Category: Book Recommendations

Author, Book Recommendations, Interviews, Young Adult

Interview with Kati Gardner, author of BRAVE ENOUGH

Last week, I reviewed Kati Gardner’s debut young adult novel, BRAVE ENOUGH, as part of our regular Windows and Mirrors feature. You can find that review here. Now, I’m thrilled to welcome Kati Gardner to the Winged Pen today to answer my burning questions about her upcoming release. Congrats on your debut novel, Kati! Brave Enough has two main characters who are dealing with life-threatening problems when … Continue reading Interview with Kati Gardner, author of BRAVE ENOUGH

Michelle Leonard1 Comment
Windows & Mirrors, Young Adult

Windows & Mirrors: BRAVE ENOUGH

Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. This week we are featuring BRAVE ENOUGH by Kati Gardner! Cason is the youngest ballerina in the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory. But she’s been hiding an injury. Unfortunately, it’s not a typical dancer’s injury that will get better with ice, … Continue reading Windows & Mirrors: BRAVE ENOUGH

Michelle Leonard1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Young Adult

SEAFIRE by Natalie C. Parker

Caledonia Styx’s family was killed by the bloodthirsty warlord Aric Athair and his viscous army, the Bullets. She and her best friend Pisces are left to fend for themselves. Caledonia becomes the captain of her own ship, the Mors Navis, and acquires a crew of girls like her and Pisces, those who have lost everything because of Aric and the Bullets. The crew’s mission: stay alive … Continue reading SEAFIRE by Natalie C. Parker

Michelle LeonardLeave a comment
Author, Book Recommendations, Middle Grade

WHERE THE WOODS END (An Interview with Author Charlotte Salter)

Creepers and crawlers and things that go bump in the night? Yes, please! Since my latest literary obsession is dark middle grade fantasy, I’m especially thrilled to welcome middle grade author Charlotte Salter to The Winged Pen. Charlotte’s second novel, WHERE THE WOODS END, comes out on August 14th. The story follows Kestrel, a fierce huntress, as she strives to protect her village from Grabbers––shadowy … Continue reading WHERE THE WOODS END (An Interview with Author Charlotte Salter)

Jessica VitalisLeave a comment
Book Recommendations, Windows & Mirrors, Young Adult

Windows & Mirrors: Darius the Great Is NOT Okay

Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. This week we are featuring DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY by Adib Khorram! Darius doesn’t exactly fit in anywhere. He’s Fractional Persian (half Persian), but speaks better Klingon (Star Trek fanatic) than his mother’s native language of Farsi. He believes … Continue reading Windows & Mirrors: Darius the Great Is NOT Okay

Michelle LeonardLeave a comment
Author, Interviews, Middle Grade

Interview with KA Reynolds, author of The Land of Yesterday

There’s nothing I love more than announcing a gorgeous new voice in middle grade fantasy. So it’s with great pleasure that I introduce you to K. A. Reynolds, debut author of the magical, glorious The Land of Yesterday. Welcome to The Winged Pen, K. A.! JA: More and more often, we’re seeing middle grade authors tackle tough subjects like grief, mental illness, and trauma for … Continue reading Interview with KA Reynolds, author of The Land of Yesterday

Julie Artz1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Picture Books

THE DRESS AND THE GIRL by Camille Andros and Julie Morstad

Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover. Yes, THE DRESS AND THE GIRL is gorgeously detailed from the lovely cover art to the lyrical text to extraordinary illustrations. It’s a beautiful tale of immigration, the value of simple joys, and the power of memory, written by Camille Andros and illustrated by Julie Morstad. In the story, we follow a girl and her favorite dress … Continue reading THE DRESS AND THE GIRL by Camille Andros and Julie Morstad

Michelle Leonard1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Windows & Mirrors, Young Adult

Windows & Mirrors: CHILDREN OF BLOOD & BONE

Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. Today we are featuring Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi! The book has been described as Black Panther plus magic or an African Last Airbender. It’s received enormous press due to its reported seven-figure advance and movie deal … Continue reading Windows & Mirrors: CHILDREN OF BLOOD & BONE

Michelle Leonard1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Young Adult

I AM STILL ALIVE by Kate Alice Marshall

Jess’ plan: build shelter, find water, make fire, seek revenge. It all sounds so simple…unless you’re stuck in the middle-of-nowhere Canada, your dad (that you just became reacquainted with a few days ago) was murdered while you watched unbeknownst to his murderers, his remote only-reachable-by-plane cabin was burned to the ground with all your possible life provisions, AND you have few survival skills. Oh, I … Continue reading I AM STILL ALIVE by Kate Alice Marshall

Michelle Leonard1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Middle Grade, Windows & Mirrors, Young Adult

Windows & Mirrors: THE NIGHT DIARY

Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. Today we are featuring The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. Nisha receives a blank journal from her family’s cook on her twelfth birthday. It’s a place where she can record her thoughts, the things she thinks about but seems to … Continue reading Windows & Mirrors: THE NIGHT DIARY

Michelle Leonard1 Comment
Author, Book Recommendations, Interviews, Young Adult

Linda Vigen Phillips talks about BEHIND THESE HANDS

In Behind These Hands, a teenage piano prodigy’s life is upended when her two younger brothers are diagnosed with Batten, a rare neurodegenerative disease. In its *starred* review, Kirkus says, “Free verse evokes the myriad emotions brought up by the story’s numerous well-balanced themes. The result is a richly woven, unforgettable symphony of feelings and words.” Kirkus perfectly sums up the effect this book has had on me. Weeks … Continue reading Linda Vigen Phillips talks about BEHIND THESE HANDS

Michelle Leonard2 Comments
Book Recommendations, Middle Grade

Recommended: TAKEDOWN by Laura Shovan

Publisher’s Description “You’re only as good as your partner.” Mikayla is a wrestler; when you grow up in a house full of brothers who are die-hard mat heads, it’s in your DNA. She even has a wrestling name: Mickey. Some people don’t want a girl on the team. But that won’t stop her. She’s determined to work hard, and win. Lev is determined too–he’s going … Continue reading Recommended: TAKEDOWN by Laura Shovan

Rebecca Petruck1 Comment