[REVIEW] Cherry Blossom Baseball

Series: A Cherry Blossom Book #3
Author: Jennifer Maruno
Genre: middle grade, historical fiction, realistic fiction, sports
Published: December 5, 2015
Publisher: Dundurn
Purchase: Amazon

Is pretending to be someone else the only way Michiko can fit in? 

Michiko Minigawa’s life is nothing but a bad game of baseball. The Canadian government swung the bat once, knocking her family away from a Vancouver home base to an old farmhouse in the Kootenay Mountains. But when they move into town, the government swings the bat again, announcing that all Japanese must now move west of the Rockies or else go to Japan. 

Now in Ontario, Michiko once again has to adjust to a whole new kind of life. She is the only Japanese student in her school, and making friends is harder than it was before. When Michiko surprises an older student with her baseball skills and he encourages her to try out for the local team, she gives it a shot. But everyone thinks this new baseball star is a boy. Michiko has to make a decision: quit playing ball (and being harassed), or pitch like she’s never pitched before. 

[REVIEW] Chronicles from Chateau Moines

full tour schedule can be found at CBB Book Promotions

Series: N/A
Author: Evelyne Holingue
Genre: middle grade, historical fiction
Published: October 11, 2014
Publisher: Burel Press

September 1970: Scott’s mother has recently died and his father gets the crazy idea to move his family from California to Normandy. Now Scott has to learn to live without his mom while adjusting to France. In his seventh grade class there is only Ibrahim who comes from another country. Scott doesn’t even want to play his guitar anymore. Why does his father think that life will be better so far from home? Scott has no idea that his arrival is also a challenge to Sylvie. While her best friend is excited to have an American boy at school, Sylvie cannot say one word to Scott. She can’t even write good songs in her notebook anymore. Why is life so different since Scott moved to Château Moines?  

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War protest era and told from the perspectives of twelve-year old Scott and Sylvie, this is a story about loss and friendship, music and peace, and also about secrets.

[REVIEW] The Girl Who Came Back to Life

full tour schedule can be found at CBB Book Promotions

Series: N/A
Author: Craig Staufenberg
Genre: middle grade, fantasy, adventure
Published: April 16, 2014
Publisher: Createspace
Purchase: Amazon

A book about love and loss, and how to live in a world filled with both... 

When you die, your spirit wakes in the north, in the City of the Dead. There, you wander the cold until one of your living loved ones finds you, says "Goodbye," and Sends you to the next world.  

After her parents die, 12-year-old Sophie refuses to release their spirits. Instead, she resolves to travel to the City of the Dead to bring her mother and father's spirits back home with her.  

Taking the long pilgrimage north with her gruff & distant grandmother-by train, by foot, by boat; over ruined mountains and plains and oceans-Sophie struggles to return what death stole from her. Yet the journey offers her many hard, unexpected lessons-what to hold on to, when to let go, and who she must truly bring back to life.

[Flashback Friday] the Clique series

Flashback Friday is a weekly post where I talk about a book, manga, or anime series which I’ve seen years ago. This is more like me reminiscing on stuff I come across way back then.

Meet The Clique… 

Massie Block: With her glossy hair and laser-whitened smile, Massie is the uncontested ruler of The Clique and the social scene at Octavian Country Day School, an exclusive private girls’ school in Westchester Country, New York. Massie knows you’d give anything to be just like her. 

Dylan Marvil: Massie’s second in command who divides her time between sucking up to Massie and sucking down Atkins Diet shakes. 

Alicia Rivera: As sneaky as she is beautiful, Alicia would love to take Massie’s throne one day. Just might. 

Kristen Gregory: She’s smart, hardworking, and will insult you to tears faster than you can say “my haircut isn’t ugly!” 

Enter Claire Lyons, the new girl from Florida in Keds and two-year-old Gap overalls, who is clearly not Clique material. Unfortunately for her, Claire’s family is staying in the guesthouse on Massie’s family’s huge estate while they look for a new home. Claire’s future looks worse than  a bad Prada knockoff. But with a little luck and a lot of scheming, Claire might just come up smelling like Chanel No. 19… 

The Clique… the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

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The Clique is my first book series which is why Lisi Harrison has a special place in my heart (but sadly I haven’t read all her books)… Actually the Clique isn’t my first book in the series. My first book was Best Friends for Never which is the second book.