I am even up at sunrise, although it's cloudy and dark and you really can't tell: 5:46. Sunset will be at 8:27.
I am going to Vashon Island today with some other booksellers for tea at Karen Cushman's house. Karen is the author of The Midwife's Apprentice and Catherine Called Birdy and she has a new book out called Alchemy and Meggy Swann.
She writes about history in the most appealing and engaging way. Using characters who are often on the margins of their communities, she shows us what life was like in the middle ages, the McCarthy era, on the orphan trains. The daily life details she fills her books with are what transform her books from a simple story to a life lived. 
Her main characters are mostly girls, girls who are damaged in some way. They might be crippled or orphaned or too smart, but, whatever the problem, they are able to survive or make their lives better because they believe in themselves. Yeah, it sounds goody-two-shoes but, believe me, the way to the end of the story is wrought with horrible strife, worse smells, and cheering from the outside of the book for our heroes.I'm taking my camera, so, if I get permission to post them, WATCH THIS SPACE!
(Houghton Mifflin is the publisher. They are appropriate for ages 10 and up. All are in paper except for Alchemy and Meggy Swann which is brand new.)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment