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Debbie’s Reading Journal

Posts about books I’m reading, book recommendations, illustrated book posts. Also see my Bookstagram!

Book I read: THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B by Teresa Toten

Just finished Teresa Toten’s THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B. Wow, loved this book so much; it was one of those stories that made me laugh and cry at the same time. Wonderful voice. I also learned a lot about OCD. Highly recommended! I was also lucky enough to hear . . .



#BookADay: A HITCH AT THE FAIRMONT by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Nick Bertozzi

#BookADay: A HITCH AT THE FAIRMONT by Jim Averbeck, with very cool chapter heading comic illustrations by Nick Bertozzi. Fun and satisfying read with some great twists, and I loved the fact that young Jack is an artist. Advice for new illustrators and writers from Jim Averbeck from his interview on Kidlit411.com:”Grow a thick skin. . . .



#BookADay: WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

Just finished WE WERE LIARS by Emily Lockhart. Totally lives up to the hype, I have to say.  It’s a novel I definitely want to reread (if you’ve read the novel yourself, you know why). In hunting down interviews with the author, I was intrigued by the fact that Emily . . .



Book I Read: GO, SHAPES, GO! by Denise Fleming

I just bought GO, SHAPES, GO!, a gorgeously illustrated early concept book with such a *fun* story, and it launched TODAY. I’ve been a fan of Denise Fleming‘s work ever since I saw Denise demonstrate her pulp painting process at the SCBWI Illustrator Intensives a few years ago. You can find out more . . .



Just finished reading RULES by Cynthia Lord

Thanks to my sister for recommending this book to me. SUCH a good story. What made the book for me: the main character, Catherine. She is entirely believable, funny and flawed, and I fell in love with her right away. HIGHLY recommended. Here’s a great interview with Cynthia Lord about Rules on . . .




#BookADay: SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson @morgan_m

Just finished reading SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson(Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2014). Loved this book, especially the main character, Emily. How I wish this book had been published years ago! I was very much like Emily when I was a teen: timid and insecure on my own, plus . . .





#BookADay: BOY + BOT by Ame Dyckman and Dan Yaccarino (and advice for aspiring picture book authors and illustrators)

Just reread BOY + BOT, written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (Knopf/Random House, 2012). Wonderfully entertaining story of friendship.  On Goodreads – On Indiebound Synopsis: “One day, a boy and a robot meet in the woods. They play. They have fun. But when Bot gets switched off, Boy thinks he’s sick. The usual remedies—applesauce, reading . . .