INTRODUCTION Last week I featured a review of Isabelle Knight's new middle-grade fantasy, Enchantria: Guardian's Heir. Today, Isabelle returns as my guest blogger and ventures into new reading territory--nonfiction--and finds out she likes it! This review originally appeared on Isabelle's blog; she is kindly allowing me to republish it here. REVIEW This book review is… Continue reading A Terrific Review of The Mysterious Virginia Hall by Guest Blogger, Isabelle Knight
Historical fantasy by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley set in France during WWII.
Excellent multi-pov WWII story. For teens and adults.
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
In my search for graphic novels to help me understand the genre, I came across these two books in my local library. Although totally different from each other, they both share the common element of Japanese internment camps during WWII.DISPLACEMENT by kiku hughesThe first page of this YA time travel novel provides a backstory to equip the… Continue reading TWO JAPANESE INTERNMENT GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS
It's interesting to read a book when you know the ending even before you start. I knew the Rosenbergs were killed because they were suspected of spy activity. But I didn't know the events that led up to that tragic conclusion.Barbara Krasner's choice of writing Ethel's Song (Astra Publishing, 2022) in free verse poetry is perfect. The poems… Continue reading ETHEL'S SONG: Ethel Rosenberg's Life in Poems: A Review and Giveaway
When a writer begins a work of historical fiction, she must start with research. For me, that means hours of reading Holocaust websites and books. As I mentioned in my first blog about Escape from Nuremberg, I decided to try my hand at writing a graphic novel. So, of course, that meant reading them to understand the genre.… Continue reading GAIJIN, BOMB, MAUS and I SURVIVED THE NAZI INVASION : Four WWII Graphic Novel Reviews
Six weeks ago, I shared my excitement that HALF-TRUTHS was finally on submission. At that point, the answer to the question, "What's Next?" was to query agents and editors. For those of you who are writers, you know that process can take a long time. Agents and editors are backed up and although I've sent the full manuscript in response… Continue reading What's Next?
Today I'm proud to share two informational picture books by my SCBWI-Carolinas colleague, Megan Hoyt. No giveaways this week--my grandchildren will be the proud recipients of these fine books. But in case you need one (or two!) more gifts for the young reader in your life, check out these marvelous books.Megan Hoyt discovers small pieces… Continue reading TWO HISTORICAL PICTURE BOOK by MEGAN HOYT
Don't you love this cover? Besides being captivating, the title informs the reader EXACTLY what to expect from Code Breaker, Spy Hunter (Abrams Books, 2021). Written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Brooke Smart, this book will be good for students from 7-10 years old. As you look through these illustrations, make sure you read Elizebeth's quotes… Continue reading CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER: Picture Book Biography, a Mini-Author Interview, Plus a Giveaway!