Sam Levenson
Siblings: children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together.
Attribution
Sir Winston Churchill
One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.
Attribution
April 8, 2016
I'm back from an all-too-quick trip to Denver, where I thoroughly enjoyed presenting our Book Group Survey to an engaged crowd of librarians at the Public Library Association Conference, along with suggestions on how libraries and book groups can work better together. After sharing the stats, I interviewed Ariel Lawhon about her book, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, which was a perfect book to chat about as historical fiction is trending so strongly with book groups. Confession: Until I read this book, I did not know that anyone survived the Hindenburg disaster, which is the subject of Ariel’s book. Where was I in history class? Clearly I would have flunked Trivial Pursuit on this topic. The book is written from five points of view, which enhanced the reading experience. You can see a picture of the two of us above.
Editorial Content for Golden BoysBookContributorsReviewer (text)Grace P., Teen Board Member
Sonya Hartnett is the critically acclaimed Australian author of many books for children, young adults, and adults; GOLDEN BOYS is her newest book. She has been awarded many prizes for her work and has been published in not only Australia and the USA, but many other countries as well. TeaserColt Jenson and his younger brother, Bastian, have moved to a new, working-class suburb. The Jensons are different. Their father, Rex, showers them with gifts --- toys, bikes, all that glitters most --- and makes them the envy of the neighborhood. To the local kids, the Jensons are a family out of a movie, and Rex a hero --- successful, attentive, attractive, always there to lend a hand. But to Colt, he's an impossible figure: unbearable, suffocating. Has Colt got Rex wrong, or has he seen something in his father that will destroy their fragile new lives? PromoColt Jenson and his younger brother, Bastian, have moved to a new, working-class suburb. The Jensons are different. Their father, Rex, showers them with gifts --- toys, bikes, all that glitters most --- and makes them the envy of the neighborhood. To the local kids, the Jensons are a family out of a movie, and Rex a hero --- successful, attentive, attractive, always there to lend a hand. But to Colt, he's an impossible figure: unbearable, suffocating. Has Colt got Rex wrong, or has he seen something in his father that will destroy their fragile new lives? About the BookWith masterful nuance and vividly drawn characters, Sonya Hartnett’s novel visits a suburban neighborhood where psychological menace lurks below the surface. Colt Jenson and his younger brother, Bastian, have moved to a new, working-class suburb. The Jensons are different. Their father, Rex, showers them with gifts --- toys, bikes, all that glitters most --- and makes them the envy of the neighborhood. To the local kids, the Jensons are a family out of a movie, and Rex a hero --- successful, attentive, attractive, always there to lend a hand. But to Colt, he's an impossible figure: unbearable, suffocating. Has Colt got Rex wrong, or has he seen something in his father that will destroy their fragile new lives? This brilliant and unflinching new novel reveals internationally acclaimed author Sonya Hartnett at her most intriguing and psychologically complex. Editorial Content for The Wild RobotBookContributorsReviewer (text)Norah Piehl
In his middle-grade debut, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Peter Brown proves that he can effectively tell a story over more than 32 pages. TeaserWhen robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings? Roz's only hope is to learn from the island's hostile animal inhabitants. When she tries to care for an orphaned gosling, the other animals finally decide to help, and the island starts to feel like home. Until one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.... PromoWhen robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings? Roz's only hope is to learn from the island's hostile animal inhabitants. When she tries to care for an orphaned gosling, the other animals finally decide to help, and the island starts to feel like home. Until one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.... About the BookWhen robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings? Roz's only hope is to learn from the island's hostile animal inhabitants. When she tries to care for an orphaned gosling, the other animals finally decide to help, and the island starts to feel like home. Until one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.... Heartwarming and full of action, Peter Brown's middle-grade debut raises thought-provoking questions about the environment, the role technology plays in our world, and what it means to be alive. Copyright © 2026 The Book Report, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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