Book Reviews

Read short book reviews and share your thoughts about books.

Save the Date: Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon Released October 29!

September 29, 2019 ♦

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The start of a fierce fantasy duology about three maidens who are chosen for their land’s greatest honor…and one girl determined to save her sister from the grave. In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her…

Thoughts: Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

August 1, 2019 ♦

Book Reviews, Lit Review Crew

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I am sitting on my back deck with my cup of Raspberry tea, wearing a Harry Potter hoodie, and reflecting on this middle-grade novel that I feel lucky to have read before it is released. I was first introduced to Barbara Dee through the wide world of Twitter and since…

Happy Book Birthday (and a Review)!

July 30, 2019 ♦

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For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J Lockington In this lyrical coming-of-age story about family, sisterhood, music, race, and identity, Mariama J. Lockington draws on some of the emotional truths from her own experiences growing up with an adoptive white family.I am a girl but most days I feel…

Picture Book Frenzy Reviews

July 29, 2019 ♦

Book Reviews, Lit Review Crew

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During last weekend’s 24in48 Readathon, I had what I have named a Picture Book Frenzy! I sat down and read a stack of PBs that I had for our Lit Review Crew. I read a mix of really great stories and each was uplifting. I plan on reading these books…

PB Frenzy Review: Albie Newton

July 29, 2019 ♦

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Albie Newton By Josh Funk and Illustrated by Ester Garay Meet Albie Newton: child genius. He’s a whiz at inventing things. But is he inventive enough to figure out how to make friends? When precocious inventor Albie Newton enters a new preschool, he concocts the perfect plan for making friends. Unfortunately,…

PB Frenzy Review: I Will Be Fierce

July 29, 2019 ♦

Book Reviews, Lit Review Crew

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I Will Be Fierce By Bea Birdson and Illustrated By Nidhi Chanani It’s a brand-new day, and a young girl decides to take on the world like a brave explorer heading off on an epic fairytale quest. From home to school and back again, our hero conquers the Mountain of…

PB Frenzy Review: Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins

July 29, 2019 ♦

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Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins By Michele Meadows and Illustrated By Ebony Glenn A lyrical picture book biography of Janet Collins, the first African American principal dancer at the Metropolitan Opera House. Janet Collins wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and 40s, a time when racial segregation…

PB Frenzy Review: How To Code a Sandcastle

July 29, 2019 ♦

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How To Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk and Illustrated By Sara Palacios (Foreward by Reshma Saujani) From the computer science nonprofit Girls Who Code comes this lively and funny story introducing kids to computer coding concepts.Pearl and her trusty rust-proof robot, Pascal, need to build a sandcastle before summer…

PB Frenzy Review: Remarkably You

July 29, 2019 ♦

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Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller and Illustrated By Patrice Barton Pat Zietlow Miller celebrates individuality in her picture book about the beauty of being yourself.Remarkably You is a manifesto about all of the things—little or small, loud or quiet—that make us who we are.You might go unnoticed, or shine like…

PB Frenzy Review: It’s Not Hansel and Gretel

July 29, 2019 ♦

Book Reviews, Lit Review Crew

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It’s Not Hansel and Gretel by Josh Funk and Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor In the fairytale mashup, Hansel and Gretel talk back to the narrator, refusing to play their roles. Goodreads My Thoughts While Reading Hilarious Spin on a classic fairytaleCharacters interacting with the narrator“Just because it’s always been that…