Tag Archives: Children-YA

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Posted on January 4, 2021 by smellincoffee

“In that direction,” the Cat said, waving its right paw round, “lives a Hatter: and in that direction,” waving the other paw, “lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they’re both mad.”“But I don’t want to go among mad … Continue reading →

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Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom

Posted on May 29, 2020 by smellincoffee

© 2020 Louis Sachar 176 pages I was a weekly visitor to my childhood library, always bringing home  a fresh pile of books — but some books I checked out over and over again. Sideways Stories from Wayside High and … Continue reading →

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IRL

Posted on October 15, 2019 by smellincoffee

© 2014 Cory Doctorow & Jen Wang 192 pages I happened to see Cory Doctorow’s name on the cover of this graphic novel, and had to take a look.  The plot is heavily based on a short story of Doctorow’s, … Continue reading →

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Limited Wish

Posted on June 5, 2019 by smellincoffee

The universe is trying to kill Nick. Again. Last time, it was only leukemia. Now there are multiple visitors from divergent futures asking him for help breaking into a nuclear power plant, he’s being stalked by a sociopathic mercenary, he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Pirate Cinema

Posted on August 16, 2018 by smellincoffee

Pirate Cinema© 2012 Cory Doctorow384 pages All Cecil B. DeVille wanted to do was make movies. He didn’t mean to ruin his family’s lives or start a revolution. In the not-too-distant future,  consumer electronics have concealed chips which monitor and … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Anne of Avonlea

Posted on July 19, 2018 by smellincoffee

Anne of Avonlea© 1909 Lucy Maud Montgomery366 pages I recently took my niece to see a production of “Annie” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and it put me in a mood to revisit Anne of Green Gables, another red-headed heroine … Continue reading →

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California Dreamin’

Posted on May 15, 2018 by smellincoffee

At some point in 1997 I saw this cover in a now-defunct WaldenBooks and was intrigued, both by the shoes and that oddly simple title: “DUCKY”.    The book was a fictional diary, rendered in a font-like handwriting, and it … Continue reading →

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The Indian in the Cupboard (and Return)

Posted on January 26, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Indian in the Cupboard© 1980 Lynne Reid Banks I had to keep watch in the children’s department today, and there bumped into an old friend: Omri, the boy with a seemingly magical cupboard that can turn plastic figures into … Continue reading →

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The Aeneid for Boys and Girls

Posted on December 13, 2016 by smellincoffee

The Aeneid for Boys and Girls© 1908 Alfred J. Church300 pages What do I know of The Aeneid? It’s the story of a survivor of Troy, who goes on to found the City of Rome after breaking the Queen of Carthage’s … Continue reading →

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Anne of Green Gables

Posted on October 2, 2015 by smellincoffee

Anne of Green Gables© 1908 Lucy Maude Montgomery           299 pages  “Anne, are you killed?” shrieked Diana, throwing herself on her knees beside her friend. “Oh, Anne, dear Anne, speak just one word to me and tell me if you’re killed.”“No, … Continue reading →

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