As always, book reviews are spoiler-free, designed to highlight the the best qualities of a book and examine its weaknesses. The Halloween Tree is a children's book by Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451. The story follows eight boys on a cinematic adventure through time and place on Halloween night. Here's what you should know: Read Aloud—The Halloween Tree begs... Continue Reading →
As always, the following book review is spoiler free, and highlights the most important qualities of the story. Steelheart is a novel by author Brandon Sanderson about a teenager named David and his quest for revenge on the superheroes (called epics) who have taken over a dystopian, techno-punk Chicago. Not a comic book, but feels... Continue Reading →
Calling all artists and illustrators! Looking for a new project for your digital doodling hobby and hoping to get paid? Are you new to illustrating and looking for a way to build your portfolio? Have you ever wanted to work produce artwork for a children's book? Wherever you fall on this spectrum, I have a proposal... Continue Reading →
Note: This review, as always, is spoiler-free. I devoured Mark Haddon's novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in less than one day and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, it is NOT a children's book. The story follows a fifteen-year-old British boy named Christopher who sees the world in a strictly logical way as he... Continue Reading →
When people ask me why I chose to study mechanical engineering rather than music, English, or something else, I explain that I have never shaken my childhood urge to play with Legos. Engineering, while somewhat removed from Legos, scratches the itch, but it doesn't stop me from visiting as many Lego stores as I can... Continue Reading →
Le Havre [Loo Ah-v-ruh] is a French seaport in Normandy. The town was almost completely destroyed in World War I, so architect Auguste Perret undertook the job of redesigning the city so that it would still feel French, but with modern considerations in mind. Thus, Le Havre has remarkably wide streets and building facades that... Continue Reading →
The Rithmatist is a YA novel by Brandon Sanderson. The story is set in a steam-punk alternative United States, called the United Isles, where magic-wielding rithmatists protect the people from creatures called chalklings. I will admit, seeing that past sentence in letters on the page makes the book sound super nerdy. Any I suppose it is.... Continue Reading →
If you follow the Seine River out of Paris and wind north-eastward toward the English Channel, you will pass through a quaint town called Rouen [Roo-ahn]. You might recognize it (if you are good with European history) as the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake or (if you are an art... Continue Reading →
Perelandra is the second book in C.S. Lewis' space trilogy. The book tells the story of the second adventure of Professor Elwin Ransom as he travels to the planet Venus (called Perelandra in the story). Where the first book in the trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, focused a great deal of energy on philology and providing... Continue Reading →
