Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: PROFESSOR GARGOYLE by Charles Gilman

First Paragraph(s): Robert Arthur was surrounded by strangers.  He stood outside the entrance to Lovecraft Middle School, watching the students pass by, searching for a familiar face. Everybody was talking to someone. Kids were joking and laughing and goofing around. But Robert didn’t recognize a single person.  Earlier that summer, his neighborhood had been redistricted. This […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: A PLACE FOR DELTA by Melissa Walker

This week’s book gives me an opportunity to discuss self publishing, a topic I’ve long wanted to address. It’s a tough old world for writers, Esteemed Reader. As I know many of you who read this blog are writers or publishing professionals, I’ll assume I’m preaching to the choir. I don’t write “sour grapes” posts and […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: OPEN MINDS by Susan Kaye Quinn

WARNING: This book is actually YA and contains some adult language and content. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an ‘R,’ but maybe a strong ‘PG,’ if not edging toward ‘PG-13.’ First Paragraph (s): A zero like me shouldn’t take public transportation.  The hunched driver wrinkled a frown before I even got on […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: THE OBSIDIAN PEBBLE by Rhys A. Jones

First Paragraph(s): Oz Chambers sat in his bedroom, desperately trying to concentrate on his algebra homework and ignore the tempting bottle of blood on his desk. He dragged his eyes away from the crimson phial and struggled with two maths questions, before trying to get to grips with the essay on “Sir Gawain and the […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: NOOKS AND CRANNIES by Jessica Lawson

First Paragraph(s): 1. Just past three o’clock in the afternoon, when schools across London were releasing much-adored children by the bucketful, Tabitha Crum was ushered into the cold as well. She tarried at the edge of St. John’s gate, threading an arm through the bars and observing the world for a moment, ignoring the jostling […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN by Bruce Coville

First Paragraph(s): “Hey, Geekoid!” yelled Duncan Dougal as he snatched Peter Thompson’s book out of his hand. “Why do you read so much? Don’t you know how to watch TV?” Poor Peter. I could see that he wanted to grab the book back from Duncan. But I also knew that if he tried, Duncan would cream […]