In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Ona Gritz.

ABOUT THE BOOK

August or Forever

Written by Ona Gritz

Ages 9 + | 108 Pages

Publisher: Fitzroy Books | ISBN-13: 9781646033072

Publisher’s Book Summary: Ten-year-old Molly has always loved having a sister, but sisters are supposed to live together, right? Molly certainly thinks so. Unfortunately, her older half-sister Alison lives on a whole other continent. Their video chats are great, and Molly is thrilled when Alison’s hand-written letters arrive in the mail like surprise gifts.

Still, it’s not enough, not compared to what other siblings have. That’s why when Molly finds out that Alison is finally coming to visit over the summer, she devises a plan to get her sister to stay. But then Alison arrives with plans of her own, a fragile heart gets broken, and Molly stumbles upon a painful piece of her sister’s past. Molly has always loved having a sister, but this is the August when she’ll learn what it really means to be one.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Bookshop

Barnes and Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ona Gritz is the author of two previous children’s books, including Tangerines and Tea, My Grandparents and Me, a Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Alphabet Book of the Year and Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine Teacher’s Pick. Her essays and poems have been published widely. Recent honors include two Notable mentions in The Best American Essays, a winning entry in The Poetry Archive Now: Wordview 2020 project, two 2021 Pushcart nominations, and a 2022 Best of the Net nomination.

Learn more about her work at onagritz.com.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:

A RELATIONSHIP REDEFINED

August or Forever

Written by Ona Gritz

Ten-year-old Molly is excited that Alison, her older stepsister, will be leaving her home in London to visit upstate New York. Throughout the years Molly has carried on a virtual relationship with her sister, meeting only once years ago. Now Alison has graduated university and Molly devises a plan to ensure her visit becomes permanent.

This tale is narrated in first person by Molly. Perhaps she loves Alison too much. Each of the girls have experienced troubles and losses. Molly needs to learn to recognize her sister’s needs as well as her own.

Gritz develops the characters in detail, using apt dialogue that conveys their emotions. She explores family bonds including complex issues like love and loss. The chapters are short and easy to follow. While the book targets a middle-grade audience, it also strikes a chord among adult readers. A great book for a book club or classroom discussion; the author includes starter questions at the end of the story.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of August or Forever, autographed by Ona Gritz, and a glass heart necklace (like one that figures prominently in the story)!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

A signed, paperback copy of August or Forever

A glass heart necklace

Nine (9) winners receive:

A signed, paperback copy of August or Forever

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

https://gleam.io/bOrBE/august-or-forever-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Wednesday, February 1, 2023The Children’s Book ReviewA book review of August or Forever

Thursday, February 2, 2023The Fairview ReviewA book review of August or Forever

Friday, February 3, 2023Writer with WanderlustA book review of August or Forever

Monday, February 6, 2023The Momma SpotA book review of August or Forever

Tuesday, February 7, 2023The Growing Readers PodcastAn author interview with Ona Gritz

Wednesday, February 8, 2023Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogA book review of August or Forever

Thursday, February 9, 2023My Reading GetawayAn author interview with Ona Gritz

Friday, January 10, 2023J.R.s Book ReviewsA book review of August or Forever

Monday, February 13, 2023BookshelfmamaAn Instagram post of August or Forever

Tuesday, February 14, 2023The Children’s Book ReviewA booklist featuring August or Forever

Wednesday, February 15, 2023Cover Lover Book ReviewAn article by author Ona Gritz

Thursday, February 16, 2023Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersAn article by author Ona Gritz

Friday, February 17, 2023icefairy’s Treasure ChestA book review of August or Forever

Monday, February 20, 2023Life Is What It’s CalledAn author interview with Ona Gritz

The Boy Who Was Left Behind

Written by Gita V. Reddy

Aman is only two years old when his parents depart India for London. He is left in the care of his grandmother. Aman’s parents rarely visit.

Aman is a happy child who is extremely close to his grandmother. When he is eight years old, Aman learns that his parents will be returning to India permanently. Aman experiences conflicting emotions. Then he overhears a phone call that changes his life. A car accident has killed his father and his mother is hospitalized.

Aman’s grandmother goes off to London and leaves Aman in the care of her nephew. She decides not to tell him anything about the accident. She finally returns with Aman’s mother, but she has not made the recovery that Aman desired. The tale traces the boy’s anguish which impacts his health and his studies.

The author does a good job of portraying the characters’ emotions and cultural traditions. I believe the book could help children cope with similar feelings. This book could lead to productive discussions with middle-grade and teen readers.

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Check out all my learning opportunities at http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jasmine A. Stirling

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Found Her Voice

Written by Jasmine A. Stirling

Illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Ages 4-12 

48 Pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

ISBN-13: 978-1547601103

Publisher’s Synopsis: Witty and mischievous Jane Austen grew up in a house overflowing with words. As a young girl, she delighted in making her family laugh with tales that poked fun at the popular novels of her time, stories that featured fragile ladies and ridiculous plots. Before long, Jane was writing her own stories-uproariously funny ones, using all the details of her life in a country village as inspiration.

In times of joy, Jane’s words burst from her pen. But after facing sorrow and loss, she wondered if she’d ever write again. Jane realized her writing would not be truly her own until she found her unique voice. She didn’t know it then, but that voice would go on to capture readers’ hearts and minds for generations to come.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2O2scVx

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781547601103

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Bio and Link

Jasmine A. Stirling is the debut author of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, a picture book biography of Jane Austen about persistence and creative mastery. Jasmine lives on a cheerful street in San Francisco with her husband, two daughters, and their dog. From a young age, she loved to write poems and stories and worked her way through nearly every children’s book (and quite a few for grownups, too) in her local library. When she’s not writing, Jasmine can be found hiking in the fog, singing songs from old musicals, and fiddling with her camera.

Jasmine first fell in love with Jane Austen as a student at Oxford, where she read her favorite of Jane’s six masterful novels, Persuasion. A Most Clever Girl is her dream project, done with her dream team—award-winning illustrator Vesper Stamper and Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing. Jasmine also has a YA/New Adult history of the women’s suffrage movement out soon, titled We Demand An Equal Voice.

Visit www.jasmineastirling.com to get a free Jane Austen paper doll kit with the purchase of A Most Clever Girl. While you’re there, enter to win a Regency tea party gift basket!Follow Jasmine on Instagram and Facebook @jasmine.a.stirling.author where she posts about kidlit and life with two young girls.

My Review of This Book

FINDING HER WAY

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice

Written by Jasmine A. Stirling

Illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Jane Austen grew up in the English countryside in a large family. Her father was a rector and a tutor; her mother wrote poetry. The home was filled with books, joy, music, and song. Jane’s father provided her with a study and writing materials. Although Jane completed three novels before reaching her mid-twenties, something felt wrong.

Jane was born ahead of her time. She disdained the eighteenth-century books that portrayed women as weak, sickly, or pessimistic. She preferred to observe the visitors to her home and based her characters on their actions and behavior. But when her brothers grew up and her father retired, Jane, her sister, and mother were forced to move to the city. Jane suffered depression and ceased to write.

After a time, one of her brothers furnished them a small house in the countryside. Jane’s spirits lifted She found the inspiration she needed to revise her earlier writings and create the novels for which she became famous worldwide.

Stamper employs color effectively in her illustrations to portray the changing moods and circumstances of Jane’s life. The author includes some of Austen’s famous quotations and a concise biography as well as resources and a bibliography to encourage further exploration of Austen’s life and work.

This forty-eight-page picture book is appropriate for elementary age readers but will also interest middle-grade and older readers interested in Austen and eighteenth-century life in England.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a glorious Jane Austen-themed picnic basket, including a hardcover copy of A Most Clever Girl autographed by Jasmine A. Stirling!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A picnic basket filled with:
  • A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling
  • A vintage teacup
  • 1 oz of tea From Adagio Teas
  • Truffles from Moonstruck Chocolates
  • Gardenia hand cream
  • A set of Jane Austen playing cards
  • A $15 gift certificate to Jasmine A. Stirling’s Austenite Etsy Shop, Box Hill Goods

Two (2) winners receive:

• A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling

The giveaway begins March 16, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT, and ends April 16, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

Click on the link below

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3d5cb282211/

TOUR SCHEDULE

March 16	The Children’s Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/	Book Review
March 17	Life is What It’s Called	www.lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com	Interview
March 18	Library Lady’s Kid Lit	https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/	Book Review & Guest Post
March 19	Austen Prose	https://austenprose.com/	Book Preview & Guest Post
March 20	A Dream Within A Dream	http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com	Book Review
March 21	Barbara Ann Mojica’s Blog	https://bamauthor.me	Book Review
March 22	Jane Austen’s World	https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/	Interview
March 23	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	https://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com	Book Review & Guest Post
March 24	icefairy’s Treasure Chest	http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/	Book Review
March 25	Heart to Heart	tynea-lewis.com	Book Review
March 26	Confessions of a Book Addict	http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com	Guest Post
March 27	Eccentric Eclectic Woman	http://finamoon.blogspot.com	Book Review
March 28	J.R.s Book Reviews	https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com/	Book Review
March 29	My Jane Austen Book Club	http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/	Interview
March 30	Jane Austen in Vermont	https://janeausteninvermont.blog/	Book Review & Guest Post
March 31	Some the Wiser	https://somethewiser.com	Book Review
April 1	Austenesque Reviews	www.AustenesqueReviews.com	Book Review
April 2	Absolutely Austen	https://absolutelyausten.com/	Book Review
April 3	Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen	brendascox.wordpress.com	Book Review
April 4	Fairview Elementary School (Library)	https://fveslibrary.blogspot.com/	Book Review
April 5	Comfy Chair Books	https://comfychairbooks.com/	Book Review
April 6	Reading Is My SuperPower	https://readingismysuperpower.org	Book Review
April 7	ShootingStarsMag	www.shootingstarsmag.net	A Beyond the Book Activity
April 8	Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk	glassofwineglassofmilk.blogspot.com	Book Review
April 9	Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb	http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/	Interview
April 10	The Fictional Cafe	https://www.fictionalcafe.com/	Review + Interview
April 11	Ingenious Baby	https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNfesiHAPnqc4STgBn-Ljw	Interview
April 12	The Children’s Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/	Guest Post
April 13	Tucked In Tuesday	https://www.instagram.com/tutoringyoutoexcellence/	Instagram Live: Tucked in Tuesday

Sagas of Anya

Written by Kirsten Mbawa

Anya is only thirteen. She lives in Cardiff, and her life has been difficult. Tad, her alcoholic father, has spiraled into alcoholism and depression. Unable to support himself and his daughter, he secures a position as a scullery maid in London for her.

Anya’s adventure begins with a train ride on a contraption she has never laid eyes on. When she disembarks at Paddington Station, the sights and smells of Victorian England surround her. She has no idea of what to expect. When she meets her boss, Mrs. Axton, her fears escalate.

But as Anya settles into a life of drudgery, more trouble looms before her. Anya has secured a few friendships, but she has also made many enemies. The novel traces her struggle to clear her name. This young Victorian girl is determined to obtain a measure of happiness and find a family to accept and love her.

The book is a fast-moving historical fiction adventure that is perfect for middle-grade readers.

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Check out my resources for children, teachers, and parents on http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review. I received a free copy of The Monster Twins to review. All opinions are my own. 

THAT TWIN THING…

The Monster Twins

Written by Robert and Karen Hanvik HaHHhh

Illustrated by Ella Ransom

First book in a new series. Bella and Bertie are twins who have never met each other. When they were born, the rules did not allow them to live together. Why? Because they were monsters and the law said they must be adopted by separate human families.

Bella has been adopted by a couple who live in Singapore but travel all over the world. Bertie lives with a shy couple who live in London. Each have different personalities but have one thing in common. Both monsters feel that something is missing They each long for a best friend.

Will circumstances ever change? Will Bella and Bertie employ their twin skills to discover each other’s existence.

I especially liked the way the author introduces children to the fact that families can be different and that growing up in different cultures does not preclude similarities between siblings.

OFFICIAL LINKS

For more information, visit https://monstertwins.com, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Monster Twins and a Visa gift card!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A physical copy of The Monster Twins
  
• A digital flipbook copy of The Monster Twins
• A $25 Visa gift card to stock up on more books from your favorite bookstore

Five (5) winners receive:

• A choice of:
  • A physical copy of The Monster Twins
    
  • A digital flipbook copy of The Monster Twins

Giveaway begins July 20, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends August 20, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

Click on the link below to enter:

” http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3d5cb282176/

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Monster Twins

Written by Robert and Karen Hanvik

Illustrated by Ella Ransom

Publisher’s Synopsis: Bella and Bertie are twins, but they don’t know that, or each other. Separated while babies by bad law, they grew up 6000 miles apart, in Singapore and London. Follow the twins as they discover their shared past and do their best to make a better future for themselves, their families, and others like them.

PURCHASE LINK

The Monster Twins Book

TOUR SCHEDULE

July 20	The Children’s Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/
July 21	Life Is What It’s Called	http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/
July 22	Jrsbookreviews	https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com/
July 23	Word Spelunking	http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/
July 24	Over Coffee Conversations	https://gmarciano.blogspot.com
July 27	Fairview Elementary School (Library)	https://fveslibrary.blogspot.com/
July 28	icefairy’s Treasure Chest	http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/
July 29	Library Lady’s Kid Lit	https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/
July 30	Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom	http://wannabesuperheromom.blogspot.com/
July 31	Confessions of a Book Addict	http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com/
August 3	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com
August 4	A Dream Within A Dream	http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com/
August 5	Barbara Ann Mojica’s Blog	https://bamauthor.me

HEY KIDS! LET’S VISIT LONDON (Fun, Facts, and Amazing Discoveries for Kids)

Written by Teresa Mills

This book is geared toward middle-grade students, roughly ages eight through thirteen. It can be used as a guidebook to prepare children who are planning a trip to London with a family or a community organization. Each site is accompanied by pictures, its history, main features, and visitor appeal. Mills talks about iconic historical landmarks like Stonehenge, The Tower of London, Big Ben, The Red Phone Booth, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. She discusses street landmarks like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, and Harrod’s Department Store. Other notable spots to visit include The London Zoo, Hampstead Heath, The Globe Theater, and Platform 9 3/4’s with its connection to Harry Potter. Of course, no visit would be complete without a ride on the London tube or a visit to one of the museums like The Duxford Air & Space Museum or the RAF Museum.

There is so much to see. Mills has especially focused on those of interest to children. This book can also be useful as a starting place for a school project on London. The book need not be read in any particular order as the chapters are not laid out sequentially.

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The Hexed Child (Bertram Bile Time AdventureTravel Series, Book 3

Written by Sarah Weldon

This is not my first time reading a book from the series. I did not find that a real advantage, though fans of time travel adventures might prefer beginning with Book 1. Bertram Bile and his friend, Molly are sitting in Miss Petrenko’s geography class. She is reputed to be the worst geography teacher in the world. Molly develops a plan giving them an excuse to escape class. She is eager to visit Bertram’s aunt, who just happens to be a witch. They hide in the bathroom and put on their gold-colored goggles, their key to arriving at the witch’s old ash tree home.

The witch gives each child a magic cloak. They amble through the woods and discover a child who is crying. The kind-hearted witch promises to help the mother, who has never been able to quiet the child. The storyline is a mixture of fantasy and reality. Weldon explores themes important to her middle school audience and gently guides them by discussing solutions.

The author bases her series on her experiences swimming the rivers of London. She is an environmentalist and STEM teacher, donating a part of her book sales to these interests. Recommended for readers third grade and older. A perfect chapter book for the middle-grade student audience.

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