It’s time to start reviewing this year’s nominees for the Edgar Award for best juvenile mystery! First one up is a historical mystery that takes place in the Nevada Territory during the time of the Civil War. Title: P.K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man Subject: Caroline Lawrence Genre: mystery Age group: middle grade Synopsis: Twelve-year-old […]
It’s that time of year again! The Mystery Writers of America have announced the nominees for the 2014 Edgar Awards. As I did last year, I’ll be reading through the YA and juvenile nominees, reviewing them, and then posting my predictions for the winner. Here’s the list of nominees. Have you read any of them? […]
Time for the first book review of 2014! And I’m pleased to be talking about Melanie Dickerson‘s The Captive Maiden, an imaginative re-telling of the Cinderella story. As you may know, versions of the Cinderella have been around for centuries in many cultures throughout the world. Dickerson’s tale takes only the basics elements of the […]
One of my brilliant sixth graders asked this question recently. Don’t underestimate kids. They ask great questions! May be (two words) When may and be are written separately, they are both being used as verbs. May could be acting as the helping verb, and be could be acting as the main verb. For example: This […]
Just over a year ago, I wrote a review of Divergent, the bestselling YA dystopian book by Veronica Roth. I also included my hopes for what the finale in the trilogy would be like. Now that the finale’s out, it’s time to see if the book lived up to my expectations. Title: Allegiant Author: Veronica […]
You may recognize author E.L. Konigsburg’s name from From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, but Silent to the Bone is a completely different kind of book. Title: Silent to the Bone Author: E.L. Konigsburg Genre: contemporary realistic fiction Age group: YA Summary: Thirteen-year-old Connor tries to help his friend Branwell regain his […]
I first heard of the book Ender’s Game when I was teaching high school, and the teacher in the classroom next to mine was using it as part of her curriculum in sophomore English. I figured it must be a very classic, literary type of book. Ha! I had no idea it was science fiction or […]
Last weekend, a couple friends asked how I had spent the previous night. I told them I had been with some other friends at a bonfire/cookout/corn maze–well, you get the idea. However, I didn’t stay for the scheduled hayride because it was getting too late, and I’m an old lady who needs her beauty rest. […]
Fairy tale re-makes abound these days. Here’s one that captured the attention of almost my entire sixth grade class this past summer. Although they all loved it, the first warning they gave me was, “It’s bloody!” So I figured it’s perfect for Halloween. Title: A Tale Dark and Grimm Author: Adam Gidwitz Genre: fantasy Age […]
Looking for a great young adult story filled with chills? Check out this delightful Chicago-based novel from one of my favorite local authors, Candace Fleming. Title: On the Day I Died Author: Candace Fleming Genre: scary story (but not too scary) Age group: young adult/late middle grade Synopsis: While driving home after midnight, high school […]
