I bought Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou because I was drawn by its cover. This is only the second time I can recall doing that. It turned out to be a Christian middle grade book with an interesting plot and memorable characters. In short, a winner! And,...
Road Trip Rescue by Becca Wierwille tells the story of a lonely young girl, heartbroken by the disappearance of her dog two years before, who suddenly finds hope. It’s been a rough two years. Kimmy’s best friend abandoned her, and she’s turned into a...
Badge of Honor by Susan K Marlow tells the tale of a twelve-year-old boy in Gold Rush California. Well, it’s past the first years of the gold rush. In fact, it’s fifteen years later, in 1864, and young Jem’s family has been in town, first prospecting...
Power Pup vs Tommy Trigger-Finger is the first book in Amanda Trumpower’s amusing series for middle-grade reluctant readers, Power Pup. While it is a super-hero tale, it’s not a graphic novel, but an illustrated story. Investigative reporter Mittens Meow...
Tinker by award-winning author Jill Williamson and her eighth-grade son Luke Williamson is a great tale for middle-grade reluctant readers. It’s sci fi, or actually space opera. Young Tinker is an orphan, taken in by his evil uncle and uncle’s two sons who...
The Great Ice Cream Truck Heist by JJ Johnson tells a funny and memorable tale. Full of bravado and self-doubt, Iggy, age 12, leads or tries to lead his neighborhood kids working together to solve a mystery. This is Book 4 in the Iggy and Oz series, and it’s a...
Vincent in Wonderland, a tale for middle grade, is quite a surprise. Vincent Van Gogh, age 11, meets Alice, age 12. They each chase a white rabbit into a hole and find themselves together in Wonderland, also called Sian in this story. It’s no ordinary white...
Woodencloak by Dawn Ford tells a tale for middle graders of a troll princess fighting to free her father and her people. It’s a page turner, all right, as Horra barely escapes her castle during a coup. Together with her pet eagle, Horra flees into the wilderness and...
The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Dawn Ford leads the reader on a young adult fantasy journey spanning two worlds. Tambrynn hates her indentured servitude, basically slavery since there seems to be no end in sight. She’s been a kitchen helper/scrubber of things...