Angieville

Those of you who follow me on Instagram  have likely seen some of these. But I always post a few Halloween pics of my kiddos, so here you go. Will was Ron Weasley. Piper was Hermione Granger. And Finny was Peter Pan. All pics courtesy of my lovely husband .  With their princess, pirate, and pumpkin cousins.  Poor punkin . . .  Mischief managed.  My three. My oldest two off to Defense Against the Dark Arts.  Hope your Halloween was happy!

I'm in the mood for a new fairy tale (or three). I realize your natural reaction is: Angie, when in the world are you not in the mood for new fairy tales and/or retellings? And the answer is: pretty much never. But. With the exception of Cruel Beauty and Tiger Lily (but even that's been more than a year ago), I haven't really fallen in love for awhile. Time to change that. Alias Hook   by Lisa Jensen I recently became aware of this title and immediately knew I'd be giving it a go. Peter Pan from Captain Hook's perspective, this Hook is cursed to forever engage in pointless warfare with Pan. Until one day a grown woman finds her way to Neverland and, in that simple defiance, provides a light at the end of the tunnel. I . . . have a good feeling about this. Due out July 8th Stray by Elissa Sussman So this one gives me the tingles not just for it's shivery cover (I love it, love it, love it), but because the main character is a Fairy Godmother. And n...

This is both my first Jodi Lynn Anderson book and my first Peter Pan retelling! I know there are quite a few out there, but for whatever reason I just haven't dipped into that pool yet. I've seen and enjoyed multiple screen adaptations, but this was my first outing with a retelling on the page. The thing about Peter Pan is that I read it a couple of years ago with my oldest boy and it was . . . rather devastating, actually. In the very best way, of course. But the emotions were real and they cut deep. So I probably should have expected to be a bit wrung out upon finishing Tiger Lily . Because even though it's all about Tiger Lily (and is told from Tinker Bell's perspective), it's about Peter, too. And Neverland. And the Lost Boys. And Hook. And every other excruciating bit of that original story that so embodies the sense of wonder and loss endemic to childhood and growing up. All of which is to say that beyond this point there be emotions . Proceed with caution....

In the Big Bed WILL: Why did it call the children heartless? ANGIE: I think it meant they were able to leave their families, forget about it all, and fly away with Peter. WILL: *nods*   I would. ANGIE: I can't imagine being able to resist. On the way into bed ANGIE: You're not going to fly out the window tonight if Peter comes while I'm sleeping, are you? WILL: I hope so! ANGIE: Well, I'll be sure to leave the window open for you just in case. So you can come back. WILL: It's a deal, Mommy. WILL: *snuggles up in his bed and goes to sleep* ANGIE: *sobs quietly into her pillow* Fin.

Once upon a time my boy was small and I read stories to him every night. Make that morning, noon, and night! Somehow he came out of the womb with a taste for swords and sorcery like his mama and the two of us sized one another up and knew we would get on together just fine. When he was three he wanted to be Peter Pan for Halloween because it was one of his favorite movies. Of course, now he's not so small: And he reads on his own. ( Calvin & Hobbes is his current favorite) But even though so many other things have crowded in to fill up his days, things like going to school and doing his homework and playing with friends, we still read together every night in the Big Bed. And a few nights ago we finished the fourth Henry Huggins book and he asked me for something different. So we wandered into the library and I scoured the shelves for just the right book. My eyes lighted on that small paperback copy of   Peter Pan  I bought on a sentimental whim in Nottingham years a...