Pop’s Blog - Michael Thal

Flying to the Fire: A YA Thriller

ByMichael Thal July 22, 2017July 22, 2017

Flying to the Fire is the second book in Elyse Salpeter’s Flying Series. The central character, Danny Anderson, a thirteen-year old deaf child with special gifts, has the unique talent of communicating with the souls of the dead. In the first book in the series, Flying to the Light, Danny is six when a crazy corrupt…

gifted child | Parenting

Is Your Child Gifted?

ByMichael Thal July 17, 2017

Do you think your child is gifted? There are developmental guidelines teachers look for to tell if a child is advanced for his age, but first let’s set the record straight about the gifted child. I have two daughters. At the age of 6 my youngest was tested as gifted by her kindergarten teacher and…

Stealing Liberty: A New Dystopian YA Novel

ByMichael Thal July 13, 2017

Author Jennifer Froelich has her eyes on today’s headlines—legislative gridlock, red states vs blue, and partisan politics—for future outcomes. From the depths of her imagination, and keeping in mind the worse case scenario of constant Washington bickering, she has created a dystopian society in the next century that is sadly possible as a result of…

Right Text Wrong Number: A YA Romance

ByMichael Thal July 11, 2017

Title: Right Text Wrong Number Author: Natalie Decker Genre: YA Romance High school juniors Layla and Tyler are complete opposites. Sure she’s a cheerleader and he’s a football player, but she thinks he’s the biggest jerk in the school and he thinks she is too high on her horse to even be worth of a…

5 YA Books Critics Have Enjoyed

ByMichael Thal July 10, 2017

During these long summer days, it’s always nice to get out of the heat, sit down by the AC, sip ice-cold lemonade, and read a book. Below are five books by award-winning writer, Michael Thal. Goodbye Tchaikovsky Paperback: $9.99 IBook: $9.99 A violin virtuoso is plunged into a deaf world, necessitating him to adapt to…

Krait’s Redemption: A YA Fantasy Book Reveal

ByMichael Thal July 3, 2017

About the Book Title: Krait’s Redemption (The Cat’s Eye Chronicles Book 5) Author: T.L. Shreffler Genre: YA Fantasy With winter solstice fast approaching, Sora and her companions are running out of time. She must stop The Shade from awakening the Dark God, yet a powerful force has overtaken her Cat’s-Eye necklace, rendering the stone almost…

A Twilight Zone Story for Kids

ByMichael Thal June 27, 2017June 27, 2017

Many young readers may not know much about “Twilight Zone,” an anthology series hosted by Rod Serling that ran for five seasons from 1959-1964. Episodes included psychological horror and thrillers, fantasy and science fiction. Usually an episode ended with a macabre twist. Author Majanka Verstraete undoubtedly was influenced by Serling’s TV show when she wrote…

2017 Summer YA Reading List

ByMichael Thal June 20, 2017June 20, 2017

Summertime is that special time of year when we can lay out on the beach, absorb some rays, and catch up on our reading wish list. Below you’ll find the six best YA books Pop read this past year and figures you’d enjoy it, too. Flying to the Light Author: Elyse Salpeter Kindle Edition:…

Book Review of Dreamwalkers: A YA Fantasy

ByMichael Thal June 17, 2017June 17, 2017

Narciso (Ciso) di Angelo is a sixteen-year-old homeless boy living on the streets of Rome, Italy. During the day he panhandles tourists, and at night he walks in the dreams of strangers. Ciso believes he’s one of a kind, but soon discovers there are others like him who “Walk the bridges between two worlds, between…

Leadership | Parenting | single parent

Five Steps to Becoming a Super Dad

ByMichael Thal June 14, 2017

When I was a child, I read Superman comics. I liked how my super hero saved lives and fought vicious criminals. I wanted to grow up to be just like him. Well, I’m no super hero, just an ordinary guy. But dads like me do have the power of being super for our kids by…