Title: Sidekicked Author: John David Anderson Genre: Speculative Fiction, Contemporary/Urban Fantasy, Superheroes, Middle Grade Publisher: Walden Pond Press Publication Date: June 2013 Hardcover: 384 Pages With not nearly enough power comes way too much responsibility. Andrew Bean might be…
Middle Grade
Middle Grade Review Bonanza: Rump by Liesl Shurtliff, Aesop’s Secret by Claudia White, and Binny for Short by Hilary McKay
The Middle Grade Review Bonanza is a new feature of 2-3 mini-reviews for short (typically 250 pages or less) MG books we both really wanted to read. It’s a new Regular Thing (and we’d love to hear your thoughts…
Old School Wednesdays Readalong: Archer’s Goon by Diana Wynne Jones
Old School Wednesdays is a weekly Book Smuggler feature. We came up with the idea towards the end of 2012, when both Ana and Thea were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of New and Shiny (and often over-hyped)…
The Glass Puzzle: Christine Brodien-Jones on Inspirations & Influences (& Giveaway)
“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free rein so they can go wild…
Middle Grade Review Bonanza: the David Almond Edition (The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas; The Savage and Mouse Bird Snake Wolf).
The Middle Grade Review Bonanza is a new feature of 2-3 mini-reviews for short (typically 250 pages or less) MG books we both really wanted to read. It’s a new Regular Thing (and we’d love to hear your thoughts…
Title: P.S. Be Eleven Author: Rita Williams-Garcia Genre: Historical, Middle Grade, POC Publisher: Amistad Publication date: May 21st 2013 Hardcover: 288 pages In this exquisite sequel to the New York Times bestseller One Crazy Summer, the Gaither sisters return…
Title: The Water Castle Author: Megan Frazer Blakemore Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Walker Childrens Publication date: January 8th 2013 Hardcover: 304 pages Ephraim Appledore-Smith is an ordinary boy, and up until his father’s stroke, he lived…
Title: Mirage Author: Jenn Reese Genre: Speculative Fiction, Dystopia, Middle Grade Publisher: Candlewick Publication Date: March 2013 Hardcover: 368 Pages A thrilling sequel from an exciting new voice in middle-grade sci-fi tracks two ocean-born children braving the dangers of…
Book Review: The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton / Illustrated by Brett Helquist
Title: The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic Author: Jennifer Trafton and Brett Helquist (Illustrator) Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Publisher: Dial Publication date: December 2010 Hardcover: 352 pages Ten-year-old Persimmony Smudge leads (much to her chagrin) a very dull…
It’s Friday, which means we are over at Kirkus! Today, Thea lists some of her recommended books – both old school and contemporary – to get young or new readers in the mood for fantasy. The list is inpsired…