Tag Archives: book reviews

Exploring Grief and Growth in ‘The Trouble with Heroes’

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Katy K.

Here’s a moving story in verse that includes mountains, blisters, many varieties of chocolate-chip cookies, and finding the space for the main character to reevaluate and come to terms with his deceased first responder father as the pure hero that other people see him as and the more complicated person he was in real life. Continue reading →

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

Exploring Queer Joy in ‘The Queen Bees of Tybee County’

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Katy K.

When I got an email asking if I’d like to take a look at a middle grade book from a founding Drag Queen Story Hour Queen and Asian-American, the answer was an enthusiastic yes! This is a sparkling and heartwarming … Continue reading →

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

Monthly Book Round-Up Middle Grade-Adult: March 2025

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Katy K.

My brief thoughts of the 16 books I read in March – so many books I loved! Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Lists, Middle Grade, nonfiction, Print, Realistic, Romance, Sci-Fi, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Adventures and Prejudice: Accidental Demons and Sona and the Golden Beasts

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Katy K.

Here are reivew of Accidental Demons by Clare Edge and Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca, two of the 2024 Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Finalists that I didn’t get to back when I first read them. Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Cozy Fantasies with Cats: Literary Escapes

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Katy K.

Here are two cozy fantasies – both with cats – to comfort and inspire: The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner and The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong. Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Print | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

MG Epic Fantasy Book Reviews: Splinter and Ash & Nox Winters

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Katy K.

Here are two epic fantasy stories, one with a classic medieval European-like setting, and one contemporary, both hard to put down. Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Middle Grade, Print | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Farrah Noorzad and Amir: Journeys with Jinn for Kids

Posted on November 24, 2024 by Katy K.

Here are two Cybils-nominated books with rich worldbuilding, fast action, and thought-provoking themes: Farrah Noorazad and the Ring of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur, and Amir and the Jinn Princess by M.T. Khan. Continue reading →

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

Exploring Found Family in Middle Grade: The Flicker and Wishbone

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Katy K.

The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon and Wishbone by Justine Pucella Winans are both stories of kids trying to find their way through grim circumstances, learning about themselves and creating found families along the way. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Print, Sci-Fi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Summer Camp Scares: It Came from the Trees and The Last Rhee Witch

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Katy K.

These two excellently terrifying Cybils-nominated books for middle grade readers set duriing summer camping trips. Continue reading →

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

Journeys with Introverted Kids: The First State of Being, Olivetti, and The Sky over Rebecca

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Katy K.

Here are three Cybils nominees all featuring beautiful stories of introverted kids who must reach out of themelves and their comfort zones to make things right for those around them. Continue reading →

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