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middle grade books
Book Review: Rebel Genius
Rebel Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so impressed with this book! I loved every second of it! There are definite influences of the Italian Renaissance in the setting through the artwork, architecture, and names. The writing is full of action, mystery, and magic, and of course, the characters are absolutely delightful. They feel like real people, varied and interested, changing and growing all the time, each with their own secrets and agendas.
Giacomo is an orphan, living on the streets, when he mysteriously acquires a Genius, a little bird that is a companion to artists to inspire their imaginations and give them magical powers of creativity. But the evil ruler, Nerezza, sends her soldiers to kill all the Genius birds and their artists, and Giacomo and his new little friend are on the run. Giacomo teams up with some other artsy children, and they go on a quest to find an object of magical power to bring Nerezza’s evil rule to an end. Continue reading
Book Review: The Penderwicks at Point Mouette
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Every Penderwick is a phenomenal person! I have so much love for this beautiful Penderwick family, I can’t even contain my emotions long enough to write a decent review. Every book in this series is absolute gold, every character is delightfully unique, and every single word in every chapter is genius. I love how the author takes small everyday doings and makes them dramatic and interesting and fun! Just building a campfire on the beach and toasting marshmallows becomes an adventure fraught with peril and meaning. Continue reading
YA & Middle Grade
Review: Gathering Blue
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.” -GoodReads
I loved this book almost as much as the Giver! I’m falling in love with Lowry’s books one by one! Kira’s connection to her embroidery art is touching and mysterious. It really sparked my interest from the beginning. I loved seeing her growing into her art, and discovering what it means to be an artist. The responsibility of art can be a heavy burden or a joy, and Kira has to make decisions, hard choices, about how to Continue reading
Luminous Libro 