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READING STYLE GUIDE

Bezerkered!

9/28/2021

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Barb the Last Bezerker by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

 “I’m a Bezerker and protecting humans from monsters is my duty.”
Thunder, Boulder, Claymore, and Arrow are Berzerkers, super-sized heroes who fight to protect the land from monsters. Unfortunately, this foursome’s brawn often exceeds their reasoning skills. Their nemesis Witch Head is intent on destroying all who thwart his plan for total domination over monsters and humans. He tricks the Berzerkers into helping him obtain Shadow Blade, a sword of awesome power.
In all the chaos, no one notices Barb, a Berzerker who is considered an inconsequential girl. That was a mistake!
With one swift movement, Barb grabs the sword, claims it, and teams up with a 400 pound Yeti-like monster named Porkchop. She is in search of the North Zerks. He’s looking for lunch.
Along the way she meets vampire goat fiends, the Grub of Death, shadow bats, and Glom, a Snot Goblin. Not to worry, Barb the Last Berzerker is up to the challenge.
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Barb longs for her mother, a woman who loves sunrises and leaves warm oatmeal for her daughter when she must go fight in the Monster Wars. She is able to connect with her warrior mom as she sleeps. There are hints that in further episodes the two will meet. 
When you need a fighter who is willing to take on an impossible task, you need Barb, a diminutive Bezerker who is fearless. She will always have your back and she never backs down from bullies.
"Big mean bullies are my specialty."​
This is a terrific series packed with cliff-hanger chapter endings, plently of action, and a ton of "groan-worthy" jokes. The oversized panels often span the gutter. A traditional primary color scheme often used in superhero comics is scrapped for secondary colors: orange, green, and purple. The message is that is no ordinary superhero story. Come for the weird monsters, the action and adventure. Stay for an unlikely friendship that is golden. This series is off to an explosive start. Thanks Dan and Jason.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 28, 2021Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books Young Readers  ISBN: 978-1534485716
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Adventures in Science 

8/31/2021

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AstroNuts Mission Three: The Perfect Planet
by Jon Scieszka art by Steven Weinberg

This is science on steroids
Premise: Earth may be doomed! Climate change is destroying the planet. A rag tag group of four super-powered animals have a plan. They determine that the cause of earth’s problems began with the advent of fire. Solution: Go back in time and prevent man from discovering and using fire.
The foursome learn that a million years ago earth was ecologically balanced. It was The Perfect Planet. They reason that if humans are responsible for the current conditions on earth, maybe another species should be in charge.
That brings them to Survival of the Fittest Olympics which pits wolves against humans. The winners will be the dominant species and the losers will be pets for the winners. Humans are confident that they will win with hydropower, wind power, solar power, and geothermal power. That's a lot of power.
This science-based series is jam-packed with wild and crazy exploits. The narrative is replete with word play, silliness, wolfish trash talk and poop jokes. 
It felt like doing long division with a mirror, underwater.
Stink Bug, as always, got a bit nervous and accidentally unleashed his superpower PFFT (Posterior Foul Force) Gas Defense System.
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Tiny callout boxes at the bottom of some pages reveal interesting factoids. The illustrations are a collage of images from the public domain that are enhanced with word balloons, eye-popping backgrounds, and clever doodles. Readers can make their own collages using these online sources: How the Book Was Made and Make Your Own Art.
Kudos to the creative minds behind this colossal book design. ​
My advice: Get multiple copies of this series. It will fly off the shelves. Kids will take this book everywhere. You'll find it stowed under bleachers, buried beneath sofa cushions, squashed in a gym bag with smelly socks. Who knew that science could be so much fun and so funny? Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg knew.
Sample pages from Mission Three: The Perfect Planet
Meet the creators of this fantastic series.
C​​opy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 21, 2021  Publisher: Chronicle Books  ISBN: 978-1452171210
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A Girl, Golf, and Graduation

8/11/2021

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10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston

We’re full of bad ideas. So what’s one more?
High school graduation is here and Olivia is ready for this. So ready. She has worked HARD, taking every AP class that she could fit into her schedule, while maintaining a high GPA and has earned her ranking as class Salutatorian. Everyone in her large closely-knit family will be there to honor her. It will be her proud moment.
​When a friend refers to Salutatorian as “runner up,” Cousin Charlie responds. "So, if the valedictorian can’t perform their duties, does the crown pass to you?" Yes, the dialog is loaded with snark.
There is a wrinkle. Olivia learns that the required P.E. credit for her off-campus golf has not been honored. Without this credit, she will not graduate. The golf coach offers to waive her excessive absences and sign her P.E. form if she will work as his assistant during a local golf tournament.
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There is yet another wrinkle. Olivia's parents are out of town and have installed a tracker on her phone to keep constant surveillance on their daughter. Not wanting to reveal her graduation dilemma, Olivia concocts an elaborate scheme to trade phones with her cousins throughout the tournament. They will take Olivia's phone to locations where she should be and respond to mom as her daughter would.
The phone exchanges result in numerous complications including Cousin Sophie getting stuck while escaping through a bathroom window and Charlie attempting to field his aunt’s question about the appropriate bra for a party ensemble.
"Now is not the time for I told you so."
"This is the exact perfect time for I told you so. Never, ever has there been a time when I told you so was more needed."
There are even more problems: some trivial, many hilarious, and a few that are heartbreaking. Olivia realizes that she has made errors in judgement on several counts. Can she get everything straightened out before graduation? Readers will keep turning pages in Ashley Elston's contemporary comedy of errors with a side of sweet romance.  ​10 Truths and a Dare is great fun.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 4, 2021  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion  ISBN:  978-1368062381
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Strange and Stranger

7/31/2021

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Strange and Stranger 

What's it like when everything seems to be different? Very different. Twelve-year-olds Jett Baranov and Jake Wind find themselves in situations which are definitely not-your-normal middle-school situations. We're talking encountering things like alligators and aliens.
Packed with plenty of humor, adventure, and interesting plot twists, Unplugged and Weird Kid are entertaining stories perfect for summer listening. If you are ready to take middle school adventures to a whole new level, try these audiobooks.

Unplugged by Gordon Korman

 Narrated by A.J Beckles, Maxwell Glick, Vikas Adam, Reba Buhr, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Barrett Leddy
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Listen to a sample
Jett, the son of a wealthy Silicon Valley tycoon, knows how to get his own way. Always. He is an expert at gaming the system.
In an attempt to rehabilitate his son, Jett's father enrolls him in a summer camp deep in the Arkansas woods. The Oasis of Mind and Body Wellness has some basic rules: no meat, no pets, no screens.
Jett knows this regime isn’t going to work for him and immediately resorts to subversive activities including unauthorized trips into town and adopting a pet lizard. Three campers join him in a series of madcap adventures.
Their activities become serious when the foursome realize that there is a devious staff member, hypnotically controlling the minds of wealthy adults and bilking them out of vast amounts of money.
The fast-paced action escalates when the kids discover a mafia-owned mansion, a staff member’s secret life, and a reptile who may not be a lizard.
The full cast narration features individual narrators for each of the four young campers who uncover what is really happening at the Oasis of Mind and Body Wellness. Another hit from best-selling author Gordon Korman.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Release date: January 2021 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout

Narrated by James Fouhey
Jake Wind’s life is getting even more complicated. In addition to starting middle school, he is experiencing major body changes, and it’s not just puberty. Truth is, Jake is an alien who came to earth as a flaming blob of goo” and was adopted by a couple. Without warning, his human form can suddenly shift into an animal or take on the appearance of a bizarre creature.
He meets Agnes, a tall girl who takes fitness and investigating mysteries to a new level. She aspires to be a save the world like her comic book superhero Night Kite.
​Odd things are happening in town. Sinkholes begin appearing throughout town They discover xenogel, a mysterious substance that resembles Jake's goo. Town residents are becoming imblobsters, resembing humans in appearance but act strangely. Is there a connection? The two sleuths seek answers. ​
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Listen to a sample
Can they save the world before it is too late? What will become of Jake and is impulsive shape-shifting abilities. Is he destined to remain on earth? Greg van Eekhout's novel is part sci-fi and part middle grade angst with a generous side of humor and word play. Jake's father is a proctologist, so the narrative is replete with butt jokes. Get out your guitars. Music plays a starring role in resolving the crisis.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Release date: July 2021  Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
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Mighty Mice

6/29/2021

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The Mouse Watch by J J Gilbert read by MacLeod Andrews

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Listen to a sample.
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Listen to a sample.
Mouse-sized adventures have a special place in classic children's literature. Consider The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Stuart Little, and The Tale of Despereaux. Now there’s a new mouse in kidlit and she may be small, but she is mighty. Gilbert’s The Mouse Watch series takes lilliputian stories in a new direction. Mice are secret agents, performing acts of daring and bravery that will save the world. Because of their size, these rodents are able to carry out clandestine missions that are impossible for humans accomplish.
Rescue Ranger's Gadget Hackwrench is the mastermind of an elite force of secret mouse agents. Bernadette Skampersky (character names are part of the book's charm) achieves her lifelong dream when she is selected as a Mouse Watch operative. Her first assignment: outwit the evil Dr Thornpaw who plans to control the minds of humans with his cheese spray. Next Bernie and her partner Jason battle two nefarious foes: the sea captain of the Medusa and the empress of the ocean kingdom of Catlandia in The Mouse Watch Underwater.
Andrews’ pacing is superb. The unique voices for each character are spot on. He injects the perfect blend of humor, charm, and sense of impending danger into the performance.
Stories are jampacked with hidden dangers, cliff-hanging escapes, clever word play, and plenty of heart. This is a series not-to-be-missed. Consider downloading the audiobooks for a family road trip. The miles of travel will fly by.
An appealing adventure with all the charm of tiny creatures surviving in a world of humans combined with innovative technical devices and high-stakes action. Think The Borrowers meet James Bond. Terrific entertainment.
Meet J. J. Gilbert the creative mind behind this thrilling series.
Audiobooks accessed via Hoopla
Release date:  May 4, 2021  Publisher: Disney Hyperion
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Look What Popped Up

6/22/2021

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Popcorn Bob
​by Maranke Rinck art by Martijn van der Linden translator Nancy Forest-Flier

Something as insignificant as a kernel of corn can be the genesis for a wild adventure. Rinck and van der Linden have created a fantasy series about a walking, talking, cowboy-hat-wearing oversized seed with a voracious appetite and an "explosive" personality. He goes by the name of Popcorn Bob.
Nine-year-old Ellis, the family’s popcorn aficionado, discovers this salty oddity inside the microwave when she pops up an afternoon snack for her dads, who work from home developing new rubber duckies.
Ellis’ life takes a disastrous turn when her teacher informs her parents that the school is emphasizing healthy eating. This means that there will be cauliflower in the cake and, most importantly, no more popcorn. Ellis resorts to sneaking out to the garage to secretly satisfy her popcorn cravings.
An even larger problem is Bob, who is brash and demanding. He will not remain quietly in Ellis's pocket and resorts to earsplitting outbursts when hungry. He even devours a candy bar on the principal’s desk.
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Life becomes increasingly bizarre. The dads conduct a business meeting with one hundred rubber ducks on the office floor. Bob attempts to herd a flock of wayward sheep. Ellis eventually leaves town with the microwave strapped to the back of her bike. It’s zany fun to the max.
After more hijinks and close calls, the story resolves with the dads relenting and reinstating popcorn as a family snack.
Kids will gobble up this series. It's as addictive as a bowl of hot buttered popcorn.
​Good news! More Bob adventures are planned.
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Line drawings are liberally sprinkled throughout the text. They are an integral part of the story, chock full personality and inside jokes.

Popcorn Treats!

Listen to a sample
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Like Ellis, I am a popcorn enthusiast. Unlike Ellis, I prefer popping the kernels with my old fashioned popcorn popper. With a bit of oil, the kernels expand and the glorious popping sound begins. The kitchen fills with the tantalizing aroma. Top it off with melted butter and salt and you have snacktime perfection.
When I want to get fancy, I rely on the Caramel Corn Recipe from my friend's mother. It's a sure-fire hit. Everyone begs for more. Thank you Lynne.
You can find her recipe here.  
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C​​opy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 20, 2021   Publisher: Levine Querido  ISBN: 978-1646140404
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Bird's-eye View

5/21/2021

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Homer on the Case by Henry Cole

Meet Homer, a carrier pigeon with extraordinary abilities. He always finds his way home, even when he must travel long distances. He also possesses a most unusual trait: Homer reads.
It began when he noticed the newspapers lining his cage. Homer recognized people and places in the newspaper’s photos. Eventually this smart bird connected the pictures with their printed captions. Viola! He became a reader. In addition to news reports, Homer discovered the funny pages and now follows the exploits of comic strip detective Dick Tracey.
Enter a partner: Homer meets Lulu, a parrot who perches on the shoulder of her owner Charlotte. The birds become fast friends and look forward to friendly avian conversations whenever their owners are in the park.
A series of outdoor jewelry thefts come to the attention of Homer and Lulu. They decide to investigate the robberies.
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The story’s premise is ingenious. A pigeon has a bird’s-eye view to possible crimes and can fly around, gathering evidence without arousing suspicion. His accomplice has an extensive human vocabulary. These savvy spies find clues and piece together the evidence. Here's the complication: Homer and Lulu must communicate their discoveries, reveal the perpetrators, and recover the stolen jewelry. There is an element of danger, but these are brave little detectives. Homer on the Case is an engaging sleuthing adventure for young readers. Let's hope that there will be more mysteries for this detective duo.
Listen to the author read as he draws a pigeon.
Learn some surprising facts about homing pigeons.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 1, 2021  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1682632543
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Applelicious

5/14/2021

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Apple of My Pie by Mika Song

Norma and Belly are back with another delectable adventure. Last year the squirrels discovered donuts. Now they venture into the world of pies. Apple pies.
Gramps and Little Bee visit the local farmers' market and unfortunately Gramps falls asleep in a truckload of apples bound for the factory. This could be trouble! Little Bee enlists Norma and Belly to help rescue Gramps from what could be a dismal fate: A squirrel baked inside an apple pie.
The rescuers travel to the Crunchy Acres apple orchard and processing plant. Their search for Gramps lands them in a vat of apples that are about to become pie filling.
​There is plenty of clever word play. The squirrels are dumped onto a conveyor with an incline.  They note that “things are looking up.” Norma escapes from the apple peeling apparatus and exclaims “that was a close shave.”
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​This charming tale of friendship is jam-packed with special touches. Fans of Donut Feed the Squirrels will notice cameo appearances from some familiar characters. Song brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, tying together the worlds of humans and squirrels. Apple of My Pie is a delicious treat not to be missed.
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More Yummy Books from Mika Song

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Just For Fun

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Why not create your own tree populated with squirrels? Author Mika Song provides a tree template to download and print. She suggests filling the tree with fingerprints.
Then add details to each tiny print to personalize the furry creatures. 
​Will Nora, Belly, Gramps, and Little Bee have a place on the branches?
Try making mini apples pies. Fill a small oven-safe jar with your favorite apple pie filling. I used an unusual recipe which features orange and apple juices cooked with apple slices. Details here.
Top with a circle of pie crust pastry. Crimp the edges and pop in a hot oven (about 425) until the pastry is lightly browned. For an easy version, fill jars with precooked filling and top with a crumbled oatmeal cookie. Top with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. It’s a sweet little mouthful of apple goodness.
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Electronic copy accessed via NetGalley.
Pub date: June 8, 2021Publisher: Random House Grapic  ISBN: 978-1984895851
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Painting With Words

2/23/2021

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Mr. Tiger, Betsy, and the Sea Dragon
​by Sally Gardner ill by Nick Maland

"Painting with words"
From the brilliant mind and wild imagination of Sally Gardner come Mr. Tiger and Betsy books. This is not your ordinary garden-variety tale of a princess who must be rescued from an evil witch.
Told by the letters of the alphabet, it’s a fantasy jam-packed with a delicious blend of stuff and nonsense.
The story takes place on an island that has been left off the map of the world. Betsy K. Glory’s father creates the most amazing ice creams and her mother is a mermaid. With the help of mum’s tin bathtub on wheels, they make the marriage work. There is also a princess who was once a toad, a sea orchard of golden apples, and the debonair Mr. Tiger. Did I mention that there are two pages devoted to a discussion of the word “discombobulated?”
Plot centers around a sea dragon’s egg. The captain of a pirate ship arranges for his pastry chef to steal the precious egg. He plans to exchange the embryonic dragon for a golden apple.
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A running subthread features girls and women as decisive individuals who determine their own fates and positively impact the lives of others. In a critical scene Betsy must perform a dangerous rescue mission that no one else can accomplish. She is terrified. Mr. Tiger encourages her.
Betsy K. Glory, you are the bravest girl I have ever known. You can do this.
Of course, there is a happy ending. The pirates are defeated. The baby sea dragon egg is returned to its dragon parents. There is a lovely wedding. And everyone enjoys a new flavor of ice cream that tastes like happy-ever-afters.
"Just because you're dyslexic does not mean you can't be a writer."
Sally Gardner is dyslexic. The book’s appearance reflects her sensitivity to readers who have difficulty navigating pages of text. Mr. Tiger, Betsy, and the Sea Dragon is printed in blue and uses the Dyslexie font.
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Look at the dust jacket. Don't you love how the dragon straddles the spine and bridges the gap between land and sea?
​Nick Maland’s blue-hued line drawings match font color and add the perfect touch of whimsy.

Further Adventures for Mr. Tiger and Betsy

Discover the origin of Mr. Tiger and Betsy stories.
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C​opy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: February 23, 2021  Publisher: Penguin Workshop  ISBN: 978-0593095850
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Beastly Feast

1/12/2021

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The Beast and the Bethany
​by Jack Meggitt-Phillips ill by Isabelle Follath

Ebenezer Tweezer, a young man with golden hair and a mansion filled with everything he desires, has a secret. In reality he is almost 512 years old. He owes his youth, stunning art collection, and grand piano to a hideous monster who lives in the top floor of a mansion. In this reimagining of the classic Faustian bargain, Ebenezer must regularly feed the monster in exchange for a potion that grants him eternal youth.
The beast's appetite has increased over time. Where once a tasty morsel satisfied, sacrificial offerings are currently demanded. First it was small animals but now the beast wants a child. Tweezer realizes that he is crossing into territory that strains his sense of morality. He rationalizes that if he can find a truly despicable youngster the world will be rid of one nasty human. That's not so bad, is it?
His search for a suitable child eventually leads him to an orphanage run by the loathsome Miss Fizzlewick. There he meets Bethany, an obstinate and obnoxious girl who alienates everyone she comes in contact with.  She will be the perfect meal.
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Back at the mansion there are complications. The beast decides that Bethany is too thin and needs fattening up. Ebenezer complies with her request for mountains of chocolate cake and ice cream with treacle toffee sauce. He reasons that this is a good thing. She will quickly become a large and tasty meal. Bethany is bewildered. Instead of annoying an adult, her atrocious menu pleases him.
But this is a redemptive tale and as Ebenezer waits for his prospective meal to get fatter, he begins to enjoy spending time with his charge. Bethany, a girl that is determined to antagonize everyone, starts to care about others in small meaningful ways. Eventually Tweezer divulges the Beast's ultimate objective. The two devise a plan to save Bethany from becoming a beast feast.
Like Roald Dahl books, The Beast and the Bethany features a revolting child (think Veruca Salt), an authority figure who delights in making children miserable (think Miss Trunchbull), and outrageous quantities of chocolate cake. 
The narrative steadily leads the reader from one horrific scene to the next and will keep readers turning pages. Isabelle Follath's black and white drawings liberally sprinkled throughout the short chapters are spot-on.
Things don't go as planned. There are several heart-pounding moments when it appears that Bethany and Tweezer are doomed. Then Meggitt-Phillips, that fiendish devil, adds a final plot twist that leaves readers with a frightful chill. The author's note at the conclusion is a must read!
Deliciously dark and delightfully devious. If you like your fiction with a macabre twist, Meggitt-Phillips has just the story you are looking for. ​
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: December 8, 2020  Publisher: Aladdin  ISBN:  978-1534478893
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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