January 1, 2024
One weekend on Chinese New Year, we gathered in Trafalgar Square for the performance of the lion dance. Amid the throngs of people, we cheered and clapped for the dancers. We swayed to the traditional music.
December 12, 2023
Our bedroom walls were shiny with posters of boy-band chests and bad-boy grins hiding unicorns and floral wallpaper. Our mothers fought us, our little sisters wanted to be us, our fathers avoided us.
December 9, 2023
In the morning, I look out over the vegetable patch. Leaves are scattered. There is a hole in one of the beds. Someone has been pinching my carrots. I notice paw marks on the conservatory window and a deep scratch on the glass.
“I think we have a visitor,” I say to my wife. “A squirrel.”
December 8, 2023
Three little girls were walking up the steep part of a dirt road toward the wooden railroad bridge. So much happened at the railroad bridge. It was where they could find all the other kids in the neighborhood who had bare feet and scabby knees like they had. It was a place to play, and talk, and underneath was a perfect hiding place.
December 7, 2023
As a person who has worked with the Foster Care system, this storyline grabs me by the throat. I found myself choking up as I read about the sorting of children, like socks, at Kringletown. Ryder didn’t deserve that. No child does.
December 3, 2023
The characters were beautifully written, and had you feeling for them as if they were your friends/family. The harsh environment of Avocado punctuated every life choice that Scrooge made. Again totally out of left field, and wonderful.
November 21, 2023
“Careful,” she said and held him back. “When I was young, on a summer evening like this, there were hundreds of fireflies. It was like we were walking among the stars. There aren’t so many now.”
November 19, 2023
The legend evolves, like the swirling snow of the Pole, telling a wonderful story of intrigue, loyalty and love. Brilliantly crafted, it drew from the many stories of Santa, weaving science and politics into the mix.
November 19, 2023
Sara Brunsvold is establishing herself as a skilled storyteller in her debut novel. Her book pays tribute to an underappreciated group of people who altered the cultural course of America during the difficult post-Vietnam War-era while also being a call-to-arms for Christians; reminding Christians there are opportunities to share God’s love through every moment and every meeting.
November 17, 2023
After Maa passed away from sudden heart failure six months ago, I found respite in the only place that has comforted me since childhood. I spent days and nights weeping and hugging every book she left me. I went over every single page of every single hand-me-down and wet them with my heartbroken tears...
November 12, 2023
Ever since we moved into the new apartment, I fervently desired to know - just once at least - what it felt like to be her son. Every morning sharp at 6 AM, Mummy would walk me down to the corner of the road to wait for the school bus to pick me up. It was at this corner that she would sit on the pavement with a basket selling vegetables.
November 4, 2023
After three hours of what seemed like a never ending journey, I reached my destination and alighted from the bus. I collected my change and noticed four children beckoning to me and greeted me warmly, beaming with smiles. I had a gut feeling that I should get them some snacks, so I did that with the money left with me.