Category Archives: News and Fun

Review: The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton

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The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly
Jamie Pacton
Page Street Kids
Published on May 5, 2020

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About The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

Kit Sweetly slays sexism, bad bosses, and bad luck to become a knight at a medieval-themed restaurant.

Working as a wench―i.e. waitress―at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can … Continue reading →

Review: Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman

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Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman

Music for Tigers
Michelle Kadarusman
Pajama Press
Published April 28, 2020

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About Music for Tigers

Shipped halfway around the world to spend the summer with her mom’s eccentric Australian relatives, middle schooler and passionate violinist Louisa is prepared to be resentful. But life at the family’s remote camp in the Tasmanian rainforest is intriguing, to say the least. There are pig-footed bandicoots, scary spiders, weird noises and odors in the night, and a quirky boy named Colin who cooks the most amazing meals. Not the least strange is her Uncle Ruff, with his unusual … Continue reading →

If We Were Having Coffee Update

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If We Were Having Coffee

I’ve been meaning to post a blog update and also really wanting to do an “If We Were Having Coffee” style post, so today is the day I’m doing it! If you’re unfamiliar with the prompt, it’s basically me talking to you as if we were across the table from each other having coffee– something I know I miss right now with social distancing and such. So. Here we go.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that my mom’s in the hospital. No, it’s not Covid19, thankfully. But it’s still the hospital, still scary, and still not at all what we planned for right now. She’ll be okay. I’m thankful for that. But even though I believe she’ll be fine, the fact that she’s in the hospital still throws my world off-kilter. My family and my parents all … Continue reading →

Unboxing: The Claires by C. L. Gaber

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For the first time ever, I’m going to do an unboxing post! I kind of wish I’d thought to do this with my OwlCrate boxes when I got them before, but I didn’t, though maybe in the future, I’ll give that a go.

I received this box from Wunderkind PR near the end of March, and I feel really badly that I’m only now getting to post the unboxing. Between adjusting to online/distance learning with my older daughter and adjusting to staying at home 24/7 with a toddler, plus juggling work and blogging and sewing cotton masks with my family, it’s been a busy, hectic, and stressful month.

Which makes me even more grateful to have something fun and creative as a little breath of … Continue reading →

Review: The Space Between Lost and Found by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

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The Space Between Lost and Found by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

The Space Between Lost and Found
Sandy Stark-McGinnis
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published April 28, 2020

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About The Space Between Lost and Found

Cassie’s always looked up to her mom, a vivacious woman with big ideas and a mischievous smile. Together they planned to check off every item on a big-dream bucket list, no matter how far the adventure would take them. But then Mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and everything changed.

Now, Cassie tries to keep Mom happy, and to understand some of Dad’s restrictive new rules. She tries to focus on math lessons and … Continue reading →

Review: Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson

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Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson

Ways to Make Sunshine
Renée Watson
Bloomsbury Children’s
Published April 28, 2020

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About Ways to Make Sunshine

Ryan Hart loves to spend time with her friends, loves to invent recipies, and has a lot on her mind—school, self-image, and family. Her dad finally has a new job, but money is tight. That means changes like selling their second car and moving into a … Continue reading →