FELIX Yz for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

I try to keep a pulse on what agents, editors, and book publishers are looking for in new stories. Reading their blogs, web pages, and tweets can often give me insights (See Manuscript Wish List). Specifically in MG, here is what pops up the most:

  • I want diversity in race and LGBTQ
  • Give me a character who is not an everyday girl or boy
  • Show me the struggles of someone with a disability

There are certainly books out there who cover one or two of these, but with the quirky FELIX Yz, all of them are covered. Throw in a bully, a single parent family, and some light science fiction and you have one of the most unusual titles to come along this year or any year.

Felix is 13 and narrates the story. He has a unique problem after a freak accident left him fused with an alien inside him ten years prior. The alien has a name, Zyx, and the first sentence you hear from Zyx on page three makes you think this is going to be one weird ride: do what you want do not do what you do not want.

The story begins 29 days before the procedure doctors and scientists have devised to separate the alien from the boy. Each chapter is a countdown in name and content—29 DAYS TO GO, etc.  until you reach the chapter titled ZEROMOMENT.

The pages in between are about Felix trying to live a normal life in middle school despite his strange movements and ticks, courtesy of the other being nesting inside him. Felix is attracted to another boy in his class, Hector, and that thread carries on to the end. At home are a bisexual mother dating again, a piano prodigy older sister, and a grandparent who hasn’t settled on one gender going with Vern part of the week and Vera the rest.

Felix is scared of what might happen to him on the crucial day, but his dialog is often funny and perceptive. This one may not be for everyone, and for sure it is more of an upper MG title (10-13). It will make you see how life keeps happening no matter what.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 288

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)  When Felix Yz was three years old, a hyperintelligent fourth-dimensional being became fused inside him after one of his father’s science experiments went terribly wrong. The creature is friendly, but Felix—now thirteen—won’t be able to grow to adulthood while they’re still melded together. So a risky Procedure is planned to separate them . . . but it may end up killing them both instead.

This book is Felix’s secret blog, a chronicle of the days leading up to the Procedure. Some days it’s business as usual—time with his close-knit family, run-ins with a bully at school, anxiety about his crush. But life becomes more out of the ordinary with the arrival of an Estonian chess Grandmaster, the revelation of family secrets, and a train-hopping journey. When it all might be over in a few days, what matters most?

Told in an unforgettable voice full of heart and humor, Felix Yz is a groundbreaking story about how we are all separate, but all connected too.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: FELIX Yz by Lisa Bunker

  1. Zyx communicates with Felix by taking control of Felix’s fingers and typing his thoughts. A perfect way for an alien to communicate with this earth boy.
  2. Acceptance is the main issue here…of who you are, who you want to be, and pushing away others who can’t accept ways different from their own.
  3. At first you’ll be trying to understand the alternate pronouns (vo and veir?), but they soon become a natural part of the story. Yes, this will test your reading brain to the max, but you’ll survive.
  4. There is a lot going on here with the other characters, but thankfully its Felix who puts everything into proper perspective.
  5. I’ll call this a contemporary sci-fi. It seems like a fitting new label for a new type of story.

FAVORITE LINES:

The only thing I have to report about today is that it has been less fun than usual for a Friday because tomorrow, all day, is the trip to the Facility to finish the Fitting of the Apparatus. Gah, all these Capital Letters. But, that’s how it feels, so, Whatever. The Facility is the science complex where the accident happened and where the Procedure is going to be performed. It’s a long way from here, back where we used to live. (Of course the fifty-mile rule doesn’t apply to driving there.) And may I just say I am not looking forward to any part of this, at all?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Bunker has written stories all her life. Before setting up shop as a full-time author she had a 30-year career in non-commercial broadcasting, most recently as Program Director of the community radio station in Portland, Maine. Besides Maine she has made homes in New Mexico, southern California, Seattle, and the Florida panhandle. She currently lives in Exeter, New Hampshire with her partner and her cat. She has two grown children. When not writing she reads, plays piano, knits, takes long walks, does yoga, and studies languages. She is not as good at chess as she would like to be, but still plays anyway.(Read more at Lisa’s author web page)

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2shannon

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THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

Earlier this year I won a copy of THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE at Literary Rambles. Be sure to check out the site as it is one of my favorites with frequent giveaways, author/agent interviews, and great advice for writers.

This was not a book on my radar, but I’m glad I had the chance to spend some time with Ethan, even though it was a bit depressing at times… okay, most of the time. It’s all about grieving the lost of someone you love—in this case a best friend.

We don’t start off knowing all the details. Ethan is in such a deep depression his parents have moved the family from Boston to Georgia to get him away from reminders of what happened. There’s an older brother who seems to hate Ethan and Grandpa Ike who they move in with.

Questions abound about whether Ethan caused the accident, the unsettling relationship of the parents with Grandpa, and Coralee who is a new friend with a few stories of her own. The numerous chapters are short, but always make you want to turn the page for more. A well constructed story with a satisfying end.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 368

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)

Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia.

Palm Knot may be tiny, but it’s the home of possibility and second chances. It’s also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn’t the only one with secrets. Coralee’s are catching up with her, and what she’s hiding might be putting both their lives at risk. The Ethan I Was Before is a story of love and loss, wonder and adventure, and ultimately of hope.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE by Ali Standish

  1. Ethan makes lists with titles like WHAT I KNOW ABOUT MYSELF, WAYS I COULD FIX THINGS IF I COULD TIME TRAVEL and WHY CORALEE AND KACEY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. They delve into his thought processes and are entertaining to read.
  2. Strong readers (kids who always have a book in hand) are looking for something different and meaty. This would satisfy their taste. It will be hard sell for reluctant readers or for those looking for a few laughs. Adults will probably enjoy this one more than the intended audience.
  3. The school scenes with the different social groups were spot on. This side of middle school is rarely depicted accurately, but the author got it right here.
  4. The book ends with a redrawing of the front cover. Very poignant.
  5. I’ve read many stories where a storm serves as a subplot. It’s used here but in a way that drenches the characters with a new understanding about family, friendship, and moving forward.

FAVORITE LINES: 

Mom has started saying my name the way she placed the teetering stacks of her best china into boxes back in Boston. Carefully. Slowly. Like she’s afraid of breaking something fragile and precious.

AUTHOR QUOTE

After four years in D.C., it was time for a new adventure, so my husband and I packed up our things, including our rescue dog, Bella, and moved across the Atlantic to Cambridge, England. It was here that I wrote Ethan, in a tiny office in a small English village, while I waited for my work visa to come through. Life’s funny that way. (Read more at Ali’s author website)

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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THIS BOOK STINKS!

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

Something smells bad…but it’s not this new title from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS. Filled with colorful pictures, fascinating facts, and activities, the trash here will inspire all readers to look at garbage in a totally new way and more important—take action to make a difference in what we do with our trash.

Seven chapters explore a variety of issues (And a little teaser I found interesting):

  1. THE BIN AND BEYOND–Discover what eight categories makes up our trash and the ways we get rid of our rubbish. (Nearly two tons of trash in the U.S. ends up in landfills every year!)
  2. TRASHING THE EARTH–How does trash effect the entire planet and beyond? (A glove dropped during the first American spacewalk in 1965 is still orbiting the Earth.)
  3. ALL ABOUT RECYCLING–Ways to eliminate waste and the wild ways people around the world are recycling. (The leader in recycling rates in the U.S. is San Francisco at 80 percent)
  4. FOOD (WASTE) FOR THOUGHT–Learn about food waste and how some people are vowing to prevent it. (The average person throws away a half a pound of food a day.)
  5. DIRTY WORK–Learn from the people who make trash their living. (Garbage collectors are more likely to get injured on the job than police officers.)
  6. THE FUTURE OF GARBAGE–Take a look at seven innovative receptacles that are changing the way we get rid of our waste. (Adidas is working on a new sneaker made out of trash.)
  7. TAKE OUT THE TRASH–The little things all of us can do to make a difference in turning trash into a positive.(Don’t throw out the sour milk; instead use it to make pancakes—recipe included!)

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THE OFFICIAL BLURB: Get up close and personal with the wonderful world of waste. From composting and recycling, to landfills and dumps, to how creative people are finding new ways to reuse rubbish. It’s fun to talk trash when it’s jam-packed with infographics, thematic spreads, wow-worthy photos, sidebars, serious stats, and fabulous facts. Also included are quizzes and activities to inspire kids to take action, be proactive, and rethink the things we throw away.

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Author, Sarah Wassner Flynn, has taken a less than appealing topic and made it into a fascinating journey of discovery. Interviews with various trash experts and quizzes add to the interactive nature. The best part is kids can use the detailed five part plan and begin making a difference in their home and community.

Perfect for science classes and for summer reading. This is one book you won’t want to recycle.

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5 WORLDS: THE SAND WARRIOR for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

A reluctant reader once told me the reason he didn’t like to read books was it took too long to turn the page. What he meant to say was slogging through 250 words without any visual treats equated to torture. Thank goodness we have graphic novels.

The new 5 Worlds series should be a welcome sight for all readers who enjoy a good story along with gorgeous images. Your eyes move across the panels and the pages turn quickly as you learn about the fate of the 5 Worlds.

There are exciting scenes when the sand gets out of control and war erupts.  Each character faces their own realities of who they are and what their purpose is in this universe.

Tuck this one in the back seat for those long car rides this summer. You’ll never hear anyone say “Are we there yet?”

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 256

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): The Five Worlds are on the brink of extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts, three unlikely heroes will discover there’s more to themselves—and more to their worlds—than meets the eye. . . .

• The clumsiest student at the Sand Dancer Academy, Oona Lee is a fighter with a destiny bigger than she could ever imagine.

• A boy from the poorest slums, An Tzu has a surprising gift and a knack for getting out of sticky situations.

• Star athlete Jax Amboy is beloved by an entire galaxy, but what good is that when he has no real friends?

When these three kids are forced to team up on an epic quest, it will take not one, not two, but 5 WORLDS to contain all the magic and adventure!

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: 5 WORLDS: THE SAND WARRIOR by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel (Illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, & Boya Sun)

  1. A girl hero who emerges into a confident fighter. Great choice for this adventure rather than have another male protagonist leading the way like we usually find.
  2. The amount of work that went into the graphics is stunning. Each page comes at you with new images from different perspectives. You can see for yourself at the 5 Worlds website.
  3. The story is destined to become more intriguing in future installments but for me the characters are what will bring readers back.  They are each different with a set of skills sure to come in handy in their continuing adventure.
  4.  The fact that we are dealing with five worlds makes the possibilities and adventure quotient even greater as the series continues.
  5. An Tzu has a mysterious disease and Jax is more than just a boy. I’m anxious to find out more about these two.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Mark Siegel has written and illustrated several award-winning picture books and graphic novels, including the New York Times bestseller Sailor Twain, or the Mermaid in the Hudson. He is also the founder and editorial director of First Second Books.

Alexis Siegel is a writer and translator based in London, England. He has translated a number of bestselling graphic novels, including Joann Sfar’s The Rabbi’s Cat, Penelope Bagleu’s Exquisite Corpse, and Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese into French.

Xanthe Bouma is an illustrator based in Southern California. When not working on picture books, fashion illustration, and comics, Xanthe enjoys soaking up the beachside sun.

Matt Rockefeller is an illustrator and comic book artist from Tucson, Arizona. His work has appeared in a variety of formats, including book covers, picture books, and animation. Matt lives in New York City.

Boya Sun is an illustrator and coauthor of e=the upcoming graphic novel . Originally from China, Boya has traveled from Canada to the United States and now resides in teh charming city of Baltimore.

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Make a comment below if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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RISE of the ISLE of the LOST

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

Out this week is the newest book in the Descendants series, RISE OF THE ISLE OF THE LOST. It follows last year’s RETURN TO THE ISLE OF THE LOST and the book that started it all in 2015, THE ISLE OF THE LOST.

                                           

For those unfamiliar with the series, it’s a story about the offspring of Disney’s wicked cast of villains from various books and movies. The Isle of the Lost is where they keep the whole lot of no good families. The parents may be nasty but are their kids the same way? Along the way four of the youngsters break free and live in idyllic Auradon, making enemies with those left behind.

If all of this makes sense then the third book will be a perfect fit for you. Of course it helps to be well versed in Disney villain lore, but even without, the story rolls along to an exciting climatic confrontation. The characters are in their teens but the intended audience is middle grade. It’s the next step for those having grown up with princesses, sea creatures, and a little bit of Hi-Ho…Hi-Ho.

Here’s the official book jacket blurb:

Ride with the tide!

Deep beneath the waves, King Triton’s powerful trident has passed through the magical barrier that surrounds the Isle of the Lost-keeping villains in and magic out. And when Mal’s longtime rival Uma, daughter of Ursula, gets wind of this, she can’t believe her luck. The tide has dragged in something good for a change, and Uma is determined to get her wicked hands on it. But first, she needs a pirate crew.

A storm is brewing back in Auradon, and when Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay hear that the trident has been washed away, they realize they’ll have to find it before anyone from the Isle does. Luckily, they seem to have a talent for locating missing magical objects.

As Uma readies for the high seas alongside Harry, son of Captain Hook, Gil, son of Gaston, and the toughest rogues on the Isle of the Lost, the reformed villains of Auradon devise their own master plan. And with King Ben away on royal business, they won’t have to play by all the rules. Using bad for good can’t be totally evil, right?

The thrilling, perilous race to the trident pits old friends-and current enemies-against each other with the future of Auradon on the line. Both teams might like to make waves, but only one will come out on top of this one.

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In typical Disney fashion the book is a prequel to the upcoming second Descendant’s movie coming out this July on the Disney channel. Keep the excitement going must be their motto as they’ve certainly succeeded on all fronts. It sure appears a Descendant’s summer is on the horizon.

AUTHOR BIO:

Melissa de la Cruz  is the author of the #1 New York Times best sellers The Isle of the Lost and Return to the Isle of the Lost, as well as many other best-selling novels, including all the books in the Blue Bloods series: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy, Keys to the Repository, Misguided Angel, Bloody Valentine, Lost in Time, and Gates of Paradise. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter. (For more visit Melissa’s author web site)

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LUCKY BROKEN GIRL for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

I’ve read more books about diverse characters and their stories of immigration this year than I had the previous four years combined. And that’s a good thing.

This story is unique in that it is based on an experience the author had as a child. Her family immigrated from Cuba to New York City in the 1960s. Like the protagonist, Ruthie Mizrahi, Ms. Behar was involved in a car accident that left her bedridden at the age of nine.

For Ruthie, a hopscotch loving Jewish Cuban girl, she’s just getting used to a new culture, finally getting out of the dumb class (a special class for her to work on language skills), and making new friends when the accident occurs. It was hard enough leaving Cuba, the only home she knew, but this traumatic experience makes adjusting all the more difficult.

In a body cast, barely able to move Ruthie is faced with a new direction in her life. Friends treat her differently and the constant care she needs is stressful for the entire family, especially her Mami. Heartfelt and eye opening, the book moves like an airport taxiway, sending you to discover new things and the courage it takes to face the future.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 256

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) In this unforgettable multicultural coming-of-age narrative—based on the author’s childhood in the 1960s—a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant girl is adjusting to her new life in New York City when her American dream is suddenly derailed. Ruthie’s plight will intrigue readers, and her powerful story of strength and resilience, full of color, light, and poignancy, will stay with them for a long time.

Ruthie Mizrahi and her family recently emigrated from Castro’s Cuba to New York City. Just when she’s finally beginning to gain confidence in her mastery of English—and enjoying her reign as her neighborhood’s hopscotch queen—a horrific car accident leaves her in a body cast and confined her to her bed for a long recovery. As Ruthie’s world shrinks because of her inability to move, her powers of observation and her heart grow larger and she comes to understand how fragile life is, how vulnerable we all are as human beings, and how friends, neighbors, and the power of the arts can sweeten even the worst of times.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: LUCKY BROKEN GIRL by Ruth Behar

  1. The other characters who support Ruthie in her quest to get better are numerous. My favorites were Ramu, a classmate from India, and Chicho, a nice neighbor man from Mexico. They give Ruthie hope when there doesn’t seem to be any.
  2. Food and music play an important role. The food was a joy to savor. Bring me a puff.  I also never guessed I’d ever see Nancy Sinatra’s old song These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ in a middle grade book. Better yet, these boots become a significant story line.
  3. Yes, it’s sad but there is optimism. My heart sank every time Ruthie went to the doctor and he frowned at the x-ray. It made her last visit all the more glorious.
  4. A few days with the flu or a pesky cold will be a minor inconvenience now that I’ve read Ruthie’s story. Being trapped in a plaster cocoon for almost a year brings challenges only the strongest would be able to endure.
  5. Books become a new friend to Ruthie. Nancy Drew especially. Yes, books can heal.

FAVORITE LINES: 

I am not dumb. I am not dumb. I am not dumb…

The first time I worked up the courage to raise my hand in class was a few weeks after we had arrived from Cuba and I was wearing flip-flops instead of shoes and socks like the other kids. But when our teacher, Mrs. Sarota, called on me to answer the math problem, I didn’t have the words to say the number in English.

AUTHOR QUOTE: 

If there’s a message in the novel that’s very important for children it’s that maybe there’s a change in your life and you’re not the person you were before, but that’s not a bad thing. You have to accept it.

(For more about LUCKY BROKEN GIRL and Ruth’s other stories visit her author web site.)

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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50 STATES: OUR AMERICA

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

Young readers who are studying the United States or want to learn more about this great country can stop right here at this new title from TIME FOR KIDS.

What better way to start  than to have a look at the people who inhabited the land before the 50 states came to be. There are sections on Tribal Nations, European Settlement, and Westward Expansion. After you get grounded in our beginnings it’s off to a visit to each state in alphabetical order.

From Alabama to Wyoming, every state is highlighted in a one page article with an accompanying fact box. I really liked that each article began with a history of the tribal nations inhabiting the area before statehood.

Not left out are Washington D.C., the U.S. Territories and Commonwealths. The colorful guide closes with a look at each region of the U.S. You’ll find me out here in the West, but other areas like the Northeast, South, Midwest, and Pacific States are summarized to show off their unique traits.

Filled with maps and iconic images of America’s people and sights, 50 STATES: OUR AMERICA is a must for any summer road trip.

Enjoy your weekend and start planning that summer trip!

 

 

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THE EPIC FAIL of ARTURO ZAMORA for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

The importance of family is vividly portrayed as Arturo tells the story of life in a Cuban-American community. Seventh grade thirteen year old boys have changing interests and Arturo is having a tough time with his sudden infatuation with Carmen, a Spanish girl and life long friend of the Zamora family. She and her dad are visiting after the death of her own mother and are like a cousin and uncle to Arturo.

Life for the Zamora’s centers around their beloved restaurant, La Cocina de la Isla. Arturo’s grandmother (Abuela) started the business after coming over from Cuba, His mom is the head chef. You are a part of their family whenever you dine in this mouth watering place in the town of Canal Grove, Florida. Big Sunday dinners never sounded so fabulous.

But all is not well as a sleazy developer wants to bulldoze the property for a high rise residential and entertainment center. Arturo and Carmen plot to stop this from happening. They learn about standing up for what you believe in and about each other. The story is both heartwarming and funny, but most of all it shows an MG book can succeed without bullies or divorce. You’ll want to hug this family.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 256

FULL PLOT (From Amazon) For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela’s restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a cute girl who moves into Arturo’s apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn’t notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE EPIC FAIL of ARTURO ZAMORA by Pablo Cartaya

  1. The food. I read this over many evenings and found my stomach pulling me into the kitchen. Many of the recipes are in the back of the book. I’m destined to be 10 pounds heavier by the end of summer.
  2. Arturo’s conversations with Carmen are spot on hilarious. It’s the same thing every 13 year old boy goes through when his only thought after saying something to the girl he likes is “Why did I just say that?”
  3. I had not heard of Cuban poet and journalist, José Martí. He had quite the life back in the 1800s and his poetry is central to this story. I learned more about him here.
  4. Spanish is woven into the story although Arturo does not understand it very well. He was born in America and English is more to his liking. Of course hearing bilingual Carmen speak to his parents and grandparents in Spanish makes him want to relearn what he once knew.
  5. I felt every moment of Arturo’s angst as junior lunchtime dishwasher. My first job was as a dishwasher at a local family chicken restaurant. I lasted a month.

FAVORITE LINES:

“It was nice to see you again, Arturo,” Carmen said. She turned to follow Uncle Frank into their unit.

“You too,” I said. As I walked to my room, I tried to make sense of what had happened tonight. Carmen = Mom’s goddaughter/niece was not computing with Artura + Carmen = sudden frying of intestines when I talked to her.

AUTHOR QUOTE:

When I’m asked what “home” means to me, I think of it as a feeling rather than a specific place. The fictional Miami neighborhood you will read about in these pages is an amalgam of my many spiritual homes. Miami is where I live now, but a part of me carries my summers in Spain where I developed my first crush. Another part carries my years growing up in New York City and later working in Los Angeles. A deeper part of me carries my grandparents’ journey from Cuba—with all the sacrifice that entailed. Home is my culture. Home is my family. Home is something we instinctively want to protect.

(For more about Pablo and his books visit his web site)

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Make a comment below if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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THE EXPLORERS: THE DOOR IN THE ALLEY for Marvelous Middle Grade EXTRA

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

I am pleased to be a part of the two-month long blog tour (That’s right two months!) for THE EXPLORERS: THE DOOR IN THE ALLEY. Next week the tour continues at these fine blogs:

May 15 Librarians Quest

May 16 The Book Wars

May 17 Middle Grade Mafioso

May 18 Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

May 19 Tween You & Me

I previously reviewed author, Adrian Kress, and her collaboration with Frank Bedder in HATTER MADIGAN: GHOST IN THE HATBOX. Adrienne also has numerous YA novels, anthologies, and plays she’s written. I was glad to see her new MG book and can safely declare—Break the longstanding rule and judge this book by its cover. It screams adventure, mystery, fun, and the beginning of a brand new series.

Upon closer inspection the cover features Sebastian, a bright boy who likes order and is thrown into a mystery. Catherine, one of the five adult explorers who is now wrapped up in a python. The Melted Man with a gruesome face, searching for a key and willing to kill for it. Hanging from a rope is Evie Drake, a parentless child searching for her explorer grandfather (This may also be a warning to readers that you will be left hanging at the end with one of those cliffhangers. I’ll have to endure for who knows how long with the question from young readers: When does the next one come out?)

The narration is quirky and full of humorous sidelights and plays on words. It’s like the dinner party guest who brings with her a pig wearing a teeny hat. You ask “What’s up with the pig?” and for the next several hours she fills you in, waving her arms around in the process. You don’t dare interrupt as the story has you laughing and begging to find out what happens next.

Yeah, what does happen next? I’ll be waiting.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 320

FULL PLOT: Featuring a mysterious society, a secretive past, and a pig in a teeny hat, The Explorers: The Door in the Alley is the first book in a new series for fans of The Name of This Book Is a Secret and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Knock once if you can find it—but only members are allowed inside. 

This is one of those stories that start with a pig in a teeny hat. It’s not the one you’re thinking about. (This story is way better than that one.)

This pig-in-a-teeny-hat story starts when a very uninquisitive boy stumbles upon a very mysterious society. After that, there is danger and adventure; there are missing persons, hired thugs, a hidden box, a lost map, and famous explorers; and also a girl on a rescue mission.

The Explorers: The Door in the Alley is the first book in a series that is sure to hit young readers right in the funny bone.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE EXPLORERS: THE DOOR IN THE ALLEY by Adrienne Kress

  1. Each chapter title begins with “In which…” and some stretch several lines long. They all serve as a great lead-in to the action ahead.
  2. Surprising plot directions and dialog occur frequently. A great example is the punishment Sebastian receives for his misdeed: Act innappropriate.
  3. It was refreshing to have a character like Sebastian who breaks the mold by thinking logically about everything. This means he struggles with the choices he must make. Miss school for a day? How will he ever catch up?
  4. The mystery of the explorers, The Filipendulous Five, who disbanded and disappeared is a nice dangling carrot that will carry the story for many more books.
  5. Although we don’t see enough of the many strange rooms in The Explorers Society house, the ones we do get a peek at makes me hope they’ll be more time spent here in the next book.

FAVORITE LINES: 

Sebastian took a sip and found he rather did like tea with milk and sugar.

“Good?”

He nodded and she smiled. He took a bite of his cookie and then another sip of tea.

“Okay. Just so you understand what’s going to happen,” began the woman, “I’m going to call the police and have them come arrest you.”

AUTHOR QUOTE

Most rewarding?  Well when people like the book, that’s pretty sweet!  But I really really love making someone laugh.  And when someone says that the book is funny, or when I show someone a piece of writing and they just start laughing, I swear there is really nothing quite like that feeling.

There’s also the bigger thing, the being an inspiration thing, which is almost too big a thing for me to really appreciate.  I do get emails from kids, and even some adults, who tell me that my writing has inspired them in some way or another.  That just overwhelms me.  I’m deeply honoured that I can be that to people, and deeply humbled.

(For More visit Adrienne’s Author Website.)

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

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CALL ME SUNFLOWER for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

It’s been two years since Miriam Spitzer Franklin’s debut novel, EXTRAORDINARY, was released. This month her much anticipated second novel hits the shelves, CALL ME SUNFLOWER. To celebrate this occasion I have a giveaway: One lucky person will win a copy of CALL ME SUNFLOWER. Just leave a comment by 10 pm EST on May 11. Good luck and now on to my review…

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Sunny is one confused middle grade kid. She has always known about being adopted at birth by her parents. What she doesn’t know will soon be discovered in a picture, sending Sunny into the typical tween behavior of act first-think about the real consequences later. The decisions she makes hurts family, friends and herself. It’s the conflict that keep us reading.

The first person narration takes you through the anxiety of being the new kid in school and having the parents she loves separated by several states and one huge secret. Life does not always come wrapped in a neat package and Sunny shows it at every turn in this heartfelt and issue driven plot.

Perfect as a read aloud with many chances for discussion, the book will have you thinking about family and how sometimes we make the growing up years for kids even more difficult.

Spend some time with Sunflower and her family. You’ll be enriched.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 256

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) Sunny Beringer hates her first name—her real first name—Sunflower. And she hates that her mom has suddenly left behind her dad, Scott, and uprooted their family miles away from New Jersey to North Carolina just so she can pursue some fancy degree. Sunny has to live with a grandmother she barely knows, and she’s had to leave her beloved cat and all her friends behind. And no one else seems to think anything is wrong.

So she creates “Sunny Beringer’s Totally Awesome Plan for Romance”—a list of sure-fire ways to make her mom and Scott fall madly in love again, including:

Send Mom flowers from a “Secret Admirer” to make Scott jealous and make him regret letting them move so far away.
Make a playlist of Scott’s favorite love songs—the mushier the better—and make sure it’s always playing in the car.
Ask them about the good old days when they first fell in love.
But while working on a photo album guaranteed to make Mom change her mind and rush them right back home, Sunny discovers a photo—one that changes everything.

Sunny’s family, the people she thought she could trust most in the world, have been keeping an enormous secret from her. And she’ll have to reconcile her family’s past and present, or she’ll lose everything about their future.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CALL ME SUNFLOWER by Miriam Spitzer Franklin

  1. I smiled upon seeing the initials ‘OM’ woven into the story. It stands for Odyssey of the Mind and is a creative problem solving competition offered in many school districts. I’ve been a coach and for many kids it becomes their one way to shine.
  2. The upheaval of leaving old friends and trying to make new ones is expertly crafted here. There are emails to keep the connection with past friends and often uncomfortable conversations with the new faces in Sunny’s life.
  3. The selling of animal fur coats is a subplot that looms larger by the end. It’s a hot topic kids and adults will take a strong opinion toward.
  4. Autumn is the younger sister who tends to act like the typical little girl. That is until her strong voice shines through at the end.
  5. North Carolina makes a great setting for this story.

FAVORITE LINES:  “It’s going to be okay,” Scott had said after he explained why I couldn’t stay with him at his condo: he was too busy running his store and going back to school to take care of an eleven-year-old and, besides, Mom would never leave me behind.

I wanted to shake him by the shoulders and yell, “How can you just let us go?” Instead, I noticed the way his face look older, like he hadn’t slept well in weeks. I stared into Scott’s blue-green eyes, swallowing over the apple-sized lump in my throat. “I’m going to miss you so much,” I whispered.

AUTHOR QUOTE (from Miriam Spitzer Franklin’s website): 

Here’s one important lesson I’ve learned: If you quit when you feel discouraged, you’ll never find out what you could have done if you’d stuck with it instead.

Or, even better: The ONLY way to fail is to quit!

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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