Summer at Meadow Wood by Amy Rebecca Tan. This has been one of my most highly anticipated books of 2020. I read Tan’s debut novel, A Kind of Paradise, earlier this year and absolutely adored it. It has been one of my favorite books so far this year and I’m glad that Summer at Meadow Wood will make it onto that list as well. Summary from the publisher… Vic Brown did not want to go to camp this summer. Even though it’s nice being back with her friends at Meadow Wood, Vic still can’t forget about the secret reason her mom wanted her and her brother out of the house—or…
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A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan
A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan Book Review. This has been one of my favorite books so far this year! Summary from the publisher… Thirteen-year-old Jamie Bunn made a mistake at the end of the school year. A big one. And every kid in her middle school knows all about it. Now she has to spend her summer vacation volunteering at the local library—as punishment. What a waste of a summer! Or so she thinks. A Kind of Paradise is an unforgettable story about the power of community, the power of the library, and the power of forgiveness. Review… I literally hugged this book when I finished it, because it’s pretty…
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2019 Middle Grade Books
I’m using Middle Grade March as my excuse for finally doing a recap post for all of the middle grade books I read in 2019! Although I loved some more than others, I would confidently recommend any of the books below. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall The Penderwicks will take you back to elementary school summer breaks- going on adventures and maybe causing a little mischief. Following four sisters on vacation with their dad, the Penderwick family rent a cottage on the grounds of a large estate, Arundel. The sisters meet Jeffrey, the son of the wealthy owner of Arundel their first day. Adventures, exploring and a little trouble making begin.…
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The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan
Last month I was in a major book slump and DNFing right and left! I needed something to break the slump and I reached for this middle grade book, which absolutely did the trick and sucked me in. Narnia meets Peter Pan in this adventurous tale. In The Land of Roar, action and adventure carry the story, but the sibling dynamic between the twins adds a sweet and more serious aspect. The only thing better than the story itself is the amazing illustrations- both on the cover flaps and throughout. Click through below for some of the beautiful illustrations. Summary from the publisher: When Arthur and Rose were little, they were…
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The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel
The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel Book Review. Twelve year old Quijana is trying to navigate a lot of difficulties- starting seventh grade at a new school, making new friends, her first crush, and now her dad is trying to get her to embrace her Guatemalan heritage. The problem with this is that he’s raised Quijana totally Anglo, never teaching her Spanish or much about her heritage. When some of her Guatemalan relatives move nearby all of a sudden he wants her to be more like her cousins. She’s trying to deal with that, her problems at school and now her beloved grandma is sick. I really adored…
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Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend Book Review. Summary Morrigan Crow was born cursed and destined to die on her eleventh birthday. When the time comes a mysterious stranger, Jupiter North, rescues and sweeps her away to the magical city of Nevermoor. In order to remain in her new home she seeks admittance to the prestigious Wundrous Society. Morrigan must compete in a series of trials to prove that she belongs among these elite. Review Choosing to have an 11 year collected by a large stranger on their eleventh birthday is a bold choice. It’s just begging for comparison to another just sightly well known series 😉…
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England Book Haul: YA Books
Last month I spent a great 10 days in England. My husband and I stayed in The Cotswolds and London and did day trips throughout the Cotswolds, to Oxford and Blenheim Palace and to Windsor. I’m looking forward to sharing more about these destinations! I went a little book shopping crazy and ended up bringing back a lot more books than I originally planned on, but I have no regrets! Plus, even with the exchange rate, books are cheaper in the UK than in the US! I’m going to break my book haul into a couple posts and I’m starting today with my YA/Middle Grade purchases. Malamander by Thomas Taylor…
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Sweep Book Review
Sweep by Jonathan Auxier. “We are saved by saving other” – Sweep by Jonathan Auxier. I read this book for #middlegrademarch and I have neglected to write a review for it. I’ve been putting it off because I still don’t know exactly how I feel about it! I found the story interesting, the characters well developed and the writing beautiful. However, I struggled with the age appropriateness of some of the content or maybe I should say that it just surprised me. Sweep covers some tough topics and has some strong language (not swearing, but a bit violent). I read some very heavy books as a child (Anne Frank, The…
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The Penderwicks Book Review
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall The Penderwicks will take you back to elementary school summer breaks- going on adventures and maybe causing a little mischief. Following four sisters on vacation with their dad, the Penderwick family rent a cottage on the grounds of a large estate, Arundel. The sisters meet Jeffrey, the son of the wealthy owner of Arundel their first day. Adventures, exploring and a little trouble making begin. This endearing book is reminiscent of Little Women, but a more light hearted and modern take on it. It’s a sweet story of family, friendship, and the magic of summer break. I was in a big book slump when I…
