Sunny's bookshelf
Sunny's bookshelf photo by Judy Solomon

Online book reviews since 2011, the very best in reviewing – connecting good readers with equally good writers

Young Adult

Children’s early and middle readers
Sunny Solomon

Great Ghost Stories

Nipping at the heels of the word “summer” are the words “summer camp,” and not long after comes the word “campfire,” and it’s a no-brainer

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Reviews
Susan Cornfield

The Scar Boys

“And I’m Harbinger Robert Francis Jones, the king of darkness and despair… and we…are the Scar Boys!” Is Harry “Harbinger” Jones’s name a crystal ball

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Children’s early and middle readers
Sunny Solomon

Steinbeck’s Ghost

  Steinbeck’s Ghost – Lewis Buzbee’s story marketed to middle readers is equally as satisfying to adults, especially to those who love John Steinbeck. If

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Children’s early and middle readers
Joanne Mallari

When Did You See Her Last?

When Did You See Her Last? All the Wrong Questions To stop publishing Lemony Snicket—now that would be an unfortunate event. Fortunately, Little, Brown and

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Fiction
Joanne Mallari

The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street: 25th Anniversary Edition What purpose does art serve? What inspires you to practice your craft? These are questions that aspiring

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Tiger's Curse
Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Aubrey Siino

Tiger’s Curse is burning bright

TIGER’S CURSE From werewolves to weretigers, Tiger’s Curse takes a new spin on the shape-shifting love interests for which young adult paranormal romances are becoming

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The Book of Nonsense
Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Leslie Marlowe

The Book of Nonsense

The Book of Nonsense, by David Michael Slater, is not your typical coming of age story. At the heart of the novel is very large

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Fiction
Sunny Solomon

Safekeeping

It is exciting when a new book from Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse hits the bookshelves of stores and libraries (though it is a little daunting

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Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Dan Erwine

The Name of the Star

Maureen Johnson’s latest YA novel, adds a few new wrinkles to the expanding mythology of Jack the Ripper. The myth-making began in 1913, just 25

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Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Sunny Solomon

Railsea

China Miéville is a national treasure. I only wish he were our national treasure. Let’s adopt him! Mind you, this is coming from a reader

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Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Joanne Mallari

Impossible

This book is impossible to put down, no pun intended. Nancy Werlin, National Book Award Finalist, pulls readers into the fast-moving currents of a modern

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Children’s early and middle readers
Sunny Solomon

The Apothecary

Award winning novelist Maile Meloy, in her first novel for young readers (10 and up), has written something amazing. The Apothecary is the story of

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Children’s early and middle readers
Sunny Solomon

Bull Rider

Hands down, Bull Rider is the best all around family read that I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing this year. Suzanne Morgan Williams has written

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Fiction
Sunny Solomon

Vaclav & Lena

Haley Tanner has written a small gem of a debut novel in Vaclav & Lena. If you have ever loved the girl or boy next

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Children’s early and middle readers
Sunny Solomon

God Bless the Gargoyles

God Bless the Gargoyles is a most unexpected treasure. At first glance, just from its cover, the average grandparent, looking for that perfect children’s book

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