From the back cover: Eleven-year-old David is about to meet his new stepsister, Amanda, who is only one year older than he is. Amanda arrives at their big old house wearing a huge tattered shawl and carrying a sharp-eyed crow in a cage. She is hardly what David expects. Before long, she introduces David to a strange world of witchcraft and the occult. At first, spells and … [Read more...] about The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder: B
Books
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: A
From the back cover: Confined to a hospital bed, Scotland Yard's Inspector Grant is engrossed with a portrait of Richard III. How is it possible, he wonders, that such a sensitive-appearing soul could have been the odious villain, the Wicked Uncle responsible for the murder of his own nephews to secure the British crown for himself? Grant reconsiders 500-year-old evidence and … [Read more...] about The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: A
Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer: C-
It's possible that this review contains spoilers for FlashForward the TV show, but unless the show plans to alienate viewers by being really, really boring, I rather doubt it. Still, proceed at your own risk. From the back cover: A scientific experiment begins, and as the button is pressed, the unexpected occurs: everyone in the world goes to sleep for a few moments while … [Read more...] about Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer: C-
To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey: B-
From the back cover: The advent of Leslie Searle was not a particularly fortunate happening for the village of Salcott St Mary. The American photographer possessed an almost inhuman beauty, and his presence aroused a variety of violent emotions in the small community. Then, one spring night, he disappeared close to the river. A case of missing, presumed drowned, one would … [Read more...] about To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey: B-
More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman: B-
From the front flap: When John Hodgman first embarked on his project to assemble, tabulate, and completely make up a comprehensive survey of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE, he was but a former professional literary agent and occasional scribbler of fake trivia—in short, A NOBODY. But during an interview on The Daily Show with John Stewart, an incredible transformation occurred—he … [Read more...] about More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman: B-