MG BOOKS THAT WOULD MAKE A GOOD MOVIE

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

The annual Academy Awards are announced this Sunday evening. Like most years I’m woefully behind seeing only three of the best picture nominated films so far. I’ll still watch the award show, but I’m always more fascinated with the screenplay awards. This is where writers are recognized.

There are two categories. One for material written directly for the screen and the other for writing adapted from another source. This would typically be a novel, play, or short story, though like one of this year’s nominees (Whiplash) can also be based on a short film.

As is the norm, the nominees in this adapted category are far from anything close to middle grade writing. When the award show drags on, my thoughts will be on MG books I’d hope someday get a chance to hit the big screen. It may be a long shot for many of these but you never know.

And the envelope please…

WONDER

THE SPY CATCHERS OF MAPLE HILL

THE MARK OF THE DRAGONFLY

HOPE IS A FERRIS WHEEL

TESLA’s ATTIC

POACHED

How about you? What book would you nominate to become a movie?

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WEST OF THE MOON for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I have been on a contemporary MG binge this year so I took a break for this novel set in the mid 19th century. Filled with Norwegian history and westofmoonfolklore, it also contains some frightening scenes. I won’t provide any spoilers but it would be best to leave this one for upper MG readers.

Folktales are the driving force that make this story interesting and well told. The author notes and glossary are an added bonus and perhaps the place to start would be to read these so you’d have a better understanding of the story elements. Told in a first person POV, it is divided into three parts: THE GOAT FARM; FLIGHT; THE COLUMBUS.

Boys will not be lining up for a copy of this one, but girls who are avid readers might enjoy its depiction of life during that time. It’s harsh and it makes you thankful to live in the modern day world.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014  WORD COUNT: 42,852  READING LEVEL: 5.2

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  In West of the Moon, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Margi Preus expertly weaves original fiction with myth and folktale to tell the story of Astri, a young Norwegian girl desperate to join her father in America.
After being separated from her sister and sold to a cruel goat farmer, Astri makes a daring escape. She quickly retrieves her little sister, and, armed with a troll treasure, a book of spells and curses, and a possibly magic hairbrush, they set off for America. With a mysterious companion in tow and the malevolent “goatman” in pursuit, the girls head over the Norwegian mountains, through field and forest, and in and out of folktales and dreams as they steadily make their way east of the sun and west of the moon.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT WEST OF THE MOON by Margi Preus

  1. The folktales the MC knows so well are woven into her own story. She plays out each line like it will surely come true. Sadly, many of them do.
  2. It skillfully demonstrates how normal people can be brought to do terrible things. In the end it shows how forgiveness of yourself and others is the essential part of moving forward.
  3. I often find reading MG is a repeat experience – same themes told in a different way. I never got that feeling with this title. Surprising and enriching, the tale is one that would probably appeal to adult readers more than their children.
  4. The bond between Astri and her younger sister, Greta, is touching and one that will have you hoping your own children would have the same relationship.
  5. The immigrant’s trunk. The contents inside were required to make the long journey across the Atlantic. Apparently these trunks are still tucked away in many Eastern U.S. homes and museums.

FAVORITE LINES: Uncle comes and tucks a wisp of hair behind my ear, almost tenderly. “I’m sorry, Astri,” he says. “It can’t be helped.” That’s all there is for a good-bye, and then out the door I go.

QUOTE FROM AUTHOR: “The story relies heavily on the Norwegian folk and fairy tales my father used to tell in Norwegian (translating into English for us kids as he went along).”

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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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CYBILS AWARDS ANNOUNCED!!

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Cybils-Logo-2014-NominatedYes, the entire list is here, from book apps and picture books through YA and non-fiction. It’s an impressive collection of literature. What’s even more exciting is the book ALWAYS in the MIDDLE nominated for the MG Fiction Award has won! Jacket+Nickel+Bay+Nick

Congratulations to Dean Pitchford and his memorable NICKEL BAY NICK.

(Here’s my original review)

I let my own copy get away to another reader so I’ll be out searching for another to put on my shelf. Of course, I’ll be re-reading the great story, too. It puts a smile on my face as does this honor for the book.

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ELVIS AND THE UNDERDOGS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

…Or in longer words ELVIS AND THE UNDERDOGS – SECRETS, SECRET SERVICE, AND ROOM SERVICE. Yes, that’s got to be the longest title Elvisfor a sequel or any other book this year.  I came across the first book in this series a year ago (ELVIS AND THE UNDERDOGS) and almost didn’t read it because I’m not a fan of stories with a talking dog. I pushed forth anyway and enjoyed the tale with its fun set of human characters, and yes, the perceptive wit of Elvis, the 200  pound Newfoundland.  I had intended to review Elvis but never got that far. I’m happy the void is removed with today’s review of the longer titled book 2.

You won’t have to worry if you missed the first book. All the important details from that story are told on the book jacket and in the first few chapters. All the characters return for another wild adventure. The series seems more appealing to new MG readers perhaps in that 8-10 age group.

You’ll grimace at how implausible all of this is but by the last page you won’t be able to get the smile off your face.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   PAGE COUNT: 334

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): It’s been months since Benji’s former safety dog, Elvis, was whisked away by the Secret Service, but Benji still misses him terribly. Luckily, because Elvis is now the president’s dog, there are plenty of pictures and videos of him online.

While watching the footage of the president’s speech on the White House lawn, Benji and his friends Alexander and Taisy see Elvis thumping his tail repeatedly. Is he trying to tell Benji something? The kids realize it’s actually a code! And Elvis needs their help.

And so begins another madcap adventure in which these underdog best friends will have to find a way to travel to DC, find out the truth behind Elvis’s distress signals, and uncover state secrets without getting caught . . . or they may have to say good-bye to Elvis for good.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT ELVIS AND THE UNDERDOGS 2  by Jenny Lee

  1. The climax of the story takes place inside the White House. A very cool setting for the plot points to come to a happy conclusion.
  2. If you like plenty of slapstick with your humor look no further than the scenes in the White House kitchen.
  3. Our protagonist, Benji, is an enduring character with lots of personality. He’s been sick for most of his life and needs a service dog like Elvis to keep him out of harms way. This adds much of the heart present in the story.
  4. Despite the length of this one, it is not filled with pictures, but those that appear at the beginning of each chapter are appropriate and sometimes funny in their own right. Congrats to Kelly Light, the illustrator, for keeping the theme of the story in her drawings.
  5. This would make a great read-aloud and be especially good for kids having an unwanted stay in a hospital. I spent a week in one when I was in fifth grade and Elvis and the Underdogs would have made that time much more pleasurable.

FAVORITE LINES:

Have you ever heard the expression “small kid, big personality”? No? Well, that’s not surprising, because I just made it up.

AUTHOR QUOTE: (SOURCE)

My first dog was a mixed breed named Julie. (Hey, I’m also against giving dogs human-y names, but don’t blame me. I was six years old!) Julie apparently ran away and joined the circus after she had a run-in with the gas meter guy. Or so I was told. Again, I was six. I didn’t ask questions.

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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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SPACE CASE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

This hefty volume won’t attract reluctant readers, but for everyone else, there’s a lot to like about this moon based mystery. Twelve-year-old Dashiel has his 9781442494862hands full as he tries to figure out who killed one of the top scientists on the first human moon colony. Every good mystery should have you guessing to the end and this one does a fine job making sure there is a motive for a large number of suspects. I was fascinated by what it would be like to actually live on the moon. It sounded intriguing at first, but after what the inhabitants go through, I’m staying close to Earth.

There are two reasons why we’ll be reading future stores in this unique setting: First, there is an unusual twist at the end that I hadn’t anticipated and our MC and his family are only in the first six months of their three year stay. I have the feeling there’s going to be more intrigue, suspense, and maybe a few uninvited guests as we follow this cast of characters.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   WORD COUNT: 70,717  READING LEVEL: 5.3

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Like his fellow lunarnauts—otherwise known as Moonies—living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon.

And he’s bored out of his mind. Kids aren’t allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they’re trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time—and the only other kid Dash’s age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games.

Then Moon Base Alpha’s top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there’s foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, Dash finds out, and it’s a secret that could change everything for the Moonies—a secret someone just might kill to keep…

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT SPACE CASE by Stuart Gibbs

  1. The science. You discover what it’s like sleeping, eating, and interacting in an environment so much different from our own. It had me saying “I didn’t know that” several times. Great discussion topics.
  2. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from THE OFFICIAL RESIDENTS’ GUIDE TO MOON BASE ALPHA. It’s a brochure like look at what to expect if chosen to be a temporary resident. Yeah, about those bathrooms…
  3. Both Dash and his new friend Kira are smart kids who think things through. They also each have parents on the trip and it’s nice to see normal families in an abnormal setting. Parents who are engaged in their children’s growth.
  4. Set in the not too distant future it never feels made-up with the technology used on the base.
  5. There’s humor in what could have been a very serious story. That’s mostly because of narrator, Dash, who has his own spin on life, family, and what he misses back on earth.

FAVORITE LINES:

Let’s get something straight, right off the bat: Everything the movies have ever taught you about space travel is garbage.

AUTHOR QUOTE:

…Writing something only 25 years in the future is kind of weird, because the potential for getting things wrong is enormous.  My readers are still going to be around in 25 years.  Hopefully, people will still be reading this book in 25 years.  So anything that is prescient will seem cool — but anything I get wrong will seem idiotic, probably. Right before I started writing, I watched the second Back to the Future movie.  (For those of you who haven’t seen it, the movie takes place in 1985, and they travel to the distant future — of 2015.)  They weren’t really shooting for reality in that movie, but it’s amazing how far off they were.  Almost nothing they imagined for 2015 has happened yet. (SOURCE)

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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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What book started your love of reading?

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Each February, a school I once worked at has a yearly reading celebration.  It’s an “I Love Reading” theme all month with book fairs, author visits, writing workshops, reading contests, and guests each day sharing an answer to the question of the month. They invited me back again to participate. The question I have to answer in front of kids and adults is “What book in your growing up years propelled you to a lifetime of loving to read?”

I’m glad I got the question early because at first it was a difficult one to answer. I was not much into reading fiction in my elementary years. Non-fiction was my specialty. I loved the fact that I didn’t have to read a book in order or read every line – only what interested me. But what they want is a title that I can hold up and show a classroom of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.

I scanned my brain and visions appeared of me reading the newspaper with my dad. He was a journalist and each morning a newspaper was delivered to the porch, and at that time we had two daily papers competing for our attention. Plenty of reading material. Who had time for books? Since I’m not going to hold up a newspaper I had to dig deeper for the book that hooked me on fiction.

I went to  several bookshelves in my home for an answer. One is actually a mantle in the kitchen where many of my favorite past reads end up. Nothing there. Another is in my home office where a built-in corner bookshelf is filled with books from floor to ceiling. Mostly research and college books. The last location is where the memories came back

In a guest bedroom there is a stand-alone four-shelf bookcase. It is filled with books I’ve read but haven’t given away. Many times someone asks to borrow a book from these shelves and I always say yes with the condition they don’t give it back and share it with another reader after they are finished. I glanced at the titles, some old some new, and in the lower corner were three books, the ones that got me reading fiction.

hardyboys

Yes, The Hardy Boys. I was in 5th, maybe 6th grade and a friend said I had to read the first one. I did and liked the exciting sleuthing tales of Frank and Joe Hardy so much I read the next two within a week. But then I stopped. By the time middle school began I got interested in other books and never returned despite having 187 sequels to choose from. The series is still popular worldwide today, but I’ll stay with the first three, the ones that sparked my love of fiction.

HARDY BOYS FACTS

  • The author, Franklin W. Dixon, never existed. All the books since their inception in 1927 were written by ghostwriters.
  • The Hardy Boys have been featured in five separate television programs
  • Next month Simon and Schuster will release the eighth book in the HARDY BOYS ADVENTURE SERIES titled DECEPTION ON THE SET. These books are different from the originals as they are told with alternating first person POV. The originals were all third person.

51r-w4zWzfL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Thanks Frank and Joe and whoever is writing your current volumes for encouraging boys to read.

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THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I was getting to the end of this short book and found myself wishing for more, wishing there was a way to stay in Destiny. Sometimes an61VVpCoK9eL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_ author creates a bond for her readers with the setting and characters and that’s exactly what happened for me. Young Theo M. Thomas is the perfect voice to carry this off. A gifted play it by ear pianist and a budding baseball star, Theo’s story is more about dealing with the past and an uncertain future.

He’s been living with his grandparents after his own parents were killed. When the story begins he’s already with the uncle he doesn’t know, but who agreed to care for Theo after the grandparents circumstances change. Bad choice as this Vietnam vet has no skills in dealing with a child. Set in 1974, the story is a slice of contemporary life 40 years ago. Save this one for a trip or as a read-aloud. Yes, you’ll want more mystery, baseball, and piano, and that’s why I hope there will be a next chapter in Theo’s life.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   Page Count: 179

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  When Theo gets off a bus in Destiny, Florida, he’s left behind the only life he’s ever known. Now he’s got to live with Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam War vet and a loner who wants nothing to do with this long-lost nephew. Thank goodness for Miss Sister Grandersole’s Rooming House and Dance School. The piano that sits in Miss Sister’s dance studio calls to Theo. He can’t wait to play those ivory keys. When Anabel arrives things get even more enticing. This feisty girl, a baseball fanatic, invites Theo on her quest to uncover the town’s connection to old-time ball players rumored to have lived there years before. A mystery, an adventure, and a musical exploration unfold as this town called Destiny lives up to its name.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY by AUGUSTA SCATTERGOOD

  1. That cover grabbed me from the get go. A large piano, a small boy, and his baseball glove. The title along with Theo and his baseball glove are raised on the page giving it a specialness all its own.
  2. The well thought out cast of secondary characters adds depth to the story. There’s Miss Sister, who understands Theo from the first day. Anabel, his baseball loving new friend, well, his only friend. And finally, Uncle Raymond, who perhaps changes the most of anyone.
  3. The fictional town of Destiny is based on many real Florida beachfront communities. I’ve visited a few of those and found the depiction here to be perfect.
  4. Theo and Anabel are a charming twosome and one of my favorite friendships I’ve come to know in books over the past ten years.
  5. Although this is a quiet book, the noise the author makes with her writing is enough to make any writer sit up and notice.

FAVORITE LINES:

1.The last place I want to be is upstairs with my uncle. The first place I want to be is here. Near Miss Sister, not too far from her piano.

2. Nobody in the history of the universe ever learned one single fact worth knowing on the last day of school.

AUTHOR QUOTE:

“Although this is fiction the character of Miss Sister Grandersole was based on much loved dance teachers in the small town where I grew up including one everybody called Sister.”

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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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THE BATTLE OF DARCY LANE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

darcy lanePreteen girls will love this new title. It’s filled with much of what they’re thinking about or currently facing: New friends, old friends, cute boys, getting rid of old toys, and going shopping for… YIKES… a first bra (It may take me a few days to recover from that chapter). It’s told through the eyes of 12-year-old Julia and her voice is spot on for this age. The author typically writes YA so she does push the limits on this one, but thankfully it remains in the MG world where girls around 10-12 will enjoy.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   Page Count: 203

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):

It is summertime, and twelve-year-old Julia Richards cannot stand the anticipation. Everyone on Darcy Lane seems to be holding their breath waiting for the cicadas to emerge, but what Julia and her best friend, Taylor, want is some real excitement. Which arrives in the form of a new neighbor named Alyssa, who introduces a ball game called Russia . . . and an unwelcome level of BFF rivalry.

Suddenly nothing stands unchallenged—not Julia’s friendships, her crush, or her independence. But while Julia realizes that she cannot control all the changes in her life, she hangs onto the hope that everything will go in her favor if she can just win one magnificent showdown.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE BATTLE OF DARCY LANE by Tara Altebrando

  1. A somewhat rare two parent home in an MG novel, and what great parents they are – always trying to do what’s best for Julia. It shows in the time they each spend with her to help solve life’s problems.
  2. Russia. Not the country, but the game… I’d never heard of it either. It becomes a subplot as Julia and her friends challenge each other. With its element of coordination, Russia would be a great game to start or end a PE class, or something to do outside for bored young ones. I wanted to share this game but was unsure if I had all the rules after finishing the book. Fortunately, the author supplied all the steps to play in the back of the book.
  3. I liked the underlying theme that if you want to make friends just do what you like to do and you’ll find others to connect with. For Julia that means playing the clarinet. Music camp provides her with a positive influence in contrast to the girls living on her street.
  4. Cicadas. These insects have fascinating habits that are revealed in the pages. Julia’s town is experiencing the end of the Cicada’s life cycle and when they arrive your drawn into the sight, sound, and mess left behind.
  5. The characters are all believable, though the mother of one is a bit over the top with her degrading remarks directed at Julia.

FAVORITE LINE:

I went out to the pool and sat down at the edge, with my feet in, waiting for a face to appear so I wouldn’t be alone.

AUTHOR QUOTE:

“I once (for a whole year!) saw fit to do stand-up comedy. Word on the street is I had good jokes but terrible stage presence.”

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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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WHERE I BELONG for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Mary Downing Hahn. She’s had a prolific writing career that began in 1979. You may have read one of her titles without realizing there are many more out there to enjoy.  WHERE I BELONG is her 32nd book.where I belong

This story revolves around the voice of Brendan, a 12 year old boy who never quite fits in. His love of drawing and the woods, along with hair that never gets cut, leave him on the bad end of many threats and taunts. Hahn writes the character in a sensitive way and you feel for what this boy is going through. Themes of self-confidence, friendship, and bullying would be perfect for kids trying to deal with any of these issues.

This was an enjoyable, quick, and very memorable read.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   WORD COUNT: 46,185  READING LEVEL: 4.2

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  No one is kind to sixth-grader Brendan Doyle: his foster mother, his teachers, his classmates, and especially the thugs who bully him. He takes refuge in books, drawing, carving, and daydreaming. When Brendan stumbles upon an old man near his tree house in the Virginia woods, he is quick to believe that this is the magical Green Man, guardian spirit of the forest. Brendan’s need to immerse himself in his fantasy world becomes more acute, until he meets a girl with secrets of her own who may just keep his feet on the ground.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT WHERE I BELONG by Mary Downing Hahn

  1. I’ve met many Brendan’s in my classroom over the years. A square peg trying to fit into a round hole. No matter what you do it’s tough to break through the hard shell they hide in. This story brings understanding that when a child’s world on the outside is so bad homework is the least of their worries.
  2. Shea becomes the friend who serves as Brendan’s lifesaver. Their friendship is always on shaky grounds, but trust is what they both come to know.
  3. Books like these are tough to read. Bad teachers, a bad foster parent, and juvenile delinquents on the run. I only keep reading because I know in most MG books there will be a bright light at the end. I’m not crazy about this ending but know the character has changed for the better.
  4. The short chapters and sentence structure may appeal to reluctant readers.
  5. The forest is often an escape for troubled kids. I’ve spent more than a few weeks at an outdoor education camp where kids are in tears the day they leave. For Brendan it’s his outlet for growth.

FAVORITE LINES: I hope she really didn’t say that, I hope its not true, my mother didn’t take drugs, she didn’t, she didn’t.

QUOTE FROM AUTHOR: “I played in the woods whenever I could when I was a child. That was one of the things I hated about leaving my childhood, was leaving all those long days exploring the woods.”

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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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Always in the Middle and Moving Forward

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

There is a lot to report as I get started on the new year…

Jacket+Nickel+Bay+Nick1. Several months ago I nominated NICKEL BAY NICK by Dean Pitchford for the 2014 Cybils (Children and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards) in the Middle Grade Fiction category. The finalists were announced last week and my nominee made the cut to the final seven! Cheers and good luck to one of my favorite books. If you need a memory refresher here’s my review from last year.

2. Yesterday I completed my fourth MG Manuscript, THE MOHAVE DROPOUTS. This initial draft took me three months to complete and I’m looking forward to the eventual rewrites. Yes, four stories are enough for now and it’s time to concentrate on polishing the ones I have and getting them noticed. My mind is swimming with more  story ideas, but those will have to wait until I’m satisfied with the foursome I’ve created.  Each are in different phases of the editing and rewriting process, but I’m excited about their progress.

3. CBS Sunday Morning interviewed Jeff Kinney, the author of the wildly popular Wimpy Kid series. People seem to either love or hate his stories of adolescent angst told through the eyes of young Greg Heffley. His response to what he thinks of this varied critical feedback may surprise you. See for yourself in this 6 minute interview.

4. Except for short pleasure jaunts, I’m not traveling this year teaching classes one weekend per month. I’ve been doing that for 15 years but most of the classes are now online (not my preference, but certainly easier for the students). I’ll miss seeing small town America like Beaufort, SC, Cody, WY, Spartanburg, GA, and twenty more. The people in these towns are what make these places truly great.

5. I began blogging long ago but only became serious about the task when ALWAYS in the MIDDLE started 30 months ago. Since then I have posted 250 times and who knows how much time involved in their creation. It’s not a chore but a love. I can’t wait to find out what the next 250 bring me.

“In the end, the only people who fail are those who do not try.” – David Viscott

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