Source: The Author

Exploding Experiment by M.M. Downing & S.J. Waugh: Review & the Authors’ Top Ten Addictions

Exploding Experiment by M.M. Downing & S.J. Waugh: Review & the Authors’ Top Ten Addictions

Today I’m featuring THE ADVENTURES OF THE FLASH GANG: EXPLODING EXPERIMENT by M.M. Downing & S.J. Waugh, a page-turning middle grade historical fiction mystery! Read on for my review of the book, and then make sure you also check out the authors’ list of top ten addictions to find out more about them! Buy from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop.org I have to say that Exploding Experiment was a delightful surprise! I won’t lie–this isn’t my favorite cover (I […]

Posted May 31, 2023 in Author Top Ten Lists, Reviews / 3 Comments
Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover: Review & Ellen’s Top Ten Addictions

Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover: Review & Ellen’s Top Ten Addictions

Today I’m featuring SEVEN PERCENT OF RO DEVEREAUX by Ellen O’Clover, an addictive best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers YA romance. Read on for my review of the book, and then make sure you also check out Ellen’s list of top ten addictions to find out more about the author! This delightful YA contemporary romance explores the complicated quandaries that can occur when pursuing your dreams, regardless of the costs. Ro writes an app (with the help of a behavioral […]

Posted January 11, 2023 in Author Top Ten Lists, Reviews / 6 Comments
MacKenzie’s Last Run by Gayle Rosengren: Review, Pre-order Giveaway, & Gayle’s Top Ten Addictions!

MacKenzie’s Last Run by Gayle Rosengren: Review, Pre-order Giveaway, & Gayle’s Top Ten Addictions!

Gayle is one of those authors I’ve been meaning to read for ages because so many people raved about her last book, COLD WAR ON MAPLEWOOD STREET. So when she reached out to me and asked if I’d be willing to read and review MACKENZIE’S LAST RUN and help her create a pre-order giveaway, I was more than happy to oblige. I’m very glad I did because this new book is a gem! Read on […]

The Natural Genius of Ants by Betty Culley: Review, Giveaway, & Two Truths and a Lie Guest Post!

The Natural Genius of Ants by Betty Culley: Review, Giveaway, & Two Truths and a Lie Guest Post!

Buy The Natural Genius of Ants is a heartwarming story of friendship and learning to forgive yourself, even in what may seem like unforgivable circumstances. Ever since Harvard’s dad made a mistake at work, he hasn’t been the same. Harvard has always been told that anyone can make a mistake, but his dad is a doctor, so his mistakes have dire consequences. Harvard’s dad decides to go home to the town he grew up in. […]

Alone by Megan E. Freeman: Review, Giveaway & Freeman’s Top Ten Addictions

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 capture the hearts and minds of even the most reluctant readers. Make sure you also check out Megan’s list of […]

Bite-Sized Reviews of Cybils Nominees: The Sisters of Straygarden Place, Rival Magic, Quintessence, Horace Fox in the City, and The Clockwork Crow

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 as I read, so I figured I’d share four of them with you today. I hope these bite-sized reviews will […]

Posted December 11, 2020 in Cybils, Reviews / 7 Comments
Multicultural Children’s Book Day! The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! by Sharon Chappell

Multicultural Children’s Book Day! The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! by Sharon Chappell

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 is tomorrow (1/31/2020) and it’s in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators. Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of […]

Posted January 30, 2020 in Picture Books, Reviews / 14 Comments
Bite-Sized Reviews of I Love You So Mochi, Girl Against the Universe, Midsummer’s Mayhem, and Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray

Bite-Sized Reviews of I Love You So Mochi, Girl Against the Universe, Midsummer’s Mayhem, and Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray

I’ve got four reviews for you today: two YA contemporaries, a MG contemporary fantasy, and a MG adventure. I hope these bite-sized reviews will be enough to feed your fiction addiction! I picked this book up on a whim when I saw two glowing reviews from fellow bloggers (Dani @ Perspective of a Writer and Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books), and I’m so glad I did! This is the type of book that […]

Posted June 4, 2019 in Reviews / 31 Comments
Bite-Sized Reviews of I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Deception So Dark and Some Kind of Happiness

Bite-Sized Reviews of I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Deception So Dark and Some Kind of Happiness

I’ve got three bite-sized reviews for you today: two YA and a MG. I hope these bite-sized reviews will be enough to feed your fiction addiction! This middle grade book tackles some very heavy topics, focusing on Finley’s anxiety and depression. It also covers divorce, family schisms, mysterious deaths, and secret-keeping. The result is a somewhat dark, but ultimately hopeful middle grade read. First off, I want to say that I think Legrand does an excellent […]

Posted March 16, 2018 in Reviews / 30 Comments
Bite-Sized Reviews of Love, Hate & Other Filters, Chaos in Kadoma Ward, and Harry Potter & the Cursed Child

Bite-Sized Reviews of Love, Hate & Other Filters, Chaos in Kadoma Ward, and Harry Potter & the Cursed Child

I’ve got four bite-sized reviews for you today, and these are pretty varied in theme, genre and format. I hope these bite-sized reviews will be enough to feed your fiction addiction! I was so excited about it when I got this book at ALA last year that I immediately sat down and started reading it in line. This was the only book that inspired me to do that (even though I was surrounded by books and […]

Posted January 18, 2018 in Reviews / 30 Comments