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Recent Posts
- Shifting Friendships: a Middle School Book List
- 2020 Cybils Finalists and Ones that Got Away
- Leaving Safety: The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street and Cleo Porter and the Body Electric
- Mansions, Mysteries & the Fair Folk in Thirteens and The Clockwork Crow
- 8 Winter Fantasy Books for Middle Grade Readers
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Category Archives: Print
Mansions, Mysteries & the Fair Folk in Thirteens and The Clockwork Crow
Here are two Cybils-nominated fantasy books, one contemporary and one fantasy, one set at Halloween and one at Christmas, that nevertheless have many elements in common, including the exploration of mostly empty mansions and stopping the disappearance of children at the hands of the Fae. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print
Tagged christmas, contemporary fantasy, fairies, halloween, historical fantasy, steampunk, youth fantasy, youth historical fantasy
1 Comment
The Girl and the Ghost and The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow
Here’s trying to catch up with my reading, with two stories mixing introspection, action, and dealings with the supernatural. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged environment, ghosts, Malaysia, Muslim, Scotland, youth fantasy
3 Comments
The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
Loosely defined magic and sharply drawn characters mix to form an atmospheric story of a blended family coming together, with book magic and a giant cat. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged blended families, cats, Hilary McKay, London, stepfamilies, youth fantasy
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Apprentice Witches: Kiki’s Delivery Service and Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch
I was fortunate enough to read both a new translation of the classic Japanese fantasy book and a recent book inspired by in the same week. There is lots of charming witchy fun to be had in both of these! Continue reading
Posted in Audiobook, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged Japanese, Japanese-American, witches, youth fantasy
2 Comments
Stories, Stars, and Grandparents: When You Trap a Tiger and the Magic in Changing Your Stars
I love it when happy accidents like this happen – two very different books with similar themes popping up back-to-back in my TBR. Here we have two stories involving stories, stars, and close grandparent-grandchild relationships. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged dancing, grandparents, Harlem, mythology, tigers, time travel, youth fantasy
3 Comments
Bears! Water Bears and The Girl Who Speaks Bear
Here are two more Cybils nominees, both involving bears. Water Bears, with a Latinx author and main character, continues with the Latinx theme of the past week, while The Girl who Speaks Bear takes us to fantasy Russia. Whether you’re looking for a contemporary book with a hint of possible magic, or full-on folk tale-inspired historical fantasy, there’s a book here for you. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic, Reviews
Tagged bears, disabilities, dragons, islands, Latino/a, Latinx, magical realism, PTSD, Russia, trauma, Washington, youth fantasy
2 Comments
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova is a sweet quest fantasy for middle grade readers. Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged Ecuador, foster children, Latino/a, Latinx, New York City, quest fantasy, youth fantasy
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Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster.
I promised more Latinx fantasy a few days ago – and here we are! Columbian-American debut author Alex Aster delivers a refreshingly new take on the epic fantasy quest, inspired by her abuela’s stories. Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print
Tagged Latino/a, Latinx, quest fantasy, youth fantasy
3 Comments
Magic, Friendship and Community: Muse Squad, Weird Little Robots, If We Were Giants
Every September before Cybils nominations open, I look around for eligible books that I can read in the meantime. Here are three that I enjoyed that were not nominated, though there are still a few days for their publishers or … Continue reading
Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print
Tagged Cuban-American, environment, friends, greek mythology, Latino/a, Latinx, robots, youth fantasy
7 Comments
The Last Mirror on the Left by Lamar Giles
I’m very excited to be celebrating the release of the second book in Lamar Giles’ Legendary Alston Boys series, which began last year with The Last Last Day of Summer. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Reviews
Tagged #OwnVoices, adventure, African-American, male friendship, parallel universes, youth adventure, youth fantasy
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