Category Archives: Reviews

3 Tales of Kids Countering Prejudice with New Passions

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are three stories of kids working against prejudice to find pride in who they are, as well as learning new skills along the way, with books by Nikki Grimes, Alyssa Zaczek, and Jewell Parker Rhodes. Continue reading →

Posted in Middle Grade, Print, Realistic, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Show Me a Sign and Indian No More

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Katy K.

There are two very exciting things about these books – first, they are both fantastic, and from underrepresented voices.  Secondly (okay, maybe more exciting for me than for you, dear reader) is that I got both of these books in … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Historical, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Teen Love: This is My Brain in Love, Secret of a Heart Note, and Don’t Date Rosa Santos

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are three teen stories with romance at the center and satisfyingly sweet endings, though all of them have the good grace to be as much or more about our main character figuring out who she is and where she … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, books, Fantasy, Print, Realistic, Reviews, Romance, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Aftermath: Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Wayward Son

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two teen sequels where characters must deal with the consequences of the magical cataclysm of the first books, Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi and Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell. Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Print, Reviews, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sequels: The Jumbie God’s Revenge and Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two great middle grade speculative fiction sequels – The Jumbie God’s Revenge by Tracey Baptiste and Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez – the first of which is the selection for the current round of the Generations Book Club from the Brown Bookshelf. Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews, Sci-Fi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

YA Blockbusters: Aurora Rising and Call Down the Hawk

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two series-starters by authors of previous hot, hot YA series, both of which my teen and I have enjoyed. Aurora Rising was on my #CybilsReadDown lists, while Call Down the Hawk was the last book I took notes … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, books, Challenges, Fantasy, Reviews, Sci-Fi, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

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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