The Englishist

From the mind of an English professor
Young Adult Lit

Book Review: Highway to Hell

I’m not much of a badass demon slayer.  Superheroes always have a cool origin story, but not me.  I’m not on a quest for vengeance or atonement.  I’m not the chosen one.  I’m...

Middle Grade Lit

Book Review: When You Reach Me

“Well, it’s simple to love someone,” she said.  “But it’s hard to know when you need to say it out loud.” That quote doesn't really encapsulate the main plot of When You Reach Me...

Young Adult Lit

Book Review: Flygirl

“If you’re colored you get the short end of the stick.  If you’re a woman, you get the short end of the stick.  So what do we get for being colored and women?” Jolene sighs. ...

Adult Lit

Book Review: Juliet, Naked

Would it really have been so much worse to spend those years alone?  Why did there have to be someone else in the room while she was eating, watching TV, sleeping?  A partner was...