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<\/p>\nHello Everyone,<\/p>\n
I have been making a point to learn more about children’s literature recently, and to that end, I have been checking out review copies of many upcoming children’s and teen books.\u00a0 Here are the most engaging ones I have read:<\/p>\n
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1) Stuffed <\/strong>– by Liz Braswell<\/p>\n This is, simply put, a fun read for the discerning middle-grade reader.\u00a0 It will probably appeal the most to those on the younger end of that spectrum, but may be enjoyable for older children who have a big imagination, too.\u00a0 Clark is a child whose parents think he is too old to play with stuffed animals, and go to great lengths to get him to be more “normal” – including sending him away to summer camp.\u00a0 But it turns out that his “stuffies”, as they are called here, have minds of their own after all!\u00a0 This delightful book mixes things up between Clark’s story and the perspective of his bravest and most beloved stuffie of all, Foon, as they fight against indifferent adults and a King Monster plaguing his household.\u00a0 There are also detailed instructions for children to make their own stuffies included in this book!\u00a0 (Out Now)<\/p>\n 2) Here in the Real World <\/strong>– by Sara Pennypacker<\/p>\n This book, for middle-grade readers, tells the story of an 11 year old boy, Ware, who has a big imagination and little tolerance for social interaction or anything else that would make him the “normal kid” that his mom seems to desire.\u00a0 When he is signed up for a recreation center summer camp, he rebels by climbing a tree over a wall and finding a magical world in a lot containing a demolished church – as well as a girl his age, Jolene, who is growing a garden of papayas on the abandoned property.\u00a0 Though Jolene is gruff and unfriendly at first, he quickly takes a liking to her, and they somewhat begrudgingly become friends.\u00a0 Jolene mocks his inability to live in the real world, where life isn’t fair, but Ware’s big dreams lead to the church becoming a castle, complete with a moat!\u00a0 And then the terrible news comes – the property is being sold over to developers, who are going to turn it into a strip mall!\u00a0 Will Ware be able to use his big imagination to find a way to save Jolene’s garden?\u00a0 Read and find out!\u00a0 (Out February 4, 2020)<\/p>\n 3) Be Not Far From Me <\/strong>– by Mindy McGinnis<\/p>\n In this book for teens, Ashley goes out hiking in the Smokies with her friends – who are clueless about survival, but totally at home getting drunk in the woods – and in her boyfriend’s case, cheating on her with her ex!\u00a0 In a drunken rage, Ashley runs down a ravine blindly, until she hurts herself and realizes that she has no idea where she is or where her friends are.\u00a0 In a survival story reminiscent of Hatchet, but darker, Ashley walks around for 15 days alone in deep mountain forest, lacking even shoes on her feet.\u00a0 Will she make it out of the woods intact?\u00a0 This book was so engaging that I did not want to put it down the entire time I was reading it (though of course, work and real life intervened at points).\u00a0 Perfect for any teen who likes a good story.\u00a0 (Out March 3, 2020)<\/p>\n 4) Fighting Words<\/strong> – by ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/w1.loganberrybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Here-in-the-Real-World-207x300.jpg\")
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