DIEGO’S DRAGON: BATTLE AT TENOCHTITLAN for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Diego is now 13 and enters the most gripping adventure of his life. Previously I reviewed DIEGO’S DRAGON Book One (SPIRITS OF THE SUN) and Book Two (DRAGONS OF THE DARK RIFT).

This third in the series is again best for upper MG. Its an exciting tale of different worlds of ancient 51-xW2o4KiL._AC_UL320_SR214,320_Mexico, the far reaches of the universe, and present day southern California. The storytelling is fast paced and expertly told. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the battle between the dragons and ancients take place.

Publishers and the blogging world are always screaming for diversity and here we have it with our Latino hero, Diego, along with his friends and family. One of those friends is an Irish boy who plays a pivotal role in the story. It doesn’t matter what ethnicity you bring, everyone can enjoy the story and culture presented in this series.

The question I always get with a series is… “Can I jump in now without reading the first two books?” I’d say yes, only because of the references to what happened in the previous adventures and revealing again how Diego began his journey by winning a dragon statue. Of course by doing so you’ll miss out on the full telling of this tale, but regardless, join in for the excitement.

With about 20 pages to the end of Book Three, a sense of dread surrounded me. All these plot points were not going to get solved. Sure enough, we are left hanging at the end and will have to wait for the eventual release of Book Four: MAZES MONSTERS AND MYTHICAL HEROES. Dejected, I went to the Diego’s Dragon website and was rewarded with a several chapter teaser of this next book. Now at least I’ll be able to sleep at night.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2013   Pages: 289

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  An Evil Spirit, Haunted Weapons, and a Race to Save Diego’s Ancestors. Spanish conquistadors struggle against Poseidon’s oceans on their way to the Americas. The captain of the armada seeks gold for his queen, conversion for his church, and a release from an unholy alliance with a dark lord. The spirit travels within the confines of the Asesino de mar, the great galleon given to the captain with his commission. During the long months at sea it stokes a seething hatred for Diego and Magnifico, while patiently preparing its revenge. When the attack against the Mexica people begins in the year 1519, a shocking spell reaches through the centuries, affecting every one of their descendants. Diego, Racquel, and the Sol Dragones race back through time, hoping to stop the conquistadors before they begin their conquest. The battle at Tenochtitlan throws Magnifico’s forces against the conquerors of the New World. The weapons of the Spanish fleet, skillfully altered by the Dark Lord, threaten the mighty dragons of the sun in a ferocious struggle to save Diego’s people.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT DIEGO’S DRAGON (BOOK THREE): BATTLE AT TENOCHTITLAN  by Kevin Gerard

  1. There is a lot going on here in different settings and worlds. Most of the time instead of devoting a full chapter to one setting, the author gives us brief scenes from each within a single chapter. This ramps the tension meter to the highest as the action and story telling bounce back and forth. It was especially effective as the dragons battled the ancient forces.
  2. Time travel is used to the extreme here. What would happen if a dark force went to a time 500 years ago and wiped out your ancestors, basically destroying a present day culture? Friends and family would disappear and an effective plot is the result.
  3. Full page illustrations by Benito Gallego occur four or five times inside the book and they are spectacular. Excellent depictions of Diego, his dragon Magnifico, and the ancient explorers.
  4. Friendship is used well both in present day and as the action drifts backward in time. Not only human friends, but the building relationship between Diego and Magnifico has grown immensely since the first book.
  5. Leave them screaming for more is exactly what you want to achieve with a series. It worked here for sure. I can’t wait to see what happens with Satadon, the so called Dark Lord. He’s one nasty dude!

FAVORITE LINES:

Casillas never broke eye contact with Diego. “You said he, son. Tell me who you’re talking about. Who might come back?

“Magnifico.”

“Should we be afraid of Magnifico?” asked Casillas.

Diego never blinked. “You should be afraid of a lot more than that.”

“Are you in trouble, son?”

Diego broke eye contact and looked at the sky. “We’re all in trouble.”

AUTHOR NEWS:

See Kevin’s visit to an elementary school after getting a letter from a fifth grade teacher.

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

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IMAGINARY BOY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

The cover for this debut novel only hints at a story about to unfold. Imaginary Boy CoverThe first few chapters reveal most of what we see here. Benji, an eleven year old boy, waits for his mother to return as he looks out across 1839 London. A crutch is nearby to help the boy walk. His face “crooked and ugly” is a face that most people can’t look at for long. There is also a night sky and a small image of a dragon. They too will be a part of the story.

I followed Benji for three chapters when along comes chapter four and a different story about a famous fifteen-year-old, Lord Thomas. I sensed the two stories would eventually be one and I was right. What I wasn’t prepared for was the physical and emotional abuse Benji goes through after being abandoned. I had to step away and do a little research of my own. What was it like for children in nineteenth century London? How much fact had been woven into Benji’s story? It would seem an awful lot. Source after source told of the abuse many children endured. An example (from one scholarly study – THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHILD ABUSE by Clark, Clark, and Adamec):

In 19th century England and North America children were treated in much the same way as farm animals. They could be placed in servitude, beaten and, if they consistently disobeyed, even killed by their parents.

So I returned to IMAGINARY BOY and I’m glad for the experience. I would reserve this tale for upper middle grade with the truly frightening scenes. No sexual abuse but plenty of beatings and attempts to rip away Benji’s self worth. He is just a boy with an angel like singing voice searching for the hero in his father’s unfinished story. By the last page you’ll discover the true hero and maybe smile like I did.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   PAGE COUNT: 186

FULL PLOT : Eleven-year-old Benji Saintaubin dreams of becoming a hero like the ones in the books he reads while banished in the dark attic of his family home. But those heroes are all strong and handsome, not like Benji who uses a crutch and hides his disfigured face. When his father dies, leaving behind an unfinished story about an imaginary boy who must defeat a cruel and mighty dragon, Benji’s safe and secluded world is turned upside down.

After venturing out of the attic and onto the perilous streets of 19th century London, Benji finds himself separated from his mother in a frightening and unfamiliar world. Nearly trampled to death and sold into slavery, Benji comes to believe his father’s story may be more fact than fiction after his captor reveals a dragon-tail tattoo around his arm and plans that could destroy Benji. If he ever hopes to escape, be reunited with his mother and finish his father’s cryptic story, Benji must trust that a crippled boy can discover the unseen power needed to defeat a brutal and powerful dragon.Join Benji on his treacherous journey in this compelling, edgy and inspiring middle-grade novel by debut author Mark Eldrich.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: IMAGINARY BOY by Mark Eldrich

  1. A compelling story is one where the urge for a reader is to skip to the last page to find out how things turned out. I didn’t do that but I was turning the pages fast to find out if Benji would survive his ordeal.
  2. Short chapters move the story forward at a perfect pace. This is one author to keep an eye out for as future works become available.
  3. I’ve read many books this past year that fail to tidy things up by the last page. I’m referring to plot points that leave a reader hanging. This one is handed to you wrapped and completed.
  4. The cast of characters, both good and bad, are compelling and fully formed. I especially enjoyed Brother Lucas, Mr. Krum, Eve, and Thomas.
  5. The setting was a superb choice for Benji’s story. Enticing and scary at every turn.

FAVORITE LINES:

He scanned the crowd, looking for a blue dress, his brow furrowed in worry. Panic began to build inside him. Maybe Mother had forgotten where he was. He couldn’t breathe. Seconds turned into minutes and still he waited. Maybe … wait … there! Through the crowd he spotted a blue dress and white hat.

“Mother!” he cried. “Mother, I’m here!”

AUTHOR BIO: Mark Eldrich began writing at the age of thirteen with his entry in a local poetry contest called the The Write Stuff, where he was named a finalist. The former youth pastor and current left-handed guitar player resides in the Midwest with his wife and two sons. He works full time at the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service. When he isn’t at the library or playing with his boys, you will find him at home writing stories. His next middle-grade novel, The Shaming Tree, is due out in 2017. To learn more, click here for Mark’s website.

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Just click on the Comments word above. You’ll find it right under the title of this post.

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

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BREAKING THE ICE for Marvelous Middle Grade Thanksgiving

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

HAPPY THANKSGIVING with this bonus review!

I know very little about figure skating… Isn’t a double axle on a semi-tractor trailer and a triple salchow an20662374 exotic Hawaiian drink?

Obviously not after reading this story about the world of competitive figure skating. I actually had a student once who was in this same situation. She was absent frequently and now I know why. If your dream is to skate competitively, it takes long hours of dedicated practice for both the technical and performing piece.

Twelve-year-old Kaitlin narrates her story as she adjusts to a new rink and coach after getting dumped by her previous one for an untimely outburst. She has the technical aspects of skating (jumps, spins etc) down for the most part , but Breaking the Ice also refers to her learning how to become a great performer. It’s about following your dream despite the roadblocks put in your way. Yes, you can reach your goals.

In the background you’ll find Dance Mom types watching and pushing their daughters making you wonder whose dream it is they are pursuing. There’s also caddie competitors and a cute boy that brings peer pressure into the story. The cover won’t attract many preteen boys who aren’t into this sport, but that’s okay, there are plenty of others who will love this charming coming of age story.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 59,514   READING LEVEL: 4.1

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) Figure skating is Kaitlin’s passion, but she lands on thin ice after a meltdown in this funny, touching story. Because when you fall down, you have to pick yourself up—even if it’s in front of judges and a crowd.

Kaitlin has always dreamed of being a champion figure skater, and she’s given up a lot to pursue her passion. But after she has a totally uncharacteristic tantrum at a major competition, she’s dropped by her coach and her prestigious skating club.

When no other club will have her, she’s forced to join the ridiculed and run-down Fallton Club, jokingly referred to as the “Fall Down Club.” At first Kaitlin thinks this is a complete disaster, but after meeting some of the other skaters—including a boy who happens to have the most perfect hair she’s ever seen—she realizes it might not actually be so bad.

Yet learning a whole new program right before regionals is a huge challenge, and when she realizes that all the other area skaters target Fallton for pranks, she begins to wonder if joining the Fall Down Club has any upsides.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: BREAKING THE ICE by Gail Nall

  1. We have a book about a female sport! The shelves are filled with baseball, football, and soccer books with a male protagonist so this book is a pleasant addition.
  2. Its not just about figure skating. Peer pressure, learning from mistakes, fragile friendships, and goal setting make for a super undercurrent.
  3. Kaitlin has two supportive parents who are with her the entire ride. There’s no death, divorce, or dimwitedness (Probably not a word, but I needed one more “D”).
  4. Kaitlin makes a perfect main character. She’s sparkly in more ways than one and her problems will be familiar to many girls her age, even if they don’t skate.
  5. The coaches name is Greg. A perfect name for a coach. Actually the adults in the story from the coaches to the parents are not all one-dimensional. You often see more than one side to their personalities.

FAVORITE LINES: Saying a bunch of stupid words can’t completely tank my figure-skating career, right? But I know there are some things you just don’t say out loud in skating – at least not until you get home. It’s not like normal sports, where everyone screams insults at everyone else, and no one really cares.

AUTHOR QUOTE: (From Gail’s Author Website) I always wanted to write a skating book. I was watching the US Nationals at home, when I saw a skater receive really awful scores for her program. She and her coach put on pretend smiles, but you could see how devastated they both were. I’m sure that skater cried or yelled or something as soon as she was away from people. Then I wondered what would happen if a skater didn’t wait to let out how she really felt. What if she got upset right there in front of everyone? And that’s the premise of Breaking the Ice.

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Just click on the Comments word above. You’ll find it right under the title of this post.

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

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THE DIAMOND LOOKING GLASS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

This intriguing title comes from Dorine White, a fellow MMGM poster and author of numerous diamondcoverbooks. THE DIAMOND LOOKING GLASS is the third in the Cleopatra’s Legacy series, stories that follow magic gemstones once belonging to Cleopatra, the Last Pharaoh of Egypt.

I worried that jumping into this one without reading the first two might be a problem, but it wasn’t as this story stands on its own. There’s an enticing Paris, France setting along with some fun time travel back to Cleopatra’s darkest days. Our heroine is Claire, a spunky twelve-year-old who seeks meaning to her family’s business and a mysterious mirror she has been bestowed as the owner.

The chapters breeze by with plenty of action and the end sets up many more episodes. Seems that Cleopatra wants back all five gemstones, and Claire will have her hands full trying to find them. A great concept and yes, do judge a book by its cover… it makes you want to start reading at once.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   PAGE COUNT: 141

FULL PLOT : (from AMAZON) Beauty and the Beast. The world knows it as a cartoon with dancing teacups and broomsticks. To twelve year old Claire La Fleur, it is family history, and the power behind Belle’s mirror is real. Every ten years her family gathers to see if the mirror will awaken, and for the last two hundred years it has slept.

This time, Claire’s touch awakens the magic within the diamond looking glass, a direct portal to the past and a way to communicate with Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. The lure of power brings with it many perils, and a betrayal close to home thrusts Claire into a treacherous underworld. To protect the mirror, she travels into the Louvre museum in the dark of night, searches abandoned subway tunnels, and walks the catacombs of the dead.

Welcome to Paris, France – where danger follows in every step.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE DIAMOND LOOKING GLASS by Dorine White

  1. I’ve never been to Paris so the setting vividly came to life with its many attractions and customs. I’d love to visit and enjoy some of their two hour lunch breaks!
  2. I suspected one of the characters had a not so good agenda, but I wasn’t sure. It took until the end to reveal if I was right. The sign of a good story teller – keeping you guessing.
  3. The visits surrounding Cleopatra’s life as a pharaoh were a welcome addition. Such a great contrast to the every day life in France.
  4. Claire takes a few too many dangerous chances, but you come to adore this kids who does things on her own to save those she loves.
  5. The secondary characters like Claire’s parents, older brother, best friend, and nemesis all have a purpose in the story and are not just filler. The relationship Claire has with her brother is quite touching.

FAVORITE LINE: Everywhere she turned, she ran into someone. It felt like a carnival. The cacophony of noises and the heady smell of perfumes stuffed up her head like a cotton ball explosion. She’d tried. She really had. But now she had to get outside, even if for just a little while.

AUTHOR QUOTE: My name is Dorine White. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Humanities. I am a member of the SCBWI and the PNWA. I write middle grade and YA fantasy. My first book, The Emerald Ring, was published in May 2013 by Cedar Fort Books. The second book, The Ruby Pendant, came out April 2014. My most recent release is a YA fantasy, The Awakening. This thrilling adventure came out in Dec. 2014 from Skyrocket Press. A newer hat of mine is working as an associate editor for Middle Shelf Magazine.

For more insights see Dorine’s web site.

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

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MOONPENNY ISLAND for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I wasn’t hooked at first… another story about the friendship of two girls. WceGgDUNlCA8RPHOz66AbHHs4RI12Vqg+OoBRGBrKx2plCphEkAr3aizNSRpuGHkIoDZcS4gLRs3LNNbucM2tx5Z0rf81yX+W0g6HD2rKD1Q5iDKyCBWtzAWMsmQ+7PK I sighed and by the end of the first chapter a single string kept tugging. Read more. So I did. The string continued to wrap itself around me until I couldn’t get away… It had me.

Not sure if there’s a tween boy who would pick up and finish this book, but this quiet, sad tale with a fantastic setting is one that tween girls will enjoy immensely. Told in third person, the story keeps close to 11-year-old sixth grader, Flor, the entire way. Regardless of the audience for the story, readers will find many good themes. Those of friendship lost and gained, accepting others no matter what they look like or act, and knowing every young person fits into this world somehow. They just have to discover it. The tale is not just about two girls, but goes deeper with family, community, and life.

The setting of a small island in the middle of a great lake in Ohio wonderfully materializes. You visualize each part of MoonPenny Island thanks to words the author skillfully weaves. It’s a place you’d want to visit. For me I’m glad I kept reading.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 48,655   READING LEVEL: 4.2

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) Moonpenny is a tiny island in a great lake. When the summer people leave and the ferries stop running, just the tried-and-true islanders are left behind. Flor and her best, her perfect friend, Sylvie, are the only eleven-year-olds for miles and miles—and Flor couldn’t be happier. But come the end of summer, unthinkable things begin to happen. Sylvie is suddenly, mysteriously, whisked away to school on the mainland. Flor’s mother leaves to take care of Flor’s sick grandmother and doesn’t come back. Her big sister has a secret, and Flor fears it’s a dangerous one.

Meanwhile, a geologist and his peculiar daughter arrive to excavate prehistoric trilobites, one of the first creatures to develop sight. Soon Flor is helping them. As her own ability to see her life on this little lump of limestone evolves, she faces truths about those she loves—and about herself—she never imagined.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: MOONPENNY ISLAND by Tricia Springstubb

  1. The characters are richly portrayed. My favorite was Jasper, the honest new kid on the island who longs for friendship but doesn’t know how it works. There’s also older sister, Cecilia; tough exterior Perry Pinch; Sylvie; Joe Hawkins; and of course Flor. They all have secrets that make moving forward in life so difficult.
  2. The one classroom for all grades was an accurate depiction of how that would play out. Being the only sixth grader is something most young people will never face.
  3.  The adults all have problems of their own that only can be speculated from a child’s perspective. We don’t learn until the end exactly what those problems are but we have a good idea. It makes the young characters that much stronger in one’s eyes.
  4. Middle grade kids think and ponder a lot. They’ll find the characters in this story doing the same. A connection made.
  5. The inclusion of Charles Darwin and his life as a scientist. Flor learns to see things differently with her visits to Jasper and Dr. Fife, her dad. Many surprising tidbits are tossed as we learn about Darwin’s life and work.

FAVORITE LINES: Lauren is a disappointed person. For one, she dreams of being a famous singer, but her voice is sandpaper, and for another, she’s been in love with Perry Pinch since third grade. Ha! Guess who Perry is in love with? Himself. The one and only.

Author Quote: I’m a writer, so looking is my business. I try to see what’s in front of me, but what’s behind and underneath too. I try to work the hardest trick of all–seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. That’s where I discover the stories most worth telling. (From Tricia’s Website)

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Just click on the Comments word above. You’ll find it right under the title of this post.

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

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THE WORST CLASS TRIP EVER for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Just by the title you know you’re heading into a story filled with bad decisions and unfortunate situations. I’ve actually done this trip, though I wouldn’t call mine “Worst.” On three occasions I  co-sponsored a Washington D.C. trip for students. The planning alone would send most to a different career.

In Dave Barry’s book, 47 8th graders, 2 teachers, and 8 parent chaperones fly off to Washington D.C. on the field trip sfp-book-review-the-worst-class-trip-ever-is-a-funny-wry-pageturner-for-tweens-20150608of a lifetime. Narrated by admitted nerd, Wyatt, the amusing plot will keep you entertained. The events though are quite implausible (not to give too much of the plot away, but a student is kidnapped from his hotel room in the middle of the night and the next day not one of the ten adults notices him missing).

The lead teacher is rather brainless, the food is terrible, and Wyatt keeps the adventure moving  with his teen snarkiness and crazy scenarios. You won’t get too many insights as to what is actually happening inside our nation’s historic buildings since the focus is on this fun story and the teen wanna-be heroes. There is a not-to-scale map in the inside back cover showing the locations so you can at least get an idea concerning the layout of the land.

One thing for sure, kids won’t be bored reading this tale and it would  sure make a great movie. I sense a sequel may be in the works, too.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 40,710   READING LEVEL: 4.8

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) In this hilarious novel, written in the voice of eighth-grader Wyatt Palmer, Dave Barry takes us on a class trip to Washington, DC. Wyatt, his best friend, Matt, and a few kids from Culver Middle School find themselves in a heap of trouble-not just with their teachers, who have long lost patience with them-but from several mysterious men they first meet on their flight to the nation’s capital. In a fast-paced adventure with the monuments as a backdrop, the kids try to stay out of danger and out of the doghouse while trying to save the president from attack-or maybe not.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE WORST CLASS TRIP EVER by Dave Barry

  1. The voice is authentic. Dave must be hanging around 8th graders because he nailed their dialog on every page.
  2. A strong female character. Wyatt puts it best:  Suzana “is basically a Navy SEAL disguised as a hot eighth-grade girl.”
  3. Another great read-aloud. It’s one of those stories that will hit home for the target audience (9-12 years old), but likely not as much for Dave Barry’s older fans of his past columns or books.
  4. Wyatt’s thoughts on the culinary delights he avoids each day are hilarious. He must have eaten at different places than I ever did.
  5. No enormous family problems. Yea! After reading so many books with a downer type feel, it was nice to sit back and enjoy this amusing ride.

FAVORITE LINES: My mom hugged me really hard and told me she loved me very much, and she was going to miss me, and if I did anything stupid in Washington she would kill me.

DAVE BARRY ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM TEENS: What message would you like to send to the teenagers of America? (Answer: Your hats are backward.)
For more visit Dave’s web site

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Just click on the Comments word above. You’ll find it right under the title of this post.

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

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Reading is a Tough Sell for Kids in Today’s World

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I always encourage parents to squeeze out time for their children to read something they enjoy. Reading for pleasure will not only make them better readers, but also propel them into adulthood as lovers of stories.

A new report by Common Sense Media shows what a difficult goal that is in our always-on world. Their scholarly study (MEDIA USE BY TWEENS AND TEENS) surveyed 2600 tweens (8-12 years) and teens (13-18). The full research report can be seen on their web site after sharing your email address.

The small slice I focused on was a comparison in enjoyment of four types of media use: Video games, Social media, Music, and Reading. The latter was defined as time spent reading “for your own enjoyment” and not for homework or a school assignment. The results are eye opening though for many of us not surprising:

Enjoy this activity a lot (tweens)     Enjoy this activity a lot (teens)

Video Games  (M=71%; F=34%)                       (M=62%; F= 20%)

Social Media   (M=7%; F=18%)                         (M=29%; F= 44%)

Music              (M=45%; F=64%)                       (M=66%; F= 80%)

Reading          (M=33%; F=50%)                       (M=19%; F= 41%)

There is a significant drop in the reading category from tweens to teens, whereas the opposite happens with Social Media and Music. The drop in the boy’s reading  from 1 out of 3 enjoying reading a lot to less than 1 out of 5 is especially troublesome.

The answer to why this happens is apparent from these two short videos from Common Sense Media.

Parents, teachers, and writers are up against a force that is not going to go away.

What do you think?

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EPIC ZERO for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

If you have someone in your household or school in the 8-14 age group, you may be familiar with the Nickelodeon comedy called The Thundermans. It’s about a family of action heroes – two parents and five children who each have their own super power. On the big screen you’ll find another super family with The Incredibles and the planned Incredibles 2 movie franchise.

EPIC ZERO has a similar premise but it reaches a much more dramatic level. Twelve-year-old Elliott, older 26088116sister, Grace, and a mom and dad, make up this super powered family. Well almost… Elliott is the only one who doesn’t have a super power. He’s just a zero. The family lives deep in outer space, but their crime fighting and schooling occur right here on Earth with other Freedom Force members.

Elliott narrates the story with charm, several amusing moments, and always questioning his place in this family and beyond. It’s an enjoyable read with many exciting moments and a welcome sequel is in the works.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   PAGE COUNT: 186

FULL PLOT :

Elliott Harkness wants nothing more than to join his family as part of the Freedom Force, the world’s greatest super-hero team. There’s only one problem, he’s a “Zero,” that’s super-speak for powerless. Frequently abandoned by his crime-fighting family, teased by his older super-sister, and picked on at school, Elliott is miserably ordinary in his heroically extraordinary family.

All of that changes when a mysterious new girl comes to town. She believes Elliott is far from ordinary. In fact, she thinks Elliott is the only one capable of capturing a strange and powerful orb that crash-landed on Earth before it falls into the wrong hands. To succeed, Elliott will have to do more than just find the orb. He’ll have to fend off menacing supervillains, face globe-conquering aliens, and figure out who’s truly on his side. But when Elliott realizes he’s the planet’s last hope, will he find the power within himself to be the epic hero he’s always wanted to be? Or, will he always be just an Epic Zero?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: EPIC ZERO by R.L.Ullman

  1. Scattered throughout the book are full page color profiles of the superheroes and villains. Fun to read about their physical and mental characteristics that make them super – whether it be for good or evil.
  2. Young people with an irritating older sibling will sympathize with Elliott and his older sister. It was nice to see change in their relationship as the story progressed.
  3. There’s a family dog who disappears. Not in the run away sense, but Dog-Gone can make himself invisible. He’ll do what you want but only if you bribe him with treats. A fun change of pace from the other superpowers.
  4. If you are a bit overwhelmed by the super powers, a good place to learn more is the addition at the end of the book. There’s a full glossary of all the Meta Power Classifications and Profile Characteristics. A great resource to prepare yourself for what lies ahead.
  5. The messages put forth in EPIC ZERO are perfect as they center on family, loyalty, and never giving up. We each have special talents that sometimes take a little longer to surface.

FAVORITE LINES:

See, I know my life probably sounds glamorous and all, but trust me, it’s not. Living with a bunch of do-gooders comes with some major drawbacks. At the top of the list is the fact that while superheroes are really great at the big things – like thwarting the forces of evil – they really stink at the little things.

Like, for example, remembering their kid’s birthday.

AUTHOR QUOTE:

“While Epic Zero certainly features crime-fighting adventure, at its heart is a story about growing up and searching for your place in the world. The reader reaction to Epic Zero has been so positive that I’ve locked myself in my new Fortress of Solitude (also known as my office) to pen a sequel, entitled Epic Chaos.”

For more insights see R.L.Ullman’s web site.

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Just click on the Comments word above. You’ll find it right under the title of this post.

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

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What Makes A Good Story?

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I first came across this question when I began my first classroom teaching job. The FullSizeRenderteacher I replaced left several copies of  a short manual for kids: What Makes A Good Story? (Unfortunately out of print). Inside are 13 short stories and a discussion of what truly make good stories. It motivates students to write better with the techniques explored.

Fast forward more than a few years and here I am writing my own stories and preparing to be a round 2 CYBILS judge in the middle grade fiction category. Last time I checked there were 108 nominees to be read by round 1 judges. My part doesn’t come in until January after they have whittled the list down to the top 5-7 best.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the question posed above and started to look through my notes. These are my own scribbles going back to my college writing classes, conferences attended, tons of books on how to write, and the numerous blogs providing helpful hints. My notes were scattered far and wide so I started a file to compile the list in one location. So… what does make a good story?

  • Conflict. There are seven kinds as noted in this linked article. You don’t have to use them all, but a story without conflict turns into a real yawner.
  • Characters you love or hate. There’s nothing better than feeling a part of the character’s emotions, decision making, along with their successes, failures and changes. This comes about by writing through the MC’s actions, words, thoughts, and opinions.
  • A theme or themes surfaces. The story should have meaning or make you think in a different way.
  • Using an effective point of view for your story.
  • Setting becomes vivid in a reader’s mind through the use of  the five senses.
  • A story that causes emotions from its readers. That could be tears, laughter, or sometimes both at the same time. Reactions are what hook readers.
  • A satisfying ending whether it be happy or sad.

All of this depends on the words a writer skillfully puts together to create the overall effect.

Now, what makes a great story? For me it’s the book or movie you’ve already read or watched and look forward to repeating the experience. I hope the CYBILS winner for 2015 will be that kind of story.

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THE THIEF OF ALWAYS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Clive Barker. You may have heard his name from the many fantasy/horror books and movies for adults he’s either directed, produced, or written. I’m referring to titles like Hellraiser and Books of Blood. My first reaction when picking up this novel more than ten years ago was: Clive Barker wrote a book for kids? Hide it now before some poor child gets his hands on this nightmarish horror.

Curious to read for myself, I immediately fell in love with this fable about 10-year-old Harvey Swick. It 32638quickly became a classroom favorite read-aloud. Various images have graced the book jacket over the years, but the story inside is the same.

Harvey has the same problem many kids face during the time after the holidays when January slowly turns into February. It’s called boredom. He finds hope when invited to a magical place known as the Holiday House. He discovers a much different world than the one he left behind where two loving parents are wondering why Harvey never returned from school.

At the Holiday House, each season is experienced every day. That means Spring turns into the joys of summer, followed by Halloween (trick or treating every night!), and Christmas 81nRzp3PWrLtumblr_lp301ytA021qd7snko1_400at midnight. Some kids  have loads of gifts lining the wall of their rooms signalling they’ve been there more than just a day. Soon though Harvey discovers that a world lacking of boredom has hidden secrets and now he must find a way to escape and return to a life that might not seem so boring anymore.

The first paragraph introduces in a fine way what lies ahead: The great gray beast of February had eaten Harvey Swick alive. Here he was, buried in the belly of that smothering month, wondering if he would ever find his way out through the cold coils that lay between here and Easter.

Clive Barker never wrote another book for children. I guess why bother when you achieved perfection the first time out.

PUBLICATION DATE: 1992  WORD COUNT: 37,680  LEVEL: 4.8

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)

Mr. Hood’s Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles, a blissful rounds of treats and seasons, where every childhood whim may be satisfied…

There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr. Hood’s wonders, does not stop to consider the consequences. It is only when the House shows it’s darker face — when Harvey discovers the pitiful creatures that dwell in its shadows — that he comes to doubt Mr. Hood’s philanthropy.

The House and its mysterious architect are not about to release their captive without a battle, however. Mr. Hood has ambitious for his new guest, for Harvey’s soul burns brighter than any soul he has encountered in a thousand years…

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE THIEF OF ALWAYS by Clive Barker

  1. The book will appeal not only to 8-12 year old children but also adults who remember those times of boredom. Those times we wish a little more of these days.
  2. This is one of those books that hooks readers from the start and you have to read on for the next surprising plot twist. Short chapters (26 in all) that are great read leading up to Halloween or other times of the year when you hear that familiar cry “I’m bored.”
  3. Some scenes are horrifying but far less than what you might see on early evening television these days. Mr. Barker has written a story that won’t be nightmare inducing but certainly thought provoking.
  4. After reading the first chapter out loud, I’ve had reluctant readers take it home and read the rest in one night. You can only imagine the shocked look on their parents’ faces.
  5. You’ll find lessons in plot structure here with perfectly refined climaxes, tension, suspicion, conflict, and heroism all rolled up into one fine story. No sequel needed here. THE THIEF OF ALWAYS covers all the bases.

FAVORITE SPOOKY LINES:

He tossed a few comics in Harvey’s direction. “Look through these. Find yourself a monster for tonight.”

“What’s happening tonight?”

“Halloween, of course,” Wendell said. “It happens every night.”

AUTHOR INSIGHTS: (from The Official Clive Barker Website)

The Thief of Always was Clive’s first published novel for all ages. He called it a fable and the story is very much a fairy tale, illustrated with Clive’s own pen and ink drawings.

In the years since it was first published, Thief has been used as a set text in schools in the UK and US, has been adapted into a graphic novel and promises to maybe be a film in the future…

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