Category Archives: Audiobook

MG Epic Fantasy Book Reviews: Splinter and Ash & Nox Winters

Here are two epic fantasy stories, one with a classic medieval European-like setting, and one contemporary, both hard to put down. Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Discover Nigerian Fantasy: Middle Grade and Teen Picks

Whether you’re exploring your own heritage or looking for something new to you, there is so much magic to be found in these Nigerian-inspired fantasy books – 6 middle grade and 5 YA. Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Lists, Print | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

The discovery of a hidden library full of secrets takes 12-year-old Dally on adventures through over a century of her family’s history in this thought-provoking adventure. Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalists

I have slowly been working my way through the Cybils finalists by category (my favorite categories, besides the one where I’m a panelist.) I’ve finally finished the middle grade fiction finalists, and am including my brief thoughts here. The Cybils … Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Lists, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

Here’s the final book from my Baking Fantasy list – I enjoyed it just as much as I was hoping.  Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow. Read by Renee Dorian and Amber Dekkers. Feiwel & Friends, 2023 ISBN … Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Haunted Houses: Finch House and Nightmare House

Here are two stories of kids standing up to haunted houses and the horrors behind them – one more action-oriented and the other more introspective. Both of these books have been nominated for the Cybils Award, and these reviews reflect … Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

3 Cybils YA Speculative Fiction Finalists

Here are reviews of three of the 2022 Cybils YA Spec Fic finalists – From Dust, a Flame by Rebecca Podos, See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon., and How to Succeed in Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy. Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Reviews, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

LGBTQ+ Middle Grade Fantasy Book List

Here are 9 of the great recent LGBTQ+ middle grade fantasy books I’ve read. Continue reading

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

No True Villains: Children of the Quicksands and Eden’s Everdark

Here are two of the 2022 Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalists, both with real problems but no real villains. Continue reading

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

Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies by Stacey Lee

Here’s a fresh and funny book from Stacey Lee and Rick Riordan presents, featuring an accident-prone boy and a whole lot of dangerous magical artifacts. Continue reading

Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments