Tag Archives: mini-review

The Curse of the Blue Figurine, by John Bellairs

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Thistle

My first experience with John Bellairs, The House With a Clock in its Walls, was mixed – I liked it, but had trouble really connecting with it. The Blue Figurine was happily much better, a creepy little children’s book perfect … Continue reading →

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Market Day, by James Sturm

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Thistle

Mendleman makes rugs by hand and sells them to support his growing family in the market in early 1900s Eastern Europe. One day, however, the person who usually buys his rugs is no longer in business. Mendleman can no longer … Continue reading →

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The First Escape, by GP Taylor

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Thistle

Sadie and Saskia Dopple are twins in a nasty boarding home for orphans. They are separated when a wealthy woman named Muzz Elliott decides to adopt Saskia. Sadie then escapes from the boarding home with their friend Erik Ganger. Many … Continue reading →

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The Sweetness of Salt, by Cecilia Galante

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Thistle

Julia is everything her parents have hoped she will be – smart, determined, decided about her future. On the night of her graduation, though, her semi-estranged older sister Sophie shows up and as always, begins to fight with their parents. … Continue reading →

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Suspect, by Kristin Wolden Nitz

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Thistle

The summer before Jen’s senior year, she goes to help out at her grandmother’s Bed & Breakfast in Missouri. Every summer, a mystery group comes together to put on a mystery weekend at the hotel, where everyone plays a role … Continue reading →

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Trance, by Linda Gerber

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Thistle

Ashlyn and her older sister, Kyra, see visions of the future. They go into trances and see random glimpses of images. While they see, they write number sequences that they can’t make sense of. They’ve never been able to stop … Continue reading →

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An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Thistle

Because I was so sad that The Importance of Being Earnest ended so quickly, I dove right into a second play of Wilde’s that I hadn’t even planned to read right away. An Ideal Husband was different. It had less … Continue reading →

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The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Thistle

I’m not even going to try to describe the plot of this play. It’s a three-act comedy full of mix-ups, mistaken identities, and romance. Absolutely delightful. I laughed and smiled all through it. The only Oscar Wilde I’ve ever read … Continue reading →

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Black is for Beginnings, by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Thistle

The fifth book of this series is a graphic novel. Stacey is dealing with relationship issues (won’t say anything further as I don’t want to spoil earlier books) and also dreaming about a little girl she once knew a long … Continue reading →

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Red is for Remembrance, by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Thistle

Stacey is now in college and dealing with a whole new set of issues: grief about a very heavy loss in her life, a complete lack of dreams when she wants more than ever to have them, a roommate who … Continue reading →

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