Category Archives: Reviews

Dear America Review: Dreams in the Golden Country by Kathryn Lasky

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Sarah

Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 by Kathryn Lasky. Scholastic Inc, 1998. Currently Available. Genre: Historical Fiction from the Dear America series Face Value: The interesting thing about … Continue reading →

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Dear America Review: A Picture of Freedom by Patricia McKissack

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Brianna

A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl by Patricia McKissack. Scholastic, 1997. Currently Available. Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction. Face Value: The old cover – the one I remember from childhood – has all of the hallmarks … Continue reading →

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Review: Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke & Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Brianna

Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke. Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer. Translated by Chantal Wright. Scholastic, 2007. Currently available. Genre: Picture book Face Value: Very appealing. I love Kerstin Meyer’s charming illustrations, and the image on the cover is captivating – a … Continue reading →

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Review: Happy Families by Tanita S. Davis

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Sarah

Happy Families by Tanita S. Davis. Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. Currently Available. Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction (YA) Face Value: I love this cover. It hints at what the book is about without sensationalizing and it’s simple and clean but still … Continue reading →

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Summer Week Review: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Sarah

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Armistad, 2010 (Currently Available) Genre: Historical Fiction Face Value: Seriously, one of the best. There’s so much to like about this cover. First, it absolutely feels like summer, without looking like a beach story. … Continue reading →

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Summer Week Review: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Brianna

The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson. Penguin, 2004. Currently available. Genre: YA Realistic Fiction Face Value: This one has a very subtle cover design. Cutaway hearts in a triangle formation give us a glimpse of three girls casually lying in … Continue reading →

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Summer Week Review: Twenty Boy Summer

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Sarah

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Little Brown and Company, 2009. Currently Available. Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction (YA) Face Value: It’s not bad, actually. I think the title of this book is terribly misleading, and doesn’t really get at the … Continue reading →

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Summer Week Review: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Brianna

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. Penguin, 2009. Currently available. Genre: YA Realistic Fiction Face Value: Sarah Dessen’s books are notorious victims of terrible covers. The pink-tinged girly frivolity of the cover often betrays the depth of the writing … Continue reading →

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Review: Babymouse: Dragonslayer by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Brianna

Babymouse: Dragonslayer by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. Random House, 2009. Currently available. Genre: Middle Grade Fiction Graphic Novel Face Value: Very charming. It makes me happy to see a well-illustrated cover with a girl character in a triumphant … Continue reading →

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Review: The Shattering by Karen Healey

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Sarah

The Shattering by Karen Healey. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011. Currently Available Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy/Contemporary Face Value: I don’t love this cover, but there’s nothing wrong with it either. While I don’t think it really tells you much about … Continue reading →

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