Tag Archives: youth fiction

3 Great Middle Grade Realistic Picks

Posted on June 8, 2018 by

If you’re looking for some contemporary realistic fiction, here are three solid titles for a range of tastes from full-on adventure to more introspective. To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2016. The officially-ended Greene Gang … Continue reading →

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The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

Posted on April 25, 2018 by

Here’s book number three in my impromptu middle grade Latinix reading series, following Stella Martinez Has Something to Sayand A Dash of Trouble. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya. Read by the Author. Listening Library, 2017. Arturo … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiobook, Books, Middle Grade, Realistic | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

Posted on April 21, 2018 by

Here’s a charming first novel from the illustrator of Mango, Abuela & Me. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez. Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Stella is nervous about school now that her best friend, Jenny, is in another … Continue reading →

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In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse and #NotYourPrincess

Posted on November 12, 2017 by

Here are two books celebrating the Native American/Aboriginal experience – one that finally made its way to the top of my reading list, and one new book that the teen librarian kindly purchased for me after I told her how … Continue reading →

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Two Family Adventures: The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher and the Lotterys Plus One

Posted on September 29, 2017 by

Here are two stories of the classic family adventure type, but featuring same-sex parents. Both of them also have families formed by adoption, so adopted kids with many kinds of parents could see themselves reflected in these books. Misadventures of … Continue reading →

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Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever.

Posted on September 19, 2017 by

Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever. Edited by Betsy Bird. Viking, 2017. It was the author list and associated cartoons on Betsy Bird’s blog, a Fuse #8 Production, that first drew me to this book (I can no longer find the … Continue reading →

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Three for Theater Kids

Posted on September 6, 2017 by

I’m still trying to catch up on all the books I read for my presentation at the Allied Media Conference in June, so it’s time for shorter takes.  Here are three books perfect for the middle school theater fan. Better … Continue reading →

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The Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass

Posted on April 12, 2017 by

Last year, my library started subscribing to a digital service called hoopla.  As I was browsing through the children’s audiobook selection, I found a 2009 Cybils finalist – from before I started following the Cybils, but had wanted to go … Continue reading →

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Stef Soto, Taco Queen

Posted on March 20, 2017 by

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

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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