Today’s review comes from Book App judge Paula who usually blogs at Pink Me. She did review the book app for Shaun Tan’s Rules of Summer for School Library Journal earlier this year. She wrote: Atmospheric, textured, surreal—the work of Shaun Tan is easily described as “cinematic.” His tableaux appear to be stills from a larger story, his settings hint at a larger …
Review: Greenglass House
Today’s review of National Book award longlisted and Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative fiction nominated Greenglass House, by Kate Milford comes from longtime Cybils volunteer, Sherry. A homeschoooling mom and avid reader, she blogs at Semicolon. She also hosts the Saturday Review of Books, which is a great place to find reviews all over the book blogs. About Greenglass House, she writes: I …
Featured Bloggers: Guinevere and Libertad Tomas
This month’s featured bloggers are Guinevere and Libertad at Twinja Book Reviews. We met them at KidlitCon last month, and were impressed by their enthusiasm and energy and passion, and wanted to get to know them a big more. We were glad they took some time to answer our questions about their blog and diversity in YA/Speculative Fiction. Tell us a …
Review: Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty
I’m being indulgent today. Partially, because I hardly ever read and review a collection of poetry. And partially because this is one of those books I want everyone to know about. I recently read and reviewed Poetry nominee Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty, by Christine Heppermann and was completely enthralled. I wrote: I didn’t know what to expect, but …
Review: The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
Today’s review of Middle Grade Fiction nominee The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, by Dana Levy comes from Middle Grade second round judge, Alex. An avid reader and a teacher, Alex has enjoyed reading since the age of four. Of the Fletchers, she writes: Everyone I know who has read Dana Levy’s The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher agrees that the …
Review: Fly Away
Today’s review comes from first-round panelist Kimberley, who blogs at Books First in Maine. A teacher, parent, and avid reader, Kimberly recently read Easy Reader/Beginning chapter book nominee, Fly Away, by Patricia MacLachlan. She wrote: Patricia MacLachlan has the ability to really move me. She does it so subtly, you almost feel duped. “Hey!” you think, “Why am I crying?” Then …
Review: Viva Frida
A first-round Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction panelist, librarian and parent, Ellen, still manages to find time to blog at On the Shelf 4 Kids. She recently read nominee Elementary/Middle Grade nonfiction nominee Viva Frida, by Yuyi Morales. She writes: I like the way the visuals flow through Frida’s boisterous life and into a dreamlike state. Much like the wounded deer she often …
Review: Girls Like Us
Author and blogger Lyn reviews at The Pirate Tree, along with a handful of other bloggers interested in children’s literature and social justice issues. A first round Young Adult Fiction panelist, Lyn reviewed nominee Girls Like Us by Gail Giles. She writes: Gail Giles’s narrative alternates between Biddy and Quincy as they tape-record their tumultuous first months together—a time when Quincy …
Review: The Family Romanov
Blogging at The Fourth Musketter , librarian and Young Adult Nonfition panelist, Margo specializes in historical fiction for young people. She reivews Young Adult Nonfiction nominee The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming, writing: Fleming expertly weaves together the intimate life of Russia’s last czar and his family with the saga of the revolution brewing …
Review: Strange Sweet Song
Kimberly, half of the dynamic duo at Stacked, is a first round Young Adult Speculative fiction panelist. And, as anyone familiar with the Cybils knows, that means she’s doing a LOT of reading. She recently highlighted a few books she finished, along with Speculative fiction nominee Strange Sweet Song, by Adi Rule. She writes: This book lives up to its title. …