Always in the Middle…

The story started a little slow for me, but I’m glad I didn’t stop. The plot keeps deepening right through to the thrilling conclusion.

The Firefly Crown is a magical story centered upon 12-year-old Yumi who narrates the tale. She and her parents are known as Crickets, ones who can communicate their magic through real insect crickets. Yumi finds that very boring and would much prefer to be one of the Fireflies whose magic is much more powerful. In the empire, magic determines your fate. Yumi is tired of being a failed Cricket, but she has no choice…or does she?

All the sorcerers are ordered to attend the young princess’s coronation. Nothing goes as planned as the Firefly Crown is stolen before the valuable piece can be placed on the head of the new princess. The crown’s magic can protect the empire from a Ghost Swarm of undead bugs who can kill everyone they fall upon. Things get worse when Yumi is blamed for stealing the crown. Her only hope is to find the real thief and save her family and empire. Good luck Yumi. You are going to need it.

The 27 chapters come alive with many exciting, action packed encounters. Yumi is an endearing character and you will be cheering for her right to the last decision she makes. THE FIREFLY CROWN will appeal to those who love a unique fantasy set in a palace based world.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: November 11, 2025 PAGES: 288

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE FIREFLY CROWN by Yxavel Magno Diño

1. Yumi’s real passion is to become a metal worker, one who create marvelous pieces of artwork. It was a nice turn to see her more interested in that path than doing real magic. Follow your dreams is her way of dealing with life and what a good path that becomes!
2. Even the irritating crickets have a role in this story, and Yumi befriends a strong willed one in Ikko. A memorable sidelight.
3. You’ll be guessing as to who is the traitor and that helps propel the story forward. I was surprised when I figured out who the bad guy really was in the final chapters.
4. Yumi’s new friends help her along the way and they stick with her despite the dangers facing the group.
5. No cliffhanger at the end. All plot points are resolved and you find out what eventually happens to each of the characters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yxavel Magno Diño was born in the Philippines before moving to Australia at a young age, where she soon discovered that almost nobody there knew how to say her name. To make up for it, she spent her time daydreaming about fantasy worlds filled with characters who had more unusual names than she did. Now, she writes stories about her Filipino heritage and its fantastical folklore. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking copious amounts of black tea or getting lost in the pages of a book. (Author Website)

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BE SURE TO VISIT ALL THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!

This first book in Kate Messner’s WILDLIFE RESCUE series is a chapter book, but a good one for those emerging middle grade readers who need something with a shorter page count. I often have parents asking me for this type of book for their 3rd or 4th grader.

Siblings Ivy and Ezra volunteer with their parents to transport injured and orphaned animals to their local wildlife hospital. This story centers around their discovery of a baby river otter with an injured leg. Ivy knows what it’s like being separated from family and helping this otter and taking on big project for the wildlife hospital helps her gain confidence.

Readers learn about how injured animals are cared for and the effort it takes to succeed. The story wraps up all plot points to a satisfying conclusion. Up next in the series are two more rescue stories. HOW TO SAVE AN OWL is available now and HOW TO SAVE A TORTOISE will be released next March.

You can get a sneak peak at the first two chapters of HOW TO SAVE AN OTTER from Kate Messner herself. A story inspired by her own work rehabilitating animals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and has written over seventy books for kids who wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow , The Next Scientist, and The Scariest Kitten in the World as well as novels for older readers like Breakout and The Trouble with Heroes. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and the Ranger in Time historical adventures, and she leads the multi-author team behind The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class chapter books. Kate lives on Lake Champlain and is a proud Adirondack 46er. Learn more at www.katemessner.com.

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.

It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.

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First up is the appealing graphic novel, WINGING IT. Luna lost her mother when she was just a baby. The only things she has to keep that person in her thoughts are her name, old photos, and nature journals. Mom’s passion was the environment and she named her daughter after the Luna moth.

Luna lives with her dad in California. She has friends and a good life. That is until Dad takes a job back east and they move to the Washington D.C. area. Just as upsetting is that they will be living with her mother’s mom, the grandma she barely knows. The story covers the next year and chapters are titled by each month.

As Luna adjusts to the new environment she begins to take an interest in the outdoors like her mother. Her goal is to see the rare Luna moth in its natural environment. The confusing relationship she has with her grandmother takes on a new direction. Illustrations and text blend nicely with the facial expressions of each character, boldly displaying every emotion.

WINGING IT is a fun, charming tale that is perfect for the middle grade audience. Another plus are the back pages with directions on how to create your own nature journal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Wagner Lloyd is the Eisner-nominated writer of the bestselling and award winning kids’ graphic novels Allergic and Squished, co-created with illustrator Michelle Mee Nutter, and the Super Pancake kids’ graphic novel series, co-created with illustrator Abhi Alwar. Megan is also the author of the children’s novel Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure, the picture book How to Catch Some Zzzs, illustrated by Jade Orlando, and several more books. She lives with her family in the Washington, DC area.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Michelle Mee Nutter is an Eisner-nominated comic artist based in Boston. Her work includes bestselling graphic novels Allergic and Squished and several picture books, includingThe Girl Who Built an Ocean and Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie. Her favorite part of illustrating is capturing a character’s emotions and making readers feel seen. When she isn’t working, you can usually find her doing puzzles, playing video games or perusing stationery shops.

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Halloween is in one week and what better way to get in the spooky mood than by reading THE BLACK MARKET. You’ll find two appealing characters and a not too scary tale for the Halloween season.

Ten-year-old Martin loves horror movies, spending time with his best friend Jess, and the unannounced visit from his great-aunt. Her latest visit came the day before Halloween with a gift for Martin: a pair of curly toed shoes made from an extinct animal hide. She also tells him a secret as to where they came from: none other than the Black Market where once a year those who know about it can trade for some unusual items.

When the Black Market turns up down a dark alley in his home town on Halloween, Martin just has to visit. He gets in and eventually trades his new shoes in for a very famous Bag of Dirty Tricks. To Martin and Jess it sounds like fun, but they soon realize the tricks aren’t so harmless. First Martin’s Dad turns bright red from head to toe, then the grouchy neighbor next door sprouts long branches from his ears and fingers. They decide to bury the bag. It turns up in the wrong hands and the two friends devise a plan to find out who has it and hopefully destroy the remaining tricks in the bag.

Martin’s kid-like narration gives readers a story with page turning appeal and a lot of plot twists. The character ARCS for both Martin and Jess are a highlight as they go from pranking others to seeing the harm they are doing and try to change. The occasional illustrations add to the fun and spooky aspect of the story.

THE BLACK MARKET is a great addition to the shelves for Halloween. It would actually be an entertaining read any time of the year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jed Alexander is an author and illustrator who has done work for a variety of publications, including Cricket Magazine and SpongeBob Comics. He’s the author of three critically acclaimed wordless picture books, Red, and Gold and Olive. His recent release is the Middle Grade Novel, The Black Market. He lives in Davis California with his wife and best friend in the world, Regina.

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.

It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.

I’ve gotten to know Valinora through her frequent participation and support for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM). I was thrilled when she asked if I would be a part of her cover reveal for Lianna and the Hombit. The new book will be out on January 29th, 2026. Preorders are available at Lianna and Hombit – Valinora Troy.

So… here’s what to expect:

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A grieving girl in need of a friend. A magical creature with a secret task. Can they end the ancient curse threatening their new home?

13-year-old Lianna has lost everything: her home, her friends, and most devastatingly, her beloved Papa. Sent to live with her uncle, Lianna is certain he will be cruel and unkind, for why else would Papa have run away when he was young? Robbed on arrival of her precious keepsakes, Lianna receives a worse-than-expected welcome from her uncle. His servants are hostile and even her grandparents seem to glare at her from their portraits over the fire.

When a magical creature resembling a small glass bird bursts into her life in a mix of sparks and fire, Lianna is eager to assist the hombit with its secret mission if it helps her return home. Which leads to Lianna undertaking a risky dive near perilous sea stacks known as ‘living rocks’.

When her dive goes wrong, she awakens a creature that seeks to rob her of her humanity. 

To survive, Lianna must uncover the dark secrets of her father’s past. Now she faces a stark decision: does she save herself or the town that rejects both her and her father? 

A heart-warming story of the healing power of friendship when all seems lost.

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That sure is a great sounding plot! And now take a look at the equally powerful cover:

A stunning accomplishment for sure and one that will grab young reader’s attention. Best of luck on your new book Valinora. I can’t wait to read it myself!

About Valinora Troy

Valinora Troy is a children’s fantasy writer from Ireland. She has a MA in Creative Writing Specialising in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and has served as a panellist for the CYBILS awards (elementary & middle grade speculative fiction category). Her short stories for adults have been in a number of publications. She is the author of ‘The Lucky Diamond’ trilogy, three middle grade children’s fantasy adventures. She has recently been shortlisted for the Staróg prize, and has served as a Reading Ambassador for Louth County Libraries.