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Book Reviews

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

5/1/2020

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Thanks Libro.fm for the free copy through your Educator ALC program!
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I literally devoured this book in one setting as I did yard work this afternoon. I was hesitant about if I would like this book narrated in a 10 year old’s voice, but once I got into the story I loved it.  It's full of heart and great talking points for any middle grader going through a transition time in his or her life.

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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

3/26/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing @bookedupblog with a free copy of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. ​
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One of the most delightful middle grade reads I’ve read in a long time, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser takes us into the heart and home of the Vanderbeekers at Christmastime.  All is merry and bright, until the family learns their landlord is refusing to renew their lease and they must be out by the end of the month. The 5 Vanderbeeker children take matters into their own hands, showing their unique personalities and talents in an attempt to change their Scrooge-like landlord’s mind before it’s too late.  Each character is charming in their own way. Great for the classroom or for independent reading, this middle grade novel will teach kiddos never to give up when faced with the impossible and to never judge a book by its cover.

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Colorblind by Leah Harper Bowron

3/9/2018

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Thank you to Spark Press for a free copy of Colorblind in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.
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Colorblind by Leah Harper Bowron transports readers back to Montgomery, Alabama, 1968, where a small all-white elementary school becomes one of the first to integrate its halls with their first African-American teacher.  Told from the point of view of one of her students, Miss Loomis experiences prejudice and racism like she’s never seen before.  But her student, Lisa, is determined to make her feel comfortable and wanted despite the opinions and actions of the other teachers, students, and even Lisa’s mother.  Lisa knows what it’s like to be outcast and bullied for the way she looks, but she’s never seen the people she knows and loves be so mean before.  Filled with multiple opportunities to talk about prejudice of all shapes and sizes, Colorblind is a middle grade book that takes a look at what one young person can do in the face of adversity.

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Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas

3/2/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for a free copy of Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas in exchange for an honest review.
​ All opinions are my own.
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Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life is a perfect read if you grew up reading or watching Little House on the Prairie.  It brought a flood of nostalgic feelings back to my reading life, leaving me wanting to go back and reread (and rewatch) the original.  Tougas highlights all the ways in which Laura Ingalls Wilder portrays life on the prairie, including many ways in which she misrepresents the people and the experience.  

​The main character, Charlotte, moves to Walnut Grove with her twin brother, little sister, and their dog’s ashes after their mother has a dream about Laura Ingalls Wilder.  As a writer, Charlotte’s mom needs the inspiration only Laura’s childhood can provide, causing upheaval in everyone’s lives, especially Charlotte’s.
When they finally arrive, however, Charlotte’s mom begins to spiral into a depression, struggles to write about the prairie, and breaks her promises to her children.  Blaming Laura for all her family problems, Charlotte expresses her disdain for Walnut Grove in an essay assignment, explaining in detail all the ways Laura has ruined her life.  

Perfect for adults needing a tug on their nostalgic heartstrings and middle-grade readers that want to see how life on the prairie compares to the past, check out why you should read Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life​.

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Sit by Deborah Ellis

1/19/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange and Groundwood Books for a free advanced copy of Sit in exchange for my honest review.  
All opinions are my own.
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Sit is a powerful collection of stories, all connected by one theme: the ways we sit and observe the world.  Author Deborah Ellis shares the experience of seven children as they try to understand the situations they find themselves in and the world at large.  Each is faced with a choice: to continue to sit or to stand up and take action.  I truly enjoyed this collection and found several ways in which older middle grade and young adults could connect and relate.  Read on to hear what I loved, what I didn't enjoy, and my rating!

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Suspect Red by L. M. Elliott

11/20/2017

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing the free copy of Suspect Red by L. M. Elliott in exchange for an honest review.  
All opinions are my own.
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Suspect Red takes readers back in time to experience life in America 1953 during the height of the Red Scare.  L. M. Elliott uses historical fiction to explain to young readers the impact political events had on everyday kids like them.  Each chapter begins with a few pages of history to immerse readers in the events of the time, which in turn is expertly weaved into the plot.  Photographs, headlines, and quotes from the era help put you in the frame of mind of our characters as they traverse the uncertainty that was the Red Scare.  ​

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Jorie and the Magic Stones by A. H. Richardson

11/16/2017

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing the free copy of Jorie and the Magic Stones by A. H. Richardson in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.
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Nine-year-old Jorie is your typical girl with a typical childhood who has gone to live with her Great Aunt Letty at Mortimer Manor.  She likes to explore and play, especially with her new friend, Rufus.  Rufus and Jorie travel to an magical land called Cabrynthius, a location that is not in their imaginations.  Guided by a talking cat through the local lake (yes, through), Jorie and Rufus discover that Jorie isn’t so “typical” at all.  She is the Child with Hair of Fire foretold by legends as the savior of Cabrynthius.  Jorie must find the missing Stones of Maalog before an evil sorcerer so that he cannot gain their power and wreak havoc in Cabrynthius.  Along Jorie’s dangerous journey she and Rufus encounter dragons, a greedy tutor, caves of fire, and shape-shifting creatures.  It’s an adventure straight out of a storybook that you have to read to believe.  

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The Bug Boys vs. Professor Blake Blackhart by Stewart Hoffman

10/29/2017

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing the free copy of The Bug Boys vs. Professor Blake Blackhart by @shoffman3572 in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.
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In this second installment from author Stewart Hoffman, The Bug Boys vs. Professor Blake Blackhart continues the adventure of Alex and Ian, two boys who gain special abilities of every bug they ingest.  This time around, they face Blake Blackhart, a disgraced Oxford professor who has discovered the boys’ secret and is using it to commit dastardly deeds all over the village!  Before his plan to take over the galaxy using the alien technology, Alex and Ian must find a way to use their abilities and their tiny alien friends to stop their first real villain.  Another laugh-out-loud novel from @shoffman3572, I really enjoyed reading more about Alex and Ian’s story.  Hoffman takes the best parts of his first novel and amps them up in the second, leaving me wanting even more from these unlikely heroes.  (Yes, I even enjoyed the footnotes in this one!)  I said it once and I’ll say it again, The Bug Boys novels are great for all kiddos that enjoy superheroes, robots, bugs, and aliens!  There’s even humor for the adults reading along too.  I’m giving it 4 out of this world stars out of 5!
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The Wish Granter by C. J. Redwine

10/19/2017

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Thank you to Kid Lit Exchange for the free copy of The Wish Granter by C. J. Redwine in exchange for an unbiased review.  
All opinions are my own.
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Inspired by the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, The Wish Granter is an adventure like I’ve never experienced before.  Teague is the infamous and titular Wish Granter, a fae who grants people their greatest desires in exchange for something quite valuable: their souls.  The exchange leads to nothing but misery for now King Thad and his sister, Ari.  Their mother was murdered, the former king and his family were killed, all in exchange for Ari’s safety.  When Ari learns about the magical contract between her brother and Teague, she’ll stop at nothing to save her brother and her community from the reign of the Wish Granter.  She gains a friend, Sebastian, along the way, who may not be exactly who he says he is.  Everything is on the line for both Ari and Teague, and if Ari can’t outwit him she’ll lose everything, including her soul. I loved this one so much that I’m giving it a full review on the blog! Read more to see my rating and full review. 

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Tiger Kingdom and the Book of Destiny by Stacie Eirich

10/10/2017

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Thank you to Kid Lit Exchange for providing me with a free advanced copy of Tiger Kingdom and the Book of Destiny by Stacie Eirich in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.
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Reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia, Tiger Kingdom and The Book of Destiny is a middle grade read for kiddos who want to be transported into another land. Twins Suzie and Jack find themselves in Tiger Kingdom’s enchanted forest filled with talking animals and creatures. As they continue exploring they learn that they aren’t the only humans in the land and that they have been called to help find Queen Mohini and her cubs. The Tiger King, Sampson, sends them on a quest to find the Book of Destiny to help restore the Queen to her home. 
This was a short read, but it was engaging. I found myself wanting to know more and more as each chapter progressed. I was disappointed to find that the story ends right as the plot begins to thicken! However, I did find that the short poems included at the beginning of each chapter was a great way to introduce free-verse poetry to younger readers. I could see many teachers using this in their classrooms as an example of poetry used to tell a story and as a “finish the story” writing prompt. 

Stacie Eirich has a great start to the story-and I’m anxious to know if there will be more! 

Rating: 3 out of 5  (mostly because of the abrupt ending)
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