Tag Archives: realistic fiction

Life Between Cultures: Red, White and Whole and Amina’s Song

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Katy K.

ere are two moving stories from Rajani LaRocca and Hena Khan, both authors I’ve enjoyed in the past, telling stories of middle school life for first-generation Americans, and which hit the spot for me so perfectly it was really hard to put them down. Continue reading →

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

Shifting Friendships: a Middle School Book List

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Katy K.

When my teen librarian, Ms. D, and I started talking about a realistic fiction list for middle school, the way that formerly close friendships often start shifting in middle school came up as a particularly relevant topic. I’d been working … Continue reading →

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2019 Newberys: Merci Suárez Changes Gears and The Night Diary

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Katy K.

Here are reviews of this year’s Newbery and Newbery honor books.  I had read just one of these when it first came out, The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.  And shout-out to my blogging friend Sondy at Sonderbooks, … Continue reading →

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Queer as a Five Dollar Bill

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Katy K.

I’d heard of Lee Wind’s blog, I’m Here, I’m Queer, What the Hell Do I Read before, but it took me a little bit to put this together with the nice guy I was chatting with at KidLitCon.  He told … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Print, Realistic, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Hate U Give

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Katy K.

This is the first book to be published directly because of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, so of course I had to read it.  My only advice would be to please, don’t do as I do, and listen to this audiobook at … Continue reading →

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Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Katy K.

It’s always disorienting coming back to blogging from vacation, but here I am, with another simultaneously light and weighty book by Jenny Han, the closing book in the series that started with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Always and … Continue reading →

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Katy K.

I’m continuing Latin@ week at alibrarymama with a book that’s become a classic just in the five years since it came out. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Read by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Simon … Continue reading →

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Stef Soto, Taco Queen

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Katy K.

A rare upbeat but realistic view of middle great in Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres. Continue reading →

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Towers Falling

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Katy K.

I was interested to see what the author of Cybils finalist Bayou Magic would do with the topic of September 11, just recently far enough in the past for students to need to learn about it in school. Towers Falling … Continue reading →

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TTT: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For the First Time In 2016

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Katy K.

Here are ten of my favorite new authors for 2016, with great stories for middle grade, teen and adult readers. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Lists | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments