SEPTEMBER

Spooky season is in the air! There are a lot of ghost books in the list. And just generally creepy. Stephen King's take on Hansel and Gretel is delightful and Sendak's illustrations are inspired. Band Nerd by Sarah Clawson Willis was a very different than what I thought it would be. Somewhat autobiographical, it deals with living with an alcoholic parent and feeling like you need to fix it all. I also recommend the two middle grade reads - The Experiment by Rebecca Stead and Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman. Plus all the graphic novels. And everyone should read Everything Is Tuberculosis by the wonderful John Green.

             

   

     

      

The Dog Days of August

 AUGUST

August? August got away from me...  But here is what I read.  Cute sloth books! Lots of graphic novels! And some middle grade books on the Newbery Award radar.

Klassen has a new series of board books - one for each season. They are exceptional. Have you ever heard of Gogoosh? She is a singing superstar from Iran and this picture book bio about her is a very interesting story. I enjoyed both Free Piano (Not Haunted) and Creaky Acres. The middle grade fiction on various Newbery lists includes The Peach Thief which is historical with a girl disguised as a boy protagonist; Bad Badger, a rather unconventional but completely wonderful love story; and The Trouble with Heroes which deals with grief, COVID, and 9/11. And climbing LOTS of mountains.

 What are you reading for fall?