C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 17

Herbert is the Lost and Founder at a big hotel in a seaside town that’s lovely in summertime. But in winter, the locals of Eerie-on-Sea trade tales of their very own cryptid. But when a girl who was apparently once turned in as a lost item at Herbert’s office returns to find out the truth of her past, strange things begin happening all over town. And the Malamander is at the heart of the mystery. The Abduction picks up right where the first book in the Theodore Boone series left off. Thanks ...

Elza and I love games almost as much as we love reading middle grade books. You’ll find more of these over on Middle Grade Carousel and posting throughout the day on our Twitter account. Follow us and play along! ~CJ

All’s Faire in Middle School is a graphic novel. Imogene, who goes by Impy, has always been homeschooled, but this year, she’ll be attending the local middle school. Fitting in proves to be a challenge, in part because Impy’s family work at the Ren Faire. So while she can juggle and sword fight and insult passersby with Elizabethan flourish, Squire Impy doesn’t understand the rules of middle school, where cliques rule the day instead of queens. Being the new kid is harder than slaying dragon...

Big Finish. As mentioned on previous weeks, I took part in #MGBookMarch over on Twitter this year. To refresh your memory, here are ALL the themes:

Yesterday, the month-long challenge wrapped up. Here were my tweeted books from Week 4:

Day 23 – Anticipated MG – Once I get hooked by a series, I’m always eager for the next book.

Day 24 – for “A Spring Ritual,” I went with coloring Easter eggs. So here are three books with eggs on the covers.

Day 25 – Intergenerational Bo...

Elza and I love games almost as much as we love reading middle grade books. You’ll find more of these over on Middle Grade Carousel and posting throughout the day on our Twitter account. Follow us and play along! ~CJ

In Here Lies the Librarian, Peewee is doing just fine, dressing like a boy, working in her big brother’s automotive shop. But then their town sets out to hire a new librarian, and Peewee’s whole way of life takes an interesting (if unwanted) turn. Wonder at the Edge of the World is about Lu Wonder, who lives in a Kansas town set ablaze by racial conflicts. Abolitionists and slave owners are at war, and nobody is safe from the fallout, especially Lu, because the one stirring up trouble is on ...

Elza and I love games almost as much as we love reading middle grade books. You’ll find more of these over on Middle Grade Carousel and posting throughout the day on our Twitter account. Follow us and play along! ~CJ

Short was one of my favorite reads of the year when I read it. When her younger brother wants to audition for a part in a summer production, Julia’s mom makes her try out, as well. It’s The Wizard of Oz, and they’re cast as munchkins. Because… Julia’s short. In Alan Cole is Not a Coward, Alan’s older brother bullies him into a game of Cole vs. Cole. If Alan looses, Nathan will out him as gay to the whole school. This was a tough one for me. Dysfunctional families make me sad, and Nathan’s pr...