Book Review

Russell F. Hirsch

Oct 25, 20232 min read

Descriptive Language that Sparkles

Kill your darlings! Get to the point! Plot over prose! How many times have you heard advice about simplifying your writing for middle...

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SIWC - Simply Inspiring Writers' Conference

Russell F. Hirsch

Oct 11, 20231 min read

SIWC - Simply Inspiring Writers' Conference

We all know the feeling of finding our tribe. Whether we were kids discovering new friends on the playground, teens navigating a new...

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Russell F. Hirsch

Jul 9, 2019

REVIEW: The Oddmire by William Ritter

Come with me and delve into the deep, dark woods of William Ritter‘s magical middle grade fantasy, The Oddmire, Book I: Changeling....

REVIEW: Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy by Joshua S. Levy

Russell F. Hirsch

Apr 26, 2019

REVIEW: Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy by Joshua S. Levy

This week, Storythreads takes to the stars with a review of Joshua S. Levy‘s funny, fast-paced middle grade sci-fi adventure, Seventh...

Russell F. Hirsch

Mar 8, 2019

Podcast: Adapting Narnia

I rejoin Caitlin from the Words in Living Color podcast blog to chat about The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe–in its book form and as...

REVIEW: Harper and the Fire Star by Cerrie Burnell

Russell F. Hirsch

Feb 6, 2019

REVIEW: Harper and the Fire Star by Cerrie Burnell

Today, it’s my pleasure to shine a light on Harper and the Fire Star, a charming middle grade fantasy and the fourth book in Cerrie...

REVIEW: A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna

Russell F. Hirsch

Jan 11, 2019

REVIEW: A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna

Today on Storythreads, the worlds of Indian mythology and space opera collide in Sangu Mandanna’s YA novel, A Spark of White Fire, the...

A Dastardly Plot by Christopher Healy (Guest Review for The Book Wars)

Russell F. Hirsch

Nov 24, 2018

A Dastardly Plot by Christopher Healy (Guest Review for The Book Wars)

Twelve-year-old Molly Pepper and her mother Cassandra Pepper have inventions that could change the world! Except the World’s Fair won’t...

Russell F. Hirsch

Nov 6, 2018

Podcast: Adapting The Golden Compass

I rejoin Caitlin from the Bookology blog for her inaugural Words in Living Color podcast, wherein we nerd out over Philip Pullman’s The...

BLOG TOUR: The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire

Russell F. Hirsch

Oct 15, 2018

BLOG TOUR: The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire

Six years of silence. Magic as dark as black swan feathers. Sacrifice, struggle, and the interweaving of worlds. Today Storythreads hosts...

BLOG TOUR: Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery

Russell F. Hirsch

Sep 27, 2018

BLOG TOUR: Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery

Pub date: Sep. 1, 2018 from Carolrhoda Lab (an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group) Available in Canada through Thomas Allen & Son Today,...

Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older (Guest Review for The Book Wars)

Russell F. Hirsch

Sep 21, 2018

Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older (Guest Review for The Book Wars)

The Civil War meets dinosaurs in Daniel José Older’s new Middle Grade novel, Dactyl Hill Squad. You heard that right. Civil War +...

REVIEW: Sword of Power by Oliver Potzsch

Russell F. Hirsch

Aug 23, 2018

REVIEW: Sword of Power by Oliver Potzsch

Today, we’re diving back in time to 17th-century Prague! Getting historical? We’re getting there through the historical fantasy novel...

Russell F. Hirsch

Jul 25, 2018

Review: Game of Secrets by Kim Foster

This week, I have the pleasure of reviewing Game of Secrets, a YA Victorian thriller, by Kim Foster, who just so happens to be Canadian,...

Russell F. Hirsch

Jul 10, 2018

Canadian Corner: J. Fitzgerald McCurdy

As a kid growing up in the Harry Potter generation, I devoured fantasy novels—and since a new HP book only landed on the shelf every two...

Russell F. Hirsch

Jul 1, 2018

Canadian Corner: William Pasnak

Happy Canada Day! This July, I highlight underrated Canadian fantasy novels for kids, especially those from decades past that still stand...

Russell F. Hirsch

Mar 27, 2018

Review: Pullman’s Book of *FAIRY* Dust

Released last October, La Belle Sauvage, is essentially a prequel (or as Pullman calls it, an “equel”) that takes place a decade before...

Russell F. Hirsch

Mar 12, 2018

The YAK speaks! Diversity in kidlit

I recently had the opportunity to contribute some articles and book reviews to The YAK, a magazine devoted to Education, Writing,...

Russell F. Hirsch

Feb 15, 2018

BLOG TOUR: Chainbreaker by Tara Sim

CHAINBREAKER | Tara Sim Publisher: Sky Pony Press Available in Canada through Thomas Allen & Son Retail Price (CAD): $29.99 HC Pub. Date:...

Five YA Fantasies to Fanboy about in 2018

Russell F. Hirsch

Jan 29, 2018

Five YA Fantasies to Fanboy about in 2018

New year! New reads! Below, in no particular order of awesomeness, you’ll find five fantasies for YA fans that I am particularly looking...

Russell F. Hirsch

Oct 26, 2017

BLOG TOUR: Timekeeper by Tara Sim

Timekeeper by Tara Sim Paperback Release: Oct. 31, 2017 Publisher: Sky Pony Press Available in Canada through Thomas Allen & Son 404...

Bull by David Elliot (Guest Review for The Book Wars)

Russell F. Hirsch

Aug 30, 2017

Bull by David Elliot (Guest Review for The Book Wars)

Sometimes, I have the privilege of writing guest book reviews for the incredible folks at The Book Wars. You can check out my review of...