Have you read the recent spate of headlines about stabbings and knife crime amongst teenagers and thought, as I have, ‘must have been a right trouble maker’? Have you thought the kids involved must be running wild, uncaring, socially disconnected, almost feral in their irresponsible behaviour? Who have you imagined behind the headlines, what hands [...]
Read Full Post »
Julia Donaldson Interview (Part 2).
When Julia Donaldson, celebrated author of favourite children’s books like The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, A Squash and A Squeeze and The Snail and the Whale, answered our email questions for Julia Donaldson Interview (Part 1), we asked if we could meet up in a cafe to ask a few more. [...]
Read Full Post »
I am delighted to be the one to open our festival of children’s literature, since many of you will know by now that I am somewhat obsessed with the world of kids books. And I have chosen a humdinger to start us off.
Ostrich Boys is a new release by Keith Gray. It’s a road trip [...]
Read Full Post »
Posted in Entries by Eve, Fiction: young adult, tagged young adult, book, teen, read, Kevin Brooks, murder, violence, boy on June 28, 2008 | 18 Comments »
The thing I love most about reviewing books on VL is the freedom to write anything I like. My feeling is that a review that comes from a real person, someone you’re beginning to know a few things about, rather than just a name at the top of the page, is more compelling. And this [...]
Read Full Post »
So I said to the Foxes in the Den: “There’s a massive furore going on about age ranging in children’s books. Darren Shan is very passionate on the subject; I’ll email and ask him to do a Soapbox.” It wasn’t until I was half way through writing my request that it dawned on me… this [...]
Read Full Post »
I feel like my children do on the night before their birthday. Being old enough to ignore age related celebrations I tend to find other things to excite me - and this piece is one of them. If I go on a little bit, forgive me, but I encourage [...]
Read Full Post »
Part of our Wilderness Week series.
I volunteered to do a piece about books and the environment for our Wilderness Week. I thought it would be relatively simple. I usually think a bit about what I want to say and then my fingers pretty much type it out for me. I’ve heard [...]
Read Full Post »
Part of Scottish Literature Week
I usually manage to squeeze in some familial anecdote to my reviews, but not today. And I’m grateful. The kids have gone back to school, the husband to work and I had solitude and silence to devour the eagerly awaited new novel by J.A. Henderson.
This novel fits in very [...]
Read Full Post »
When I was a teenager, I had this “thing”. Actually, I had loads of “things” but we’re not going to go into them all here. This particular “thing” was about people describing food while we were eating. I couldn’t stand it, one mention of ‘ ooh isn’t this tender broccoli soooo fresh’ [...]
Read Full Post »
So, Book News this week has been left entirely up to me… …bwahahahah *low, evil cackle*.
Shall we shake things up a bit?
Right - first off, I write for children and as such, am completely passionate about kid’s books. Since I’m in charge then, the news this week will be about what interests me [...]
Read Full Post »
