Being a fan of Chris Grabenstein, I was excited to read his latest book, The Smartest Kid in the Universe: Genius Camp. While this book can stand on its own without having read the first in the series…
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Perfection is everything one could want in a middle-grade book: great characters, humor, and an excellent plot. The story begins as we meet Ben and his not-so-perfect pa…
“The problem with broken hearts isn’t that they kill you. It’s that they don’t.”
Nicola Yoon is a popular YA author, and Instructions for Dancing makes it easy to see why. The combination of an int…
The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson tugs at the heartstrings from the first page to the last. The story flips between World War II and present day, but each story needs to be told. If becoming emo…
It's no secret that friendships can be tough at times. For Shade, the protagonist in The Falling Girls, her closest friend is a girl named Jadis, someone who knows Shade like the back of her hand. The…
Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti lets you into the world of Mara Jacobs during one of the most difficult times in her life. The way it is written is done masterfully. Ruchti has a wa…
Jody Hedlund begins her Waters of Time Series with Come Back to Me. This is a time travel novel in which some characters go back and forth in time to try and save others from term…
This particular edition is the first three books in the seventeen book series. (There is also a spin-off series called the Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly.) The Wrenly books are ch…
Missing Okalee is an emotional read. The main character, Phoebe, has a great relationship with her sister, Okalee, but feels second-best to her parents. When Okalee tragically dies, Phoebe finds herse…
Say it Out Loud is one of those books that makes you experience many emotions from anger to excitement and several in between. BFFS Charlotte and Maddie are nervous to start middle school and wit…
Do you love urban legends and unexplained phenomena? Do conspiracy theories keep you up at night? Are you a fan of horror and suspense? If you answered yes to any of those questions then I would highl…
Seasoned YA author, Betty Culley brings us her first middle-grade novel in Down to Earth. It's such a fun book that had a similar feel to Robin Yardi's Owl's Outstanding Donuts. Several…
