Author Archives: stephanielowden

Spindle by E.K. Johnston, Hyperion, New York, NY, 2016. “The little rose was only five years old when her parents ruined my mother and brought ruination to my own life. I can tell the story like I was there, though … Continue reading →

Hawk by Jennifer Dance, Dundurn Publishers Toronto, Ontario, 2016 “Less than an hour ago, I was Adam, the long-distance runner. Now I’m Adam, the boy who…I can’t even bring myself to say it.” The young adult novel, Hawk, begins from … Continue reading →

Midnight Teacher Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by London Ladd. Lee & Low Books Inc., New York, NY 2018. “From a young age, Lilly Ann Eliza Cox believed the path to freedom was through … Continue reading →

If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping (or even if you have-there’s always room for books, right?) here’s three delightful picture books for the younger set that were just published in 2017. Spring Hare by Eugene Yelchin. Henry Holt and … Continue reading →

JOURNEY Based on the True Story of OR7 The Most Famous Wolf in the West by Emma Bland Smith, illustrated by Robin James. Little Bigfoot, imprint of Sasquatch Books, Seattle WA, 2016. When a young girl, Abby, hears that a … Continue reading →

The Gold Leaf by Kirsten Hall, illustrations by Matthew Forsythe. Enchanted Lion Books, Brooklyn New York, 2017. Breathtaking. That was my first response when I came across this beautifully illustrated book. My granddaughter received it for her birthday and with … Continue reading →

Mari’s Hope by Sandy Brehl. Crickhollow Books/Crispin Books, Milwaukee, WI 2017. “Suddenly the door to the main house flew open. Two soldiers burst out, tumbling off the steps and shouting at each other. She crouched beside the hedge, shivering as … Continue reading →

Summer of Lost and Found by Rebecca Behrens. Aladdin, Simon and Schuster, New York, NY 2016 “You don’t expect your life to change because of a toothbrush. But that’s really how my summer of lost and found started, with one … Continue reading →

The Haunted House Project, by Tricia Clasen. Sky Pony Press, New York, NY, 2016 “I stop outside my dad’s bedroom door. Sometimes I think I can still smell her here. Right now, I’d love even a hint of the stuff … Continue reading →

Grandma is a Slowpoke by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Michele Coxon. Star Bright Books, Cambridge Massachusetts, 2015. Being four-years-old apparently means inventing “games,” in which my granddaughter and I have different names and parts to play. Many times these games … Continue reading →