Category Archives: Middle Grade

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Katy K.

I first saw Jerry Craft’s work illustrating the massively underappreciated Zero Degree Zombie Zone. Now he’s come out with his own graphic novel, which is receiving a lot of very deserved attention.   New Kid by Jerry Craft. HarperCollins Childrens, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Realistic | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

3 Fantastic Graphic Novels for Kids

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Katy K.

Here are three recent fantasy and science fiction graphic novels for kids Aquicorn Cove by Katie O’Neill. Oni Press, 2018. I’m really fond of Katie O’Neill’s beautiful art style paired with woman- and queer-power storylines and couldn’t resist getting this … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Katy K.

Thank you so much to Versify for sending me an ARC of this book to review! The book was officially published April 2. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles, illustrated by Dapo Adeola. Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. It’s the last … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Where the Heart Is and Still a Work in Progress by Jo Knowles

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Katy K.

Kidlitcon happened!  Providence was beautiful!  I plan to pull together my notes from that soon, but for now, a couple of books by the wonderful Jo Knowles, who was on my panel called “You Can’t Say That in Middle Grade”, … Continue reading →

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The Benefits of Being an Octopus

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Katy K.

Here’s another author from my Kidlitcon panel, which I’m posting from the airport on my way to Providence! The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden. Sky Pony Press, 2018. Seventh grader Zoey mostly keeps her head down on … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic | Tagged | 3 Comments

So Done by Paula Chase.

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Katy K.

Kidlitcon is coming up!  I’ll be moderating a panel called “You Can’t Say That in Middle Grade!” with four wonderful authors who are willing to tackle issues that have in the past been reserved for teen audiences, if they’re discussed … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Katy K.

This is the sequel to The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, which won the 2017 Cybils award for Middle Grade Speculative Fiction.  It came out in the middle of my 2018 Cybils reading, and was one of the first books … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Peasprout Chen

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Katy K.

The nice thing about reading books that were published earlier in the Cybils cycle is that sometimes the sequel is ready to read very shortly afterward!  Here are a pair of Taiwanese-flavored fantasies, the first of which was one of … Continue reading →

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4 Unique Fantasy Books for Kids

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Katy K.

Seeing as how it’s March already, I’m going to try to finish reviewing all my Cybils books this week, so I can move on to the books I’m reading this year.   Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr. Pajama Press, 2017. This … Continue reading →

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The Rose Legacy and The Third Mushroom

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Katy K.

The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George. Bloomsbury, 2018. Anthea has been raised as an unwanted orphan, shuttled from relative to relative.  (This is just the first chapter, but it was so painful for my daughter, a big fan of … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Sci-Fi | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments