Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: CURIOSITY HOUSE – THE SHRUNKEN HEAD by Lauren Oliver and H.C. Chester
First Paragraph(s): Come in, please. St p out o the rain. It had been raining for three straight days, and even the regular customers were staying away. On Thursday, Thomas had the idea of posting a sign on the doors of the museum. By Friday, several letters had blurred away, ajnd the others were running toward […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: CRACKED UP TO BE by Courtney Summers
Note: This week’s book is actually YA and filled with adult language and adult content. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers and adults should view it as the equivalent of an ‘R’ rated movie. I am gaga, over the moon crazy about a book by a debut author. It’s just so very, very […]
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: COUNTING BY 7’S by Holly Goldberg Sloan
First Paragraph(s): We sit together outside the Fosters Freeze at a sea-green, metal picnic table. All four of us. We eat soft ice cream, which has been plunged into a vat of liquid chocolate (that then hardens into a crispy shell). I don’t tell anyone that what makes this work is wax. Or to be more […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: THE CLOCKWORK DARK: THE NINE POUND HAMMER by John Claude Bemis
The Nine Pound Hammer is a fun and exciting steampunk adventure that is equal parts funny, scary, and awesome—especially the many action sequences sure to keep readers on the edge of their seat. Full confession: the Ninja is old and out of touch and has never read steampunk before now. Yes, you are right to […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: THE CITY OF EMBER by Jeanne Duprau
First Paragraph(s): When the city of Ember was just built and not yet inhabited, the chief builder and the assistant builder, both of them weary, sat down to speak of the future. “They must not leave the city for at least two hundred years,” said the chief builder. “Or perhaps two hundred and twenty.” “Is that […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: CINDERELLA SMITH by Stephanie Barden
Meet Josephine-Kathryn Smith, better known as Cinderella Smith due to her habit of continually loosing at least one shoe everywhere she goes. She’s funny, she’s quirky, and you’re going to love her. She’s a Bridget Jones for the grade school crowd. Actually, I can’t back that up. You see, Esteemed Reader, Cinderella Smith is a […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi
WARNING: This week’s book is actually edgy YA and it is filled with adult content. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers and adults should view it as the equivalent of an ‘R’ rated movie. First Paragraph(s): Pick me. It’s all I can do not to scream. I dig my nails into the marula oak […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO EXTRA CREDIT by Tommy Greenwald
Long days and pleasant nights, Esteemed Reader. Charlie Joe is at it again in Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit and Tommy Greenwald has got a genuine series on his hands. I’m looking forward to reading Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation, about which Tommy Greenwald’s site says “All I can tell you right […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING by Tommy Greenwald
Esteemed Reader? Is it really you? We’ve been apart for far too long. Dry those eyes, Esteemed Reader, we are united once again! I’m so happy to see you I think I’ll give you a book. Why not this week’s book? Would you like that? You would! Very well. All you need to do is comment on […]