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It seems Rashi’s daughter Miriam is quite famous - she shows up in other historical fiction books, too, as an inspiration for learned women.  She even inspires young women who don’t quite trust in themselves yet, as in “Blue Thread” by ( Read more... )

What kind of queen incites her children to rebel against the king their father?  Eleanor of Aquitaine must have be a selfish and conniving person, mustn’t she?  Or maybe, just maybe, she had a reason ( Read more... )

List of book reviews, sorted by category.
Unlike physical books which an only sit on one shelf, some book will be on two lists.

Fairy Tales( Once upon a time... )

Jane Austen - all the love. Elizabeth Bennet - guaranteed witty conversation. Mr. Darcy - swoon. A Jane Austen knock off - excuse me, homage - moved to the top of my To Read pile as soon as I brought it home.

( Read more... )

Anahita is a busy, busy, busy. She helps the dye-master find plants for vibrant dyes, and helps her mother weave the Persian carpets that Iran is famous for.  Because she has no brothers, she helps her father tend the sheep.  Her tribe moves the flocks from place to place throughout the spring, finding the best grass to graze on. She also works ( Read more... )

In 1846, the United States has never had a civil war, but it does have a Wild West.

Refined Philadelphia seems very far from the Wild West, but motherless Jane has no one to teach her manners.  Her father is a surgeon who believes brains are meant to be used, and doesn’t teach his daughter to walk meekly, talk meekly, and especially not think meekly ( Read more... )