Category: Book Recommendations

Book Recommendations, Young Adult

A Book to Pull in Reluctant Readers: Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE

Normally, I don’t write reviews for books by established authors. Scythe was published in November 22nd, 2016 and already has 1,994 reviews on Goodreads, so my 1,995th is not going to have a big impact on Shusterman’s sales. But as a mom with one bookworm and one reluctant reader, I am always on the lookout for books that will pull in a tween/teen boy. This is … Continue reading A Book to Pull in Reluctant Readers: Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE

Rebecca J. Allen3 Comments
Book Recommendations, Middle Grade, Young Adult

10 Great Books for the Young Readers on Your List

Here are ten books for Middle Grade readers (9 to 12) I enjoyed reading this year. Maybe you’ll find something for the special readers on your holiday gift list. Nancy Cavanaugh’s THIS JOURNAL BELONGS TO RATCHET is the story of a lonely girl with a gift for auto mechanics, her tree-hugging granola-head father, and how she finds real friends. Gennifer Choldenko’s AL CAPONE DOES MY … Continue reading 10 Great Books for the Young Readers on Your List

Laurel Decher6 Comments
Book Recommendations, Craft Books, Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

Our Holiday Wish List – Craft Books!

Many of us will spend at least two weeks in December hiding from our children with our nose in a book. At The Winged Pen, our wish lists are full of books that inspire our creativity or deepen our craft. So here’s a peek at the writing books we loved and the books we hope to receive this holiday season. If you have a writer … Continue reading Our Holiday Wish List – Craft Books!

Julie Artz1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Young Adult

Fangirl Report: The HEARTLESS Ball – Marissa Meyer’s Launch of the Prequel to ALICE IN WONDERLAND

*Spoiler alert for Cress. Skip asterisked sentence if you have not finished and plan to read!* I walked into The Heartless Ball with my daughter and her best friend, ready to celebrate the launch of Marissa Meyer’s latest book, Heartless. All around us were characters straight out of Marissa’s books and other fairy tales. Cress floated by in a dress with the yellow and orange wings … Continue reading Fangirl Report: The HEARTLESS Ball – Marissa Meyer’s Launch of the Prequel to ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Rebecca J. Allen4 Comments
Book Recommendations

2016 National Book Award for Young People

Which Book Should Win the 2016 National Book Award for Young People? Time for a little fessing up. Before 2013, I read 0 out of 5 of the finalists for the National Book Award for Young People. Shameful, I know… In 2014, I picked up a book called BROWN GIRL DREAMING. You may have heard of it. 😍 Unbelievably amazing. If you have the chance to hear Jacqueline … Continue reading 2016 National Book Award for Young People

Michelle Leonard2 Comments
Author, Interviews, Writer's Life, Young Adult

Author Interview – Krystal Sutherland

Gabby: I’m very excited to spend a little time today with Krystal Sutherland, the fabulous debut author of OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS, out now. In addition to writing love stories you want to crawl into, Krystal travels the world being fabulous in fabulous places. Welcome to Winged Pen, Krystal! Krystal: Thank you so much for having me! Gabby: Okay, let’s get to it. Can you tell … Continue reading Author Interview – Krystal Sutherland

Gabrielle Byrne1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Creativity and Craft

Kidlit Halloween Quiz

I love creepy. Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, I am obsessed with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and my most prized possession is an eyeball signed by Anne Rice. You’ll notice, those all involve books. Okay, confession time. I am not as brave when it comes to creepy in other types of media. I am too scared to watch The Amityville Horror, I … Continue reading Kidlit Halloween Quiz

Halli GomezLeave a comment
Book Recommendations, Middle Grade, Publishing & Promotion

Cover Reveal! Karma Khullar’s Mustache

We are excited to reveal the cover for Karma Khullar’s Mustache. The debut middle grade novel by The Winged Pen’s Kristi Wientge. Karma is entering middle school and is super nervous. Not just because it seems like her best friend has found a newer, blonder best friend, or the fact that her home life is shaken up by the death of dadima, or that her … Continue reading Cover Reveal! Karma Khullar’s Mustache

Halli Gomez2 Comments
Book Recommendations, Picture Books

10 Epic Muslim Picture Books

The Islamic New Year was October 1st. It came and went and few of us noticed. Well, this list of epic Muslim books for children is there to change that. Islamic literature has been underrepresented for a long time. It used to be filled with stereotypes and false information, but more and more own voice writers are emerging, and Jee, do their books rock!   … Continue reading 10 Epic Muslim Picture Books

Sussu Leclerc8 Comments
Book Recommendations, Interviews

Linda Vigen Phillips Talks Books and Mental Health

Linda Vigen Phillips is the author of Crazy, a young adult book written in verse which tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with her mother’s mental illness. Before Linda became a published author, she was a stay-at-home mom of twin boys, and a teacher in North Carolina. She found the years working with the learning disabled population extremely rewarding and humbling. Let’s … Continue reading Linda Vigen Phillips Talks Books and Mental Health

Halli Gomez2 Comments
Author, Interviews, Middle Grade

Author Interview–Julie Leung

We are thrilled to have on the blog today Julie Leung, a debut author whose middle grade novel releases on October 4th. MICE OF THE ROUNDTABLE: A TAIL OF CAMELOT is an epic new middle grade series in the tradition of Redwall and Poppy, based on Arthurian legend and told from the perspective of Camelot’s most humble creatures: mice. Young mouse Calib Christopher dreams of becoming … Continue reading Author Interview–Julie Leung

Kate Hillyer1 Comment
Book Recommendations, Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

Perfectionism and Pomodori

If you suffer from writer’s block, you’re not alone. Most writers I know have faced that wall many times and surmounted it. Some people find themselves at that wall over and over again. Sometimes this happens because you’re not sure how to move your story forward. Sometimes this happens because you’re terrified of failing. If it’s the latter, you may be a perfectionist. One understanding … Continue reading Perfectionism and Pomodori

Gita TreleaseLeave a comment