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The Wonder of the Aurora at Yellow Dog Lodge
Fifteen minutes after midnight, I am napping in an armchair and Mom and Mason are sprawled on the coach. Then Gordon pokes his head in and says the magic words: "I see the aurora." We leap from our seats (literally) and pull on layer after layer of clothes. It's about 10 degrees outside, so I'm tugging on my gloves and mitten covers and simultaneously trying to put my phone on my cheap tripod. We clatter outside and tip our heads back and there...
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Kicking Off the New Year with Gods and Heroes
A list of eight recent historical fantasy books for those who enjoy gods, heroes, and the high stakes that come when the two clash.
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Kaikeyi: the Evil Step-Mother We All Wish We Could Be
In a tale of myths and gods and heroes, Kaikeyi is merely a woman trying to find power over her own life, but when her destiny clashes with the gods, she must decide if her beliefs and hopes for the world are worth destroying her family.
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High-Up in The Austrian Alps: 48 Hours in Innsbruck
We took a small local train that wove through the mountains like a snake, stopping in small towns with peaked train stations and only a few roads stretching off into the emerald-green hills. We went over bridges that spanned deep ravines and we were even with the clouds that settled low over the valley. A hawk soared beneath the struts of one bridge just as we crossed. Then we emerged high in the mountains over Innsbruck.
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The Story of the Tsarinas who Came Before Catherine the Great
In The Tsarina's Daughter, Elizabeth Petrovna Romanova is the daughter of Tsar Peter the Great of Russia. Delighting in the Russian winter and the luxuries of court, Elizabeth lives during a time of great turmoil: her father has killed his son, leaving the Russian throne with no male heir to inherit.
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This Woven Kingdom: A Persian Cinderella Story
The traditional Cinderella character is portrayed with few personality traits, but those two--hard work and kindness--are the backbone of the character. My main issue with traditional Cinderella stories (as well as Disney) is that the prince falls in love with her without seeing her two defining characteristics--the things that make her worth falling in love with. In Mafi's novel, Alizeh shows the prince her character on many occasions. While she is beautiful, it is these qualities that first catch his eye (in fact, she's wearing a veil the first time he sees her), and these qualities, as well as her brilliance, that hold it.
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Stray: a Fairytale Every Girl Needs to Read
Elissa Sussman's intricate world building and delicate way of weaving together the story's threads personally made the novel's themes of women, emotion, and power far more poignant. Full of subtle and not-so-subtle allusions to modern patterns, Sussman effectively uses fantasy to explore our real world.
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Colorful Camden: Sea Winds, Mountain Views, and Lobstah!
The last stop on our weeklong trip to Maine was the coastal town of Camden, Maine. We rolled into Camden after a long day of driving through inland Maine. We were too hungry to park at our hotel and walk, so we drove downtown. It was dark, but we could smell the sea off to our left and see the rows of cute shops and restaurants.
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To the Main! –Heading Inland like the Fishermen of Old
My parents and I greatly enjoyed our time in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and I would return in a heart beat to climb the Iron Ladder Trails and explore along the rocky coast like kid explorers again. However, there is so much more of Maine to see, so we departed from Bar Harbor early one morning--and headed to the main!
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I love ME…I mean Maine!
After a busy month of work, hunting, and visitors, my parents and I jetted off to enjoy the easternmost state in the Union. We choose Maine because none of us had been before, and the idea of rugged coastlines, mountainous forests, and stunning fall foliage sounded like an excellent way to spend a week. Even as the plane circled the coast above Portland, I could see hints of reds and yellows in the trees.
