This week's round up of middle grade sci fi/fantasy from around the blogs (1/27/19)

Here's what I found this week; please let me know if I missed your post!

The Reviews

The Axe of Sundering (Adventurers Wanted #5), by M.L. Forman, at Say What?

Bob, by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, at Not Acting My Age

Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows, by Ryan Calejo, at Ice Fairy's Treasure Chest

Dragon Pearl, by Yoon Ha Lee, at Fantasy Book Café and This Kid Reviews Books and The Book Smugglers at Kirkus

City of Ghosts, by Victoria Schwab, at Ex Libris

Echo North, by Joanna Ruth Meyer, at Pages Unbound

Frederik Sandwich and the Mayor Who Lost Her Marbles (Frederick Sandwich 2) by Kevin John Scott, at Sharon the Librarian

The Golden Specific, by S.E. Grove at Pages Unbound

Island of Monsters (Spirit Hunters #2) by Ellen Oh, at Jean Little Library

The Lost Girl, by Anne Ursu, at Ms. Yingling Reads

The Neverending Story, by Michael Ende, at proseandkahn

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: the Search for Lost Gold, by Lisa Schimd, at Say What?

Otherwood, by Pete Hautman, at bibliobrit

The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods, by Samuel J. Halpin, at Magic Fiction Since Potter

Smoke and Mirrors, by K.D. Halbrook, at Rajiv's Reviews

Sands of Nezza (Adventures Wanted #4), by M.L. Forman, at Say What?

Sorcery for Beginners, by Matt Harry, at Log Cabin Library

A Sprinkle of Spirits, by Anna Meriano, at Ms. Yingling Reads

The Star-Spun Web, by Sinéad O’Hart, at Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books and Fallen Star Stories

Starry River of the Sky, by Grace Lin, at Hidden in Pages

Sweep, by Jonathan Auxier, at Literacious

Thomas Wildus and The Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen, at Log Cabin Library

The Transparacy Tonic (Potion Masters #2) by Frank L. Cole, at Cracking the Cover

Wundersmith: the Calling of Morrigan Crow, by Jessica Townsend, at Say What?

Two at Alexa Loves Books--The Darkdeep, by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs, and Savage, by Nicole Conway

Authors and Interviews

Catherine Doyle (The Storm Keeper's Island) at Nerdy Book Club

Other Good Stuff

Kidlitcon 2019 is just around the corner--March 22 and 23.  There will be lots of mg fantasy goodness, including this session:

Diverse Fantasy in the Real World

Middle grade fantasy set in the real world can be a great escape for young readers, but just as importantly, it can offer new ways of seeing what is “real,” bringing attention to critical issues and making visible histories that maybe aren’t part of the standard curriculum. And of course it’s important that we have books with diverse protagonists to reflect the diversity of the real world; every kid should have the chance at magic! As well as addressing diversity gaps in fantasy, and how to fill them, this panel considers what makes good real world fantasy—how much magic do kids want? What stories resonate, and with whom? And how do gatekeepers know when the fantastical elements in a story warrant putting the little unicorn sticker on the spine, or when the magical realism of a particular culture falls on the side of realistic fiction?

With Zetta Elliott, Rajani LaRocca, Anna Meriano, S.R. Toliver (moderator) 

Rajani LaRocca's debut, Midsummer's Mayhem, comes out in June, and Simon and Schuster has generously sent all these lovely arcs for those who come to this session!  (aren't they pretty!)