I've finally figured out just why it is that I like Lindsey Stoddard so much - that is, in addition to her phenomenal craft and ability to slowly inflate unlikeable characters into fully-rounded, complex people, while still maintaining and honoring that negative first impression. It's that, in all of her books, she taps into one of the great traditions of children's literature: gracious recognition of the interconnectivity between books. So many of the all-time greats - Nesbit, Eager, Birdsall - use what their characters read as a way to define who they are. By continuing this tradition, Stoddard pays homage to the authors she's built off of, and, more importantly, offers their work as gifts to her readers. Add that to the biting feminist commentary in this book, as well as the blueprint it lays out for creating small-scale social change, and you've got the perfect blend of tradition and revolution. ~ Reviewed by Nadja Tiktinsky
