My rating: 5 of 5 stars Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter is an engaging middle grade read filled with quirky characters and hilarious banter between Karma and her best friend, Mags. When Karma’s dad lands the job of lifetime – a documentary series with Netflix – he and Karma have to pack up for spring break…
Book Spotlight: Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I read Ravenfall twice this year. The first time I read it because the story looked spooky and fun. The second time, I read the book with my boys because I thought they would enjoy it. They did, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time through….
“Midnight Echoes” featured in The Burgeon Zine
A touch of good news at the end of 2023: My short story, “Midnight Echoes” is featured in the first issue of The Burgeon Zine, a selection of excerpts and short stories from the cohort of The Burgeon Mastermind 2023! For those Only You fans out there (yes, the 1994 film with Marisa Tomei and…
My #FallWritingFrenzy submission – Scared A Latte
#FallWritingFrenzy is a free writing contest for kidlit writers hosted by literary agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez, and supported by an amazing list of prize donors. The writing challenge is to pen a 200-word poem or flash fiction for any kidlit age, inspired by one of the photos on Kaitlyn’s blog. Scared A Latte is a middle…
Book Spotlight: The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars The premise for The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten is both intriguing and humorous – what if you are heading to an art summer camp but end up at a math summer camp instead? A rainstorm lands Esther and her stepdad, Toby, at summer camp full of math nerds,…
Book Spotlight: The Talismans of Teregrin by Katy Metzger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a fantastic start to this series! The Talismans of Teregrin has all the elements of an engaging, adventurous fantasy with grounded characters and a touch of romance. I love stories set on islands because the geography of the island becomes part of the story. There’s also a growing…
Book Spotlight: The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto by Adrianna Cuevas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the third book I’ve read by the talented Adrianna Cuevas. The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez and Cuba in my Pocket were very different books from The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto, but they each capture the genuine struggles of preteens and their very real challenges with changing…
Book Spotlight: Flip Turns by Catherine Arguelles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars What an engaging read and well-crafted story! This was a fun book from beginning to end with an intriguing mystery and a little middle grade romance. But this book also handles some sensitive topics for middle grade kids like anxiety, parental pressure, alopecia, and boy harassment. Maddie, 13, is…
Book Spotlight: Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur T. Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Daybreak on Raven Island is perfect for mystery lovers and for those who enjoy spooky ghost encounters. I was super intrigued by the clever premise of this book – 3 kids end up stuck for the night on a haunted island that used to hold an active prison. It’s…
Book Spotlight: Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Cuba in My Pocket is the journey of Cumba, a 12yo boy who has to leave his family and his home in Cuba when Fidel Castro takes power. This is one of those books I simply couldn’t put down. From the descriptions of a changing Cuba to the fears…
Christine Letizia 