Tag Archives: youth fiction

Honor Books: Yonder by Ali Standish and Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Yonder by Ali Standish and Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango are two beautiful, reflective books that both won honors this year. Continue reading

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3 2022 MG Fic Finalists: Attack of the Black Rectangles, Freewater, and Thirst

I’m continuing my read-through of 2022 Cybils finalists with three more middle grade fiction titles – Attack of the Black Rectangles, Freewater (which also won the Newbery) and Thirst. Continue reading

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Fast & Funny with Cookies & Cakes: Ben Yokoyama and Winnie Zeng

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr and Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao are two fast and funny chapter to middle grade books that are sure to keep kids reading. Continue reading

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2 2022 Cybils MG Fic Finalists: Air and Jennifer Chan is Not Alone

Here are my takes on two of the latest Cybils Middle Grade Fiction finalists – Air by Monica Roe and Jennifer Chan is Not Alone by Tae Keller. Continue reading

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The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs

This freshly imagined story of an immigrant girl, taking off from the author’s grandmother’s story, is filled with determination, hard-won joy, as well as hope and humor. Continue reading

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How to Be Brave by Daisy May Johnson

Here’s a smart, modern British boarding school story, packed with humor, friendships, footnotes, bravery and British baked goods. Continue reading

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Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee

A city girl explores her Chinese-American roots and gets to know her grandparents and the small Minnesota town her ancestor made home in this funny and heartwarming story. Continue reading

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Pepper’s Rules for Secret Sleuthing by Briana McDonald

I have finally gotten around to reading my daughter’s absolute favorite mystery book. Continue reading

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Those Kids from Fawn Creek, Answers in the Pages, and Zia Erases the World

Here are shorter reviews of three more books I checked out for the #MGReadathon. Continue reading

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5 Stories of Adventure & Change

Here’s a mix of books from the past couple of years, all sharing an element of change and adventure. Continue reading

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