INTRODUCTION Island of Spies is a charming novel, perfect for middle grade readers looking for a coastal take on WWII. The author, Sheila Turnage, artfully captures the life of an average island family entwined in the realities of a brewing war. Her precise words paint vivid pictures in the minds of eager young readers. From the… Continue reading Unraveling Mysteries: The Dime Novel Kids in Island of Spies
INTRODUCTION Two years ago I was happy to share Kim A. Larson's early reader debut picture book, Goat's Boat Won't Float. Today, I bring you her next book, Doll Trouble that is coming out July 21. REVIEW This friendship story which shows (not tells!) empathy and bravery begins by introducing Emma and her best friend,… Continue reading Upcoming Release: Kim A. Larson’s Doll Trouble
INTRODUCTION There is an old saying, “Home is where the heart is”. The novel in poetic verse by VT Bidania, A Year Without Home, deals with the emotional toll of homesickness but also the positive power of learning to make the best of things no matter your home’s location. REVIEW Preteen Laos native, Gao Sheng, has special affection… Continue reading Finding Home: A Review of _A Year Without Home_
INTRODUCTION Readers won't have to wait long for conflict to begin in Stephanie Cotta's prequel to her compelling YA fantasy, The Conjurer's Curse. In the first chapter of Beneath the Crescent Shadow (Monarch, 2026), there is a vicious storm, a shipwreck, and a cursed newborn baby. If that's not enough to hook a teen or… Continue reading Review of Beneath the Crescent Shadow: A Captivating Prequel
INTRODUCTION It is my delight to introduce you to a debut picture book by my fellow North Carolina writer, Tonnye Fletcher. Music Plants Hope (Reycraft Books, 2026) is a lyrical and beautifully illustrated story about Eugenio Ampudia's unique concert for....plants. Read on to find out more. REVIEW Who can forget 2020? Covid, masks, lock downs,… Continue reading Eugenio Ampudia’s Unique Concert for Plants
INTRODUCTION Some picture books make you laugh, others pull at your heart strings. Although there are aspects of Jeanine DeHoney's debut picture book, This Sunday My Daddy Came to Church, that are playful, the overwhelming message is a young child's joy when his father joins him and his mother in church. Published by Sleeping Bear… Continue reading Picture Book Insights: ‘This Sunday My Daddy Came to Church’
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