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‘Clueless McGee’ entertains, but is perhaps just a bit too clueless
“CLUELESS McGEE,” by Jeff Mack, Philomel Books, August 2012, Hardcover, $11.98 (Ages 8-12) In my house, we have readers of every sort of book imaginable. When I saw the cover (and read the “plea to...
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Emily Rodda’s ‘Golden Door’ is great for 8- and 9-year-olds
“THE GOLDEN DOOR,” by Emily Rodda, Scholastic Press, Oct. 1, 2012, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8 and up) Rye has lived inside the walled city of Weld his entire life. Everyone has. There isn’t even a door...
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Vikings take center stage in Carrie Ryan’s ‘Divide and Conquer’
“INFINITY RING BOOK 2: DIVIDE AND CONQUER,” by Carrie Ryan, Scholastic, Nov. 6, 2012, Hardcover, $12.99 (Ages 8 and up) History is broken. People are suffering terrible losses. There’s only one hope...
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Laura Fitzgerald’s ‘Under the Egg’ is a perfect summer read
“UNDER THE EGG,” by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, Dial, March 18, 2014, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) In high school, my favorite class was AP art history. I loved it so much; I went on an art history tour my...
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K.E. Ormsbee hopes readers stay up past bedtime for ‘Water and the Wild’
K.E. Ormsbee’s all-time favorite book is “Matilda,” by Roald Dahl. Dahl’s dark humor, awful villains and triumphantly intelligent heroine are the perfect combination, she says. “’Matilda” taught me...
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Fascination with Esme Kerr’s ‘Girl with the Glass Bird’ goes beyond cover love
THE GIRL WITH THE GLASS BIRD: A Knight’s Haddon Boarding School Mystery, by Esme Kerr, Chicken House, March 31, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) Lately, I’ve found myself drawn more and more to...
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Megan Frazer Blakemore’s ‘Friendship Riddle’ is an enticing mystery
“THE FRIENDSHIP RIDDLE,” by Megan Frazer Blakemore, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, May 5, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) In February 2013, I reviewed Megan Frazer Blakemore’s “The Water Castle.”...
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‘Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures’ a good choice for summer
“PIP BARTLETT’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES,” by Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce, Scholastic Press, April 28, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) While I enjoy contemporary novels with real-life...
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Liz Kessler’s ‘Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins?’ is just OK
“HAS ANYONE SEEN JESSICA JENKINS?” by Liz Kessler, Candlewick Press, Feb. 24, 2015, Hardcover, $15.99 (ages 8-12) If you could have a super power, what would it be? What if you couldn’t choose? What if...
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A.F. Harrold’s ‘The Imaginary’ is relatable, imaginative
“THE IMAGINARY,” by A.F. Harrold and Emily Gravett, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, March 3, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) When he was little, my younger brother had an imaginary friend named Mimi....
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‘Charlie and the Grandmothers’ is a strong middle grade read
“CHARLIE AND THE GRANDMOTHERS,” by Katy Towell, Knopf Books for Young Readers, Aug. 4, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) Charlie is a worrier. He’s been one since his father died. He worries about...
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‘Princess Juniper of the Hourglass’ is a story of self-discovery
“PRINCESS JUNIPER OF THE HOURGLASS,” by Ammi-Joan Paquette, Philomel Books, July 21, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) Princess Juniper is, as her name implies, a princess. In fact, she’s the crown...
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Jackson Pearce’s ‘Doublecross’ is a new kind of spy adventure
“THE DOUBLECROSS: (And Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy),” by Jackson Pearce, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, July 14, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) Twelve-year-old Hale’s family is in the spy...
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‘Serafina and the Black Cloak’ full of nuanced surprises
There are a number of reasons why I wanted to read Robert Beatty's Serafina and the Black Cloak. But I wasn’t expecting the nuanced surprises along the way. The post ‘Serafina and the Black Cloak’ full...
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You won’t want to put down Jennifer A. Nielsen’s ‘Night Divided’
The plot of Jennifer A. Nielsen's "A Night Divided" is perfect for a movie, book or play. You couldn’t ask for better. The post You won’t want to put down Jennifer A. Nielsen’s ‘Night Divided’ appeared...
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Jennifer Brown takes on robots and middle school in ‘Lunchbox Jones’
Jennifer Brown's “How Lunchbox Jones Saved Me From Robots, Traitors, and Missy the Cruel” is unlike anything I’ve read in a long time, and that’s a good thing. The post Jennifer Brown takes on robots...
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‘Curious Tale of the In-Between’ helps make sense of the world
“A Curious Tale of the In-Between” is engrossing. The story is interesting on its own, but it’s the main character that makes this story sing. The post ‘Curious Tale of the In-Between’ helps make sense...
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Marilyn Hilton’s ‘Full Cicada Moon’ is an enhanced reading experience
I’ve never been a fan of books written in verse. So it was with some trepidation I started “Full Cicada Moon,” by Marilyn Hilton. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. The post Marilyn Hilton’s ‘Full...
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M. Tara Crowl’s ‘Eden’s Wish’ is more meh than magical
"Eden’s Wish" is a decent read. But there’s nothing spectacular about it. It’s pretty middle of the road when it comes to middle grade books. The post M. Tara Crowl’s ‘Eden’s Wish’ is more meh than...
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‘Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn’ is a quirky read
“THE ADVENTURES OF LETTIE PEPPERCORN,” by Sam Gayton and Poly Bernatene, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Feb. 2, 2016, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12) First paragraphs are important introductions for...
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