Monthly Archives: December 2021

Dystopias: the Last Cuentista and the Monster Missions

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Katy K.

Here are two Cybils nominees, very different stories of life after disaster on earth – one literary and set in space, one action-oriented, and set on an Earth entirely covered by oceans. Continue reading →

Posted in Middle Grade, Print, Sci-Fi | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Katy K.

A fantasy from Irish author Pádraig Kenny that strikes a balance between scary, adventuresome, and thoughtful. Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

3 Fantasies by Award-Winning Authors: Willodeen, the Beatryce Prophecy, and the Robber Girl

Posted on December 11, 2021 by Katy K.

Here are three Cybils-nominated books, all of them by authors who have already won major awards – Kate DiCamillo, Katherine Applegate, and Franny Billingsly. All three are also about children finding meaning and a new life after major trauma. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

3 Scary Stories: Temple Alley Summer, Ghost Girl, and Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Katy K.

Here’s some more of my Cybils reading – ranked roughly in order from least to most frightening. Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba. Translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa. Illustrated by Miho Satake Yonder, 2021 ISBN 978-1632063038 Read from library copy.  Fifth-grade … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments