Review: Starfish by Lisa Fipps

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Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Starfish
Lisa Fipps
Nancy Paulsen Books – Penguin Young Readers
Published March 9, 2021

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About Starfish

Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this debut novel-in-verse.

Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules–like “no making waves,” “avoid eating in public,” and “don’t move so fast that your body jiggles.” And she’s found her safe space–her swimming pool–where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world.

In the water, she can … Continue reading →

Review: Make This Book Wild by Jo Shofield and Fiona Danks

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Make This Book Wild by Jo Shofield and Fiona Danks

Make This Book Wild
Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks
Wide-Eyed Editions
Published April 12, 2022

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About Make This Book Wild

From the authors behind The Stick Book and many other outdoor adventure favorites, this interactive one-of-a-kind creative scrapbook offers children an outlet for creativity inspired by the wild world. 
 
This truly unique book contains prompts for all kinds of creative activity based around the natural world around us, from drawing to writing to mixed-media collage.
 
Readers will be encouraged to draw on their creativity, to express themselves without fear of being judged, and to make their book really WILD!
 
They will need scissors, pens, … Continue reading →

Review: Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf

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Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf

Hamra and the Jungle of Memories
Hanna Alkaf
HarperCollins
Published March 28, 2023

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About Hamra and the Jungle of Memories

A Malaysian spin on Little Red Riding Hood from the critically acclaimed author of The Girl and the Ghost, Hanna Alkaf.

Courage is the strongest magic there is.

On Hamra’s thirteenth birthday, she receives nothing but endless nagging and yet another errand to run in the Langkawi jungle that looms behind her home.

No one has remembered her special day.

And so, stifled and angry, Hamra ignores something she shouldn’t: the rules of the jungle.

Always ask permission before you enter. Hamra walks boldly in.

… Continue reading →

Review: Spell Bound by F. T. Lukens

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Spell Bound by F. T. Lukens

Spell Bound
F. T. Lukens
Simon & Schuster
Published April 4, 2023

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About Spell Bound

Two rival apprentice sorcerers must team up to save their teachers and protect their own magic in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of In Deeper Waters and So This Is Ever After.

Edison Rooker isn’t sure what to expect when he enters the office of Antonia Hex, the powerful sorceress who runs a call center for magical emergencies. He doesn’t have much experience with hexes or curses. Heck, he doesn’t even have magic. But he does have a plan—to regain the access to the magical world … Continue reading →

A Very Belated Winter Wrap-Up

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2023 Winter Wrap-Up image shows a cup of tea on the right next to a stack of books.

A Very Belated Winter Wrap-Up

Spring has (maybe?) sprung, and here I am scraping together my winter wrap-up. It’s been a busy season! Read on to see the best books I read this season as well as my most popular posts. Finally, I’ll check in on the goals I set for the year and how I’m doing in meeting them.

Winter Wrap-Up Behind the Scenes News

Last year, I started working directly with several new publishers, which means easier access to more of the books I can’t wait to read. Which is good and bad? Because yeowza, my calendar has never been so packed.

I used to … Continue reading →

Review: Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia

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Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia

Greymist Fair
Francesca Zappia
Harper Collins
Published March 28, 2023

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About Greymist Fair

The people of Greymist Fair know that the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and that they should never set foot off the road. But when a young tailor discovers a body on the road, her search for the culprit reveals even more strange and dark happenings around her town. From acclaimed author Francesca Zappia, GREYMIST FAIR is a suspenseful and inventive murder-mystery inspired by the lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. GREYMIST FAIR will bewitch readers of Rachel Vincent’s RED WOLF, Liz Braswell’s A Twisted Tale series, and fans of INTO THE WOODS.

Features chapter decorations by … Continue reading →