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...]
Gossamer
What a gorgeous book! Gossamer by Lois Lowry is delicately woven, pulling at your heart strings as it takes you through a tapestry of dreams, sorrow, love and wonder.Littlest isn’t sure what she is. Is she a dog? But she doesn’t have a tail! Is she human? Her instructor Fastidious never answers her questions. Fastidious finds Littlest too curious, too full of chatter. And that's why everyone is happy when Thin Elderly begins to mentor Littlest instead, guiding her through her fluttery questions and relentless curiosity.Soon, Littlest discovers who she is--a giver of dreams. Lightly, with a gossamer touch, she runs her fingers over objects everywhere, gathering memories and stories. She weaves these together and then releases a dream, one that may make the sleeper smile and sigh. When the Sinisteeds come with their nightmares, Littlest and Thin Elderly must work harder than … [Read more...]