Tag Archives: Middle Grade

Book of the Month

Book of the Month Poll – September 2017

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there people of the page! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week, but as it’s another month what we have here is another poll! Woo! Let me just personally say that I am super excited by this month’s selection of books. There are about 5 books here that I am most definitely going to read. I hope you’re as excited for these upcoming ten titles as I am. Let me know by voting right here which novel should this Septembers book of the month title. Remember, the winner gets a featured book review right here on Cyn’s Workshop. You can vote by clicking this link here or by clicking the picture below. Happy voting!
 Continue reading Book of the Month Poll – September 2017 →

Book Reviews

Magical and Brilliant | Review of ‘Akata Witch’ (Akata Witch #1)

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Speak
Image Credit: Goodreads

“Sunny Nwazue lives in Nigeria, but she was born in New York City. Her features are West African, but she’s albino. She’s a terrific athlete, but can’t go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits in. And then she discovers something amazing—she is a “free agent” with latent magical power. And she has a lot of catching up to do.

Soon she’s part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But just as she’s finding her footing, Sunny and her friends are asked by the magical authorities to help track down a career criminal who knows magic, too. Will their training be enough to help them against a threat whose powers greatly outnumber theirs?” —Goodreads

Published July 11, 2017, by Speak Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is the first in her YA fantasy series where magic and culture collide. Originally published back in 2011, the novel is being republished to mark the announcement of a long-awaited sequel.
 Continue reading Magical and Brilliant | Review of ‘Akata Witch’ (Akata Witch #1) →

Reading List

Weekly Reading List #93

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers! I’ve been staying true to my goal. Well, waking up early has been a challenge, always so hard to wake up in the morning. But I have been working out! My lower abdomen and thighs still feel sore from my workout Monday night. Progress. And I have been making time to do more reading at least. Three books that are about to expire. Gotta get to those soon.

Anyway, check out some of the titles I will be reading this week. Happy reading!
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #93 →

Book of the Month

Book of the Month Poll – July 2017

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Another month’s means another poll for you to cast your votes and choose the book of the month for July. So check out these titles below and vote for your favorite upcoming title, author or book cover. Oh, and don’t forget to check out this month’s winner. Remember, the winner will get a featured book review. Vote here on Qzzr or by clicking the link below.
 Continue reading Book of the Month Poll – July 2017 →

Book of the Month, Book Reviews

19-Years-Later & Still Magical | Review of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ (Harry Potter #8)

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany
Arthur A. Levine Books

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

With Voldemort dead and gone, Harry Potter’s life hasn’t gotten any easier. As an overworked employee of the Ministry and a father of three, his life is as hard as ever. But not only for him. The past is creeping on the Potter’s, especially on his son Albus, and on their journeys, they must each come face to face with the darkness around them.

Published on July 31, 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a work compiled by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. It is a special version of the story written by J.K. Rowling and adapted for the stage continues the story in a beautiful way that shows the challenges of parenthood and living up to your parents.
 Continue reading 19-Years-Later & Still Magical | Review of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ (Harry Potter #8) →

Book Reviews

A Fairy Tale Twist | Review of ‘The Unfairest of Them All’ (Ever After High #2)

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Image Credit: Goodreads

In the aftermath of The Storybook of Legends, the school is in upheaval. It is Royals against Rebels, those who don’t want to follow their preordained destinies and those who want to live Happily Ever After in their safe, predictable lives. For Raven Queen, she just wants to live her life, not be the leader of the Rebels, and for Apple White, who wants everything to go back to normal; she can’t seem to figure out how to be a leader at all. And when all the madness puts Madeline Hatter in jeopardy, the two must find a way to bring everyone together to save their best friend.

Published on March 25, 2014, by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale is the second novel in her fantasy and fairy tales series for young readers.
 Continue reading A Fairy Tale Twist | Review of ‘The Unfairest of Them All’ (Ever After High #2) →

Book of the Month

Book of the Month – July 2016

Leave a comment

The votes are in and (surprise, surprise) the winner of the July Book of the Month Poll is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! Woo! Now this was my vote because I’m a Harry Potter super fan (proud Slytherin and Thunderbird) and for many of you this was your choice. Now if you didn’t vote for your book or promote it enough, let me know if you still want me to review a particular novel and I’ll add it on my to-read shelf. As for everyone else who voted for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
I will try to have the review up as soon as possible.
 Continue reading Book of the Month – July 2016 →

Entertainment & News

Book of the Month Poll – July 2016

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there avid readers and book lovers, another month means another book of the month poll where you get to vote on what novel you believe should be the book of the month for July. If you want your favorite to win, remember to share and encourage others to vote. You can leave your vote in the comments section with just the title of the vote, likes on the comment will not count, but replies mentioning which novel you would like to win do. You can also head on over to Pollcaster by clicking the link here or on the picture below. Here are the selections for this month:
 Continue reading Book of the Month Poll – July 2016 →

Entertainment & News

Weekly Reading List #46

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there readers! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I am. Been working a lot and reading a lot and really just enjoying everything that is going on in life. Nothing crazy has happened as of yet, but the summer is young, who knows what can happen. Anyway, here is my weekly reading list, something to help you readers figure out what to read next. Happy reading.
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #46 →

Entertainment & News

Weekly Reading List #45

Leave a comment

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there readers, I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen one of these. Work had me on in the mornings leaving me exhausted at night. Let me tell you, I was too exhausted to write, or blog, or do anything really, and when it came to reading, my eyes would just close up at night and I would pass out. It also didn’t help that I got sick last weekend. I swear I had no idea I was sick and then Monday night and all of Tuesday I had a not so fun fever. It was unfortunate. But I’m getting back into the swing of things.
 Continue reading Weekly Reading List #45 →