Tag Archives: African-American

Real-Life and Realistic Early Chapter Books

Posted on December 11, 2019 by

Here are thoughts on some of the early chapter books I read this fall, any of which would make good gifts for the 7 to 9 year-olds on your holiday shopping list My Furry Foster Book 1: Truman the Dog … Continue reading →

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Finding the Best: the Good Luck Cat and Saturday

Posted on November 22, 2019 by

Quick promotional announcement: registration for KidLitCon 2020 in Ann Arbor is now open!  And in case you missed the news, registration is free thanks to the generosity of the Ann Arbor District Library, so sign up today! Here are two picture … Continue reading →

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Blended by Sharon Draper

Posted on August 30, 2019 by

Blended by Sharon Draper. Simon and Schuster Kids, 2018. 978-1442495005 11-year-old Isabella’s parents divorced when she was 6.  It’s always been hard, but since her dad moved back to Ohio and she’s splitting her time between two houses, it’s even … Continue reading →

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City Kids: Thank you, Omu! and Dragons in a Bag

Posted on August 2, 2019 by

Here are some short takes on books with city settings for kids on the younger end of the spectrum.  Side note: both of these authors were at KidLitCon this year, and I had a lovely conversation with Zetta Elliott.   Thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Middle Grade, picture books | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Recent Teen Reading: My Lady Jane, Summer of Salt, On the Come Up

Posted on May 9, 2019 by

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. Read by Katherine Kellgren.  HarperCollins, 2016. Many people whose taste I trust said they enjoyed this book, plus it’s narrated by one of the best narrators ever, Katherine Kellgren, … Continue reading →

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

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Posted on May 1, 2019 by

I first saw Jerry Craft’s work illustrating the massively underappreciated Zero Degree Zombie Zone. Now he’s come out with his own graphic novel, which is receiving a lot of very deserved attention.   New Kid by Jerry Craft. HarperCollins Childrens, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Realistic | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Posted on April 14, 2019 by

This was on my want-to-read list from the time it first came out, but it was Maureen at By Singing Light posting about it that finally pushed me into actually reading it. Pride by Ibi Zoboi. Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Print, Realistic, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles

Posted on April 3, 2019 by

Thank you so much to Versify for sending me an ARC of this book to review! The book was officially published April 2. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles, illustrated by Dapo Adeola. Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. It’s the last … Continue reading →

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

So Done by Paula Chase.

Posted on March 18, 2019 by

Kidlitcon is coming up!  I’ll be moderating a panel called “You Can’t Say That in Middle Grade!” with four wonderful authors who are willing to tackle issues that have in the past been reserved for teen audiences, if they’re discussed … Continue reading →

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Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older

Posted on December 14, 2018 by

Kids riding dinosaurs in New York City!  Does it get more fun? Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older. Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic, 2018. It’s 1863 in New York City – the middle of the Civil War.  Magdalys Roca, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments