Category Archives: Print

Haunted Houses: Finch House and Nightmare House

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Katy K.

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

Adventures with Djinn: Nayra and the Djinn and Kingdom over the Sea

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Katy K.

Dear readers, it’s the end of September, which mean the beginning of Cybils time! I’m excited once again to be serving on the Round 1 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction panel. And as usual, I’m trying to write up reviews of … Continue reading →

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

Time Travel Trio: A Spoonful of Time, the Carrefour Curse, and the the Rhythm of Time

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Katy K.

Three recent middle grade time travel books, each to please a different reading personality. Continue reading →

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

Claws & Contrivances by Stephanie Burgis

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Katy K.

First: There are still 5 days to enter the giveaway for Conjure Island! I have been eagerly awaiting the next book of Stephanie Burgis’s Regency Dragons series, so of course I accepted when she asked if I wanted a copy … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, books, Fantasy, Historical, Print | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Speculation by Nisi Shawl

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Katy K.

Magic spectacles and a bookish girl discovering family secrets combine to make Speculation by Nisi Shawl one of my very favorite books of the year so far.  Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Katy K.

Hadeer Elsbai’s debut book, Daughters of Izdihar is an exciting tale of magic and the struggle for women’s rights inspired by Egyptian women’s quest for the vote. Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, books, Fantasy, Print | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

BLOG TOUR: The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Katy K.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder, a fantastic story of a girl who’s more certain of her identity as a witch than as a Jew – and the magic that changes everything. Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Two by Elisa A. Bonnin: Dauntless and Stolen City

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Katy K.

Here are two exciting (but different) books by 2022 debut author Elisa A. Bonnin, Dauntless and Stolen City. Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fantasy, Print, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

BLOG TOUR: The Greatest Kid in the World by John David Anderson

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Katy K.

Join me on the blog tour for THE GREATEST KID IN THE WORLD by John David Anderson, in which a kid whose greatest ambition has been pulling pranks suddenly finds himself in the running for the title of greatest kid in the world. Continue reading →

Posted in books, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Katy K.

When this book showed up on the hold shelf, as so often happens for me, I had forgotten how I heard about it and why I’d put it on hold. Once I started reading, though, I was very grateful to … Continue reading →

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