“Today’s young people…” from The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah

With this passage, Hannah captures both the essence and the wisdom of her protagonist. It both tells us about her past . . . and hints at the difficult choices she may have to make.

It’s early in the year, but I think The Nightingale will be one of my favorite 2024 reads. Kristin Hannah places some beautiful and descriptive lines within a poignant plot fleshed out with engaging characters. If you’ve not read any Hannah, I’d recommend her work (especially The Nightingale)! Check her out in GoodReads!

A line from The River We Remember (15)

For authors, this is our hope. Our stories plant seeds and continue to grow . . . to take on a life of their own.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (14)

Describing tension. In this short sentence, Krueger helps you feel it when you read it.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (13)

This is ignored by those peddling more things we “deserve.” We’re blessed just to have been born, to be able to take another breath, and we’re blessed to have had life at all. Death will come, too. For Christians, even death is a blessing. Krueger simplifies the process in one short sentence.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Kreuger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Kreuger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (12)

Lots of ways to describe what makes a person react the way they do (or don’t). Agaain, Krueger explains it well with a single sentence.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

“…it could have been the wind speaking.” –from The River We Remember (11)

Is she reflecting? Scared? Trying to draw him closer? So much could be behind this short description.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Kreuger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Kreuger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from I Have a Bad Feeling About This (4)

I love the mix of panic and passion here.

Jeff Strand’s I Have a Bad Feeling About This is a fun stream-of-consciousness about five boys surviving summer camp. The snark in the face of danger and cute co-eds got me to chuckle a few times. You can learn more about Strand and his work in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (10)

You’ve seen these girls. Krueger helps you encounter them again with a single sentence.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (9)

Setting a conflicting mood: an innocent activity . . . and a battle. Krueger does it again with a single line.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (8)

How would you describe a character who has finally found his or her calling? Krueger does it well with one short sentence.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from The River We Remember (7)

Such a brief description of a woman we know, immediately, who has led a storied life. A big heart and the battle scars to prove it.

While The River We Remember isn’t my favorite William Kent Krueger novel, he weaves brief and insightful descriptions in all his work. If you’ve not read any Krueger, I’d recommend his work (especially This Tender Land)! Beautifully meandering fiction. Check him out in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips

A line from I Have a Bad Feeling About This (3)

The teen sarcasm works well throughout this novel.

Jeff Strand’s I Have a Bad Feeling About This is a fun stream-of-consciousness about five boys surviving summer camp. The snark in the face of danger and cute co-eds got me to chuckle a few times. You can learn more about Strand and his work in Goodreads.

For more about what I’m reading and the latest on my MG/YA Novel Suddenly Rural Girl, follow my blog! https://dannhurlbert.com/littletips