Tag: fiction

The Language of Spells

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Grisha is a dragon, living in a world where most people have forgotten how to see magic. Maggie is a girl, living in a world that wants her to be ordinary, even though she’s extraordinary. They encounter one another in the hotel that Maggie lives in… and their friendship might mean that there’s hope to solve a great mystery.

What I loved most:

There are some books that are written to children – where adults write down to their audience… and then there are books written with love for children. It’s like the difference between talking to a little kid while you’re standing up, and they have to crane their neck to look up at you… and squatting down when you’re talking to a kid, so that you’re at their level. The Language of Spells is the second kid of book. The language Weyr uses feels like a big cozy sweater and like an invitation to go on a bold adventure, all at the same time. It gives me the same kind of vibes of K. E. Ormsbee, who y’all know I love. This is a book that I’d highly recommend to literally any kid that I know.

Read this book if you like:

The House in Poplar Wood by K. E. Ormsbee, friendships, adventure, finding magic in the ordinary

Book details:

  • Author: Garret Weyr
  • Publisher: Chronicle Books
  • Date of Publication: June 26, 2018
  • Interest Level: Mid-elementary to early middle schoolers

Amari and the Night Brothers

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Amari’s big brother, Quinton, was always her guide and her protector. He’s been missing for months, and Amari doesn’t understand why people are giving up on him. She’s determined to keep searching. She never expected to receive a magical briefcase that Quinton left for her eyes only… and she definitely never expected to find out that werewolves and mermaids and magic are real. Amari and the Night Brothers is a super fun, immersive world that middle school kids will love sinking their teeth into.

What I loved most:

One of my favorite series is The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – the name of this blog is pulled from a line in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I feel like every kid loves reading stories where a normal kid (like them) finds out that magic is real, and gets pulled into this mysterious new world without the limitations we have in our current world. Plus, I’m HERE for #OwnVoices books, strong female protagonists, and teaching kids not to accept the constraints placed on them by society, so this book gets a solid 5 out of 5 stars from me.

Read this book if you like:

The Chronicles of Narnia series, the Harry Potter series, strong female protagonists

Book details:

  • Author: B. B. Alston
  • Publisher: Balzar + Bray
  • Date of Publication: January 19, 2021
  • Interest Level: 5th – 8th graders

The Magic at Villa Verde

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Villa Verde is a grove where a variety of animal friends live. The Magic at Villa Verde is a collection of short stories, each with a different animal protagonist. It’s the kind of book that I remember reading when I was little, where each story uses a fun animal to teach you a different lesson. Think Full House, but with totally different characters… it’s just that wholesome, classic vibe that slyly teaches morals like forgiveness, collaboration, and being yourself.

What I loved most:

I don’t know why rhyming automatically makes a story 100 times better, but it definitely does. The rhymes that Nemazie uses will make this a fun one to read out loud to small kiddos. Let’s be real though – parents, you might want to brace yourselves, because this seems like one that will get a “one more time” request over and over again!

Read this book if you like:

Rhymes, immersive worlds, animal friends, low key teaching kids important lessons through fun stories

Book details:

  • Author: Maryam Nemazie
  • Publisher: Self Published (forever holla-ing for authors who take the initiative to make their dreams of publishing a book come true!)
  • Interest Level: Toddlers to First Graders