Let it be known that I am what happens when an artist and a packrat unite in the bonds of holy matrimony and bequeath their assorted traits to progeny. Bright colors. Eccentric tastes. Tall stacks. Growing assortments. My “collector’s gene” is getting its workout with my new venture into book blogging. This is a heads-up that I’ve added a Book Reviews tab. As titles accumulate (reviews are slated for Tuesdays and Fridays), that’s where you’ll find growing piles of book covers and links to reviews. I also regularly post snapshots of my weekly library haul on my Twitter account. Follow along to see what caught my interest!
All posts by C. J. Milbrandt
REVIEW: The Twistrose Key
The Twistrose Key
by Tone Almhjell
Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin)
ages 10 and up
Continue reading REVIEW: The Twistrose Key
BYWAYS: Hometown Challenge
CJ has always loved sending and receiving mail, so she’s issued a special challenge to Byways readers everywhere. When you mail her a postcard from your hometown, she’ll send back a postcard from the brothers. Continue reading BYWAYS: Hometown Challenge
REVIEW: The Mesmer Menace
Gadgets and Gears: The Mesmer Menace
by Kersten Hamilton
Clarion Books (Houghton-Mifflin)
ages 9-12
Continue reading REVIEW: The Mesmer Menace
REVIEW: Words with Wings
Words with Wings
by Nikki Grimes
Wordsong (Highlights)
ages 9-12 Continue reading REVIEW: Words with Wings
FOLKS: Jovan Johns
“Have you seen Zane?” asked Ian.
Laurel nodded to a blue bottle with a long neck on the windowsill. It held a cluster of winter roses. “He snuck those in earlier.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t Jovan? He strikes me as the thoughtful one.”
—excerpted from Byways, Book 1: On Your Marks
Jovan Johns is mild-mannered, bookish, peace-loving, and musical. Nobody understands why Jovan is best friends with Zane, but these cousins have been inseparable since childhood. Continue reading FOLKS: Jovan Johns
REVIEW: Here’s Hank: Bookmarks Are People Too
Here’s Hank: Bookmarks Are People Too!
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
Grosset & Dunlap (Penguin)
ages 6-8
Continue reading REVIEW: Here’s Hank: Bookmarks Are People Too
FOLKS: Laurel Johns
“Were you checking on your couriers?”
“I do like to keep an eye on things.” Ian was the founder of all of Liberty’s post offices. His couriers delivered letters and packages throughout the land. As often as he could, he flew far and wide to visit them.
Laurel laughed. “Liberty’s couriers watch the sky, checking to see if the Postmaster is watching.”
“My friends love it when I drop in for a chat!”
“You’re lucky Uncle Vanek keeps things running smoothly around here whenever your wings are restless.”
—excerpted from Byways, Book 1: On Your Marks
Laurel Johns is Ian’s third wife. She’s sweet and petite, gentle and generous … and much stronger than she looks. Her life took an unexpected turn when Ian’s family hired her to cook, clean, and look after Zane, who was just a tiny baby when his mother died. Continue reading FOLKS: Laurel Johns
I’m happy to announce that Byways Book 1: On Your Marks is now listed on YA Books Central, a site that features both kids’ stories and books for young adults. This is a great place to browse for books, and you can rate and review stories.
On Your Marks is also listed on GoodReads, so don’t hesitate to add this series starter to your virtual bookshelf. Help spread the word that there’s a race on! CJ
CHIT-CHAT: The Byways Header
This post falls under the category of authorial chit-chat. Which means it’s story-related, but doesn’t really fit in the glossary. We’ll call it … anecdotal. Or in plain-speak, a quaint story about an author, an artist, and an old German cuckoo clock. Continue reading CHIT-CHAT: The Byways Header
C. J. Milbrandt 