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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Counting by 7s for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Greg Pattridge

Before diving into this first review for 2015, here are the results of the drawing  for two fantastic book packages:

The four book package goes to….Rosi Hollinbeck at The Write Stuff

The three book package goes to…Andrea Mack at That’s Another Story

Congratulations and I will be emailing you for addresses.

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To start the new year I’ve been cleaning up my list of books to be read (TBR). One title that had been on there for over a year can finally be scratched from the list as today is all about this popular title from late 2013 – COUNTING BY 7s.7s

It reminded me of watching a blockbuster movie after everyone else had seen it months earlier. After listening and reading all the chatter, you know the best parts and the plot, but now its time to formulate your own opinion. So… it was good. I was hoping for great but maybe the timing wasn’t right or was it the POV? I’d spent seven of my own teaching years in a full time program for highly gifted kids and wished the entire book had been told from Willow Chance’s gifted mind. Instead it bounced from Willow’s first person narration to numerous third person views of the other characters.

Despite my personal preferences there was still much to love about this unusual story.

PUBLICATION DATE:2013   WORD COUNT: 62,677  READING LEVEL: 5.6

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT COUNTING BY 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

  1. A garden provides the parallel for growth from the characters and the plants themselves. It’s a perfect pairing.
  2. Willow is brilliant, funny, and perceptive but so are the cast of characters around her.
  3. Willow’s plunge into the foster care system is a realistic look at how it works in our own backyards for so many kids.
  4. Dell, the counselor. He’s awful at his job, but slowly he begins to see that he can be better. I’ve known quite a few Dell’s and they need to read this book.
  5. Lesson learned: Labels can do more harm than good sometimes.

FAVORITE LINES: On the 7th day of the 7th month (Is it any wonder I love that number) my new parents drove north to a hospital 257 miles from their home, where they named me after a cold-climate tree and changed the world. Or at least our world.

QUOTE FROM AUTHOR: “…So I think I was drawn to write about Willow in a personal way from my own family.”

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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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Favorite Middle Grade Reads 2014

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I’m all filled up. Not from holiday dining but from reading a total of 68 MG books this year! What better time than now to celebrate my favorites for 2014.cup Yes, it’s the second annual Always in the Middle GOLDEN CUP AWARD. Doesn’t  the GOLDEN CUP take your breath away? I can’t part with the shiny goblet, but there are two fantastic giveaways explained at the end of this post. But first, on to the award winners…

FAVORITE BOOK with a FEMALE PROTAGONIST: THE PERFECT PLACE by Teresa E. Harris

FAVORITE BOOK with a MALE PROTAGONIST: NICKLE BAY NICK by Dean Pitchford

FAVORITE SETTING: Rural Minnesota in TURN LEFT AT THE COW by Lisa Bullard

FAVORITE CHARACTER NAME: Dennis “Donuts” Murphy in SORRY YOU’RE LOST by Matt Blackstone

FAVORITE OPENING LINE: (tie)I would never have been accused of stealing the koala if Vance Jessup hadn’t made me drop a human arm in the shark tank. (POACHED)

There were so many dead bodies stuffed into Gram’s freezer chest that it was kind of like wandering through a cryonics lab. (TURN LEFT AT THE COW)

FAVORITE PARENTS: Too many to list. But they all did the most important thing for their middle grade children: They provided a chance for them to discover success.

BIGGEST PARENTAL DISAPPOINTMENT: The father in ABSOLUTELY ALMOST by Lisa Graff

BEST COVER: THE PET WAR by Allan Goodrow9780545513197_p0_v1_s260x420

FAVORITE ENDING: JACK STRONG TAKES A STAND by Tommy Greenwald

FUNNIEST READ:  BIG BOOK OF SUPERHEROES by Bart King

FAVORITE FRIENDSHIP: Andi and Colin in ANDI UNEXPECTED by Amanda Flower

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If you have made it this far, it’s contest time!

Just comment about your own favorites from one of the categories above. Your choice can be any book – MG or otherwise. I’ll leave the comments open until next Saturday, January 3rd (8 pm Eastern). Two winners will be drawn. The first name will receive these four like new hard cover MG books:

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Second place will receive these three like new hard cover MG books:

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Gook luck in the drawing!! It’s time to end this post as I have to get a head start on my goal of reading 75 MG books for 2015. Happy New Year!

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Merry Christmas…

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

… from my writing window. Have a great day with your families!

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THE PERFECT PLACE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this debut from Teresa E. Harris. The cover looked intriguing – aperfectplace young African-American girl skipping a rock across a pond. It’s written in first person present – the POV I had been using to write my current story. So, I opened up the pages and dove into one of the most beautiful and heartfelt novels I’ve read this year.

You’ll find humor, a small mystery, and the absolute spot-on voice of Treasure, our young protagonist. The perfect place for me this holiday season was THE PERFECT PLACE.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   Page Count: 263

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Treasure’s dad has disappeared and her mom sets out to track him down, leaving twelve-year-old Treasure and her little sister, Tiffany, in small-town Virginia with their eccentric, dictatorial Great-Aunt Grace. GAG (as the girls refer to her) is a terrible cook, she sets off Treasure’s asthma with her cat and her chain smoking, and her neighbors suspect her in the recent jewel thefts. As the hope of finding their dad fades, the girls and their great-aunt begin to understand and accommodate one another. When a final dash to their dad’s last known address proves unsuccessful, Treasure has to accept that he’s gone for good. When she goes back to Great-Aunt Grace’s, it is the first time she has returned to a place instead of just moving on. Convincing, fully realized characters, a snarky narrative voice, and laugh-aloud funny dialogue make The Perfect Place a standout among stories of adjustment and reconfigured families.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE PERFECT PLACE by Teresa E. Harris

  1. This could have turned into a whiny “Whoa me, Daddy left us again” kind of story but it was far from that. The setting along with Treasure’s authentic 12-year-old voice made sure to keep the story moving into areas of discovery for herself, her sister, and her mother.
  2. Treasure has asthma and the scenes that brought her condition into focus were realistically written.
  3. When the secondary characters are as interesting as Treasure, you know you are in for a great ride. Great-Aunt Grace would be any kids’ nightmare, younger sister, Tiffany, is often a pain, and a quiet boy named Terrance is the perfect new friend. Treasure’s interactions with each of them were memorable, often heart-breaking on one page and hilarious on the next.
  4. We have a smart African-American girl as the central character. Enough said!
  5. The ending you knew was coming arrives, but then it takes off in a different direction. “Surprise your readers” is an often heard quote and the author succeeded.

FAVORITE LINES:

I’m either going to get some kind of poisoning from eating undercooked pork or lose a tooth. She places something in front of me that looks like a bowl of spitballs.

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Next week for MMGM I have another huge giveaway to celebrate my favorite MG reads of 2014. Yes, it’s the 2nd Annual Golden Cup Awards. cupI hope you will stop by for a chance to win some great books to start your new year off in the perfect way.

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

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ADVENTURE ON NEMESIS MOUNTAIN for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I recently had the privilege of interviewing author Annie McMahon on her blog tour for the release of ADVENTURE ON NEMESIS MOUNTAIN. A few days later my luck continued as I was chosen from all blog tour hosts to receive an autographed copy.

The story is one that will hit home with many young readers. For what seems like his Adventure on Nemesis Mountainentire life, Emilio has been prey to to the teasing and put downs from his own nemesis, Hans. Now the two boys are thrown together in a survival situation after getting lost in the mountains. It’s a story about fighting back, friendship, and seeing the positive in others. The tale is full of positive messages that will stay with you long after reading. Spend some time reading it yourself, or use it as a read-aloud. You’ll also learn a thing or two about the outdoors. A great story makes for a great debut and this one has both.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014   Page Count: 119

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Emilio would rather eat a slimy worm than miss the fifth grade field trip. Nemesis Mountain must be full of rare leaf specimens and bugs for his collection. Besides, he needs a break from the playground and Hans’s nonstop teasing. His excitement is squashed when he gets lost in the woods with his worst enemy. Alone in the forest, the two boys battle to survive the harsh wilderness, facing challenges that will change their lives forever.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT ADVENTURE ON NEMESIS MOUNTAIN by Annie McMahon

  1. Emilio is not a wimp. It was refreshing to see him not just sit and take the constant taunts, but to finally have a breaking point and react.
  2. Change comes about for both characters. It’s realistic and I was smiling at The End.
  3. The scenes in the wilderness had me turning the pages as fast as I could read them. Wild animals, darkness setting in, and a scarcity of food and water brought those feelings of helplessness right to the reader as if you were alongside for the ride.
  4. There’s room for more… I liked these characters so much it would be great to see them return in a sequel.
  5. The cover is gorgeous. It only hints at what is to come with the two characters and a wilderness setting. Nice job, Dawne Dominique.

FAVORITE LINES:

He slammed his hands on the desk, toppling the pencil holder with a clang. “I’m sick and tired of you!”

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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 GOOD, THE BAD, & THE BEAGLE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Guilty as charged: I judged this book by its cover. Who could resist this little guy with his caramel beaglecoloring and brown eyes? His name even fits – Cadbury. This story is a debut for a new MG author. Her picture inside the book jacket looked familiar and the reason is Catherine Lloyd Burns has acted in numerous TV shows and movies.

It was a book I was ready to love, but by the last page it was more of a like than a love. Girls are the center of attention here along with a pretty hefty page count for a debut. Boys and reluctant readers will be looking for something else.

Who is it for? Tween girls who will more than likely adore its content. Yes, it’s sad but also shows a girl realistically trying to deal with the mixed-up emotions of those middle grade years. Female teachers and moms may smile and see themselves. It’s good bibliotherapy for girls who struggle with friendship, family, and loss along with understanding the world around them.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2014   Page Count: 331

FULL PLOT (From Amazon):  Set in a Manhattan, this is the story of feisty eleven-year-old Veronica Morgan, who believes that a furry lemon beagle from the neighborhood pet store will be the solution to the endless worries she has about life in general and friendship in particular. This is a problem, since her bumbling psychiatrist parents won’t buy her the puppy she wants or stop meddling in her life at her challenging new school. But things never turn out the way you plan, particularly if you never stop expecting the worst to happen, and haven’t taken a chance on being a true friend yourself.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BEAGLE by Catherine Lloyd Burns

  1. I found life in this Jewish family fascinating as they struggled trying to cover both their own faith and the Christian faith around the holidays. Very eye opening.
  2. Both of Veronica’s parents are psychiatrists, providing all sorts of interesting and often very funny dinner time dialog.
  3. Yes, tears may flow as your read parts of this book, but by the end you will feel a warm glow in your heart.
  4. An all girls private school is something rarely used as a setting in children’s literature. Another eye-opening experience as I am used to the goings on in more traditional public schools.
  5. Life in Manhattan. Quirky characters become friends and that might never happen in a suburban setting. From the doorman to the pet shop employees, all of them give young Veronica a different viewpoint.

FAVORITE LINE:

If you could reach out, there was always a hand to hold, somewhere in the world.

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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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