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Where the Heart Is
Summary: “It’s the first day of summer and Rachel’s thirteenth birthday. She can’t wait to head to the lake with her best friend, Micah. But as summer unfolds, every day seems to get more complicated. Her “fun” new job taking care of the neighbors’ farm animals quickly becomes a challenge,…
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The Next Great Paulie Fink
Summary: “When Caitlyn Breen enters the tiny Mitchell School in rural Mitchell, Vermont, she is a complete outsider: the seventh grade has just ten other kids, and they’ve known each other since kindergarten. Her classmates are in for a shock of their own: Paulie Fink–the class clown, oddball, troublemaker, and…
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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Couples
So I went a little rogue on this topic as I read a majority of middle grade fiction that doesn’t lend itself to “typical” couples. So instead, I selected a few friends and groups that I also love in books. I figure love is for more than just romantic couples…
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Caterpillar Summer
Summary: “Cat and her brother Chicken have always had a very special bond–Cat is one of the few people who can keep Chicken happy. When he has a “meltdown” she’s the one who scratches his back and reads his favorite story. She’s the one who knows what Chicken needs. Since…
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Top Ten Tuesday: Upcoming Releases I’m On the Fence About
These titles are on my list only for lack of time to read everything I want. I normally focus on middle grade titles, but I do love a good YA romance once in a while. Especially for a quick read to escape the real world for a bit. So hopefully,…
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The Storm Keeper’s Island
Summary: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can’t help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn’s mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered…
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Inkling
Summary: “The Rylance family is stuck. Dad’s got writer’s block. Ethan promised to illustrate a group project at school–even though he can’t draw. Sarah’s still pining for a puppy. And they all miss Mom. Enter Inkling. Inkling begins life in Mr. Rylance’s sketchbook. But one night the ink of his…
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Level Up: Pairing Video Games with Children’s and YA Books (Fortnite)
I spent the summer of 2016 creating booklists that paired with video games. If you want to check out the many lists of books I created based on video games, check out my Thematic Lists page and scroll down to the Level Up booklists. I decided to return to this…
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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Most Recent Additions to My To-Read List
This list is ten new titles that received recognition at the ALA Youth Media Awards yesterday that I haven’t had the chance to read yet. What I love about the awards is learning about books that I’m not familiar with, so here’s a nice spread of title from a variety…
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Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster
Summary: “It’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has…