This week's round-up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs (1/3/2021)

Happy New Year to all!  So exciting to have just typed 2021 for the first time.

The shortlists for the Cybils Awards were announced yesterday, and us elementary/middle grade speculative fiction readers picked 7 amazing books!  

They are--Mulan: Before the Sword, by Grace Lin, Curse of the Night Witch, by Alex Aster, A Wish in the Dark, by Christina Soontornvat, In the Red, by Christopher Swiedler, Rival Magic, by Deva Fatan, Thirteens, by Kate Alice Marshall, and Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch, by Julie Abe!

The Reviews (nothing for me, though I have a huge backlog of reviews to write, so hopefully this will change)

Amari and the Night Brothers, by B.B. Alston, at The Bookwyrms Den, Pages and Plots, Amy's Bookish Life, Ramblings of a Nobody, and Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

City of the Plague God, by Sarwat Chadda, at Ms. Yingling Reads 

The Crooked Sixpence (The Uncommoners #1),  by Jennifer Bell, at Say What?

Lost in the Imagination: A journey through nine worlds in nine nights, by Hiawyn Oram, illustrated by David Wyatt, at Jean Little Library

The Nightmare Thief, by Nicole Lesperance, at Ms. Yingling Reads

The Princess Who Flew With Dragons (Tales From the Chocolate Heart #3) by Stephanie Burgis, at Say What?

Root Magic, by Eden Royce, at Ms. Yingling Reads

A Secret of Birds and Bone, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, at Sifa Elizabeth Reads

Two at Falling Letters--The Language of Ghosts, by Heather Fawcett, and The Dragon Egg Princess, by Ellen Oh

Looking Ahead to 2021

What mg fantasy/sci fi books are you most looking forward to in 2021? Not counting any of those reviewed above, I'm most eager for:

The Raconteur's Commonplace Book, by Kate Milford

Nightingale, by Deva Fagan

Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch, by Julie Abe

Ophie's Ghosts, by Justina Ireland

Trouble in the Stars, by Sarah Prineas

The Raven Heir, by Stephanie Burgis

Ghosts of Weirdwood, by Christian McKay Heidicker

These are all books by authors whose books I've loved; I'm also look forward lots to being  surprised and delighted by all the others that I don't know about yet!  What are yours?

Wishing you all a 2021 full of good health, good friends, and good books!