Category Archives: books

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

I was planning to do another triple review in the interests of catching up, but have fallen to the reality of headaches and patrons with long reference questions (that last a much more pleasant reason!).  So more contemporary teen girls … Continue reading

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Teen Boys in Diverse Historical Fiction

I know there are really no boy books or girl books, just people books.  But nevertheless, when working on our presentation on diverse books for Spring Institute, my friend Nakenya and I realized that our teen historical reading had only … Continue reading

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3 Don’t-Miss Picture Books

Crown: an Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James. Bolden from Agate Publishing, 2017. I’d seen this on the shelf, but was moved to check it out when listening to the Caldecott Contender episode of … 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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2018 Diversity Reading Challenge Update

This year I’m participating in the Diversity Reading Challenge hosted by Pam at an Unconventional Librarian.  I’m really enjoying the way it encourages me to diversify my diversity, as it were.  I’m leaving the ones I’d read at my last update … 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

Spinning by Tillie Walden

This was one of the Cybils teen graphic novel finalists.  (Although my son read and enjoyed the winner, Spill Zone, I ran out of time to read it myself.) Spinning by Tillie Walden. First Second, 2017. Tillie Walden tells first-hand her … Continue reading

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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

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments