★★★★★ Wow, this is a beautifully written, incredibly moving novel in verse about 13-year-old Sage who has just lost her best friend. Renee Watson's ability to put into words the feelings, the confusion, the conflicting and raw emotions surrounding the death of a loved one is remarkable. All the Blues in the Sky is a… Continue reading Book Review: All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson
Tag: 7th grade readers
Book Recommendation: Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
This book took my breath away. It is a heartbreaking but inspiring novel in verse. It was a 2025 Schneider Family Book Award Honor, and I think it is a great read that leads to better understanding and compassion for kids who are having mental health struggles. I will read it with my children and… Continue reading Book Recommendation: Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
Book Recommendation: Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
Freewater is the 2023 John Newbery Award and Coretta Scott King Book Award winning novel that I wholeheartedly recommend to upper elementary and middle grade readers. It is a beautifully written and inspiring story about two young runaway slaves who escape deep into the swamp and find a hidden community of formerly enslaved people called… Continue reading Book Recommendation: Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
Birdie's Bookshelf 