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Book Review: The Witch, The Sword and The Cursed Knights
Twelve-year-old Ellie can’t help that she’s a witch, the most hated member of society. Determined to prove her worth and eschew her heritage, Ellie applies to the Fairy Godmother Academy—her golden ticket to societal acceptance. But Ellie’s dreams are squashed when she receives the dreaded draft letter to serve as a knight of King Arthur’s legendary Round Table. She can get out of the draft—but only if she saves a lost cause. Enter Caedmon, a boy from Wisconsin struggling with the death of his best friend. He first dismisses the draft as ridiculous; magic can’t possibly exist. But when Merlin’s…
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Book Review: Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter by Beth McMullen
Stuart Gibbs meets The Lost Property Office in this action-packed mystery about a young girl searching for her father from the author of Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls—the first in a new series! Having a world-traversing archaeologist dad means twelve-year-old Lola Benko is used to moving around not putting down roots anywhere. But every day and every hunt for something hidden is an adventure, and no matter what, she and her dad are an unbeatable team. Then her father disappears. The official story is that he was caught in a flash flood, but Lola’s research shows the day in…
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Book Review: The Secret of White Stone Gate by Julia Nobel
The Details Media Type: EbookTitle: The Secret of White Stone Gate *Series: Black Hollow Lane #2Author: Julia NobelPublisher: Sourcebooks Young ReadersPages/Length: Hardcover; 304 pagesRelease Date: March 3, 2020Source: Netgalley Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Indiebound In this exciting sequel to The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, Emmy’s adventures continue as she deals with a sinister organization, a missing father, and secrets she’s not sure who to trust with. After spending the summer at home, Emmy cannot wait to return to Wellsworth for the new school year and reunite with her best friends, Lola and Jack. Before she leaves Emmy receives a note from her father telling her to hide the remaining…
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Book Review: Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
The Details Media Type: Audio BookTitle: Stand Up, Yumi Chung!Author: Jessica KimNarrator: Greta JungPublisher: Listening LibraryPages/Length: 6 hours and 4 minutesRelease Date: March 17, 2020Source: Library Borrow Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Indiebound One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian. On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she’s reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and…
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Graphic Novel Review: Primer
The Details Title: PrimerAuthors: Jennifer Muro, Thomas KrajewskiIllustrator: Gretel LuskyPublisher (Date): DC Comics (June 23, 2020)Media Type: Paperback; 160 pages Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound Primer introduces a brand-new superhero with a colorful array of superpowers to explore. Ashley Rayburn is an upbeat girl with a decidedly downbeat past. Her father is a known criminal who once used Ashley to help him elude justice, and in his attempt to escape, a life was taken. He now sits in federal prison, but still casts a shadow over Ashley’s life. In the meantime, Ashley has bounced from foster…
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Book Review: Storm Blown by Nick Courage
Media Type: Print Book (ARC) Title: Storm Blown Author: Nick Courage Publisher: Delacorte Press Pages: Hardcover; 352 Release Date: July 16, 2019 Source: Publisher ————————————— Content Screening: Mild Injuries / Tense Situations HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who are looking for an extremely well written look at hurricanes, and the ways that they affect people and animals. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N A major hurricane is raging across the southern United States, and two unsuspecting kids are about to have the adventure of a lifetime! Perfect for kids who love high-stakes plots…
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Graphic Novel Review: Operatic by Kyo Maclear
Title: Operatic Author: Kyo Maclear Illustrator: Byron Eggenschwiler Publisher: Groundwood Books Pages: Hardcover; 160 Recommended Age Group: Upper MG/YA Release Date: April 2, 2019 Source: NetGalley / Publisher It’s almost the end of middle school, and Charlie has to find her perfect song for a music class assignment. The class learns about a different style of music each day, from hip-hop to metal to disco, but it’s hard for Charlie to concentrate when she can’t stop noticing her classmate Emile, or wondering about Luka, who hasn’t been to school in weeks. On top of everything, she has been talked into…
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Can’t Wait Wednesday – The Oddmire by William Ritter
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here. Real talk, I am SO EXCITED about this book! The instant that I saw the synopsis for William Ritter’s new book, I was smitten. I have a soft spot for middle grade at…
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Book Review: Operation Frog Effect by Sarah Sheerger
Media Type: Print Book (ARC) Title: Operation Frog Effect Author: Sarah Sheerger Publisher: Random House BYR Pages: Hardcover; 320 Release Date: February 26, 2019 Source: Publisher —————————————– Age Group: 3rd – 6th Grade HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who are looking for a fun, poignant read from the POV of some amazing 5th graders! Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N If one small act can create a ripple across the universe . . . what happens when a whole group of kids join together and act? Told in eight perspectives–including one in graphic…
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Graphic Novel Review: The Dam Keeper – World Without Darkness
Title: The Dam Keeper: World Without Darkness * Volume 2Authors: Robert Kondo & Dice TsutsumiIllustrator: Robert Kondo & Dice TsutsumiPublisher: First SecondPages: Hardcover; 160Recommended Age Group: Middle Grade/YARelease Date: July 10, 2018Source: NetGalley Beyond the dam lies certain death—this is something every citizen of Sunrise Valley knows well. Yet, when a poisonous black tidal wave carries Pig, Fox, and Hippo over the dam and into the wastelands, they don’t find death. Instead they find bustling cities, each with their own dams. Pig can’t help but wonder, who is the mysterious dam keeper behind it all? But he doesn’t have time to unravel this…
