“What is it?” Nervous fingers hovered over the black and white page. “I think… it’s a spell book.” “A spell book? Really? Why would Mrs. Donahue have a spell book?” Louise glared at Haley. “Obviously she’s a witch.” Haley scrunched up her face. “You think?” “Definitely. Look around. Her backyard’s a huge herb garden. She…
Eleven months after the move and about ten months after we were hoping to have a new master bathroom, the remodel is finally underway! Monday morning the demo started. It’s been a busy week of activity. Here’s a brief summary of the activity so far: Old closet = Gone. Old bathroom = Demoed. Nap time = Gone.…
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Author: Rebecca Skloot Publisher: Crown Publishers (division of Random House) Genre: Non-fiction Medical Books, Biography & Memoir Subgenres: Medical Ethics, Cell Biology Reviewer: Sara Synopsis: Sixty-five years ago, cells from a thirty year-old poor African-American woman at Johns Hopkins Hospital were removed before a radium treatment for her cervical…
Big dude turned FIVE last week! FIVE. Next year, I’ll have a kindergartner. Where does the time go?? Any how, on to the story of the grand slam after two strikes. For big dude’s birthday, hubby took the afternoon off and we met for lunch at a Japanese steakhouse near his work and a park with…
And I’m very excited about it! Because, well, awards! Who doesn’t like them?! On a more serious note, I’m flattered to have been nominated for a Liebster Award by another writer and blogger, Dawn Claflin. She selected me for my focus on writing, specifically essays, flash fiction and book reviews. Aw, shucks. (*Blushes and toes the ground.*)…
Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat Author: Jennifer Armstrong Illustrator: Mary Grandpre Publisher: Crown Books © 1993 (Hardcover), Dragonfly Books © 2009 Genre: Children’s Books Age Range & Grade Level: 3-7 / Preschool – 2nd grade Reviewer: Sara Synopsis: Chin Yu Min, the wife of a prosperous government official, lived a life…
Still Alice Author: Lisa Genova Publisher: © 2007 (iUniverse, Genova), 2009 (Simon & Schuster) Genre: Genre Fiction / Women’s Fiction Subgenre: Medical, Domestic Life, Family Life Reviewer: Sara Rating: (3.5) Synopsis: Life for fifty-year old Alice Howland is full and busy. She’s a tenured cognitive psychology professor at Harvard, an expert in…
When my oldest was a baby, we avoided flying like the plague. He did not set foot on an airplane until he was almost 4 years old. What then, would possess us to take the not-quite 8 month-old on a plane? Family. And a big dose of crazy. We flew across the country to Arizona for my niece’s bat mitzvah…
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld Publisher: Chronicle Books © 2013 Genre: Children’s Books Subgenre: Construction, Family Life Reviewer: Sara Review: The end of the day at the construction site means rest and bedtime for all the machinery working there. Each type of equipment finishes the last of…
Curiosity and The Cat Her gait is stealthy, self-assured. She slips through the jungle without disturbing the undergrowth. High above and concealed by thick foliage, I follow her, studying. Hair, black as the night. Cream-colored skin stretches over sinewy muscles. She moves like a panther: A hunter, confident of her status. It would not be so…
VCE Chemistry teacher in Melbourne, Australia
a 100-word story every day
The Mom Who Runs: 