Susan Uhlig

Spark

Posted on August 19, 2019August 17, 2019 by Susan Uhlig

For Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, I’ve got a fantasy, Spark (Clarion Books, 2019) by Sarah Beth Durst, to recommend.

Quiet twelve-year-old Mina is anxiously waiting for her egg to hatch and find out which storm beast she’ll have. Will it be a rain, wind, or sun beast? Everyone knows she doesn’t have the temperament for a lightening beast. But when Pixit hatches everyone is surprised at the creature Mina is bonded with. Maybe she’s not meant to be a guardian. When Mina learns that their wonderful life in Alorria is hurting others, she has to decide whether to tell the truth or not.

I love that this novel shows quiet girls can be heroes too!

Sarah writes for kids, teens, and adults. Check out her website here where you can discover she’s authored 19 books!

There is a rule for fantasy writers: The more truth you mix in with a lie, the stronger it gets.
Diane Duane

There is a rule

Quote• Posted on August 13, 2019 by Susan Uhlig

Write a novel if you must, but think of money as an unlikely accident. Get your reward out of writing it.
Pearl Buck

Write a novel

Quote• Posted on August 6, 2019 by Susan Uhlig

A Wolf Called Wander

Posted on August 5, 2019August 4, 2019 by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

A Wolf Called Wander (Greenwillow Books, 2019) by Rosanne Parry was so good! It’s an illustrated novel with illustrations by Mónica Armiño. I love that this New York Times Bestselling novel it’s based on a true story.

Swift, wants to be as big as his brother Sharp. He also has two sisters, Pounce and Wag. But his favorite sibling is brother Warm, the only wild wolf pup who is smaller. They grow, learn to eat meat, hunt, and then another pack attacks and Swift is left alone. He wants his pack, and goes on journey looking for family. Along the way Swift renames himself Wander.

Published in the UK and the US, it is being published in 7 other languages, too. You can read about that here on the author’s site.

The illustrations are beautiful. Check out more of Mónica’s books here.

PB, So Many Good Books

Sheep Won’t Sleep

Posted on August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Sheep Won’t Sleep: Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s (Holiday House, 2017) by Judy Cox and illustrated by Nina Cuneo takes a fun twist on the old adage of counting by sheep.

Clarissa can’t sleep. She’s tried everything, but nothing works, so she tries counting by sheep. But it doesn’t work either. Instead, she has ten sheep in her room. The sheep make a suggest and her problem gets hilariously worse.

I love the surprise ending.

Read about the author here and see her other books here. Check out illustrator Nina Cuneo here.