Monthly Book Round-Up Middle Grade-Adult: May 2025 | alibrarymama
My brief thoughts of the 15 books I read in May – from middle grade to adult, including lots of fantasy, some romance, and one deeply thoughtful nonfiction title.| alibrarymama
My brief thoughts of the 15 books I read in May – from middle grade to adult, including lots of fantasy, some romance, and one deeply thoughtful nonfiction title.| alibrarymama
The Cybils Awards are having a TBR Reading challenge starting today! Here’s my starting line photo: Since the challenge is to review/share the books I’m reading as well as just readin…| alibrarymama
I really enjoyed Anna Meriano’s first book in the Love Sugar Magic series, A Dash of Trouble, so I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for the second book, which just came out February…| alibrarymama
William Alexander’s latest book is short, spooky and delicious, with a strong core. A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander. Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2017. …| alibrarymama
I hope everyone is recovering from Independence Day and Canada Day celebrations! I had a couple of days off of work and spent them busy with family and friends – a good time. I listened to Clementi…| alibrarymama
It’s a little disconcerting after a son who really only likes speculative fiction, but so far, my daughter seems to prefer realistic fiction. It’s a good opportunity to reacquaint myself with the …| alibrarymama
A Field Guide to Broken Promises and A Split Second are two moving stories of middle school girls blindsided by betrayals from friends and sometimes family, each with a slight speculative twist| alibrarymama
My brief thoughts of the 14 books I read in April, including three re-reads of beloved books. Continue reading →| alibrarymama
Here’s a moving story in verse that includes mountains, blisters, many varieties of chocolate-chip cookies, and finding the space for the main character to reevaluate and come to terms with h…| alibrarymama
When I got an email asking if I’d like to take a look at a middle grade book from a founding Drag Queen Story Hour Queen and Asian-American, the answer was an enthusiastic yes! This is a sparkling and heartwarming … Continue reading →| alibrarymama
Join me for a guest post by Nancy McCabe on the inspirations for her new middle grade novel, Fires Burning Underground.| alibrarymama
My brief thoughts of the 16 books I read in March – so many books I loved!| alibrarymama
It’s always a happy day when Stephanie Burgis comes out with a new book, and this, her first traditionally-published book for adults in many years, is especially exciting. If you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy romance with crows, … Continue reading →| alibrarymama
Here are reivew of Accidental Demons by Clare Edge and Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca, two of the 2024 Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Finalists that I didn't get to back when I first read them. Continue reading →| alibrarymama
Here are two cozy fantasies – both with cats – to comfort and inspire: The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner and The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong.| alibrarymama
Here are two books for the younger middle grade set that are just coming out in April of 2020, both featuring girls on bikes These are both from my Cybils Awards ReadDown TBR pile. Ghost Squad by …| alibrarymama
I was planning to do another triple review in the interests of catching up, but have fallen to the reality of headaches and patrons with long reference questions (that last a much more pleasant rea…| alibrarymama
Today I’m featuring a couple of middle grade speculative fiction books that are eligible but not yet nominated for the Cybils – Dactyl Hill Squad 2 by Daniel José Older and Spark by Sarah Bet…| alibrarymama
Continuing on with reviewing our 2018 Cybils finalists. The Stone Girl’s Story by Sarah Beth Durst. Clarion Books, 2018. The stone girl Mayka is the oldest of the stone creatures carved by th…| alibrarymama
I was so excited when an author from my Top 10 Fantasy Authors I’ve Never Read list popped up on the Cybils nominations this year! Sarah Beth Durst writes mostly YA – I understand this is her firs…| alibrarymama
The discovery of a hidden library full of secrets takes 12-year-old Dally on adventures through over a century of her family’s history in this thought-provoking adventure.| alibrarymama
As soon as I heard about this book, I was hooked. I’ve enjoyed lots of books by Sarah Beth Durst in the past, but a cozy fantasy starring a librarian – with jam and a sentient plant fri…| alibrarymama
Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz is a tale of WWII trials that’s clear-eyed, nuanced, and funny.| alibrarymama
