Category: #Giveaway

cover of The Accidental Stowaway
Posted in #Giveaway, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Accidental Stowaway

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I just finished reading the fun romp, The Accidental Stowaway (Candlewick, 2022) by Judith Eagle and illustrated by Jo Rioux.

Twelve-year-old Patch Leonard didn’t mean to stowaway on the RMS Glorious steamship. But when she’s erroneously accused of stealing a plate of toffee, she runs. Right up on the gangplank. Before she knows it the ship has sailed and she’s stuck. Patch makes new friends, has to avoid being caught by the chief steward, and overhears criminals plotting a kidnap. And that’s only part of her problems.

Read about the author’s other books here.

Read about the illustrator here and check out her art here. Jo is also an author and you can see her books here.

I have a gently-read paperback (Walker, 2025) for one lucky winner who comments. (Let me know if you share this post on Social Media for extra tickets.)

cover of Loon Cove Summer
Posted in #Giveaway, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Loon Cove Summer

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Loon Cover Summer (Wild Trail Press, 2025) by Donna Galanti is a heart-warming tale of family, friends, and healing. Plus disappearing loons.

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson has planned a great summer, then finds out her best and only friend will be gone for six weeks. What will she do? Yeah, still work at the wild bird rehabilitation center. Yeah, still do her jobs at the Maine campground her father owns. Gemmi recommends a “Summer Dream Do List” and they each choose five things. Number one on Sarah’s list is “save a loon,” but how can she do that when she hasn’t been able to face going out on the lake since her mother died of cancer?

Readers of The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner and The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart will enjoy this story.

You can watch a book trailer of Loon Cover Summer here, read about the author here, and check out Donna’s other books here.

I have a gently-read paperback copy to share (US only). For a chance to win, comment on this post. Get an extra entry by telling me where you shared this post on social media–please include a link. Drawing will take place September 10th.

cover of book Half-Truths
Posted in #Giveaway, MG Novels, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

Half-Truths

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Half-Truths (Monarch Books, Monarch Educational Services, 2025) by Carol Baldwin was soooo good!

It’s the early 1950s and 15-year-old Kate Dinsmore wants more than anything to be a journalist. Maybe she can be brave like Horace Carter, the local newspaper editor, and report on the dreadful happenings in her community, like the KKK.

But there’s no way her tobacco-farming family can afford college. Besides her relatives believe women only leave home to get married.

But what if she went to live with her father’s wealthy parents in Charlotte? Might they pay for her schooling? But will a country girl fit in with the city debutantes? And how will she deal with the family secret she discovers?

This is Carol’s debut novel. The publisher has labeled the book Young Adult but mature middle grade readers would enjoy the story as well. Note: Historical language – The terms colored and Negro are used within the story to maintain historical accuracy.

The book is available for preorder on Barnes and Noble. You may watch the book trailer here. Carol is offering a free paperback copy of the book to one of my readers. Comment below by April 15th to be eligible. (Make sure you fill our your email address, so I can contact you.)

Read more about the author here. Read what motivated Carol to write the story here. In the back of the book, Carol lists all the resources she used when creating this historical fiction world.

#giveaway

cover of Powwow Day
Posted in #Giveaway, PB, So Many Good Books

Powwow Day

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Powwow Day (Charlesbridge, 2022) by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight is a great book to celebrate the upcoming 10th Anniversary of Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 26th.

River is usually excited about Powwow Day, but this year she can’t dance like she did before she got sick. She doesn’t even enjoy the scents of sage and sweetgrass when they arrive on the grounds. Everyone dances except River and she can’t even feel the drumbeat. She’s too tired. But when her friends and family do the girls’ jingle dance, a healing dance, River can feel the drums and knows she’ll dance again.

This is a sweet story of hope. It also has good backmatter that explains powwows, talks about the tribes, the drums, and the dances. I really enjoyed the information of how the jingle dance originated with the 100 year ago flu pandemic.

Author Traci Sorell is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Visit Traci’s website to learn more about her and read about her other current and forthcoming books.

I loved the illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight, who is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. On Madelyn’s website, you can read about her, look at some of her art, and check out her books.

I was given one copy for review from Charlesbridge and will pass it on to one lucky commenter drawn at random. (USA only) Comment by January 27th for a chance to win.

Posted in #Giveaway, PB, So Many Good Books

My Hair

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

My Hair (Faber & Faber, September 2019) by Hannah Lee and illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan is such an appealing book. And I have one copy to give away. (Comment for a chance to win–I’ll randomly draw a name on August 13th. USA only.)

Getting ready for her birthday, a little girl has to decide how to style her hair. Dreadlocks, braids, shaved, cropped, wrapped? She shares about her family and friends and their hair before deciding on something else.

The story is written in rhyme and makes me smile each time I read it. The illustrations are adorable.

Read more about UK debut author, Hannah Lee’s book publication, here. Info about illustrator Allen Fatimaharan and his work can be found here. This is his first picture book, too.

FYI, I received one copy of the book for an honest review.