REVIEW: Kiss No. 8

Today’s review of Young Adult Graphic Novel Kiss No. 8 (Amazon, IndieBound) comes from Graphic Novel chair Mel Schuit, who usually blogs at Let’s Talk About Picture Books. For this review, however, Mel guest hosted The Children’s Book Podcast, talking with the authors Colleen AF Venable and Ellen T. Crenshaw. About the book, Colleen said:  I realized there were big …

REVIEW: A Stone Sat Still

Today’s review of Fiction Picture Book finalist A Stone Sat Still (Amazon, IndieBound) comes from round one panelist Maria, who blogs at Maria Marshall: Making Nature Fun. She wrote:  Each time I read it, I find a new treasure in the illustrations and text. I truly hope this book finds a home in every classroom and library. Read the rest …

REVIEW: Cog

Today’s review of Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Cog (Amazon, IndieBound) comes from Round 1 panelist Debbie who blogs at The Book Search. She wrote:  This is a WONDERFUL story about free choice, loyalty, creative problem solving, and compassion as well as some of the consequences and ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence. Read the whole review here.

REVIEW: Free Lunch

Today’s finalist is Free Lunch (Amazon, IndieBound), which is a finalist in Middle Grade Non-Fiction. Round one panelist Carrie, who blogs at Other Women’s Stories, reviewed it. She wrote:   The book is heartrending, and yet, you get the feeling that young Rex is going to make it to a better way of living.  Check out the full review here. 

REVIEW: Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure

We’re highlighting finalists this month, and we’re going to start with Early Chapter Book finalist Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure (Amazon, IndieBound). Round one panelists Kelley, who blogs at KidlitUnderground, wrote this:  It’s hard to pull off a children’s book where none of the characters appear to be… you know, actual children, but author/illustrator Alex T. Smith nails it …

REVIEW: Dig

A. S. King’s Dig (Amazon, IndieBound) was originally nominated in Young Adult Fiction, but has since found a home in Young Adult Speculative Fiction. Before it was moved, Young Adult Fiction panelist Kara, who blogs at Great Imaginations, reviewed it:  One thing I do have to mention though is that this is my first A.S. King novel, and it won’t be …

REVIEW: Cracking the Bell

  Today we’re featuring the Young Adult Fiction nominee Cracking the Bell (Amazon, IndieBound). Young Adult Fiction chair Gary Anderson, who blogs at What’s Not Wrong, wrote:  As Isaiah considers the life-or-death implications of continuing to play football after suffering concussions, Cracking the Bell honors those attitudes while leading young readers to consider how and when to move on and how to …

REVIEW: All of Me

Today’s review comes from Middle Grade Fiction chair Alex Baugh, who blogs at Randomly Reading. She reviewed Poetry nominee All of Me (Amazon, IndieBound), and wrote this about it: If All of Me rings true to readers, perhaps it is because it is based on the author’s own experiences as a overweight child.  Read the full review here.  

REVIEW: A Good Kind of Trouble

Today’s review comes from Middle Grade Fiction round one panelist Dr. Genevieve Ford, who does short reviews on her twitter feed. She recently read Middle Grade Fiction nominee A Good Kind of Trouble (Amazon, IndieBound), writing:  A thoughtful look at #BlackLivesMatter protests and how families deal with conflict in their communities. You can see the whole tweet here. 

REVIEW:

Today’s review of Junior High Non-Fiction nominee Eiffel’s Tower for Young People (Amazon, IndieBound) comes from our illustrious Fiction Picture Book chair Deb Nance, who blogs at Readerbuzz. She writes:  It’s a wonderful ride of a story, taking us through the process of trying to get backing for the Eiffel Tower as centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, through …