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Category Archives: Books
Stories, Stars, and Grandparents: When You Trap a Tiger and the Magic in Changing Your Stars
I love it when happy accidents like this happen – two very different books with similar themes popping up back-to-back in my TBR. Here we have two stories involving stories, stars, and close grandparent-grandchild relationships. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged dancing, grandparents, Harlem, mythology, tigers, time travel, youth fantasy
3 Comments
Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia
I read Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the 2019 Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Winner, near the end of February this year… just a month out from what would have been KidLitCon had not 2020 intervened. So … Continue reading
Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade
Tagged African, African-American, Kwame Mbalia, mythology, Rick Riordan, youth audiobooks, youth fantasy
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Bears! Water Bears and The Girl Who Speaks Bear
Here are two more Cybils nominees, both involving bears. Water Bears, with a Latinx author and main character, continues with the Latinx theme of the past week, while The Girl who Speaks Bear takes us to fantasy Russia. Whether you’re looking for a contemporary book with a hint of possible magic, or full-on folk tale-inspired historical fantasy, there’s a book here for you. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic, Reviews
Tagged bears, disabilities, dragons, islands, Latino/a, Latinx, magical realism, PTSD, Russia, trauma, Washington, youth fantasy
2 Comments
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova is a sweet quest fantasy for middle grade readers. Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged Ecuador, foster children, Latino/a, Latinx, New York City, quest fantasy, youth fantasy
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Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pam Muñoz Ryan, the author of Esperanza Rising and Echo, returns with Mañanaland, a Cybils nominee that falls right on the border of realism and fantasy. Continue reading
Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Realistic
Tagged Latino/a, Latinx, quest fantasy, refugees, youth fantasy, youth fiction
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Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster.
I promised more Latinx fantasy a few days ago – and here we are! Columbian-American debut author Alex Aster delivers a refreshingly new take on the epic fantasy quest, inspired by her abuela’s stories. Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print
Tagged Latino/a, Latinx, quest fantasy, youth fantasy
3 Comments
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia is a dark but funny tale of monsters of Mexican myth and the preteens who battle them to rescue their friends perfect for your Halloween reading. Continue reading
Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Reviews
Tagged Arizona, Mexican-American, mythology, Rick Riordan, Tehlor Kay Mejia, youth fantasy, youth horror
4 Comments
Magic, Friendship and Community: Muse Squad, Weird Little Robots, If We Were Giants
Every September before Cybils nominations open, I look around for eligible books that I can read in the meantime. Here are three that I enjoyed that were not nominated, though there are still a few days for their publishers or … Continue reading
Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print
Tagged Cuban-American, environment, friends, greek mythology, Latino/a, Latinx, robots, youth fantasy
7 Comments
The Last Mirror on the Left by Lamar Giles
I’m very excited to be celebrating the release of the second book in Lamar Giles’ Legendary Alston Boys series, which began last year with The Last Last Day of Summer. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged #OwnVoices, adventure, African-American, male friendship, parallel universes, youth adventure, youth fantasy
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