Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat is the subject of today’s featured blogger review: This says on the cover that it’s a reimagining of Les Miserables. It’s not a blow-by-blow recreation, but we do have the two central characters, one who has broken the law for understandable reasons, and one who believes that …
REVIEW: What About Worms!?
Our featured blog review today takes a closer look at Easy Readers finalist What About Worms!? (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) by Ryan T. Higgins and Mo Willems: Too funny! Tiger is just what I’ve come to expect from Ryan T. Higgins. Tiger isn’t grumpy like Ryan’s other character Bruce. Instead, he’s a little bit of a mess especially when …
REVIEW: Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything
Our featured blogger review for today looks at Young Adult Speculative Fiction finalist Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland deeply understands her characters, and there was something about Sia’s voice and Gilliland’s writing that felt so real, so raw, so engrossing. Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything should be …
REVIEW: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
Today’s featured blogger review looks at High School Nonfiction finalist Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi: From the back, you can see this is not a history book, this is a book about the here and now–a book about race, and that’s a great overview of racism throughout the ages. What I liked about …
REVIEW: The Land of the Cranes
Middle Grade Fiction finalist The Land of the Cranes, by Aida Salazar, is the subject of today’s featured blogger review: This MG novel in verse is GORGEOUS and devastatingly sad. I’m so glad I listened to it because the narration by Dani Gonzalez is incredible and adds so much to the experience. Click here to read the full review by …
REVIEW: Displacement
Our featured review for today looks at Young Adult Graphic Novels finalist Displacement by Kiku Hughes: Powerfully written and beautifully illustrated, Displacement tells the story of the Japanese-Americans who were forced out of their homes and their established lives and stripped of their civil liberties. Read the full review here (along with several others), written by Round 1 judge Rosemary …
REVIEW: We Are Water Protectors
Today on the Cybils blog, we are happy to feature a blogger review of Fiction Picture Books finalist We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade: I am rarely speechless, but this book nearly achieves that for me. The incredibly symbolic and fluid and moving illustrations are masterpieces, page by page. Click here to read the rest of …
REVIEW: In The Red
Our featured review for today takes a closer look at Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Into the Red by Christopher Swiedler: This exciting survival story made for an intriguing read. Survival stories on earth can be mind-blowing, but trying to survival almost impossible circumstances on Mars?! Not to mention, the main character, Michael, struggles with an anxiety disorder, that definitely …
REVIEW: Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote
Today’s blogger review brings us back to the Early Chapter Books category, with a peek at finalist title Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts: In this latest title in “The Questioneers” chapter book series, Sofia’s teacher announces that the class can vote on a pet for the class. The class narrows the …
REVIEW: Clap When You Land
Our featured review for today looks at Young Adult Fiction finalist Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo–specifically, the audiobook version: The audiobook production brings another level to this book, not just because Acevedo herself narrates half this book but because her writing begs to be performed. Her writing is magical and lyrical and her slam poetry background adds such …