Bethkemp

LATEST ARTICLES ( 83 )

• Midweek Magic: The Moon

  

  This post was originally here at the Hearthfire two years ago, in January 2011. I've dusted it off and brought it back out in honour of this week's lovely Full... Read more

  Posted on 27 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

  

  Dark secrets and fierce competition: creepy YA thriller set in the New York Ballet Academy This was a tense read which I greatly enjoyed. Read more

  Posted on 25 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Vortex by Julie Cross

  

  Second in the YA Time Travel Thriller SeriesIf you haven't read Tempest, the first in this fab series, I'd suggest you go and read my review of that instead of... Read more

  Posted on 22 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Blog: Maudie Smith on Rules! Rules! Rules!

  

  Yes! It's Opal Moonbaby time again! Maudie Smith's fabulous debut impressed me last year and now the sequel is out. About Zooming Time, Opal Moonbaby is out... Read more

  Posted on 19 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: OMG! Is This Actually My Life? by Rae Earl

  

  Hilarious diary novel perfect for tweens and younger teens Boys, friendships, family stuff - all the drama of the early teen years is here in Hattie's diary. Read more

  Posted on 18 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

  

  Fabulous steampunk mystery adventure for 9+ Amazing contraptions, an intriguing mystery, Victorian London, the circus, a hint of romance between a detective... Read more

  Posted on 15 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Top Five Things More Likely to Make Me Quit Teaching Than Equal Marriage

  I was quite startled last night to discover that my profession is being used as a political pawn once again (no that's not a shock in itself - quite used to... Read more

  Posted on 13 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Sylvia Plath and Me: Negotiating and Teaching Ariel

  

  Today marks fifty years since Plath's death. I've seen lots of pieces in newspapers: interviews with people who knew her, extracts from books exploring her... Read more

  Posted on 11 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Seconds Away by Harlan Coben

  

  Gripping YA crime thriller from a master writer This is the second in Coben's YA series focused on Mickey Bolitar, nephew of his main adult character, Myron... Read more

  Posted on 08 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Top Five Things You Shouldn't Say to the Wife of a Stay-at-Home-Dad

  This was originally published back in June 2011, but unfortunately it still stands...1: But does he do the cleaning/dusting/washing/ironing etc?Er, yeah - that'... Read more

  Posted on 06 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: A Witch Alone by Ruth Warburton

  

  Satisfying conclusion to a brilliant paranormal YA trilogy I was looking forward to this, having loved the first two books in the series, and I was not... Read more

  Posted on 04 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• North of Nowhere Blog Tour: A Place of Inspiration

  

  Today is a very exciting day here at the Hearthfire: Liz Kessler is here to talk about her setting for North of Nowhere (which by the way is a fabulous story... Read more

  Posted on 01 February 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Mixing It Up, Or How Blended is Better

  Things are better mixed up. I've always thought this and get irritated when forced to choose. My love of mixing things up is clear in my reading and viewing... Read more

  Posted on 30 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

  

  YA time travel thriller Can Jackson save Holly? That's the big question in this fab twisty thriller. The plot centres on a nineteen year old who's just trying t... Read more

  Posted on 28 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Broken by A E Rought

  

  Gothic romance with mystery and dangerThis is a novel that I really enjoyed. Truly gorgeous, visceral writing; plenty of tension, and a romance plot with... Read more

  Posted on 25 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Why I'm a Sucker for 'The Chosen One'

  "Only X can save the world/stop the bad guys/catch the killer": who doesn't love that angle?I'm sure most of us immediately think of the mystical Chosen One... Read more

  Posted on 23 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Hold On by Alan Gibbons

  

  Tense YA thiller with themes of bullying and suicide This short novel packs a real emotional punch. Using a first person present tense narrator - Annie,... Read more

  Posted on 21 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: North of Nowhere by Liz Kessler

  

  Family tale with a hint of magic for 9+ readers I really enjoyed this story and would probably (if it were for adults) class it as magical realism: there is an... Read more

  Posted on 18 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Powers and Gifts in Fiction

  

  Note: I'm recycling! This post originally appeared in August 2011, back when no-one was looking... I've always enjoyed reading stories where characters have... Read more

  Posted on 16 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Operation Eiffel Tower by Elen Caldecott

  

  Funny, heartwarming family tale for 9-12s For a story about family breakdown, this is beautifully funny, light and enjoyable. Both I and my 9 yr old daughter... Read more

  Posted on 14 January 2013 BOOKS, CULTURE