For fans of Dr. Who and Guardians of the Galaxy, Invictus is an invigorating and exciting book. For non-sci-fi loving people, Invictus is EVEN BETTER! It is a sci-fi/time travel story designed for people who don’t like sci-fi. I was incredibly lucky to sit next to Ryan Graudin at the 2017 Texas Library Conference Texas […]
Category Archives: New Book Reviews
August
08
Time. Perspective. Imagination: Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Mollee Holloman
posted by CBethM
In their new picture book, Everything You Need for a Treehouse (2018, Chronicle Books), Carter Higgins’ carefully plucked and placed words are gorgeously interpreted by Emily Hughes’ illustrations. Just as each treehouse is extraordinary and unique, this storytelling team captures the diverse experience that each reader brings to the story. Time | Perspective | […]
July
31
A Splendid and Stunning Read: A Seed Is the Start by Melissa Stewart Review by Jennifer Sniadecki
posted by CBethM
I’ve been spending my summer getting back to nature as much as possible. While I love exploring my local vacation destinations, I also wonder about nature in other parts of the world. Melissa Stewart has given me a peek into plant life from all over the globe in her new book, A Seed is the […]
July
18
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden – Review by Tracy Murphy
posted by CBethM
Ann Braden’s forthcoming and debut middle grade novel, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, sank right into me. Set in Vermont, Braden has crafted a unique story that highlights the realities of living in poverty, being both child and caregiver, and the chaos involved in the day-to-day existence of being a middle school girl. The […]
July
11
Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller – Review by Jaymie Dieterle
posted by CBethM
Captain Superlative has taken Dearwood Park Middle School by storm with her swimsuit-and-tights costume, blue rubber gloves, wig, facemask and cape. You can’t miss her. She seems to know everyone and see everything. She helps injured kids get around the school, distributes peppermints to all the kids who have tests to take, and creates study […]
July
04
The Magic of Melwick Orchard by Rebecca Caprara – Review by Dana Dykiel
posted by CBethM
When I was younger, I was confused by the phrase wait until you get into the real world. It seemed to imply, somehow, that my world wasn’t real. Evidently, I knew adults had jobs, romances, different responsibilities – but were these experiences larger, or more important than my own? Did adults feel joy and sadness […]
June
28
AMERICAN PANDA BY GLORIA CHAO – REVIEW BY KRIS BARR PAQUETTE
posted by CBethM
Book Jacket Blurb From the Publisher: At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of […]
June
21
TAKEDOWN by Laura Shovan – Review by Bridget Hodder
posted by CBethM
It isn’t surprising that author Laura Shovan, who won several distinctions for her thoughtful novel-in-verse, THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY, has a new book out this week. However, fans of her last novel might be surprised to learn that the new one is about…wrestling. So let’s begin this review by pointing out […]
May
13
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly – Book Review by Lynne R. Dorfman
posted by CBethM
“The stars tell us everything. It’s fate, Gen. Fate in the stars. There are no coincidences.” (p. 101) The 2018 Newberry Award winner by Erin Entrada for middle schoolers will capture them in its honesty, its mystery, and its charm. The book is written in short, easy-to-read chapters in the perspectives of the four […]
March
22
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton Review by Alexandra Cornejo
posted by CBethM
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 […]
