Lumberjanes, by Noelle Stevenson

Four stars, read in August 2015. This is a fabulous, diverse, female-led fantasy series about the girls at a summer camp “for hard-core lady-types.” The Millennial humor is a little much for me, but mostly it’s fun. I love all the exclamations referencing women from history—”what the Joan Jett,” “oh my Bessie Coleman,” “holy Mae Jemison!”—and…

The Plain Janes, by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Three stars, read in December 2015. A middle grade graphic novel about a group of girls who form a “secret art gang,” sneaking out at night to create works of art in public spaces all around their city.  This was disappointing because the premise is awesome, but the delivery is so cliche it’s almost—but not—a…

The Thickety: A Path Begins, by J.A. White

Four stars, read in April 2015. The Thickety is surprisingly dark for juvenile fiction: grisly murders, horrifying creatures, dark magic, the extreme torment of small children by an entire village of cruel religious cult members. I liked it a lot even while I was annoyed by some silly things (the twelve-year-old girl’s dead mother’s dress “fit…

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy

Four stars, read in June 2015. There’s a lot of silliness in this book, as demonstrated by the Table of Contents (which is what made me decide to bring it home after picking it up). Some of my favorite chapter titles: 2. Prince Charming Defends Some Vegetables 3. Prince Charming Claims He Is Not Afraid…

Time and the Tapestry, by John Plotz

Two stars, read in October 2014. I’m trying to decide whether this book was good-ish, but with major flaws, or crappy with some redeeming moments. Pro: I like the premise a lot—two kids go back in time by falling through a tapestry in the house that their grandmother is about to lose—which is of course…

Fablehaven and the Invasion of the Sexist Cover Art

One night several years ago, I found Fablehaven at the grocery store for five dollars and decided to try it out. Within about a week I’d lent it to my husband and bought a second copy to give to our niece, and they both also loved it. We recommended it to my parents and my siblings…

Starting with Alice, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Four stars, read in October 2012. I didn’t know this book was a prequel, but for my first time reading the series I suppose it works just as well as beginning with the original first book. After just one book I understand why this series is so popular, and I went and checked out the…

The Castle Corona, by Sharon Creech

Four stars, read in September 2011. Everything about this book is lovely. It’s nothing earth-shattering, just an enjoyable read; I love the illustration on the cover and the size and shape of the book itself, which is what led me to pick it up in the first place. The illustrations inside are just as beautiful,…

Now I’ll Tell You Everything, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Two stars, read in October 2013 (but four stars for the whole Alice series). I was really disappointed with this book, the last in the series. If you were an active fan all along—like, keeping up with the author’s website and writing in your suggestions for the series—you may have been less surprised than I was…

Confessions of a Closet Catholic, by Sarah Darer Littman

Three and a half stars, read January 2012. It was cheesy—really cheesy—but I loved the premise of this book. The protagonist is eleven-almost-twelve, a Jewish girl who decides to give up being Jewish for Lent. Her best friend is Catholic, and Justine really wants to be, too—so she sets up a confessional in her closet with her…

The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Four stars, read July 2011. I think I’ve meant to read this book for pretty much my entire life, but I never got around to it until now. When I was younger I confused it with The Westing Game, which I also never read until a year or two ago; now that I’ve finally read…

Medieval Stories

All read in the spring of 2012. Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman—four stars. Catherine is the daughter of a minor lord in medieval England—which, to her, is even worse than being just a villager, because at least the villagers can choose their own marriages. Birdy’s greedy father keeps trying to arrange marriages for her,…

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea, by Ellis Weiner

I don’t know what I like best about this book—the cover, the antagonistic narrator, or the word puzzles. Or maybe it’s the meatloaf recipe. Or the end-of-chapter quizzes, with questions like: 1. Mary has five oranges. She gives two to Tom. Tom buys twice as many as Mary has left and gives half of them…

Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. So sweet and so wonderful. It’s about a fifth-grade class in Massachussetts, specifically seven children who alternate as the book’s narrators, and their new teacher, Mr. Terupt. Peter is the class loudmouth and troublemaker; Alexia is queen of the girl wars;…