Reviews written by Michelle Barker

My son and I have been on a bit of an Avi kick lately. So far, Crispin has been my favourite. This book has a rich medieval setting and a compelling plot: Crispin is being hunted for reasons he does not understand, and the tension Avi creates around this is...

Maybe my expectations were too high for this book. A Wizard of Earthsea would be a hard act to follow. Le Guin's language is elegant and spare as always, but this book took a long time to get going. Some fabulous symbolism in the underground labyrinth, as well...

My kids and I have read this book many times and I love it every time. DiCamillo does an excellent job of capturing the young voice of India Opal, and who couldn't fall in love with this mess of a dog? I especially appreciated the author's honesty in dealing with...