Summer Giveaway Day 3: AWESOME 8 from National Geographic for Kids

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

Day three of my first week of summer tribute offers a title that will bring laughter and awe to every reader. It is especially 9781426323379appealing to the kid who doesn’t like to read a book in numerical page order or loves to gaze at amazing pictures.

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION

Awesome 8 (ages 8-12, $12.99) – A new series from Nat Geo Kids Books, Awesome 8 is the ultimate go-to guide for curious kids who want to know the who, what and where of the coolest things on the planet.  With 50 top-8 lists, every turn of the page presents a different theme and counts down the greatest of the great top 8 of its kind. Awesome 8 lists include Coolest Coasters, Haughtiest Hotels, Wicked Water Slides, Perilous Predators, Remarkable Ruins, Weirdest Wonders and Swankiest Subways.  Great for reluctant readers, each Awesome 8 list appears in photographs, layered with fun facts and insightful stories. (by Jen Agresta & Sarah Wassner Flynn)

MY REVIEW

Here are eight ways to describe this book: splendid, tremendous, fantastic, amazing, astounding, brilliant, impressive, and wow!

The special AWESOME 8 website extends the fun with even more awesomeness every other Wednesday.

To begin exploring the book I sat next to a recent 5th grade graduate. Each entry has colorful images along with a short few sentence description.  He chose EIGHT ULTIMATE TOILETS on page 18 as his starting point (his review: OH MY GOSH!). I went with EIGHT DREAM DESTINATIONS on page 80 (Okay, book my flight). There are dozens more on the 100 plus pages and seven of the pages delve into the places and things featured with a more in-depth exploration.

Here’s a look at the table of contents (no apologies if you race right out to get this book):

contents

Find your favorite? Post it in the comments for a chance to win a copy of AWESOME 8. along with the other three titles I’m reviewing this week. One winner will recieve all foru books. How can this summer get any better? The drawing will take place Sunday, June 26th at Noon EDT. Good luck. Comment each day and I’ll double your entries!

Warning: This is not your grandmother’s version of National Geographic. Middle grade readers will find them irresistible.

MONDAY JUNE 20: ALMANAC 2017

TUESDAY JUNE 21: 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP

See you tomorrow for the final book in the giveaway:

THURSDAY JUNE 23: ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE companion book.

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Summer Giveaway Day 2: 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

Who knew I missed so much growing up? If I’d only had this handy guide along for the6301558 ride, life from then on would have been so much easier. But it’s never too late!

Spread out on the 256 colorful pages are hints, tips, and tricks in an easy to hold book (a square six and half on each side). My favorites were HOW TO PACK A SUITCASE LIKE A PRO, HOW TO BE AN ADVENTUROUS EATER, and HOW TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.

The intended audience would probably gravitate toward HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT PEACEFULLY, HOW TO HAVE A FRIEND FOR LIFE, or HOW TO BE BRAVE.

You’ll have to get the book to discover the other 94 how to’s. It will be the best gift a tween could ever get. Fantastic summertime reading!

THE OFFICIAL BLURB

100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up (ages 9-12, $9.99) – Jam-packed with tips, tricks and skills that every kids should master before turning 18, this is the ultimate guide to expanding ones horizons and becoming a fun-loving, well-rounded and confident young person. A perfect graduation gift or addition to a camp care package, kids will love the expert advice from Nat Geo Explorers, adventurers and masters of their craft from around the world.

GIVEAWAY!

Make a comment if you would like to be in a drawing for your own copy of 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP and the three other titles I’m reviewing this week.  All four books to one winner! The drawing will take place Sunday, June 26th at Noon EDT. Good luck. Comment each day and I’ll double your entries!

Warning: This is not your grandmother’s version of National Geographic. Middle grade readers will find them irresistible.

MONDAY JUNE 20: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ALMANAC 2017

WEDNESDAY JUNE 22: AWESOME 8

THURSDAY JUNE 23: ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE companion book.

See you tomorrow!

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2017 Giveaway

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

It’s the official start of the northern hemisphere summer today, and I’m celebrating all week with these super new titles from the fantastic folks at National Geographic.

First up is the newest edition of the New York Times best seller. 51plrKouCYL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_I couldn’t put this one down with its easy to read format, brightly colored images, and interactive activities. Each of the 10 sections are loaded with short articles geared toward the tween set, though they may have trouble getting it away from us big kids at heart.

You can start anywhere in the 352 pages, but I went the traditional route in order beginning with the YOUR WORLD 2017 chapter. Next came AMAZING ANIMALS, GOING GREEN, CULTURE CONNECTION, AWESOME ADVENTURE, FUN AND GAMES, SUPER SCIENCE, WONDERS OF NATURE, HISTORY HAPPENS, and GEOGRAPHY ROCKS.

Visit the ALMANAC 2017 web page for information on how to be a part of the ALMANAC NEWSMAKER CHALLENGE. It’s a photo time capsule you can create to show kids in 2050 what life is like today.

Great stuff both in the book and online. Perfect to keep the kids entertained on that summer trip.

HERE’S THE OFFICIAL BLURB

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2017 (ages 8-12, $14.99) — The world’s best-selling almanac for kids is back with new content, new features and an interactive Almanac Newsmaker Challenge activity that encourages kids to make their own time capsule.  This latest edition of the New York Times best selling book is THE gold standard in nonfiction “edutainment” and features not only the latest discoveries in the worlds of technology, conservation and nature, but also grabs kids with cool weird-but-true facts, activities to keep ’em busy all summer long and amazing animals from around the world.

GIVEAWAY!

Make a comment if you would like to be in a drawing for your own copy of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2017 and the three other titles I’m reviewing this week.  The drawing will take place Sunday, June 26th at Noon EDT. Good luck. Comment each day and I’ll double your entries!

Warning: This is not your grandmother’s version of National Geographic. Middle grade readers will find them irresistible.

TUESDAY JUNE 21: 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP

WEDNESDAY JUNE 22: AWESOME 8

THURSDAY JUNE 23: ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE companion book.

See you tomorrow!

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

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JOSH BAXTER LEVELS UP for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

The stare is intense. They live in a different world whenever possible. The only response to any question is something along the lines of “Just a sec” or “Wait. What?” You may already know this type of kid, usually male with a game controller in their hands.

JoshBaxterCoverAlone_29a7e78143Josh Baxter is one of those kids. He’s in a new school again and not liking this starting over routine. It’s even harder as Josh brings with him a few unhappy years he wish he could change.

Gaming lovers will especially enjoy this funny plot wrapped up in a serious one. If not, there’s still much to embrace for non-gamers.

Josh escapes his problems by playing Tetris, Mario, and a host of others, but soon realizes he needs to take control in the real world. It’s where middle school bullies, poor grades, and family problems seek to smother him with realities.

I have this one in mind for boys but hope girls will also give it a go. Embedded in this winning story are a few lessons we should all take to heart.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   WORD COUNT: 37,635 READING LEVEL: 5.2

FULL PLOT (From SCHOLASTIC)

Josh Baxter is sick and tired of hitting the reset button. It’s not easy being the new kid for the third time in two years. One mistake and now the middle school football star is out to get him. And Josh’s sister keeps offering him lame advice about how to make friends, as if he needs her help finding allies!

Josh knows that his best bet is to keep his head down and stay under the radar. If no one notices him, nothing can touch him, right? But when Josh’s mom sees his terrible grades and takes away his video games, it’s clear his strategy has failed. Josh needs a new plan, or he’ll never make it to the next level, let alone the next grade.

He’s been playing not to lose. It’s time to play to win.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: JOSH BAXTER LEVELS UP by GAVIN BROWN

  1. Josh keeps track of his real life with a video game like health rating, experience points, and titles of skills unlocked. It’s the only way he knows how to deal with what goes on in a world he is not comfortable in.
  2. Josh, his mom, and his perfect sister get the chance to see each other differently. It’s through understanding and listening that this family survives.
  3. Those familiar with video games will understand Josh. He turns to his favorite characters and guesses what they would do with a problem. Solid Snake, Han Solo, Sonic the Hedgeghog, Link and many more are included
  4. A loss of a parent is a frequent issue in MG. The approach here is refreshing. Very comforting for those going through the same scenario.
  5. Reluctant readers will gravitate toward this one with the manageable page count.

FAVORITE LINES:

Not getting called on in class is the best way to avoid other kids paying attention to you. But avoiding getting noticed in English class is a challenge. Mr. Ramirez in math is easy to fool, but Ms. Pritchard has the eyes of a seer, able to tell the future from tea leaves or divine the fact that you didn’t do your writing homework from the guilty expression on your face.

AUTHOR QUOTE (From reddit.com):  

Some random things about me:

  1. This is my first novel, but I’ve written short stories and novellas for kids’ series like Spirit Animals and The 39 Clues.
  2. When I was a little kid I was in a ballet based on Star Trek. I portrayed the villain after he went through a shrink ray.
  3. I’m also a video game designer. I made the Spirit Animals game for Scholastic, and created an indie game called Blindscape from the perspective of a character who’s lost his vision.
  4. I once had a fencing duel with a tree and wound up in the ER with hole punched in my leg. The tree appeared uninjured.

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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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HATTER MADIGAN WINNER

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

Congratulations to Suzanne Warr, winner of HATTER MADIGAN: GHOST IN THE Hatter-Madigan-cover-e1433952843629H.A.T.B.O.X.

Suzanne blogs at her site, TALES FROM THE RAVEN, where you can find reviews, flash fiction, and blog hops. Her feline friend, Apricot Kitty also adds her opinion when asked.

My next giveaway is coming up on the official first full week of summer (June 20th). You will  have a chance to win four new fantastic releases from National Geographic. Great summer non-fiction and nothing like your grandmother’s National Geographic.

Have a great weekend. I’ll be back next Monday with another MG review.

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COUNTING THYME for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

My original plan for June and July was to stay clear of sad themed books, but great writing in this new one pulled me in for the long haul. thymeThe story is told through the eyes of sixth grader, Thyme. She’s not happy for several reasons. First and foremost her little brother is sick. Second, the family has moved to New York City for a drug trial to hopefully make him better. That leaves her grandma, best friend, and everything she loves back in San Diego.

The challenges and disruption of childhood cancer for a family is brought forth in a unique way. The bond between sister and brother, friendships both old and new, and a jar full of paper slips.

The back and forth turmoil and decision making by Thyme was spot on for a girl this age. The story is a happy-sad explosion of feelings and one where you are eventually glad you spent the “thyme.”

There’s a tinge of hope, and I’d enjoy a sequel.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 300

FULL PLOT (From Melanie Conklin’s Web Site)  When eleven-year-old Thyme Owen’s little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, it’s just the second chance that he needs. But it also means the Owens family has to move to New York, thousands of miles away from Thyme’s best friend and everything she knows and loves. The island of Manhattan doesn’t exactly inspire new beginnings, but Thyme tries to embrace the change for what it is: temporary.

After Val’s treatment shows real promise and Mr. Owens accepts a full-time position in the city, Thyme has to face the frightening possibility that the move to New York is permanent. Thyme loves her brother, and knows the trial could save his life—she’d give anything for him to be well—but she still wants to go home, although the guilt of not wanting to stay is agonizing. She finds herself even more mixed up when her heart feels the tug of new friends, a first crush and even a crotchety neighbor and his sweet whistling bird. All Thyme can do is count the minutes, the hours and the days, and hope time can bring both a miracle for Val and a way back home.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: COUNTING THYME by Melanie Conklin

  1. New York City comes to life and living there is a unique experience of high rise apartments, subways, and taxi rides. You’ll know this great city much more after reading the story.
  2. The touching relationship between Thyme and her little brother, Val. They need each other to make it through this terrible time in their lives.
  3. Moving is tough and the emotions it brings out are expertly portrayed here. Old and new friends bring confusion and Thyme chooses to solve this conflict on her own.
  4. The supporting cast of adult and younger characters. The grumpy neighbor with a past he hides, the supportive housekeeper who becomes a friend to Thyme, and Jake the boy that seems to understand. The subplot as they both work sound effects for a school play fits in nicely.
  5. The parents desperate efforts to help Val get well often leads to their two older girls feeling left out. It’s a a family struggling with change and there’s no parent manual that describes the steps. In the end I’d be honored to know this family.

FAVORITE LINES:

I had to admit I liked Mrs. Harris, my fourth-period math teacher. She wore the strangest clothes–vest with embroidered cats, and bright plaid pants. Dad would have called her outfits unique. Cori would have called them hideous. But Mrs. Harris called people up to the board like a game-show host, and that made me smile in spite of myself.

AUTHOR QUOTE (From Melanie’s web site):  I really hope that my words mean something to you. I love books so much that sometimes I can’t stop thinking about them for days. I’d like to make that happen for someone. That’s my dream.

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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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Blast Off Into Summer with HATTER MADIGAN

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

The summer solstice officially arrives on June 20th at 6:34 a.m. EDT.  But for most of us summer begins when kids are out of school. At least around here that means the first week of June.

It’s time to celebrate for the next two months with great giveaways and recommendations. To get things rolling is a giveaway of  HATTER MADIGAN: GHOST IN THE H.A.T.B.O.X. Hatter-Madigan-cover-e1433952843629

I reviewed this great new title last month so if you commented there or here you will be entered into the drawing for your copy. Just post your comment by June 9th. Good Luck!

This MG prequel to Hatter’s previous YA adventures should be a big hit.  I could barely break away from the superb story telling. Here’s a trailer teaser to entice you even more…

What else is coming up?

I have new books from National Geographic to give away later this month. I will also continue my MMGM reviews with MG titles from the likes of Rosanne Parry, Melanie Conklin, Gavin Brown, Gordon Korman, Jen Swann Downey and Bart King.  They’ve all written super summer escapism stories that young and old are sure to fall in love with.

It is supposed to hit 90 degrees in my town next week. I’m getting ready with my lounge chair, an ice tea, and a teetering stack of books. One problem: The view could slow up my reading  just a little. Happy summer everyone!

Frontrange

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ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE PERRY T. COOK for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

Author Leslie Connor’s final comment in her author’s notes is that she hopes Perry T. Cook, his mom, and all the characters we meet will find a place in our heart. She should not worry. Her wish is fulfilled at the highest level. My heart openly welcomed the guests.all-rise-for-the-honorable-perry-t-cook-by-leslie-connor

Perry is one of those rare kids who sees the glass half full. His theme song should be HAPPY by Pharrel Wiliams. But even the happiest kids on this planet would find it difficult to keep that demeanor in the face of a painful transition.

Perry has spent his entire life living under the same roof as his mom at the Blue River Minimum Correctional facility in Surprise, Nebraska. It’s an unusual arrangement that seems to work for everyone, especially Perry and his devoted mother. Their lives change when a new district attorney learns of this arrangement and pulls Perry out of the only home he’s ever known.

Told mostly in Perry’s POV (his mom also gets several chapters), this is one of the longest contemporary MG stories I’ve ever picked up, but by the end I was wishing it could go on even longer. The length may turn off young readers use to the typical 35,000 to 50,000 word novels, but the chapters are short (83 in all), and each one pushes the story to what you hope is a happy conclusion.

Despite the topic and the tough issue of parent incarceration, I felt optimistic. There are good people in the world and happiness is achievable for even the most downtrodden. Look no further if you are looking for something to read this summer. One of my favorites of this or any year.

WORD COUNT: 80,817  READING LEVEL: 3.8 PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016

FULL PLOT (From Leslie’s Web Site) Eleven-year-old Perry has always been loved as much as any other kid his age. However, his home is a bit unusual; he has lived at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska since his birth. His mom, Jessica, is a resident on Cell Block C, and she’s finally up for parole. Mom and son look forward to a new beginning on the outside…until the ambitious new district attorney, Thomas VanLeer, discovers that a boy has been living at the prison. He yanks Perry out and delays Jessica’s parole. Stuck in foster care, Perry feels desperate to be reunited with his mother and his Blue River family. Meanwhile, a school project launches him on a journey that makes him question the details of his mother’s crime. Jessica Cook has secrets. Perry resolves to uncover her true story. But can he do that without betraying her?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE PERRY T. COOK by Leslie Connor

  1. Every successful story has two elements: a winning protagonist and a love to hate antagonist.  For Perry that would be two individuals working against him – a boy at school who makes fun of his prison upbringing and the district attorney. You’ll despise both but hope they too will become a little more likeable by story end.
  2. Zoey is the perfect friend for Perry outside the walls of prison. Since the day they first met they’ve helped each other face the realities of life. She’s a secondary character that shines.
  3. We come to understand and feel compassion for Perry’s mom and her early life. It’s a great comparison to the growth she has had in 12 years.
  4. You could do entire books on the other characters. One would certainly be an adult book about Thomas Van Leer, D.A. He sees what he want to see and rarely looks at the big picture. Perry’s friends at the prison (Big Ed for one) could also be in their own stories. Strong writing when an author can make so many stories interesting.
  5. Perry. Period.

FAVORITE LINES:

It’s 6:23 a.m. I scoot forward and put my lips close to the microphone of the prison PA system. I always begin quietly. Warden Daugherty comes to wake me every day, and she is gentle about it. So I do the same for all the residents at Blue River.

“Good morning,” I say in my slow, low voice. “This is Perry at sunrise…”

MOTTOS FOR WRITERS (From Leslie’s web site) : 

  • Don’t keep anything in your manuscript that you don’t believe to be beautiful or useful. (Stolen and tweaked from designer William Morris, who gave people this advice about their homes.)
  • Shorten Your Sentences and Cut Your Adverbs. (This is a simple recipe for strengthening most manuscripts.)
  • Treat Everything You Write Like a Read Aloud. (Listen for your stories even when you are away from a pencil or the keyboard. Then get your first draft down. When you revise listen to the sound of the spoken word.)
  • Write What You Can’t Ignore. (My personal response to the advice to “Write what you know.” If an idea niggles endlessly at you, you can bet it will hold the fascination of a future reader too.)

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June is a great month to recommend even more great reads for summer. Next Thursday I’ll kick things off with a giveaway of Hatter Mattigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X. This new release I previously reviewed is a great companion to the movie, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. No Alice in this book, but  you’ll get to know the very endearing, Hatter Mattigan.

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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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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS MASTERMIND BLOG TOUR

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

I’m excited to be Stop #5 on the National Geographic Kids Mastermind Blog Tour!

NG - MastermindBlog Tour logo

This summer, National Geographic Kids Books is inviting kids to “Unleash Their Inner Genius” with the release of Mastermind (May 2016, ages 8-12).  6302110In this fun, interactive book, kids learn what type of thinker they are and are given the chance to exercise different parts of their brains with games, tests and puzzles.

Each stop on the National Geographic Kids Mastermind Blog Tour will bring you one step closer to becoming a Certified Mastermind. Be sure to stop by each stop on the tour (see schedule below) and challenge yourself to unleash your inner genius with fun quizzes, optical illusions, and brain teasers, and learn tips and tricks for improving brainpower and explanations for the science behind navigating your mental map.

Are you ready to put your left side of the brain to the test? Check out below and tweet a quick video of you attempting this experiment using #Mastermind! (Personal note: I have no video proof, but I did try this. Weird and fascinating!)

NG - MastermindStop5Confuse the Legs

About the book:

The cheeky narrator and self-proclaimed “Mastermind” Ima Genius and her talking dog, Atom, guide the reader through short and snappy explanations of the science behind why the brain does what it does and how it affects the senses, spatial reasoning, language, memory and problem solving. As kids work their way through the book completing experiments, brain teasers, mazes, quizzes and games, their efforts (and smarts!) are rewarded with a Certificate of Mental Achievement declaring them as a Certified Mastermind.  Or, in the words of Ima Genius:

“When I’m finished with you, your brain will be so huge that your average-size neck will no longer be able to support your massive noggin.  Ha!  I kid.  That’s only happened once.”

My Two Cents Worth

What a great non-fiction addition. Each page has a new surprise and will have young readers (and many older ones) saying, “I didn’t know that.”

How the brain works is often given a dry treatment of facts, but here you get to experience and learn what is going on with the command center of your body.

Amusing presentation, colorful pictures, and page turning format will be a hit with all kids including those reluctant readers.

Order your copy HERE.

Check out National Geographic on:  TWITTER    FACEBOOK

Stop by Mundie Kids next Tuesday to put your left side of the brain to the test!

Blog Tour Schedule:

5/23 – Reading is Better With Cupcakes

5/24 – Mother Daughter Book Reviews

5/25 – Geo Librarian

5/26 – Mrs. Mommy Book Nerd’s Book Reviews

5/27 – Always In The Middle

5/31 – Mundie Kids

6/1 – Unleashing Readers

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MAYDAY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this new novel except the main character sounded like a w204boy I would like to know more about. So when I received an advanced copy (Thanks Karen!), I sat down and began to read. The story made me laugh, made me tear up, and made me think how much harder it is growing up when the world won’t cooperate.

I closed the book for the last time while sitting on my front porch and sighed. Wayne Kovok was running off and our short time together was over. I looked up at the gray-blue skies and a plane flew overhead, making an approach to a nearby regional airport. 14A landed safely.

True Story.

Wayne has his own story to tell along with his love of facts. It’s necessary so he can process an awful turn of events in his life. Sad yes, but also hopeful that finding your voice, even when you don’t have one, is something we all hopefully discover. It’s the nasty bumps in the road that we have to learn to jump over and that can take some time.

MAYDAY is a distress signal for a boy’s future. I’m glad I spent the time finding out where Wayne is headed.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 352

FULL PLOT (From Karen Harrington’s Website) Seventh-grade Wayne Kovok lives in the world of AFTER. After his uncle was killed overseas while serving in the army. After Wayne and his mom survived a plane crash while coming back from the funeral. And after he lost his ability to speak. Now, how will he stand up to his super patriotic grandfather? And how will he speak the truth of his disappointments and dreams to his deadbeat dad?

It’s not until he loses his voice that Wayne realizes how much he doesn’t say out loud.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: MAYDAY by Karen Harrington

  1. Wayne meets another boy, Denny, in the waiting room of a doctor who treats patients with voice problems. For Wayne he can’t speak and for Denny, he’s a stutterer whose  stuttering disappears when he sings. A heartfelt friendship develops between these two.
  2. You want nothing but the best for Wayne. He has a deadbeat father, the girl of his dreams would like to dump him, and his grandpa doesn’t understand his own grandson. Too many negatives for Wayne and you may find yourself mumbling unkind things to these other characters.
  3. Wayne’s quest to find his Uncle’s flag that disappeared in the crash is a believable journey. It’s a long process that helps him grow and understand.
  4. Humor strikes not only from his new friend, Denny, but also from his Mom’s new boyfriend. He’s a lawyer and his commercials appear on the local TV station. Wayne also has a few perceptive zingers to throw out along the way that had me smiling.
  5. DATA: This is my 50th MG book I’ve read this year and one of my favorites. Wayne has plenty of additional DATA to toss out to readers. You just might become hooked like I did.

FAVORITE LINES: 

“Rise and shine and pee. It’s the best part of waking up, honey,” someone said. “It means you’re alive. I’m Nurse Davis. You’re in the hospital. You’ve been in an accident. Your mother is okay. She will be here shortly. You should not try to speak. Your neck suffered a severe blow. Nod your head if you understand.”

I nodded. It was the moment I realized that I would have to learn a new language in the country of AFTER.

FROM Karen’s WEBSITE:
I generally like to write 500-1000 words per day. I find that is a comfortable pace for me. Often, I begin a story writing in a notebook. I like to write journal entries from a character’s point of view to learn the sound of his or her voice. I take breaks in my writing day to go for walks. If I’m procrastinating, I sometimes find the need to reorganize my spice cabinet. Sometimes, having a deadline makes a person want to clean out her closets before she can get writing done. Why this is so is a mystery!

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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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