Kids on Bikes: Ghost Squad and Ways to Make Sunshine

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Katy K.

Here are two books for the younger middle grade set that are just coming out in April of 2020, both featuring girls on bikes  These are both from my Cybils Awards ReadDown TBR pile.

Cover of Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega. Scholastic, 2020. ISBN 978-1338280128. Read from ARC – audiobook on hoopla.
Lucely Luna lives in St. Augustine, Florida, with her father and lots of friendly family ghosts who are anchored to the willow tree in the backyard, where they hang out as fireflies when not keeping Lucely company in human form.  Her mother walked out years ago, and her father Simon’s ghost tour business has been struggling since a new and glitzier ghost tour company came to town. If they lose their house, will they lose access to their family ghosts as well?  

Then Lucely’s beloved abuela, also a ghost, warns of a coming storm before disappearing, and Lucely is panicked. She and her best friend Syd decide to explore the legend of las Brujas Moradas (aka the Purple Coven) and their missing spellbook – in hopes that it will stop the storm and save Lucely’s firefly ghosts.  Syd’s grandmother, Babette, (an extra-cool lady with gray dreadlocks) is a witch herself, and Syd and Lucely plan to sneak her supplies and then head out on their bikes at night to search for the missing spellbook.  

It’s a battle of friendly versus evil ghosts, with the battle centering on two pre-teen girls on bikes, inspired by the author’s loss of her brother – solidarity, sister!   There’s a lot of value placed on both traditional and found family, with lots of strong women and a look at how people in power can shape history to their benefit.  Those are some pretty deep thoughts hidden in a mostly light-hearted and cozy ghost-hunting story that feels perfect for younger middle grade readers looking for something spooky.  This authentic Dominican-American story would pair well with the Mexican-American ghost stories A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander, as well as Anna Meriano’s Love Sugar Magic: A Sprinkle of Spirits.

Cover of Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée WatsonWays to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson. Bloomsbury, April 2020. ISBN 978-1547600564. Read from ARC – ebook through Libby.
Here is the start to a new series for younger middle grade readers from the award-winning author of Piecing Me Together. Ryan Hart is a fourth-grade girl with “a name a lot of boys have.”  In a rare example of book character discussing the reasons for their names, she explains that Ryan means “leader”, which is what her parents expect her to be.  Her big brother Raymond is named her protector – even if it feels to Ryan more like overprotection or teasing – and their parents tell them to “be what you were named to be” as they drop them off at school every morning.  

Her father, a former postal worker, has finally found a new job, one that requires a move to a smaller house and selling a car.  Ryan isn’t really sure she believes her mother that the new house is “cozy” rather than too small – but Ryan herself has a sunny spirit and works hard to make it so.  

The story follows Ryan and her family over the last three months of the school year, over the move, bike races between Ryan and Ray, struggles to maintain a friendship with a friend who moved across town, wondering if she really is more beautiful when her grandmother straightens her hair for her, and trying to figure out what to do for the mandatory school talent show when what she’s best at is cooking.  

Like Ramona, Ryan lives in Portland, Oregon, and the tales of family, friends, and hapless adventures have lots of appeal for the same audience.  With its focus on facing difficulties with love and humor and finding the best in the current situation even when it seems not as good as the old one, this feels like the perfect book for right now.  Give to fans of Clementine or Ivy and Bean. 

 

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Cybils Awards ReadDown TBR Starting Line

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Katy K.

The Cybils Awards are having a TBR Reading challenge starting today!  Here’s my starting line photo:

img_0842 Since the challenge is to review/share the books I’m reading as well as just reading them, I’m including the books I have on hand that I have already read and still need to review – the first two piles from the left here.  The front right stack is books on my active TBR, and the two in the back are my older TBR books –  the ones I’ve had for years and never get to because of the constant flow of shiny new books, usually with library due dates, into my house.  Here they all are listed out:

To be reviewed:

Note that this is mostly only books I’ve read since being in quarantine, not counting the vast quantity of books I read before and still want to review.

  • This Place: 150 Years Retold by Alicia Elliott
  • Operatic by Kyo Maclear and Byron Eggenschweiler
  • The Little Grey Girl by Celine Kiernan
  • The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhou
  • Guts by Raina Telgemeier
  • American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
  • Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day by Dominque Valente
  • Best Friends by Shannon Hale
  • Mulan: Before the Sword by Grace Lin
  • Bromeliad Trilogy by Terry Pratchett
  • A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese
  • Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
  • Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Primary TBR

  • Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
  • My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi (audiobook, not pictured)
  • Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (audiobook, not pictured)
  • Avatar: the Rise of Kyoshi by Y.S. Lee
  • The Chaos Curse by Sayantani DasGupta
  • One Last Shot by John David Anderson
  • Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron
  • A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
  • Rival Magic by Deva Fagan
  • Gargantis by Thomas Taylor
  • The Thief Knot by Kate Milford
  • Mask: The League of Secret Heroes Book Two by Kate Hannigan

Libby TBR/hold list 

  • You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn
  • Slay by Brittney Morris (ebook)
  • Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland (actually taking the hold off as it’s on hoopla)
  • Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman
  • Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks (also on hoopla)
  • Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher (ebook)
  • The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
  • The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

Back-up TBR

  • Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards by Jim Ottaviani and Big Time Attic
  • Lola: A Ghost Story by J. Torres & Elbert Or
  • 12 volumes of Marvel’s Runaways by a bunch of different creators
  • Four of Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters books
  • The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
  • Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
  • The Mabinogion series (four books) by Evangeline Walton

This reminds me how very fortunate I am to keep a good stock of books on hand at all times – it took me at least three weeks to finish the library books I had on hand, not even know my last day at the library would be my last for a while.  Also, I am grateful to my friends Charlotte of Charlotte’s Library and Meagen of Nicola’s Books who passed on ARCs to me – the only one in the big stack of mostly ARCS directly from a publisher is One Last Shot (thanks, Debbie!). And while I don’t usually read ebooks, since I’m mostly just using my phone, I’m taking the chance now to go on hold for or read ebooks that I normally wouldn’t because print books are just easier for me.

What do you think?  Is this not enough or too much reading?  Am I a book hoarder or just an amateur?  Are you excited about any of the books on my TBR?  What’s on yours?

Posted in Books, Challenges, Lists | Tagged , | 17 Comments

12 Teen Books I Love on Hoopla

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Katy K.

12 for teens

We’re still home!  Even though my teen is busy with online schooling, I’m hoping there’s still enough time to do some pleasure reading.  Here are some of my favorites from hoopla, available for download anytime if your library subscribes.  I’ve noted format availability, and if my system’s Libby/Overdrive includes it as well, though as previously noted, this is much more variable.  Links are to my reviews where available.

Akata Witch/Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor. Read by  Yetide Badaki. 2 book series. Audiobook.

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. Read by Katherine Kellgren. 12 book series. Ebook and audiobook.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. Read by Nicholas Robideau. Audiobook.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Read by Euan Morton. 2 book series. Audiobook on Hoopla, ebook on Libby.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee. Read by Emily Woo Zellar. Audiobook.

Dread Nation and Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland. Read by Bahni Turpin. Ebook and audiobook.

Graceling by Kristin Chashore. Read by David Baker. Ebook and audiobook.

The Lion Hunters Series by Elizabeth Wein. 5 book series. Ebook only.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. 6 book series. Audiobook on Hoopla, ebook on Libby.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi. Read by Elizabeth Acevedo. Audiobook on Hoopla, ebook and audiobook on Libby.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness. Read by James Fouhey. Audiobook on Hoopla, ebook and audiobook on Libby.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. Read by Elizabeth Acevedo. Ebook and audiobook.

Have you read any of these?  I’d love to hear what your favorite books for teens on hoopla or Libby are right now!

 

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Lists, Print, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The True Queen by Zen Cho

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Katy K.

I mentioned this book in both of my last two posts, so I thought I should finally write a review of it.  I read it from the library as usual, and then asked for and got it for Christmas so that I could lend it out.  That meant that I promptly loaned it and Sorcerer to the Crown out to the same sister who gave it to me. 

The True Queen by Zen ChoThe True Queen by Zen Cho. Ace/Penguin Random House, 2019. 9780425283417
Muna and Sakti know they are sisters but don’t remember anything else of their past when they are washed up on the beach in Janda Baik, in the Straits of Malacca, on the other side of the world from the events of Sorcerer to the Crown.  They are taken in by Mak Genggang, the powerful witch we met in that book.  We see things primarily from Muna’s point of view – she is the kind one, while her sister Sakti has magical powers that Mak Genggang decides need more training.  Both sisters are sent to walk through Fairy to get to Prunella’s Lady Maria Wythe Academy of the Instruction of Females in Practical Thaumaturgy – only Sakti gets lost in Fairy on the way.  

Once at the school, Muna meets Prunella’s best friend Henrietta, who’s teaching at the school while keeping it a secret from her family, as there’s still a lot of opposition to women learning magic.  There are politics, quirky and mysterious characters, and doom to be avoided only if puzzles can be solved, along with a queer romance that is still appropriately reserved. I was able to figure out the solution to the problem pretty early, but it was still delightful.  If you’re looking for some entertaining, low-commitment reading, this is just about perfect.  

Both books in this duology are available from Libby, at least from my library.

 

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My Favorite Books of 2019

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Katy K.

Back to my belated look at 2019 – here’s hoping that if you’re loading up your queue on Libby, these books will give you a look at some lists that might have shorter hold lists than the books just coming out now.   Local bookstores need your support now, too, if you’re able to pitch in and order from them.

These are the books I read and rated 9 or 10 in 2019 (whatever year they were published.) Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Audiobook, Books, Early Chapter Books, Graphic Novel, Lists, Middle Grade, picture books, Print, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

10 Great Fantasy Audiobook Series for Kids on hoopla

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Katy K.

Well, I still want to pull together my favorite books of 2019.  I still have lots of books that I’ve read to review.  But it’s been three and a half weeks since I’ve been in my library – the longest time I haven’t been in a library in nearly a decade.  For all of you who, like me, are newly restricted to the electronic library offerings, I thought I’d put together some lists of tried and trusted books available there.  I’m starting with audiobooks, since that’s what I personally have used the most.  Links are to my full reviews where available; Libby availability varies by library.

Fantasy Audiobooks

Ambassador and Nomad by William Alexander. Narrated by the author. Audiobook only.

Chronicle of the Dark Star by Kevin Emerson. Narrated by Kevin T. Collins. Available as both an ebook and an audiobook. Ebooks also on Libby.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Available as both an ebook and an audiobook.

Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond by Sayantani DasGupta. Narrated by the author. Audiobooks on hoopla; ebooks and book one audiobook on Libby.

Love Sugar Magic by Anna Meriano. Narrated by Kyla Garcia. (Book 1 is on Libby; books 2 and 3 are on hoopla. Available as both an ebook and an audiobook.)

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas. Narrated by Greg Steinbruner. Available as both an ebook and an audiobook.

Peasprout Chen by Henry Lien. Narrated by Nancy Wu. Audiobook only.

MagykSeptimus Heap by Angie Sage. Narrated by Allan Corduner. Audiobook only.

The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters by Kara LaReau. Narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Available as both an ebook and an audiobook.
This series for younger middle grade readers stars two sisters who’d really just like to stay home drinking their tepid tea, but keep being drawn into adventures instead.

Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Miracle, and Emily Jenkins. Narrated by Rebecca Soler. Audiobooks on hoopla; ebooks and some audiobooks on Libby.
Nory’s father is the principal of a magic school – but she can’t do magic the right way. She often turns into a written – part dragon, part kitten – instead of a plain kitten. She’s sent to a different school for fifth grade, where she can join a class of other kids whose magic doesn’t work the way people expect it to. We get to know all of Nory’s classmates – diverse both ethnically and magically – better in each book of the series.

What are your favorite downloadable library books? What kind of lists would you want to see from me?

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Lists, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

2019 in Review: the Numbers

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Katy K.

This is way past the time of year when I normally look back at my reading from the previous year.  Maybe we can pretend this whole first quarter of 2020 didn’t happen?  I’m still putting this up here, for my own feeling of completion and accountability if nothing else.

2019 Overview

I logged 235 books this year, finished 227, reviewed 58, and rated 15 9 or higher. All my numbers, especially books reviewed and rated 9 or higher,  are significantly down from last year.

Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Challenges | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Moontangled by Stephanie Burgis

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Katy K.

It’s been a surreal couple of weeks here! I meant to write this review a full six weeks ago, but was too busy organizing KidLitCon to get to it. Now KidLitCon and school and my regular work are all canceled, so I’m trying to figure out how to be a librarian from home while also homeschooling. Hats off to all those who’ve been working and caring for kids at home all along!

But in the midst of these stressful times, aren’t you in the mood for a nice quick comfort read?

Moontangled by Stephanie Burgis coverMoontangled: a Harwood Spellbook Novella by Stephanie Burgis. Five Fathoms Press, 2020. 978-1999725495 Review copy received from the author.

We met Miss Banks and Miss Fennel, a sweet young couple hobbled by strict social rules, back in the first book of the Harwood Spellbook, Snowspelled. Now it’s their turn for their own story.

If you’ll recall, the Angland of this book is ruled by Boudiccate, a group of powerful female politicians, all with magician husbands. The tables are turned as to which is considered the more emotional sex, but rigid expectations still don’t fit everyone. Caroline Fennell, rising political star, and brilliant young magician Juliana Banks fell in love years ago. The new and scandalous all-female Thornfell School of Magic was meant to be the ticket to their own version of the perfect power couple. But the events of Thornbound disgraced Caroline’s mentor, and she and Juliana haven’t seen each other in months.

As the novella opens, we see that Juliana has done a good job of making friends with the other young women at the school – a group both ethnically and economically diverse. They’re preparing to show off what they’ve learned for Angland’s most powerful, though Juliana is more worried about the cooling tone of the letters she’s been getting from Caroline than about the notables. 

She is right to be concerned. Before long, the two women, both distraught, are separated and wandering off the paths in the enchanted woods, easy prey for the fey who may or may not have their best interests at heart. This being a novella, it doesn’t take long for them to get back to a satisfying affirmation of themselves both as individuals and as a couple. It’s a kisses-only romance that hints at plenty of passion both in the past and to come. My biggest complaint was that it was over too soon – I’d be happy to read a full-length novel about these characters or in this Angland in general.

This would pair well with The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite for a straight-up historical romance, or The True Queen by Zen Cho for a historical fantasy with more emphasis on the politics.

Posted in Adult, Books, Fantasy, Print, Romance | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sadiq series by Siman Nuurali for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Katy K.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.  

Multicultural Children's Book Day

Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.

I was gifted four books in the Sadiq series to review for Multicultural Children’s Book Day.  Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Early Chapter Books, Print, Realistic | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Love Sugar Magic: A Mixture of Mischief Blog Tour

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Katy K.

200124-LSM3-blog-final

I was honored to be invited to participate in the blog tour for the third and sadly final book in the Love Sugar Magic series.  If you missed the first two, here are the reviews of Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble and Love Sugar Magic: A Sprinkle of Spirits.  Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for a giveaway!  And the reason I’ve been so quiet the last month is that I’ve been busy planning KidLitCon.  Registration is open, and it’s free, so I hope to see you there!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Love Sugar Magic: A Mixture of Mischief by Anna Meriano. Walden Pond Press, 2020. Release date 2/4/20

“There’s power in something passed down through the generations.”

It’s spring break in Rose Hill, Texas, but Leo Logroño has a lot of work to do if she’s going to become a full-fledged bruja like the rest of her family.

She still hasn’t discovered the true nature of her magical abilities, and that isn’t the only bit of trouble in her life: Her family’s baking heirlooms have begun to go missing, and a new bakery called Honeybees has opened across town, threatening to run Amor y Azúcar right out of business.

What’s more, everyone around her seems to have secrets, and none of them want to tell Leo what’s going on.

But the biggest secret of all comes when Leo is paid a very surprising visit—by her long-lost Abuelo Logroño. Abuelo promises answers to her most pressing questions and tells Leo he can teach her about her power, about what it takes to survive in a world where threats lurk in the shadows. But can she trust him?

Love Sugar Magic: A Mixture of Mischief by Anna MerianoREVIEW

Even though Leo is finally really learning magic, she still feels that she’s not learning it quickly enough, and she still really, really wants to know what her unique birth order power will be.  Her mother and sisters telling her to be patient only makes things worse.

If you read the description above, you may have suspicions about Abuelo Logroño, and you would be right to do so.  When things suddenly start get worse for Leo’s family – right after Abuelo Logroño’s visit, Leo is suspicious, too.  And nothing is more frustrating for a smart kid than being told not to worry, the adults have everything under control – when they clearly don’t.  But between Leo, her sisters, and her friends Caroline and Brent, surely they can figure it out.  It’s not quite clear whether her cousin JP, who’s visiting for spring break and the first male relative of this generation in the book, can be trusted or needs to be kept in the dark.

This is still a delightful blend of magic, every day, and delicious baked goods (even some gluten free this time!) as Leo struggles to master both her magic and her social skills.  I really appreciated the contrast between the magic that Leo has been learning from her mother and her aunt – magic of mostly ordinary ingredients mixed with love and intention and amplified by the family heirlooms – and the magic that her abuelo wants to teach her, which he tells her properly only belongs to men (too bad none of his male descendants had the power!) and which relies on the name, black-and-white thinking and force.  It’s still clear from the characters here that the choice to work for love and community is open to everyone regardless of gender, in spite of Abuelo  Logroño’s choices. But most of all, I enjoyed spending time with Leo and her family and friends, watching her come into her own.  And though I’m very sad that this is the last book in the trilogy, I look forward to more from Anna Meriano – maybe a YA series starring Leo’s oldest sister at college?

 

ANNA MERIANOABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Meriano is the author of the books in the Love Sugar Magic series, A Dash of Trouble, A Sprinkle of Spirits and A Mixture of Mischief. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and earned her MFA in creative writing with an emphasis in writing for children from the New School in New York. She has taught creative writing and high school English, and she works as a writing tutor. Anna likes reading, knitting, playing full-contact quid- ditch, and singing along to songs in English, Spanish, and ASL. Her favorite baked goods are the kind that open hearts. You can visit her online at www.annameriano.com.

 

MORE TOUR!!

GIVEAWAY

Walden Pond Press is kindly offering a giveaway of this book for my American readers.  Please leave a comment with a way for me to get in touch with you by February 2 for a chance to win this book! (If you’re not in the US and want to chat about the book, that would be great, too!)

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments