HALF A WORLD AWAY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I enjoy MG books where there is a definite arc in the growth and change for a character. HALF A WORLD AWAY not only has that, but you 81XhX39uXrLwill most likely find a change in yourself. Jaden is not a very likeable protagonist and I didn’t take to him right from the start. Thankfully by the end of the story I understood and appreciated this young boy.

Adopted from Romania at age 8, Jaden has never felt connected to his new family. He’s still confused why his birth mother gave him up in the first place. Most of the story is set in Russia where Jaden and his parents go to adopt a new baby boy – a brother Jaden does not want. It’s here the transformation begins and a different side of Jaden cracks through.

Told in close third person from Jaden’s view, the story is sad, hopeful, but in the end one you won’t soon forget.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   WORD COUNT: 35,552   LEVEL: 4.7

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Twelve-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows he’s an “epic fail.’ That’s why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby—to replace him, he’s sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession with electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels…nothing.

But when they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they’ve travelled for has already been adopted, and literally within minutes are faced with having to choose from six other babies. While his parents agonize, Jaden is more interested in the toddlers. One, a little guy named Dimash, spies Jaden and barrels over to him every time he sees him. Jaden finds himself increasingly intrigued by and worried about Dimash. Already three years old and barely able to speak, Dimash will soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be as hopeless as Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually feels something that isn’t pure blinding fury, and there’s no way to control it, or its power.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: HALF A WORLD AWAY by Cynthia Kadohata

  1. I was only partially aware of the potential horror stories that can come about with an overseas adoption. The author spares no detail but perhaps young readers will need some clarification. I can see this working wonders as a read-aloud giving a chance for discussion of this emotional topic.
  2. Jaden falls in love for the first time. No, not from a first youthful crush, but by bonding with a 3-year-old toddler nobody wants to adopt.
  3. Sam, the Turkish driver, is the first person to rattle Jaden’s perceptions of his life. He’s a perfect older friend who goes out of his way to help Jaden.
  4. Parents who love unconditionally are often absent from MG books. Not so here as Penni and Steve do their best to help Jaden become the greatest person possible.
  5. The book is like a gray, rainy day, but then the sun reappears and you smile. That’s exactly what I did after reading this beautiful story.

FAVORITE LINES: He figured he knew why they were adopting again: They weren’t satisfied with him. Whenever he thought that, he felt tears welling up. He didn’t know if he was upset for himself, because they weren’t satisfied with him, or for the baby, because if the baby was up for adoption, it meant the mother had abandoned him, and Jaden knew what that was like.

AUTHOR QUOTE: “I’m a road hawg! I love to travel around this amazing country. The beautiful landscape, the highways—I love it. Traveling, seeing the country, is one of the things from which I derive my “writing energy.” Just thinking about the American landscape and focusing on it puts me in touch with what I think of as the real, essential me. I have to be in touch with this real, essential me whenever I sit down to write.” (From Cynthia Kadohata’s website)

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

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THE LEFT BEHINDS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Or rather – THE LEFT BEHINDS: THE iPHONE THAT SAVED GEORGE WASHINGTON. Quite the title for this time travel512-n+uFGVL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_ adventure. It’s a great way for young and old to discover details about the Revolutionary War, and George’s successful crossing of the Delaware River in horrendous weather.

Narrated by 12-year-old left behind, Mel, he and his two friends are labeled as such since their parents leave them at boarding school during the holidays, too busy in their own lives and careers to share the holidays with their children. Of course things quickly get out of hand and before you know it we’re back in the 1700’s. Both funny and informative, those that love history will adore this book. It’s short chapters (79 total!) would appeal to reluctant readers, but the story becomes a bit too wordy. Fifty thousand words would have been a tighter read.

Anyway, that cover will for sure pull in many readers. Two time periods expertly portrayed. I look forward to the sequel and more history saving adventures from this series.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 60,959   LEVEL: 4.5

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  On Christmas Day, Mel finds General George Washington lying dead as a doornail in a stable. But Mel knows that George Washington must cross the Delaware River, or the course of American history will be changed forever.

Could Mel’s iPhone have sent him back in time to 1776? And can Mel and his schoolmates, know-it-all Bev and laid-back Brandon, come to the rescue? Perhaps, with a little help from two colonial kids and Benjamin Franklin himself.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE LEFT BEHINDS…. by David Potter

  1. The scene where George is told by young Mel a city was named after him is hilarious. George doesn’t appreciate the D.C. added to his name.
  2. Superb integration of today’s technology with the past. Who else would you go to other than Ben Franklin if you need to recharge your phone?
  3. The app on the iPhone known as itime. Plug in a date and time and you are on your way.
  4. No shortcuts were taken in the research to write this historical novel. You’d learn something no matter what you know about this time period.
  5. A nicely done reference section at the back of the book clue you in to other books, websites, and places you can visit to enrich your knowledge.

FAVORITE LINES: I’d like to start at the beginning–believe me–but the problem is I don’t know when it began and I don’t know when it will end. I only know the middle, which is now, or more specifically ten minutes ago, when someone shot General George Washington stone-cold dead.

AUTHOR QUOTE:”Once in a while I would submit something, and once in a while something was published or a literary agent would work with me, but never much success. Eventually I reconciled myself to my fate. I gave it my best shot, but not everyone gets to play short for the Yanks, dance on Broadway, or get a book published. What are you going to do? Well, I did the only thing to do, which is to keep writing…” (Author’s web site)

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

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THE TURTLE OF OMAN for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Muscat, Oman is an unusual setting for an MG book. A bustling city of 3.6 million, its situated on the shores of the ArabianWceGgDUNlCA8RPHOz66AbHHs4RI12Vqg+OoBRGBrKx2plCphEkAr3aizNSRpuGHkIoDZcS4gLRs3LNNbucM2t1tKmKf8mathkf0cW+Vjk6NQ5iDKyCBWtzAWMsmQ+7PK Sea. The country of Oman borders United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. THE TURTLE OF OMAN is a quiet story with a hopeful message about a boy who is relocating to Michigan for three years with his parents. He is hurt by the thought of leaving behind his cat and beloved grandfather and fearful he will not like his new community or school.

A sequel would be welcome as this story covers only the time leading up to young Aref’s flight to the U.S. Like another recent book about moving, MY LIFE IN DIORAMAS, this one explores what a child does to makes sense of a potential move. With short chapters and text that is spaced for easy reading, the page count is not to be feared. It’s a quick read.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   Pages: 299

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Aref Al-Amri does not want to leave Oman. He does not want to leave his elementary school, his friends, or his beloved grandfather, Siddi. He does not want to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his parents will go to graduate school. His mother is desperate for him to pack his suitcase, but he refuses. Finally, she calls Siddi for help. But rather than pack, Aref and Siddi go on a series of adventures. They visit the camp of a thousand stars deep in the desert, they sleep on Siddi’s roof, they fish in the Gulf of Oman and dream about going to India, and they travel to the nature reserve to watch the sea turtles. At each stop, Siddi finds a small stone that he later slips into Aref’s suitcase—mementos of home.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE TURTLE OF OMAN by Naomi Shihab Nye

  1. The relationship Aref has with his grandfather is touching. It is Sidi who helps Aref say good-bye to his native land. Boat trips, camping, and enjoying their final days together provides the perfect sendoff.
  2. Aref writes in his notebook so he won’t forget. He writes about the wildlife he adores and any other topic that moves him. His writing pieces are done in a font to reflect his own penmanship.
  3. It doesn’t matter what country you live in – you will recognize the themes of fear, family, and the anxiety of starting over. Aref has feelings similar to young people in our own culture and is a boy who’d be a joy to have in any neighbohood.
  4. It takes the entire book for Aref to pack his suitcase. What he finally takes with him is the basis for this touching story.
  5. Perhaps best as a read-aloud, this tale would be great in a discussion about our perceptions of different cultures.

FAVORITE LINES: Sometimes, even though he was old, Aref walked backwards swinging his arms, making a back-up beep, like a bulldozer or truck would make. You saw differently when you walked backwards… Would he feel backwards in Michigan or just the same as he felt in Oman?

AUTHOR QUOTE: “It is really hard to be lonely very long in a world of words. Even if you don’t have friends somewhere, you still have language, and it will find you and wrap its little syllables around you and suddenly there will be a story to live in.”  Source

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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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Critiquing Critique Groups

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I’ve been a part of a 4-person critique group for several years. We meet once a month and react to one of our manuscripts. The feedback is always positive but also honest with pointed advice as to what would improve a character or scene.

Different versions of my stories got better each time I shared. It’s invaluable to have others read your work. In isolation you often don’t see problems with a scene.

So now as we reach our third summer together my group is disbanding. One person is moving, another who began as a YA writer but now prefers Adult is joining a group of like writers, and the third has decided to take a break from the long road to a successfully published book.

I’m alone again, but not for long.

When I first searched for a critique group almost five years ago there were friends and family who read my first story (okay, maybe it was the second as my first was just for practice). I quickly realized they were not much help. All they could say was something along the lines of “I loved this!” What I needed was how to make it shine, how to raise it up to the next level. I stopped giving them my stories because their feedback was too nice.

Next I did email critiques with two strangers on the east coast. We’d trade a chapter at a time and provided advice. Things went much better with these two people and both are published authors now.

My recent writings have been critiqued to the max, but when I revise it’s always nice to have a friendly voice out there to give critical reaction. I also have more stories in the future that will need outside readers.

I made several connections at the recent BIG SUR conference, and will look to a few of the organizations that already have opportunities for organized groups (SCBWI and CHILDRENS BOOK INSIDER).

For now…9i4A55xiE

Thank you to my disbanded 4-Writer’s Group.

Thanks for laughing in the right places.

Thanks for making me put more emotion into my writing.

Thanks for telling me outright when something wasn’t working.

 

It’s been a great experience.

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GENUINE SWEET for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I spent a summer in a small Mississippi town and can attest that the depiction of life in this new novel is spot on. Everyone knows everyone and51sxQrzPNFL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_ secrets aren’t that way for very long. Since I grew up in a big city and have never been far from one since, I can’t see myself ever moving to a small town, but I’m thankful for books like this that bring alive a special slice of American life.

This novel is a quiet magical story that is set in the South and what a great name for the protagonist: Genuine Sweet. She narrates the story and her voice springs from the pages. A first crush, dealing with a father who drinks too much, and a gift for granting wishes to others, Genuine has a heart for making things right. It’s a tough job that she faces head on, unafraid to speak her mind. One of the strongest female characters in MG the past year.

Perfect for out loud reading, girls will navigate to this one more than boys. I’m glad I took the chance and hope for a sequel.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   PAGES: 277

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Twelve-year-old Genuine Sweet, of tiny Sass, Georgia, can grant any wish . . . except her own. It’s a peculiar predicament, considering how much she could use a few wishes. New friends help Genuine give her family a boost–and then she takes her gift global! Life finally seems to be on the mend. But when she’s faced with unexpected trouble that no amount of wishing can fix, Genuine must puzzle out the difference between wishing for a better life and building one.
Told in the engaging, irresistible voice of Genuine Sweet herself, Faith Harkey’s debut novel spins a remarkable tale of a small-town girl with big-time magic and an even bigger heart.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT GENUINE SWEET by Faith Harkey

  1. Anyone who becomes a wish fetcher discovers a unique way to grant the wish. For Genuine, her recipients taste one of her homemade biscuits made from magical flour. I got hungry very quick, and the next time I’m eating a biscuit, I may make my own wish.
  2. Genuine’s friend, Travis, is a handful. We discover why as the story progresses. The change we see in him is heartwarming.
  3. The author expertly defined the town of Sass, Georgia. I felt like I was walking down the main street. Superb world building.
  4. Heavy adult themes of death, alcoholism, and cancer are handled well. I’d have no problem with a fourth grader reading this book.
  5. If you enjoy books like A Snicker of Magic, Savvy, or A Tangle of Knots, then park yourself and enjoy this debut.

FAVORITE LINE: Right then, I found myself thinking of what Gram had said about wish fetchers being the underlings of angels.

AUTHOR QUOTE: “Like a lot of girls I knew, I was a huge Judy Blume fan. At the time there weren’t a lot of people — in books or otherwise — who were giving voice to the powerful emotions and experiences of growing up. I was also a devoted reader of Newbery Award winners, The Westing Game and A Wrinkle in Time being two of my all-time favorites. For a while, I had a pretty serious Choose Your Own Adventure addiction.”

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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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WATCH THE SKY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I won a copy of this book from fellow writer and blogger, Rosi, over at her fantastic blogging home, THE WRITE STUFF. Check it out and some day you may win, too!

I found WATCH THE SKY to be a beautifully written though a difficult to read story. I would only use this as a read-aloud or in a reading group.watchthe sky The story is rich with discussion topics:

1.  What is wrong with the stepfather, Caleb? (We suspect PTSD from his soldier days or another form of mental illness.) I detested him immediately and hated what he was doing to this family.

2. Why does the Mom blindly follow this man not seeing how he is endangering the children?

3. Where did little adopted sister, Kit, come from? It’s only explained she showed up in a pumpkin patch one day.

4. Is it possible for one person to convince others his decisions are going to save their lives, even though what he says is far from plausible? How does a person become so controlling?

Not every one of these points are covered by the last page so they are ripe for debate. The most pressing question though is what happens to this family in the future? Too many unanswered pieces as I closed the book for the last time.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 47,149   LEVEL: 4.0

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  The signs are everywhere, Jory’s stepfather, Caleb, says. Red leaves in the springtime. Pages torn from a library book. All the fish in an aquarium facing the same way. A cracked egg with twin yolks. Everywhere and anywhere. And because of them, Jory’s life is far from ordinary. He must follow a very specific set of rules: don’t trust anyone outside the family, have your work boots at the ready just in case, and always, always watch out for the signs. The end is coming, and they must be prepared.

School is Jory’s only escape from Caleb’s tight grasp. With the help of new friends, he begins to explore a world beyond his family’s farm. Then Caleb notifies the family that the time has come for final preparations: digging in their backyard canyon at night. Every night.

As the hole gets deeper, so does Jory’s doubt about whether Caleb’s prophecy is true. When the real reason for their digging becomes clear, Jory must choose between living his own life or following behind Caleb, shutting his eyes to the bright world he’s just begun to see.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT WATCH THE SKY by Kristen Hubbbard

  1. Jory is the hero of this story. Willing to question despite his conscience telling him it is wrong to do so. In the end he is more adult than any of the adults in the story.
  2. Jory’s friend, Alice. She was such a breath of fresh air and exactly what Jory needed when he was away from his bordering on abusive family situation. Alice is the kind of kid who initiates conversation and is curious abut the unknown. I’d read a book with her as the protagonist for sure.
  3. If you are tired of the same old storyline in MG, this book is for you. There’s nothing quite like it on the bookshelf.
  4. There is racial diversity from Jory’s new friend to his little sister with the olive skin. It’s not a central theme to the story but that’s the way it should be in a tale like this.
  5. The cover does draw you into the mystery ahead. Each image serves as a hint to the story inside. Well done.

FAVORITE LINES: Most kids had friends they hung out with after school. Most kids had mothers who left the house more than every couple of weeks. Most kids had siblings who spoke. And Jory never asked, but he was sure nobody had step-dads who constantly talked about signs.

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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 ONLY GAME for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Growing up I devoured sports books like candy. It’s what kept me reading. Nowadays I find myself into  a wide variety of books, but when summer or51Xx4hmhAfL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_ fall approaches I get the urge to immerse myself in another thrilling sport’s story. Mike Lupica is one of my go to authors for this purpose and his newest, THE ONLY GAME, arrived just in time.

The story is about dealing with a tragedy, quitting something you love because of that tragedy, but then finding new friends who understand and help. Our protagonist, Jack, has much to worry with the choices he feels he must make. It’s not your typical book about baseball though there are numerous games played. I’ve known kids who have lost a close sibling, and its a tough road to travel for each of them. It does take time and though parts of this novel are predictable, I enjoyed this tale enough to feature it today.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   WORD COUNT: 59,561    LEVEL: 5.0

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Jack Callahan is the star of his baseball team and sixth grade is supposed to be his year. Undefeated season. Records shattered. Little League World Series. The works. That is, until he up and quits.

Jack’s best friend Gus can’t understand how Jack could leave a game that means more to them than anything else. But Jack is done. It’s a year of change. Jack’s brother has passed away, and though his family and friends and the whole town of Walton thinks baseball is just the thing he needs to move on, Jack feels it’s anything but.

In comes Cassie Bennett, star softball player, and the only person who seems to think Jack shouldn’t play if he doesn’t want to. As Jack and Cassie’s friendship deepens, their circle expands to include Teddy, a guy who’s been picked on because of his weight.

Time spent with these new friends unlocks something within Jack, and with their help and the support of his family and his old friends, Jack discovers sometimes it’s more than just the love of the game that keeps us moving—and he might just be able to find his way back to The Only Game.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE ONLY GAME by Mike Lupica

  1. Jack’s parents are supportive and understanding. They are both there for him in different ways and together they make a super family. You’d love to have them as neighbors.
  2. Cassie, Jack’s new friend, is a feisty and strong female character. It’s understood by everyone that she is a leader and you’d best listen to her advice. No early romance here but their friendship strengthens as the story unfolds.
  3. Too often baseball books are formula written with a team playing through a season to win a championship. The addition of Jack’s struggles to regain his past and his drive to help another new friend, Teddy, The Only Game takes a much different path.
  4. The coach reminded me of many of the fine coaches you see and hear each summer in the Little League World Series. There’s a trick to motivating 12-year-olds and these gifted coaches always seem to have the right words.
  5. This becomes the first book in Mike Lupica’s new series called A HOME TEAM. I am looking forward to whatever this brings forth whether it be the same characters we’ve met here or new ones.

FAVORITE LINES: He knew how much he was going to miss baseball. He was missing it already, just watching the Red Sox play the Orioles on television. Now he wondered how much he was going to have to miss his best friend, too. But maybe you could get better at missing things–and people–with enough practice.

No Quote from the author this week as most were too long. You may be interested in Mike’s author page where you can see the wide variety of MG related sport’s books he has written.

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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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Cover Reveal for MYSTERIES OF COVE – FIRES OF INVENTION

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I’m excited to be a part of the blog tour for this new series by J. Scott Savage. The cover grabbed my attention and I’m anxiously looking forward to the scheduled release in Fall, 2015. Read on for all the details.Myteries of COVE_cover

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STEAMPUNK! Plus Dragons!

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and “invention” is a curse word. Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion-an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.

Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they’ve ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on-and quite possibly their very lives.

A Note from author, J. Scott Savage:

Like many of my books, the inspiration for my new series Fires of Invention came from the collision of two ideas. The first time the savage, j. scottstory occurred to me was while I was watching the musical Wicked with my wife. The moment I walked into the theater and saw the huge mechanical dragon above the stage, I thought, Wow! I have to write a story about that! A few weeks later, I was talking with my nephew, who is probably the most creative kid I know, but whose inventiveness often gets him into trouble, and I thought, What if a kid who had the talents of my nephew lived in a world where creativity was against the law? What if the kids were building . . . a steam-powered dragon? Bam! I had my story.

Powered by great feedback from my agent, Michael Bourret, my good friend and author James Dashner, my publisher, Chris Schoebinger, and the song “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons, I wrote the entire first draft of the first volume in the series, Mysteries of Cove in four weeks. This book is unlike anything I have ever written. There are elements of City of Ember, Dragon Riders, and Hugo in it all mashed up together in a world I fell in love with from the moment I started writing.

I think what’s most exciting to me about this book is that it’s about giving yourself the freedom to imagine. To take chances. Too often we limit ourselves by only trying things we’re confident we can succeed at when what we need to do is give ourselves permission to fail. Often it is when we attempt things with no idea of how we can possibly pull them off that we achieve our greatest successes.

Author Bio:

J. Scott Savage is the author of the Farworld middle grade fantasy series and the Case File 13 middle grade monster series. He has been writing and publishing books for over ten years. He has visited over 400 elementary schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and lives with his wife Jennifer and their Border Collie, Pepper, in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.

FACEBOOK       TWITTER
INSTAGRAM: jscottsavage
WEBSITE

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JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

I know I’m into a great book when between reading sessions my mind is swirling with thoughts of “What will happen next?” JOSHUA AND 24761910THE LIGHTNING ROAD is a thrilling, hard to put down fantasy adventure that will have wide appeal. I was lucky to read the story before its scheduled May 19th release.

The world building by author Donna Galanti is excellent and with every conflict you feel as if you are in Joshua’s shoes experiencing each new frightful turn. There’s barely time to breathe. You’ll be pushed forward by end of chapter cliff hangers and frequent action scenes. Told in first person, Joshua’s voice is spot on as he wrestles with who he is in two different worlds and what his future has in store for him. Bring on the sequel because I’ll be the first in line for another adventure.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2015   PAGE COUNT: 278

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):

Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper’s grandpa has always warned him about the dangers of lightning. But Joshua never put much stock in his grandpa’s rumblings as anything more than the ravings of an old man with a vast imagination. Then one night, when Joshua and his best friend are home alone during a frightful storm, Joshua learns his grandpa was right. A bolt of lightning strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever. To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark place that steals children for energy. But getting back home and saving his friend won’t be easy, as Joshua must face the terrifying Child Collector and fend off ferocious and unnatural beasts intent on destroying him. In this world, Joshua possesses powers he never knew he had, and soon, Joshua’s mission becomes more than a search for his friend. He means to send all the stolen children home—and doing so becomes the battle of his life.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD by Donna Galanti

  1. The creatures are magical and frightening. Not only will you find them in the skies above, but be careful when crossing any creek. You may not make it to the other side.
  2. You are in the story with Joshua because the sense of sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste pull you in. A great lesson for those writers needing a boost with flat scenes. You’ll be inspired to add more perception to your own writing from the wonderful examples in this tale.
  3. The old line says “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but you can in this case. The cover here is a peek as to what lies ahead: action, adventure, and mystery. No false advertising there.
  4. The scary elements are handled perfectly for the MG audience including the scariest plot point of all: Children are kidnapped from Earth to be slaves in another world. Yikes.
  5. The inclusion of Greek gods in the storyline was a fun way to give meaning to this distant world.

FAVORITE LINES: The foxes jerked their heads up in unison, and it felt like spiders skittered up my spine. Red eyes glowed bright like lava and burned fiercely into mine, hungry for what I feared was me.

QUOTE FROM AUTHOR: (From Donna Galanti’s website) “But it was my son, Joshua, who inspired me to write and finish my first book about a boy who finds adventure in the mountain forest when he meets magical animals and they band together to fight a power-hungry fox who plots to rule the world. It’s hidden in a box in my closet, but I went on to write Joshua and the Lightning Road and can’t wait to share the first book in the series with you!”

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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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MY LIFE IN DIORAMAS for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Earlier this year I featured THE BATTLE OF DARCY LANE and enjoyed it so much this new title by Tara Altebrando was an easy choice.  Little did I know how much joy and reflection the ride would be. I only wish I had this book many years ago.51r5kxE+UyL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_

In my third year of teaching a student named Sarah was in my class. I got to know her older sister and family the previous year. They had always lived in the neighborhood and what happened mid year shook the class, school, and community. This beloved family was moving to another state. I got word one early morning as Sarah came to my classroom, her eyes streaked with sadness. It had been her only home and now she was going off to a strange new world, leaving friends and teachers behind.

MY LIFE IN DIORAMAS explores just that subject –  when events out of your control leave your family with the only decision left – moving from the place where you grew up. Our protagonist, Kate, reacts to the news as expected, but what she does to stall the move brings many surprises. Her middle grade voice is spot on and the supporting cast of friends and family make Kate’s struggles even more lifelike.

It’s a pleasure to be a part of the blog tour for this heartfelt title. It’s one I won’t soon forget.

PUBLICATION DATE:2015   PAGE COUNT: 256

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):

Kate Marino knows very well that home is where her heart is, and if she had any say in the matter, her heart would stay put in Big Red. The old, rambling farmhouse has withstood the test of time with her family, but now Kate’s parents have decided to sell it from under her feet.

The preventative solution: sabotage the realtor’s tours with the help of best friends and a plan that has maximum stinkage potential.

The back-up plan: hang on to at least a little bit of life at Big Red by creating shoebox dioramas of each room.

But even with a full-scale assault, will her mission be a success? And if not, what will the diorama of Kate’s future look like?

With a keen eye for capturing the moments that matter, acclaimed author Tara Altebrando explores the pain—and promise—of letting go.
FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT MY LIFE IN DIORAMAS by Tara Altebrando

  1. The Dioramas. Kate brings comfort to herself and others by extending a classroom diorama assignment to much bigger proportions. Pieces of her life are scattered in each. What a great background for this story.
  2. Moving is not the only problem for Kate. First crushes, shaky friendships, and a depressed mother bring many interesting scenes that will have you turning the pages for resolution and even a few laughs.
  3. The story will have you reflecting back to your own childhood home. Good and bad memories possibly, but like Kate, helping you become the person you are today.
  4. Kate is a dancer and its a marvelous hook to balance the story with what seems like a separate element but by the end it beautifully wraps itself around the themes of friendship and loss.
  5. Kids do understand if you explain. Kate is not happy she’s in the dark about so many of her family’s decisions. Her spunky reaction eventually convinces others that she may have more understanding than many of the adults.

FAVORITE LINES: I felt my body wake up from the tips of my toes to the top of my head as my bad mood blasted off me with each leap and turn. The energy in the room was totally different now than it had been before. We were going to get on a bus and perform on a big stage in front of hundreds of strangers and there’d be videos of us out there in the world for everyone to see.

QUOTE FROM AUTHOR: I was a music journalist when living in Dublin and interviewed groups like Rage Against the Machine, Duran Duran, The Frames (Glen Hansard!) and more. (From Tara’s website)

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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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