Tag: illustrated novel

cover of Afia in the Land of Wonders
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

Afia in the Land of Wonders

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

It’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday!

I loved Afia in the Land of Wonders (Scholastic Press, 2025) written and illustrated by Mia Araujo. It’s such an intriguing and well done fantasy set in Western Africa (not tribe specific). Isn’t that cover gorgeous? (And what you can’t tell is the gold is embossed.)

Afia’s beloved twin has always been happy to work with their family in the crystal business, but Afia wants more. She wants to explore outside of Dafra. Have adventures. In disobedience to her family she leaves them and gets much more adventure than she wants.

The writing and the illustrations are beautiful. I didn’t want to stop reading, but the ending is very satisfying.

This book is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and a Barnes & Noble Children’s & YA Book Awards Finalist for 2025. The main character is 16 but very approachable for the middle grade audience.

This illustrated novel was the author’s debut. I hope she is working on further books! Read more about Mia here and see her paintings and drawings.

Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Wink

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Wink (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020) by Rob Harrell is a serious yet funny read enhanced by comic panels of Batpig and other drawings. It’s hard to put down this touching book.

Look at the first line, “I’m lying on a steel table, all too aware of the giant ray gun pointed in my direction.” How could you not read on?

Seventh grader Ross Maloy just wants to fit in but his diagnosis of a rare eye cancer makes him standout. He feels like if he gives this thing as little energy as he can, it’ll just fade away. Best friend Abby reminds him he has the “Ultimate Excuse” for not having homework done. But things “go from bad to catastrophic.” Not only does he have a permanent winking eye, but now he has to wear a wide-brimmed hat everywhere–including inside–to keep the sun off his face. And now someone is sharing supposedly funny Instagram drawings of him via text to his classmates.

I love how unexpected people become Ross’ friends and how he finds a new interest. I wish the story had been written more chronologically as I sometimes got confused. But still a good read.

The story is based on Rob’s own experiences. Read about the author/illustrator here and check out his other books here. His newest book, Popcorn, comes out in September.

cover of The Red Pencil
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Red Pencil

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Red Pencil (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015) by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Shane W. Evans is a book I missed reading, but am glad to have caught up with. Told in verse and with line drawings, it’s heartbreaking, yet hopeful.

In Darfur, Sudan, twelve-year-old Amira, wants the impossible–to go to school and learn to read and write. But her mother says her life will be farming and marriage so there is no need. After the Janjaweed attack her village, the family makes their way to a refugee camp. There a gift of a red pencil gives Amira hope.

Check out the awards and more info on the book here.

Read about Andrea and her other books here and Shane and his books here.