Category Archives: Book Reviews

My interview with fellow YA author Stephanie Engelman!

Posted on January 2, 2019 by AJ Cattapan

My interview with author Stephanie Engelman recently aired on Shalom World TV and is now available for viewing on YouTube and the Shalom World TV website. For your convenience, I’m sharing it here! If you’ve read Stephanie’s wonderful book A … Continue reading →

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First episode of my new TV show “BOOK.eD”!

Posted on October 24, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

On Thursday, October 20, 2018, the very first episode 0f my (very first ever) TV show aired on Shalom World TV. Shalom World is a Catholic, commercial-free television network that streams all of its shows for free online and on … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: Refugee by Alan Gratz

Posted on August 27, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

Today I’m sharing with you one of my favorite reads from my doctorate program studies this summer. If you want a sense of what it’s like to be a refugee (both currently and historically), then check out this book by … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

Posted on July 23, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

With recent talk about building a wall between the United States and Mexico, this middle grade novel gives the reader some insight into the hardships some immigrants go through to provide for their families. Title: Return to Sender Author: Julia Alvarez Genre: contemporary … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan

Posted on July 9, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

As I continue to read YA and middle grade books on immigration for my doctorate program this summer, here’s another story that fits the bill. Title: Amina’s Voice Author: Hena Khan Genre:  contemporary realistic fiction Age group: middle grade Synopsis: Sixth grader Amina … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Posted on July 2, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

This summer I’m reading a bunch of young adult and middle grade books that involve immigrants and refugees as part of my doctorate program. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be able to read these books as … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler

Posted on April 30, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

As many of you know, I appear on The Jennifer Fulwiler Show (SiriusXM Channel 129) a few times a year to talk about books for kids and teens. When I was asked by her team to help her launch her … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: Healer by Susan Miura

Posted on January 29, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

On Wednesday night, we’ll be celebrating the release of my friend Susan Miura’s latest YA book Healer on Facebook. Come join us for the party here (There will be lots of giveaways including a copy of Angelhood). In the meantime, … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: The Other Side of Freedom by Cynthia T. Toney

Posted on January 8, 2018 by AJ Cattapan

Here’s another book from one of the CatholicTeenBooks.com authors! Title: The Other Side of Freedom Author: Cynthia T. Toney Genre: historical fiction Age group: middle grade Summary: (from author’s website) In a southern farming community in 1925, thirteen-year-old Salvatore and his … Continue reading →

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Monday Book Review: Playing by Heart by Carmela Martino

Posted on October 9, 2017 by AJ Cattapan

I’m so excited today to introduce you to a brand-new YA romance from my good friend Carmela Martino. I met Carmela through the Catholic Writers Guild and soon discovered that we have many things in common: we are both Chicagoans, … Continue reading →

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