THE SHORT SELLER for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I’m sure many of us did something as a kid that later looked glaringly stupid.88948560-e363-481e-b32b-25c724081799 I believe mine was writing neighborhood gossip  on wood fences throughout our community with my best friend – a girl who led me down the dark path to trouble. We used thick pieces of chalk to pen our messages until getting caught red handed. One hour of terror took a week to clean up. Lindy Sachs in THE SHORT SELLER makes an even worse blunder and one that is very costly.

It’s a compelling ride all the way showing just how hard it is to dig yourself out of a hole. Friendships and family relationships are threatened and it’s very believable.

PUBLICATION DATE:2013   WORD COUNT: 45,478  READING LEVEL: 5.0

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  A twelve-year-old takes on the stock market in this money-minded middle grade novel that Publishers Weekly calls “a smart pick.”

It all starts when seventh grader Lindy Sachs is granted one hundred dollars and access to her father’s online trading account as a way to alleviate her boredom while she’s home sick from school.

Lindy learns something immediately—she is very, very good at e-trading. Her one hundred dollars soon becomes two hundred dollars. Then four hundred. And more. With trading talent and access to her parents’ savings, the opportunity to make some real dough is too tempting to pass up. In fact, given how well Lindy’s stocks are doing, it would be a disservice to not invest it all…Right?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE SHORT SELLER by Elissa Brent Weissman

  1. Lindy doesn’t like math, but begins to understand and see its worth using the stock market as the practical example.
  2. Two parent family! I know this is an usual thing to like, but I have read so many books this year with one parent, no parent, or guardian in the home, it was refreshing to see this dynamic.
  3. Kids may not gravitate toward this title. They would need some urging but once in they’d enjoy the story. I used to sponsor a local competition called the Stock Market Game. I’d get 4 or 5 interested students at first but by week’s end the numbers had quadrupled.  They were reading, debating, making decisions, doing math. All of that before regular classes began. The same happens with THE SHORT SELLER. The excitement of the stock market is evident as it consumes Lindy’s time. Young readers will learn a lot about investing in a fun way.
  4. The relationship Lindy has with her older sister. It’s up and down the whole way. Very realistic portrayal.
  5. Anytime a book can win over young readers who may not be excited about math, its well worth the investment.

FAVORITE LINES:

Lindy looked at Cassie through her tears. She didn’t know about the rest of it, but at least Steph was wrong about one thing. She did have a friend.

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

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Feeling Secure as a Writer

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Writing is a funny business. I spend hours creating a scene only to change the words the next day. Entire chapters are cut, new ones added, and still I strive to make it perfect. Three out of four people will comment how they loved a certain part and the fourth will have a concern. Their one comment rolls around until it makes sense (or perhaps never does). I go back to rewrite once more. A sense of security comes and goes.

Yes, I’m revising my current story. It’s gone well, though it consumes every spare moment. I’ve sent out this second draft to a few readers and despite their positive comments I keep wondering – have I nailed it? Is there ever a perfect story? Probably not, as I’ve heard established authors say they’d like to change a scene even after their novel is published.

As I go through each day with work and other pursuits, my  story is always in the background. Listening to conversations and observing human reactions becomes a reminder of pages that could use a boost. I return to the story and change a few lines or paragraphs and I’m satisfied again. Then I ask for feedback and wait.

That time is filled with writing  this blog, reading, and completing non-writing tasks that need my attention. One of those this summer has been organizing my out of control pile of photo files. They are everywhere. In a cloud, on my phone and computer, and a box full of printed photos. I’m cataloging each one, tagged as either family, friends, travel, me, miscellaneous, and signs. Yes, I take pictures of words that capture my attention. Don’t know why. I’ve got dozens of these and since this post has been about security as a writer, here are two that you might want to post outside your front door to provide extra security at your home. Those solicitors may think twice before ringing your doorbell…

100_2233                               lion

 

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EVERYBODY BUGS OUT for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I don’t normally search out books swarming with complicated sixth grade girls, but I had research to do. I wasn’t sure if I was nailing the tween female voice in some of my recent drafts. Two females and one male from my critique group had no 9781599905266problem with what I had written, but I still needed some examples. I had read quite a few novels with a female protagonist set in another time period and found this contemporary title staring back at me on the library shelf. Written from the POV of Annabelle, it looked like I had found my source, written by the talented Leslie Margolis.

This was actually the third book in the ‘Annabelle’ series (preceded by BOYS ARE DOGS and GIRLS ACTING CADDY. And followed by last year’s ONE TOUGH CHICK) and turned out to be a quick read. Frankly, I was exhausted with pages of dialog about who is wearing what and who likes who. Getting beyond the wardrobe choices, it centered around the first dance on Valentine’s weekend and the quest to get a date. The emotional ups and downs of this group of friends had me running around the block for a break several times (and I may have blacked out once or twice when the girls were shopping).

In the end I realized 4th-6th grade girls would love this story. It’s very realistic as to what occurs in many middle schools. It’s just too bad these kids have to grow up so fast. Our world has a way of causing that. Anyhow, it’s fun story for the target audience. As for me, I’m recovering with an old Michael Crichton adult novel.

PUBLICATION DATE:2011   WORD COUNT: 40,675  READING LEVEL: 4.2

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Annabelle has tamed the wild boys and catty girls of middle school. Now it’s time for her first school dance! A couple of Annabelle’s friends already have dates and she would like one, too. Better yet, she finally has a crush on someone-Oliver. The problem? Claire also likes him, and she’s called dibs. To complicate things further, Annabelle has to work super closely with her secret crush on their science fair project! And it looks like one of their competitors is up to something shady. . . . If Annabelle says something, will Oliver respect her for it or think she’s a snitch? And will she ever understand what these junior-high boys are really thinking?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT EVERYBODY BUGS OUT by Leslie Margolis

  1. The story revolves around a science fair. It was fun to read how Annabelle and her two partners came up with their idea. I learned a few things about bugs, too.
  2. Oliver is the center of attention for Annabelle and her friend. He’s a charming kid who shines in the way he avoids the drama swirling around him. He’s the crush and doesn’t know it.
  3. There was never a mention of racial differences other than Oliver came form Jamaica. It was refreshing that these kids treated everyone with respect no matter what color you happened to be.
  4. Young readers will enjoy the fact parents and teachers took a back seat to the dialog and action. You are in the middle of Annabelle’s middle school world that shows only brief glimpses of adults.
  5. The cover is cute with the lady bugs in the shape of a heart with the fresh faced main characters underneath. The paperback version had several different versions with one leaving the kids out altogether.

FAVORITE LINES:

…He’s also annoying and loud and sometimes a little smelly. Today, for example, he reeked of stale sweat. Last week it was ketchup.

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

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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

My very own copy of THE BIG BOOK OF SUPERHEROES. Thanks to a contest on My Brain on Books (from none other than 9781423633976Joanne Fritz. Check out her blog), I already felt like a Superhero after my copy arrived direct from Bart King, the masterful author. The book is hefty. It must weigh, hold on a sec, I’ll be right back… yes, 2 pounds!

I jumped in right away and flipped through the pages. The first thing I came across was a 23 question quiz to take after reading the book. AHA. Maybe I already was a true superhero and didn’t know it. I took the quiz as a pretest and scored a 3, or a 4 with my lame answer on #8. Either way – not gifted. I was rather happy with my failure since the chapters titles were intriguing. Ones like SuperVillains and other Ethically Challenged People! Or how about, Superhero Training!

But wait, would it be too late for me to become a Superhero? I’m on my third career and frankly I don’t look like the Superhero type. Then again, Clark Kent and Peter Parker hadn’t looked the part either. Should I pass this along to my favorite 11-year-old as a gift to ensure his successful future? He would get his chance soon enough. I had to find out if I was hopelessly past getting my Superhero wings, cape, or, actually I’m not sure what you get.

As I read the chapters (not in order, and it didn’t seem to matter), there were more fun quizzes, loads of facts about superheroes I had never heard of, and unique trivia. I loved the activities –  things you could make or do as directions are given to carry them out. Let’s just say my next party is going to have a few surprises. Also, every conceivable angle was covered as to how to actually become a superhero. Most in hilarious fashion. With the excellent cartoon style pictures along with the text, the ride is well worth anyone’s time, whether you have a sidekick or not.

After completing my journey, I retook the quiz and I’m proud to say scored a perfect 23. At least on paper I earned my full-fledged superhero degree, or at least it felt that way. Now the hard work begins. I need a name (ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE MAN seemed a bit lame, but I’m working on it), a costume (my summer attire blends in with everyone else), and of course a mission. Regardless, I know I’ll be ready to save humankind thanks to Bart King and THE BIG BOOK OF SUPERHEROES. Holy Batman, this book is great!

 

 

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THE SPY CATCHERS OF MAPLE HILL for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I chose this title for two reasons: First, I loved the intriguing cover full of mystery. And second, it was written in close 3rd person POV. I had 51+08Moe-rL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_been working on my current manuscript in the same POV and found reading in the same format was helpful in my own writing. After I read the first page and learned the name of the female protagonist, Hazel Kaplansky, I settled in for what I hoped would be a fun summertime mystery. It didn’t take long to realize (let’s say the third page) that this was going to be a light mystery with a heavy dose of historical fiction.

The year is 1953. The Cold War and fear of communism is in full swing. Hazel is petrified her family is going to be dragged away by Russian spies in her small town of Maple Hill, Vermont. With her love of Nancy Drew books she sets out to build the evidence against a man who works for her parents. I never was fully behind this MC and frankly got a little tired of her whiny pursuit. What was interesting to me was learning about a time period I’d last heard about while sitting in my high school American History class. Okay, to be honest, my eyes were probably bouncing from the clock on the wall to the beautiful day outside to the more beautiful Russian exchange student who kept winking at me. Senator Joseph McCarthy and communist plots didn’t have a chance. I wish I’d had this book back then to enlighten me more than my droll lecturing teacher ever could.

I’m not sure if this story will be a big hit with the middle grade crowd. I’d think history loving individuals who have a connection to this time period themselves or with a relative would appreciate it more. I enjoyed it enough to feature it on today’s MMGM.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   PAGE COUNT: 305 pages

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Hazel Kaplansky is a firm believer in the pursuit of knowledge and truth—and she also happens to love a good mystery. When suspicions swirl that a Russian spy has infiltrated her small town of Maple Hill, Vermont, amidst the fervor of Cold War era McCarthyism, Hazel knows it’s up to her to find a suspect… starting with Mr. Jones, the quietly suspicious grave digger. Plus she’s found a perfect sleuthing partner in Samuel Butler, the new boy in school with a few secrets of his own. But as Hazel and Samuel piece together clues from the past and present, the truth is suddenly not what they expected, and what they find reveals more about themselves and the people of their cozy little town than they could ever have imagined.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE SPY CATCHERS OF MAPLE HILL by Megan Fraser Blakemore

  1. Hazel’s friend, Samuel, is more of a mystery than the one Hazel is after. I found him to be like a few kids I’ve crossed paths with, looking for meaning in their past and trying to find just one friend. He perhaps had more change to his character than Hazel.
  2. The story shows how gossip and rumors are a hurtful thing in schools and communities. It’s usually started by a one or two people and effects so many more. It was rampant in this era even without social media.
  3. The secondary adult characters were charming in their own way and willing to help Hazel understand.
  4. Female bullying was alive and well 60 years ago. You cringe every time Mary Anne Wood steps into a scene because you know she’s going to leave a mess in her wake.
  5. The author’s notes at the conclusion of the story provided more detail about McCarthy and his undoing. Very interesting and I would urge future readers to read those few pages first before anything else.

FAVORITE LINES:

Hazel jumped in: “So what he’s saying is that ducking down under our desks isn’t going to do us any good if the Russians decide to drop a bomb on Maple Hill. The whole school would be blown over and then the radiation would come and burn our skin to a crisp and all our hair will fall out and we’ll be walking around here like skeletons, if we can even walk at all.”

Ellen Abbott began to cry.

“Hazel, that is quite enough,” Mrs. Sinclair told her.

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

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NICKEL BAY NICK for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

This recent novel by Dean Pitchford is a joy to read. Jacket+Nickel+Bay+NickThe secrets and mystery surrounding Nickel Bay Nick unfold in brief spurts. By the end you feel like the journey was worth every minute. There is hope if you give people second chances. The story is told from the eyes of 11-year-old Sam who hasn’t much to like about his life so far. Heart transplant at age 4, divorced parents, and living in constant arguments with his dad all add to his displeasure and unruly attitude. Then he meets Mr. Wells, a neighbor next store and through the 12 days following Christmas his life and outlook are transformed.

Don’t wait for the holidays. Go out and enjoy this story now.

PUBLICATION DATE:2013   WORD COUNT: 56,167  READING LEVEL: 4.9

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Eleven-year-old Sam Brattle is already having the worst Christmas ever – his dad’s bakery is going bankrupt and his mom is spending the holidays with her new family. To make things worse, Nickel Bay Nick, the anonymous Good Samaritan who leaves hundred-dollar bills around Nickel Bay at Christmastime, is a no-show, so this year the rest of the town is as miserable as Sam. When he stumbles upon the secret identity of this mysterious do-gooder, Sam is stunned to learn that he might now be his town’s only hope. But before he can rescue Nickel Bay, Sam has to learn the skills of a spy and unravel some even darker secrets that will change his life forever.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT NICKEL BAY NICK by Dean Pitchford

  1. Just how do you give away one hundred dollar bills to unsuspecting recipients? The answers are surprising and you’ll find out how much joy a good deed brings.
  2. There are so many mysterious and fun plot threads. The biggest one unveiled in the final pages got me the most. It’s one of those moments where your eyes can’t move fast enough through the words to read what happens.
  3. Sam has a humorous voice. It’s also an emotional one as we witness the changes his character goes through. He’s more like a disgruntled teen with his friends being two 8th graders. Neither are the best role models.
  4. The way Sam connects to his mother even though he never talks with her.
  5. The book would be a perfect read-a-loud. It also would make for an interesting movie. (The author by the way wrote the screenplay for Footloose). I know boys would love this tale and probably many girls, too. In fact, NICKEL BAY NICK might convert a few YA and adult title readers into the MG world. It’s a hard one not to love no matter what age you are.

FAVORITE LINES:

I’m miserable and forgotten in the most miserable and forgotten place on earth.

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

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Do you have a middle grade manuscript waiting to be seen? Try out this New FREE contest for writers of middle grade fiction. It’s the 16th “Dear Lucky Agent” judged by agent Peter Knapp of Park Literary Group. You have through July 30th to submit. All the details can be found by clicking on the logo:DearLuckyAgent2

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BETTER TO WISH for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Ann M. Martin’s BETTER TO WISH begins with a brief prologue to introduce the main character. The year is 2022 and Better+to+WishAbby Nichols is 100-years-old. The first chapter then takes you back to when she was 8 and the rest of the book chronicles the ups and downs of her life until she’s in her early twenties. The story is sad and sweet and will touch you deeply in many ways.

Each time I picked up the book, the author’s name – Ann M. Martin – stared at me and I kept asking myself Where have I come across her books before? The answer was in her bio located in the inside book jacket. Twenty years ago in my then sixth grade classroom, she was the most popular author on my  shelves for most girls (and a few boys). She started the widely popular BABYSITTER”S CLUB series in addition to other popular novels and series.

BETTER TO WISH is a far different story and one I didn’t expect to enjoy. I’m glad I was proven wrong.  It’s also the first in the Family Tree series that take you deeper into other generations of Abby’s family. The second book, THE LONG WAY HOME, came out in late 2013 and is about Abby’s daughter, DANA. The third, BEST KEPT SECRET,  just released this year, details the beginning years of Abby’s granddaughter, Francie. Finally, next year the series will conclude with Abby’s great granddaughter taking center stage with HOME IS THE PLACE.

 

PUBLICATION DATE:2013   READING LEVEL: 4.7    WORD COUNT: 44,343

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): In 1930, Abby Nichols is eight, and can’t imagine what her future holds. The best things today would be having a dime for the fair, keeping her Pops from being angry, and saving up eighty-seven cents to surprise her little sister with a tea set for Christmas.

But Abby’s world is changing fast. Soon there will be new siblings to take care of, a new house to move into, and new friends to meet. But there will also be good-byes to say and hard choices to make. As Abby grows older, how will she decide what sort of life will fit her best?

In this incredible new series, bestselling author Ann M. Martin brings the past and the present together one girlhood at a time and shows readers the way a family grows.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT BETTER TO WISH

  1. The jolt you get with the realities of limited choices for young women graduating from high school 75 years ago. Marriage and a family was the expectation and a career in any prominent field was discouraged.
  2. The snapshot of life in the 1930’s. No computers, Facebook, or Twitter. Cell phones? You’d have to wait another 50 years for those to surface. Life may not have been easy during those years, but it seemed a lot simpler.
  3. The relationship of Abby with her father. I’m certainly considering him for my 2nd annual award for the jerkiest parent in books, but I also need to remind myself of the time period. Many were like Luther, bigoted and career driven and not wanting to talk about life’s problems.
  4. It’s a coming of age story in a time period unknown by today”s youth. They would be enriched by taking a texting break  and reading this book.
  5. Any good series has you wanting to read more. This one did just that. Unfortunately the next three will have to take their place on the bottom of a overly large TBR list… but I will get to them eventually!

FAVORITE LINES:

“She turned over carefully and thought about Marie and about Orrin and the UmHays, and about what it must feel like to be foreign or dark-skinned or out of work when all around you, people like Pop were watching with smug eyes.”

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

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THE 9 LIVES OF ALEXANDER BADDENFIELD for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Yes, this is a weird book. You’ll either love it for its quirkiness or shake your head at death being the main course on its 17572879pages. Of course it’s hard to get attached to our MC when he keeps getting killed. The dark humor throughout should appeal to mostly boys. The deaths are not graphically detailed and several happen in the course of a few pages, all in the same way. As I was reading it to myself, I thought this would be a great read-a-loud, especially for someone who could do voices well. It’s a quick read that does include some challenging vocabulary words.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2013   WORD COUNT: 22,088  LEVEL: 5.6

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Alexander Baddenfield is a horrible boy—a really horrible boy—who is the last in a long line of lying, thieving scoundrels.  One day, Alexander has an astonishing idea.  Why not transplant the nine lives from his cat into himself?  Suddenly, Alexander has lives to spare, and goes about using them up, attempting the most outrageous feats he can imagine.  Only when his lives start running out, and he is left with only one just like everyone else, does he realize how reckless he has been.

With its wickedly funny story and equally clever illustrations, this is dark humor at its most delicious.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE 9 LIVES OF ALEXANDER BADDENFIELD

  1. The whimsical, okay… creepy drawings are perfect. They’re done by long time illustrator, Sophie Blackall, who also did the Ivy and Bean Series and two dozen other children’s books.
  2. The humor is not for everyone, but I did chuckle a few times .
  3. Nothing to hide here if you happen to accidentally open this book. I’d keep the little ones away. Definitely one for older MG. You know there are going to be deaths and they’re not going to be pretty as you imagine them. But some kids and adults can’t get enough of the macabre.
  4. I didn’t expect there to be a moral to this odd tale, but there it was on the last page.
  5. If you have read every Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl book, this will be a story you’ll enjoy.

FAVORITE LINES: (From p. 55, not even half way through the book)

…I suggest that you turn back now. You have hopefully enjoyed the story so far. Why not quit while you are ahead?

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

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ANDI UNEXPECTED for an Unexpected Midweek Review

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Yes, I’ve been reading books like crazy. Traditionally I’m a before bedtime reader, catching a few chapters before lights out. This has changed in the past year thanks in part to an unmanageable growing list of books on my taller than me TBR list. Normally I only post reviews on Mondays as a part of  Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday celebration. Thanks to my increase in reading time, and no I’m not sick, jobless, or with nothing to do, I’m four weeks ahead in my posts for MMGM – good all the way through this month.

How did I do it? I bring a book with me everywhere. It’s amazing how much time there is during the day. I might sneak away at lunch for 10 minutes, there’s a 15 minute wait at the dentist, another 12 or so waiting for a haircut. It adds up and if a few extra minutes at night presents itself, out comes the book. I’m also not someone who hides a book in their lap, huddled over each word. I proudly hold each title about a foot from my eyes and read away. I did get a few stares in the haircut salon. One guy was reading ESPN magazine and the other furiously texting. They kept glancing my way, I’m sure wondering what I was doing reading ANDI UNEXPECTED by Amanda Flower.  9780310737018_imageThey never asked but they should have. It’s a great start to a fun series (ANDI UNDER PRESSURE, the second Andi Boggs novel, will be released this October.)

PUBLICATION DATE:2013 READING LEVEL: 4.8 WORD COUNT: 44,130

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): After the sudden death of their parents in the jungles of Central America, twelve-year-old science geek Andora ‘Andi’ Boggs and her diva teenaged sister, Bethany, move to rural Killdeer, Ohio to live with their eccentric twenty-something aunt. And while the timeworn house has been home to the Boggs family for generations, Andi feels far from at home. Exploring the attic in her grief, she discovers proof of another Andora Boggs in the family tree hidden in a Depression-era trunk. Despite the meddling of the citizens of Killdeer, Andi and her new friend, Colin Carter, are determined to find out who this first Andora was, how she vanished, and why no one in town wants to talk about her. As more and more unanswered questions pile up, Andi and Colin must decide who they can trust with their secrets and who is interested in Andora’s story for the wrong reasons.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT ANDI UNEXPECTED by Amanda Flower

  1. A strong female protagonist. Andi has questions and is not afraid to find the answers. Her voice shined on every page.
  2. Her friend, Colin. He’s a smart boy other kids can’t relate to. He also has asthma and has to constantly monitor his own health. It’s an honest look into what children with asthma go through.
  3. The friendship that grows between Andi and Colin. It will be interesting to read how this relationship moves forward in future novels.
  4. The mystery is fun to follow as you try guessing what happened to Andi’s ancestor.You’ll also be wondering which adults are helpful and which are not. The results are surprising.
  5. The honest and real snapshot of Andi and her older sister as they cope differently with their parent’s death. The sisters don’t really like each other or the way each acts. It’s a sub mystery within the bigger one that both girls will need to solve.

FAVORITE LINES:

“Andi’s not a fit name for a girl. Parents today think they have the license to name their children whatever they wish. Ridiculous, You hardly hear any good solid names anymore. I miss names like Ruth or Mary or Rebecca. It’s all Apple, Mango, and Pear these days. What, do people think they are making a fruit salad instead of naming a child?”

 

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CHASING THE MILKY WAY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I got the jump on this new release thanks to Deb Marshall and her recent contest giveaway. Take a look at Deb’s blog called Read Write Tell. It will be a worth your time.

CHASING THE MILKY WAY is a middle grade book that should fall into the upper ranges of that category. With doses 9780399164491of profanity and the topic at hand, mental illness, ages 11-14 may be a better fit than the advertised 8-12. With that said, the story was one of my favorite reads so far this year.

The writing oozes with hope one minute and despair the next. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions. Despite the plot having one or two hard to believe occurrences, this will be a book to treasure for now and the future. It gives meaning to the issue of mental illness that is rarely explored in MG books, and does it so well. Thanks go to the author, Erin E. Moulton, for having the courage to write about such a difficult topic. In her Author’s Notes she says “Did you know 1 in 4 Americans will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime?” And then she provides several resources for learning more.

CHASING THE MILKY WAY packs a powerful punch and you’ll be enriched by the experience.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   PAGE COUNT: 277

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Lucy Peevy has a dream–to get out of the trailer park she lives in and become a famous scientist. And she’s already figured out how to do that: Build a robot that will win a cash prize at the BotBlock competition and save it for college. But when you’ve got a mama who doesn’t always take her meds, it’s not easy to achieve those goals. Especially when Lucy’s mama takes her, her baby sister Izzy, and their neighbor Cam away in her convertible, bound for parts unknown. But Lucy, Izzy and Cam are good at sticking together, and even better at solving problems. But not all problems have the best solutions, and Lucy and Izzy must face the one thing they’re scared of even more than Mama’s moods: living without her at all.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT CHASING THE MILKY WAY

  1. Lucy is a budding scientist and a very good one. A great role model for girls.
  2. The relationship of Lucy, her little sister Izzie, and best friend Cam is touching and heartfelt. They stick together through good and bad. You so want them to succeed, if not now then in the future.
  3. Brief flashbacks scattered across the pages, tell the back story of Lucy, her mom, and grandma. Centered around each of Lucy’s past birthdays, it’s a look at how their relationship changed and gives meaning for the decisions each face.
  4. For the most part, the story is a page turning adventure. It’s the perfect way to not allow the difficult topic of mental illness to override the true meaning of the book. It’s really about family and friendship.
  5. Lucy’s  first person narrative is the perfect voice to tell the story. She’s tough, smart, and willing to speak her mind.

FAVORITE LINE:

I hear Izzy sniffle next to me and I open up my arm like a wing, and wonder what we’re going to do now.

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

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