REVIEW OF SHE'S STILL HERE by Caitlin AlexanderTwenty years ago, Ravendale Middle school caught fire and Jane Wright was lost forever. No one ever found out how the fire was started, leaving Jane’s ghost to wonder about the mystery of her death. Was it really an accident? Would she ever find the person who started… Continue reading SHE'S STILL HERE: A Book Review by Guest Blogger, Josie Murdock
We all have them. Books that stick in our heads after we've read the last page. Maybe it's the characters, the world-building, the settings, or the amazing way the author weaves together the plot. For me, it's all of those plus a story that touches my heart. This, my friends, is my latest favorite read:Published… Continue reading THE BLACKBIRD GIRLS by Anne Blankman: A MG Review and Giveaway
Sylvia Patience, the author of The Double Crossing (Paper Angel Press, 2023), reached out to me with a request to review her historical middle-grade book. She suspected that it was a book that would interest me and she was right.REVIEWI first learned about the ocean liner, the St. Louis in Barbara Krasner's picture book, Liesl's Ocean Rescue.… Continue reading THE DOUBLE CROSSING by Sylvia Patience: A Middle Grade Historical Fiction Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway
I don't know how I missed Zora & Me: The Cursed Ground by T.R. Simon when I was reading books in order to inform Half-Truths, but I did. Fortunately, it's never too late to find a great read! Anyone who is familiar with Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) will know that she was a renowned storyteller who portrayed racial… Continue reading ZORA & ME: THE CURSED GROUND by T.R.Simon: A Middle Grade Book Review
I last featured Brooke White when I introduced her and her self-published book. Today she returns as one of my guest reviewers. Take it away, Brooke!REVIEWHave you ever felt guilty for something that you think is your fault? In the novel Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz (Delacorte Press, 2023), each chapter is told from Eric or… Continue reading HIDDEN TRUTHS: A Middle Grade Book Review by Guest Blogger, Brooke White
Today it is my pleasure to introduce a new teen blogger, Janelle Ekpo. The last time I saw Janelle she was about eight--but now she's in high school and a fantastic writer. I trust you'll enjoy her debut book review and her interview with the author, Gretchen Woelfle -- no stranger to my blog. REVIEWIf there were more… Continue reading HOW BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BECAME a REVOLUTIONARY in SEVEN (Not-So-Easy) STEPS : Review & Interview by Guest Blogger Janelle Ekpo
I found THE WALL (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2007) by Peter Sís in my library under graphic novels and since it was historical, I thought I'd check it out. It's the size of a picture book (9 x 12) with about the same number of pages you'd find in a picture book. But, don't be mistaken. This book is… Continue reading THE WALL: Growing Up Behind The Iron Curtain: A Graphic Novel Review
As a freshman in high school, Elliott Kurta, one of my first student guest bloggers, is pretty busy with his academic workload and volunteer work at the library. But he returns to my blog today with a book he genuinely enjoyed, Down to Earth by Betty Culley. REVIEWIn Down to Earth, Henry Bower, an aspiring scientist, and water dowser,… Continue reading DOWN TO EARTH: A Middle Grade Book Review by Guest Blogger, Elliot Kurta and a Giveaway
Omar Rising is the latest middle-school book from Aisha Saeed, featuring twelve-year-old Omar as he fights for justice at Ghalib Academy, an elite boarding school in Pakistan.Despite having stayed at Ghalib over the previous summer, Omar is overwhelmed by the opulent campus. There’s a dining hall, soccer field, library, rec room, and walking paths. But Omar… Continue reading OMAR RISING: A MG Review by Teen Guest Blogger, Elliott Kurta
I always enjoy supporting my fellow SCBWI-Carolinas writers, particularly those who live in Charlotte. Today I'm bringing you Chrystal D. Giles' debut novel, TAKE BACK THE BLOCK (2021: Random House Books for Young Readers).REVIEWI spent the morning of my eleventh birthday carrying a sign that read WE WERE HERE FIRST.How do you like that for a dynamic… Continue reading TAKE BACK THE BLOCK: A MIDDLE GRADE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY