SIXTEEN middle-grade books stood out to me last year! When I looked at my list, I did a quick count of how many books I read in all. I lost count at sixty! Of course, that includes picture books and chapter books that make for quicker reads. Here's my list, beginning with the books I gave five stars and then moving to those with 4.5. Willodeen What can one say about Katherine Applegate's writing that hasn't been said before? Willodeen is a stunning book, richly textured and beautifully detailed. It's a work of fantasy that brilliantly touches upon ideas and themes that are relevant to our very real world. Through hummingbears and screechers, she shows us what havoc we're wreaking on the world around us. Book review Gossamer Gossamer by Lois Lowry is another gorgeous book. I often find myself thinking that I … [Read more...]
A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story
A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story begins slowly. We see Junglee, a wild child. She is faster than all the others, and she can’t sit still—except when the stillness comes over her.As I turned the first few pages, I wondered where the book would take me. Once I got into Junglee's world, though, there was no stopping me. I was moved to tears more than once as I marvelled at Paro Anand’s magnificent writing and Priya Kuriyan’s exquisite art. The book is a stunning read that beautifully reflects the wonder of the world around us.Told from two perspectives—that of Junglee, a Pardhi girl, and Raunaq, a tiger cub—A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story plays with form beautifully. Words tell Junglee’s story, while pictures tell Raunaq’s. The way the two are woven together is simply gorgeous.I do wish, though, that the pattern had been retained right through! In the third … [Read more...]