Tag Archives: historical fantasy

The Truth about Martians and the Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray

Posted on December 17, 2018 by

Here’s a couple shorter takes on some more Cybils books, as I try desperately to keep up with my reading. The Truth about Martians by Melissa Savage. Crown Books, 2018. In 1947 Arizona, Mylo Affinito is still struggling to get … Continue reading →

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R is for Rebel by J. Anderson Coats

Posted on December 5, 2018 by

A determined Native girl fights back against a repressive system in this non-magical fantasy book. R is for Rebel by J. Anderson Coats. Simon & Schuster, 2018. Malley was named for the martyred Melian.  Nearly all children of native Milean … Continue reading →

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Atmospheric Fantasy: The Turning and Strange Star

Posted on November 29, 2018 by

Here are two Cybils nominees with misty settings and strong characters. The Turning by Emily Whitman. Greenwillow Books, 2018. Aran (whose skin color is not mentioned) has lived all his life with the selkies.  Even though he’s stuck in ”longlimbs” … Continue reading →

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Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.

Posted on October 22, 2018 by

This was one of my most anticipated titles for the year, which I realized rather belatedly I listened to over the summer and hadn’t yet reviewed.  Though I started reading Naomi Novik back with His Majesty’s Dragon, I really loved … Continue reading →

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2 for Teens: Dread Nation and Tess of the Road

Posted on October 12, 2018 by

Just a few more days of Cybils nominations!  I’ve updated my list of Cybils hopefuls to note which books have since been nominated – as of this writing, four of the twelve books I wrote about. Dread Nation: Rise Up … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Historical, Print, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Bad Luck Kids: Trials of Morrigan Crow and Book of Boy

Posted on July 14, 2018 by

Here are two stories of children in very different worlds, but both considered to be bad luck. The first was all over the blogs I read in the middle of Cybils season last year.  It’s just as delightful a few … Continue reading →

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Everfair by Nisi Shawl

Posted on June 22, 2018 by

It’s summer reading time at the library.  I love crowds of kids excited about reading, but it does make it challenging to get anything else done.  But waiting patiently in my own review queue, I have a trio of African-based … Continue reading →

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Rebel Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino

Posted on March 10, 2018 by

This book was a 2016 Christmas gift from my love to my son and I.  We finished the book we were reading and then took several months reading it aloud together. Rebel Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino. Roaring Brook Press, … Continue reading →

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Beast & Crown by Joel Ross

Posted on March 8, 2018 by

Beast & Crown by Joel Ross. HarperCollins, 2017. This most recent book by the author of the 2015 Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction winner, The Fog Diver, features a similarly diverse cast, this time in a historical fantasy world. (I … Continue reading →

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A Little Taste of Poison

Posted on April 19, 2017 by

I have been faithfully making my lists of the top 10 books I’ve missed from the previous year for the last several years now (Here are my lists for books from 2016, 2015 and 2014).  And every year, I never … Continue reading →

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