her. Can’t help visiting him even though she’s not supposed to … Continue reading →

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Enchanted Glass, by Diana Wynne Jones (audio)

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Thistle

Another very enjoyable DWJ book! I love how she manages to keep you distracted by so many elements that you really never know how everything will come together in the end! There was one thing about Enchanted Glass that annoyed … Continue reading →

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the Chrestomanci novels, by Diana Wynne Jones

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Thistle

I decided to review this series as a collect whole rather than write seven individual book reviews. Hopefully this will help keep people from getting annoyed with me as I obsess over my newfound love for Diana Wynne Jones, haha! … Continue reading →

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Readathon: Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Thistle

I went into this book with some reservations, having heard other people say it was far too much like Hugo Cabret in style. Honestly, this doesn’t bother me so much stylistically – most artists have similar styles, patterns, and focuses … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort, by JK Rowling

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Thistle

I’m so glad I read this series in French! My French is better than it has been in years and I’m starting to instinctively understand a lot more grammar-wise. It proved to me that I can definitely reacquire a language. … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter et le Prince de Sang-Mêlé, by JK Rowling

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Thistle

Once again, this is just a continuation of my HP-in-French project. This book went much faster. I read it in a few days. That’s probably because this is one of my favorites! I’m hoping to finish the project altogether before … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter et L’Ordre du Phenix, by JK Rowling

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Thistle

It’s the fifth Harry Potter book in French and I really have nothing more to say at this point about the project. I took over a month off between books 4 and 5 and was happy to find that my … Continue reading →

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Shooting Kabul, by NH Senzai

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Thistle

I have a difficult time reading children’s or middle-grade fiction because I recognize too many of the elements that go into writing them. Shooting Kabul was no different, and at first I struggled, but the story was so engaging that … Continue reading →

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Readathon: The Lost Thing, by Shaun Tan

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Thistle

Normally I adore Shaun Tan, but this one didn’t work for me. I think it’s because the people were drawn in a way I didn’t like. They looked like we were meant to think of them as a mix between … Continue reading →

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