Randomly Reading is a book review blog by Middle Grade Fiction Round 2 judge and former 4th grade teacher Alex Baugh; many of us know her from her blog Alex’s Bookshelves/The Children’s War, which focuses on books for young people that include World War II themes. Just last month, she reviewed Middle Grade Fiction nominee In the Footsteps of Crazy …
REVIEW: Lucky Penny
Today’s featured blog review comes from venerable comics blog No Flying No Tights, courtesy of Round 1 Graphic Novels judge Amy Estersohn, who is a seventh-grade English teacher by day. Recently, she reviewed YA Graphic Novels nominee Lucky Penny by Ananth Hirsh and Yuko Ota, a story about a very unlucky young woman. About the book, Amy said: “This book’s …
REVIEW: Puddles!!!
Over here in your trusty co-blog-editor’s neighborhood, the fall/winter rains have been starting, so it seems like a good time to post a blog review of Puddles!!! by Kevan Atteberry, a nominee for Fiction Picture Books. The review comes from Round 1 judge Lynne Marie Pisano, a children’s author from South Florida who blogs at My Word Playground. In her …
REVIEW: Big Cat (I Like to Read)
I must admit–it was the laugh-out-loud goofy illustration on the cover that drew me in to pick this title for today’s featured review. Easy Readers nominee Big Cat (I Like to Read) by Ethan Long is about two siblings who love playing with their enormous cat–sometimes to the cat’s dismay. The book review comes from Round 1 Easy Readers/Early Chapter …
REVIEW: Afterward: A Novel
Round 1 YA Fiction judge Jenni Frencham is a Goodreads librarian as well as a real-life librarian–specifically, she’s Youth Services Director at a rural public library. She reviewed today’s title, YA fiction nominee Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu, on her Goodreads account earlier this year. This suspenseful novel about recovery from trauma, living with a disability, and healing through friendship earned …
REVIEW: Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
Today’s featured review is from Brandy Painter, Round 1 judge in Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. She is a homeschooling mom and English teacher who blogs at Random Musings of a Bibliophile. She reviews realistic and speculative fiction for middle grade and young adult readers, and earlier this year she reviewed Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom by David Neilsen. …
REVIEW: You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen
History in verse! What a cool idea. Today’s nominee from the Poetry category uses just such an innovative concept. You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, is a nonfiction poetry title with some amazingly dynamic scratchboard illustrations by the author’s son. The review (and interview!) comes from Round 1 Poetry judge (and …
REVIEW: This Land is Our Land
Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving (Happy Turkey Day, everyone!), it seems like a good time to post a review of a Nonfiction YA nominee that looks at our American history, in appreciation of the multitudes who came before us and have contributed invaluably to where we are now. That nominee is This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration …
REVIEW: All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
Karen Yingling is our Middle Grade Fiction Category Chair this year, as well as a Round 1 judge, middle school librarian, reviewer for SLJ and YA Books Central, and, of course, blogger at Ms. Yingling Reads. Earlier this year, she reviewed Middle Grade Fiction nominee All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor, a family story with …
REVIEW: Bera the One-Headed Troll
Today’s featured reviewer is Round 1 Graphic Novels judge and first-time Cybils participant Benedict Hutchinson, who blogs at A Goblin Reviews Graphic Novels. (Plus–PSST!–he is the son of our very own EMSF category organizer!) As a Round 2 judge in Graphic Novels, I’m looking forward to seeing what he and the rest of the panel pick for us. One of …