THE DREADED ‘TBR’ LIST

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

TBRThe TBR list is something I’ve used for years. It’s a personal list of books I intend to read. At first it was one list, but these days it has become two.

The first is labeled URGENT. Books I’ve promised to read for other authors or books with similar stories to my own.

When there is a lull in that list I’m able to pluck a title from my other list. This one is filled with recommendations from many of you along with titles I can’t resist. Sadly, there are some books more than ten years old on there –  too many good ones out there to ever reach the end of this list. Like laundry, the TBR list will never go away.

If you’d like to see what others have on their MG TBR list, a good place to start is through Goodreads Popular Middle Grade list. They compile it according to how many times a middle grade book has been shelved (meaning users have either read, want to read, or are reading). These are the books getting the most all time buzz among readers. Following is their top 25 (I took out the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson Sequels).

I’ve read 16. Can you top that?

  1. THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan
  2. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by J.K. Rowling
  3. WONDER by R.J. Palacio
  4. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman
  5. HOLES by Louis Sachar
  6. A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle
  7. CORALINE by Neil Gaiman
  8. WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead
  9. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate
  10. THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis
  11. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA by Katherine Paterson
  12. THE LOST HERO by Rick Riordan
  13. DOLL BONES by Holly Black
  14. ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine
  15. THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET by Brian Selznick
  16. CHARLOTTE’S WEB by E.B. White
  17. THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
  18. THE RED PYRAMID by Rick Riordan
  19. MATILDA by Roald Dahl
  20. THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL by Soman Chainani
  21. ARTEMIS FOWL by Erin Colfer
  22. THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING by Catherynne M. Valente
  23. BROWN GIRL DREAMING by Jacqueline Woodson
  24. THE IRON TRIAL by Holly Black
  25. FLORA AND ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES by Kate DiCamillo
Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

STORY THIEVES – THE STOLEN CHAPTERS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

My fictional telephone interview with fiction writer, James Riley…

Middle Grade Greg (MGG): So James, who are you really? Your bio makes it sound like you don’t exist?

FictionRiley (Friley): I’m Nobody.

MGG: Yes, you made that very clear in this second book in the Story Thieves series. You broke so many the-stolen-chapters-9781481409223_hrrules. I mean who writes a book and makes themselves a part of the plot?

Friley: 😉

MGG: Please don’t send me text in the middle of our interview…

Friley: 🙂

MGG: Okay, I’m beginning to understand why your editor said writers are just pure evil.

Filrey: I’m bored. Do you know J.K. Rowling or Jo as I refer to her?

MGG: Let me ask the questions, but no, I’ve read a few interviews is all.

Friley: Too bad. I have no time for you then.

MGG: No wait, just a few more questions. How did you get away with opening the book the way you did? Nine chapters of mostly blacked out text leaving just a few words to ponder. You must know an opening has to hook the readers, providing them with a reason to read on.

Filey: You obviously read the entire book and the first one?

MGG: Yes.

Friley: I rest my case.

MGG: But what about your chapters? They’re supposed to go in order. One second I’m reading missing chapter nine and the next thing I know I’m in chapter 132.

Friley: Do you have a copy of these writer rules?

MGG: Of course, not where I can reach them at the moment, but you’re getting me off track and this odd interview has left me thinking I’m trapped in one of your books.

Friley: You want an autograph?

MGG: No, I mean maybe. Let me just admit that in the real world Mr. Friley… I loved the sequel. Hello? Mr. Friley? Are you still there? Do you even exist in the non-fiction world?

Friley: 😉

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hey, I gave it my best shot. Anyway, read the first Story Thieves book then read THE STOLEN CHAPTERS sequel. It won’t completely reduce the confusion and mystery, but you’ll have fun figuring out how everything fits together. Returning are Owen, Betheny, and Kiel who were last together in their middle school classroom. This next adventure is full of surprises, more time travel, a dizzying array of flashbacks, and a book you’ll have trouble keeping closed.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 258

FULL PLOT  (From Amazon): Owen Conners would never jump into a mystery. There are too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Mysteries are just not Owen’s thing. So how exactly did he end up in one with his memory erased? And that’s far from the only question.

How did Kiel Gnomenfoot, boy magician, lose all of his magic? Where’s Bethany, their half-fictional friend? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger?

Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel?

Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved…

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE STOLEN CHAPTERS (STORY THIEVES) by James  Riley

  1. Such a unique, satisfying ending setting up an exciting third book in the series, STORY THIEVES: Secret Origins.
  2. Tongue in cheek commentary on both the fictional and non-fictional world along with the craft of writing had me giggling many times.
  3. An exciting adventure with a heavy does of mystery is laid out for readers like a sumptuous buffet. There’s something to love at each serving station… er, chapter.
  4. Plenty of twists to keep you turning pages and twists within twists to hook you even more. A fine dose of expert plotting done in a non-conventional way. A true meta stylized experience.
  5. Clever is my description, but if you are 8-13 years old reading THE STOLEN CHAPTERS the word will be awesome.

FAVORITE LINES: 
All of this was beginning to feel like one of those terrible stories, where half of it took place in the present, and the rest was told in flashbacks. So irritating. You knew the characters would be okay during the flashbacks because you were seeing them in the present too, so the flashbacks were always boring. Why couldn’t those writers just tell the story the normal way?

AUTHOR BACKGROUND: James Riley is the New York Times bestselling author of the HALF UPON A TIME trilogy and STORY THIEVES series. He lives in the Washington, DC area, and is most likely fictional.

James Riley’s Author Page

********************************************************

Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. The comments link is below.

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

MMGM2

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Did you hear the one about the…

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

I’ve received several emails this school year along the lines of… “My son is 12 and will only read funny books. He doesn’t want drama, deaths, or sad tales of homelessness… just pure laugh out loud funny. He’s not into graphic novels and is so over the wimpy kid series. What would you suggest?

I had to think about this one and look back on books that made me laugh. Not just a giggle in chapter one and a slightly bigger giggle fourteen chapters later, but consistent laughter throughout.

Yes, humor is tough to write. Funny stories in MG need to make readers laugh because they have been in the same situations before, or can see it happening to themselves. It has to be surprising and natural.

There are many books labeled ‘humorous’ that go right to bathroom humor. It’s easy and you’re sure to have many 8-year-olds rolling on the floor. But my recommendations are a little more sophisticated. Try these to get yourself laughing even on your worst days (just make sure to hand your copy over to that 10-13 year old kid it was supposed to be for in the first place):

NO COINS, PLEASE by Gordon Korman 5166JG5330L._SX341_BO1,204,203,200_There are many fun books from this stellar author, but this oldie but goodie remains my favorite. It has no problem crossing over generations. You’ll find it with various covers but I always liked this one.

It is about an ingenious, 11 year old, scam artist, Artie Geller, who signs up for a tour around the U.S. with tour guides Rob and Dennis (Juniortours) and five other 11 year old boys.

During the trip, from New York City to Los Angeles, Artie comes up with some hilarious money making schemes, and its not long before he has everyone else in the group involved. Highly improbable in this day and time but hugely funny.

 

CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO SUMMER VACATION by Tommy Greenwaldcharlie-joe-jacksons-guide-to-summer-vacation-512x768

There are six books in this series, but since I also got shipped off to a summer camp when I was 11, I’ll feature this one. Here’s the book jacket blurb:

Despite all attempts to avoid reading and extra work, Charlie Joe Jackson finds himself in a terrible dream he can’t wake up from: Camp Rituhbukkee (pronounced “read-a-bookie”)–a place filled with grammar workshops, Read-a-Ramas, and kids who actually like reading. But Charlie Joe is determined to convince the entire camp to hate reading and writing–one genius at a time.

There are some subtle lessons in the story, and fortunately there is time to pause between the laugh out loud moments to appreciate each.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SERIES 5144l6PFm0L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts You’ll find these books everywhere you shop, and they seem to release a new one each year. I have to admit they’re hit or miss for me, but their popularity with the target audience is why I have to recommend. My favorite is HOW I SURVIVED BULLIES, BROCCOLI, AND SNAKE HILL Give any of the titles a shot and see if it hooks you on the series.

ORIGAMI YODA SERIES paperbackby Tom Angleberger There are six in the series and pictured is the original. The humor is offbeat and hilarious at times. Some find it a bit too offbeat, but I need a break once in a while from the usual serious turmoil going on in MG books. I’ve also enjoyed another of Tom’s books, FAKE MUSTACHE.

 

That’s all I have for now. My list is lacking female authors, although I’ll give Rebecca Stead a nod for the humor she injects into her stories.

Posted in Book Lists | Tagged | 6 Comments

PAX for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

This heartfelt story of a boy and his beloved red fox will tug at your emotions. y450-293There are many books with animals as characters but few reach the level of PAX. As a writer I focus on the style of how words are put forth in published works. By the time I’d finished this book it was loaded with book marks so  I could go back and revisit the expertly crafted sentences.

The tale focuses in alternating chapters on either Pax, the young fox, or Peter, the 12-year-old boy. You know when you have a good story in your hand when the urge to turn to the last page happens much too early. I avoided the urge and kept reading, hoping for a positive outcome for both characters.

The time and setting is never explained, only that there is a war going on, and as usual war is hurtful to humans and animals. You have a sense it may be America in a not too distant future, but not knowing was never a problem. It’s the inner turmoil and confusion brought forth by Peter and Pax that is truly the heart of the story. One to savor, one to read out loud, and one to place on the book shelf in a special spot.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016  PAGE COUNT: 277

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)

Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter’s dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild.

At his grandfather’s house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn’t where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox.

Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: PAX by Sara Pennypacker

  1. The line drawings by Caldecott Medal illustrator, Jon Klassen, are scattered throughout. They look simple but in reality show the difficulty endeared by Pax and Peter. Growing up is hard to do for both.
  2. Don’t expect a cute animal story. The animals do communicate in voice and body language but it is always done in the gritty reality of being in the wild.
  3. Middle grade books are often not read by a wide audience like YA. With Pax, young and old can enjoy the beautifully written story.
  4. Many will scoff at the ending but for me it matched the tone and reality of the book.  No Disney type ending here, and I was both sad and glad.
  5. The depth of the main characters (Pax, Peter, and Vola, the woman he befriends) surfaced in a special way. The father and grandfather were a lot shallower in their portrayal but they only appear briefly.

FAVORITE LINES:  And then she went silent for a while, holding his gaze the whole time. In their silence, Peter felt they were saying something important. Something about the long, dark tunnel he felt narrowing around him.

AUTHOR QUOTE (From Sara’s Website):  Authors often use the term “Windows and Mirrors” with respect to books. It’s a good way to think about how books serve children – as mirrors to who they are, and as windows onto the larger world and who they might become in it. In both cases, the glass must be clear and free of distortion, which means the author has a strict moral duty to be honest. The author must also be kind, because if we’re trying to say to our readers, “Look in the mirror, here you are, a member of the human tribe! Look out the window – the tribe is wide and varied, look at the choices!” We’d better be kind about the flaws and struggles we’re about to portray.

********************************************************************

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

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

THE GOBLIN’S PUZZLE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

The winner of the five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction finalists is…. Kevin Gerrard – author, college professor, and a brave cat owner. In the past I’ve enjoyed his Diego’s Dragon series.  Congratulations, Kevin! I will send out your winning package this week.

=====================================

What a great lead-in to this week’s feature because I win giveaways sometimes too! In fact I did that with THE GOBLIN’S PUZZLE last December on Suzanne Warr’s blog, Tales from The Raven. She has  great reviews and often adds thoughts from her opinionated cat, Apricot-kitty. Go check it out! But before you do here are my thoughts on THE GOBLIN’S PUZZLE:

The puzzle here is not one of numbers or pieces, instead it revolves around logic and word play. Andrew goblinChilton got the inspiration for this story from Monty Python, The Hobbit, and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Pretty diverse group and so too is the main cast of characters pictured on the front cover.

Here we have Princess Alice, the goblin Mennofar, Oswald – father to Plain Alice, and slave boy – he never had a real name so he’s just called boy. The first third of the book bounces from one village to the next, from one character’s story to another. It’s all a bit scattered but be assured it comes together nicely and a heroic tale is born.

The witty dialog will have you smiling, though younger MG readers will likely not be in tune with the play on words. The sarcasm could very well sail over their heads. Most chapters are lengthy but frequent scene changes give you a chance to break away mid-chapter with no problem.

If you enjoy fairy tale like adventures with a dragon, an ogre, evil plots, and a charming cast of characters then you’ve found a home with THE GOBLIN’S PUZZLE.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 279

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)

THE BOY is a nameless slave on a mission to uncover his true destiny.
THE GOBLIN holds all the answers, but he’s too tricky to be trusted.
PLAIN ALICE is a bookish peasant girl carried off by a confused dragon.
And PRINCESS ALICE is the lucky girl who wasn’t kidnapped.

All four are tangled up in a sinister plot to take over the kingdom, and together they must face kind monsters, a cruel magician, and dozens of deathly boring palace bureaucrats. They’re a ragtag bunch, but with strength, courage, and plenty of deductive reasoning, they just might outwit the villains and crack the goblin’s puzzle.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE GOBLIN’S PUZZLE by Andrew S. Chilton

  1. A great ending ties up any and all loose ends. It’s nice to close a book, satisfied with the time spent on the many sub-plots and feel like you weren’t cheated.
  2. Strong female and male characters. Plain Alice is smart and a great thinker. Boy is the kind of hero everyone can side with.
  3. The author adds an Afterword in the final pages to explain some of the logic behind the logic. ‘No one’ should miss this addition.
  4. At times the story is lighthearted, rather whimsical, but often there’s a touch of realism to remind the reader this time period was not for the faint of heart.
  5. This makes for good series potential. The characters are  rich with more stories that could be told.

FAVORITE LINES: (From an exchange between Plain Alice and Ludwig the dragon)

Ludwig’s face sank. “Oh, but … but this is terrible,” he said. “I have kidnapped the wrong girl.”

“Think how I feel about it,” said Plain Alice.

Ludwig cocked his head. “I suppose that is a fair point,” he said. “Er, sorry.”

AUTHOR BACKGROUND:
As a kid, he gobbled up fantasy novels and logic puzzles, and as an adult, he spent over ten years as a practicing lawyer before launching his career as a writer. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This is his first novel.

********************************************************************

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

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

LISTEN, SLOWLY (A Cybils 2015 Finalist)

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

cybilsbooks

Four female – one male protagonist. The settings: London, San Francisco, Vietnam, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Together they make up the five finalists for this year’s Middle Grade Fiction Cybils Awards. Each day this week I’ll have a review of each title:

The best news is you can win a giveaway of all five hardback books by making a comment on any or all of those days (up to five entries). I’ll draw the name this Sunday (Feb. 21) at 6 pm EST. Good luck!

======================================

This story told from the eyes of 12-year-old, Mai, is set in present day Vietnam. Mai is all about the beach life she enjoys in Laguna, California. WceGgDUNlCA8RPHOz66AbHHs4RI12Vqg+OoBRGBrKx2plCphEkAr3aizNSRpuGHkIoDZcS4gLRs3LNNbucM2t1akSQ57d2QayYcYsAsr1FVQ5iDKyCBWtzAWMsmQ+7PKThat is until her parents (a successful lawyer mom and a doctor father) push her into accompanying a grandmother to Vietnam where grandma hopes to discover what happened to her husband, Mai’s grandfather, during the war long ago.

Mai struggles fitting in with the new culture and longs to return home to discover what HIM is doing, a boy she likes. She’s in a pre-teen funk most of the book but slowly comes to accept the reasons she is away, helping her grandmother. I had trouble connecting with her, but the journey through Vietnam, experiencing the people, their unique food and customs was quite rewarding for someone like me with little knowledge of this country.

Once again, boys won’t be flocking to this one, but be assured there will be plenty of other readers to take this very unusual ride.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 62,059  LEVEL: 5.3

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) A California girl born and raised, Mai can’t wait to spend her vacation at the beach. Instead, she has to travel to Vietnam with her grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband during the Vietnam War. Mai’s parents think this trip will be a great opportunity for their out-of-touch daughter to learn more about her culture. But to Mai, those are their roots, not her own. Vietnam is hot, smelly, and the last place she wants to be. Besides barely speaking the language, she doesn’t know the geography, the local customs, or even her distant relatives. To survive her trip, Mai must find a balance between her two completely different worlds.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: LISTEN, SLOWLY by Thanhhà Lại

  1. Her grandmother’s thoughts are prevalent throughout the story and bring insights into how hard it was never having closure concerning her missing husband. They are a bit harder to read in italics but rewarding just the same.
  2. This is not a droll travelogue but instead a witty, often funny, often sad journey through a country whose history is riddled with war.
  3. Very accurate middle grade voice coming out of Mai.  Not all girls in the U.S. are like her thank goodness, but you’ll smile at some of the similarities.
  4. The supporting cast in Vietnam are each fascinating characters. Ut, her new sort of friend, and Anh Minh, her translator, bring their own fascinating backgrounds and provide heart to the story.
  5. Mai pretends to not know any Vietnamese, when in fact she understands quite a bit. This brings many comical results to her conversations.

FAVORITE LINES: My parents should be thanking the Buddha for a daughter like me: a no-lip gloss, no-short shorts twelve-year-old rocking a 4.0 GPA and an STA-ish vocab who is team leader in track, science, and chess. I should at least be able to spend the summer resting my brain at the beach. Instead, I get shoved on a predawn flight.

AUTHOR QUOTE: I was born in Saigon, Vietnam, immigrated to Montgomery, Alabama after the war in 1975 and currently live north of New York City. Most importantly, I’ve started a not-for-profit organization called Viet Kids Inc. to buy bicycles for poor students in Vietnam. (For more information about this project and about Thahnna, visit her website.

********************************************************************

Make a comment if you have time as you could win all five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalists.  You’ll find the comment link below.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

BLACKBIRD FLY (a 2015 Cybils Finalist)

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

cybilsbooks

Four female – one male protagonist. The settings: London, San Francisco, Vietnam, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Together they make up the five finalists for this year’s Middle Grade Fiction Cybils Awards. Each day this week I’ll have a review of each title:

The best news is you can win a giveaway of all five hardback books by making a comment on any or all of those days (up to five entries). I’ll draw the name this Sunday (Feb. 21) at 6 pm EST. Good luck!

======================================

Middle school drama is brought forth in all its worst ways: bullying, hurt feelings, and a roller coast of emotions for those walking the halls of Chapel Spring Middle School. Yikes.WceGgDUNlCA8RPHOz66AbHHs4RI12Vqg+OoBRGBrKx2plCphEkAr3aizNSRpuGHkIoDZcS4gLRs3LNNbucM2t03yVcfJclG1uXmHQidYbLFQ5iDKyCBWtzAWMsmQ+7PK

Apple Yengko tells her own story of life in Louisiana after moving there at an early age from the Philippines. Her mother made that decision after Apple’s father passed away. America would give them a better life. Apple is not so sure. She misses the sandy beaches and middle school is becoming a nightmare. Popular boys have circulated their traditional “Dog Log” list of the ugliest girls and Apple is listed third. She loses friends who only care how popular they are and making sure they look just right for the boys.

What Apple really wants is to learn how to play Beatles’ songs on a guitar. It’s that quest and new friendships that propel Apple to a new way of thinking about her future. Not every middle school is like this, but it sure paints a great picture of how smart kids can be so dumb.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 43,308   READING LEVEL: 4.4

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) Apple has always felt a little different from her classmates. She and her mother moved to Louisiana from the Philippines when she was little, and her mother still cooks Filipino foods and chastises Apple for becoming “too American.” When Apple’s friends turn on her and everything about her life starts to seem weird and embarrassing, Apple turns to music. If she can just save enough to buy a guitar and learn to play, maybe she can change herself. It might be the music that saves her . . . or it might be her two new friends, who show her how special she really is. Erin Entrada Kelly deftly brings Apple’s conflicted emotions to the page in her debut novel about family, friendship, popularity, and going your own way.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: BLACKBIRD FLY  by Erin Entrada Kelly

  1. I don’t care what school you walk into, but you’ll always find a kid like Evan Temple. He befriends Apple and rises above the silliness of his classmates. He’s the true hero of the story.
  2. The Beatles are still a known singing group for many of this age. There are likely going to be a few more fans who will search out their music thanks to Apple’s love of Beatles’ songs. Here’s a playlist of the songs featured in the book.
  3. This should be required reading for any boy or girl who acts like one of the popular kids at Chapel Springs Middle. It shows how devastating stupid comments can be on an individual. I really wanted to see these kids disciplined but sadly their acts went unnoticed by the adults.
  4. Being true to oneself is a lesson that flies off the pages and hopefully settles on a few teens in the process.
  5. Diversity. No matter what color you bring to the table, this book will open your eyes as to how difficult it is for some to fit in based on where they came from.

FAVORITE LINES: The thing I remember about the Philippines is the water. It’s the most beautiful water you’ll ever see. It’s sparkling shades of green and blue and feels like it covers the whole world. I can remember the way it smelled too–salty and wet–and how the sand felt when it pushed between my toes. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if we had stayed there. My mother says she wanted us to have a better life, but when I think of splashing through the water and eating mangoes until the juice dripped down my chin, I don’t understand how our life in America is any better. In the Philippines, I would be just another face in the crowd. No one could call me a dog-eater or a dog. I would even be pretty.

AUTHOR QUOTE:  Hi. I’m Erin. I love to write. You probably noticed that. I also love to read (yay, books!). Some of my big dreams are to cook the perfect pot of spaghetti, visit the Bronte parsonage in the English countryside, and learn how to play Blackbird on the guitar. For the record, none of those things have happened.

I wrote my first book in the second grade. The title of it was “The Two Orphans,” except I misspelled “orphans,” so it was actually “The Two Orpans.” The orphans were best friends who were adopted by separate families, so they were very sad. Then one of their houses burned down, so the families moved in together and they all lived happily ever after.

See more from Erin’s author website.

********************************************************************

Make a comment if you have time as you could win all five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalists.  You’ll find the comment link below.

Posted in Giveaways, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

FOOTER DAVIS PROBABLY IS CRAZY (A 2015 CYBILS Finalist)

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

cybilsbooks

Four female – one male protagonist. The settings: London, San Francisco, Vietnam, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Together they make up the five finalists for this year’s Middle Grade Fiction Cybils Awards. Each day this week I’ll have a review of each title:

  • Monday: THE BLACKTHORN KEY
  • Tuesday: BOOK SCAVENGER
  • Wednesday: FOOTER DAVIS PROBABLY IS CRAZY (Today’s featured Finalist)
  • Thursday: BLACKBIRD FLY
  • Friday: LISTEN, SLOWLY

The best news is you can win a giveaway of all five hardback books by making a comment on any or all of those days (up to five entries). I’ll draw the name this Sunday (Feb. 21) at 6 pm EST. Good luck!

======================================

I expected a whimsical adventure with quite a few laughs along the way. I mean, look at the cover. This was going to be one fun ride…

Whoops, not so fast… Footer Davis is the young female narrator of the story set in modern day 51DgV1VzFJL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_Mississippi. She begins the tale nine days after a terrible tragedy at a neighboring farm. Mr. Abrams was shot dead and his two grandchildren are missing, presumed dead in a fire that leveled the place.

There’s a wide range of troubled characters who are possible suspects. From Footer’s mom who is bi-polar and in and out of hospitals, to Captain Armstrong, another neighbor who carries around symptoms of PTSD from his days in the army. Footer has a best friend, Peavine, who has cerebral palsy, but never lets it get the best of him. Together they begin interviewing suspects and hope to find answers since the police so far haven’t found anything.

Footer’s dad is sort of there for her, but with work and a wife recovering, Footer is left trying to internalize her own thoughts. The worst is that she thinks she has a brain tumor and is possibly falling into the same mental illness as her mother. Although there is a lot going on here, the main story of solving the murder carries the story. I had the twist toward the end figured out thanks to the clues dropped along the way, but it was a nice conclusion to an often difficult story to read.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 46,527   READING LEVEL: 4.9

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) Footer Davis is on the case when two kids go missing after a fire in this humorously honest novel that is full of Southern style.

“Bless your heart” is a saying in the South that sounds nice but really isn’t. It means, “You’re beyond help.” That’s what folks say about fifth grader Footer Davis’s mom, who “ain’t right” because of her bipolar disorder. She just shot a snake in Footer’s yard with an elephant gun, and now she’s been shipped off to a mental hospital, and Footer is missing her fiercely yet again.

“Bless their hearts” is also what folks say about Cissy and Doc Abrams, two kids who went missing after a house fire. Footer wants to be a journalist and her friend Peavine wants to be a detective, so the two decide to help with the mystery of the missing kids. But when visiting the crime scene makes Footer begin to have “episodes” of her own, she wonders if maybe she’s getting sick like her mom, and that’s a mystery that she’s not at all sure she wants to solve.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: FOOTER DAVIS… by Susan Vaught

  1. The chapters often end with either a question and answer session with one of the suspects, which is just about anyone Footer and Peavine know, or one of Footer’s graded homework assignments. Insightful and humorous as they each reveal much of the plot.
  2. Footer has a troublesome life full of questions beyond what most kids will ever face. A crumbling relationship with her father, a detached mother, and a sense that she is also going crazy. You’ll hope and maybe pray for a better outlook on life from young Footer. Great writing from author Susan Vaught to make a fictional character make you feel this way.
  3. With Footer’s  mom locked away in a mental ward and a dad who doesn’t believer her theories, Footer gets help from a social worker. The dialog they have is rich with sarcasm and honesty. It’s great to see the change each makes in the process.
  4. The interview in the back of the book is with Susan and her editor. Very enlightening as are the resources on mental illness she adds to the final few pages.
  5. Footer is a realistic sounding 11-year-old. She questions everything and makes  an endearing narrator. It was also nice to have, Peavine, along for the ride. A rare character in MG with cerebral palsy.

FAVORITE LINES: The day my mother exploded a copperhead snake with an elephant gun, I decided I was genetically destined to become a felon or a big game hunter.

AUTHOR QUOTE: I’ve been a published author for over a decade now, and I’m still a psychologist, too. I actually specialize in neuropsychology, and I work as Director of Psychology in a majestic state psychiatric facility in Kentucky. When I blog about my workplace–especially to post the much-requested spooky pictures I sometimes find–I refer to it as the Old Asylum.

Read more at  Susan Vaught’s author website.

********************************************************************

Make a comment if you have time as you could win all five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalists.  You’ll find the comment link below.

 

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

BOOK SCAVENGER (A 2015 Cybils Finalist)

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

cybilsbooks

Four female – one male protagonist. The settings: London, San Francisco, Vietnam, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Together they make up the five finalists for this year’s Middle Grade Fiction Cybils Awards. Each day this week I have a review of each title:

  • Monday: THE BLACKTHORN KEY
  • Tuesday: BOOK SCAVENGER (Today’s featured Finalist)
  • Wednesday: FOOTER DAVIS PROBABLY IS CRAZY
  • Thursday: BLACKBIRD FLY
  • Friday: LISTEN, SLOWLY

The best news is you can win a giveaway of all five hardback books by making a comment on any or all of those days (up to five entries). I’ll draw the name this Sunday (Feb. 21) at 6 pm EST. Good luck!

======================================

A mystery, several endearing children, and a San Francisco setting make this a fun, fast paced read. Sometimes thrilling, sometimes thought provoking, Book Scavenger tugs at everything we love about books.51sLY1x-XyL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_

At the center is Emily and her family who are doing a Fifty Homes in Fifty States publishing journey. Sounds like a great idea for a book but the effects of moving so much and never having a forever friend is weighing heavily on Emily. Nothing ever lasts in Emily’s world. It’s especially challenging arriving in San Francisco, the home of renowned literary genius, Garrison Griswold, and playing his book scavenger game she adores. Emily gets help from her temporary new friend, James. He’s a spunky middle school age boy who names his cowlick, Steve (Yes, you can see it on the cover).

We also get an older brother, Matthew. He doesn’t have much time for Emily anymore with his punk rock band obsession. Many will see similarities when two siblings, once best of friends, begin to drift apart.

Use this as a read-aloud or just disappear under the covers and enjoy this fun adventure.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 68,016   LEVEL: 5.5

FULL PLOT  (from AMAZON): For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it’s the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game.

Racing against time, Emily and James rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold’s new game―before those who attacked Griswold come after them too.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: BOOK SCAVENGER by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

  1. The city of San Francisco comes to life and serves as the perfect setting for this adventurous ride. If you have ever visited, many of the iconic sites serve as perfect backdrops for the action. My favorite: The kids being chased down Lombard Street, one of the crookedest streets in America.
  2. The relationship between Emily and James is so middle grade typical. The two become friends over a similar liking to puzzles and ciphers. It’s when their friendship is challenged by different choices, that we see what makes a long lasting friend.
  3. You learn about ciphers (messages written in secret code), literary history, and many famous authors. Not boring one bit when presented in the scavenger game format.
  4. This book allows for a real life book scavenger game. Visit this web site to see if a book is hidden in your state.
  5. I finally have a book that kids carry around, devouring the next chapter whenever a few minutes allow.

FAVORITE LINES:

“Are you hypnotized by my hair?” James asked.

Emily felt her face heat up, but James waved her off.

“It’s cool, he likes the attention.”

“He?”

“His name is Steve.”

“Your cowlick is names Steve?”

“I was going to name him Geronimo, but that seemed ridiculous.”

AUTHOR QUOTE: I grew up in a family of readers. Newspapers, magazines, and books–there was a high probability of spotting someone reading at any given point. My mom and I made regular trips to the public library, and she let me wander the children’s area and pick out whatever I wanted. We’d cross paths while browsing and she’d share a book she found that she thought I’d like. It was a wonderful way to feel both independent and like I was forming my own reading taste, but also like I was sharing a reading hobby with my mom. We continue to share reading recommendations with each other to this day.

For more see Jennifer’s author web site.

********************************************************

Make a comment if you have time as you could win all five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalists.  You’ll find the comment link below.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

THE BLACKTHORN KEY (The 2015 Cybils Winner)

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

cybilswinner

Four female – one male protagonist. The settings: London, San Francisco, Vietnam, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Together they make up the five finalists for this year’s Middle Grade Fiction Cybils Awards. This week I have a review of each title:

  • TODAY: THE BLACKTHORN KEY (The Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Winner)

  • Tuesday: THE BOOK SCAVENGER
  • Wednesday: FOOTER DAVIS PROBABLY IS CRAZY
  • Thursday: BLACKBIRD FLY
  • Friday: LISTEN, SLOWLY

The best news is you can win a giveaway of all five hardback finalists by making a comment on any or all of those days (up to five entries). I’ll draw the name this Sunday (Feb. 21) at 6 pm EST. Good luck and now on to this year’s Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Winner… THE BLACKTHORN KEY

This exciting tale of codes, puzzles and a mysterious cult is set in 1600’s London. The story is a page-turnerthe-blackthorn-key-9781481446518_hr told through the eyes of 14-year-old apothecary’s apprentice, Christopher Rowe. He’s happy in his role learning how to make powerful medicines, potions, and weapons from Master Benedict Blackthorn. At the same time, he’s a kid horsing around with his buddy, the baker’s son. But when a string of shocking murders to other apothecaries gets closer and closer to the Blackthorn shop, Christopher must take action. His master knows of a secret that could destroy the world and trusts Christopher with coded messages that will also help him gain that knowledge.

The author, Kevin Sands, really gets the idea of leave them wanting more at the end of each chapter. There are twists and surprises along with some gruesome violence and fights, so reserve this for older MG readers. The BLACKTHORN KEY is a true gift from a great storyteller.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   WORD COUNT: 65,451  LEVEL: 4.6

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Following a series of murders, an apothecary’s apprentice must solve puzzles and decipher codes in pursuit of a secret that could destroy the world in this suspenseful debut novel.

“Tell no one what I’ve given you.”

Until he got that cryptic warning, Christopher Rowe was happy, learning how to solve complex codes and puzzles and creating powerful medicines, potions, and weapons as an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn—with maybe an explosion or two along the way.

But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT:  THE BLACKTHORN KEY by Kevin Sands

  1. Tom is the trustful friend Christopher confides his secrets to and is not unlike the friendship two boys in today’s world might have – helping each other with decisions and keeping the other out of harm’s way. Their interactions brought me to a smile many times.
  2. The inclusion of botany, astronomy, and chemistry make a great hook for science loving kids. It might also recruit others who have never had an interest in this area.
  3. Christopher’s voice is modern and funny though not at the expense of historical accuracy.
  4. The pacing is superb and the puzzles are fun to follow along as to their true meaning. After reading the 371 pages,  I’d learned so much about this time period in an enticing and exciting way.
  5. We have the hint of a sequel at the end, and I’m glad to report there is one in the works.

FAVORITE LINES: Tom clasped his hands together and mumbled a prayer. “Jesus, in Your mercy, please protect fools like us. Amen.”

WHO is KEVIN SANDS? Since escaping from university with a pair of degrees in theoretical physics, Kevin Sands has worked as a researcher, business consultant, a teacher, and a professional poker player. He lives in Toronto, Canada. The Blackthorn Key is his debut novel. (Kevin’s Web Site)

********************************************************

Make a comment if you have time and this week you could win all five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction finalists.  You’ll find the comment link below.

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

MMGM2

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments