by Deb Aronson | Feb 24, 2026 | Blog
Jessica Kim’s novel, “Stand Up Yumi Chung!”, is a masterpiece of pacing, emotional story arc and all the things aspiring fiction writers notice. For its target audience, middle-grade readers, it’s an absolute romp! Yumi Chung, shy, awkward and bullied, wants...
by Deb Aronson | Feb 20, 2026 | Blog
This story of a magical quest — of Maya and her friends fighting the forces of evil — is not my usual genre but I gave it a try because Rena Barron is an Illinois author and I like to support Illinois kidlit authors when I can. Meanwhile, I loved this story! It’s...
by Deb Aronson | Feb 2, 2026 | Blog
The Elliott in Gillian McDunn’s book, “Honestly Elliott” is a sixth-grade boy who struggles with ADHD and some family issues but who also has a passion for cooking. Elliott lives in a smallish town with his mom and regularly visits his dad and his dad’s new wife,...
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