Surprise! We’re changing up our FRI-YA review collection with one of our fan favorites: The Ones That Got Away! Laura Fineberg Cooper, who blogs at Writers’ Rumpus was a Round 1 judge in the YA Fiction category; and Sarah Miller, who writes the Can We Read? newsletter at Substack, was a Round 1 judge in Poetry. Summaries excerpted from Goodreads. …
The IN be-TWEEN | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.30.2024
ttttt Summaries excerpted from Goodreads. Click the cover to read the full summary, other reviews, and add these books to your TBR. FICTION Jessica @ Cracking the Cover – You might know Chad Morris and Shelly Brown from their previous collaborations. All are strong middle grade novels. I enjoyed them all. But The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry is my favorite. …
Monday Books | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.29.2024
This week? Books for all your senses. With a nod to nature: a textured board book (watch out for the cactus) to things we cannot see (hold onto your hat, there’s a breeze today) to where colors come from! And a nod to creativity, ingenuity, and family: There are makers and artists, a party planner, birthdays to celebrate, and some …
Fri-YA | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.26.2024
High school nonfiction fun? A mystery that makes you laugh? A graphic novel by the director of a television show? Yes. Yes. And Yes. Read on … Book summaries excerpted from Goodreads. Click the cover to see the full summary and additional reviews. YOUNG ADULT FICTION Christopher @ Plucked from the Stacks – Sometimes a title tells you everything you …
The IN be-TWEEN | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.24.2024
I’m not even sure where to begin … Readers will move through time and space, both literal and figurative. They’ll meet characters with whom they will feel a kinship – and others who will draw out other emotions they may not know how to unpack. Big themes, big emotions, and still lots of joy, laughter, adventure, and brave new worlds. …
Monday Books | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.22.2024
What do we have this Monday? Lots of questions, mistaken identities, extraordinary animal award winners, an enchanted forest, a tall tale, and oh, a skunk for Valentines Day! Summary excerpted from Goodreads. Click book cover to see full summary and more reviews. Board Book Brooke @ Goodreads – A board book introduction to space that has a simple section (which rhymes) …
Fri-YA | #CYBILS2023 Books 1.19.24
How much did our judges love these books? One added a title to her Christmas Wish List to have her own personal copy. One put it on her purchase list to make sure she has it available for all her classes. Another, who doesn’t normally like poetry for storytelling, really enjoyed a novel in verse. A Fri-YAY, indeed! Have a …
#CYBILS2023 The Ones That Got Away – Poetry Edition
If you’re looking for books that evoke all the emotions, then you need to check out this list of poetry books that our judges loved, but which didn’t make the finalist lists. . If you are saying to yourself but I don’t like poetry, then read on. No, seriously. We think Sarah, Sheri, and Matt can change your mind. History. …
The IN be-TWEEN | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.17.24
We won’t keep you … there are a lot of fascinating, I-want-to-read-that books on the list. Including a novel in verse!! One thing we will also want to point out is that several reviewers recommended listening to the audio editions … and not just fiction! Summaries excerpted from Goodreads. Click the book cover to go to see more details. Middle-Grade …
Monday Books | #CYBILS2023 Reviews 01.15.2024
Without really intending to, we’re shooting for the stars with today’s selection of featured reviews. From the literal making of stars to wishing upon a star to (kidlit) star power, we explore the concept in all its brilliance! Summaries excerpted from Goodreads. Click the cover to see full descriptions. EARLY CHAPTER BOOK The Mountain Bookie @ Goodreads – This book …