C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 24

Who is your friend?

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 Variously

Plain Kate was one of my favorites. Kate is a woodcarver of incredible skill. Circumstances conspire to force her into a deal with a witch. A fascinating fantasy in a setting reminiscent of Russia, with folk lore and gypsy caravans and needing to learn the roamer way. I will always read Sherlock Holmes books. This one’s kinda … so-so. In Death Cloud, an adolescent Holmes must endure his winter holidays with relatives, but drear days are interrupted by 1) the discovery of a body, 2) the frien...

What are you spinning?

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 All Sorts

In Stargazing, which is a graphic novel, two girls navigate their differences to become friends. But it isn’t always easy. Out of My Mind tells the story of Melody, who is smart and amazing and hopeful and lonely. She has cerebral palsy, and she cannot talk. Based entirely on appearances, people (including her teachers and classmates) assume she’s mentally handicapped as well. Twilight of the Elves is the second book in series. Zed has the unique chance to learn more about the other half of ...

What is this place?

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 in Interesting Ways

In The Mystery of the Scarlet Rose, Sherlock, Lupin, and Irene are reunited. While in London together, the trio of friends unriddle a clue in the newspaper that allows them to predict the locations of a series of yet-to-come crimes. But Scotland Yard isn’t about to take advice from three children. In A Nest for Celeste, which is told from the point of view of a mouse. Celeste only wants a nice, safe home and enough food to eat, but when important guests come to the house in which she’s made ...

Do I see flowers?

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 Widely

Locomotion is a novel in verse from the point of view of a boy who lost his parents (they died) and his sister (who was adopted by a different family). Loco makes the most of what he’s got, even if it means keeping his true thoughts and feelings behind a more socially acceptable front. In Swordbird, an evil hawk and his crow minions use slave labor to build a stronghold in the midst of the forest. They pit the cardinals and the blue jays against each other to keep them distracted from this g...

What are you doing?

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

August Reading

Summer Reading. Ah, I do love dusting off a fresh calendar page. Life got extra busy during the back half of July, so I didn’t manage a BINGO last month. Let’s try again!

Pick up your own BINGO board at MGCarousel >>