Today’s review comes from Graphic Novel round one panelist Elizabeth, who blogs at The Dirigible Plum (which is an awesome blog name!). She’s reviewed middle grade graphic novel nominee Operatic (Amazon, IndieBound), writing: A new Kyo Maclear title is always cause for celebration. Operatic is quiet and delicate but powerful. Read the full review here.
REVIEW: Pride Colors
Today’s review is from Fiction Picture Book panelist Valerie, who gamely reviews the board book (it’s challenging to review board books!) Pride Colors (Amazon, IndieBound) at her blog Library Goddess. She writes: So colorful – bright photographs. You can use it to talk about pride and the rainbow flag any time of year, but one to bring out around Pride …
REVIEW: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Today we’re looking at Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Amazon, IndieBound), an Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction nominee. It was reviewed by the category chair, Charlotte, who blogs at Charlotte’s Library. She wrote: Wow! This is so powerful, and sad, and important, and funny (in places), and the sort of book one wants to give to kids Right Now. …
REVIEW: A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks
Today’s review comes from Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction panelist Sandy who blogs at Unpacking the Power of Picture Books and on Goodreads. She’s reviewed nominee A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks (Amazon, IndieBound), writing: This is a spectacular biographic portrayal of the incomparable poet, Gwendolyn Brooks. Read the full review here.
REVIEW: Harold and Hog Pretend for Real
When faced with a book like Easy Reader nominee Harold and Hog Pretend for Real (Amazon, IndieBound), round one panelist Pat, who blogs at her self-titled blog Mrs. Patricia Ann Timbrook, steps up her game: We will first set a “pretend” mode, meaning that we–you, the reader, and I, the reviewer–will be playing a game together, an imagination game about …
REVIEW: The Wicked King
We’re featuring Young Adult Speculative Fiction nominee The Wicked King (Amazon, IndieBound) today! Our review comes from Young Adult Speculative Fiction round one panelist Grace, who blogs at GraceGetsBooks. She writes: I read this book over spring break and I read the whole thing in a day. It’s amazing and I cannot wait for The Queen of Nothing, which by the way …
REVIEW: The Downstairs Girl
Young Adult Fiction Round one panelist Susan, who blogs at Blogging ’bout Books and on Goodreads, reviews today’s selection, Young Adult Fiction nominee The Downstairs Girl (Amazon, IndieBound). She writes: There’s a lot going on in this quick, entertaining YA historical. Maybe too much, but it’s still a compelling, fast-paced novel that I enjoyed very much. Read the whole review here. …
REVIEW: Other Words for Home
Today we’re hearing from Poetry round one panelist Tess who posts reviews at Goodreads and on Instagram. She’s read Poetry nominee Other Words for Home (Amazon, IndieBound), and wrote: Building empathy one book, one voice at a time has never felt so critical. You can read the whole review here.
REVIEW: Extraordinary Birds
Today’s review is of Middle Grade Fiction nominee Extraordinary Birds (Amazon, IndieBound). Round one panelist Thompson McLoud, who blog over at Young Adult Books-What We’re Reading Now, was super enthusiastic about the book, writing: What an extraordinary book! The is the gem of 2019 and a MUST READ which is likely to become One Book for many schools and will …
REVIEW: The Stonewall Riots
Junior/Senior High panelist Beth blogs over at Library Chicken and does these huge (impressive!) reading round-ups. She caught Senior High Non-Fiction nominee The Stonewall Riots (Amazon, IndieBound) in one of her round-ups, writing this: At first I was bothered by the loose chronology, where from one short chapter to another I wouldn’t be sure where on the timeline I was. …