Reading, Writing, and Me

There are few authors who are no longer with us that have maintained both relevancy and joyful readership like Roald Dahl. Like Harry Potter, even if you've never picked up one of his books, you at least know a few of his stories; though very few children graduate from childhood without having read one. While his books have always carried some controversial qualities, there's a reason so many of his books have been children's (and adult) favorite since his first books were published 1940s. Dahl understood the most important ingredient in long lasting children's literature- appealing to adults as well. Children love story time, an activity that is guided by their parents or teachers. To have a book read aloud, the person reading has to get some amount of joy from it. By not being afraid of witty wordplay and advanced words, Dahl bridged the gap between parents and children. He wrote more about kids and less at or for kids which gave him an undeniable authenticity in

Pride  by Ibi Zoboi (September 18) Overview: Though it's billed as a retelling of Pride and Prejudice , this story is all its own. Zuri is a proud citizen of Bushwick. She loves her family, her neighbors, and the character that surrounds her. She and her many sisters have spent months speculating about who is moving into the renovated home across the street. They don't expect Darius and Ainsley Darcy, wealthy, private school boys that don't fit with the vibe of the neighborhood. Despite their differences, Darius and Zuri grow closer, and between dealing with her sisters and mounting college applications, they find a spark that might be too hot to ignore. Overall: 4  Characters: 5 The characters are very well formed. Probably because they are so steeped in the vivid world Zoboi paints, we feel their essence from the very first page. From the refined Darcy twins to the chaotic group of four sisters all cooped up in one bedroom, the people in Zuri's world help us lea

The Lake Effect  by Erin McCahan (391 pages) Overview: Lake Michigan is beautiful. That's why the town of South Haven draws so many tourists, or in this case, seasonal workers. Briggs gets the chance to return to the lake for a summer to work for an old woman looking for live in summer help. Though the lake promises beautiful days and abundant fun, it also opens him up to many new worlds. That of his Serbian employer oozing with spunk, the unintentionally mysterious girl next door, Abigail, and the whole crew of townies who fill his afternoons with beach volleyball. The time away also offers a fresh prospective on the family he left behind and his future priorities. Though he knew about the weather, the Lake Effect was something much greater than he anticipated. Overall: 5 Characters: 5 Wow. So, I have to  say that when the book started, I was fine with Briggs but nothing special. He was the kind of guy who came from a somewhat privileged background that was a machine towards