Category Archives: Reviews

33 MINUTES… for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Looking for a heartwarming story of lifelong friendship between two boys? How about  a plot that shows how forgiveness is the cornerstone of two best friend’s relationship? Well, you won’t find it in 33 MINUTES… UNTIL MORGAN STURTZ KICKS MY … Continue reading

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Phineas L. MacGuire Series for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I accidentally ran into this book series, otherwise Phineas L. MacGuire would have remained an unknown for me. While at the local library, lost in the shelves of children’s novel section, I rounded the corner and my knee connected with … Continue reading

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FREAKY FAST FRANKIE JOE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The sign of a good book for me is after finishing the last word, I want to read more. What does happen to Frankie Joe, a most endearing character, as he takes on the next chapter in his life? I’d … Continue reading

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ROAD TRIP for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Middle grade books these days aren’t lacking for page counts. According to Amazon, many of the tops titles from 2013 far exceeded the normal number of pages expected from this genre. ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY (304 pages), NAVIGATING EARLY … Continue reading

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THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Your first question may be – Why now? The classic tale is 138 years old. Well, I was needing an accurate recollection of the “curing warts’ scene for a current writing project. Wasn’t there a dead cat and beans involved? … Continue reading

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Favorite Middle Grade Reading Moments 2013

I’ve read more middle grade books this year than any other genre and even wrote two of my own (currently going through some serious final editing). My final reading tally sits at 19 middle grade reads and 14 of those … Continue reading

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OKAY FOR NOW for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I started mentoring youth in 1998 and have continued to this day in two different mentoring organizations.  I’ve been lucky to be matched with three boys and two of them are now about to graduate from college. Gary D. Schmidt’s, … Continue reading

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WHEN YOU REACH ME for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I used to teach a Newbery Medal winner reading unit to sixth graders. It was one of my favorites, but the students rarely shared in my enthusiasm. In fact they hated the unit. It seems books that adults choose as … Continue reading

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LIAR & SPY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

LIAR & SPY, by Rebecca Stead, has become one of my favorite books on the shelf. The bonds of friendship for past and new friends is explored along with the love two parents have for their son, Georges, the ‘s’ … Continue reading

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SCHOOLED for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

SCHOOLED, by Gordon Korman, is one of the few Middle Grade novels that utilizes a multiple first person narrative. Each chapter is from the perspective of either the protagonist, Capricorn Anderson, or the supporting or less than supporting cast around … Continue reading

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