100 books, and Gordon Korman just keeps on keepin' on, doesn't he?!
Finding an amazing fort/hideout in the woods would be amazing, but these boys have100 books, and Gordon Korman just keeps on keepin' on, doesn't he?!
Finding an amazing fort/hideout in the woods would be amazing, but these boys have bigger issues than who should and shouldn't be allowed in their special hideout. Loved how this ranged from petty issues (Clean up your trash!) to really serious things that affect kids, like divorce and abuse. ...more
As tender and funny as you could hope for. I had seen the book around for years, and had no idea what it was about. I assumed it was just a robot wandAs tender and funny as you could hope for. I had seen the book around for years, and had no idea what it was about. I assumed it was just a robot wandering around, I didn't understand the scope of the story: the messages about family and growth and friendship. Just beautiful! ...more
The Duke and Duchess are a Delight! Simon's adventures as jack-of-all-trades and generally good guy are so fun to read, and of course I always love a The Duke and Duchess are a Delight! Simon's adventures as jack-of-all-trades and generally good guy are so fun to read, and of course I always love a book where handwork of any kind saves the day!...more
Just imagining her sisters sitting there calmly telling her that she's adopted and that they tried to give her back to the home for unwed mothers . . Just imagining her sisters sitting there calmly telling her that she's adopted and that they tried to give her back to the home for unwed mothers . . . so cold. So darkly funny! ...more
Delightfully odd! A whole collection of stories about a family who always have "interesting" things happen to them: like having their baby turned intoDelightfully odd! A whole collection of stories about a family who always have "interesting" things happen to them: like having their baby turned into an elephant, finding a unicorn in the back garden, or getting literally stuck in a tree, along with several cats, the postman, and a door-to-door salesman. Witches and alchemists causing mayhem in their village is par for the course, as is their friends, a family of people no more than eight inches high. I wasn't sure if my kids were enjoying these stories. (they're so much my jam), then one day my daughter said, "It's just soothing to listen to these funny little stories." ...more
Extremely clever mix of fantasy and science fiction that had me hooked from the get-go. All the characters are my precious babies, but especially LunaExtremely clever mix of fantasy and science fiction that had me hooked from the get-go. All the characters are my precious babies, but especially Lunar, but ESPECIALLY Dread. I was on my daily walkies (who said only dogs get to go walkies?) when I read the ending and I actually stopped dead in front of a neighbor's house, who probably thinks I had some kind of episode. ...more
Percy gets his next letter of recommendation by pet-sitting for Hecate, whose pets include a hellhound whoThis was a delight, not that I'm surprised!
Percy gets his next letter of recommendation by pet-sitting for Hecate, whose pets include a hellhound who used to be a powerful witch, and a gassy polecat who . . . also used to be a powerful witch. All Percy, Annabeth, and Grover have to do is keep the house in one piece, and feed and walk two powerful magical creatures.
Yeah, it goes as well as you're thinking.
And of course, in addition to teaching you about mythology, in addition to be funny, in addition to being full of magic and adventure, it's also extremely heartfelt, and Percy's moral compass never leads him astray. ...more
Stuff gets real, real! I'm always side eying any organization that sees things as black and white. This one really holds that up to the light, and youStuff gets real, real! I'm always side eying any organization that sees things as black and white. This one really holds that up to the light, and you can see the holes in the cloth! And I both feel bad for [redacted], and want to punch him so bad, the little lying weasel!...more
Squire is one of my favorite characters. His expressive face is absolutely the best! The sighs! The eyerolls! The fact that so much can be conveyed inSquire is one of my favorite characters. His expressive face is absolutely the best! The sighs! The eyerolls! The fact that so much can be conveyed in a small panel, with a limited color palette! I hope we get to see even more adventures! ...more
I was lucky enough to be at Yamile's house the day she opened up her box of ARCs, and I immediately sidled over and offered her one of my children in I was lucky enough to be at Yamile's house the day she opened up her box of ARCs, and I immediately sidled over and offered her one of my children in exchange. She declined a child- though she did say they were very nice- and let me have an ARC for FREE!
I've been doing Irish dance for ten years now, and it's one of my favorite things. I'm always so happy when I find a book about my sport (if you don't think it's a sport, you've clearly never tried it). I was very excited to hear that Yamile was doing a book about Irish dance, loosely based on her own daughter's experience switching from ballet to Irish as a teenager- so she knows the lingo, the form, the wigs, and the sparkles! But there was so much more going on in this book, behind the lip gloss and the ringlets!
It was equal parts charming and bittersweet, as we follow Florencia on a rocky journey, from being a ballet star to an Irish dance beginner, from being secure in her place in her family, secure in her friendships, secure in herself, to struggling with anxiety, with friendships, bullying, family stress.
Yamile has always had such a wonderful way with her characters. From the first introduction you fee like you know them, and even if you don't like them, even hate them, you can understand their motivation and you can even feel a little bit of sympathy for them. Some more than others, of course. But her main characters, her vibrant and beautiful girls, I just always love them so much! I was absolutely cheering my heart out for Flor from the first page! This is such a great book for middle grade readers- and older readers, too. Flor's passion for dancing, how she deals with anxiety, and her rocky path through middle school friendships make this not just an enjoyable book, but an important one, too!...more
I love the introduction of Grammasaurus, the fun grandma who has new suggestions for helping Marvin deal with trouble he's having from taking on too mI love the introduction of Grammasaurus, the fun grandma who has new suggestions for helping Marvin deal with trouble he's having from taking on too much in the new school year.
This is such a fun series with excellent tips for dealing with things like ADHD, Self-Esteem, and the like. i'm actually going to take some copies to a therapist I know. ...more
A gorgeous book full of miraculous creatures. I'm also such a sucker for a beautifully designed book! This one had maps and a bestiary, illustrations A gorgeous book full of miraculous creatures. I'm also such a sucker for a beautifully designed book! This one had maps and a bestiary, illustrations throughout, sprayed edges, gold leaf! Obviously I was a goner for it when I saw the cover! It wasn't the best read aloud, mostly because it takes us a while to get through a book, due to Life Getting In the Way, so there are a lot of characters and creatures to keep track of, but it was otherwise excellent. Also: dragons....more
I'm putting this on the horror shelf even though it's in no way horror! Just so I remember it when I'm looking for ghost stories!
This was actually, liI'm putting this on the horror shelf even though it's in no way horror! Just so I remember it when I'm looking for ghost stories!
This was actually, like her Witches of Brooklyn books, a super fun look at the supernatural. I love her illustration style, and I instantly liked both Adéle and her sister Helene. I also really liked the shoutout to the Witches of Brooklyn!...more
I wondered how she was going to do a follow up to a book that featured everyone growing up and/or dying! I should have trusted in the magic of Lois LoI wondered how she was going to do a follow up to a book that featured everyone growing up and/or dying! I should have trusted in the magic of Lois Lowry to pull this off with great hilarity and aplomb! The Poore children checking their mother whenever she's "marming" by being too cheerful and can-do really made me laugh. (It's a Little Women joke.)
This is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiaThis is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiar creatures like dragons and unicorns, and unfamiliar ones like trigers and a Leaping (teleporting) Lemur, plus a ton of action and a very solid mystery at its heart. I loved the worldbuilding: both Majestica itself and the hints of the larger world around it. I hope there's more books!...more
I really like how this was all pulled together at the end! The blend of current social issues, the past, and the mythological world was really well doI really like how this was all pulled together at the end! The blend of current social issues, the past, and the mythological world was really well done, and I thoroughly, THOROUGHLY enjoyed the epilogue. ...more