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
INTRODUCTION Carolyn Fraiser is not new to my blog; her last book I featured was Moon Tree. Carolyn has an exceptional talent of making what might appear to be ordinary, something quite spectacular! Her newest picture book is not just any ol' alphabet book. And it's not just a nod to farmers and to a… Continue reading M is for Mason Jar: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway
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
Today is the much awaited publication of Get Real, Lucille written and illustrated by Laura Petrisin, a fellow Monarch Educational Press author. How can a young reader not be hooked into turning the page with a cover like that? FROM THE PUBLISHER Lucille is just a rubber chicken in a circus act... or is she?… Continue reading Laugh and Learn with ‘Get Real, Lucille’ and an Author Interview
Introduction It's a delight for me to share the cover for Stacey Bartlett's forthcoming middle-grade novel, MONSTER MOUNTAIN (Monarch Press: 2025). For those of you who can't wait, you can scroll down to see it and read about the giveaway. For the rest of you who know how to bide your time and wait a… Continue reading You Can See It Here First: A Cover Reveal and Giveaway for Stacey Bartlett’s New Middle-Grade Novel
REVIEW The River That Wolves Moved written by Mary Kay Carson and illustrated by David Hohn, (Sleeping Bear Press) is a beautiful story that intertwines nature and adventure, bringing to life an incredible journey of wolves and the changing landscape they traverse. Carson's fun and educational storytelling, paired with Hohn's lovely illustrations, transports readers into a world where… Continue reading The River That Wolves Moved: An Outstanding STEM Picture Book Reviewed by Lori Keating. Plus a Giveaway!
Historical fantasy by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley set in France during WWII.
REVIEW If you like a ghost/scary story told in a verse format and you're in 4th - 7th grade then the book The Haunting of Lake Lucy is perfect for you. This book was a very well-written horror story for people who like a little spook. The book is about Jayce and Evie who are… Continue reading Ghost Writers: The Haunting of Lake Lucy- A Review by Guest Blogger, Helen Wheeler, and a Giveaway!
The human body… more like the heroic body!The Human Body: An Alien’s Guide, written by Ruth Redford and illustrated by Leandro Cunha, is a graphic novel about human biology. This book features two aliens, Zag and Zog, who go on an adventurous mission to learn about the human body. I read it to my 5-year-old brother,… Continue reading THE HUMAN BODY: AN ALIEN'S GUIDE: A Graphic Novel Review by Guest Blogger Brooke Leela-Ann White