Tag Archives: book reviews

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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Farrah Noorzad and Amir: Journeys with Jinn for Kids

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

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Exploring Found Family in Middle Grade: The Flicker and Wishbone

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

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

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

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

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

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Gaslamp Fantasies: A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience and Tea and Sympathetic Magic

Short reviews of two deliciously bite-sized romantic gaslamp fantasy novellas, one by personal favorite Stephanie Burgis and one by new-to-me author Tansy Raynor Roberts. Continue reading

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The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

The discovery of a hidden library full of secrets takes 12-year-old Dally on adventures through over a century of her family’s history in this thought-provoking adventure. Continue reading

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