Anne Frank, the Art of a Young Diarist

A funny thing happened to Francine Prose on the way to writing a novel about a thirteen-year-old girl. Taking her own advice from Reading Like a Writer — if you’re going to write about a particular kind of person then first read something by that kind of...

The Zas is Back

When Jeff Zaslow became a journalist, I bet he never thought he’d be up in front of an audience of 500 women talking about turning maxi pads into house slippers. Amazing, the places writing can take you. In town on his ninth stop of a 22-stop book tour, Jeff...

Johanna Reiss: A Hidden Life

I’ve always recoiled from the categories: “children’s Holocaust literature” and “Holocaust picture books.” Can’t we leave children alone? Can’t we allow them their innocence without putting our angst upon the heads of...

Kids Ask the Darndest Things

“Are there any questions?” I asked. It was my second Book Fair reading of the day. The Book Fair folks had planned an amazing event; the room was packed with kids who had listened fairly attentively. Friends were there and it was great to look out and see...

Having a “Network” Moment

I interrupt this week’s planned program of Jewish Book Fair book reviews to do what I’ve never before done with this column: get political. I’m way past sick and tired of the folks who want to sugarcoat Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s murderous rampage with...