Publisher: Scholastic Press

The Iron Trial by Cassandra Claire & Holly Black

Love This Book! I love Cassandra Clare. I don’t now how I missed this series. Book 1 was great. You think the main character is going to be the hero, and then there’s a twist and it’s amazing! And isn’t that cover awesome!!! Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Some paranormal violence, on the level of Harry Potter. In fact, there are several similarities to HP: it’s a year at magic school, there’s a bad guy that everyone is afraid to […]

January 7, 2019 | 0 Comments

Woven by Michael Jensen

A Delightful YA Fantasy! This is a wonderful Young Adult book, but Middle Graders and adults will enjoy it, too. It has classic fantasy elements, as well as lots of original ideas. I loved the magic system—with sorcerors, witches, and even ghosts. Filled with adventure and intrigue, I’d definitely place this in the epic fantasy category, but without the longer passages that sometimes bog down that category in books targeted to adult readers. This is great writing from two debut authors. I look forward to […]

February 11, 2016 | 0 Comments

When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Kimberley Griffiths Little writes Middle Grade fiction. All of her books contain a little bit of magic—and I love them. Including this new one, When the Butterflies Came. Part mystery, part magic, Butterflies intrigued me from the very first line: “The butterfly comes the day after the funeral.” Tara has lost her Grammy, who was very much the stabilizing influence in her life. She grieves for her, while trying to cope with all the changes her grammy’s death brings—some of them not very pleasant. All […]

May 20, 2013 | 0 Comments

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

This is a three-for-the-price-of-one review because I read all three books back to back—and I think the power in this series is in the whole of it, not just one individual book. The Hunger Games • Catching Fire • Mockingjay I really liked this series. Yes, it’s brutal in places, disturbing. And I definitely think it’s for mature readers. I don’t think anyone under the age of 14 has any business reading these books, and for most teens, I’d say sixteen (or older) to read […]

October 25, 2012 | 0 Comments

The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

Full Disclosure: Sheila and I have been in the same writing critique years for several years. I read this book in its many variations, but was still enthralled with the story when it finally hit bookstore shelves. Despite being good friends, I purchased this book with my own money and was never asked by Sheila to do a review of any kind. * * * Isn’t that the most amazing cover?! I think it’s absolutely breathtaking. The illustrator did a wonderful job capturing the mermaid […]

October 11, 2012 | 0 Comments

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

Like it or hate it, Harry Potter is part of our cultural identity. I would guess that J.K. Rowling has added more new words to our collective lexicon than any other single individual. She is certainly the only author I know of who has created a 7 book series that has continued to grow in popularity and gain readership with each new installment like this one has. The Star Wars franchise is the only other thing I can think of that comes close, and personally, […]

August 2, 2007 | 3 Comments