Category: Book Recommendations

Author, Book Recommendations, Interviews, Middle Grade

Cover Reveal, Interview, and Giveaway with Oddity Author Sarah Cannon

The Winged Pen is thrilled to reveal the cover for Oddity, by debut author and pal Sarah Cannon. Read to the end, because there is a giveaway, too! JA: So Sarah, tell us about Oddity. SC: I can’t wait for everyone to read Oddity! It’s a Welcome to Night Vale-inspired adventure, so it’s both life-or-death and very tongue-in-cheek. It’s a love letter to geeky fan-children … Continue reading Cover Reveal, Interview, and Giveaway with Oddity Author Sarah Cannon

Julie Artz10 Comments
Book Recommendations

Book Review: Principal Kidd School Rules

Principal Kidd School Rules is the first book in the Principal Kidd series by author and illustrator Connie T. Colon. It is a fun chapter book featuring a bright kid who accidentally creates problems for his school then works to find creative solutions. Eleven-year-old whiz, Oliver Kidd, had no trouble using his genius IQ to skip grades and zoom through the accelerated college program. But … Continue reading Book Review: Principal Kidd School Rules

Halli Gomez2 Comments
Author, Book Recommendations, Interviews, Middle Grade

Shannon Hale Interview: Real Friends

GIRL TROUBLE––friends one day, enemies the next. Who doesn’t yearn for a real friend––one that gets you, always has your back, and someone that you can admire even in their darkest moments? Author Shannon Hale has captured the essence of friendship struggles girls face in her new graphic novel memoir REAL FRIENDS releasing on May 2nd. Girl relationships are difficult. And for the sensitive girls … Continue reading Shannon Hale Interview: Real Friends

Michelle Leonard3 Comments
Book Recommendations

Book Recommendation: THE TAKEDOWN by Corrie Wang

I received a free advanced reader copy of The Takedown in exchange for an unbiased review. Kyla Cheng doesn’t expect you to like her. For the record, she doesn’t need you to. On track to be valedictorian, she’s president of her community club, a debate team champ, plus the yummy Mackenzie Rodriguez has firmly attached himself to her hip. She and her three high-powered best friends … Continue reading Book Recommendation: THE TAKEDOWN by Corrie Wang

Rebecca J. Allen2 Comments
Book Recommendations

Book Recommendation: THE DISAPPEARANCES by Emily Bain Murphy

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Disappearances in exchange for an honest review. What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared? When Aila’s mother dies and her father is drafted to fight in World War II, she and her younger brother are sent to live with her mother’s best friend from childhood. Aila has met Mrs. Clifton and her son only twice and arrives at her mother’s rural home … Continue reading Book Recommendation: THE DISAPPEARANCES by Emily Bain Murphy

Rebecca J. Allen1 Comment
Book Recommendations

Forget Me Not: Book Review

Forget Me Not is the debut middle grade novel by author Ellie Terry. Of course this novel has a special place in Ellie’s heart, but it also has one in mine. This is the kind of book I longed for growing up. The main character has Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations. Astronomy-loving Calliope June has Tourette syndrome, so she sometimes makes faces … Continue reading Forget Me Not: Book Review

Halli Gomez5 Comments
Book Awards, Book Recommendations, News, Publishing & Promotion

Behind the Scenes: My Experience as a Cybils Judge

This winter, I was able to serve as a judge for the Cybils, an award for children’s and young adult authors and illustrators. Established by bloggers, the Cybils recognize work that combines literary merit with popular appeal. I’d been following the Cybils for a few years, and knew that it was a well-respected award. I’m a book blogger, too, at Kid Book List, and when … Continue reading Behind the Scenes: My Experience as a Cybils Judge

Kate Hillyer3 Comments
Book covers for The Urban Setting Thesaurus and The Rural Setting Thesaurus
Book Recommendations, Craft Books, Creativity and Craft

Spark a Story with the Setting Exercises in The Rural Setting Thesaurus

Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi do it again! Introducing The Rural Setting Thesaurus! Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Urban Setting Thesaurus in exchange for an honest review. I also bought a copy of The Rural Setting Thesaurus because it has GOOD STUFF for #kidlit. You know, SHINY settings, like Backyard, Basement, Birthday Party, Child’s Bedroom, Halloween Party, Outhouse, and *cough* Secret Passageway, … Continue reading Spark a Story with the Setting Exercises in The Rural Setting Thesaurus

Laurel Decher7 Comments
Craft Books, Creativity and Craft

Using Setting to Create a Three-Dimensional World for Your Story: THE URBAN SETTING THESAURUS

We received a free copy of Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s The Urban Settings Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to City Spaces in exchange for an honest review. Since we’re fans of their Emotion Thesaurus as well as their thesauri of positive and negative character trains, we were excited to dive in. (See our review of the other books here.) The Urban Setting Thesaurus is a wonderful resource for a … Continue reading Using Setting to Create a Three-Dimensional World for Your Story: THE URBAN SETTING THESAURUS

Rebecca J. Allen3 Comments
Book Recommendations, Conferences & writing retreats, Creativity and Craft

Writing Cross-Culturally

This month, The Winged Pen’s own Michelle Leonard and Julie Artz were lucky enough to attend Madcap Retreats‘ Writing Cross-Culturally Workshop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Not only was it a blast to finally meet up face-to-face, but the long weekend was packed with great information and resources. We’d like to share a peek at what we learned with our readers. Highlights We were surrounded by many … Continue reading Writing Cross-Culturally

Julie Artz3 Comments
Author, Book Recommendations, Contests, Interviews, Young Adult

Book Birthday! THE SHADOWS WE KNOW BY HEART by Jennifer Park

Congratulations to our very own Winged pen Member, Jennifer Park. Her debut YA novel, THE SHADOWS WE KNOW BY HEART (Simon Pulse), releases today! Jennifer joins us today to tell us about her book and announce the lucky winner of her swag giveaway. Jennifer, welcome and congratulations! Tell us about your book.  In this haunting and luminescent debut novel, a girl’s complicated family life starts … Continue reading Book Birthday! THE SHADOWS WE KNOW BY HEART by Jennifer Park

Jessica VitalisLeave a comment
Book Recommendations, Middle Grade

BOOK REVIEW: STAND UP AND SING!

I don’t normally review picture books, but when one of my fellows at The Winged Pen mentioned there was a chance to review STAND UP AND SING! Pete Seeger, Folk Music and the Path to Justice, I jumped at the chance. As a singer, social justice advocate, and fan of Pete Seeger, how could I not? The truth is, this book is important–not only because … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: STAND UP AND SING!

Gabrielle Byrne2 Comments