The Cybils Awards winners have been announced, and you should definitely check them out! Congrats especially to Rival Magic, which won in the MG spec fic category, which is the category I judged for round one. Even though the awards have been doled out, I still want to feature some very quick reviews of the… Read more »
Category: Reviews
Mia Mayhem Series by Kara West, Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez: Black History Month Spotlight
Since this month is Black History Month, I’m putting a little extra spotlight on some recent books featuring Black main characters. This is the second feature: a review of the latest three books in the Mia Mayhem chapter book series! The Mia Mayhem chapter book series is super cute and shows kids that anyone can… Read more »
Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff
As my regular readers know, I make an effort to feature POC authors on the blog regularly. Still, since this month is Black History Month, I figure there’s no harm in putting a little extra spotlight on some recent books by Black authors. Here’s the first feature: a review of the graphic novel version of… Read more »
City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda: An Exciting and Enlightening Read!
One grade school memory that stands out most vividly for me is the huge project I did on Mesopotamia when I was probably in about fifth grade or so. I was entranced by all things Mesopotamian—the culture, the mythology, the political landscape, even the geography. Now, I’ll confess that I don’t remember a whole lot… Read more »
Bite-Sized Reviews of Admission, Meow or Never, The Canyon’s Edge, and You Have a Match
I still have some more Cybils reviews to post, but I’m taking a little time off from that to post some newer releases. (Though I will be coming back to some of my favorite Cybils books still). Today, I have two YA contemps and two MG contemps (one in verse!) I hope these bite-sized reviews… Read more »
Alone by Megan E. Freeman: Review, Giveaway & Freeman’s Top Ten Addictions
Today I’m featuring my good friend Megan E. Freeman’s debut ALONE, a middle grade retelling of Island of the Blue Dolphins in verse. Alone releases tomorrow, January 12th, so get yourself to a bookstore and buy it now (I can’t wait to pick up my finished copy)! This book so accessible and beautiful—it’s sure to… Read more »
Bite-Sized Reviews of Cybils Nominees: The Sisters of Straygarden Place, Rival Magic, Quintessence, Horace Fox in the City, and The Clockwork Crow
As my regular readers know, I’m a round one judge for the Cybils Awards in the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction category. Because of that, I’ve been reading LOTS of books lately! I’m not allowed to share any details about our process for choosing the finalists, but I am allowed (and encouraged) to review the books… Read more »
Bite-Sized Reviews of Cybils Nominees: The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, The Time of Green Magic, When You Trap a Tiger, and The Lost Wonderland Diaries
As my regular readers know, I’m a round one judge for the Cybils Awards in the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction category. Because of that, I’ve been reading LOTS of books lately! I’m not allowed to share any details about our process for choosing the finalists, but I am allowed (and encouraged) to review the books… Read more »
Bite-Sized Reviews of Cybils Nominees: Kiki’s Delivery Service; Embassy of the Dead; The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez; Middle School Bites; and Into the Tall, Tall Grass
As my regular readers know, I’m a round one judge for the Cybils Awards in the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction category. Because of that, I’ve been reading LOTS of books lately! I’m not allowed to share any details about our process for choosing the finalists, but I am allowed (and encouraged) to review the books… Read more »
Bite-Sized Reviews of Cybils Nominees: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, Mañanaland, The Copycat, & Shuri
As my regular readers know, I’m a round one judge for the Cybils Awards in the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction category. Because of that, I’ve been reading LOTS of books lately! I’m not allowed to share any details about our process for choosing the finalists, but I am allowed (and encouraged) to review the books… Read more »