All posts by C. J. Milbrandt
#amreading Historically
Sees Behind Trees was a surprise favorite for the year, the story of a Native American boy who’s limited by severe nearsightedness, yet can do things no other person in their tribe can accomplish. Homer Price is a childhood favorite that was fun to reread. I’d forgotten most details, but I definitely remembered that doughnut machine! And We the Children kicks off a serial tale (told in parts). Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School is shaping up to be a contemporary quest & a historical mystery involving secret societies and sailing ships.
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BYWAYS: Illustrations
Every one of the Byways Books includes beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book #10, Back on Track: A Ganix Johns Adventure.
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Alcatraz, #1
Gennifer Choldenko
Moose’s family has moved to Alcatraz, where his father works as a prison guard, in hopes of enrolling his sister Natalie in a special school in San Francisco. Continue reading Al Capone Does My Shirts
#amreading Assortment
This set makes it obvious that I’d been tackling the more challenging letters for an A-Z Reading Challenge. Zinnia and the Bees is mostly about family and friendships … and anger and isolation … and not giving up. Oh, and yarn-bombing! The Year of the Book is a slice-of-life story about Anna, who is ABC (American-born Chinese), shy, bookish, and a little embarrassed by her mother. The Queen’s Nose (set in England) is about a girl, her uncle, and a magical coin that grants wishes. All you have to do is rub … the queen’s nose.
BYWAYS: Behind the Header
I’m back with another peek behind the scenes on the Byways book covers. One of the unchanging features on the header is the circle of stars that surrounds the volume number. If you take a quick tally, you’ll find there are thirteen stars. It’s a nod to the original thirteen colonies. The thirteen stars also show up on the cloak pins worn by Liberty’s rangers.
This time around, I’m letting you see more of the huge griffin that’s partly obscured by the header on Byways #4, Up the Mountain: A Ganix Johns Adventure. Continue reading BYWAYS: Behind the Header
The Luck Uglies
The Luck Uglies
Paul Durham
Rye O’Chanter and her friends run a bit wild in Village Drowning, bending rules and breaking laws. But harmless fun changes to real danger when Rye encounters a Bog Noblin, Continue reading The Luck Uglies
GAME: Name that Book Cover
#amreading Edibly
Kimchi & Calamari is about a Korean boy raised by Italian parents in New Jersey. A school assignment pushes him into learning more about his heritage. Fortunately, the Milk is pure whimsy with fun illustrations. Lower middle grade that would be perfect for read-aloud. And Twerp is further proof that I’ll read any book in which Shakespeare is a theme.
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BYWAYS: Meet Zane Johns
Zane Johns has a short temper, a love for excitement, and a surprisingly noble ancestry (on his mother’s side). He intimidates people almost as much as he avoids them. Oddly enough, Zane’s the only brother with a lifelong friend. Continue reading BYWAYS: Meet Zane Johns
C. J. Milbrandt 