Tag Archives: historical fantasy

The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis

Posted on March 15, 2019 by

This is the sequel to The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, which won the 2017 Cybils award for Middle Grade Speculative Fiction.  It came out in the middle of my 2018 Cybils reading, and was one of the first books … Continue reading →

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A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem: a Dastardly Plot

Posted on February 27, 2019 by

A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem: a Dastardly Plot by Christopher Healy. Harper Collins Childrens, 2018. 1883 – It’s the Age of Invention in an alternate New York City.  Molly Pepper is trying to help her mother Cassandra succeed … Continue reading →

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Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

Posted on January 16, 2019 by

Back to some Cybils books while I tabulate more end-of-year things. Sweep: the Story of a Girl and her Monster by Jonathan Auxier. Amulet Books, 2018. Nan Sparrow lived with the Sweep, a kindly man who took care of her, teaching … Continue reading →

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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 , , , | 6 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 →

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