C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 40
December 30, 2019
#amreading Good Books
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Happy to report the completion of a trilogy. Fork-Tongued Charmers and Rise of the Ragged Clover wrap up Paul Durham’s Luck Uglies series, which now ranks among my favorite MG trilogies. Creative and complex, daring and enduring. Highly recommended. And then there’s the graphic novel Drama, which follows a group of friends as they get ready for a stage production. It’s a classic kerfuffle of she-likes-him but he-likes-them … with friends doing their best to support one another while still...
December 23, 2019
#amreading Sequels
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Al Capone Shines My Shoes is a sequel (currently the second of four books) that makes the most of its setting. I was fascinated to learn that Choldenko spent time as a docent on Alcatraz. Now that’s commitment! Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my favorite Hayao Miyazaki films, but the book that inspired it is even better. This is a reread for me, since I am eager to read its sequels. And Zia is considered a sequel of sorts to the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Once again, O’Dell presents the...
December 16, 2019
#amreading Variety
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The Zenta and Matsuzo Mysteries are such a refreshing change from the usual brand of detective stories. Set in sixteenth century Japan, the protagonists are a pair of ronin (wandering samurai). In White Serpent Castle, Namioka lets us in on a secret about Zenta’s past. Al Capone Does My Shirts introduces readers to the small community of civilians who live on Alcatraz (wives & children of the guards), and I found the whole story fascinating. No Passengers Beyond this Point, which also...
December 9, 2019
#amreading Always
Oooh, wow. I haven’t done one of these posts in over a year. Let’s pick up where I left off. There’ve been so many books since we last chatted! ~CJ
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The Sisters Grimm series proceeds with The Unusual Suspects. Since it’s such a long-runner, you’ll see more covers crop up in coming weeks. Pleased to see one of my favorite characters (the pink-winged Puck) featured on this one. I like to mix classics into my reading pile, especially if I haven’t read them since I was in elementary school...
December 7, 2019
Twinkle, Twinkle
Every month over on Middle Grade Carousel, Elza & I pick a theme. For December, we’re all starry-eyed. Watch for stellar reads on the blog & on Instagram @MGCarousel …
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What books would you give a gold star & suggest we read this month?
December BINGO
Winter Reading. Fitting in reading time is actually easier for me in December, partly because the holidays offer a great excuse to leave off writing, cuddle up under a blanket, and while away an afternoon with a book. I’m not sure how successful I’ll be with this month’s BINGO board from Middle Grade Carousel, but let’s give it a go!
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June 1, 2019
#BookADayMay – Success!
This was the second year Elza & I tackled the challenge that is #BookADayMay, during which the goal is to read one middle grade book every day for the 31 days of May. We pulled it off! Here’s my calendar for the month.
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You can follow Elza’s blog, too >>
BINGO: All Cover!
May might always be the ONLY month when I can achieve an all-cover on the BINGO boards for the reading challenges over at Middle Grade Carousel. Thanks to #BookADayMay and a bit of strategic book selection, I get to share this:
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June’s BINGO board is already up at #MGCarousel. I’ll post mine soon. Are you following Elza and I there, too? Middle Grade Carousel >>
May 1, 2019
#BookADayMay returns!
Elza & I are embarking on what’s become an annual reading challenge. Will you be joining us for #BookADayMay?
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December 8, 2018
December Bingo
Holiday Fun. I survived NaNoWriMo again this year, and with my writing goals mostly met, I’m ready to indulge in a reading challenge for December. MGCarousel has a BINGO board I’m eager to attempt. Let’s see if I can manage five in a row!
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