A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Why is a book with a loving family in it more enjoyable to read? In a place to hang the moon by Kate Albus, there are three siblings named William, Edmund, and Anna who live in London, England. When their grandmother dies, they have to come up with a plan to find someone … Read more
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Maggie is super excited that she’s going to be allowed to pick out a puppy for her birthday. But instead of a dog, she comes home congested and covered in hives. It turns out she’s allergic to dogs (and cats and probably other furry creatures, too), and this breaks her heart – she loves … Read more
My Brigadista Year by Katherine Paterson Historical Fiction Juvenile Fiction (grades 5-8) * * * * Stars (Great!) It’s 1961 and Lora, who has grown up in Havana, Cuba, wants to become a brigadista, and teach people in faraway rural communities how to read and write. Her parents want to refuse (she’s too young, it’s too dangerous), but her grandmother persuades them to let her go, even though Lora is only thirteen. Lora receives training … Read more
The Return of Zita the Spacegirl Zita the Spacegirl #3 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Zita’s exploits seemed heroic, but now she’s being imprisoned for her crimes. Thrown into a dungeon and forced to work in the mines, she’s desperate to escape, but only if she can take her friends with her. A mysterious benefactor helps her break out and they have to work together to … Read more
Legends of Zita the Spacegirl Zita the Spacegirl #2 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Zita’s pretty much famous now that she’s saved a world from complete annihilation. But she’s not so comfortable being a superstar, so when a weird little look-alike robot shows up and starts impersonating her, Zita is glad for the break. But when the REAL Zita is ready to return, her doppelganger won’t … Read more
The Big Break by Mark Tatulli Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Best friends and middle schoolers, Andrew and Russ are in the process of filming a documentary about a local cryptid – the Jersey Devil – which they plan on entering in a contest. They’re trying to figure out how it should end and add some special effects when Russ gets distracted by a new friendship. With a girl – … Read more
Far from Home Zita the Spacegirl #1 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Zita and her friend Joseph find a meteor crash site and within the meteor is a device with a big red button that Zita can’t resist pressing. It opens up a gate to another world and Joseph promptly gets sucked in. Zita follows him shortly thereafter, but discovers that Joseph has already been … Read more
The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horowitz Fantasy Juvenile Fiction YA Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) 12-year-old Clementine is going to be the next Dark Lord Morcerous, after her father Elithor. And while she’s received endless instruction in her future responsibilities, her heart, her nature aren’t exactly suited to being really evil. To make matters worse, her father has been cursed by a power-hungry witch who intends to force him to cede … Read more
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book was amazing! The main character is Jay Berry. He has a little sister named Daisy who is his twin. Jay was born healthy, but Daisy was born with a crippled leg. Jay thinks his summer is boring until he sees monkeys by the bottoms. Seekin gthe advice of his grandfather, Jay sets out to … Read more
The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The humans see him as a trouble maker. Aggie, his sister, sees him as the most wonderful brother. Meet Alastair, the African Grey parrot. He has a tendency to bite. He enjoys eating words. As soon as he rips a page out, the words spring into his mouth. Some taste as dry as sawdust. Some taste … Read more