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 Many years ago I read and enjoyed my fellow North Carolinian's book, The Ballad of Jesse Pearl. I was delighted to hear that the author, Shannon Hitchcock, had written a book that included Jesse as a character. Here is what Kate Lundeen had to say about Shannon's latest middle grade novel. REVIEW Head to… Continue reading Exploring Healing in Wild Mountain Ivy
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 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’
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 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
As far as I can tell, one of the best uses of social media is meeting someone who you connect with. That was the case with Cate Touryan, author of the award-winning debut novel, Turning Toward Eden. I met Cate on Author Media, Thomas Umstattd, Jr. social platform. It turned out that we were both… Continue reading Meet Cate Touryan: Insights from the Author of Turning Toward Eden