by Carolyn | Biography, Biography, Education, Fantasy, Middle-grade, Nonfiction, Recommendations
When I set this book down, I told my husband, “Mythmakers is a masterpiece!” I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. Mythmakers by John Hendrix is a non-fiction graphic novel about the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, a...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Middle-grade
It’s time to celebrate because Between Flowers and Bones, the second book in The Restorationists series, is finally here! It’s been a wild ride, and I can hardly believe that Beneath the Swirling Sky came out just last year. I’ve been amazed by how...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Imagination, Middle-grade, Recommendations
What feeds our creativity and what makes art truly our own and not just a copy? Inkling by Kenneth Oppel is a fantastic middle grade novel that explores these questions and more through a magical story about a kid who finds living ink. This book will encourage your...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Recommendations
It isn’t often that I begin reading a novel and think, “This is absolutely delightful.” But that’s exactly what happened when I picked up The Ink of Elspet, the first book in The Inkwell Chronicles by J.D. Peabody. Even better, I think readers...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, For fun, Imagination, Middle-grade, Recommendations
One of the fun things about being an author is getting to know other authors. This summer, I shared a booth at the Great Homeschool Convention with my friend and fellow author Summer Rachel Short. We both got to hear each other pitch our upcoming middle grade...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Book Lists, Education, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Mystery, Recommendations
Maybe art has been on my mind a lot with the publication of my own art-themed novel, Beneath the Swirling Sky. I’d love to see more stories that pique kids’ interest in art and creativity. Here’s a round up to some of my favorite art-themed novels...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Boys, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
A magical world that intersects with ours. A nostalgic 1980’s setting. Engaging characters kids will love. All of this in a new series from a favorite author your kids probably already love. Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is the first book in a new...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Imagination, Magical Realism, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
When your daughter hands you a book and tells you it’s the best book she’s read in a while, you read it! A Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay is a fantastical story set in the real world with compelling characters and vivid writing. The Story Living in a...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
I read lots of picture books that retell or mash up fairy tale, but it’s wonderful to find a fairy tale that feels brand new. The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld combines a classic style with more modern sensibilities (read: no wolves or...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations
If you love fairytales, I have a wonderful book for you. Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things by Matilda Woods is a beautiful fairytale about friendship that touches on complex moral themes. The Story When Otto’s mother disappears in their new, freezing...
