Tag Archives: historical fantasy

Beautiful Fantasies: Mulan: Before the Sword and A Wish in the Dark

Posted on May 21, 2020 by

Here are two recent middle grade fantasies that both feature thoughtful main characters involved in epic adventures.  I’m reviewing them together because of that similarity, but hey, it’s Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, so if you’re still looking for a book to read to celebrate, both of these are excellent choices. Continue reading →

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

The True Queen by Zen Cho

Posted on April 9, 2020 by

I mentioned this book in both of my last two posts, so I thought I should finally write a review of it.  I read it from the library as usual, and then asked for and got it for Christmas so … Continue reading →

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Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Posted on November 4, 2019 by

Back in 2016, I made a list of the top 10 fantasy authors I’d never read.  – (I still need to get to three more of those authors!) Erin Bow was on that list, though I put the cover for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade, Print, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Rebel Girls and Gowns: YA Graphic Novels

Posted on September 16, 2019 by

Continuing with the graphic novels, here are some aimed at teens (or at least, from the teen section of the library.)  Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang. First Second Books, 2018. This book was tearing up the award and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Cats and the Sea: Graphic Novels for Kids

Posted on September 13, 2019 by

I’ve found myself reading a lot of graphic novels lately.  Here are some for the elementary to middle grade set.  Curiously enough, they all have either cats or the sea as central themes – or both, in the case of Sea … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Middle Grade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

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