Category Archives: Fantasy

Freedom Fire and Spark

Today I’m featuring a couple of middle grade speculative fiction books that are eligible but not yet nominated for the Cybils – Dactyl Hill Squad 2 by Daniel José Older and Spark by Sarah Beth Durst. Both feature kids flying on the backs of fantastic beasts! Continue reading

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Early Chapter Book Trio: Juana & Lucas, Polly Diamond, Phoebe G. Green

Here’s a trio of fun early chapter books!  Because Cybils nominations will be opening up October 1, I’ve added notes on which books would be eligible to be nominated.   Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas by Juana Medina. Candlewick, 2019. 978-1536201314 … Continue reading

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Two Fantasies and a Truth

Well, technically, two fantasy books and a nonfiction – I do believe that fiction can hold just as much truth as nonfiction – but going for the catchier title.  Here’s catching up on reviews of some more of my reading … Continue reading

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Rebel Girls and Gowns: YA Graphic Novels

Continuing with the graphic novels, here are some aimed at teens (or at least, from the teen section of the library.)  Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang. First Second Books, 2018. This book was tearing up the award and … Continue reading

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Cats and the Sea: Graphic Novels for Kids

I’ve found myself reading a lot of graphic novels lately.  Here are some for the elementary to middle grade set.  Curiously enough, they all have either cats or the sea as central themes – or both, in the case of Sea … Continue reading

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Riverland by Fran Wilde

Though Fran Wilde apparently didn’t make my list of Top 10 Fantasy Authors I’ve Never Read, she has been on my radar but unread for quite a while. Good thing she came out with a middle grade book, rather than … Continue reading

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Game of Stars by Sayantani DasGupta

Game of Stars. Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond 2 by Sayantani DasGupta. Scholastic, 2019. New Jersey middle schooler Kiran – aka Princess Kiranmala of the Kingdom Beyond – returns in the second volume of the series that began with The … Continue reading

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The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu

I am breaking a trend – I just realized my last three books reviewed all had “dragon in the title.  Here’s another book that I was really looking forward to this year.  I first listened to it on my own … Continue reading

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Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Science fiction mixes with Korean mythology in this book by acclaimed adult SF writer Yoon Ha Lee.  Of course I had to read it! Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee. Read by Kim Mai Guest. Rick Riordan Presents/Listening Library, 2019. … Continue reading

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Dragonfell by Sarah Prineas

Sarah Prineas’s Magic Thief series is one I’ve loved enough to listen to multiple times, so I was very excited to read her new book, the pages going quickly and happily by after a period where it felt like I … Continue reading

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