Step follows step,
Hope follows Courage,
Set your face towards danger,
Set your heart on victory.
—The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
Favorite Fiction – The Two Princesses of Bamarre
Tag: shelfie
Favorite Fiction – Things Not Seen
It’s after the shower. That’s when it happens. It’s when I turn on the bathroom light and wipe the fog off the mirror to comb my hair. It’s when I see in the mirror. It’s what I don’t see.
—Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
Favorite Fiction – School of Fear
Madeleine was enraptured by Garrison’s tan complexion, which greatly differed from the pale boys of London. It wasn’t actually the boys’ fault, as the whole of the United Kingdom was under a cloud for much of the year. But at that moment, Madeleine decided that boys, like bread, were better toasted.
—School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
Show & Tell – Current Reads
We all know the story. Girl meets frog. That frog is a prince. They kiss. What happens after that? There’s a little bit more to the story before a Happily Ever After, that’s for sure!
Show & Tell – Current Reads
The cover screams Halloween, don’t you think? This lovely story has rich vocabulary, monsters, chatty bats, magic stew, and a sorceress who has an obsession with clothes. For me, The Robe of Skulls is made of win!
Show & Tell – Fairytales
I loved fairytales as a kid. I ate up classics, I found books of folktales from different countries, I enjoyed Just So Stories and Greek legends. Some were gruesome and sad. Some were pretty and romantic. Many were better as audiobooks! Nowadays, there are so many retellings and reimagined versions, it’s easier than ever to find more stories with princess, thieves, curses, dragons, keys, and quests.
What’s your favorite fairytale or fairytale-inspired book?
Favorite Fiction – The Key to Extraordinary
“Some books are so special that you never forget where you were the first time you read them.”
—The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd
Show & Tell – Current Reads
I grew up with Little Men and Little Women, so finding another story by Louisa May Alcott is one part refreshing, and also completely nostalgic. These moral-based stories are a little dated, but for me, they’ll always be timeless. I would probably recommend trying the audiobooks if you’re a first-time Alcott reader, though! Americans spoke very differently back in the day.
Sharing – Current Reads
If you really, really loved the movie does reading the book ruin it? As much as I loved the Dreamworks version of How To Train Your Dragon, I’m so excited to get to know the Hiccup and Toothless that Cressida Cowell wrote in her middle grade series. Be warned! These books are almost nothing like the movie, but that’s okay. Many of my favorite books were introduced to me through a movie, but usually it’s the book that ends up making a difference in my life.
Sharing – Current Reads
“What if video games were actually prepping you to solve a puzzle in the real world?”
Now, there’s a great hook for Middle Grade fiction! That, coupled with the 8-bit cover art, and I was sold. Let’s hope the adventure is just as cool.
Elza Kinde 