In any event, it is almost the middle of July, which means August is coming, which means that my mind is turning to thoughts of the Cybils. The Cybils are awards given by panels of bloggers in various childrens' and YA categories--and one of these panels is Middle Grade Sci Fi/Fantasy. And though the Cybils website is still quietly waiting for things to start-- the official call for panelists (any blogger can apply) probably won't go out till next month (it came on August 15 last year)-- I'm already thinking about it, and you can too!
If you're a first round panelist in mg sff, it means helping pick 7 books of great kid appeal plus great writing from a list of c. 150 (a lot of books, but you don't actually have to read every one of them, so do not be daunted by that!). The role of the second round panelists is to pick the winner from the shortlist (so you only have to read seven books). I have had the great honor of being involved with the Cybils for a number of years, and it is a great way to energize your reading, make new friends, and get really exited about books you love. Stay tuned for the official announcement....
The Reviews
The Atlantis Complex, by Eoin Colfer, at Fyrefly's Book Blog
The Circle, by Cindy Cipriano, at My Precious
Doll Bones, by Holly Black, at Reads for Keeps
Eight Days of Luke, by Diana Wynne Jones, reviewed by C.J. Busby at Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books
Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun, by Liz Kessler, at A Backwards Story
The Exploits of Moominpappa, by Tove Janssen, a post by Catherine Butler at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles
The Glass Puzzle, by Christine Brodien-Jones, at The Book Monsters
Half Upon a Time, by James Riley, at Michelle I. Mason
Hokey Pokey, by Jerry Spinelli, at Granite Media
Hollow Earth, by John Barrowman and Carol Barrowman, at Le' Grande Codex and Juniper's Jungle
Interworld, by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves, at Book Nut
Keeper of the Lost Cities, by Shannon Messenger, at A Reader's Adventure
Lost (The Magic Thief Book 2), by Sarah Prineas, at Book Interrupted
Magician in the Trunk (Time Spies 4) by Candice Ransom, at Time Travel Times Two
The Menagerie, by Tui T. Sutherland, at Annie and Aunt
The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail, by Richard Peck, at Waking Brain Cells
No Passengers Beyond This Point, by Gennifer Choldenko, at The Book Monsters
Professor Gargoyle, by Charles Gilman, at Maji Bookshelf
The Real Boy, by Anne Ursu, at For Those About to Mock
Rules for Ghosting, by A.J. Paquette, at Charlotte's Library
Rump, by Liesl Shurtliff, at For Those About to Mock
Scary Tales: Home Sweet Horror, by James Preller, at Ms. Yingling Reads
The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani, at Dreaming in Books, Bibliophile's Corner, Rachel Reviews All, and The Paper Riot
The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood and Co.), by Jonathan Stroud, at Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books
The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy, by Nikki Loftin, at Bibliophilic Monologues
Skulduggery Pleasant, by Derek Landy, at The Broke and the Bookish
Small Change for Stuart Bibliophilic Monologues
Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan (audiobook review) at Karissa's Reading Review
Unlocking the Spell, by E.D. Baker, at Nayu's Reading Corner
The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood, at Confessions of a Bibliovore
The Watcher in the Shadows, by Chris Moriarty, at Charlotte's Library
Wednesdays in the Tower, by Jessica Day George, at Sonderbooks
Wishful Thinking, by Ali Sparkes, at Juniper's Jungle
The Wishing Spell, by Chris Colfer, at Somewhere in the Middle
Authors and Interviews
Stephanie Burgis (Kat, Incorrigible et al.), at Inkygirls
A.J. Paquette (Rules for Ghosting) at The Enchanted Inkpot
John David Anderson (Sidekicked) at The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia and at Ms. Yingling Reads
Christine Brodien-Jones (The Glass Puzzle) at Once Upon a Story , Sharpread, and Read Now Sleep Later
Erika Kathryn (Audie the Angel and the Angel Army) at The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
Other Good Stuff:
A truly lovely list of twisted fairytales for middle grade readers at Somewhere in the Middle
The Hero's Journey, explained by puppets. at the SCBWI blog
You've probably seen this simultaneously appealing and horrifying infographic from Firstbook.org making the rounds, but in case you haven't, here it is:
Here are my two posts wrapping up the panel I was on at last weekend's Discworld convention--one on useful places to find books on line, and one covering the books we recommended. And here are Tanita's and Sheila's wrap-up posts.
And if you want to see fantastically beautiful/mind blowing horticultural art, go to Montreal this summer (or click here) (found at Light Reading)
Button styles