Cinders & Sparrows

Written by: Stefan Bachmann

HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. Fiction.

Clever Zita Brydgeborn, a twelve-year-old orphan, receives a letter telling her she has inherited a castle. She quickly packs her one bag, quits her job as a maid, and heads off to her new home, Blackbird Castle. When she arrives at the castle she finds a dilapidated, partially destroyed castle in need of repair. She also discovers a link to her past and a curse that has been placed on her family. When she learns that she is a witch and the last heir of a powerful witch family, Zita must find the courage and some magic to help her uncover who or what killed her family, before she becomes the next victim.

This was a suspenseful adventure story filled with imagination, magic, and a colorful cast of characters. It's fast-paced novel with fantastic atmospheric descriptions that will appeal to older middle grade readers who like books that leave you waiting anxiously to find out what is going to happen next. If you are a fan of books by Kate Milford or the Magisterium series by Holly Black you will really enjoy this exciting tale.

Comments

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

Review: The New Girl

The New Girl By Cassandra Calin New York: Graphix, 2024. Comic. 261 pages. 12-year-old Lia and her family have just moved from Romania to Montreal, and she's doing her best to keep up with the changes. But, she's homesick. She misses the rest of her family, her friends, and her favorite Romanian treats. She doesn't speak French and her English is shaky, which makes it hard to make friends, even in her international immersion class. And she's dealing with super painful menstrual cramps every month. But before long, Lia starts to hit her stride. She befriends the other bilingual girls in her class, she gets a spot as the artist for her school's magazine, and even has a new crush -- Julien. Though she may be the new girl, Lia is starting to fit in. This slice of life graphic novel is an adorable choice for middle grade readers and young teens. Lia is a likable protagonist and readers will have little difficulty relating to her adjustment to school. The text speaks to a...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog