C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 43

BYWAYS: Hidden Pictures

I Spy. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Every Byways book cover has a game of its own. There are items hidden in plain sight. Just so you can have the fun of finding them.  On Ewan’s books, you’ll find a compass rose. On Zane’s books, it will be a paw print. And on Ganix’s books, look for a ladybug.

[image error]

#amreading Playfully

[image error]

King of Shadows is about a young actor pulled back into the past, where he joins William Shakespeare at the Globe Theater, playing Puck to his Oberon. (So many feels!) Definitely one of my favorite books for the year. Felix Yz is certainly off-beat, but in ways I completely enjoyed. In the lab accident that killed his father, Felix is fused with an alien entity. Mostly about family, the story also slips into LGBTQ territory. My favorite character was Grandy, Felix’s father’s parent, who some...

BYWAYS: Ewan’s Track

[image error]

#amreading Whiplash

[image error]

“Middle grade” isn’t a genre. It’s a recommended age level. Which is just about the only thing these titles have in common. Half a Chance is a slice-of-life summertime story about a girl whose family moves a lot and her love for photography. (Adored the “scavenger hunt” style photography challenge.) In When You Reach Me, Miranda tries to make sense of the things that are going on around her—the notes, on-again-off-again friends, who likes who, and the best way to win at a game show. And At t...

BYWAYS: Vanek Johns

[image error]

As soon as the boys were gone, Ian turned to his uncle. “What just happened?”

Vanek chuckled. “Did you really think cramming those boys into a carriage would fix things?”

“But to send them out alone? Laurel won’t like it.” Ian fiddled with the buttons on his cuff. “I don’t like it.”

—excerpted from Byways, Book 1: On Your Marks

Ian’s overly optimistic plan was doomed from the start, but thanks to wise Uncle Vanek, the brothers will each have a chance to prove themselves. This big bear of a m...

Skellig

Skellig
David Almond

[image error]

Michael’s family moves into a fixer-upper about the same time his baby sister comes too soon. So Mum is at hospital while he and his dad try to sort out the repairs. The teetering garage full of junk is off-limits, but Michael has a peek and finds someone there. A pale, crumbling, filthy person with wings … and a taste for Chinese takeout.

Arthur Itis and William Blake. Tawny owls and tiny lives. Beer bottles and blue bottles. Cod liver oil and aspirin. 27 and 53. Hands...

#amreading Boldly

[image error]

Loser is an endearing story about a boy who’s … a little different. I picked up The Vanishing Game to fill a slot on my A-Z Reading Challenge and was intrigued to find that the Hardy Boys have been dragged into the modern era and equipped with cell phones and contemporary slang. Not too shabby, though this particular mystery had a slap-dash finish. Jungle of Bones is a survival story in which an angry boy behaves stupidly, then has to live long enough to learn from his mistakes. Lots in this...

GALLERIES OF STONE: Illustrations

Did you know that the digital editions of Meadowsweet are filled with full-color illustrations by Hannah Christenson, who also does my cover art? Worth!

[image error]

• • •

[image error]

Greenglass House

Greenglass House
Kate Milford

[image error]

The Pines run a historic inn known as Greenglass House, which is perched on a cliff overlooking a river famous for local smugglers. Young Milo Pine was looking forward to Christmas with his (adoptive) parents. Normally, they have the place to themselves over the winter holidays, but one guest after another shows up unexpectedly. The house is full of suspicious strangers, each with their own agenda.

Orphans and local legends. Maps and clues. Thieves and sabotage....

#amreading Culturally

[image error]

Here are three books that celebrate and explore culture and differences. In One Crazy Summer, three girls trade east coast for west coast in order to spend time with their mother. Set in the 70’s, there are many references to the Civil Rights movement. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear is about a Chinese family that’s moved to America. Everyone’s a gifted musician except Yingtao, who’d really like to trade his violin for a baseball glove. And Save Me a Seat alternates perspectives betwe...