One of my favorite movies as a child was the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire, directed by Chris Columbus. While this movie with an absurd, but identifiable, plot became something of a pop culture classic, many people neglect to remember that the feature film was actually based off of a successful young adult’s novel. Anne Fine published Madame Doubtfire in 1987 and met a large amount of critical success in her native United Kingdom. With a memorable plot and a plethora of life lessons, Madame Doubtfire is worth a read before or after delighting in the film version.
The plot of
Young Adult Books with Literary Merit
by Rachel Dushkewich March 13th, 2013 | Best Books
Though perhaps every young woman fantasizes about being fought over by a werewolf and a vampire, we must acknowledge that some young adult fiction (not to mention any names . . .) has little, if any, literary merit. This week’s “Top Five” brings together books with themes pertinent to young adults that have superb quality, making them wonderful reads at any age! Relatable characters, interesting twists and turns, and expertly crafted prose keep the pages turning through the very end! Certainly, time will prove these books to be enduring classics in their own right, making them “must-reads” for young
Behind Happy Faces
by Kimberly Hays February 22nd, 2013 | Book Review, Young Adults
This book for young adults gives us a glimpse into the life of the author, Ross Szabo, when during his senior year in high school he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Along with the co-author, Melanie Hall, the story is told with personal honesty. It expresses that even though there is a humiliation sometimes associated with mental disorders, there are treatments available that give us hope. Szabo hit rock bottom before he was given the diagnosis, and it was still a struggle while finding the right treatment to get him on track. He eventually found the treatment that helped
The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight
by Louise February 12th, 2013 | Book Review, Fiction
Valentine's Day tends to stir up very different emotions depending on the person, the year, and, perhaps most importantly, one's relationship status. You might be looking forward to receiving flowers from that special someone or perhaps sending some dirty rotten flowers to that former special someone (though at around $30 a pop you have to really hate that person to justify that kind of expense). "Love" stories can go in many directions. At-length romances, regardless of their angle, tend to lose my interest before I get to the end. Every year, around Valentine's Day, I like to
Michael Scott
by Louise January 31st, 2013 | Authors
Michael Scott is an Irish author with a hefty bibliography that is difficult to summarize quickly. He is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and romance, and is furthermore even considered an authority on Irish folklore, due to his love for and extensive research of Irish mythology. He has written several drama and romance novels under the pseudonym Anna Dillon and has several collections of tales, Irish Folk & Fairy Tales, Irish Myths & Legends and Irish Ghosts & Hauntings that have remained in print for the past 20 years. Scott has been writing for more than 30 years.
