Category Archives: Books

Sweet YA: From Twinkle, with Love and The Last Beginning

Posted on November 16, 2019 by

Here are short reviews of two sweet romance-focused teen books – one contemporary with an Indian-American heroine, and one futuristic time travel with a same-sex romance. From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon. Simon & Schuster, 2018. 978-1481495400 This companion … Continue reading →

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Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Posted on November 11, 2019 by

This is one that was on my want-to-read list this year, a fantasy from Kwame Alexander’s new imprint, Versify.   Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack. Versify/HMH, 2019. 9780358006077 Anya’s is the only Jewish family in her little Russian village … Continue reading →

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The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty

Posted on November 8, 2019 by

I discovered that I missed this book when it came out last fall, and finally got around to it this year.  The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty. Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, 2018. 978-1338455843 Ten-year-old Bronte (who is … Continue reading →

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Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Posted on November 6, 2019 by

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Candlewick, 2018. High school senior Lou Wolfe breaks up with her boyfriend Cam when he’s proven one time to often that he just won’t listen to what’s important to her, things like respecting her … Continue reading →

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Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Posted on November 4, 2019 by

Back in 2016, I made a list of the top 10 fantasy authors I’d never read.  – (I still need to get to three more of those authors!) Erin Bow was on that list, though I put the cover for … Continue reading →

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Secrets and Journeys: Four Graphic Novels for Kids

Posted on October 30, 2019 by

Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen. Oni Press, 2019. 9781620105511. Willow’s tears turn into actual monsters, and she seems to want to cry all the time.  She tries to keep them bottled up, but that just leads to … Continue reading →

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Early Chapter Book Bonanza

Posted on October 23, 2019 by

Last week, my friend Nakenya and I presented at the Michigan Library Association’s annual conference.  We’ve done several presentations on diverse books for kids and teens at other conferences, but this time, Nakenya wanted to focus on early chapter books … Continue reading →

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The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Posted on October 23, 2019 by

Take your Native reading into the future with a gut-wrenching, thought-provoking post-apocalyptic teen book – The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Continue reading →

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Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Posted on October 14, 2019 by

Was there ever a better match for a romantic teen graphic novel than Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks?  This one is already nominated for the Cybils, but I am sure there are other great titles out there, which hopefully you’ve … Continue reading →

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Freedom Fire and Spark

Posted on October 11, 2019 by

Today I’m featuring a couple of middle grade speculative fiction books that are eligible but not yet nominated for the Cybils – Dactyl Hill Squad 2 by Daniel José Older and Spark by Sarah Beth Durst. Both feature kids flying on the backs of fantastic beasts! Continue reading →

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