• Book Reviews

    Book Review: A Single Stone by Meg McKinlay

    Media Type: Ebook Title: A Single Stone Author: Meg McKinlay Publisher: Candlewick Press Pages: Hardcover; 272 Release Date: March 14, 2017 Source: Publisher ———————————– Content Screening: Mild Action Violence HDB Rating: 3 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who are looking for a MG friendly dystopian novel. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N In an isolated society, one girl makes a discovery that will change everything — and learns that a single stone, once set in motion, can bring down a mountain. Jena — strong, respected, reliable — is the leader of the line, a job every…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Dominion (The Molly Stout Adventures #1) by Shane Arbuthnott

    Media Type: Ebook (ARC) Title: Dominion    * Series: The Molly Stout Adventures #1 Author: Shane Arbuthnott Publisher: Orca Book Publishers Pages: Paperback; 312 Release Date: March 27, 2018 Source: Publisher / NetGalley ——————————————————– Content Screening: Nothing of note. HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who love fantastical adventures with amazingly rendered characters. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N Molly grew up hearing the tales of Haviland Stout, her ancestor who discovered the dangerous magical spirits that inhabit the far corners of the world. Now, on the edge of the New World, in the…

  • Book Reviews

    Graphic Novel Review: 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

    Media Type: Print Book (ARC) Title: 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior    * Series: 5 Worlds #1 Author: Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Pages: Paperback; 256 Release Date: May 2, 2017 Source: Publisher —————————————————————– Content Screening: Mild Violence HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Middle Grade readers who love action, and stories with a lot of heart. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N The #1 New York Times bestselling creator of Amulet, Kazu Kibuishi, hails this first book in this groundbreaking sci-fi/fantasy adventure series as a magical journey,…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepard

    Media Type: Audiobook Title: The Secret Horses of Briar Hill Author: Megan Shepard Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Pages: Hardcover; 240 Release Date: October 13, 2016 Source: Library Borrow ———————————————————– Content Screening: Nothing of note HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Young readers who enjoy magical realism and amazing characters. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital. In the mirrors that line its grand hallways, which once belonged to a princess. In those that reflect the elegant rooms, now filled with sick…

  • Feature Posts/Weekly Memes

    Subscription Box Review: March Owl Crate Jr.

    Hello bookish friends! How many of you have heard of OwlCrate out there? You may know that it is a monthly subscription box filled with all sorts of bookish goodies! What you may not know, is that OwlCrate has expanded their line to include Middle Grade readers! Please welcome, OwlCrate Jr. This box is carefully curated for kids of all genders, ages 8-12! Honestly though, if you’re a big kid at heart, you’re going to love this. I’m a perfect example of this!  Each box contains a Middle Grade friendly book that is published within 45 days of the ship…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Wonder Woman at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee

    Media Type: Print Book Title: Wonder Woman at Super Hero High    *Series: DC Super Hero Girls #1 Author: Lisa Yee Publisher: Random House BYR Pages: Hardcover; 240 Release Date: March 1, 2016 Source: Publisher —————————————————— Age Group: Aimed at MG (8-12) but suitable for teens as well! HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Middle Grade readers who love strong female characters, parent/child read-along groups, anyone at all who loves DC! Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N This groundbreaking new middle grade series follows DC Comics’ most iconic female Super Heroes and Super-Villains . .…

  • Book Blitzes/Promo Posts

    Book Spotlight + Giveaway: Charmed by Jen Calonita

    I’m so happy to present today’s spotlight book, because it’s the second in one of my favorite series! Jen Calonita’s Flunked soared to the top of my reading list last year, with it’s adorable characters and fun, magical premise. When I found out that there was a sequel coming, I was so excited. I’m proud to be able to share that sequel with you! Goodreads It takes a (mostly) reformed thief to catch a spy. Which is why Gilly Cobbler, Enchantasia’s most notorious pickpocket, volunteers to stay locked up at Fairy Tale Reform School…indefinitely. Gilly and her friends may have defeated…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head by H.C. Chester and Lauren Oliver

    Media Type: Print Book (ARC) Title: Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head    Series: Curiosity House #1 Author (s): Lauren Oliver; H.C. Chester Publisher: Harper Collin’s Children’s Books Pages: Hardcover; 368 Release Date: September 29, 2015 Source: Publisher ——————————————————— Content Screening: Mild Violence HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who love vivid characters, settings that come to life, and a great mystery. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | BookLikes What you will find in this book: – A rather attractive bearded lady – Several scandalous murders – A deliciously disgusting Amazonian shrunken head – Four extraordinary…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu

    Media Type: Ebook (ARC) Title: Rules for Stealing Stars Author: Corey Ann Haydu Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Pages: Hardcover; 336 Release Date: September 29, 2015 Source: Publisher / NetGalley ——————————————————————— Content Screening: Parental Depression, Mild Violence HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who enjoy deep stories about families, and specifically about sisters. Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | BookLikes In the tradition of Sharon Creech and Wendy Mass, Corey Ann Haydu’s sparkling middle grade debut is a sister story with a twist of magic, a swirl of darkness, and a whole lot of hope. Silly…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones

    Media Type: Ebook (ARC) Title: Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer Author: Kelly Jones Illustrator: Katie Kath Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Pages: Hardcover; 224 Release Date: May 12, 2015 Source: NetGalley ————————————————————————- Content Screening: Nothing of note. HDB Rating: 3 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Young readers who love vibrant young heroines, or any readers interested in chickens! Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | BookLikes Fans of Polly Horvath or Roald Dahl will love this quirky story of a determined girl, and some extraordinary chickens. Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water…