Category Archives: book reviews

I chose this book as part of my interest in exploring the steampunk genre. It’s a young adult version of Cinderella, only it involves elements of steampunk and a super-empowered protagonist. Mechanica, or Nicolette, is a girl whose mother passed … Continue reading →

Earlier, I reviewed the first book in Mary Pope Osborne’s series.  With a little one at home, I’ve been delving into some of the children’s books that came out after my childhood so that I can be ready with recommendations. … Continue reading →

I chose this as my “summer reading pick” at the school where I teach: each teacher shared the title of a book they were reading and invited students, parents, and community members to read the same book. In August, we … Continue reading →

As the film The Dark Crystal was formative in my childhood—I watched the film several dozen times per summer as a kid—I was excited to see that someone had written a sequel about it. I’m not an expert in the … Continue reading →

I’d meant to read this book for a while now. After enjoying Clan of the Cavebear, I found it while researching similar stories. The story follows thirteen-year-old Julie, aka Miyax, as she escapes the arranged marriage of her Eskimo village. … Continue reading →

A friend loaned me this book—it looks like an ex-library book that she purchased at a sale. I’ll be honest. I started it when I was on maternity leave. I couldn’t get into it. I thought maybe I was too … Continue reading →

I promise I’m reading grown-up books, too, but these middle-grade and YA books are so easy to read while keeping an eye on the toddler. Speaking of whom…I’m doing lots of research into books that she might like to read … Continue reading →

Set in my favorite time period, this book for young readers follows a young slave named Sal (Isabel), who is separated from her sister during the American Revolution. The book is upper-level middle grade (for strong readers) or the younger … Continue reading →