Book reviews for genres: Fantasy, Children's Fiction, Sci Fi, Mystery, Thrillers, and YA
By Dave Eggers
Published on: April 30, 2018
The cover is mostly what drew me to this book. It wasn’t the colors or the layout, but instead it was what was within the picture. If you look carefully you’ll see tunnels seemingly going everywhere with weird things holding them up. (Like… is that a grandfather clock? And a hockey stick?)
Continue reading “The Lifters – Audio Book Review”Britfield Series Book 1 by C. R. Stewart
Published on: August 1, 2019
If there wasn’t already a well-known book and movie by the title of The Great Escape, I would say that this book should be renamed to it because this whole book is one exciting escape after escape.
The Weatherly Orphanage isn’t known by its occupants for being a warm and cozy place to live. Instead, it is a place where the kids get little food and clothing and are forced to work long hours at a nearby factory. It’s also known for doling out harsh punishments for small infractions. When an unexpectedly harsh punishment puts Tom’s best friend Sarah into solitary confinement for a month, Tom knows it is time to leave. Their friends at the orphanage form an elaborate scheme to break them both out, starting an escape adventure that spans across England. If escaping wasn’t enough, the Grievouses hire legendary Detective Gowerstone, who is known for finding missing children and orphans.
Continue reading “Britfield & the Lost Crown – Book Review”Europa Academy Book 1 by Myles Christensen
Published on: January 25, 2020
Although this gives every appearance of being a book that introduces middle grade children to the science fiction genre, make no mistake this is most definitely an introduction to the thriller genre as well.
Continue reading “Frozen Secrets – Book Review”Hollow Dolls Book 1 By MarcyKate Connolly
Published on: January 7, 2020
A new middle grade series featuring two children with specialized magical talents, who go to The Archives in the main city to try to find out more about the town where one of them might have come from. All while having to confront a new enemy.
Continue reading “Hollow Dolls – Book Review”Greystone Secrets #1 by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Narrated by Jorjeana Marie
Published on: April 2, 2019
I had previously seen The Strangers as well as the next in the series The Deceivers, but never added it to my to-be-read list. However, when it became one the finalists for middle grade book of the year in GoodReads 2019 Choice Awards, I thought perhaps it was time that I should pick it up. It didn’t end up winning – The Tyrant’s Tomb by Rick Riordan did and I suspect one day I’ll add that one to my list too.
Continue reading “The Strangers – Audio Book Review”By Drew Callander and Alana Harrison
Art by Ryan Andrews and You
Published on November 5, 2019
Another fun book where ‘you’ are part of the story. Includes fill-in the blank stories, places to draw, and another 6-page maze. I really, really love these mazes.
Continue reading “Mightier Than The Sword: The Edge of the Word – Book Review”By Holly Black
Published on: April 14, 2015
This is a 2014 Newberry Honor winner. For whatever reason Newberry selections aren’t typically books I enjoy, but I didn’t know that it was a Newberry Honor story when I selected the audio book from the library. I was just looking for another potentially spooky book since this is October and Halloween is around the corner and a doll with actual bones definitely sounds like it falls within the creepy category.
Continue reading “Doll Bones – Audio Book Review”by Stuart Jensen
Published on: May 21, 2019
This title is crazy. But this middle grade sci fi adventure was so much fun to read. A lot of pure imagination went into this story and there were several times I could picture the author asking himself something like “exactly why can’t lobsters like Disco? I liked Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’ – why wouldn’t they like it too?” He probably didn’t think that, but still.
Continue reading “Beaverman: Attack of the Disco Lobsters – Book Review”by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
10-Book Box Set published on July 25, 2019 by Sweet Cherry Publishing
A terrific way to introduce young children to one of the most famous detectives ever – Sherlock Holmes.
Continue reading “A Study in Scarlet (The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection) – Book Review”By M.G. Velasco
Published on: August 6, 2019
A western with a modern twist! You don’t see too many westerns in the middle-grade category for kids, so when I saw this book I knew I had to give it a try, especially since it fused a modern-day style game to the core of its story.
A Garden of Books 