My first finished book of 2019 is You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P.! and it is one that I would highly recommend. Alex Gino created something really special with this book and it deserves to be in all middle school libraries. Why? Because it deals with privilege and racism, important yet challenging topics that need … Continue reading You Don’t Know Everything, Jillly P!
My younger daughter has recently gotten into the Wendy Mass series “Willow Falls” which starts with the book 11 Birthdays. She listens to audiobooks at night and picked this one and was quickly sucked in. I listened to snippets with her when she was going to sleep, and was intrigued enough myself that I figured … Continue reading 11 Birthdays and other Wish Books
Lynda Mullaly Hunt has won me over as a MG author who just really gets it. I absolutely adored Fish in a Tree, and with this book she has created characters that are instantly real and a situation that is all too plausible. I absolutely fell in love with the characters and could have finished … Continue reading All the Stars for One for the Murphys
It is World Cup season and there are many people glued to their televisions to cheer on their team. Football, or soccer as we call it here in the US, is a world-wide phenomenon that has helped bridge divides and that most countries participate in. While it isn't huge where we are living at the … Continue reading Wild for the World Cup
There are times when you can be reading a book and from the first few pages you know that it is going to be great. This was one of those books. I have a feeling that it will resonate with kids for a long time. Goodreads Synopsis Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn't … Continue reading The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
One of the reasons that I love the NC Battle of the Books so much is that it encourages kids to read things that are outside of their normal scope or favorite genre. Here in this house we are getting a jump start on next year's list. The first one that I finished is Ashes … Continue reading Ashes to Asheville
If you are a fan of middle-grade fiction, you have most likely heard of the book Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Wonder deals with a child who has a cleft palate and his experiences when he goes to a real school for the first time rather than being home-schooled. He can't hide his condition but he … Continue reading Caleb and Kit
Welcome to Day #6 of the One Good Thing About America Blog Tour! To celebrate the release of One Good Thing About America by Ruth Freeman (3/14/17), blogs across the web are featuring exclusive content from Ruth and 10 chances to win a copy of One Good Thing About America, as well as a chance to win a Skype … Continue reading Blog Tour & Giveaway – One Good Thing About America
When the first Scholastic flyers came home from my kids' school this fall, I gladly spent a chunk of money on books to support their classrooms. While going through their selections, I came across the book "Save Me a Seat" by Sarah Weeks and Gata Varadarajan and bought it on a whim. That whim proved … Continue reading Save Me a Seat
Every year schools across the state of North Carolina compete in the Battle of the Books. There is an elementary level and a middle school level. The elementary Battle of the Books is only open to kids in the 4th and 5th grade. J has been waiting to be able to be a part of … Continue reading A Learning Lesson in A Long Walk to Water