This collection of short stories about giants would have entralled my oldest son when he was in elementary school. Most of the stories center on an unlikely male who outwits terrifying giants. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these clever stories.
Warning: violent, graphic killings-chopping off heads, gouging eyes etc
-Borrowed via ILL.
Five short stories that center on the love and hope that Christmas brings
Perfectly delightful stories The kind of stories I want to read this time of year! Well-written
I especially liked the last one, "The Holly Hedge" as the two marriages are juxaposed.
Considerations: the names give to a group of people This book was published a hundred years ago, so if one considers when it was written, one understands the context.
-Borrowed via ILL (the copy I read was one hundred years old!)
Only photos avaiable are a spine or are too large for this page.RAR is featuring one of these stories in their Christmas School 2025 for high schoolers/teenagers.
I read the first two stories and enjoyed them. The endings may be too perfect for some readers, but at Christmas, don't we long for happy conclusions? Reading the introduction, I understood why the stories feature orphans, convalescing soldiers etc. Louisa's mother was one of the first paid social workers in America. She instilled compassion for the less fortunate in her daughters.
I am not officially highly recommending it since I did not read the entire collection.
-Borrowed from the library.
A collection of five Christmas short stories by British novelist Anthony Trollope
I had never heard of this author who wrote prolifically during the 1800s. These stories are heart-warming with some humor. Reading about a story with the setting of the U.S. Civil War by a BRITISH author was interesting! I like these short stories better than the modern Christmas stories by American authors.
I learned about this anthology from Lanier Ivester in her book, Glad and Golden Hours.
-Borrowed from the library.
Poe's work featured in this graphic novel are: "The Raven", "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Black Cat", "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether"
Mr. Katz's interpretation and illustrations stimulate the reader's imagination and heightens his fear! I did not read this novel in my bed before falling asleep!! Artistically (both the art and Poe's writing) it is superb. I am not highly recommending it because of the themes/horror.
Warnings/considerations: horror, evil characters, drinking, drugs, murder, depravity encouraged (in "The Masque of the Red Death"- rooms are designated for different types of depravity. One room is for carnal variety & shows couples making out(fully-clothed) on top of each other and one person in the other person's lap with legs wrapped around waist)
-Borrowed from the library.
My eighth grader read this anthology of short stories for literature and enjoyed them. I read quite a few of them and anticipated the twists and unusual solutions. Although the twelve short stories can be read in any order, if the reader wants to understand the character development of Flambeau, he/she should read the first four in order. I would label these short stories as "literary mysteries". The sentence structure, the word choice, the allusions, and historical inclusions require the reader to be intellectually engaged.
*Highly recommend (for junior high and older-murder and graphic descriptions of some murders).
-We own this book.
Short stories from different time periods and cultures
Some of the authors: Pearl S. Buck, George Sumner Albee, Madeline L'Engle, Henry van Dyke, Katherine Paterson, Elizabeth Goudge, Selma Lagerlof
My fourteen-year-old and I read three books from this anthology this December. Each story was superbly written. These stories will appeal to teens and adults.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Joe Wheeler collected numerous short stories to share with a new generation. These wholesome stories will appeal to older elementary through adults. I read a smattering of stories from a couple of the books. All titles are borrowed from the library.
A short story
For my son's mini detective unit this year, we started out reading the first detective story written, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". (Although the British will contend they have a couple novels that were the "first"! ) The narrator relates how he befriends intelligent Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin in Paris and then rents a mansion with him. During his stay, the two friends read about a gruesome murder of a mother and daughter. Dupin solves the case with his reasoning and analytic ability. Because of the logical presentation, I was able to figure who the murderer was.
The first couple of pages are devoted to analyzing different games and the abilities required to succeed at them. He proves his introductory points by relating how Dupin solves this murder that had stumped the police. The French words/phrases, Latin phrases, and robust vocabulary may prove challenging, but the reader can understand the story well without stopping to look up every.single. challenging word. Some words may need to be defined to understand the cleverness and depth of the story.
*Highly recommend for late junior high and older. See warning.
I own this collection of short stories/poems.
Warning: The murder scene is graphic and quite gruesome.
Mr. Lynch, one of my favorite illustrators, brings this story to life. Eventually I would like to own all the picture books he has illustrated.
Della wants to give her husband the perfect gift but only has $1.87. On Christmas Eve she decides to sell her luxurious hair. Her husband Jim loves her hair, but she reasons, it will grow back. With the twenty dollars she buys Jim the perfect gift. Exchanging gifts that evening, each couple is surprised!
Although this short story is a picture book, the vocabulary and sentence structure are perfect for high schoolers and adults.
*Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A humorous story of the Huckabuck Family and their tenacity and optimism. Their daughter Pony Pony discovers a buckle in a squash and their "luck" changes. They consider the buckle a sign and wait for the appearance of it before returning to the farm.
I love David Small's illustrations. He is an illustrator of some of my favorite picture books (The Library & The Gardener both written by his wife, Sarah Stewart).
-Borrowed from the library.
Later this year for poetry cake, we will focus on Carl Sandburg. I will display this picture plus The Sandburg Treasury -Prose and Poetry for Young People.
At the end my older son's tenth grade year, he will read The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. To deepen his appreciation for this author, I will probably have him also read these intriguing short stories. Six fantastical stories beautifully told will capture the reader's attention and imagination. A lot of the stories, however, do not end necessarily happily, or the character with major flaws remains self-delusional. The stories will evoke interesting discussions. Allusions to Christ and his sacrifical love appear a couple of times.
Points to discuss/Warnings: Death, unhappy/"unfair" endings, prideful & self-delusional attitudes, word a**, call African-Americans "Negroes"
The illustrations are lavish and stunning. I love P.J. Lynch's art. His art certainly adds another layer of beauty and delight to these stories. I own several picture books illustrated by him and think of them fondly, not just because of the story but also for the art.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
My ninth grader's first module focused on short stories. I read the following short stories so I could discuss them with him and assess his writing:
1."A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett-beautiful descriptions of nature; imagery
2. "The Diamond Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant-irony, surprise ending
3. "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry-my favorite!!, humorous, irony, suprise ending
***The above three were my favorite. The rest were ok . . .
4. "The Worn Path" by Eudora Welty-well-written, incredible character depiction
5. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber-again, well-written & great character depiction-I had borrowed the DVD starring Ben Stiller but had no desire to watch it. This story made me sad.
6. "The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allen Poe-my least favorite! The solution was clever but my brain hurt by the end of reading it. . . .I could not wait for it to be finished!!
I love Kate DiCamillo's writing. Even though this book is written for transitional readers, the language is beautiful and well-crafted, and the word choice is precise and vibrant. Readers could also venture on a rabbit trail learning about the short story genre (and have someone read aloud the stories mentioned here-"The Last Leaf" by O. Henry or "The Door in the Wall" by H.G. Wells or "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes) or investigate what "carte blance" means.
Franklin worries about everything. As soon as a new worry creeps into his life, he jots it down in his notebook. One night he hides his notebook under his bed (he worries that Stella, his little sister, may find it, read it and become scared or worried by his listings), and its contents create nightmares. Will he be able to sleep through the night ever again? One night he spies his neighbor Eugenia Lincoln awake while he is making warm milk for himself. He ventures over to her kitchen and finds a surprising friend. Then she takes him to Buddy Lamp's Used Goods. A whole new world awakens for him in the store and his new friendship with Buddy Lamp.
*Highly, highly recommend. I think this book is my favorite from the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series.
-Borrowed from the library.
