A sweet, otherworldly tale that’s billed as “the fantastic adventure that first inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved film, Spirited Away,” The Village Beyond the Mist is sure to charm. Set in a magical town hidden in a mysterious forest clearing, The Village Beyond the Mist is a delightful, multigenerational fantasy for middle grade readers about service. Is that … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Village Beyond the Mist
Review by Emma Tueller Stone “Once, there was a little girl who prayed for heroes… But that little girl is long gone… I am a monster. I am one of them” (Falaye, p. 362). If anyone finds out who or what Sloane is, she will die. She is a Scion, the descendent of powerful Orisha … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Blood Scion
Rosie is a sleek greyhound who loves to run. And at the start of her story, Rosie Runs–a beautiful, oversized picture book for ages 3-7–that’s exactly what she does, day in and day out: The white mechanical hare scurries in front, and Rosie can just see it from the corner of her eye. Soon she … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Rosie Runs
Absurd hilarity can be a wonderful change of pace from the humdrum of everyday life. Featuring comic-style illustrations and buckets of hair flying left, right and sideways, When Dad’s Hair Took Off fits that bill—and then some, The premise? One day, Dad’s hair decides to take a hike with nary a “Hairsta la vista, baby!” … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: When Dad’s Hair Took Off
A quiet hero’s journey for YA readers, The Cat Who Saved Books tells the story of high-schooler Rintaro Natsuki, a shy hikikomori (shut-in). When the story begins, Rintaro’s beloved grandfather and guardian has just died, leaving him the owner of his grandfather’s secondhand bookstore. The description of Rintaro’s feelings about his grandfather’s death are poignant, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Who Saved Books
Looking for a summertime middle grade adventure tale? Curious to learn about faraway places? Then Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup* will be just the ticket for you! Set in Kazakhstan, Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is the opening book in a coming-of-age fantasy series set in today’s world but … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup
A picture book for readers age 3-7, Memo and the Unexpected Gift is a sweet story with delightful, unexpected twists and gentle, wry humor. The tale begins much like a regular picture book, and the reader quickly expects a traditional trajectory. Memo lives with his grandmother in a small-town cottage. She can’t see very well, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Memo and the Unexpected Gift
Redemptor, by Jordan Ifueko Redemptor, sequel to Jordan Ifueko’s Raybearer, is a breathtaking addition to the young adult fantasy genre. As a fan of the first book, I was thrilled to dive back into the magical world that Ifueko has created and explore it even further. One of things that struck me most about Redemptor … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Redemptor
Raybearer, by Jordan Ifueko This is a must-read for anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking story. This book has truly impacted me and I can’t recommend it enough. From the very first page, I was drawn into the fascinating and beautiful world that Ifueko has created. The characters are complex and relatable, and the … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Raybearer
Iron Widow Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of violence and sexual assault that some readers may find triggering to read. Zhao creates a magical world where elements of Chinese history, mythology, Transformers and a dash of Hunger Games are all combined into a nail biting fight to save humanity. In a futuristic world, civilization … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Iron Widow
