In The Story That Cannot Be Told by J. Kasper Kramer, clever folklore retellings woven with historical fiction result in a delightful story that resonates long after the last page. This middle-grade novel is set in Romania in 1989, the year of the Romanian Revolution. Young Ileana describes life under oppressive Communist rule: people crammed…Continue reading Book review: The Story That Cannot Be Told
My favorite books of 2020
This tumultuous year, I have found refuge and inspiration in books. (No surprise there.) So far, according to Goodreads, where I keep track of my reading and occasionally write reviews, I’ve read 36 books (perhaps more; back in the spring I was not being as, shall we say, thorough in my self-reporting). Over the year…Continue reading My favorite books of 2020
Grimly fiendish
Hopefully I’ve got you thinking more about the Damned than current events, but my true intention (rubs hands together) is to introduce you to two brand-new kidlit books perfect for Halloween…or whenever you want shivers crawling up your neck. A sweet, slightly spooky story inspired by the author’s Dominican heritage, Ghost Squad by Claribel A.…Continue reading Grimly fiendish
Revision toolbox
After typing THE END in giant block letters on my no-holds-barred first draft, how do I polish it into a ready-for-other-people-to-read version? As many writers will tell you, writing is revision. Once I’ve let a manuscript rest for at least 6 weeks (or 6 months or even 2 years!), I read it through again fast.…Continue reading Revision toolbox
SCBWI Summer Spectacular
This weekend is the SCBWI Summer Spectacular conference, usually a weeklong gathering of writers and illustrators in California. This year, it’s all virtual, but that means I can actually attend! The keynotes and panels will be recorded, so I can go back and watch any that I miss for the whole month of August. Not…Continue reading SCBWI Summer Spectacular
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