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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...
Russell Hirsch
Oct 25, 20232 min read
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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...
Russell Hirsch
Oct 10, 20231 min read
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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....
Russell Hirsch
Jul 9, 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 Hirsch
Apr 26, 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...
Russell Hirsch
Mar 8, 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...
Russell Hirsch
Feb 6, 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...
Russell Hirsch
Jan 11, 2019


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 Hirsch
Nov 24, 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...
Russell Hirsch
Nov 6, 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...
Russell Hirsch
Oct 14, 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,...
Russell Hirsch
Sep 27, 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 +...
Russell Hirsch
Sep 20, 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 Hirsch
Aug 23, 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 Hirsch
Jul 25, 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 Hirsch
Jul 10, 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 Hirsch
Jul 1, 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 Hirsch
Mar 27, 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 Hirsch
Mar 11, 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:...
Russell Hirsch
Feb 15, 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 Hirsch
Jan 29, 2018


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...
Russell Hirsch
Oct 26, 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...
Russell Hirsch
Aug 30, 2017
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