n Mulan: Before the Sword, Grace Lin takes her turn as storyteller of the Chinese folk tale of Mulan, female warrior of old.
Mulan: Before the Sword by Grace Lin, a review Read Post »
Book reviews
In Alone by Megan E Freeman, twelve-year-old Maddie meant to plan a secret sleepover with a smorgasbord of Twinkies, soda and frozen pizza. But her friends cancel and she sleeps by herself at her grandparents’ apartment. Then she wakes up to a new world–one with no other people in it.
Alone by Megan E. Freeman, a review Read Post »
Anne Holm, a Danish journalist and author, wrote this novel in 1963 about a twelve-year-old boy who grew up in a concentration camp in Eastern Europe and remembers nothing else. David’s life and outlook are uniformly grim. He has never even smiled.Anne Holm, a Danish journalist and author, wrote this novel in 1963 about a twelve-year-old boy who grew up in a concentration camp in Eastern Europe and remembers nothing else. David’s life and outlook are uniformly grim. He has never even smiled.
I Am David by Anne Holm, a review Read Post »
Kate Albus has penned a World War II story, A Place to Hang the Moon, that engages the reader magnificently.
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus, a review Read Post »
Coo by Kaela Noel, a middle-grade tale, tells the story of a girl raised by pigeons. It’s a sweet story;
Coo by Kaela Noel, a middle-grade book review Read Post »
In this book, Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, the author channels his twelve-year-old self, an immigrant living in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, a book review Read Post »
A middle-grade book review: Twelve-year-old Coyote Sunrise and her dad, Rodeo, wander America in their retrofitted school bus, with no plans, no schedule. Well, there is one scheduled item–a weekly call to Coyote’s grandma. In a call to Coyote in Florida, Grandma casually tells her that the park down the street is going to be dug up for development in four days.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, a book review Read Post »
His Gift by Joan C. Benson tells the inspirational story of a gifted teenage concert pianist. Molly has entered a competition sponsored by the Detroit Symphony in the fateful fall of 1929.
His Gift by Joan C. Benson, a review Read Post »
When her father is struck by a falling tree and lies in a coma, Ellie wants nothing more than to heal him. He’d taught her some of the woodsy healing arts, and she sets out to try them first on a seemingly stillborn puppy, then on her helpless father, and on an injured neighbor everyone thinks is a witch.
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk, a review Read Post »
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan is a novel that pairs the points of view of two fifth grade boys, Ravi, a recent immigrant from India, and Joe, a local guy. Both have to deal with the same bully.
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan, a review Read Post »
Chirp by Kate Messner, published in 2020, tells the tale of Mia, a twelve year old former gymnast who’s just moved from Boston to Vermont. Her family moved there to support her grandmother, whose unpredictability makes everyone wonder what’s going to happen next. Gram’s business, raising crickets for people food, is languishing.
Chirp by Kate Messner, a review Read Post »
Kate Messner’s Ranger in Time series features a rescue dog, Ranger, who who magically is called to other times and places to help save people. In this tale, Soldiers and Spies, Ranger helps a young black soldier in the Continental Army of George Washington. It’s winter, and battle is coming.
Ranger in Time: Night of Soldiers and Spies, by Kate Messner Read Post »