C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 22

#amreading Green

In Charlie & Frog, Charlie goes to live with his television-obsessed grandparents in a small town that’s home to a school for the deaf. His first friend, a girl called Frog, rallies him to her side in order to solve a mystery, just like the deaf heroine in her favorite mystery series. A lower middle grade series starter. Lots of lessons in sign language for readers. And the recurring motto, “Deaf Can!” Snake is the third book in the Five Ancestors series. Since it’s a direct continuation, th...

How do you do?

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

#amreading Continuations

Monkey is the second book in the Five Ancestors series, which follows three students of the kung fu arts. This book is a direct continuation from the previous book, so there’s not much I can say without spoiling the story. Totally hooked, though. Prince of Elves is the fifth book in the graphic novel series Amulet. Because everything builds on what’s come before, I can’t say anything that wouldn’t be a spoiler. Suffice to say … it’s good! EndGames wraps up the storyline begun in Newsprints. ...

October Reads

Autumn’s Arrival. This time of year, when the temperatures drop into a range that’s comfy for walking outdoors, I do a whole lot more reading. Book walks are happening every morning, so I’m bringing back my book-tracking calendar this month. Let’s see what adventures are in store!

Grab your October BINGO board over at MGCarousel >>

Can you reach it?

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

Where are we now?

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

#amreading Boldly

In Will Sparrow’s Road, Will is a liar, a thief, and a runaway who only looks out for himself. But he’s beginning to understand that you can’t trust what a person promises any more than you should put stock in how a person looks. Oddities and rarities and misfits. Good and bad and belonging. The Cathedral of Fear is the fourth book in the series. A mystery that mostly takes place in war-torn Paris … and is riddled with references to streets and sites that would warm any historian’s heart. In...

Why are you smiling?

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

#amreading Good Authors

The Tea Dragon Festival is the second in a series of graphic novels. In a remote village where tea dragons belong to the whole village, Rinn forages for roots and mushrooms … and wakes a dragon. Meanwhile, their uncle returns with a friend on a quest of his own. Scenic and adorable. Lost and Found is a middle grade title by one of my favorite authors. Ezekiel has a knack that’s only brought him trouble. He finds lost things. A useless “micropower.” But then a police officer shows up at his d...

Doesn’t that hurt?

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