The ones that speak to me are those whose final pages admit there is no going back. That every good thing must end. That every bad thing does too, that everything does. That is what I’m looking for every time I flip to the back of a book, compulsively checking for proof that in a... Continue Reading →
Middle Grade Book of the week: The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Summary Mr. Wolf is tired of always being the bad guy and decides to make a change. He recruits Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake and Mr. Piranha for a mission to rescue 200 dogs from a pound. But it's not as easy as he thinks. The public thinks of them as the bad guys, not heroes.... Continue Reading →
Middle Grade Book of the Week: New Kid by Jerry Craft
Summary: Jordan wants to go to art school, but his mom is convinced Riverdale Academy Day School will provide him with the best opportunities for his future. The exclusive private school, with little diversity, is a whole new culture for Jordan. He struggles to balance two worlds while staying true to himself. My Thoughts: Many... Continue Reading →
Middle Grade Book of the Week: The War with Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith
Summary Peter loves his grandfather and is happy that he will be moving in with the family. Until he finds out it means giving up his room. He thinks Grandpa will give up the room if he plays a few pranks. Instead, Grandpa declares war. My Thoughts This classic from the 1980's was made into... Continue Reading →
Middle Grade Book of the Week: Area 51 Files written by Julie Buxbaum and illustrated by Lavanya Naiou
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: September 13, 2022. Summary: When Skye's grandmother moves to a retirement community, Skye is not allowed to go with her. Instead, she is sent to live with her Uncle Anish in Area 51. Yes, that Area... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Thumb Fire Desire by Carol Nickles
I received a free ebook copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Description In the Spring of 1881, indigent seamstress Ginny Dahlke arrives in one of the earliest Polish American settlements—Parisville, Michigan. Deemed charmless and awkward by her mean-spirited sister-in-law, Ginny disparages her chance of securing love. But sought-after widowed... Continue Reading →
Middle Grade Book of the week: Heroes Like Us: Two Stories by Onjali Q. Raúf
Goodreads Link This week I was fortunate to receive an eARC copy of Heroes Like Us: Two Stories by Onjali Q. Raúfroes from NetGalley. This review is based on my own personal opinions. Summary Heroes Like Us is a collection of two stories in which children make a difference and become heroes. The first story,... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Mud Puddle Early Reader by Robert Munsch
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a complimentary uncorrected proof. All opinions are my own. Details: Title: Mud Puddle Author: Robert Munsch Illustrator: Dušan Petričić Publisher: Annick Press Publication Date: 9/6/22 Summary: This is an early reader print format of a Robert Munsch classic. Wherever Julie Ann goes a mud puddle jumps on... Continue Reading →
Attended Book Launch
I joined Lilac City Rochester Writers in fall of 2020. The first event (over zoom since it was the height of the pandemic) was a critique. One of the pieces we reviewed was a chapter from Rick Ieckel's book about the history of the Rochester airport. Today I got to attend the book launch. It... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Frankenslime written by Joy Keller and Illustrated by Ashley Belote
Summary: Victoria Franken is young scientist who loves making slime. Along with her dog, Igor, she uses the scientific method to create different kinds of slime such as Intergalactic space slime and Glow-in-the-dark zombie slime. Then one day, one of her creations comes to life. This is a delightful story that also teaches kids about... Continue Reading →