This year, one of our nominees in the Middle Grade Fiction category is from well-known YA author Nic Stone. In Clean Getaway, Stone presents readers with a middle grade road trip story featuring a mixed race kid: A road trip across the south, one unconventional Grandma (G’ma), plus plenty of secrets/mystery make this a fun (and funny) middle grade read …
REVIEW: Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier
Today’s featured review looks at Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels nominee Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks, both veterans of the science graphic novel genre. There are some great and hilarious anecdotes throughout, and [astronaut] Mary Cleave’s love for space exploration and science comes through, making me hopeful that this book will inspire many, many …
REVIEW: Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots
Fiction Picture Book nominee Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex talks to young readers about the differences between facts and opinions–an important topic in teaching information literacy: This is the book that both kids and adults alike should take the time to read. It’s a fun, interactive, and informative way to learn the difference between what is a …
REVIEW: Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe
Our featured review for today looks at Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction nominee Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez: Sal and Gabi are back! Sal’s father is worried about the holes in the universe that Sal made in the first book, accidentally and on purpose pulling things like his mother from other universes. Now his machine to repair …
REVIEW: Come In, Zip!
Welcome to our first blogger review of the 2020 Cybils season! Starting off in the Easy Readers category, nominated title Come In, Zip! (The Adventures of Zip) by David Milgrim is great for kids who are just beginning to read: Zip and his mom are from outer space. And Zip can do magical things. Off he goes in a spaceship. …
REVIEW: Patron Saints of Nothing
Our final review for the season (yay!) is of Young Adult Fiction finalist On The Come Up (Amazon, IndieBound). And because it’s the last one, here’s a review I did on my blog Book Nut. I wrote: Thomas is a talented writer, telling stories that not only are representative for the world around her and accessible to her target audience, but …
REVIEW: Maybe He Just Likes You
Today we’re featuring a review by Middle Grade Fiction judge Jaymie, who blogs at The Neverending TBR. She reviewed finalist Maybe He Just Likes You (Amazon, IndieBound), writing: This is an important book for middle grade readers, especially upper elementary students and middle school students. It gives language to kids for this very specific and nuanced kind of bullying and harassment. …
REVIEW: Mummies Exposed!
Today’s featured review is of Junior High Non-fiction finalist Mummies Exposed!: Creepy and True #1 (Amazon, IndieBound). Our reviewer is round one panelist Beth, who blogs at Library Chicken. About Mummies, she wrote: It’s cheerfully factual and ends with a discussion of the controversies in studying human remains. Read the whole review here.
REVIEW: The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems
Today’s review The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems (Amazon, IndieBound) comes from Poetry round one panelist Anastasia, who has a blog on her author website. She wrote: Be they practical or fanciful, the poems in this book boast a flair and joy that you won’t find in any instruction manual. Read the whole review here.
Review: The Tea Dragon Festival
We’re looking at the elementary/middle grade Graphic Novel finalist The Tea Dragon Festival (Amazon, IndieBound) today. Our reviewer is round one panelist Elizabeth, who blogs at, The Dirigible Plum. She wrote: The art is eye-poppingly beautiful, of course, and this sequel is just as gentle and inclusive as the first book. Read the whole review here.