Middle Grade Fiction | Self-Publishing Review

Pixylations by Joe Laudati

A delightful book that revisits Irish folk tales and legends, Pixylations by Joe Laudati tells the story of a rebellious and talented pixy called Faela, immersing the reader in a spellbinding story about friendship, love, and self-acceptance.

The Irish countryside of the 18^th century is thriving with magic creatures that have their own world and problems. Faela is not like all other pixies – first of all, she is blue and not a warm shade of yellow or pink like her peers. She is also not as tidy, or well-dressed, and certainly not as disciplined. She loves experimenting with […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-10-04T10:54:51+02:00September 28th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction|

Review: Eudora Space Kid: The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! by David Horn

Expanding his Eudora Space Kid series with another interstellar romp, author David Horn crafts another hilarious and heartfelt adventure in The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! A wild and whimsical story set onboard the AstroLiner Athena means more adventures and mischievous plots by Eudora, a human adopted by alien parents on an intelligence-gathering mission across the stars.

Nothing gets past Eudora onboard her star-crossing home, and whether it is an impossible engineering puzzle to solve, or the personal problems of the highest-ranking man on the ship, she is ready to take on the challenge. However, inventing a foolproof scheme for falling […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-30T17:40:11+02:00May 1st, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: David Horn, Middle Grade Fiction|

Review: Boy from Three Worlds by Farida Mirza

Boy from Three Worlds by Farida Mirza is a tender and acutely observed middle grade story of family and belonging, identity and self-hood, what it means to be a child and what it means to grow up, for an engrossing blend of social realism and adventure.

As the title indicates, the novel is about the meaning of home in a world where so many people find themselves torn between different countries, societies, customs, and worldviews. Within this swirl of cultures, the choices you make reveal who you are as an individual, and set your place within your family, bridging the […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-05-02T16:52:45+02:00March 27th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction|

The Zalthagor Box by Terrie Schultz

The supernatural and the uncanny are at the heart of Terrie Schultz’s The Zalthagor Box, a fun and chilling middle-grade read that will appeal to adults as well as young readers.

Not yet 14, Evelyn discovers she has a rare power: she can see things before they happen. So far it has been more of a curse than a gift, as not only does her mother not believe her, but she’s bullied by everyone at school. When her great-aunt Lillian passes away unmarried and childless, Evelyn and her family travel down to Virginia to settle Lillian’s affairs. While learning […]

Marina Dora Martino2022-12-13T13:55:53+02:00December 12th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction, Paranormal|

Review: Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard

Elvia and the Gift of Passion, the third installment of Ruthy Ballard’s Tales by Moons-Light series, is a magical middle grade fantasy that follows plucky Elvia as she travels from Oregon to Africa to the two-mooned planet Urth, where a beautiful purple-skinned, fashion-obsessed Uppie takes her on the trip of a lifetime.

Ten-year-old Elvia Hill’s passion for adventure is endlessly thwarted by her overly protective parents, who won’t even let her ride a bike, but that changes when her mother wins a trip to go on a safari in Tanzania. Although they rarely let their daughter out of their […]

SPR2022-11-29T15:48:46+02:00October 9th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction|

Review: Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman

Heartfelt and uniquely heroic, Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman is an electrifying opening chapter to a new superhero series. An average kid lands an impossible spot at the most exclusive high school in the world, and must overcome his own self-doubt, recognize his powers, and seize his birthright.

Fueled by the same YA fervor as Harry Potter, this superhuman high school series deals with the supernatural and superhuman, but also explores the deeply relatable issues of growing up feeling different. Regularly challenging the boundary between reality and fantasy, from the prologue onwards, this is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-16T18:04:22+02:00August 16th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction, Superhero|

Review: The Mime by Tommy Tutalo

The Mime by Tommy Tutalo is a fantastical middle-grade story about finding the power in your voice.

Eleven-year-old Florina is a neurodiverse girl living in Mexico, who will not speak, as she struggles to find a place in the ordinary world while taking refuge in her own wonderfully imagined one she draws in her precious sketchbook. With exquisitely inked illustrations by Mexican artist María Gabriela Guevara Sánchez showing young readers Florina’s adventures throughout, Tutalo has created an appealing narrative with fully imagined characters and motivations.

Florina lives in Oaxaca with her guardians the Mochados, who own the ramshackle Indigo theater, […]

SPR2022-09-13T11:53:33+02:00July 22nd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction, Tommy Tutalo|

Review: The Chocolate Clouds by Marc Remus

Author Marc Remus sends readers on a surprising and symbolic ride through the magical land of Foodtopia in his delectable children’s book, The Chocolate Clouds.

Henry’s family rose to wealth and prominence by securing the chocolate clouds and harvesting their bounty, ensuring plenty of food for Choco-Locoville and Sugarland. However, when the clouds suddenly disappear from his family’s property, Henry’s “normal” life melts away, so this health-conscious adventurer and his beloved cat embark on a grand quest to find them.

Daring to cross the Monster Mountains in search of his family’s most prized possessions, Henry learns the proper history […]