September 5, 2022
In Cicek Bricault’s middle-grade novel, a twelve-year-old girl desperate to become popular hides her unique ability, fearful of seeming like a freak.
KyRose dreams of joining her school’s in-crowd, which means making friends with Georgia, the “popular and ruthless” soccer captain. One day in gym class, KyRose makes a good play, and Georgia pushes her […]
February 7, 2022
Reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz but with a modern-day component, Ellen Dee Davidson’s Wind involves a natural disaster that sets a young girl on an imaginative course of discovery. Along the way she also learns the importance of family, friendships, and overcoming fears.
Offering an enticing blend of fantasy, mythology, and earth mysticism, this […]
February 7, 2022
In the first volume of Dave Maruszewski’s middle-grade book, three young squires pursue a half man/half beast who threatens to destroy a town—and then some.
Learning that a priest in another town is worried about “odd happenings,” a king assigns his charges Raven, Ravai, and Romda, to investigate. When the trio arrive, the priest is […]
February 1, 2022
In this middle-grade novel, a lonely boy makes a wish that endangers his town.
Timothy Sperling misses his mother and father terribly. They have gone on a voyage to save a species of bird from extinction and haven’t been heard from in seven years. Tim has been left in the care of his gloomy, reclusive […]
December 13, 2021
In 15-year-old Sébastien Bourbeau’s first book, a komodo dragon discovers his purpose by time traveling.
In the foreword, Bourbeau’s grandmother explains that the book is a work of experimental fiction and defines the genre. Next, the author introduces himself and speaks directly to readers in a lively way, asserting: “Imagination/belongs to all of/us,/especially kids!/Use it […]
November 8, 2021
In the last book of P.K. Butler’s middle-grade trilogy, 12-year-old Claire, who has a spiritual connection with birds, visits her Irish relatives and discovers a secret about her ancestry.
Claire, her friend Victor, and her mother learn that Claire’s grandmother, Kathleen, and great grandmother, Mamo, may have to sell the family castle—their home and livelihood. […]
November 8, 2021
In the first installment of Sandra Kelly’s middle-grade series, a large group of dragons with magical skills must rescue a queen dragon and juvenile dragons before an ogre devours them.
On a large, ten-sided mountain called Decagon, nine sides hold lovely forests, lakes, and valleys. But living on the tenth side is Weld, a power-hungry […]
October 11, 2021
What’s Wrong with a Pet Dinosaur? is a collection of humorous poems appropriate for children ages four through ten, written in a style and tone reminiscent of the famous poet Shel Silverstein. Simple line drawings created by the author complement the text.
The poems address everyday childhood experiences and queries with a zaniness that will […]
September 27, 2021
In the second offering of P.K. Butler’s Of the Wing trilogy, 11-year-old Claire, who has a mystical connection with birds, goes on a trip with a billionaire ornithologist to find a rarely-seen species.
Whenever Claire wears a T-shirt with a picture of a bird, that bird will come to her. She has a special relationship […]
September 13, 2021
The Firma twins resume their battle against the evil alien Vympyrym in the second of D.H. Timpko’s middle-grade series, The Firma Twins and the Flute of Enchantment.
In the first book, identical twins Isis and Electra found the family artifact with supernatural powers, the Purple Staff of Death. This story picks up with Electra practicing […]