THE STONE OF SORROW: RUNECASTER, BOOK ONE, By Brooke Carter, Orcabooks, Orca Book Publishers

In a land of myth and ice, seventeen-year-old Runa Unnursdóttir is not the rune caster her clan has been hoping for. She spends her days daydreaming of sailing away and exploring the world instead of studying the runes and learning her spells. The villagers consider her odd, in looks and in manner. She’s nothing like … Continue reading THE STONE OF SORROW: RUNECASTER, BOOK ONE, By Brooke Carter, Orcabooks, Orca Book Publishers

THE SUMMER WE FOUND BABY, by Amy Hest, Candlewick Press

Set during World War II, this poignant, briskly paced historical novel relays the events of one extraordinary summer from three engaging points of view. On the morning of the dedication of the new children's library in Belle Beach, Long Island, eleven-year-old Julie Sweet and her six-year-old sister, Martha, find a baby in a basket on … Continue reading THE SUMMER WE FOUND BABY, by Amy Hest, Candlewick Press

RONAN BOYLE AND THEN BRIDGE OF RIDDLES, by Thomas Lennon, Illustrated by John Hendrix, Abrams, Amulet Books

Fourteen-year-old Ronan Boyle is the youngest and lowliest recruit to the secret Garda, an Irish police force that handles the misdeeds of numerous magical creatures. Ronan’s parents are in jail, but Ronan is convinced that they were framed by the wee people. So, despite his small size, poor eyesight, and social awkwardness, he’s determined to … Continue reading RONAN BOYLE AND THEN BRIDGE OF RIDDLES, by Thomas Lennon, Illustrated by John Hendrix, Abrams, Amulet Books