C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 63

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I’m currently reading Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. She’s long been one of my favorite middlegrade authors. Her spins of classic fairy tales are fun and funny. Back when my daughters were younger, we gobbled up the books in her Princess Tales set. Now I’m filling in the gaps by reading some of her newer(ish) and new-new titles.

To see what I’m reading + reviews, follow me on GoodReads >>

The alabaster statue was no longer in his elevated niche. Phineas stood gazing up at the beautiful mermaid perched at the fountain’s pinnacle, one of her hands upraised in a graceful stretch. She looked as if she was trying to pluck a star from the sky. If his sister’s stories were true, it was probably so she could give it to her prince.

—HARROW by C. J. Milbrandt

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I’m always excited to get mail from readers who take me up on the Hometown Challenge. Two postcards arrived last week from Seattle!

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Two stamped & sealed “Banners Boys” postcards are off in this morning’s mail—one stamped with Ewan’s seal, and one with Zane’s seal! Which brother are you cheering on? Write to tell me, and you can receive a postcard as well!

Hometown Challenge >>

Every one of the Byways Books includes beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book #10, Back on Track: A Ganix Johns Adventure.

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Torio stood silently at the window, gazing out past the garden wall. Beyond the hollyhocks and runner beans, there was a dusty road leading to another world—pink and ocher plains, the striped tents of spice traders, and basking stones where golden guardians lazed.

—RAKEFANG by C. J. Milbrandt

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After borrowing The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop from the library, I promptly bought my own copy … and its sequel. (I do crazy stuff like that.) Her middlegrade adventures suit my tastes—wildly whimsical, never too scary, and riddled with wit. Saunders wins my heart because she makes me laugh. The Curse of the Chocolate Phoenix sends us back into a London where magic lurks for a second adventure with Oz, Lily, and Caydon. Thus far, I’m delighted!

Stay tuned for more #BookADayInMay posts!

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