Monthly Archives: September 2012

All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown

All-Of-A-Kind Family Uptown by Sydney Taylor So, technically, this is the third All-of-a-Kind Family book.  It’s also one of the best. Taylor wrote All-of-a-Kind Family, More All-of-a-Kind Family and All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown then nearly 20 years later, she added two additional … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Wish

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine Wilma is experiencing the utter misery that comes with being unpopular in middle school. Before she meets the old lady on the train, she’s had a few opportunities to make friends, but nothing has … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades, Tween | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Cricket in Times Square

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden In a subway station in Times Square, there is a newsstand owned by the Bellini family.  They do not sell many papers and the young son, Mario, must work late at night … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

More All-of-a-Kind Family

More All-Of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor It is nothing short of tragic that the All-of-a-Kind Family series is out of print.  I have the whole set, carefully guarded since childhood, but it is just so sad that they are so … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

All-of-a-Kind Family

All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor It’s almost harder to write about books that you treasure, and this one would quite certainly make my short list of best chapter books ever.  Set in turn-of-the-century New York City, Taylor’s book is based … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Jenny and the Cat Club

Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill I was in chatting with the librarian the other day and spied the yellow cover on her back “waiting to be cataloged” shelf.  Cats! I squealed, immediately recognizing the cover.  You have … Continue reading

Posted in Little Ones, Primary Grades | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Love is the Higher Law

Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan Today is the 11th anniversary of September 11. Is there a better word than anniversary to mark tragic events?  Anniversary seems too upbeat. This Patriot Day I am thinking of all of … Continue reading

Posted in Teen | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List

Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares I was excited to pick up Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List.  I expected more of the … Continue reading

Posted in Mature Teen | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg Claudia is a planner and when she decides to run away from home, she not only hand picks which sibling is lucky enough to accompany her, but … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades, Tween | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Autumn in New York

New York City is the kind of place that inspires strong emotions in people.  Some hate it, citing big city snobbery and the crazy hectic pace and the usual city complaints of “dirty, noisy, dangerous”.  Others, especially New Yorkers themselves, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments