REVIEWMy cousin, Mara, and I read A Sky Full of Song, by Susan Lynn Meyer, and we both found numerous flaws with both the story and the main character, Shoshanna, a young Jewish pioneer. We didn’t find her to be relatable or likable. The book drowned its own message with too many woke topics like… Continue reading A SKY FULL OF SONG: A Guest Review by Mara and Sophia Scudder PLUS a Giveaway
REVIEWIn Daisy and the Missing Mona Lisa, by J.T. Allen, Daisy’s newest misadventure begins with an invitation from Felix, her aunt’s friend and a former spy, to visit his chateau in the Loire. During her stay, our heroine explores the historic town of Chinon in the daytime, dives into a Proust novel at night, encounters a… Continue reading Daisy and the Missing Mona Lisa: A Middle Grade Review by Guest Blogger, Lily Matarazzo and a Giveaway
Today I have the pleasure of introducing a new tween blogger, Olivia A. She's a granddaughter of a friend of mine, and a bibliophile. (When her family moved from North Carolina to Texas she brought along her 1000-book library!). Let's help her celebrate her book-reviewing career with her thoughts on EVERY MISSING PIECE by Melanie Conklin.Maddy has trouble… Continue reading EVERY MISSING PIECE: A Middle-Grade Review by Debut Tween Blogger, Olivia A.
Congratulations to Jana Leah for winning Lights Out on last week's blog. Thanks for all the entries! **** Today I have a special treat for you. Cat Michaels, a fellow SCBWI-Carolina member, asked if I would help her and her co-author, Rosie Russell with the launch of their new middle-grade book, Just Between Sam and Me.… Continue reading Getting Started With Co-Authoring: A Conversation with Cat Michaels and Rosie Russell
In 2018 I read Nancy Johnson's article on Writer Unboxed encouraging writers to figure out what their novel's big question is. I saved it on my desktop and went back to it several times as I wrote Half-Truths. That question is in my mind and shaping the sequel. So, it's no coincidence that after I… Continue reading For Black Girls Like Me: A Review and a Giveaway
I've reviewed two other middle grade books by Miriam Spitzer Franklin on this blog (Extraordinary and Call Me Sunflower) but Emily Out of Focus is special to me. Miriam and I were in a SCBWI critique group together for many years and I heard about her trip to China in 2006 to adopt their daughter. Emily Out of… Continue reading Emily Out of Focus: A Review and ARC Giveaway
Congratulations to Linda Phillips. Random.org selected her name to win an audio book off last week's blog. ********* Several weeks ago I pulled one of the books I received at Highlight Summer Camp, Hattie on Her Way (Candlewick Press, 2005) off my TBR shelf. Written by my friend and fellow blogger, Clara Gillow Clark, this girls' middle grade novel… Continue reading Hattie On Her Way: A Review and TWO Giveaways!
Sheri Levy’s passion for training service dogs shines in her second Trina Ryan book, Starting Over (Barking Rain Press, 2017). Middle school girls will enjoy re-connecting with puppy raiser Trina, who Sheri brought to life in her first book, Seven Days to Goodbye. REVIEW Having said goodbye to her first dog, Sydney, Trina is determined to start… Continue reading STARTING OVER: A Review, ARC GIVEAWAY, and Interview
Congratulations to Sandra Warren who won the audio CD of WISH last week. Thanks to everyone who entered. I seem to be on a roll with middle grade books featuring a girl protagonist who had to leave her home and wants to return. This week I am introducing CALL ME SUNFLOWER, Miriam Spitzer Franklin's second middle… Continue reading Call Me Sunflower: A Review and ARC Giveaway
Congratulations to Linda Phillips who won Kathy Erskine's book Seeing Red. ******** It's been awhile since I've reviewed a multi-racial book and Just an Overnight Guest by Eleanora Tate fits the bill--but from a different perspective than the other books I've reviewed as background for writing Half-Truths. The only thing wrong with nine-year-old Margie Carson's life in the… Continue reading Multi-Racial Read #19: Just an Overnight Guest- And a Giveaway!