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Portable Childhoods

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Portable Childhoods by Ellen Klages Portable Childhoods is a collection of stories about childhood with a twist from the average normality of childhood infused with elements of fantasy and science fiction. The stories range from fantasy to horror most relating to childhoods and often in the voice of a young girl or woman. They leave quite an impression as your move from story to the next. Upon, finishing the book, two stories were left in mind replaying over and over until I was lost in its story. “Basement Magic” is unique twist on the evil stepmother/fairy god-mother story. The main character is a shy and bright little girl named Mary-Louise. Following the generic evil stepmother/fairy god-mother story, her mother died young and her father …show more content…

As you moved from story to story you were still left with the presence of the one before. When I first read the first story “Basement Magic” it took me while to get used to the writing language. Klages use of imagery and metaphors was abet different from what I am used to but is a strong component in supporting the story. I agree with Publishers Weekly when they say “this collection will linger in the memory long after reading” because after I finished the book, my mind was still replaying the stories. I was envisioning the characters over again, their actions, their emotions until it was far into my mind that I was thinking about it for days creating my own twist and sequels of those …show more content…

In “Flying Over Water” the main character is awkward, which is another relatable aspect, and is going through puberty and doesn’t agree with her mother’s rules and opinions. She only wishes to swim away and be her own self. A story such as that relates to the awkward time of puberty and growing up, where you try to look for your own voice in a big world. Klages states that the stories in Portable Childhoods were “based on her mother-daughter relationship.” I maintain that because of this approach Klages stories are strong and lasting and are a great collection to

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