Middle Grade Ninja: An Afterword for GOODBYE TO GRANDMA

When you hold my novel in your hands, Esteemed Reader, you hold my beating heart. That’s true no matter which of my books you happen to be holding, even the adventure stories. There are chapters in all three Banneker Bones books I cannot read without tears threatening. When you’re holding Goodbye to Grandma, you’re […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: THE ASSASSINATION OF BRANGWAIN SPURGE by M.T. Anderson

First Paragraph(s): From the Desk of Lord Ysoret Clivers The Royal Order of the Clean Hand Realm of Elfland My Dear Friend, You’ll never believe who I shot out of a crossbow today. Old Weedy Spurge from school–“the Weed.” We shot him into the dark heart of the kingdom of the goblins around noon. Funny thing. […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: A CRACK IN THE SKY by Mark Peter Hughes

Greetings, Esteemed Reader! Happy Mockingjay day. Rest assured I have my copy and as you’re reading this review I am likely enjoying the final Katniss adventure on audiobook. I don’t anticipate reviewing the books here, but I’ve loved The Hunger Games trilogy as much as anyone. I was Team Gale, but I’ve come around on […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: FORTS: FATHERS AND SONS by Steven Novak

WARNING: This story is upper middle grade trending toward young adult. Most readers should be fine to proceed, but there is some light adult language and adult themes throughout. Uncertain parents should probably read this one for themselves before giving it to their children (which is far preferable to complaining after the fact). Get involved […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: IVY’S EVER AFTER by Dawn Lairamore

Do you like fantasy and fairytales, Esteemed Reader? You do! Well then, here’s a fun one for you. Ivy’s Ever After made me feel small and tucked snug in my bed as though some parent were reading the book to me. This was, of course, not the case. I can’t imagine Mrs. Ninja putting up […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: MITCHELL’S LICENSE by Hallie Durand

The book is the wonderful Mitchell’s License by Hallie Durand. I’d tell you Ms. Durand will be here on Thursday to face the 7 Questions, but she’s already been here! Hallie Durand is the pen name for literary agent Holly McGhee of Pippen Properties, who we interviewed back in January. This means you can read […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: REX ZERO: THE GREAT PRETENDER by Tim Wynne-Jones

Rex Zero is a series of humorous historical fiction novels. I haven’t read them all yet, but you can bet I will. The Great Pretender is actually the third book in the series and although it may spoil parts of them, it is not necessary to have read the first two books to enjoy this […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: TRAUMA QUEEN by Barbara Dee

Today we are discussing Trauma Queen and on Thursday we’ll have author Barbara Dee here to face the 7 Questions! But wait! There’s more! On Saturday after months of me asking and begging, literary agent Holly Root will be here and you can’t ask for much more than that! What a wonderful week to be […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: The Usual Suspects by Maurice Broaddus

First Paragraph(s): Life is all about timing. Once the homeroom bell rings at 8:15 a.m., there’ll be a five-minute lag before students are marched to the auditorium to gather for morning assembly. Nehemiah Caldwell and I get there before any administration types do. We slide under the curtain beneath the stage and crawl over to the […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “Be Like Michelangelo” by Darby Karchut

As part of the Mentor Program of the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrations ( https://rmc.scbwi.org/mentor-program/ ), I’ve had the straight up delight of working one-on-one with aspiring writers on their manuscripts. The six-month long program is a flurry of reading and talking and emailing and editing and revising […]

Pages