Is This Jennifer Donnelly?

Is this Jennifer Donnelly? No, this is Vikki VanSickle, author of Words That Start With B and the manager of the Flying Dragon.

Is this the real Jennifer Donnelly? No, this is Patti, CFO of the Dragon and queen of everything in her realm.

Is this the real Jennifer Donnelly? No, this is Moi, Cath Francis, co-owner of the Dragon.

Is this the real Jennifer Donnelly? No, this is Nina McCreath, my partner at the Dragon.

Is this the real Jennifer Donnelly? YES! 
The Guardian says "This rich and ambitious young adult novel is told in the wry voice of a privileged and troubled Brooklyn teenager who is barely coping with the harsh cards life has dealt her family. Set principally in Paris, Revolution straddles, and at times connects, two stories and two times: the present day and the mid-1790s..."
Read Shelf Elf's review of Revolution and enjoy her interview with Jennifer.

In Our Window - Words That Start With B

Actually, this is the window we just took out. But we would like to congratulate Vikki Vansickle on the success of her debut novel, Words That Start With B. Enjoy this interview  with Vikki on Rachelle Delaney's blog and more insight on the book by Shelf Elf.

If you would like to hear Vikki talk about books for young people with Mary Ito, Kevin Sylvester and Kenneth Oppel check out this episode of CBC's Fresh Air.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Listen to Vikki expound on the virtues of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate in this video and on her blog, Pipedreaming.
Read a review at Shelf Elf including an interview with author Jacqueline Kelly

Dear George Clooney

Vikki shares two favorites, Word Nerd and Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom, by author, Susan Nielsen.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Mockingjay Hits the Shelves

Shelf Elf asks a few questions to Vikki VanSickle who was a Midnight reader of Mockingjay.

Till all the Stars Have Fallen

Vikki recommends one of our favorite gifts! From Kids Can Press, a rich collection of Canadian poetry compiled by David Booth and illustrated by Govenor General's Award winning illustrator, Kady MacDonald Denton. Kady created our very own dragon that graces these pages. You can read an interview with Kady by Library and Archives Canada here.

Delicious Summer Reading: A Homemade Life

Is there anything more satisfying than reading about food? Being an amateur foodie myself, I gravitate towards well-written food fiction, such as the charming School of Essential Ingredients and the sensual Like Water for Chocolate. I’ve even been known to branch out of fiction into food-related non-fiction and memoir. One of my recent favourites is Molly Wizenberg’s memoir A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table. Molly is the author of the popular blog Orangette, a collection of recipes and delightful food-based anecdotes. Molly adopts her blog’s friendly, inviting tone in her book, sharing the story of her life through food. The book is full of delicious recipes ranging from the perfect French toast to cider-glazed salmon to savoury salad dressings. I like the way Molly talks you through her recipes; she is supportive and clear in her instructions. In between the recipes, Molly shares the moments that shaped her life. Part cook book, part coming of age novel, part love story, I savoured every word of this memoir. A must read! -Vikki VanSickle
  

Bones of Faerie

Vikki VanSickle speaks about Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simmer 

A dark fairy-tale twist on apocalyptic fiction—
as familiar as a nightmare, yet altogether unique.

Etcetera
Check out Vikki's written review at Pipedreaming

Amandina by Sergio Ruzzier

A few summers ago, I was in the midst of mounting a production of a musical at the Toronto Fringe Festival when Cathy asked me to read a picture book called Amandina by Sergio Ruzzier. Right Away, I could see why she had put it aside for me. Amandina is the story of a shy little dog who loves to sign and dance. She decides to put on a play all by herself, taking on the roles of writer, director, costume designer, poster designer, and star. Amandina is thrilled with her production, but when the curtain rises, there isn't a single soul in the audience. Sad but determined, Amandina falls back on that old show biz Mantra, "The Show Must Go On." She closes her eyes and gives her best performance. Before her final bow, Amandina thinks she hears the thunderous applause of a spellbound audience, but she is convinced she must be imagining it. Or is she?

Needless to say, this quiet but powerful book struck a chord with me and I was bawling before I reached the last page. Amandina now lives on my personal bookshelf, and I have given it to many of my friends of the artistic persuasion. Ruzzier's illustrations are soft and playful. a perfect compliment to his gentle text. Sometimes life is disappointing, but the important thing is to keep your chin up and carry on; you never know what's waiting in the wings. - Vikki

Read an in depth review of Amandina at Fuse 8 and an interview with more illustrations at Seven Impossible Things to do Before Breakfast.