Category Archives: Middle Grade

Mistletoe and Murder by Robin Stevens

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Katy K.

This year I finally read all the books in this series that are available in the U.S.  I may have read this one over the summer and saved the review until it was more seasonally appropriate… what could go better … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Historical, Middle Grade, Mystery, Print | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Posted on November 11, 2019 by Katy K.

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 Katy K.

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 →

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

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Katy K.

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 →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade, Print, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

Freedom Fire and Spark

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Katy K.

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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Cats and the Sea: Graphic Novels for Kids

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Katy K.

I’ve found myself reading a lot of graphic novels lately.  Here are some for the elementary to middle grade set.  Curiously enough, they all have either cats or the sea as central themes – or both, in the case of Sea … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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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Riverland by Fran Wilde

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Katy K.

Though Fran Wilde apparently didn’t make my list of Top 10 Fantasy Authors I’ve Never Read, she has been on my radar but unread for quite a while. Good thing she came out with a middle grade book, rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Game of Stars by Sayantani DasGupta

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Katy K.

Game of Stars. Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond 2 by Sayantani DasGupta. Scholastic, 2019. New Jersey middle schooler Kiran – aka Princess Kiranmala of the Kingdom Beyond – returns in the second volume of the series that began with The … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , | 1 Comment