Today’s review of Middle Grade Fiction finalist Roll with It (Amazon, IndieBound) comes from round one Middle Grade Fiction panelist Julie, who blogs at Reading by the Pond. She wrote: Any book that starts with a Great British Bake-Off reference is okay with me. 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: 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: Dragon Pearl
Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction round one panel Beth recently highlighted today’s review of nominee Dragon Pearl (Amazon, IndieBound) on her blog Imaginary Friends. She wrote: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee combines Korean mythology, science fiction, and mystery in a terrific adventure story. Larrabee and I both loved it. Read the rest of the review here.
REVIEW: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
Happy Friday! The featured finalist review for today on the Cybils blog is a book from the Middle Grade Fiction category: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty. Round 2 judge Jaymie Dieterle, a former elementary school librarian who blogs at The Neverending TBR, reviewed this book last year: Crummy things happen at school. People don’t understand Lucy’s compulsions …
REVIEW: Inkling
Our featured blog review for today comes from Round 1 judge Dr. Cheryl Vanatti, an education specialist and former teacher in Florida who blogs at Reading Rumpus. One of the books she recently reviewed was Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Inkling by Kenneth Oppel: Inkling is a master class in personification. Taking an ink blot and not only giving it …
REVIEW: The Orphan Band of Springdale
Welcome to today’s featured blog review, courtesy of Round 1 judge Debbie Tanner, a librarian who blogs at The Book Search. Earlier last year, she posted a review of Middle Grade Fiction nominee The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet: It’s set in World War 2 and I really loved that it tells the story of what it was …
REVIEW: Escape from Syria
Our featured review for today was posted at Quill & Quire, a children’s lit website sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts, by our Round 2 Graphic Novels judge Ardo Omer, who is a podcaster at Put a Blurb On It. In the written review of Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels finalist Escape from Syria, written by Samya Kullab and illustrated …
REVIEW: The Hyena Scientist
Our featured review for today looks at Middle Grade Nonfiction finalist The Hyena Scientist (Scientists in the Field Series) by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop. Nic Bishop’s books are definitely a perennial favorite around here, and in her review on the Growing With Science blog, Round 1 judge Roberta Gibson explains why this title ended up as a finalist: Rather …
REVIEW: Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish
Today’s featured review comes from longtime Cybils returnee Sarah Sammis, a librarian in Northern California who is a Round 1 Middle Grade Fiction judge this year. On her blog Puss Reboots, she reviewed Middle Grade Fiction nominee Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya: Marcus Vega is tall for his age and he’s taken on the role of protector …