Today’s featured review is of Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson. It was featured on quite a few blogs, but I think EMFSF panelist Brandy, blogging over at Random Musings of a Bibliophile said it best: The imagery and descriptiveness of the book are pretty much perfect. As I read, I felt like I …
Review: Firefly July
Today’s review of the day comes from Poetry panelist Kelly, who blogs at Writing and Ruminating. Back during National Poetry month, she reviewed Poetry finalist Firefly July by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Kelly wrote: Most of the poems fall into the “imagist” category: full of clear, sharp language, and conveying a clear snapshot description of the poem’s …
Review: Feathers: Not Just For Flying
Today’s review comes from Carol, a round one Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction panelist, who blogs at Carol’s Corner. She reviewed finalist Feathers: Not Just for Flying, by Melissa Stewart, writing: Great for a lesson on birds, animal adaptations, metaphor, or capturing information on illustrations! Or just plain reading and enjoying! Read the rest of the review here.
2014 Finalists: The Ones that Got Away
Every year, our panelists read hundreds of books (generally). Which means, every year, when they as a group narrow the books down to finalists, there are some that don’t make the cut. Here are some posts by panelists highlighting great books in their categories that didn’t quite make the cut. Kim at Si, Se Puede highlights some of her favorite …
The 2014 Finalists
My very first day of first grade was also the day my school district desegregated. It was 1969, and my grandmother had told me I’d be going to school with “colored children”. A new box of Crayola crayons sat in my school kit, and my little six-year-old self fully expected to see the same glorious rainbow of colors among the …
Review: Don’t Even Think About It
Today’s review comes from Cybils Young Adult Speculative Fiction panelist Liviana, who blogs at In Bed With Books. She read nominee Don’t Even Think About It, by Sarah Mlynowski earlier this year and wrote: Sarah Mlynowski’s newest novel, Don’t Even Think About It pulls off a very neat trick: it’s written in fourth person. It’s a little disorienting at first, but then I …
Review: Blood of My Blood
Today’s review of the day is the third in the I Hunt Killers series, and Young Adult Fiction nominee Blood of My Blood, by Barry Lyga. The review is by Young Adult fiction panelist William, who is one of the bloggers at Guys Lit Wire. He writes: This question of nature versus nurture is made explicit in Barry Lyga’s Blood …
Review: The Port Chicago 50
Today’s review of the National Book Award nominee, and Young Adult Non-fiction nominee The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, by Steve Sheinkin comes from round one panelist Danyelle. She blogs at Bookshelves in the Cul-de-Sac and did a nonfiction round-up over the summer. About The Port Chicago 50, she writes: Sheinkin is one the best writers …
Review: A Piece of Cake
Today’s review comes from librarian, speaker, and author Kristen Remenar. who is also a first round Fiction Picture book panelist. She recently reviewed nominee A Piece of Cake by LeUyen Pham. Every December I see lists of the best books of the year, and every year there’s at least one gem that I can’t believe isn’t getting more love. My choice this …
Review: Bird & Squirrel on Ice
Graphic Novel nominee Bird & Squirrel on Ice, by James Burks is our featured review today. The review comes from Nicola, a round one panelist on Graphic Novels. She writes on her blog It’s All Comic to Me: Another great Bird & Squirrel book! I love these two characters; they are like a modern day Frog and Toad. Two friends with …