Category Archives: Reviews

Beautiful Fantasies: Mulan: Before the Sword and A Wish in the Dark

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two recent middle grade fantasies that both feature thoughtful main characters involved in epic adventures.  I’m reviewing them together because of that similarity, but hey, it’s Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, so if you’re still looking for a book to read to celebrate, both of these are excellent choices. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Challenges, Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Katy K.

Here’s one from my official Cybils Awards TBR Read Down pile, one of the 2019 Cybils Young Adult Speculative Fiction nominees.    We’d just finished a family viewing of the Avatar series over many pizza Fridays when my daughter saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Challenges, Fantasy, Print, Reviews, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Secrets and Journeys: Four Graphic Novels for Kids

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Katy K.

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 →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LaGuardia and Self/Made

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Katy K.

Onwards, with some graphic novels featuring powerful women of color from the adult section of the library. I’m a big fan of Nnedi Okorafor, and I buy the adult graphic novels for my library, so naturally I had to purchase … Continue reading →

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Blended by Sharon Draper

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Katy K.

Blended by Sharon Draper. Simon and Schuster Kids, 2018. 978-1442495005 11-year-old Isabella’s parents divorced when she was 6.  It’s always been hard, but since her dad moved back to Ohio and she’s splitting her time between two houses, it’s even … Continue reading →

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Dragonfell by Sarah Prineas

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Katy K.

Sarah Prineas’s Magic Thief series is one I’ve loved enough to listen to multiple times, so I was very excited to read her new book, the pages going quickly and happily by after a period where it felt like I … Continue reading →

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

Starring Kids with Hearing Loss: You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! and The Collectors

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Katy K.

My daughter wears hearing aids, which has shone a light for me on how difficult it is to find mainstream books whose main characters are Deaf or hard of hearing.  There’s El Deafo, which is great, but not a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic, Reviews | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Week of Reading

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Katy K.

Today I looked at the pages of review notes I have and decided to just give you shorter reviews of the books I read this week.  It’s a big mix of styles – two realistic fiction (one teen and one … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Audiobook, Books, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, nonfiction, Print, Realistic, Reviews, Sci-Fi, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Miss Buncle’s Book for Old School Wednesday

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Katy K.

I’m going to borrow a feature title from the Book Smugglers again and call this Old School Wednesday – taking a break from trying to keep up with the latest hot releases by reading an older book.  This one first … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Books, Historical, Print, Realistic, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

4 Kids’ Fantasies from Outside the US

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Katy K.

Here are four middle grade fantasy books from the English-speaking world outside of the US – South Africa, Australia, Ireland, and the UK.  (Shorter reviews as part of my trying to catch up with my reading.) The Turnaway Girls by … Continue reading →

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