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Spotlight on the Wickware Sagas: Time Travel Stories for Teens

ByMichael Thal

Miss Wickware is a history teacher at Langdon Middle School in Phoenix, Arizona, but the sweet old lady is not exactly what she appears to be. Students with attitude problems and a lack of historical perspective can suddenly find themselves sent back through time to face a famous historical figure they coincidentally need to report about…

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Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2015

ByMichael Thal

Having a hard time finding a bookstore in your neighborhood? Interested in meeting the wordsmiths that put those books together? Look no further than the LA Times Festival of Books to be held on the campus of the University of Southern California on April 18-19. The Festival of Books begins Saturday morning at 10:00 AM-6:00…

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5 YA Books Made into Movies for 2015

ByMichael Thal

“Divergent”, “The Maze Runner”, and “The Hunger Games” were all recent YA books turned into blockbuster movies. Major Hollywood studios have announced 5 YA books in different stages of development planned for release in 2015: Fallen by Lauren Kate Luce Price begins her senior year of high school at the Sword and Cross boarding school…

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The Bearded Dude in the Puzzle|Penny Estelle

ByMichael Thal

Author Penny Estelle has written about 15 novellas that hold the interest of kids and adults alike. The Bearded Dude in the Puzzle is Estelle’s newest creation. Blurb Many years ago, in the land of kings and knights, Dozer, a powerful wizard, casts a spell over Scartin, and changes him into a tiny toy wizard…

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Second Chance

ByMichael Thal

Beyond the Skyline is Alex Lane’s diary of his life after leaving Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center in Syracuse, New York. At the main gate an immaculately dressed man driving a black expensive foreign car meets him. The bearded stranger reveals himself to be Alex’s estranged brother Brandon. Thus begins Brody Lane Gregg’s YA novel, Beyond…

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Why Do Adults Read YA Books?

ByMichael Thal

It’s understandable why teens read young adult (YA) novels. The books are geared toward them. Rarely do you find teenagers interested in middle age and old age issues found in mainstream literature. So why is it that middle-aged and older adults read YA books? In a June 5, 2014 Slate.com article, Ruth Graham wrote, “Read…

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The Caul of Estlan

ByMichael Thal

Ennara lives in Estlan, a land of magic and mystery. She was born a caul, a baby with a mask foreshadowing great magical ability. So her parents had to have her hand tattooed with a fire-breathing dragon to warn others of her great powers. One night, during her eleventh year, Ennara is attacked by a…

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Books that get kids reading

ByMichael Thal

Have problems motivating your teen to read? Turn to the numerous book series published by many different publishers, big and small, that focus on middle school and high school students. The Harry Potter series or the more recent Hunger Games books quickly come to mind. Authors like to write series books around the adventures of…