HOME AGAIN Hello friends and faithful blog followers, I arrived back home from a two week trip to Europe over a week ago, but my head is still filled with the people I was with and the places I visited. I hope to share some of my experiences and how they impact my two WIPs;… Continue reading Exploring Pirate Shenanigans in Ella Shine’s Latest Story
Introduction It was a pleasure to meet Patrice Gopo at the North Carolina Young People's Literature Award ceremony in December. I received the award for Young Adult Literature for Half-Truths, and Patrice won the Children's Literature award for Ripening Time. It wasn't until we started talking did we realize that we live less than ten… Continue reading RIPENING TIME: A Picture Book Review
Introduction Havelah McLat pens a story of defeating the odds, courage, and the American immigrant dream in The Silent Journey. In 1932, Anika, a Ukrainian deaf youth, lives in a silent world. She can read lips and communicate via speech, but her deafness makes her speech awkward, and she feels lonely and misunderstood. Her Papa,… Continue reading The Silent Journey: A Deaf Immigrant’s Tale
INTRODUCTION It's not too often that I run a book review twice. And to be honest, my TBR shelf is long and so I rarely reread a book. But I was re-researching the Jim Crow period for a presentation at the North Carolina Social Studies conference and rememberedThe Color of Love by Gene Cheek. I… Continue reading Revisiting ‘The Color of Love’: A Jim Crow Memoir Review
INTRODUCTION Many of you appreciated the last middle grade book that Kate Lundeen reviewed on my blog, LOON COVE. Today she is back with her analysis of an historical novel, ONE FINE VOICE by Rebecca Langston-George. REVIEW Historium Press proudly presents the middle-grade novel One Fine Voice by Rebecca Langston- George. As the new preacher’s kid in… Continue reading ‘One Fine Voice’: A Story of Courage and Compassion
INTRODUCTION Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Coleman is a suspenseful and seminal novel centered around the dust storms of the 1930s in Oklahoma. This historic story showcases the perspectives of two adolescent twins, Joanna and Howe Stanton. Throughout a six year journey, they overcame family turbulence, natural disasters, grief, and financial insecurity. REVIEW During the… Continue reading Alyssa Coleman’s Where Only Storms Grow: A Review
INTRODUCTION I am most pleased to be back with a review of this wonderful middle-grade book I was sent recently — — Felicity Fire and the Forever Key by Leon Mitchell!! And oh my goodness, I loved this book so much!! It is fun and whimsical, and Act One is absolutely hilarious!!! (The description of the bullies and the… Continue reading Discovering Felicity Fire: An Enchanted Tale for Middle Grade Readers
It's been awhile since today's guest student reviewer Brooke White has shared a review on my blog. That's because she has moved on to reviewing books for The Center for Children's Literature at the Bank Street College of Education. Yay Brooke! From time to time, I will republish her reviews here. INTRODUCTION The biographical fiction… Continue reading Emotional Growth and Self-Image in Louder Than Hunger Review
INTRODUCTION In a book-signing at Fred & June's after I received the North Carolina award for Young Adult Literature, I was startled when a woman came into the store, pointed at me and said, "I am looking for her!" That was a first for me. It turns out that the woman was Melanie Sue Bowles,… Continue reading Win a Copy of ‘Liberty Biscuit’! Book Review Inside
INTRODUCTION I am happy to post another review by my talented young writer friend, Isabelle Knight. Today she reviews Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix, the debut middle-grade novel by another friend of mine, Mindy Baker. Yes, I have a lot of writer friends! And yes, I appreciate each one! THE BLURB This lower… Continue reading Mesoamerican Magic in Soledad’s Adventure: A Book Review