The Icky Subtext in The Polar Express

Many of you probably know the story of The Polar Express from the 2004 movie, but it was actually a children’s book first published in 1985. And even though I’m mostly discussing the movie, I decree the topic still relevant for a book blog.  Some may think it’s silly to analyze a children’s movie/book, but […]

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The Perfect Thanksgiving Read: Little Women

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!  When I asked my mom what book reminded her of Thanksgiving, she said The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, because it reminded her to be thankful for what she has…. And according to my mother, Katniss can teach you how to shoot a turkey.  I definitely see that as a tough love […]

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How NOT to Start your Novel: Common Mistakes to Avoid

When I read queries during my internship at the literary agency, I would often reject an author after the first sentence of the manuscript. That might sound harsh, but I learned that when I continued reading, my first instinct was nearly always right.  If you’ve read my post “A Literary Agency: An Intern’s Perspective,” you […]

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