No Matter the Distance is Cindy Baldwin’s latest middle grade offering and the first ever OwnVoices cystic fibrosis story. It centers young Penny, a middle schooler with cystic fibrosis. Penny has to take digestive enzymes and do her breathing treatments to help her lungs get rid of mucus that affects her breathing. While her CF case is relatively mild-moderate, she still struggles with being chronically ill. One day a dolphin shows up in the lake near their house and Penny feels a strong connection with the animal. It turns out the dolphin (who Penny names Rose) is also sick and needs to return to her pod to get better. Penny may be the only one who can help the scientists take Rose back. But can she do that, when she feels so drawn to the animal?
Picture Books About Cats
I don’t know about you, but I’m a total cat lady. I love cats, and I just think they’re full of personality! If you or your kids love a good cuddle with cats, you’ll enjoy these picture books about cats. Follow smart, silly, mischievous cats as they have a blast with their humans or alone and meet other kids who can’t get enough of cats.
What Is Kindle Unlimited? All Your Questions Answered
If you love to read (or have kids who enjoy reading), you’ve likely encountered the Kindle Unlimited subscription and wondered, “Is Kindle Unlimited worth it?” Been there, done that.
I’ve subscribed to Kindle Unlimited at least twice for a combined period of at least six months. I’ve also used a Kindle for over 10 years, so I’m very familiar with the device and Amazon’s offerings in general.
I’ll walk you through what Kindle Unlimited is, why it’s worth considering (and why it may not be the best option for you), and answer all your questions about the service.
Review | Mirror to Mirror
Mirror to Mirror is the story of twins Maya and Chaya who, although opposites are inseparable. Where Maya is quiet and reserved, Chaya is outgoing. Both girls also share a few similar interests, top of which is their love for music. They even share friends, although they each have a different best friend. Suddenly, Maya starts to pull away from Chaya and the two begin to fight more. Concluding that her sister needs space from her, Chaya starts trying to distinguish herself — getting a pink streak in her hair and dropping music and trying a new art form. But the girls keep butting heads. When matters come to a head, their parents send them off to camp together with the aim of resolving their conflict. There, the girls decide to pretend to be each other (walk in each others shoes) and and whoever can keep the ruse going longer will get to decide where they both attend high school — the main thing they keep arguing about. But will this pact work? Or is there more to their fights than meets the eye?
YA Books About Disability
YA books about disability are happily becoming more popular. I especially love that we’re seeing more disabled writers as the authors of these stories. It’s refreshing to read their portrayals because they’re often nuanced and portray disabled teens are full people, not entirely defined by their disability — while highlighting the unique challenges these teens face. If you’ve been on the hunt for modern, contemporary, realistic YA books about disability, the books on this list are perfect for you!
Books Like Refugee
Recommending readalikes can be a tricky process, but I enjoy the process of finding similar threads running through even books that appear different on the surface. Today’s pick is Alan Gratz’s Refugee, a heartrending middle grade book about three kids (living in different time periods) escaping violence and unrest and becoming refugees in the process. Alan Gratz writes moving adventure/survival stories for kids and it’s tough to find an author exactly like him, but I’ve chosen other stories with similar themes. You’ll meet kids who have to leave their homes because of unrest, insecurity, and war and travel with them as they make home in new places. If your kids are looking for books like Refugee by Alan Gratz, you can confidently hand them these books.