CONFESSIONS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I have my own confession to make. When I was a young boy growing up in a house full of girls, I had an imaginary friend. His name was The Invisible Man. Not the most creative name, but he served his purpose, giving me comfort in those early years. Of course as I grew older he left my world to remain only in name.

Now comes along a special book, CONFESSIONS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND: A Memoir by Jacques Papier. The concept is so brilliant,514noAQ7Z8L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_ so creative, and so full of  insights about growing up, that I’m sure it will become a classic. Seems that the fine folks at 20th Century Fox Animation think so, too. They’ve already acquired the rights to the story even before the book is published.

The standard way to do a story of this type would be to write it from the perspective of the child who has the imaginary friend. Thank goodness the gifted author, Michelle Cuevas, chose to write this from Jacques’s first person narrative, because he is the imaginary friend.

You will laugh out loud in several places and possibly have a tear or two as real-life emotional issues are explored. This would make an excellent introduction to new readers of middle grade, but in reality young and old alike will be touched by its charm.

If you leave a comment (even an I want to win! will do), I’ll enter you in a drawing for a brand new hardback edition of CONFESSIONS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND courtesy of Penguin/Random House Publishers.  Hurry up though as I will draw the name next Sunday evening (Sept. 13 – 6pm EDT). If you win it will be one of those books that won’t stay on your bookshelf for long.

PUBLICATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2015   PAGE COUNT: 176

FULL PLOT (From Penguin-Random House):

Jacques Papier has the sneaking suspicion that everyone except his sister Fleur hates him. Teachers ignore him when his hand is raised in class, he is never chosen for sports teams, and his parents often need to be reminded to set a place for him at the dinner table. But he is shocked when he finally learns the truth: He is Fleur’s imaginary friend! When he convinces Fleur to set him free, he begins a surprising, touching, and always funny quest to find himself—to figure out who Jacques Papier truly is, and where he belongs.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CONFESSIONS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND… by Michelle Cuevas

  1. Reluctant readers rejoice. The chapters are short (the first one is only 111 words). and the spacing of the lines perfect for eyes that shudder at too many words on one page. There are also small kid-like pencil sketches every so often to break up the text.
  2. The humor is surprising and sophisticated. It caught me of guard while reading the story as I waited to get a haircut. I couldn’t stop myself from giggling. I wish there was a picture of the looks I was getting from others wondering what could be bringing so much joy to my corner of the waiting area.
  3. Imaginaries Anonymous and The Office of Reassignment were both marvelous parallels to the real world. Show don’t Tell has a place for authors to study by visiting these pages.
  4. The story is a bundled up nicely for a successful conclusion. Not exactly what you expect, but so powerful in its effect.
  5. All of the characters Jacques meets along the way will be ones you may of crossed paths in your own life. They are each there to make a point about belonging and learning about oneself.

FAVORITE LINES:(And there are so many to choose from!)

“See,” I said, crouching back down to join Bernard. “I told you she’d be fine. She’s just sitting there with an ice pack over her eye. If it were anything serious, there would be an ambulance or a priest or something.”

A ONE QUESTION INTERVIEW WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER, JACQUES PAPIER

What inspired you to tell your story?

I guess I just wanted there to be a story out there for everyone who ever felt like I did; everyone who has felt unseen and invisible at some point in their lives. Some people probably feel like that right now. And I wanted them to know they’re not alone.

Also, I’d like to meet Oprah.

WHO IS AUTHOR, Michelle Cuevas?

Michelle Cuevas graduated from William’s College an holds a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Virginia. She is the author of The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant and Beyond the Laughing Sky. She lives in Massachusetts.   Michelle Cuevas’s web site.

CONFESSIONS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND is available at Amazon.

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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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FORT for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Congratulations to my two anniversary winners from last week’s giveaway:

SIX FEMALE PROTAGONIST BOOKS and a $15 Starbuck’s gift card: Rosi Hollinbeck (Check out her blog at THE WRITE STUFF)

SIX MALE PROTAGONIST BOOKS and a $15 Starbuck’s gift card: Patricia Tilton (Check out her blog at CHILDREN’S BOOKS HEAL)

Thanks to all that entered. I have more giveaways with some exciting new releases coming in September!

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It’s time to focus ahead to the coming months of fall and cooler weather. In most places school is back in session, but this tale of two boys might be what you need to relive those warm summer days that disappear all too quick…

The tale is told in first person by, Wyatt, a city boy who is visiting with his dad during the summer in upstate 22718759New York. Wyatt is very well adjusted to the two parent routine as  divorce is mentioned but never becomes a theme to the the story. Nice to see divorce depicted in this way where it isn’t overly devastating to a family.  Wyatt’s friend during his summer visit is a country boy named Augie, who has a few outdoor skills that come in handy. (I may never look at a squirrel the same way.) Together the two friends build a fort in the wilderness, or so it seems that way since they aren’t too far from civilization.

It’s shaping up to be the best end of the summer before intruders start to poke around their fort: two older bullies who ruin their plans and another developmentally disabled boy they’re not quite sure of. What ensues is a fresh approach in dealing with their problem and one that will appeal to young readers. It got me reminiscing on a favorite summer with my best friend as this gentle ride tugged at memories in my past.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   PAGE COUNT: 200

FULL PLOT : (From AMAZON)

In this boys-will-be-boys summer story about friendship and revenge, eleven-year-old Wyatt and his friend Augie aren’t looking for a fight. They’re having the best summer of their lives hanging out in the fort they built in the woods, fishing and hunting, cooking over a campfire, and sleeping out. But when two older boys mess with the fort–and with another kid who can’t fight back–the friends are forced to launch Operation Doom, with unexpected results for all concerned, in this novel about two funny and very real young heroes.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: FORT by Cynthia DeFelice

  1. The ingenious way the boys get back at the bullies. It’s not mean spirited or hurtful (not too much anyway) and provides a few giggles to readers.
  2. City boys and girls will long for a summer like this with slingshots, pocket knives, hunting for food, and creepy sounds in the wilderness.
  3. Several adults pop in and out of the story to provide support, but they let this be the kids’ story. Just like it should be in any MG novel.
  4. This believable tale is a welcome break from high tech action stories. It’s a quick read and would be perfect as a read-aloud.
  5. There’s a hint at the end that we may see another adventure with these two friends the next summer. I’d welcome a continuation of this as a series.

FAVORITE LINES:

Augie had never said it to her because I think he was afraid it would break her heart, but he had told me. “The only way I’m ever going to college is if I grow three and a half feet and magically learn to play basketball, or if they start giving out brain transplants.”

AUTHOR QUOTE:

“I try to write books that I would have loved to read when I was a child. It is very gratifying to hear from children that something I wrote touched them, making them laugh or cry, or think and feel something new.”

For more insights see Cynthia DeFelice’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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AN MMGM 2nd Anniversary Celebration

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

A few notes before the celebration begins… 1) The winner of Carter Roy’s two book BLOOD GUARD series is  CINDY TRAN. You can check her review blog out at Cindy Reads A Lot.  Congratulations! I’ll get those out to you this week.

2) Take a look at  Author Kevin Gerard’s Kick Starter campaign for his fourth Diego Dragon’s book. Good luck with this, Kevin!

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With that complete, the time has come to celebrate my two years in Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday! Yes, for 24 months I’ve been posting reviews, but it’s also my 3 year blogging anniversary! Thanks to all of you who stop by either once in a while or every week. I couldn’t keep this up without you.

Let’s kick off this celebration with a double giveaway. I have a stack of books  for two separate lucky winners. One stack has six books with female protagonists and the other has six books with with male protagonists. All are like new, only once read. But that’s not all… each stack comes with its very own $15 Starbucks gift card! You’ll be the envy of everyone with your stash of books in one hand and favorite drink in the other.

FEMALE PROTAGONIST STACK (Three hardbacks and three paperbacks)

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MALE PROTAGONIST STACK (Four hardbacks and two paperbacks)

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So how do you enter??? It’s easy. Just state your favorite book(s) read since last summer (MG or otherwise). For each book you list, up to a maximum of five books, you will get an entry for each one. wheel

My faithful visitors are also getting bonus entries. For every 10 comments you’ve made on this blog from last August through this past Friday, I’ll throw in another entry.

On Sunday, August 30th at 5 PM EDT, I’ll throw all the names into this shiny wheel. The first name chosen will get their choice of stacks. The second name chosen will receive the remaining one.

Good Luck and thank you to Shannon for hosting and putting together the MMGM links each week!

 

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THE GLASS GAUNTLET for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Trust no one… That theme continues to ring true in the second installment of the Blood Guard Trilogy.

Due to release this week, THE GLASS GAUNTLET, is a plot twisting story of 13-year-old Ronan. He’s now in training to become a 51sUO9Zx62L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_member of the The Blood Guard, aka, the good guys. His main duty is to protect his friend, Greta, from The Bend Sinister, an evil society of individuals wanting to bring an end to this world as we know it.

Yes, the second book in a planned series of three is a tough one to write. Up front you know that not every problem can be solved. Something has to be left for the final book. There will also be new readers who somehow skipped the first book and jumped into this one. How do you bring them up to speed but keep the plot moving forward? Finally, how does one end a story that is to be continued?

Thankfully, in the hands of author, Carter Roy, all is well with each of those concerns. He weaves in information from the first story so you won’t be totally lost and a few new interesting characters are introduced along the way. We also get a deeper understanding of Jack Dawson, a teen who is actually 198 or so in age. Not too much more is revealed about Ronan, Greta, and younger Tommy’s character, but you get the feeling the final book will find them them growing even closer.

The mark of a great fantasy adventure is it keeps you guessing as to what happens next. THE GLASS GAUNTLET has all of that and more. Equally good news is a chance for you to win both books. Details are below!

PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 18, 2015   PAGE COUNT: 261  

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):

Ronan Truelove barely survived his first encounter with his father and the Bend Sinister. Now, he’s determined to become one of the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect thirty-six pure souls crucial to the world’s survival.

Eager to prove he’s got what it takes, Ronan is sent on his first mission with his friends Greta and Sammy to visit a weird-sounding school and take a series of tests called the Glass Gauntlet. Paper and pencils and nerdy scholarship—where’s the life-or-death challenge in that?

But the Glass Gauntlet is actually something much more dangerous: head-to-head competitions against ruthless opponents. Nothing and no one are what they seem. Who can he trust, and who will kill him? Ronan has to figure it out fast because his enemies are multiplying, and soon he will have to pass the ultimate test: facing his father again and standing up to those who threaten not only him and his friends but also the world.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE GLASS GAUNTLET by Carter Roy

  1. The Glass Gauntlet, the Verity Glass, and the Damascene ‘Scope are a few of the unusual and cool objects you will learn about. Their “soulful” purpose guide the story.
  2. Jack Dawkins not only comes back to life each time he goes through another untimely death, but he does so with wit and charm. He makes a great older leader for our group of young ones in training.
  3. Just going through the chapter titles will provide you with a few chuckles. My favorites: STICKING OUT LIKE A GLASS THUMB; YOU CAN DUNK A KID IN WATER, BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE HIM SINK; YOU DON’T KNOW JACK;  and A FISTFUL OF SOUL.
  4. The action spills off the pages at the perfect moments. There’s tension, some gruesome but not too gruesome parts, and more than a few scenes had me in awe, scratching my head, and saying “How did he come up with that one?”
  5. The world building is marvelous. From the training headquarters to the site of the competition, it all lends itself to words painting a visual for readers.

FAVORITE LINES:

“We’ve never officially trained any Blood Guard candidates before. You three are the first.” Dawkins’ face broke out into the enormous smile he uses when he’s trying to be charming. “But trust me: You are going to love this place!”

WHO IS CARTER ROY?

Carter Roy has painted houses and worked on construction sites; waited tables and driven delivery trucks; been a stage hand for rock bands and a videographer on a cruise ship; worked as a line cook in a kitchen, a projectionist in a movie theater, and a rhetoric teacher at a university. He has been a reference librarian and a book seller, edited hundreds of books for major publications, and written award-winning short stories for adult readers that have appeared in a half-dozen journals and anthologies. The Blood Guard was his first book, and The Glass Gauntlet is his second. He lives in New York City.    Carter Roy’s web site.

CONTEST TIME! How you can win both books in the Blood Guard Series?

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Last week I reviewed Book One, THE BLOOD GUARD. If you commented (or still want to) I’ve already entered you into this weeks drawing for a The Blood Guard Series two pack. You can double your chances by also commenting on this review. Just complete your comments to one or both reviews by Sunday, August, 23rd, 5 p.m. EDT. I’ll then draw the lucky name who will win a brand new hardback of THE GLASS GAUNTLET, and a once read hardback of THE BLOOD GUARD. The winner will be notified via email next Sunday and reported here on Monday. Good luck!

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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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LUCKY STRIKE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday EXTRA

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I added this title to my list earlier this year for a reason only I might have –  the theme of luck or lack of it was something I covered in one of my own stories I’ve been editing for what seems like forever. My worry was that the story I had written would be too much like this one. Thankfully that wasn’t the case as LUCKY STRIKE goes down an entirely different road. It’s a journey I thoroughly enjoyed.LUCKY-STRIKE-front-cover-200x300

Written in third person, the action centers around a boy (Nate Harlow) who has the worst luck of any kid. It’s also about his best friendship with, Gen, a gifted thinker and outlier in the social world of school. Nate isn’t much better in that pursuit but when he survives an unfortunate lightning strike his future changes. He instantly becomes the luckiest boy in his small seaside Florida town.

This would make a great read aloud as the discussion that would follow would be rich with debate. Probability or dumb luck? How do  families deal with change? Does one really have good or bad luck?

After reading this touching story, you’ll feel great for having done so.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 45,813  LEVEL: 5.2

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Nate Harlow has never had a lucky day in his life. He’s never won a prize, he’s never been picked first, he’s never even won a coin toss. His best friend, Genesis Beam (aka Gen), believes in science and logic, and she doesn’t think for one second that there’s such a thing as luck, good or bad. But only an extremely unlucky person could be struck by lightning on his birthday… and that person is Nate Harlow. By some miracle, though, Nate survives, and the strike seems to have changed his luck. Suddenly, Nate’s grandpa is the busiest fisherman in their small, beachside town. And Nate finds himself the center of attention, the most popular kid at school, the one who hits a game-winning home run! This lucky streak can’t last forever, though, and as a hurricane draws close to the shores of Paradise Beach, Nate and Gen may need more than just good luck to save their friendship and their town: They need a miracle.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: LUCKY STRIKE by Bobbie Pyron

  1. The sub-plot of loggerhead turtles migrating to shore to lay their eggs, and the protective nature of Nate and Gen was a welcome addition to the story. Being quite a ways inland, I’d never learned about the habits of this species.
  2. Nate initially reacts to his change with skepticism, but soon he embraces the good luck and uses it to his advantage. Of course in the process he leaves behind his best friend. Nate is a special kid and his true side is something we hope comes out in all children.
  3. Intermixed between the magic of Nate’s good fortune is a realistic portrayal of life in a sea town. Many memorable characters lift off the pages.
  4. The message about the importance of friendship rings true throughout the story. Young readers will embrace this theme.
  5. The writing of the climatic scene was excellent as the viewpoint switches back and forth to Nate and Gen. Great learning for any writer trying to increase the stakes in their own ending scenes.

FAVORITE LINES: He heard the wail of a siren in the distance. He saw his grandpa run across the road. He felt Grandpa’s heart hammering in his chest. Nate wanted so badly to tell him it was all okay.

For more information visit Bobbie Pyron’s Website

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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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THE BLOOD GUARD for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

This debut came out last year, but I only just got to it now. What was I thinking? THE BLOOD GUARD is a fantastic adventure full of twists and turns, humor at the most unlikely times, and a cast of characters you want to know more about.511ThyJmYTL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_

Thirteen-year-old, Ronan, is a rather clueless protagonist from the start, but as the story progresses he learns about the secrets his parents have kept from him. Seems that his mother is member of The Blood Guard, a secret society that keeps care of 36 people in the world known as the Pure. Their existence basically keep the world from ending. As for his father, that gets a bit more confusing. No spoilers here.

With heart stopping action and some rather gruesome events, I’d reserve this one for 5-8th graders. Yes, it is intense at times, but far from nightmare inducing. Instead, you’ll be racing through the chapters to see what happens next.

There are a few loose ends left dangling with this one, but more is on the way. The next book in this series, BLOOD GUARD #2: THE GLASS GAUNTLET, is released August 18th. I learned my lesson and set out to not wait a year on this one. I’ll have a review next week!

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   WORD COUNT: 63,170        LEVEL: 5.0

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  When thirteen-year-old Ronan Truelove’s seemingly ordinary mom snatches him from school, then sets off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is shocked. His quiet, nerdy dad has been kidnapped? And the kidnappers are after him, too?

His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she’s a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive.

Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he’s never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom’s last words of advice: Trust no one.

That’s a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan’s not ordinary at all.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BLOOD GUARD by Carter Roy

  1. I’ve read many stories of this type where the action is so non-stop that eventually it loses my interest. Not so here as writers of fantasy/adventure novels should take note at the expert way Mr. Roy handles the balance of action and plot development.
  2. The cast of characters are a true blast. It begins with Ronan and Greta but there’s more. The youngest is Sammy, age 11, and the oldest is Jack, who is the oldest teenager ever. We don’t fully understand this group, but I’m sure their characters will become even more fleshed out in the next two books.
  3. I was laughing out loud at many of the unexpected comments. The best come from Jack, who seems to be a leftover from Oliver Twist, and Ronan, who would blend into any middle school setting. They both put a light touch on some intense scenes.
  4. It’s engaging, never boring, and for reluctant readers, it might be the perfect story to get them hooked.
  5. Yes, this is another kids versus the bad’s guy story, but the fun and unique elements of this one make it rise to the top.

FAVORITE LINES:

Call me Ronan.

That’s my middle name. My first is Evelyn and my last is Truelove, which is kind of a spectacular bummer on all fronts, because I’m a guy. My mom’s uncle Evelyn was from Great Britain, where I guess that name doesn’t sound weird for a boy. He had a house on a huge wooded lake in northern Michigan. So because my mom liked paddling a canoe there when she was nine, she gave me the first name that sounds like a girl’s.

I can’t even begin to explain how wrong this is.

AUTHOR QUOTE:

“I don’t know that I ever made a conscious decision to become a writer. I just sort of always was. I wrote stories and plays all through grade school, and then film scripts and stories throughout junior high and high school. I can’t think of a time when I wasn’t working on some sort of story or other.” From Carter Roy’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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A Cover for My New Critique Group

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

After my previous critique group disbanded, I began a search for some fellow MG writers to give my manuscripts one more look through. It didn’t take long to find three ladies desperately seeking (my words, not theirs) an MG writer.

I wasn’t sure at first since they were an Adult, YA, and a Picture Book writer, all sporting new works ready to be critiqued: A 120,000 word Historical Fiction, two separate YA contemporary offerings, and two picture books. They’d been together for several years and preferred having the various levels in their group to get a broader scope of opinions. I went ahead and signed on as the newbie.

They are spread around the country so my monthly writer’s group meeting (with to die for snacks)  is no more. Anyway, I couldn’t wait to get started and send the first chapters of two stories that have been revised again, but it seems like the final push as they’ve been critiqued to the max. My instructions came the next day with directions to send a sample book cover for each story. Huh? Was I in the wrong group?

I soon found out this was how they start their critique process, to see how you might interpret a front cover for your story. “Interesting,” I said. “I’ll get back to you on that one.”

I thought about book covers I adore, mostly the simple ones that provide just a hint as to what lies ahead. I don’t like dark covers where details are hard to decipher or busy covers with so much going on my head is spinning. I sifted through some of my favorites:

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  1. THE WEDNESDAY WARS provides a window to the main character with his desk slightly tilted. And what’s with the rodent?  This one grabbed me right away.
  2. LIAR AND SPY is a simple cover that says a lot. The title of course, but also the calming blue colors with the one light shining in the top room. So intriguing.
  3. DEAD END IN NORVELT is sadly hilarious. The boy’s head covered by the dead end sign, and how will that plane be a part of the story?

So I went to work on my first cover. It was rather an amazing process, thinking about my story as a whole and trying to capture a new reader’s attention in a single cover. It also made the story feel more complete.  I could see this taking a good portion of August so I kept it simple.  I’m just glad I don’t design book covers for a living. I’ll stick to writing and leave the covers to professionals.

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LOST IN THE SUN for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

The story line for this new book by Lisa Graff reminded me of Mile Lupica’s, THE ONLY GAME. In both books we discover early on that a horrific and unfortunate event has altered the life of our young boy narrator. Each story explores how they come to grips with their lives and a girl that becomes their best friend. Sports is also a backdrop.51kbqCJBhoL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_

LOST IN THE SUN is set in a small town during the early months of Trent’s sixth grade year. The accident that haunts him occurred the previous winter. Yes it was Trent who took the unfortunate hockey shot that killed another boy. Now he must deal with a town that supposedly despises him. He is also increasingly at odds with his divorced dad who lives not far away in a new marriage.

Trent is on his way to becoming the most obnoxious 12-year-old ever. His less than charming personality pushes the limits as he tests teachers and other adults. He’s also not afraid to physically fight with other kids. The scattering of inappropriate language nudges the YA mindset, but never quite jumps to that side. Still though I’d leave this one for upper MG readers.

The story will touch you deeply and for me it showed the need for counselors and therapists in the schools. So sad they are often the first ones given the ax in budget crunches.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 72,802   LEVEL: 4.5

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can’t get rid of. Trent’s pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he’s not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is.
If only Trent could make that fresh start happen.
It isn’t until Trent gets caught up in the whirlwind that is Fallon Little—the girl with the mysterious scar across her face—that things begin to change. Because fresh starts aren’t always easy. Even in baseball, when a fly ball gets lost in the sun, you have to remember to shift your position to find it.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: LOST IN THE SUN by Lisa Graff

  1. Trent is someone you’ll hate for the way he treats others but love how he reaches out and tries to understand both himself and the people in his life.
  2. Fallon, his unlikely friend, is a girl with a past she wears on her face. She’s a welcome breath of air in contrast to Trent’s confused state. We come to find out they’re both scarred, though in different ways. Such a great pairing with these two characters.
  3. A divorced family with Trent and his two brothers splitting time between two homes, is expertly told. Many kids from divorced homes will be nodding their heads at the similarities depicted here.
  4. Trent’s older and younger brothers are perhaps the most stable part of his life. It’s typical brotherly shenanigans and misunderstandings that come to have more meaning for each character. The parents of these boys could learn a few things about parenting by dropping in on their conversations.
  5. I gravitate toward outliers like Trent. Sometimes all they need is a listener.  For Trent, that listener is a teacher he despises. Wonderful thread with this sub plot.

FAVORITE LINES: I’m sorry. That’s what I wanted to say. But I wasn’t, not really. Not for what everyone wanted me to be sorry for. I was sorry Mom had to drive all the way out to get me because my dad was such a jerk that I couldn’t be in the same house as him for two full days. But I wasn’t sorry about the shouting, or the milk. I didn’t think I was the one who should be sorry about that..

“What am I going to do with you?” Mom said to me as we drove.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have the slightest idea.

AUTHOR QUOTE: “One day when I was eight years old, I was whining to my mother that I was bored and she told me to “go write a story or something.” An hour later I produced a five-page picture book entitled The Strangest Flower, chock-full of spelling mistakes and truly terrible crayon drawings of flowers floating in midair. I still have it.” (Lisa Graff’s website)

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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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A HANDFUL OF STARS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

By the looks of the cover you’d expect this to be a story about a dog. 51KyLXczCqL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_That’s only partially true as it’s just as much about friendship, blueberries (that’s what you can see on Lucky’s nose), and understanding. I gravitated toward this new novel by Cynthia Lord based on loving one of her previous books, RULES.

Narrated by Lily, it’s a honest view of life in a town dependent on the migrant workers who arrive each year to pick blueberries. She’s caught in the middle between an old and new friend, how to raise money for an operation to bring back her aging dog’s sight, and never knowing her mother who died when she was a toddler. Lily’s voice rings strong on every page.

Girls especially will adore this… boys, probably not as much. Once they discover what lies ahead on the pages, they’ll be back to fantasy, sports, and laugh out loud books. I though was enriched by this quiet story. The themes covered make for a special ride.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 32,823   LEVEL: 4.4

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  When Lily’s blind dog, Lucky, slips his collar and runs away across the wide-open blueberry barrens of eastern Maine, it’s Salma Santiago who manages to catch him. Salma, the daughter of migrant workers, is in the small town with her family for the blueberry-picking season.

After their initial chance meeting, Salma and Lily bond over painting bee boxes for Lily’s grandfather, and Salma’s friendship transforms Lily’s summer. But when Salma decides to run in the upcoming Blueberry Queen pageant, they’ll have to face some tough truths about friendship and belonging. Should an outsider like Salma really participate in the pageant-and possibly win?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: A HANDFUL OF STARS by Cynthia Lord

  1. Blueberries are one of my favorite foods. I never really knew how they are harvested and brought to our table. I’m an expert now. I also couldn’t believe what I had missed all these years and had to immediately open a blueberry clamshell from the fridge. Yes, they each are capped with a star!
  2. Every plot point was given full consideration and a proper closing. It’s often not what the reader expects, but certainly makes sense for this story.
  3. Cultural biases are explored and in a way that makes us understand. Lily has much growth as she witnesses the various attitudes of people in her town.
  4. Oh my gosh, that cover just grabs me. Bravo to the genius at Scholastic who came up with that idea.
  5. The power and meaning of friendship has rarely been given such a thoughtful presentation.

FAVORITE LINES: “Stars are one of my favorite things. I love how when you look up at night, it doesn’t matter if you’re in Florida or Maine or Michigan or anywhere, it’s the same stars. So when I miss someone, I look at the stars and imagine that person seeing the same ones as me. No matter where I go, I can think of them and they can think of me. They’re my star friends.”

AUTHOR QUOTE: “I write my books at least eight times before they are published.” (Cynthia Lord’s website)

And if you have time, here are snippets of Cynthia Lord’s A HANDFUL OF STARS kick-off celebration at an elementary school (11 minutes):

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

MMGM2

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GONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday EXTRA

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Time to sneak in another midweek review. This one is the third in a series about three Brooklyn sisters, age 12, 10, and 8 set in 1969. Their father and stepmother send them to visit relatives in Alabama. It may be just my recent reading choices this year, but it seems to be a lot of MG books set in the South. Maybe it’s because of the wide variety of interesting characters found in those states.

I was first introduced to this family five years ago in the memorable ONE CRAZY SUMMER. I missed the next offering in the triad with P.S. BE WceGgDUNlCA8RPHOz66AbHHs4RI12Vqg+OoBRGBrKx2plCphEkAr3aizNSRpuGHkIoDZcS4gLRs3LNNbucM2tzHjr1b6gOv!JK2gG4iMspVQ5iDKyCBWtzAWMsmQ+7PKELEVEN, and went right to this supposedly final story. If you have no prior history with the series and want to jump into GONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA, it stands on its own with enough back story thrown in to bring you up to date.

To me this third book is one that teachers, librarians, and parents would adore. Ten and eleven year olds? Probably not as much. Most of this story centers around the differences between two great grandparents who are also sisters. It’s ripe with family problems best appreciated by those of us with a few miles under our belts. I’d recommend younger readers begin with the first book and if hooked then continue with the other two.

1969 was a curious year in our history, and its all brought forth through the eyes of Delphine, the oldest of the girls. It’s funny, sad, and revealing how friendships and family ties often never stay that way. You’ll be enriched by the beautifully written story, especially if you spot similarities to one or two of your own family members.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 59,159  READING LEVEL: 4.5

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):

Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia tells the story of the Gaither sisters, who are about to learn what it’s like to be fish out of water as they travel from the streets of Brooklyn to the rural South for the summer of a lifetime.

Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are off to Alabama to visit their grandmother, Big Ma, and her mother, Ma Charles. Across the way lives Ma Charles’s half sister, Miss Trotter. The two half sisters haven’t spoken in years. As Delphine hears about her family history, she uncovers the surprising truth that’s been keeping the sisters apart. But when tragedy strikes, Delphine discovers that the bonds of family run deeper than she ever knew possible.
FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT GONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA by Rita Williams-Garcia

  1. The historical references are engaging to read. From the Black Panthers movement to the Klan; From Ted Kennedy’s problems to the first man on the moon. All are like a movie running in the background of the story.
  2. Sibling squabbles from the adults and the three children are portrayed with humor and sadness. Anyone who has grown up in a large family will understand.
  3. Not one perfect character. They each have their faults that are gloriously woven into the story.
  4. Our racial history is powerfully portrayed here. More than once I found myself shifting uncomfortably with the true words coming off the pages.
  5. I only glanced at the family tree at the back of the book before beginning to read. After finishing the 289 pages, I went back to that tree and retraced the memory of learning about this family. A very handy addition.

A SCENE THAT STAYED WITH ME: To Vonetta, he said, “Don’t go grinning at every white kid trying to make friends. Stick to your own and you won’t have any problems. If they call you a name, keep your mouth shut and walk away.”

QUOTE FROM AUTHOR: “I was born in Queens, N.Y, on April 13, 1957. My mother, Miss Essie, named me ‘NoMo’ immediately after my birth. Although I was her last child, I took my time making my appearance. I like to believe I was dreaming up a good story and wouldn’t budge until I was finished. Even now, my daughters call me ‘Pokey Mom’, because I slow poke around when they want to go-go-go.” Rita’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.

MMGM2

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