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
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
Author Kay DiBianca takes her middle grade readers on a detective adventure around Manhattan in New York City with Knights in Manhattan. (This is the second in DiBianca's Reen and Joanie Detective Agency series). These are not really knights but a couple of brave friends who work to halt crime. REVIEW In this novel, Reen and… Continue reading Uncovering Clues in NYC: Knights in Manhattan Book Review
INTRODUCTION My writing “to-do” writing list includes a graphic novel, Nightmare in Nuremberg, based on an event in my German family’s history. So, when Rosi Hollinbeck offered Risk, Resilience, and Redemption on her blog, I grabbed the chance to win it. Written by a friend of the author, Frank W. Baker, is the story of how Bluma… Continue reading Exploring Risk, Resilience, and Redemption in Holocaust Literature
Introduction Donna Galanti takes her middle school audience on a coming-of-age adventure in her new book Loon Cove Summer (Wild Trail Press, 2025). This book also has the neat distinction of taking place on a loon lake and chapter headings contain cool facts about this special bird. Review Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson runs a lakeside campground with… Continue reading Loon Cove: A Touching Middle Grade Book Reviewed by Kate Lundeen
INTRODUCTION Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a bucket list item for many hikers. The Trail, by Meika Hashimoto, details one boy’s mission to conquer the Trail and accept the coming of age pains that he encounters as he matures. REVIEW Tony and his friend Lucas make a summer bucket list. The last item on the list… Continue reading Kate Lundeen Gives a Thumbs-Up to A Middle Grade Adventure: The Trail
Version 1.0.0 INTRODUCTION Monarch Press proudly presents a new out-of-this world science fiction adventure called So, My Mom’s from Outer Space. As a mom of all boys, author Tennille Marie’s novel has middle school boy written all over it! The star of the story is a relatable young man on the cusp of the teen years… Continue reading So, My Mom’s from Outer Space–A Sparkling Review from Guest Blogger, Katie Lundeen
SUMMARY The Peach Thief, by Linda Joan Smith, is historical fiction about a young orphan girl named Scilla who lived in the woods. She would steal food to survive. One day Scilla climbed the Earl’s kitchen garden wall to steal a peach, and was caught by Mr. Layton, the head gardener. She was mistaken for… Continue reading The Peach Thief: A Middle Grade Book Gets a Thumbs Up from A New Guest Reviewer
How do you tackle something as complicated as gravity in a picture book? Author Henry Herz (author of I am Smoke) and Illustrator Mercè López did just that in another impressive picture book published by Sleeping Bear Press. Because it tackles an advanced scientific concept, I recommend this book for middle-grade classrooms as well as… Continue reading I AM GRAVITY- How’s That For An Intriguing Picture Book Title? A STEM Review and Giveaway