Happy 10th post for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

This will be my tenth review for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. I have exclusively featured books with a first person voice from some unique and endearing protagonists. Here’s a look back with the link to my review:

  1. IDA B by Katherine Hannigan
  2. DEAD END IN NORVELT by Jack Gantos
  3. BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo
  4. FAKE MUSTACHE by Tom Angleberger
  5. RUNAWAY TWIN by Peg Kehret
  6. OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon M. Draper
  7. RULES by Cynthia Lord
  8. GRAVE IMAGES by Jenny Goebel
  9. THE WEDNESDAY WARS by Gary D. Schmidt

Now it’s time for #10 with my take on 41smL1wnVrLFLUSH by Carl Hiaasen.

DATE OF PUBLICATION:2005    LEVEL: 5.0

WORD COUNT: 59,559

PLOT (From Amazon): Noah’s dad has a little problem with anger control. He tried to stop the Coral Queen casino boat’s illegal dumping . . . by sinking the boat. But his bold protest fizzles: within days the casino is back in business, and Noah’s dad is behind bars and out of action.

Now Noah is determined to succeed where his father failed. But even though pumping raw sewage into the waters of the Florida Keys is both gross and against the law, turns out it’s near impossible to catch the flusher—especially when he’s already bamboozled the prosecutors, the local press, and even the Coast Guard.

But Noah’s got a few allies. There’s his little sister, Abbey, an unreformed childhood biter; Lice Peeking, a half-soused ex-mate of the Coral Queen who is willing to testify . . . for a price; and Shelly, a bighearted bartender with even bigger biceps.

Okay, so the odds aren’t good. But Noah has an ace up his sleeve—a plan so crazy it just might stop the polluting, save the beaches, and prove to the world that it’s the owner of the Coral Queen, and not his dad, who is full of . . . crud.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT FLUSH:

  1. It’s a fast paced, entertaining story about greed and conservation, two unlikely topics in Middle Grade books.
  2. The dad is the one always in trouble, instead of his son, Noah. And Noah is loyal to his dad the whole way.
  3. The great cast of characters who are each unique. Noah, our sensitive protagonist, is worried his parents may divorce over Dad’s impulsive ways. Abbey, his little sister, is a feisty biter. A mysterious pirate, a tough talking lady with a barbed wire tattoo, and the boat owner and his bullying son round out the ensemble.
  4. The positive big brother-little sister relationship. They help each other throughout and you know they are going to be best of friends forever. This line characterizes Noah’s feelings for his sister: “Abbey nodded. Her lower lip began to tremble, and her shoulders went kind of slack, so I sat on the bed and put one arm around her and tried to act stronger than I felt.”
  5. The novel can be enjoyed by adults and kids (probably age 10 and up with some of the issues being addressed: Drinking, jailed parent, corruption…). Boys and girls who like humorous and suspenseful stories would love this rather unlikely tale.

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

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The Wednesday Wars on a Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

The_wednesday_warsHolling Hoodhood is one of the most likeable male protagonists in the past 10 years. Gary D. Schmidt  brought to life this 7th grade boy from 1967 who learns much about life and family.

Date of Publication: 2007

Word count: 73,675

Level: 5.9

Plot: Holling Hoodhood is really in for it.
He’s just started seventh grade with Mrs. Baker, a teacher he knows is out to get him. Why else would she make him read Shakespeare…outside of class?
The year is 1967, and everyone has bigger things than homework to worry about. There’s Vietnam for one thing, and then there’s the family business. As far as Holling’s father is concerned, nothing is more important than the family business. In fact, all of the Hoodhoods must be on their best behavior at all times. The success of Hoodhood and Associates depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has Mrs. Baker to contend with? 

Five things I liked:

  1. The historical backdrop that includes Yankee Stadium, Vietnam, Political assassinations, and even Woolworth’s.  What an enjoyable way to learn about these places and events through the eyes of our young protagonist.
  2. It’s laugh out loud hilarious with runaway rats, cream puffs, and an embarrassing pair of tights. Just when you’re drawn into the seriousness of a moment, you get whacked over the head with humor
  3. The use of Shakespeare’s works as they are woven into Holling’s year that brings much debate but also understanding to what he observes.
  4. The emotional honesty that the author brings forth. It left me satisfied as each plot point came to a satisfying conclusion.
  5. Though the time period is 46 years in the past, events of today could easily be substituted. It would make a fantastic read-aloud in the classroom or home.

Favorite Line: To ask your big sister to be your ally is like asking Nova Scotia to go into battle with you.

Who will love this book: Anyone who is 12 or wants to go inside the head of a 12 year old would enjoy THE WEDNESDAY WARS. It’s not a short read and borders closer to upper middle grade. The chapters are lengthy but contain perfect stopping points within. I couldn’t wait to get back to the story each day.

After visiting here be sure to check the links to other selections over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

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A Favorable Future for GRAVE IMAGES

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

I was ready to watch my favorite team. Lucky hat on and adjusted, check. Snacks nearby, check. Wait… What’s this? A package addressed to me. I tear open the edge and can’t take my eyes off the cover. It’s an ARC of GRAVE IMAGES that I won recently. Very intriguing.P1010356

Kickoff is still five minutes away. The pages rustle in my hands, and as much as I want to hear the pregame predictions, the potential of a great story is too strong… The game can wait.  I click “RECORD” and sit back to spend my Sunday reading Jenny Goebel’s new novel, GRAVE IMAGES.

WHAT TO EXPECT   There’s a strange new visitor to the small town of Stratwood, and he’s taken residence in the guest house at Alpine Monuments. On the property, twelve-year-old Bernie (short for Bernadette) lives there with her father (who etches gravestone markers), and mother, along with, Mimi, her grandmother.

Living in a place surrounded by tombstones gives the creepiness a head start, but after Mr. Stein arrives, the creep factor goes up several notches. Seems Mr. Stein is an expert at the craft of gravestone etchings. Sounds innocent enough until Bernie discovers he’s carving headstones of various town residents who are very much alive. Soon after he completes each one, they suddenly drop dead from a heart attack.

Thinking that her family would not believe what she feels is the truth, Bernie enlists the help of Michael, a slightly older boy she detests. Together and apart they attempt to unravel a deadly mystery.

WHAT I THOUGHT  GRAVE IMAGES is a story that makes you want to keep peeking ahead to see if a character’s name is still being mentioned. You don’t know who might be the next victim. The tension builds as clues are discovered. Ms. Goebel skillfully manages the subplots into one satisfying whole. Told from the perspective of Bernie, her strong voice comes through in every scene. You feel the hurt, fear, love, and confusion that Bernie wrestles with in every scene. What a great protagonist.

The story is scary but not in a way that will turn off readers, or be too frightful. I passed my copy along to a nine-year-old and he’s enjoying the ride, too.

Is it better for girls or boys? Although we have a female lead here, there is also Michael who is pivotal to the story. Boys and girls alike should gravitate to the ghostly happenings.

So race right out and get yourself a copy of GRAVE IMAGES. I give it 5 our of 5 Headstones, each etched with a different set of words: SUSPENSEFUL … SCARY …. CREEPY… HARD TO PUT DOWN … PERFECT READ-A-LOUD.

That’s it! May you R.I.P. (Read It Promptly)

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I Climbed Another Mountain

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

mountainIt’s not what you think but every bit as challenging… I finished my second Middle Grade manuscript. Take a deep breath and celebrate. Note to self: Don’t buy the Halloween candy before you write the final chapters. Now I have to replenish before the trick or treat onslaught arrives.

The story flowed better this time, partially due to the two statements I kept close by the past four months:

If the words don’t move the plot forward, hit the delete key.

Write so the reader experiences the events and emotions through your words.

I’m going to let my newborn project (NO BRAINER) sit for a few weeks then I will read it from beginning to end, rewriting and editing as I go. Once I’m satisfied, I will shut the windows (my own not the ones on the desktop) and read the story out loud. There’s nothing like it to correct clunky wordings and pacing.

Next will be critiques and more rewrites. Here’s my first attempt at a blurb:

Is it possible to remember every moment of your past? Eleven-year-old, Hender, thinks so and he’s already recalled 2,514 days, but can a picture of the past create the future he desires… the one with a dad in his life?

So now I’m wrapping up my time with these characters who have been my companions the past three years. The two stories are connected, but stand up well on their own. It’s bittersweet, but also nice to have other writing ideas fluttering out of my now less cluttered mind. Two more contemporary middle grade tales, a YA story about a Hispanic boy struggling to make it in the suburbs of a big city, and a mystery.

All I can do is keep writing and waiting for that door to open.

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MMGM Review: Rules by Cynthia Lord

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

rules_cover_dropshadowAutism. Just seeing or hearing the word brings confusion and misunderstanding. Cynthia Lord writes from the perspective of an 12-year-old girl whose brother is autistic. The results are a novel with heart that will have you asking for more.

Date of Publication: 2006

Word count: 31,368

Level: 3.9

Publisher description: Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She’s spent years trying to teach David the rules from “a peach is not a funny-looking apple” to “keep your pants on in public”—in order to head off David’s embarrassing behaviors.
But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she’s always wished for, it’s her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?

Five things I liked:

1. The picture that is eloquently painted of an autistic boy in a family who must cope with his different ways of dealing with the world. Better than any special education textbook I’ve ever read. In fact this should be used in teacher preparation classes.

2. Each of the characters become their own distinct personality. I’m touched when an author can mold a unique character and make each believable. Often times characters with disabilities get stereotyped portrayals. That never happens in this unique story.

3. No spoilers here but the ending made me smile.

4. The honesty of the main character, Catherine. She’s so torn in wanting what’s good for her, but also seeing what’s important to her brother and new paraplegic friend. Her voice, the author’s creation of that voice shines throughout.

5. This is a small thing but oh so useful. I will often hear from parents and teachers, “I loved a particular book. Are there others like it on the bookshelf?” My copy of RULES had several pages in the back of the book with descriptions of other books that deal with autism or other disabilities.

Favorite Line: You have to look underneath the words to figure out what he’s trying to say.

LINKS: Author’s Web Site      AMAZON      BARNES & NOBLE     GOODREADS

Who will love this book: Girls will gravitate toward this title more than boys only because of the female protagonist. I think the reader base is far broader that the slice we call Middle Grade. Young Adults and older would benefit from the  words in RULES.

(Be sure to check the links to other middle grade selections over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.)

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MMGM Review: Out Of My Mind

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

This week I delve into the thought provoking OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon M. Draper.

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After visiting here be sure to check the links to other selections over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

Date of Publication: 2012

Word count: 56,872

Level: 4.3

Publisher description: Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there’s no delete button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school—but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don’t think she’s capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows. But she can’t. She can’t talk. She can’t walk. She can’t write. Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it. From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you’ll never, ever forget.

Five things I liked:

  1. Let me start with the ending. I think readers are always hoping for a bright, happy conclusion, one that makes our dreams pleasant. Not the case here. It was difficult to read, but what a great discussion starter for kids. Is it realistic? Did you like how Melody, the main character, handled the situation? Do you think it was purposely done to treat Melody in this way? Life itself will never be perfect so this only reminds us of the lessons kids learn very early.
  2. The cover. Most books use the back cover as  place to give some background on the story. It’s done with this book, too, but seeing the change in pictures used on the back and front tell you a lot about how much the protagonist will change in this book.
  3. I’ve had special needs children in my own classroom and Draper’s writing is spot on and real.
  4. It’s a story of understanding and acceptance. Many readers will find they have been transformed in their beliefs about kids who struggle with a disability.
  5. Melody’s voice. Wow. The first person POV never faltered. You were in her mind, experience every inch of the ride Melody takes.

Favorite Line: The morning started out as crystal, but the day has turned to broken glass.

Who will love this book: Girls will gravitate toward this title more than boys. I think it would be especially helpful for those either in education or heading in that direction as a career to use this book as a springboard towards understanding that not all kids learn the same way.

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RE-RIGHT… RERIGHT… REWRITE

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

It’s the most important part of writing a winning novel. I didn’t do much if any rewriting on my first manuscript until the first draft was completed. Only then did I start the long process. For my second manuscript I have been stopping after each 10,000 words and going back immediately to do some initial rewriting on word choice, transitions, and error cleanup.

Currently I’m at about 30,000 words and racing towards a climatic conclusion. I should come in at about 40,000 words on this first draft of my second middle grade story (Hopefully by Thanksgiving). It will be cleaner, more focused, and in better shape to take on the long rewriting process.

I actually enjoy rewriting, but I often need a little extra push to keep me motivated. These articles did the trick this time around. I have included the link and a favorite quote from each. Enjoy. I hope they are helpful.

Revising and Rewriting

Expect to rewrite anything you write. I have never, ever seen a piece of first draft writing that couldn’t do with some rewriting.

After the First Draft

I should be clear: there are plenty of times when the thought of reading my own story one more time makes me want to vomit.

Rewriting

Beginning writers tend to panic about making their story long enough, so they stuff the story full of Styrofoam to bulk it out, that is, they wedge filler between the action. Styrofoam does not nourish the reader. It’s boring.

After the First Draft: 30 Writing Tips for the Second Draft

But first drafts never get published. Never.

What to do when you’ve finished the First Draft

If your book is needing a lot of re-editing and rewriting as you receive feedback, you might start to feel like you are a hopeless writer and should give up. That’s normal. We all feel like that. But it isn’t true.

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Monday Review: Runaway Twin

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

runaway-twin-1xlbaj5This fast moving novel by Peg Kehret has a great protagonist with a never give up attitude. Her first person narrative always had me turning the pages for more.

After visiting here be sure to check the links to other selections over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

Date of Publication: 2009

Word count: 39,471

Level: 4.7

Back of book description (Click on image to make larger):sunny

Five things I liked:

  1. The pacing is excellent. The main character keeps pushing herself despite the obstacles thrown at her in every chapter.
  2. Sunny Skyland. She is the spunky female narrator of the story. The dialog and internal thinking are perfectly balanced. Her thoughts as to what to do are not always the right ones, but she does a good job of convincing the reader they are the best choices to make.
  3. The lessons taught. One being don’t expect things to turn out exactly the way you think they will.
  4. A dog story this is not, but a dog plays a key role in helping Sunny deal with her long journey.
  5. The ending, although I hoped for more resolution to her relationship, or lack of one, with her twin.

Favorite Line: The last thing I glimpsed was Snicker’s nose, pressed to the back window, watching me.

Who will love this book: Girls will gravitate toward this title more than boys. With very few solid male characters, this had a girl’s feel to it from the start. I enjoyed it though and thought it would make a good read-a-loud.

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The Book Cellar: A Real Gem

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

Those of you who live in the Denver area, or if you are visiting, be sure to head up to Louisville, CO (Near Boulder). Take a walk down main street and visit the charming home of The Book Cellar. Barbara or Sami will make you feel like a member of the family.
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Now in its eleventh year, The Book Cellar is filled with new, used, and even rare books for you to browse. Don’t see the title you are looking for? They will track it down for you without hesitation.

The children’s section has its own little nook toward the front of the store. Organized by author and series, there are many titles you will want for your own ‘to read’ list. Smiles abound on every child searching for their next treasure in this area of the store.

Separate sections for teen, adult, and nonfiction can also be found. Don’t need a book? Imported chocolates, teas, and collectibles are nestled in between the book shelves. Great gift ideas at every turn.

Be sure to visit their Facebook page, website, or better yet, take a drive up there to support this fine independent bookseller.

Yes, you may be 5,335 feet above sea level in Louisville, but walk into The Book Cellar and you will even be closer to heaven.

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Not A Half Brain At All

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Greg Pattridge

Siblings never seem to be alike. If one says “Yes” the other says “No.” It’s like they have two very different working minds. Take for example these two fictional brothers, Jake and Josh.

Jake is 12 and rarely gets any grade lower than an A. His room is an organized masterpiece. Everything has a place and order is important. He thrives on steps, schedules and listening. Reading and writing are his favorite subjects. Jake is a low maintenance child.

Josh is 11 and barely scrapes by in school. His room is a disaster. He knows it and doesn’t care. If he needs something, he’ll be able to find it. Time is of no use for Josh and he frequently is lost in his own visual world. He’s a selective listener. Josh is best when taking things apart or creating new ideas. He gets the big picture but rarely sees the parts. He dislikes writing and never reads for pleasure. It takes a village to raise a child like Josh.

Jake and Josh each have a lot to offer. They both have a whole brain, although wired a bit differently.  Jake is predominately a left brain thinker while Josh slips to the right brain side for most tasks. Neither relies solely on one side or the other but  their preferred style of thinking has its roots in either the right or left.

I’ve worked with both types of kids and when it came time to create a main character in my first novel, Half Brain, I opted for a voice and actions similar to Josh.   I expanded the description above by giving my protagonist, Hender, a fantastic autobiographical memory that serves his goal of finding the truth about his father.

Besides being a compelling MC, both Josh and Hender give parents and teachers fits. Here are a few techniques that I’ve found works with many who have similar characteristics:

  • Have eye to eye contact when giving directions.
  • If you have a task you want them to do, have them visualize it first. “After I finish talking, go to your room, pick up all your dirty clothes and put them in the hamper, etc.”
  • Give them choice in learning. “Complete the task by doing one of the three choices.”
  • They should have two different colored folders. One for completed work; the other for stuff still to be done. It should be checked daily.
  • Encourage organization but don’t make it the total focus. Celebrate small steps and small victories.
  • Find ways for them to have success.

Visual spatial learners are an important aspect of my writing. I’m currently writing a sequel, NO BRAINER. It further explores the wonders of Hender and his visual-spatial mind as he attempts to solve a mystery.

Visual learners are also a needed component in our world. They are the creative problem solvers, the builders, and the artists so important in many careers. They just have to survive schools who may not understand them or authors like me putting them in crazy, impossible situations.

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