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Book Review: Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
I have to give a great big thank you to one of my teen’s former middle school language arts teachers for recommending Answers in the Pages by author David Levithan. It’s lovely, timely, and important. There are so many wonderful lines in this book that it was difficult to narrow down which to share, but this one hit me hard enough that I wrote it on a sticky note: “While the meaning of a book may be informed by the author’s intentions, it isn’t defined by them. Meaning comes from the combination of what the author puts in, and what the reader takes out.” As a writer, I can only…
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Book Review: SKYRIDERS by Polly Holyoke
I’m really pleased to dig into some middle grade books for a bit, and I’m kicking off my MG reading with Skyriders, the first book in a new fantasy/adventure series from the amazing Polly Holyoke! I’m joining in with Lone Star Book Blogs tours to share my review. Read on to see what I thought about Skyriders and check out Polly’s fun book trailer and the adorable giveaway for this tour! SKYRIDERSSkyriders Series, #1by Polly Holyoke Children’s Fantasy / Middle Grade Readers / Mythical Stories / AdventurePublisher: Viking Books for Young ReadersDate of Publication: March 7, 2023Number of Pages: 304 pages Scroll down for Giveaway! SYNOPSIS Wings of Fire meets Pax in this…
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MG Book Review: Pippa Park Raises Her Game – Now In Paperback!
I first reviewed PIPPA PARK RAISES HER GAME for its initial release in 2020. Well, I’m happy to share that it will be released in paperback (yay) on April 13, 2021! The paperback edition will feature a bonus materials, including Tween book club discussion questions, an author Q&A, and a Korean language glossary with pronunciation guide. This edition is perfectly timed to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. Erin Yun’s appealing debut novel – an imaginative retelling of Great Expectations – strikes just the right notes to appeal to both MG and younger YA readers. Ms. Yun recently wrote about the need to increase diversity in children’s publishing…
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My Life In The Fish Tank by Barbara Dee
The more books I read by Barbara Dee, the more of a treasure I think she is. She tackles difficult social topics in a way that is engaging and relatable! I am excited to share My Life In The Fish Tank, her wonderful new book. Read on to see why I love this story. I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher via Media Masters Publicity; all opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them. The Book My Thoughts The more I read of Barbara Dee’s Middle Grade books, the bigger fan I become…
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Book Review: The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
Warm-hearted and relatable, Rebecca Stead’s middle-grade novel The List of Things That Will Not Change is simply wonderful. Read on to learn more about this lovely book. I received an advance copy of the book from Random House Children’s Books via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. The Book My Take Straight up – I absolutely adored this book. The writing is warm and funny, and the characters are relatable and REAL. The voice of this book is spot on for middle-grade readers, and the author tackles some tough subjects head on. She really understands anxiety and guilt…
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Review: Finding Esme by Suzanne Crowley
I’m delighted to share the Middle-Grade book FINDING ESME. From the pretty cover design on the outside to the engaging, warm-hearted (and sometimes heart-tugging) story on the inside, this was a book that I wasn’t ready to put down. Read on to find out what about this book reeled me in and enter the giveaway for a chance of one of two prize packs which include a copy of the book, candle, pen, and more!Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. FINDING ESMEbySUZANNE CROWLEY Genre: Middle Grade (3-7) / Magical Realism / Family & LossPublisher: Greenwillow BooksDate of Publication: August 14, 2018Number of…
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MG Book Review: The Benefits of Being an Octopus
My brain is usually a bit of a hot mess. I have texts I thought I sent, things I put in a safe place only to promptly forget where I stashed it – and apparently, books I reviewed everywhere (Goodreads, Amazon, NetGalley) EXCEPT for my blog. The Benefits of Being an Octopus was one such book, discovered missing last night when I needed it. I really loved this one – it had great themes and approached tough topics. A digital advanced reader copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher a while ago. This book contains affiliate links, and if you click on one I…
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Must-Read MG Book: Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
My daughter came home from school one day, slamming her backpack on the kitchen table in frustration. “They go ON AND ON about bullying at school, but they never tell people how to deal with it. They need to move past the “don’t bully” crap, because kids do it anyway, and teach us how to deal with it. And THEN they need to start talking about how to deal with sexual harassment, too.” Just what you want to hear on a sunny Thursday afternoon. So it was serendipitous that earlier in the day, an email landed in my inbox with a request for me to review Maybe He Just Likes…
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Book Review: Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key
Today I’m reviwing Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key. It is an interesting middle-grade fantasy book with a quirky heroine and equally quirky sidekick. Many thanks to Alex Hiam and Smith Publicity, who provided a copy of the book for review purposes. This post also contains affiliate links. Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key is the first entry in author Alex Hiam’s new Silent Lee series. This is a delightful novel with a spunky, resourceful, strong-willed heroine that I believe fans of Harry Potter (and in particular, Hermione Granger) will enjoy. We meet Silent Lee in the attic of her Great Aunt…
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Stuck Inside? 5 Great Middle Grade Snow Day Reads
The Polar Vortex is back, the weather is keeping everyone inside, and it’s possible you are being subjected to another day of “Mom/Dad, I’m bored!” The weekend ahead looms, cold and dreary for much of the US. If this sounds familiar, I have just the thing to keep your kiddos occupied – check out my list (Part 1) of some entertaining middle grade books – perfect for a snow day. (This roundup of some of my favorite books from 2018 contains affiliate links.) These books all share a general theme of overcoming obstacles of one sort or another. A few of them are laugh out loud funny while tackling topics…
