#middle readers

[thistle-nightshade]

Books are magical. I’m reading Percy Jackson aloud to my 2nd grader and she keeps going, “wait Percy has this? I’m like that!” I love that she’s finding connections and feeling less lonely through this magical fiction world.

[godzilla-reads]

I was out distributing books again and I found this in a Little Free Library and thought, “I must have it!”

📖 The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

September 5, 2022

[warwicksteens]

Caldecott Award 2021:

Lily has always loved her halmoni's stories; Korean folktales that begin, "long, long ago, when tiger walked like a man." But Lily never expected to encounter the fierce magical tiger in her sick grandmother's basement, or to strike a deal to heal Halmoni by releasing the powerful stories she stole as a young woman. Keller illuminates Lily's desperation to heal Halmoni and bring her family together through the tiger stories interspersed throughout the book; stories of heroism and self-sacrifice, of sisterhood and bravery. Yet the book's greatest strength is in its complex human characters, from Halmoni whose traumatic immigration story spurs her to unite her community through kindness and herbal remedies, to Lily's prickly older sister Sam, whose grief and fear stirred up by Halmoni's illness exists alongside a budding romance with a new girlfriend. Lily worries about her invisibility and living up to the "quiet Asian girl" stereotype she hates, but she doesn't know how else to cope with her volatile teenage sister or her mother's need to pretend that everything is okay, despite the weight of family trauma past and present. Keller weaves ancient folklore with Korean history through contemporary magical realism. She calls on the power of stories to bring families and communities together and the ability to heal by speaking to their pasts. VERDICT This deeply moving book is a must-purchase for all collections, showcasing vulnerable and mythic storytelling in the vein of Erin Entrada Kelly and Kacen Callender.--Molly Saunders, Manatee County Public Libraries, Bradenton, FL

[boneopera]

i always get a huge serotonin boost when i read anything by Diana Wynne Jones

[powells]

Theodosia and the Serpents Of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers

“You’d be surprised by how many things come into the museum loaded with curses - bad ones...an imaginative, supernatural mystery...” — Booklist Starred Review

School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari

“Who would have thought being scared could be such fun? Four 12 year olds whose phobias range from bugs to water go to the School of Fear for six of the worst weeks ever.”

Dead Boy by Laurel Gale

“A stinky, creepy tale for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.” — Kirkus Reviews

Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions by Sheila Grau

“ Runt's hapless attempts to do the right thing make him easily relatable amid themes of conquering self-doubt, wrestling with perfectionism (as one character puts it, "You can't get upset about what you're not"), and searching for a place to belong...” — Publisher’s Weekly

The Bone Snatcher by Charlotte Salter

“Salter’s love of storytelling and fantasy is evident in this debut novel, and in Sophie, Salter creates a truly tenacious and indomitable female protagonist...an adventure-filled tale that intrigues.” — Kirkus Reviews

May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

“The first of a trilogy, this book leaves loads of tantalizing, unanswered questions." — ALA

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol

“The Apprentice Witch is entirely more charming, adventurous, and full of heart than a book has a right to be.” — Trenton Lee Stewart

The Curse of the Boggin by D.J. Machale

“Leave the lights on for this first book in a new thrilled series!"

Monstrous by MarcyKate Connolly

“This is a dazzling and unique once-upon-a-time about a girl who is part dragon, part bird, part cat, all hero.” — Natalie Lloyd

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox

“We love this book! A ghost story, a mystery, and an adventure, all in one. Kate is a strong, smart heroine who won’t quit!”

[godzilla-reads]

May 13, 2022

I am excited to start the next book in the Dragons in a Bag series- The Dragon Thief by Zetta Elliottt.

Her first book was filled with magic and discussions on inclusivity. I loved it and I’m happy to dive into this world again with Jaxon and Kavita.

[godzilla-reads]

WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME THAT YOON HA LEE WROTE ANOTHER BOOK IN THE THOUSAND WORLDS UNIVERSE?!

Reading Dragon Pearl was amazing and such a wild ride, so I can’t wait to see what happens in Tiger Honor.

[godzilla-reads]

7 Covers in 7 Days

Day 6: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Rules: Each day, I will post the cover of a book that I love and nominate someone new to start the challenge.

I Tag: @petrareads