C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 28

How long is your nose?

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 Gold

Charlie can’t understand why nobody can remember his little brother Liam, not even their parents. But he’s determined to figure out what happened. And to get him back. The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly is a difficult book to pigeonhole. Not too scary, but tension-inducing. Not historical, but Charlie dreams of the past as if he were a different person, so several scenes take place there. Perhaps a psychological thriller for the middle grade set? Next up: Logan probably shouldn’t have bee...

How fast does this thing go?

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 Genres

In Choke, Beck may be older, but he’s no wiser than he was in Pillage. Still groaning over Beck’s life choices, but rooting for him nonetheless. In Hattie on Her Way, Hattie Belle has grown up pretty wild, so when her Pa takes her into town and leaves her with her maternal grandmother to get a proper education, it’s a drastic change. Her blunt manner and short temper get her into all kinds of trouble. All she wants to do is fly home. In Yang the Third and the Impossible Family, Yingmei Yang ...

Currently Reading

Up Next. With an eye toward my February BINGO board, I’ve settled on my next handful of titles. All of them are from my list of 100 Middle Grade Books that I want to read in 2021.

February BINGO

It’s time for a new BINGO board, courtesy of Middle Grade Carousel. I enjoy all sorts of challenges, including reading ones. This month, I think I’ve plotted a do-able course that’ll give me five in a row. How about you? Ready to join in?

Jacket Envy

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

5 in a Row

Bingo! This may be the first time I’ve ever read so strategically. -laugh- While I read more than five books in January, the rest didn’t fit any of the squares.

I’m ready for a new month! Bring on February’s BINGO board!

#amreading With Teeth

The Adventurer’s Guild is perfect for fans of DnD. Best friends Zed and Brock are looking forward to being chosen by one of the guilds in Freestone. A half-elf, Zed would love to be taken by the Mage’s Guild. And Brock, the son of a wealthy merchant, is a lock for the Merchant’s Guild. But Zed’s hopes are ripped to shreds when he’s snatched up by the Adventurer’s Guild, and Brock won’t let him face its dangers alone. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a classic-feeling orphan tale in a Gothic...

#amreading Blues

In Spy School (the first in a lengthy series), Ben is recruited by the CIA and shipped off to spy school in order to learn how to be an agent. Which may have been the worst decision of his life. Fun and often funny, this is essentially a mystery, and the stakes are higher than your average kid ever has to face. Al Capone Shines My Shoes is the second book set among the families of the guards who live and work on Alcatraz, Moose needs to “get square” with Al Capone. A slice-of-life, small-tow...