Some writers stun me with the range of stories they write. Elizabeth Laird, for instance. Look at just the stories I've read by her:And now, Crackers, which is completely different from anything else I've read by her. The strangest part for me as I read it was how similar it is to something I've written--about a group of children making a magazine together!A fun story about two rival groups, I was drawn into the urgent sense of indignation the characters feel as they try to outdo one another. Quite early on, I found myself frowning at the gender stereotypes, so I went back to see when the book was published--1990. While I would hesitate to recommend a modern book that perpetuates stereotypes, I might just read Crackers with my book club, if only to discuss whether these ideas have changed. It's a side-effect of running book clubs right through the year, but I couldn't help … [Read more...]