2019 summed up: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. So, the long version of things is 2019 was a rough year for me. Every time I got on here to post a blog, all I could think to do was talk about how bad things were in my … Continue reading Triumphant Return
Review – Off the Grid by Robert McCaw
Kilauea's smoldering lava fields -- a unique place to bury the bodies.Recently, I had the pleasure of reading a new crime novel by Robert McCaw, Off the Grid. And it's like the jacket copy was made just for me. For those of you who don't know, I am the co-host of a true crime podcast, … Continue reading Review – Off the Grid by Robert McCaw
Review – Lions of the Sky by Paco Chierici
Do any of you remember the original Top Gun? Tom Cruise, the reckless bad boy in a flight suit. The killer soundtrack (my mother-in-law listened to her copy of the soundtrack so many times that it stopped working recently). The action. The needless love story. It was one of the few movies I actually watched … Continue reading Review – Lions of the Sky by Paco Chierici
A Very Plucky Hiatus
So... You may have noticed I've been gone for a while. You may not have, I don't know. But the fact remains, I have been gone for nearly three months from the Pluckyverse. I took some time off this summer to recover from the busy school year and to set up my new classroom and … Continue reading A Very Plucky Hiatus
Review – Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry by Richard Kirshenbaum
Do you love espionage and spies? Do you love historical dramas? Do you love murder? Mystery? Mob stories? And do you want it all while wearing the best mascara MAC has to offer? Because holy moly this book had it all. This week, I had the pleasure of reading Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and … Continue reading Review – Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry by Richard Kirshenbaum
My Top 10 LGBT+ Books
We’re just past halfway through Pride Month, so it seems like the natural time for me to share with you my top 10 favorite LGBT+ books. Because, you know, I’m known for being consistent and timely. As I compiled this list, I thought about how limited my experience actually is with books featuring LGBT+ protagonists. … Continue reading My Top 10 LGBT+ Books
Excerpt – Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry by Richard Kirshenbaum
From Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry. Copyright © 2019 by Richard Kirshenbaum and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Press. Chapter 1 HOLLYWOOD DREAMS New York City, 1933 A Technicolor sky hung over the city even though it was only early May. At times, even New York City seemed to have caught the bug. The pear trees that bloomed … Continue reading Excerpt – Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry by Richard Kirshenbaum
Hit Your Own Red Button
Recently, I had the opportunity to go to a workshop at Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA. This was actually a dream come true for me; Ron Clark has been my teaching idol for years. I've modeled the way I present myself to students after Ron Clark's methods since my first year as a teacher. … Continue reading Hit Your Own Red Button
Interview with Fred Waitzkin
I had the incredible opportunity to interview Fred Waitzkin, author of Deep Water Blues, which I reviewed last week. When I started The Plucky Reader, I never expected it to go anywhere. Never in my wildest imaginings did I believe people would read the words I wrote or send me books to review. And I … Continue reading Interview with Fred Waitzkin
Review – Deep Water Blues by Fred Waitzkin
Does anybody remember that 90s movie, Searching for Bobby Fischer? I remember watching it—I was probably in the fifth grade—and I was struck by a revelation at the end. The credits rolled and an important thought crossed my mind: chess was definitely not a game for me. I didn’t have the patience for it. I … Continue reading Review – Deep Water Blues by Fred Waitzkin
