New Fun Graphic Novels

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you read for fun? Do your kids? According to a flyer shared with one of the books: "Reading for fun in the US has fallen by nearly 40 percent!" For many kids reading has become a chore. It is not fun when you don't get to read what you want. For reluctant readers and others graphic novels bring some of the fun back to reading. Today we are sharing two middle grade novels that are fun and interesting and even have some facts in them! The first is A Fishboy Named Sashimi by Dan Santat. This book is recommended for ages 6 to 10 and is the first in a series.

The Traitor Moth -- Middle Grade Fantasy Novel

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It has been a while since I have shared a middle grade book. Today we are sharing a newly released fantasy middle grade novel. It is the first book in a series. The book is The Traitor Moth by Katharine Orton. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Glory Be -- a Middle Grade Novel Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Life can be hard. It is extra hard when your dog is gone. You are not sure where, but he is gone. Was he stolen? You best friend doesn't seem to care and is acting strange. Perhaps the friendship is over. Oh, and your father is on one of his disappearances again too. Yup, life can be hard in the middle grades. This is the middle grade novel we are sharing today. It is called Glory Be by Jamie Sumner. It is written in verse. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12. 

The Big Bad Wolf Murder -- A Fun & Deadly Twist on a Fairy Tale

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you love a good mystery? Did you know February 26th was National Tell a Fairy Tale Day? As a lover of fairy tales and mysteries today's book is perfect for me. I am describing it as a Little Red Riding Hood meets The Hunger Games mystery. It is recommended for ages 10-14 and I have to say older readers will enjoy it too. I know I did. The book is The Big Bad Wolf Murder by P.G. Bell. 

Wrong Friend -- Middle Grade Graphic Novel Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Friendship can be hard when growing up. People mature at different times and can grow apart, but each friend is not always aware. It is even worse when there is an age difference between the friends. Today we are sharing a book with the narrator being the younger friend when the friendship breaks. It is a middle grade graphic novel called Wrong Friend by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Rory Lucey. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom -- Middle Grade Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Claudia Mills to bring you this post.

When your life feels like it is falling apart where do you turn? How do you pull it together? In today's book, our orphaned sixth grader turns to Greek philosophy. She tries to find wisdom to change so she can keep her dog and not get in trouble as much. The book is Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom by Claudia Mills. There is a giveaway after my review!

Lionborn -- Middle Grade Fantasy Novel Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide my honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Sharique Zea to bring you this post.

Have you ever wondered if there are other realms out there? Today we are sharing a middle grade fantasy novel with different realms and a group of kids who travel between them to save the universe. The book is Lionborn by Sharique Zea. There is a giveaway after my review.

Books About Love for Ages 10+ -- Valentine's Day Reads

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide you with honest reviews. All opinions are my own. 

In January we did two roundups of picture books for Valentine's Day. Young children are not the only ones who celebrate or need to read about love and relationships! Today we are sharing a roundup of novels for ages 10+. They include middle grade novels and young adult novels. These books I have either read completely or at least started but wanted to get them shared before Valentine's Day. We will be sharing them from youngest to oldest readers. The first book is Mountain Upside Down by Sara Ryan. It is recommended for older middle grade readers--ages 10 to 13. 

The Lion's Run -- Review of New Historical Fiction Middle Grade Novel

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a middle grade reader who loves historical fiction? World War II? Or perhaps horses? Today we are sharing a historical fiction middle grade novel set during World War II in occupied France. The main characters are two brave kids from very different backgrounds who work together to do what is right. The book is The Lion's Run by Sara Pennypacker. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and T.E. Milburn to bring you this post.

Can you believe it? December has arrived! The day after Thanksgiving Hazel and I decorated our tree. The day after she left for school, the tree came crashing down and is unfixable. (It is over 40 years old.) I ordered a new tree today. When it arrives, I'll get it up and put the lights on and then wait for her to come back from school! So much for Christmas magic in my house. Or perhaps it is the villain from today's book trying to destroy Christmas. Today we get to share a magical Christmas middle grade adventure, or I should say adventures since it is a trilogy. The book is Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy Written by T.E. Milburn and Illustrated by Ayşe Yıldırım. It has all the magical creatures--elves, goblins, dragons, talking animals, yetis and Santa! This is going to be epic!!

Vanya and the Wild Hunt

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Here is a review a long time coming. I am still working on my pile of chapter books from this summer. This one actually finishes the books I shared back in June but the pile has grown with some new ones. I'll share them at the end of this post in case any will interest you or a reader in your life for the holidays. Today I am sharing a fun fantasy middle grade novel that is full of magic and adventure. The book is Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12. 

The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 1-The Pangolins -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Jennifer Ussi to bring you this post.

Cats can do amazing things. I know I have three of them. I love my cuddle times. In fact, I have one on my lap as I write this post. Today I get to share a fun middle grade/early chapter book with you about a curious cat who gets lost in Africa and has many adventures to find her way home. The book is The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Gets Lost in Africa: Book 1-The Pangolins by Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose. And there is a giveaway at the end of this post!

The Magic Maze Trilogy -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor to bring you this post.

Do you have a reader who loves fantasy and mystery? I have a wonderful book trilogy for you. It is The Magic Maze Trilogy by Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor. The book is full of mystery and adventure in a magical realm with two siblings just trying find their way home. There is a giveaway after my review!

Turning Twelve -- Middle Grade Graphic Novel Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

On Sunday I shared a post about Banned Books Week and reviewed a couple of banned books. I was a couple of weeks late for Banned Books Week. Did you know that graphic novels are often banned books? Many schools don't want their kids reading them as they don't think of them as real books. Can you imagine? For some readers, the illustrations of graphic novels are what help them get into the book. Personally, I feel that if a child enjoys reading a book, it is a good thing. The more we force kids to read certain books or types of books, the less the child wants to read. I know this was definitely true for Hazel. She dreaded summer reading assignments. She hated being forced to read certain books. Even books she may have chosen on her own, when forced to read them she did not enjoy them. So I say let the kids read graphic novels and banned books. Let them read books about the topics that interest them as well as ones that relate to their lives like the book I am sharing today. It is a middle grade graphic novel all about turning twelve and the changes that come with this new age. The book is Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsbee and illustrated by Molly Brooks. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Lost on Doll Island

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe that Halloween is next week! It is the perfect time for a spooky book and today I am sharing one. It is a middle grade book that has creepy dolls, magic, ghosts, and witches. It takes place in Mexico. The book is Lost on Doll Island by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Life is hard when your family moves all the time. It is hard to make friends and to really get to know someone. Today I get to share a new middle grade novel that is about a sixth grader whose family finally settled down after years of moving. Sixth grade brings all sorts of new things--new teachers, new subjects, the same bullies and so much more. The book is Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign by Sara F. Shacter. It is recommended for 9- to 12-year-olds. 

Dude. Be Nice -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Sarah Scheerger to bring you this post.

Have you ever had a moment where you are trying to help but your "help" is making things worse? Perhaps you are just trying to make things better but the "help" is not wanted? Today we are sharing a book about this situation. It is called Dude. Be Nice by Sarah Scheerger with Brent and Jamie Camalich and illustrated by Alex MacNaughton. There is a giveaway at the end of the post.

A Sea of Lemon Trees

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hispanic Heritage Month ends this week, but I have one more book to share with you. It is a book based on a historical event from the 1930s and how one community fought segregation in schools. The book is A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

The Dragonships Series Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dragons and space travel and life on Mars! Talk about some exciting themes! Today I get to share a relatively new series--the first book was released in paperback last month and the second book was released this week! It is a middle grade fantasy sci-fi novel series! But older kids will enjoy this series as well. The series is written by Scott Reintgen. The first book is The Last Dragon on Mars. The series is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Growing Senses & Imagination with Books About Nature and the Seasons

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

This week I spent three days in the woods in Vermont with some of my students. Every year our school goes on a field trip to an outdoor center in Vermont. The high school students can choose to go for two nights and the middle school and 5th and 6th grade are required to go for four nights. The time there is tech free for the kids. The goals are team building, bonding with one another and getting them out of their comfort zones. For many it is the first time they are away from their parents for this length of time. As much as I hate being away from home, it is a great experience, and I always enjoy it a bit more than I think I will. It is important for everyone to get into nature and enjoy it. Today I am going to share two new picture books about nature and uses your senses and imagination. The first is Tree Spirits Around the World words and photographs by Louise Wannier and illustrated by April Tatiana Jackson. It is recommended for ages four to nine but could work with any age.