INTRODUCTION Several years ago I was in a critique group with three Greenville, SC friends. One of the members, Marcia Pugh, offered insightful feedback on Half-Truths. I was delighted to hear that she recently published her debut middle-grade novel, Gelato Queen, (Bookwing Press: 2026). Marcia has a self-admitted quirky sense of humor so I knew… Continue reading Gelato Queen: Check Out This Quirky Middle Grade
INTRODUCTION I invite you to sit down with your favorite beverage and enjoy a different type of post. Instead of a review of a YA or MG book, today my guest blogger, Anthony Marchetta, tackles a tough topic: How to adapt a classic so that it is enjoyed 500 years later. William Caxton published Sir… Continue reading How to Adapt a Book: From Sir Thomas Malory to Anthony Marchetta
INTRODUCTION I've been busy proposing, preparing, and giving conference presentations, so I have had less time to work on Out of the Flame. But that doesn't stop me from reading time travel books. Several friends recommended Right Back at You. and I am glad they did. REVIEW This fast-paced novel's premise is very different than… Continue reading RIGHT BACK AT YOU: Terrific Time Travel with a Twist
Introduction Today, Kate Lundeen brings a review of one of my reviewer's debut novel! Lola Mae's middle grade fantasy, A Storm Inside Her, is the first book in a series. Review Wolf cubs Paloma and Tsunami each feel the pull of a legendary song. In part it reads "Daughters of the realms Find Haven Stop… Continue reading A STORM INSIDE HER REVIEW: Courageous Wolf Pups Unite the Realms
Introduction Ghost stories aren't normally the books I pull off a library shelf. However, reading Sandy Deutscher Green's novel-in-verse, The Haunting of Lake Lucy, has given me a new perspective in this genre. Published by Monarch Educational Press in 2024, it is a middle-grade spooky page-turner with a touch of fantasy. Publisher's Blurb Your new… Continue reading DIG INTO ‘THE HAUNTING OF LAKE LUCY’ A SPOOKY NOVEL IN VERSE
Introduction It's been almost two months since my update about OUT OF THE FLAME. I haven't made as much progress as I'd like since I'm also proposing and composing presentations. But, I am trying to fit in a few hours several days a week. Here's a quick summary of my story discovery process. What I… Continue reading OUT OF THE FLAME: DISCOVERING THE STORY
INTRODUCTION Kate Lundeen is back today, sharing her thoughts about Florence Migga's debut Upper MG/YA novel, The Summer Scrapbook. It’s wonderful to have a best friend! However, sometimes relationships with your besties can be a bit too close. Ava, Becca, and Cat are best buds. They usually spend every moment of their summer together. One… Continue reading Summer Adventures: Friendship and Growth in Young Adult Fiction
INTRODUCTION Most of you know that I rarely post two blog posts about the same book. But, every once in a while I come across a book that deserves extra press. Cate Touryan's coming-of-age novel, Turning Toward Eden, is one of those. SYNOPSIS A 1971 California Coming-of-Age Mystery Eden Lewis knows two things for certain:… Continue reading Must-Read Cold War Mystery for Teens and Adults: Turning Toward Eden
Heart of the Green Leaf by Carla Harrison is a touching young adult novel. It is about resilient courage in the face of family struggles and the power of loyalty. REVIEW Meet Maralee Truett, a 14-year-old North Carolina farm girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. The novel takes place in the summer… Continue reading Exploring Family Struggles in ‘Heart of the Green Leaf’
INTRODUCTION This is my third MG time travel mentor novel I've reviewed. If you missed the other two, I reviewed Jane Yolen's class, The Devil's Arithmetic and Time Traveling with a Hamster. Today's book, The Retake is totally different. I am enjoying seeing how various authors handle the concept of time travel and am finding… Continue reading Middle Grade Fiction: Lessons from ‘The Retake’