Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: MY BROTHER’S SHADOW by Monika Schröder
Monika Schröder knows who she is and what kind of story she’s telling in My Brother’s Shadow. The book won’t be for everyone, and that’s not a put down by any means. I absolutely loved this book and I have no doubt most readers will love it as well. More, I loved Saraswatti’s Way and […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE by Beverly Cleary
How about some nice classic middle grade this week, Esteemed Reader? I’m all for these up and coming whippersnappers we’ve had here to face the 7 Questions and I enjoy reading their books every week. But sometimes, you’ve got to go back to your roots and read a work that has endured longer than many of the authors I’ve […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: THE MONSTER IN THE MUDBALL by S.P. Gates
First Paragraph(s): Madalitso dragged a chair over to her wardrobe. It took almost all her strength. Shakily she climbed up onto it. Her legs were as thin as sticks. But her eyes blazed with fierce determination. Her lips began to move. “Are you listening, Zilombo?” she whispered. “I know you can hear me in there.” […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: MOLLY FYDE AND THE PARSONA RESCUE by Hugh Howey
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): Molly floated in the vacuum of space with no helmet on—with no protection at all. In the distance, a starship […]
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 Review: THE MISSHAPES by Alex Flynn
First Paragraph: I don’t remember how old I was the first time I saw a man fly. I was very small; I remember that much. My arms were tightly locked around my dad’s neck. He was giving me a piggyback ride through our perfectly ordinary town center. It was a crisp and cold fall day. […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS by Meg Medina
First Paragraph(s): To think, only yesterday I was in chancletas, sipping lemonade and watching my twin cousins run through the sprinkler in the yard. Now, I’m here in Mr. Patchett’s class, sweating in my polyester school blazer and waiting for this torture to be over. We’re only halfway through Health and PE when he adjusts his […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: MELVIN BEEDERMAN SUPERHERO: BROTHERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING UNDERPANTS by Greg Trine
“Holy awesome middle grade novel!” said the middle grade ninja. Holy awesome middle grade novel, indeed. This opening will make more sense to you after you’ve read your first Melvin Beederman Superhero novel, Esteemed Reader, as it is my imitation of a gag Greg Trine repeats often to great comic effect. And you should read one or […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: MANIAC MAGEE by Jerry Spinelli
Here is another classic for you, Esteemed Reader, and one I never got around to reading as a kid. Too bad. I missed out. I remember the reason I didn’t read Maniac Magee then was that I knew it was about race relationships and at the time I was in school teachers shoved stuff about race relationships […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: MAMBA POINT by Kurtis Scaletta
This week is going to be tremendous! We are going to be joined by middle grade author Kurtis Scaletta himself on Thursday and today we are going to discuss his newest book, Mamba Point, which comes out today! That’s right, the ninja got himself an exclusive advanced reader copy and I have been enjoying Mamba Point […]