Books

Endling the Last, by Katherine Applegate

The beginning of an epic middle grade fantasy series, Endling the Last, by Katherine Applegate, is an excellent adventure that children and adults will enjoy! While the tale kicks off with a tragedy, readers will be eager to follow Byx as she embarks on a mission to discover what, if anything, is left of her doglike people. Combining talking animals with human protagonists, Applegate creates an intriguing world in which readers can happily get lost. The journey to find her people will not be an easy one – there is danger at every turn, and not everyone can be trusted. This is a whirlwind tale that will leave readers eager to begin the next book in the series!

The Day the Crayons Came Home, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Any lover of Drew Daywalt’s first colorful crayon debacle (The Day the Crayons Quit) will be absolutely thrilled with his continuation of the tale! Oliver Jeffers’ illustrations once again delight the reader and enhance the story in this clever sequel. The Day the Crayons Came Home is a wonderful  tribute to the colors that readers know and love, sending the message that no box of crayons is complete without every color. Readers follow the crayons as they pursue different adventures – ultimately deciding to return home for one reason or another, but remaining true to their varied and unique personalities. What exactly happened after the crayons decided to quit in book one? Find out in this decidedly funny follow up!

A strong book for the LGBT community, Shatter the Sky, by Rebecca Kim Wells, is a uniquely written dragon tale that follows the path of the underdog rather than the more traditional hero. Maren is so fiercely devoted to her mission that it seems like nothing can get in her way. The world building is captivating, and the story itself is truly magnificent. Getting to know the characters in this novel is truly a journey in and of itself, and it is equally as exciting as the adventure Maren embarks on to save her love. Not your average young adult fantasy novel – Shatter the Sky teaches readers just how powerful a girl can be when faced with an impossible situation. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this new fantasy, you will not be disappointed in Wells’ exceptional debut novel!