Category Archives: Middle Grade

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green

Last time, I reviewed this year’s Schneider Family Teen award winner, You’re Welcome, Universe.  Here’s the middle grade winner. Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green. Pajama Press, 2017 Macy is in sixth grade and struggling.  She’s horrified … Continue reading

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3 Great Middle Grade Realistic Picks

If you’re looking for some contemporary realistic fiction, here are three solid titles for a range of tastes from full-on adventure to more introspective. To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2016. The officially-ended Greene Gang … Continue reading

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Oddity and the Daybreak Bond

Here are two books that have little in common besides being contemporary speculative fiction at the middle grade level.  The first I picked solely because of the adorable yet fierce kid on the cover; the second because I liked the … Continue reading

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Guest Post by Lexi Kozlar: Charlotte, Sometimes

A while back, a page at my library came asking for one of the New York Review Children’s Collection books.  I don’t remember what it was any more – we didn’t have it, I filled in a purchase request, the … Continue reading

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A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson

I won an ARC of this book from Brandy at Random Musings of a Bibliophile last year, waited to read it until it was close to coming out… and am now behind on posting my review of it.  It is … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Historical, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

Here’s book number three in my impromptu middle grade Latinix reading series, following Stella Martinez Has Something to Sayand A Dash of Trouble. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya. Read by the Author. Listening Library, 2017. Arturo … Continue reading

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A Dash of Trouble. Love Sugar Magic #1 by Anna Meriano

I had an unplanned little Latinix series as holds came in on various fun-sounding books all at the same time. Here’s the next one, a funny fantasy with lots of baking. A Dash of Trouble. Love Sugar Magic #1 by … Continue reading

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Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

Here’s a charming first novel from the illustrator of Mango, Abuela & Me. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez. Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Stella is nervous about school now that her best friend, Jenny, is in another … Continue reading

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2 More Cybils Middle Grade Graphic Novel Finalists

Here are two more of the Cybils Middle Grade Graphic Novel finalists. Coming back to write these reviews reminds me that I still haven’t read the only one I couldn’t get from my own library – Suee and the Shadow.  … Continue reading

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The Dollmaker of Krakow and the Ice Sea Pirates

I said I was done reviewing Cybils books.  I lied.  Here are two more that were nominated for last year’s Cybils, both read from review copies kindly sent to me by the publisher. The Dollmaker of Krakow by R.M. Romero. … Continue reading

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