Editorial Content for Word of Mouse
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
I confess to the fact that I have never read James Patterson. I’ve read and enjoyed Grabenstein; on both accounts I enthusiastically opened WORD OF MOUSE. Isaiah mouse is blue, bold and, unbeknownst to him, brave. He lives with his 96 siblings in the Horrible Place, where the Long Coats keep the mice caged, performing all manner of illegal experiments. The mice mutate in many ways; they have colored coats and gain various skills --- Isaiah can read. Read More
Teaser
What makes Isaiah so unique? First, his fur is as blue as the sky --- which until recently was something he'd never seen, but had read all about. That's right ---Isaiah can read, and write. He can also talk to humans...if any of them are willing to listen! After a dramatic escape from a mysterious laboratory, Isaiah is separated from his "mischief" (which is the word for a mouse family), and has to use his special skills to survive in the dangerous outdoors, and hopefully find his missing family
Promo
What makes Isaiah so unique? First, his fur is as blue as the sky --- which until recently was something he'd never seen, but had read all about. That's right ---Isaiah can read, and write. He can also talk to humans...if any of them are willing to listen! After a dramatic escape from a mysterious laboratory, Isaiah is separated from his "mischief" (which is the word for a mouse family), and has to use his special skills to survive in the dangerous outdoors, and hopefully find his missing family.
About the Book
What makes Isaiah so unique? First, his fur is as blue as the sky --- which until recently was something he'd never seen, but had read all about. That's right ---Isaiah can read, and write. He can also talk to humans...if any of them are willing to listen! After a dramatic escape from a mysterious laboratory, Isaiah is separated from his "mischief" (which is the word for a mouse family), and has to use his special skills to survive in the dangerous outdoors, and hopefully find his missing family. But in a world of cruel cats, hungry owls, and terrified people, it's hard for a young, lone mouse to make it alone. When he meets an equally unusual and lonely human girl named Hailey, the two soon learn that true friendship can transcend all barriers.
Editorial Content for The Silver Gate
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Though there are many opinions as to what constitutes a good fairy tale, there are a number of characteristics often associated with most: good vs. evil characters, poverty (often afflicting the good) and riches (often held by the evil), commoners and royalty, and some form of magic, mystery, and/or serendipitous coincidence. Kristin Bailey’s THE SILVER GATE employs all of these elements as it weaves its tale. Read More
Teaser
In shepherd boy Elric’s tiny village, people think children like his younger sister, Wynn, are changelings --- left by fairies and doomed to curse all around them. As a baby, Wynn was born with developmental delays, and according to the rules, she was supposed to be abandoned in the woods. Instead Elric’s mother saved his sister and hid her away for eleven years. But when their long-absent father returns, Elric realizes that folk songs and fantasies can’t protect them from the outside world.
Promo
In shepherd boy Elric’s tiny village, people think children like his younger sister, Wynn, are changelings --- left by fairies and doomed to curse all around them. As a baby, Wynn was born with developmental delays, and according to the rules, she was supposed to be abandoned in the woods. Instead Elric’s mother saved his sister and hid her away for eleven years. But when their long-absent father returns, Elric realizes that folk songs and fantasies can’t protect them from the outside world.
About the Book
In shepherd boy Elric’s tiny village, people think children like his younger sister, Wynn, are changelings --- left by fairies and doomed to curse all around them. As a baby, Wynn was born with developmental delays, and according to the rules, she was supposed to be abandoned in the woods.
Instead Elric’s mother saved his sister and hid her away for eleven years. They live in secret and fear of being discovered, yet their home is full of love, laughter, and singing. Wynn and Elric’s favorite song is about the Silver Gate, a beautiful fairy realm where all children are welcome.
But when their long-absent father returns to sell Wynn to the Lord’s castle as a maid, Elric realizes that folk songs and fantasies can’t protect them from the outside world. They have to run away. Still Wynn believes there’s only one place they’ll ever be safe, and it lies beyond the Silver Gate.
The road to freedom is long and treacherous. If they have any hope for survival, Elric and Wynn must learn to depend on each other above everything else --- and discover the magic that always reveals itself when it seems like all is lost.
Editorial Content for Garvey's Choice
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Nikki Grimes is a well-known and well-respected poet, especially in children’s literature circles. Her previous works, including BRONX MASQUERDE and WORDS WITH WINGS, have earned her numerous awards including several Coretta Scott King Awards and Honors. In 2006 Grimes was the recipient of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children.
"Grimes [writes in verse using the Tanka format] and she does it with apparent ease....In addition to writing entirely in Tanka, Grimes has created a likable and compelling character in Garvey."
Teaser
Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading --- anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father --- by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.
Promo
Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading --- anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father --- by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.
About the Book
Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading --- anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father --- by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.
This emotionally resonant novel in verse by award-winning author Nikki Grimes celebrates choosing to be true to yourself.
Editorial Content for The Ethan I Was Before
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Once in a while, a character within a book manages to find its way into the reader’s heart and refuses to depart, even after the last page is read. THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE is the story of just such a character, 12-year old Ethan Truitt. Read More
Teaser
Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia. It’s also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn’t the only one with secrets. Coralee’s are catching up with her, and what she’s hiding might be putting both their lives at risk.
Promo
Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia. It’s also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn’t the only one with secrets. Coralee’s are catching up with her, and what she’s hiding might be putting both their lives at risk.
About the Book
Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia.
Palm Knot may be tiny, but it’s the home of possibility and second chances. It’s also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn’t the only one with secrets. Coralee’s are catching up with her, and what she’s hiding might be putting both their lives at risk.
January 3, 2017
In this newsletter, you will find books releasing the weeks of January 2nd and January 9th that we think will be of interest to Bookreporter.com readers, along with Bonus News, where we call out a contest, feature or review that we want to let you know about so you have it on your radar.
This week, we are calling attention to the hardcovers and paperbacks releasing this month, which you can find in our Coming Soon feature.
Please keep in mind our very special End-of-the-Year contest featuring Carol Fitzgerald’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2016. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 40 books, while eight other winners will receive a selection of five of these titles. The deadline for entries is Monday, January 9th at noon ET.
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we're asking book groups to help us compile our "Best Books of the Year" list. Share both your favorite book that you read with your group in 2016 and your favorite book that you read outside your group by Tuesday, January 31st at noon ET, and you will be eligible to win SIX advance copies of fantastic titles that are coming out this year: THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE by Lisa See, A PIECE OF THE WORLD by Christina Baker Kline, THE HOPE CHEST by Viola Shipman, MUSIC OF THE GHOSTS by Vaddey Ratner, THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE by Jessica Shattuck, and THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR by Jennifer Ryan.
Last but certainly not least, be sure to cast your vote in the Bookreporter.com poll by Friday, January 6th at noon ET. We want to know how many books you read in 2016.
The new year is here and Teenreads is ready to make some read-solutions! How many books do you hope to read in 2017?
January 3, 2017, 162 voters
Katherine Mansfield
I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing.





