Easy readers and reading levels, part 1 - why level books?

This is the first in a three-part post on leveling beginning readers.

"Easy" readers and reading "levels." The air quotes are thick here, folks. I'm primarily talking about those books published for kids who are learning how to read, with a few words on each page, controlled vocabulary and lots of white space. They are by no means easy for their audience. (And if you doubt me, try reading one in a language you are just learning.) Why, oh, why do we call them "easy" readers? I have seen many alternate names, but usually I just call them "readers" or "beginning readers," although in an article like this it's hard to tell if I mean the people or the books. Whatever the term, if I find myself working in the same library for more than one year, you can bet I'm peeling off every one of those big "Easy" stickers off the spine and replacing them with my own color coding system (which I address in part two).

Every publisher has their own way of presenting the level of a reader. Autonomy is fine, but I really wish there was some industry-wide convention for leveling books instead of the ubiquitious 1-through-4 (sometimes 5) levels that stymy parents and kids alike. How baffling to look at two different books labeled with a big colorful Level 2 and have them clearly be so different?

Public libraries sometimes use leveling systems for their readers, but cataloging and judging reading level are two very different skills. Unless the public library has a cataloger on staff who has experience teaching reading to beginning readers, they're mostly coming up with their own arbitrary categories of easy-intermediate-harder.

Let's leave aside for a moment the question of whether or not leveled books are useful for students, or if requiring students to read "just right" or "at their level" books (or, indeed, any particular books at all) is a good idea. My own philosophy about education skews far toward the unschooling side of the spectrum, and I have never once fell in love with a book anybody made me read. But one of my many goals as a media specialist is to help introduce my students to a large selection of books they can read independently. Luckily, along with the usual cartload of awful, painfully boring books like this on the market, there are lots of really good ones. Not all of them are shaped like typical 9" reader-sized books, either. Some books straddle the divide between formats. Others may be graphic novels. Regardless of their shape and size, I want these books to be easy to find -- without using a catalog -- so kids can spend less time searching and more time reading.

Students who are beginning readers may have a lot of experience with print, or none at all, but I have found that most of them are often overwhelmed by large collections of books. To meet the needs of these students, I have to help them narrow their selection down. This is why I label my books -- not because these are the only books these kids may read, but because it makes their process of selecting a book they can decode so much less stressful.

In the next post in this series, I'll talk about how I level my beginning reader books.

One Small Voice: Read-Alouds About People Who Made A Difference

This is a portion of a project video for a grant I funded in 2010. The purpose was to purchase a circulating collection of award-winning books and audiobooks for all elementary students on the topics of social justice, humanitarian assistance and courageous action. Students were informed, enlightened and entertained by sharing great children’s literature about significant people from recent history, as well as stories about children and adults (and one dog) who accomplish amazing things.

Here's a three-minute video booktalking the books in the program.  If anybody wants access to the complete video, including details about the program, leave a comment.

A Boy Named Beckoning by Gina Capaldi.  This story reveals the remarkable life of a Native American boy named Wassaja, or "Beckoning," who was kidnapped from his Yavapai tribe and sold as a slave. Adopted by an Italian photographer in 1871 and renamed Carlos Montezuma, the young boy traveled throughout the Old West, bearing witness to the prejudice against and poor treatment of Native Americans. Carlos eventually became a doctor and leader for his people, calling out for their rights.

Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman. Professor Ueno bids goodbye to his faithful dog before boarding the train to work every morning. And every afternoon, just before three o’clock, Hachi is at the train station to greet his beloved master. One day, the train arrives at the station without the professor. For ten years, Ha­chi waits for his master to return. Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachi, can persuade him to leave his post.  A novel inspired by a true story brings to life the legendary Akita who became a national symbol for loyalty and devotion.

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull. The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farmworkers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography.

Mary On Horseback: Three Mountain Stories by Rosemary Wells. In 1923, there were no doctors or hospitals in the isolated mountains of Appalachia. Then Mary Breckinridge came. Trained as a nurse, she made the Appalachians her life's work-fording icy streams and climbing untracked mountains to bring medical help to those in need. These three stories, told in simple, luminous prose, bring to life the birth of the Frontier Nursing Service, which still operates in Kentucky.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.  2010 Newbery Honor winner. In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents.  Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family’s fortune. A wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship.

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire Nivola. "The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai changed the world one seed at a time. Claire A. Nivola's lovely Planting the Trees of Kenya offers Maathai's story to a younger, wider audience.  No child, and surely no library, ought to be without Planting the Trees of Kenya." —Boston Globe 

Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together.  When he was in first grade, Ryan learned about countries without access to clean drinking water. His commitment to building a well sparked an international chain of events, but the most moving part of the book is the correspondence and friendship between Ryan and Akana Jimmy, a boy in Agweo Village, Uganda.

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. Sometimes, even in the middle of ugliness and neglect, a little bit of beauty will bloom. Award-winning writer Paul Fleischman dazzles us with this truth in Seedfolks--a slim novel that bursts with hope. Wasting not a single word, Fleischman unfolds a story of a blighted neighborhood transformed when a young girl plants a few lima beans in an abandoned lot. Slowly, one by one, neighbors are touched and stirred to action as they see tendrils poke through the dirt. Hispanics, Haitians, Koreans, young, and old begin to turn the littered lot into a garden for the whole community. A gift for hearts of all ages, this gentle, timeless story will delight anyone in need of a sprig of inspiration.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges. A personal, deeply moving historical documentary about a staggeringly courageous little girl at the center of events that already seem unbelievable.   

Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. Looking at the trash and graffiti in the courtyard outside her inner-city apartment, a young African-American girl wishes for something beautiful. Back home, the girl cleans up her trash-filled courtyard and resolves to help make her own neighborhood into something beautiful. This moving picture book offers a shining testament to the ability of human beings to find "something beautiful" in even the most unlikely places.

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made A Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway. Inspired by true events, One Hen tells the story of Kojo, a boy from Ghana who turns a microloan into a thriving farm and a livelihood for many.  In 2006 Muhammad Yunus, a Bangledeshi economist who pioneered microloan banking, won the Nobel Peace Prize.







You can download files related to the grant here, including a PowerPoint presentation on all ten books and the importance of reading aloud, two posters in PDF and Pages format, and my original grant. Also in the folder are a bunch of Jim Trelease's brochures on reading aloud, which I got from his web site; they are not mine, but you should definitely use them. 

Library Loot: Caldecott 2015 hopefuls, plus one

This week's Library Loot are nearly all selections from my 2015 Caldecott long list. I seem to have terrible predictive powers, but I'll enjoy sharing them with my kids.

Baby Bear - Kadir Nelson
Abuelo - Arthur Dorros
Bad Bye, Good Bye - Deborah Underwood
Gaston - Kelly DiPucchio
Elizabeth Queen of the Seas - Lynne Cox
Gravity - Jason Chin
Following Papa's Song - Gianna Marino
Galapagos George - Jean Craighead George
Emily's Blue Period - Cathleen Daly
Some Bugs - Angela DiTerlizzi
Have You Seen My Dragon? - Steve Light
Tiny Rabbit's Big Wish - Margarita Engle
The Watermelon Seed - Greg Pizzoli
Ball - Mary Sullivan
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons - Jon Muth
Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship - Edward Hemingway
Nest - Jorey Hurley
Brother Hugo and the Bear - Katy Beebe
Extraordinary Jane - Hannah Harrison

The last book, pictured on the right, is my sole novel, Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein.  I have seriously fallen down on my chapter book reading in the past three years, but I'm determined to pick it up again.  What better choice that a book full of literary references and puzzles?

We already checked out a bunch of Caldecott hopefuls over the summer and read them, so I'll add them to my compiled list and share that in a few weeks.

Thanks to Linda at Silly Little Mischief for hosting Library Loot this week. 

Booking Through Thursday: Mystery Novels

Today's meme at Booking Through Thursday asks:

Do you read mystery novels? If so, why? Is it the mysteries themselves that appeal to you? The puzzle-solving? The murders? Or why don’t you read them? What about them doesn’t appeal?

My guilty secret is that I don't read adult books.  I never have -- except for science fiction and fantasy -- unless I was required.  I read tons of YA and children's books, and I still do, and that's about it.

However... my father hooked me on some mystery subgenre that really appealed to me.  One was the serial killer novel.  I read a whole bunch of those, starting, of course, with Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs.  Anything where I could get into the brain of the killer, either from the perspective of the killer himself or the investigator, was awesome.

I also love mysteries when there's a little bit of supernatural built in -- which I would consider to be an urban fantasy variant.  The series I liked the most was the Pendergast books by Preston and Childs.

I'm a big fan of Sherlock, but it's not because of the mystery component. It's the characters.  So I think that's the key for me -- I like character-driven books, and the genre doesn't matter much.  

Convincing adults to try YA/middle grade

My mother taught small children for a living for many years.  She and I have always talked children's literature as a matter of course.  My father, on the other hand, reads almost exclusively adult science fiction (not fantasy) and suspense/crime drama.  But he loved, loved, loved Harry Potter.  Since then, I've been trying to get him to try some other fantasy and kidlit, to no avail.  I personally think he's missing out.

Being involved with the Detcon1 YSF award has led me to think about my audience a little differently, but I have the feeling that I'm appealing to a whole roomful of my-fathers.  That is, men and women who are literary fans, but are very happy in their genre niche thank you very much, and asking them to read outside it is probably annoying them to no end.  

I see some of this in the comments section of blog articles about recommended or notable speculative fiction titles, such as this one from the I09.com blog.  What, no YA? the comment reads, to which there is a flurry of responses.  I don't like YA, some say.  Stop trying to make me want to read it.  Or, books written for children are just not as well done/complex/intense as books written for adults.  Or, often, what is this 'middle grade' thing of which you speak?  And then the rest of the comments devolve into arguments, and the goal of matching reader to book is lost.

So here's my quick Three Ways to Get Your Genre Reader to Try YA/MG Spec Fic:

1. Give them some award winners.  Several fantasy books for young readers have won the Hugo.  There's also the Golden Duck awards, which are specifically science fiction with three age groups.  
2. Find the thing they liked about the last book they read, and give them a YA/MG book that includes that thing.  Zombie Baseball Beatdown can hook your sports fans and your zombie fans.
3. Show them a blurb on the book from an author they admire.  When Neil Gaiman likes a book, you can bet a whole bunch more people will read it. 

Oh my god, it's August.

August means a lot of things to me.  It means camping in the sandy woodsy wilds of Michigan.  It usually means a train trip to Minnesota to be eaten by mosquitoes in the national park, although this year I didn't do that.  And it means heading back to school, professional development, and setting up my classroom or library.  This year I'm in the media center at two schools.

In August I start redirecting my online reading from personal to professional.  I more carefully monitor my Twitter feed and Zite.  I check my professional email, which I have largely ignored all summer, more compulsively.  I start opening up my blog reader.

This spring I took a fantastic BER class on Literacy and iPads with Kim McMonagle. August is my time to review some of the apps she introduced in the workshop and try them out with my own kids at home before I attempt to teach my teachers how to use them.  A couple names in case you're interested: Notability, PuppetPals, Educreations.

I'm also always on the lookout for really engaging edutainment apps for my students.  Toca, MathDoodles and DragonBox are three I'm checking out right now.

Fall is a challenging time for me to ramp up blogging again, since I'm already so overwhelmed with other professional duties as I set up my classroom and get my curriculum moving again, but I have a goal to start a weekly blog on my school page this year.  I'm also learning to use Twitter professionally; it has always felt like a hit-or-miss tool for me.

Most fun for me, in August I begin to gather titles for my mock Caldecott and Newbery projects.  This year I'm focusing only on Caldecott hopefuls, since I'm teaching at a K-2 building.  My kids and I read a bunch of things over the summer, but I'll be posting later this week with my initial long list and beginning to write reviews.  I'm participating in the Good Reads Mock Caldecott this year.

What are your August activities?

2013 starred reviews of YA & middle grade speculative fiction

Publishers Weekly does a very handy periodic list called The Stars So Far, which lists all the YA and children's books that have garnered starred reviews in certain print publications that year.  I thought I'd do a similar list for YA and middle grade speculative fiction books that were published in 2013.

A disclaimer: I haven't read very many of these books myself, and I've been holding off on writing reviews of any of them until after the Detcon1 YSF Awards are given, so none of this contains my personal opinion.

Reviews are funny things.  People who write them are trained to be objective and thoughtful, but they're ultimately personal opinions.  This means that sometimes people will have really different opinions about a particular book.  I love it when I read six reviews, two of which are super-negative and four of which are super-positive; it's just an indication that the book has touched someone personally -- which is the wish of most authors.  So please, take this list with a grain of salt.  Just because a book has positive reviews does not mean you will like it, or that it is right for your library.

You can also find this list on Goodreads, but it doesn't note how many stars a book has received, nor does it include the snippets from reviews.  A PDF printable version is here.

Books labeled MG are middle grade (ages 8-11); otherwise they are YA.

Starred review sources include Book Links, Book Report, Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Choice, Christian Library Journal, Criticas, Horn Book, Kirkus, Kliatt, Library Journal, Library Talk, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal and VOYA.

5 Starred Reviews

Black, Holly.  Doll Bones.  MG

"Spooky, melancholy, elegiac and ultimately hopeful; a small gem."

Black, Holly.  The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.

"Dark and dangerous, bloody and brilliant."

McNeal, Tom.  Far, Far Away.

"Archetypal figures and situations glimmer through McNeal's small-town American cast like tantalizing clues."

Sedgwick, Marcus. Midwinterblood.

"Part love story, part mystery, part horror, this is as much about the twisting hand of fate as it is about the mutability of folktales."

4 Starred Reviews

Blackwood, Sage.  Jinx.  MG

"A literary cut above Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl books but with no less tension or bravado."

Carriger, Gail.  Etiquette & Espionage.

"A supernatural-meets-steampunk world full of action and wit."

DiCamillo, Kate. Flora and Ulysses.  MG

"Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl."

LaFevers, Robin. Dark Triumph.

"An intricate, masterful page-turner about politics, treachery, religion, love and healing."

Madison, Bennett. September Girls.

"This isn’t just a supernatural beach read; it’s a rare and lovely novel, deserving of attention from discriminating readers."

Moriarty, Jaclyn. A Corner of White.

"Irresistible characters help readers navigate a tantalizingly complex plot."

Stiefvater, Maggie. The Dream Thieves.

"The pace is electric, the prose marvelously sure-footed and strong, but it's the complicated characters... that meld magic and reality into an engrossing, believable whole."

3 Starred Reviews

Cokal, Susann. The Kingdom of Little Wounds.

"Its brutality, eloquence, and scope are a breathtaking combination."

DeStefano, Lauren.  Perfect Ruin.

"From the first page, readers will be enticed by Morgan’s voice, precise in its descriptions yet filled with curiosity."

Jinks, Catherine.  How to Catch A Bogle.  MG

"A period melodrama replete with colorful characters, narrow squeaks and explosions of ectoplasmic goo."

Johnson, Alaya Dawn.  The Summer Prince.

"Rife with political turmoil and seeped in culture, this unique and highly fantastical dystopian romance is both intriguing and imaginative."

Lu, Marie.  Champion.

"In the oversaturated dystopian market, Champion stands out for its suspenseful story and broad appeal."

Marchetta, Melina. Quintana of Charyn.

"Fans of Megan Whelan Turner and Elizabeth Wein should find this exceptional series especially compelling."

Meadows, Jodi. Asunder.

"Dramatic and affecting, completely coherent and oddly irresistible. It is a brilliant book."

Meyer, Marissa. Scarlet.

"Part science fiction/fantasy, part political machinations with a hint of romance."

Moskowitz, Hannah. Teeth.

"Provocative, unsettling, complex and multilayered."

Pope, Paul. Battling Boy.

"A masterful nod to the [superhero graphic novel] genre."

Wasserman, Robin. The Waking Dark.

"The novel works just as well as mainstream horror as YA, and the ending is both effective and brutal."

Winters, Cat. In the Shadow of Blackbirds.

"Strikes just the right balance between history and ghost story, neatly capturing the tenor of the times, as growing scientific inquiry collided with heightened spiritualist curiosity."

Yancey, Rick. The 5th Wave.

"Part War of the Worlds, part Starship Troopers, part Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and part The Stand."

2 Starred Reviews

Carson, Rae. The Bitter Kingdom.

"An action-packed and thoughtful end to an ambitious series."

Doctrow, Cory, Homeland.

"A brazen, polemical novel that riffs on contemporary issues."

Farmer, Nancy. The Lord of Opium.

"Dystopian literature has changed significantly since the first book [House of the Scorpion], but this sequel is still a cut above the rest."

Foxlee, Karen. The Midnight Dress.

"Atmospheric, lyric and unexpected."

Graff, Lisa. A Tangle of Knots.  MG

"Subtle and intricate, rich with humor and insight, this quietly magical adventure delights."

Jones, Gareth P. Constable and Toop.  MG-ish

"A complex, richly textured tale that will satisfy patient readers."

McCarry, Sarah. All Our Pretty Songs.

"Haunting, otherworldly and heartbreaking."

Moriarty, Chris. The Watcher in the Shadows.

"A touch of Chabon, a hiss of steampunk, and a blast of originality."

Nesbet, Anne. A Box of Gargoyles. 

"A flavorful mille-feuille with equally tasty layers of dark magic, light comedy and salty determination."

Ness, Patrick. More Than This.

"A delicate balance between dystopian survival and philosophical grappling."

Sanderson, Brandon. The Rithmatist.

"[A] well-crafted mix of action and setup, enriched by a thoroughly detailed cultural and historical background and capped by a distinctly unsettling twist."

Shulman, Polly. The Wells Bequest.

"A clever, sparky adventure made of science fiction, philosophy and humor."

Smith, Sherri L. Orleans.

"The bleak setting becomes a tableau for lifes basics: survival and sacrifice, compassion and greed."

Strasser, Todd. Fallout.

"Combines terrific suspense with thoughtful depth when the bombs really do fall in this alternate-history Cuban missile crisis thriller."

Trevayne, Emma. Coda.

"A creative concept, skillful dialogue and vivid characters."

Tucholke, April Genevieve. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

"Give this one to fans of creepy mysteries, particularly tales that don't skimp on the violence. They'll appreciate the conclusion's heart-pounding, bile-rising standoff."

Ursu, Anne. The Real Boy.

"Will fondly remind readers of Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997) and Meg from Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time."

Valente, Catherynne. The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two.

"Richly layered imagery draws deeply from the fairy-tale canon as well as Valente's imagination."

Williams, Sean. Twinmaker.

"Marries accessibly explored moral ramifications of future technologies with a strong, capable teen heroine and heart-pounding action."

Young, Suzanne. The Program.

"For lovers of dystopian romance, this gripping tale is a tormented look at identity and a dark trip down Lost-Memory Lane."

Zettel, Sarah. The Golden Girl.

"Brings the mythology of the Celtic fairy tradition into 1930s Hollywood."

1 Starred Review

Anderson, John David. Sidekicked.

"The Avengers meets Louis Sachar."

Arnston, Steven

The Wrap-up List

"Quirky, charming and life-affirming, supernatural style."

Bardugo, Leigh. Siege and Storm.  Fantasy.

“Appealing three-dimensional characters and an involving plot that keeps a steady pace.”

Bickle, Laura. The Outside.  Amish vampires.

“A horror story with heart and soul.”

Blake, Kendare. Antigoddess.

"A gory, thrilling vision of the twilight of the gods, in all their pettiness and power."

Blakemore, Megan. The Water Castle.

"Raises fascinating questions about the possibilities of science."

Bow, Erin. Sorrow's Knot.

"A lovely gem, dark and quiet as the dead but glimmering with life as well."

Breen, M.E. Darkwood.

“Both grounded and wonderous.”

Carlson, Caroline. Magic Marks the Spot.

"A silly, rollicking good time."

Charbonneau, Joelle.  The Testing.

"Action, romance, intrigue, and a plausible dystopian premise into a near-flawless narrative."

Chima, Cinda Williams. The Enchanter Heir.

"A smoldering story soaked in tears, sweat and blood, constantly threatening to blaze into an inferno. Spellbinding."

Cremer, Andrea and David Levithan. Invisibility.

"Love child of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Levithan's Every Day."

Falls, Kat. Inhuman.

"Sure to satisfy fans of the dystopian-romance genre."

Fusco, Kimberly Newton. Beholding Bee.  MG

"Matter-of-fact, first-person account and slow understanding allow for a smooth transition from realism to fantasy."

Gidwitz, Adam. The Grimm Conclusion

"Entertaining story-mongering, with traditional and original tropes artfully intertwined."

Goelman, Ari. The Path of Names.

"The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for kids."

Hautman, Pete. The Cydonian Pyramid.

"Elements of ancient Mayan sacrifices and political intrigue, the book will have fans of historical fiction and science fiction thinking through the motives and concepts of this smoothly layered adventure."

Healy, Christopher. The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle.

"Witty banter, amusing characters, and seat-of-your-pants action."

Healey, Karen. When We Wake.

"Accessible, thoughtful and compelling--science fiction done right."

Herrick, Amy. The Time Fetch.

"Solid characterization and fantastical invention."

Howard, A.G. Splintered.

"A sensuous version of Alice's adventures for the Hot Topic crowd."

Howson, Imogen. Linked.

"A roller-coaster ride into space."

Lint, Charles de. The Cats of Tanglewood Forest.

"A satisfyingly folkloric, old-fashioned--feeling fable."

Littlewood, Kathryn. A Dash of Magic.

"Readers will enjoy accompanying these kitchen magicians on their Parisian adventure."

Lomax, David. Backward Glass.

"Following the complex threads of adventure as they come together through the multitude of intertwined journeys is a joy."

Lo, Malinda. Inheritance

"Clever plot and strong world-building are this sequel's strengths."

Lu, Marie. Prodigy.

"Provides a more satisfying readalike experience for fans interested in [the dystopian] niche."

Maas, Sarah J. Crown of Midnight.

"Intricate plot, dishy romance, and rich world building."

Martin, T. Michael. The End Games.

"The story is not all zombie fun and games; it is brutal bordering on horrific, and it packs an emotional wallop."

Meloy, Maile. The Apprentices.

"Just enough magic, chaste romance and humor to appeal to middle-grade readers through teens."

North, Phoebe. Starglass.

"This richly textured first novel deserves to be widely read."

Oliver, Lauren. Requiem.

"A dystopian tour de force."

Parker, Amy Christine. Gated.

"A complex, intriguing tale rooted in real-world events."

Rees Brennan, Sarah. Untold.

"A whopping dose of girl detective-style sleuthing make this series a refreshing take on the paranormal romance genre."

Revis, Beth. Shades of Earth.

"Revis has brought real and immediate emotions to sci-fi scenarios."

Sanderson, Brandon. Steelheart.

"Snappy dialogue, bizarre plot twists, high-intensity action, and a touch of mystery and romance."

Shepherd, Megan. The Madman's Daughter.

"Shepherd sticks fairly close to Wells's Island of Dr. Moreau but furthers her story's appeal with sweeping romance."

Shurtliff, Liesl. Rump: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin.

"The picaresque-style narrative gives the maligned character a refreshingly plainspoken voice, while honoring the original story's hauntingly strange events."

Stroud, Jonathan. Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase.

"[A] wry, practical voice counterpoints the suspenseful supernatural goings-on in this rollicking series-opener, which strikes just the right balance between creepiness and hilarity."

Terrill, Crisitin. All Our Yesterdays.

"Time travel done right... Powerful emotional relationships and tight plotting."

Thomas, Sherry. The Burning Sky

"A blend of magic, gender-bending disguise, and self-sacrificial longing will satisfy fantasy lovers."

Werlin, Nancy. Unthinkable.

"Blending of real-world and fantasy, the focus on family, and the tale of a young woman overcoming what seem like incredible odds."

West, Kasie. Pivot Point.

"Will appeal to those who enjoy the [paranormal] genre, and it is a welcome change from vampires and zombies."

White, Kiersten. Mind Games.

"An effective paranormal thriller."

Wiggins, Bethany. Stung.

"A fast-paced, fever-bright post-apocalyptic adventure."

Zinn, Bridget. Poison.

"Vivid, headlong, and occasionally tongue in cheek, and the narrative's dark moments never get too scary because everything else is so much fun."

If I missed any, please let me know!