Student Voices: What Kellee’s Middle Schoolers are Reading, Loving, and Promoting

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My Student Literacy Leaders (students who help out in the library as their elective) recently were asked them to pick books they’ve loved that they feel should be checked out more than they are.

For these titles, they completed reading promotion projects which included Book Snaps (a snapshot of a book that is supposed to help get kids interested in the book), Title Talkers (a summary and extra info about the book to help share books with students), and Book Trailers (like a movie trailer but for a book).

Here are the titles they decided to promote (alphabetical by title) with some examples of their projects:

  • 12 to 22 by Jen Calonita
  • All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson
  • A-Okay by Jarad Greene

  • Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
  • Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

  • Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
  • Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Witch by Katy Farina, Created by Ann M. Martin
  • Bedhead Ted by Scott SanGiacomo

  • Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez
  • Blended by Sharon Draper
  • Class Act by Jerry Craft

  • Concealed by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
  • Coraline by Neil Gaiman

  • Cross Game: Vol. 1 by Mitsuru Adachi
  • Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
  • Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley

  • Delirium by Lauren Oliver
  • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

  • The Dirt Diary by Anna Staniszewski
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth
  • The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

  • Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone
  • The Dumbest Idea Ever by Jimmy Gownley
  • Escape by K.R. Alexander
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

  • Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
  • Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
  • Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Frost Blood by Elly Blake
  • Fruits Basket: Omnibus 1 by Natsuki Takaya

  • The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
  • Goddess Girls: Athena the Brain by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
  • Go with the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
  • Grace Needs Space by Benjamin A. Wilgus and Rii Abrego

  • Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
  • Holes by Louis Sachar
  • Hooky: Vol. 1 by Míriam Bonastre Tur

  • House Arrest by K.A. Holt
  • How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson

  • How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
  • Huda F Caresby Huda Fahmy
  • Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

  • I Survived: The Destruction of Pompeii, 79 A.D. by Lauren Tarshis
  • I Survived: The Eruption of Mt. St. Helens, 1980 by Lauren Tarshis
  • I Survived: The Nazi Invasion, 1944 (Graphic Novel) by Lauren Tarshis and Álvaro Sarraseca
  • Join the Club, Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno

  • Just Roll with It by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie
  • Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable and Stephanie Yue
  • Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
  • Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
  • Legend by Marie Lu

  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time by Akira Himekawa

  • The Lizzie Borden Ax Murders by Carla Mooney
  • Looking Up by Stephan Pastis
  • The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

  • Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk
  • Matched by Ally Condie
  • Measuring Up by Lily Lamotte and Ann Xu

  • Midnight at the Barclay by Fleur Bradley
  • Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

  • Moo by Sharon Creech
  • The Murders of Tupac and Biggie Smalls by Sue Bradford Edwards
  • No Place by Todd Strasser

  • One Punch Man by ONE
  • Orange: The Complete Collection, Volume 1 by Ichigo Takano

  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt
  • Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

  • P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
  • Querido Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Ben J. Pasek, and Justin Paul
  • Puzzled by Pan Cooke
  • Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz
  • Renegades by Marissa Meyers
  • Restart by Gordon Korman
  • School Trip by Jerry Craft

  • Scout is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong
  • The Selection by Kiera Cass

  • Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
  • Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz

  • Sink or Swim by Veronica Agarwal
  • Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
  • Slacker by Gordon Korman
  • Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
  • Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

  • Trapped by Michael Northrop
  • The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat and Joanna Cacao

  • Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm and Savanna Ganucheau
  • Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

  • Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
  • Unplugged by Gordon Korman
  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman
  • War Cross by Marie Lu
  • When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

  • White Cat by Holly Black
  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
  • Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacios
  • The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Thank you to my students for sharing their favorite books and creating these great reading promotion projects!

Ben’s Kids’ Korner: Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

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Ben is an 8-year-old who reads hundreds of books each year. He reads middle grade and young adult books and especially loves fantasy. When I asked Ben which recent book was his favorite, he didn’t hesitate. Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch. Because he is a pro reader who is never caught without a book in his hands, I thought he might share with other kids why he loves this book so much.

Summary: A brave warrior fights to protect his home from threats both outside and within in this first book in the middle grade graphic novel series by Matt Myklusch set in the same Imagine Nation from his acclaimed Jack Blank series.

The Imagine Nation is the origin of all stories, made up of worlds inhabited by everything from comic book superheroes to embattled knights of medieval epics.

Ever since failing to save his parents from a terrible fate, young swordsman Skerren has molded himself into a fearless warrior to defend his home, the medieval borough of Varagog Village—and to never again be as powerless as the was the day he lost his family. History comes dangerously close to repeating itself when Skerren’s mentor, King Hovarth of Varagog nearly dies on his watch.

With the king’s life hanging by a thread, Skerren is named as Hovarth’s heir, prompting an arrogant prince to challenge him for the throne. Skerren is forced to split his attention between political enemies inside the village threatening the title he never asked for and the villainous Night Lander Horde still circling outside following their strike against Horvath—all while being unsure who he can trust.

Skerren must face devastating betrayals, the looming threat of war with the Night Landers, and the haunting truth about his parents’ death. He may even find out if he has what it takes to be a king…if he survives the experience.

Ben’s Review: I love this book because Varagog Village is forever in 1404. That makes it so cool because flowers bloom and die on schedule. They know exactly when it is going to rain and when it is going to be windy. The setting was really great because there were cool things like a giant bell and a castle. Of course there was a castle! I like the character Skerren a lot because he is really smart. On one page, he does something really awesome, but I won’t tell you what happens because my mom said I can’t tell you spoilers. Also, I really think you should read the book. It is so good! One more thing: Skerren and Zorn are fighting on three trials to become king. But I won’t tell you what they are. You will have to read the book! I love the book Imagine Nation: The Blood of Kings, and I hope you will too!!!

Jeffrey Ebbeler’s I Like to Read Comics: Wait a Minotaur, I’m Ogre It, Kraken Me Up, & A Giant Mess

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Wait a Minotaur
Published December 17th, 2024 by Holiday House

I’m Ogre It
Published October 11th, 2022 by Holiday House

Kraken Me Up
Published September 7th, 2021 by Holiday House

A Giant Mess
Published April 6th, 2021 by Holiday House

Author & Illustrator: Jeffrey Ebbeler

Summary: Comics-lovers can now share the fun with their kids, students, siblings, and younger friends who are learning to read!

I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds.

Like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterpart, I Like to Read® Comics are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.

Wait a Minotaur: When his new school hallways start to feel like a labyrinth, how will Gus the minotaur and his human pal Nick stay calm and find their way to the correct classroom? Find out in this action-packed early reader from comics artist Jeffrey Ebbeler.

It’s Nick’s first day at a new school! As he walks in, he meets an easily excitable and impatient minotaur named Gus. It’s Gus’ first day, too—so he grabs Nick’s hand and charges straight into the building. There’s so much to see and do! They dance along with band practice, bounce around the school gym, end up in the boiler room, and. . . okay. They’re lost.

They may not know where to go, but they know what to wait a minute, calm down, and retrace their steps so they can find their classroom. Young comics readers are sure to resonate with comics illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler’s hilarious, slapstick take on a common coming-of-age experience—and parents will love the subtle lessons of patience and critical thinking.

I’m Ogre It: An ogre turns out to be the best neighbor ever in this punny easy reader comic.

A family gets a surprise when a fun-loving ogre moves in next door and helps a sister bond with her screen-obsessed brother.

Ollie is so absorbed in the video game Smash Tower that he doesn’t notice that his sister and an ogre named Tim have emptied his room and constructed an obstacle course that mirrors the levels of the game in the yard. But a tell-tale red string leads him to the challenges. This comic is perfect for reintroducing kids to the fun of in-person play.

Kraken Me Up: Izzie and her unusual pet make a big splash at the county fair in this punny easy reader comic from a beloved children’s book illustrator and comics artist.

Izzie can’t wait to debut her pet at the county fair. While the other children have brought pigs or chickens, Izzie brought a…Kraken!

Even though everyone thinks Kraken is big and frightening, he is not. He’s like Izzie, sweet and shy. Kraken and Izzie use creativity and humor to win over the crowd in this hilariously adorable comic. The variety of panel styles, speech bubbles, and fonts are all perfect for engaging developing readers.

A Giant Mess: A gigantic tyrannical toddler is out to play . . . with the whole town! A hilarious early reader from comics artist Jeffrey Ebbeler.

Molly doesn’t want to clean her room; she wants to play. Before Molly can argue with her mom, they hear BOOM! BOOM! A giant toddler is on the loose!

Molly watches dumbfounded as Jack picks up cows and plucks airplanes out of the sky all for fun. He even picks up Molly and pretends to fly her around. Vroooom! When his giantess mother calls him home, he gleefully dumps everything and turns to leave. Now it’s Molly’s turn to “Stop! This is a giant mess!”

About the Author: JEFFREY EBBELER is a New York Times best selling illustrator. He has illustrated and occasionally written over 60 books for young readers. His published work includes picture books, middle grade and chapter books, and graphic novels.

Review: These I Like to Read® Comics are must gets for so many reasons!

First, they are such a great introduction to mythological and fairy tale creatures. Although most of the stories don’t go into the backstory of them, there are definitely allusions to their origins, such as ogres living in caves, the minotaur understanding directions, etc.

Second, they are wonderful first comics! I love that this series, and especially these books, make graphic novels and comics so accessible!

Third, the titles are so punny! They just make me so happy!

Fourth, each of these stories are so unique and fun. Although they can be utilized as a set, they all definitely stand alone also.

Last, I am a huge fan of Ebbeler’s artwork. It is colorful, eye-catching, expressive, and just perfect for these books.

Flagged Spreads: 

I'm Ogre It by Jeffrey Ebbeler, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

I'm Ogre It by Jeffrey Ebbeler, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Read This If You Love: Early graphic novels

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Sara at Holiday House for providing copies for review!!**

The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen

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The Firelight Apprentice
Author: Bree Paulsen
Published October 29th, 2024 by Quill Tree Books

Summary: The bestselling author-illustrator of Garlic and the Vampire, Bree Paulsen, brings her fantastical storytelling and warm, sparkling artwork to this story that celebrates the bond between sisters.

In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king’s magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom.

When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and their sickly father. And Ada is right to worry about her sister, for there may be monsters hiding behind friendly faces…

About the Author: Bree Paulsenis a SoCal writer and illustrator who loves spooky monsters, fashion history, and all things autumnal. After graduating from the Laguna College of Art and Design with a BFA in animation, she freelanced on a few independent animation and illustration projects before tuning her focus toward comics. She started her webcomic, Patrik the Vampire, in 2013 and self-publishes its printed volumes. Her first middle grade graphic novel, Garlic and the Vampire, received a starred review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, which called it “folkloric…a down comforter of a graphic novel.” Garlic’s adventures continue in Garlic and the Witch.

Review: This graphic novel, on the surface, is about magic, but if you dig deeper, it is about the impact of war, hidden evils, balancing passion & family, and figuring out how to fit within the world.

The author does a wonderful job of spreading the narrative out between the two sisters so that the reader is aware of all aspects of what is going on. And since the sisters are so very different, it is interesting to experience the switch between the two. Also, though I predicted the twist at the end of the book, I think readers are going to be surprised! I also was impressed with how the author dealt with some tough themes, especially loss and anxiety, in such a developmentally relevant way.

I am hoping this story is a beginning of stories within this world because I want to know more about so much that happened in the past and how our characters move on into the future.

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: This graphic novel will be a huge hit with middle grade readers–it will be an asset to any school, classroom, or home library.

Discussion Questions: 

  • How does the author use color within the graphic novel?
  • Why did Ada and her father choose to send Safi away?
  • Who was destroying Ada’s letters?
  • Was there any signs of who the antagonist was before it was revealed?
  • If you were a magician, what magic would you like to learn how to do?
  • Would you rather there be a sequel or a prequel of this book?
  • How does Safi’s notice of Elba change his life?

Flagged Spreads: 

 

Read This If You Love: Cat’s Cradle series by Jo Rioux, Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen, Meesh and the Bad Demon series by Michelle Lam, Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol, The Moth Keeper by Kay O’Neill

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books for providing a copy for review!**

Kellee’s 2024 Reading Recap & Stats

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And just for fun: here is Trent’s 2024 Year in Books!


Here are my five star reads from 2024 (in order of date read)!

Picture Books

Middle Grade

Young Adult


Happy reading in 2025, friends!!!
To see all the books I’m reading, visit my READ Goodreads shelf and feel free to follow 📖💙

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Author Guest Post: “Fostering Empathy in Kids Through Literature” by Claire Swinarski, Author of Take it From the Top

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“Fostering Empathy Through Literature”

Most kids are, by their nature, self-centered. This is developmentally appropriate: after all, they’re learning who they are and building up their self-esteem. Children should be focused on themselves. Think of babies, who will happily ruin a wedding or concert by screaming simply because they’re hungry or uncomfortable. Their entire world is their needs and desires.

We do not, however, want kids to stay that way. A large part of growing into an adult is recognizing that there’s an entire world that exists outside of yourself, and that your viewpoint is not the be-all-end-all of a given situation.

That said, teaching empathy is one of the most difficult tasks of a parent, teacher, or caregiver. But luckily, one of the easiest tools at our disposal is a robust reading list.

In my latest novel, Take It from the Top, kids are able to see the exact same events from two different perspectives. Eowyn, who comes from a one-parent household filled with both grief and financial resources, experiences things very differently than Jules, who comes from a family that’s short on cash but rich in affection and affirmation. These two have done what children are so good at doing: looking past differences in order to create a friendship based on love, joy, and common interests. But, at the ripe age of thirteen, as they transition from being children to being young adults, those differences are feeling starker and heavier.

How do books like Take It from the Top help form empathy in kids?

  • Books give kids a safe space to discuss complicated topics. Within stories, kids are able to ask questions that might otherwise feel awkward. They can see the missteps of certain characters—like how Jules struggles to understand Eowyn’s grief, or how Eowyn misinterprets Jules’s envy—and learn from them without making them on their own. So many topics these days are heated and we require perfection in conversations. But kids are imperfect, just like us! They need time and space to learn about issues and form their opinions.
  • Books help kids see themselves. Take It from the Top takes place at a summer camp for musical theater. Will most kids go to a summer camp for musical theater? No. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be in positions where they’re competing with friends, or feeling left out of friend groups, or being disappointed by their own lack of skills in any given department. They can identify problems within books, helping to illuminate these problems in their own lives. By understanding themselves better, they can better regulate their emotional responses.
  • Books help kids explore perspectives they’re unfamiliar with. Kids are laser-focused on their own lives because at their young age, that’s all they’ve really known. Depending on their circumstances, they may be surrounded by a wide diversity of thoughts and experiences, but they may not be. Books allow kids to experience things from different points of view and understand what it’s like for kids that are radically different from themselves.
  • Books fill kids’ hearts with hope. Lastly, any good middle grade book should point kids towards hope. That doesn’t always mean a happy ending—it’s not a spoiler alert to say that Jules doesn’t win the lottery at the end of Take It from the Top, and Eowyn’s mom doesn’t suddenly come back to life. Grief and hardship are real, and kids know that. But what they need to be reminded of is that they can handle grief and hardship. They can be equipped with virtue and courage so that these difficulties become manageable burdens, not all-consuming difficulties. It’s impossible to have empathy without hope for connection.

By reading and discussing books like Take It from the Top, kids can grow in empathy and begin the complicated process of moving from me to we.

Published November 19th, 2024 by Quill Tree Books

About the Book: Set at a camp over the course of six summers, this novel dives into the falling-out of two girls from different backgrounds who thought they’d be friends forever. Claire Swinarski, Edgar Award nominee of the ALA Notable What Happened to Rachel Riley?, tackles privilege, perspective, and the power of friendship in this page-turning puzzle that readers will devour.

Eowyn Becker has waited all year to attend her sixth summer at Lamplighter Lake Summer Camp. Here, she’s not in the shadow of her Broadway-star older brother; she’s a stellar performer in her own right. Here, the pain of her mom’s death can’t reach her, and she gets to reunite with her best friend, Jules Marrigan—the only person in the world who understands her.

But when she gets to camp, everything seems wrong. The best-friend reunion Eowyn had been dreaming of doesn’t go as planned. Jules will barely even look at Eowyn, let alone talk to her, and Eowyn has no idea why.

Well, maybe she does…

There are two sides to every story, and if you want to understand this one, you’ll need to hear both. Told in a series of alternating chapters that dip back to past summers, the girls’ story will soon reveal how Eowyn and Jules went from being best friends to fierce foils. Can they mend ways before the curtains close on what was supposed to be the best summer of their lives?

About the Author: Claire Swinarski is the author of multiple books for both kids and adults. Her writing has been featured in the Washington PostSeventeenMilwaukee magazine, and many other publications. She lives in small-town Wisconsin with her husband and three kids, where she writes books, wears babies, and wrangles bread dough.

Thank you, Claire, for supporting our belief that books are the key to empathy!

Author Guest Post: “Heroes: One Size Does Not Fit” by Karl Fields, Author of The Accidental Warriors

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“Heroes: One Size Does Not Fit”

All It’s been said that there are no new ideas in literature, just new takes on existing ones. Some of our most beloved stories borrow heavily from their predecessors. For example, long before Harry Potter there was “The Sword In the Stone,” which tells the story of Britain’s King Arthur from boyhood and which Rowling cites as one of her influences.

Similarly, the Hero’s Journey is one of the oldest ideas in fiction, regardless of medium. From Homer’s Odyssey to the Hunger Games, it’s a story structure that’s been around almost as long as stories themselves. Dante’s Inferno. To Kill A Mockingbird. The Hobbit. Even Miles Morales: Across the Spider-Verse. All make use of the hero’s journey.

 But what makes a hero? All too often in popular media, the hero is big, tough, infallible, and would never even entertain the thought of not meeting the moment; like most summer blockbuster action heroes, for example. But these larger-than-life types have a way of sucking all the air out of the balloon, leaving no room for growth or change.

Thankfully, that isn’t the only type of hero. Some are less tough, less sure of themselves, less obvious. Often, these characters want nothing to do with this hero stuff in the first place. That’s what makes them so much fun!

When I set out to write The Accidental Warriors, I knew heroism would be at the center of the story overall and also at the heart of the route traveled by Jalen, the main character. At the outset, he’s brash and confident to a fault. In fact, early on you could say he’s more like the first type of hero. That, however, is a front he uses to camouflage some serious insecurities.

As Jalen makes his physical journey — trying to find his way back to his familiar home from a magical, mysterious land he reaches by way of a portal — his internal journey forces him to confront his fears and doubts, of which there are many. And despite the story’s title, Jalen’s ultimate heroism results from him using his wits more so than in ways typically associated with a warrior.

Jalen isn’t the only hero in The Accidental Warriors. Heroism, in all of its forms, is on display throughout the story. Ram, Jalen’s best friend who is Autistic, shows courage in the face of danger and won’t let Jalen retreat from his destiny. The kids in village show heroism beyond their years in standing up to the local nemesis.

We love heroes because they give us someone to cheer for, but a hero without a journey can easily become a character with little dimension, and therefore easily forgettable. However, a hero on a journey speaks to the growth and self-discovery that we experience ourselves and becomes the kind of character that can live in a reader’s mind for a lifetime.

Exercise 1 The Hero’s Journey consists of twelve steps. Have students identify steps of The Hero’s Journey evident in The Accidental Warriors. (For example, Jalen’s call to adventure comes when his karate instructor’s daughter is kidnapped by a monster who escapes through a portal. It is at the insistence of his instructor that Jalen pursues, albeit reluctantly. He initially refuses the call, another of the 12 steps, choosing to focus on finding his way back home.)

Exercise 2 How many heroes are there in The Accidental Warriors? Is Jalen a hero? What about Ram? The villagers? Cyrus? The ancient magicians? If yes, explain what makes each of these characters heroic. If no, what could they do to show heroism?

Bonus Exercise While not necessarily a hero in The Accidental Warriors, what are some ways in which Jalen’s father could turn out to be a hero?

Published October 12th, 2022

About the Book: Jalen Banneker has a confidence problem … as in, too much of it. But what no one knows is that it’s all an act, hiding years of self-doubt.

But when an evil monster kidnaps his friend, Jalen must overcome his fears as he travels to a mystical world where he’ll have to defeat the monster, break an ancient curse, save his friend and find his way back home in time for dinner.

With an engaging story and vivid illustrations, this book will have readers ages 7-10 turning the pages right up until the end. The Virginia Library Association said “these fun and exciting reads that have a good mix of characters are the kinds of novels we need more of,” while BookLife Reviews says it’s filled with “lightning-paced transitions and supercharged magic!”

About the Author: Karl Fields is an army brat who spent much of his youth in places like Germany, Spain, and Okinawa. Away from American television and no such thing yet as social media, he developed a love for reading that continues to this day and that also led to his desire to be a storyteller himself. He has written several books for children and adults, including the Kate Albertson mystery series. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. The Accidental Warriors is his first graphic novel. Find him online at www.facebook.com/karlfieldsbooks and @writerkarl on Blue Sky.

Thank you, Karl, for this insight into your transformation of the hero’s journey for The Accidental Warriors!