Mentally rich and decadent — this is how I would describe The Belles. I listened to The Belles on Audible with Rosie Jones (@rosiejonesactor) as the narrator. She did a wonderful job at her narration, which makes all the difference. Her English accent added such an elegant air to an exquisitely written book. However, I […]
Category Archives: New Book Reviews
March
13
THE TRAIN OF LOST THINGS by Ammi-Joan Paquette – Reviewed by: Bridget Hodder
posted by CBethM
“Late at night, that’s when the magic was strongest. When stories swirled like fog and trembled like dreams made real.” There’s a tender, shimmering enchantment to be found at the heart of Ammi-Joan Paquette’s new Middle Grade novel, THE TRAIN OF LOST THINGS. In Middle Grade literature, it’s rare to find the […]
December
20
A Short History of the Girl Next Door, by Jared Reck – Review by Aileen Hower
posted by CBethM
I just had a new book break into my top ten favorite books of all time. Seriously. I had been hearing great things about the young adult novel, A Short History of the Girl Next Door. Because Mr. Reck teaches in a neighboring school district, I eagerly noticed the attention his debut book […]
December
17
You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins – Review by Kacy Smith
posted by CBethM
What do you keep, and what do you leave behind? This is the question that shapes You Bring the Distant Near, the latest YA novel from Mitali Perkins, a sweeping, multi-generational, female-centric story of a family immigrating from Ghana to London to New York City. The title is taken from the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, […]
December
06
FAR FROM THE TREE by Robin Benway – Review by Kate Olson
posted by CBethM
Let’s be real here. I’m a 37-year-old school librarian – I am in NO WAY considered a young adult, right? So then, what makes this genre one in which I consider myself a qualified reviewer? I always find it fascinating that adults are the ones deciding which kidlit is quality or not, and in […]
November
29
Dear Social Media: Thank you for Dear Martin by Rebecca Marsick
posted by CBethM
My Twitter and Instagram feeds are heavily weighted toward authors and readers who share what they are reading, and my social media scales tip even more toward YA. This means that I am constantly buying books that will serve two purposes: I think my students will like them. I think the book will offer […]
November
23
The Thing With Feathers, by McCall Hoyle – Review by Millicent Flake
posted by CBethM
“I just love the metaphor in this book!” I overheard this exclamation from an 8th grade girl sitting on the couch in my middle school library one morning. The student was reading an advance copy of The Thing with Feathers, the debut novel by McCall Hoyle, a high school English teacher from Gainesville, Georgia. […]
September
28
Heartprint Books and Ba-Bump Moments: The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh – Review and Interview by JoEllen McCarthy
posted by CBethM
“There is this thing I do when I’m deciding about a book. Waiting to see if I’ll connect with it. If I’ll feel that bah-bump in my chest. —-“ Bah- bump. Bah-bump. You know that moment when you truly connect to something? Your heart starts racing. Whether it’s a book or a poem or a […]
August
24
Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star-Spangled Creation by Kristen Fulton, Illustrated by Holly Berry – Review by Elizabeth Brown
posted by CBethM
Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star-Spangled Creation (Margaret K. McElderry, 2017), written by Kristen Fulton and illustrated by Holly Berry, is a beautifully written nonfiction picture book which tells the true story of young Caroline Pickersgill and what she created – the American flag which became the object […]
August
17
Planet Jupiter by Jane Kurtz – Review by Jennifer Jacobson
posted by CBethM
I have been eagerly awaiting Planet Jupiter, the newest middle-grade novel by Jane Kurtz. Kurtz’s novels contain the number one thing I search for in stories: HEART. Planet Jupiter is no exception. It is a deeply layered and incredibly moving. For this reason alone, I want to thrust it into the arms of young readers, […]
