Title: Wolf Hollow Author: Lauren Wolk Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 9781101994825 I recently attended the SCBWI webinar “The Craft of Writing Historical Fiction” and received feedback from Kelsey Murphy, associate editor for Balzer and Bray, on the first ten pages of the only historic middle grade novel I’ve ever attempted to write, Twisted Fate. […]
Category: Books
Mine!
Title: Mine! Author: Natalie Hyde Publisher: Scholastic Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 9781443146609 The opening line of Natalie Hyde’s latest title – also a contender for the 2018/19 Red Cedar Book Prize – is sure to grab the attention of young readers: “Moose snot is a real thing, you know.” From there, Chris Dearing (who hates his name) […]
Be Prepared
Title: Be Prepared Author: Vera Brosgol Publisher: First Second Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 978-1626724457 Joining the growing stack of graphic novel memoirs comes this great book by the author of Anya’s Ghost. As with all graphic novels, Be Prepared is a quick read but the story and images stay with you for a long time after […]
From Ant to Eagle
Title: From Ant to Eagle Author: Alex Lyttle Publisher: Central Avenue Publishing Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 177168111X In From Ant to Eagle, debut author Alex Lyttle creates one of the most authentic sibling relationships I’ve seen in middle grade literature (or possibly any literature at all). It starts with a premise many kids can relate to: 11-year-old […]
Click’d
Title: Click’d Author: Tamara Ireland Stone Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 9781484784976 A book about a 12-year-old coder as part of a new series called CodeGirls? It’s about time. And Stone pulls it off remarkably, balancing tech details with a middle school friendship drama that will appeal to more than just coders. At the start of […]