JACK STRONG TAKES A STAND for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Last year I enjoyed Tommy Greenwald’s Charlie Joe Jackson series. After hearing the premise of his newest, JACK STRONG TAKES A STAND, cover-takes-standI had to make sure it quickly arrived at the top of my TBR list. I’m glad it did. The story is told with charm through the eyes of seventh grader Jack Strong. You’ll recognize this kid as I’m sure there are a few like him in your neighborhood or school. He’s had it with all the extracurricular activities and finally does something to hopefully bring change.

Take a look at the 60 second video trailer and you’ll get a feel for the story…

PUBLICATION DATE:2013   READING LEVEL: 4.5    WORD COUNT: 32,156

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Jack Strong just wants to be a regular kid. But his parents have overscheduled his week with every extracurricular activity under the sun: tennis, baseball, cello, karate, tutoring, and Chinese language lessons—all on top of regular homework. His parents want him to be “well-rounded” and prepared for those crucial college applications. Jack’s just about had enough.

And so, in Jack Strong Takes a Stand by Tommy Greenwald, he stages a sit-in on his couch and refuses to get up until his parents let him quit some of the extracurriculars. As Jack’s protest gains momentum, he attracts a local television host who is interested in doing a segment about him. Tensions rise as counter-protesters camp out across the street from Jack and his couch. Jack’s enjoying this newfound attention, but he’s worried that this sit-in may have gone too far.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT JACK STRONG TAKES A STAND

  1. The emotional change Jack goes through as he at first is thrilled with his new life, but then begins to question whether he’s gone too far.
  2. The mind of a middle grade boy is captured beautifully. Jack has a way with words that had me laughing numerous times.
  3. The cartoon style pictures do not overwhelm the text. They fall in place when needed and are well done.
  4. The very different relationship Jack has with the three adults in his life. There’s grandma who is on his side. Dad who is totally against the strike. Meanwhile, Mom is left trying to keep the peace. This will sound familiar to many readers.
  5. The ending, and there are many endings I don’t like, but this one had me cheering all the way.

FAVORITE LINES:

“This whole strike thing. You trying to get a girl or something?”

“I’m in middle school,” I said. “I’m always trying to get a girl.”

********************************************************************

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

MMGM2

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June Happenings

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Where has almost half the year gone? The days seem to pass by without stopping. Hopefully it will slow down long enough for you to check out two great events coming up…

48hbc_newI’ll be participating from 9 a.m., Friday June 6th to 9 a.m. Sunday, June 8th. Even if you don’t have time to read, there will be a wealth of recommendations on the theme of diversity. Click the image above for all the exciting details.

And for the entire month of June:

Just Dog Blog Banner

This one kicks off on Monday, June 2nd. The tour stops at my doorstep on June 9th. Don’t miss this month long celebration of this great new MG title. Here are all the tour links:

Week One
2-  Randomly Reading
3-  R-Cubed’s Reads and Reviews
4-  Book Dreaming
5-  Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews
6-  The Write Game
7-  Indigo Quill

Week Two
9-  Always In The Middle 
10-I Am A Reader
11-Beach Bound Books
12- Mommies Point Of View
13- Susan Kaye Quinn

Week Three
16- Rockin’ Book Reviews
The Write Path
17- The Owl’s Skull
18- Literary Rambles
19- Social Cafe Magazine
20- This Kid Reviews Books

Week Four
23- That’s Another Story
24- Pretty Opinionated
25- The Reader’s Perch
26- That’s Another Story
27- Reads 4 Tweens
Week Five
30- Tales Between The Pages
July 1st- Buried In Books

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SOPHIE HARTLEY AND THE FACTS OF LIFE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Sophie Hartley is not the type of MG book I would normally review.  I’d never even heard of Sophie and there are three that preceded this one (QUEEN SOPHIE HARTLEY; SOPHIE HARTLEY ON STRIKE: and HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE HARTLEY). Okay, I can explain…

It began with an email from a fourth grader’s mom. She said her daughter was getting overly anxious about the Growing and 9780547976525_lresChanging unit coming up next school year. Anxious in “I’m not interested.” Her Mom knowing I knew about books for this age asked me for a fiction recommendation to ease her daughter’s worries over the summer. My mind went blank. Other than Judy Blume, I had nothing. I told her I’d get back to her in a few days. Within an hour I found Sophie and the next day visited the library. Sure enough Sophie was on the shelf waiting for her next reader. I never recommend something I haven’t read myself so my next stop was the check-out desk. I gave the lady my best this isn’t for me look and for the next few days I got to know Sophie. I was pleasantly surprised. Author Stephanie Greene has created an enduring character. This book and I’m sure the others are a great introduction for a new middle grade reader.

PUBLICATION DATE:2013    READING LEVEL: 4.3          WORD COUNT: 23,423

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Sophie Hartley, age ten, does not want to be a teenager. She vows she’ll never be like her older sister, Nora, who has tantrums about her hair and almost everything else. Her older brother Thad is preoccupied with his girlfriend of the moment and doesn’t seem to like the family anymore. No, Sophie likes being who she is right now, helping out at home, doing art projects, and hanging out with her two best friends.
And another thing. Next year Sophie’s class will see the movie about body changes, and her classmates are already buzzing about it. Sophie doesn’t want to know about that embarrassing stuff yet. Does that mean she’s immature? How can she prove otherwise?
As usual, Sophie faces challenges and challengers with determination and resourcefulness. With the same down-to-earth, realistic, humorous take on friendships and family relationships praised in the three previous Sophie Hartley books, this new story brings the indomitable Sophie a step closer to growing up without compromising her sense of herself.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT SOPHIE HARTLEY AND THE FACTS OF LIFE

  1. The five children in the Hartley range from toddler to 16 years old. What a great mix of personalities and they demonstrate how difficult it can be growing up in a large family with a lot of opinions.
  2. How the mom and dad understood each other more after trading places. Mom takes off on the road for a conference and dad stays home to take care of family duties.
  3. Older brother Thad’s explanation of how hormones and glands are like a car. Never heard of this comparison but it works. The unlikely analogy helps Sophie get an initial understanding of the facts of life.
  4. It was great to see Sophie grow up just a little towards her teenage years even though she didn’t want to at first.
  5. Humorous and heartwarming. It’s a quick read, perfect for a fourth or early fifth grade girl.

FAVORITE LINES:

“If you ask me, it should be P-U-berty.” Sophie pinched her nose shut. “I’m sick of the whole thing.”

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

MMGM2

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SORRY YOU’RE LOST for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

The tale of Denny “Donuts” Murphy and his disruptive nature in the halls of Blueberry Hills Middle would get old real 9780374380656_p0_v1_s260x420quick for many readers. I’d have stopped reading myself if the motive had not been introduced in the first pages– Denny sits at his mother’s funeral with his dad. He’s a kid who is lost without his best friend, the person who stood by and cheered for him to succeed. Now she’s gone.

This is a funny, sad, and enlightening story. One I’ll remember for a long time. Matt Blackstone summed up his reasons for writing the book on the Acknowledgements page: The book was written for those lost. I hope it provides directions, comfort, a laugh, a smirk, hope, company, a distraction, a conversation starter, and/or a pillow.

I’m not lost, but SORRY YOU’RE LOST did all of that and more for me. I now have a book to recommend for boys and girls who may have experienced a loss of their own.

Matt’s first novel, A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE (published in 2011), is also an upper MG title.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2014   PAGES: 312

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): When Denny “Donuts” Murphy’s mother dies, he becomes the world’s biggest class clown. But deep down, Donuts just wants a normal life—one where his mom is still alive and where his dad doesn’t sit in front of the TV all day. And so Donuts tries to get back into the groove by helping his best friend with their plan to get dates for the end-of-the-year school dance. When their scheme backfires, he learns that laughter is not the best medicine for all of his problems. Sometimes it’s just as important to be true to yourself.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT SORRY YOU’RE LOST

  1. The title of the book. Just sitting on the cover it looks harmless, but it’s the centerpiece of understanding for young Donuts.
  2. Manny, his partner and sort of friend. He’s a forty-year-old trapped in a teenage body. Full of quips and hilarious sayings. He’ll leave you flabbergasted.
  3. Donuts reaching out to the lunch lady for advice and friendship. Every kid needs an adult like this in their lives when their own parents can’t be there.
  4. How sad the way Denny’s father handles his grief. I’ve been witness to real life fathers dealing with a loss the same way. Tragic but helpful that there’s hope.
  5. I wanted to read what’s next in Denny’s life – a sign of great character building by the author.

FAVORITE LINES:

My heart is pounding like a battering ram being rammed against a chest made from a door, and my breath is like a dog’s that just ran out the gate and took off down the block. I can’t find it – my breath, I mean. It ran away.

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

MMGM2

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FURIOUS JONES AND THE ASSASSIN’S SECRET for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

18048998Before I get to the good stuff, let me tell you that Furious Jones has been miscast and misplaced.  Tim Kehoe has written a nice thriller but whoever stamped this for children ages 8-12 must have blacked out. When the book opens Furious Jones’s mother has already been murdered. By the time we reach page 70, three more murders have been added to the body count. Not the stuff you want a 3rd, 4th, or even a 5th grader absorbing. What bothered me the most is the MC was 12-years-old. He travels alone across the country, checks into a B&B, fights adults and big burly football players like this is normal. Yes, he is six foot four (They do come in that size every so often), but I just couldn’t get past the age issue. One final point – although Furious has traveled the world, he talks more like an older teen or adult (I’ve never heard a preteen use the word subtlety). Make Furious 15 or 16 and I’d have enjoyed the ride more. This is an upper middle grade book at best, and probably is more suited for a YA audience.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014    NUMBER OF PAGES: 327

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): When his dad’s book turns out to contain deadly secrets, twelve-year-old Furious Jones is thrust into a web of mystery and danger in this gripping page-turner.

Furious Jones, the twelve-year-old son of a famous thriller writer, lives with his grandfather after his mother was mysteriously gunned down right in front of him a year ago. Curious to know more about his estranged dad, he goes to see him speak about his upcoming novel to a packed audience—and to his shock and horror, he witnesses his father get shot as well.

When Furious discovers that his dad’s upcoming novel contains dangerous and fiercely protected secrets, he sets out to discover who killed his father, and what exactly they were trying to cover up.

Ideal for fans of Alex Rider and Theodore Boone, the action-packed exploits of Furious Jones are as thrilling as they are intriguing. Can Furious unravel this literary mystery before the death toll rises?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT FURIOUS JONES AND THE ASSASSIN’S SECRET

  1. There are 66 short chapters, making the ever changing plot fly by. I’d sit down intending to read a chapter and twenty minutes later I’d read four or five.
  2. The various ways people are dying in the town of Galena, Illinois are rather sickening but at the same time very inventive. The killer makes each death look like an accident.
  3. Teens receive a good introduction to the thriller formula, which may interest them later in life to pursue adult thrillers. Chapters of his dad’s book are featured, too.
  4. Furious Jones has sequel written all over it, prodded by the most unlikely ending involving the CIA. Make the next book after Furious turns 16 and I’ll return for more.
  5. Shy kids will receive a few lessons how to talk (and not talk) to adults and girls. Furious is at ease talking with anyone. To the High School bully, “Let go or they’ll be picking pieces out of the pool filter for the next month.” or after just meeting two tenth grade girls, “Well, Susan and Baily, what are we going to cook for Thursday?”

FAVORITE LINE:

What do you say when you discover your entire life was a lie – a lie that, apparently everyone else was in on except you?

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

MMGM2

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ALSO KNOWN AS HARPER for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

Growing up I wouldn’t touch a book with a female narrator if my life (or grade) depended on it. Seems I’ve gotten over that affliction with my recent middle grade titles. Since January I’ve been touched by the lives of Star Mackie in HOPE IS A FERRIS WHEEL, Emily Elizabeth Davis in DESTINY, REWRITTEN, and Eleanor Groovy Robinson in THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY. Each of these girls has a strong voice and a difficult relationship with their father. The sad, but hopeful tales of these young heroines took it’s most dramatic turn with Harper Lee Morgan in ALSO  KNOWN AS HARPER. 9780805088816

PUBLICATION DATE:2009    LEVEL: 5.1         WORD COUNT: 47,302

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Harper Lee Morgan is an aspiring poet, which isn’t surprising, seeing as how she’s named after her mama’s favorite writer, Harper Lee. And life is giving her a lot to write about just now. Daddy up and walked out, leaving them broke. Then Harper’s family gets evicted. With Mama scrambling to find work, Harper has to skip school to care for her little brother, Hemingway. Their lives have been turned upside down, which Harper could just about handle—if it wasn’t for the writing contest at school. If only she could get up on that stage and read her poems out loud . . .

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT ALSO  KNOWN AS HARPER

  1. Harper loves to write poetry and many of her best are scattered throughout the pages. They bring understanding to Harper’s homeless and fatherless world. They can be heart wrenching to read, but then you realize how much good they do for Harper.
  2. The face of poverty hits hard. Many families in every city across our great country live like this – wondering where they’re going to sleep, take a bath, or find food for the next day. Harper Lee’s words will give you understanding and empathy to those who have found  a few bumps in life’s road.
  3. The characters all come to life thanks to the marvelous characterization. LIttle brother, Hem, who waits outside every day with an eye on the dad he wants to have home again; Lorraine, a friend, who can’t talk but has such a strong voice; The Mom, doing everything possible to get a job but knowing she is putting a lot of responsibility on Harper; and Winnie, the ultimate know-it-all classmate who also has her own journey of change
  4. This would be a great read for a  5th/6th reading group or for a book club. The themes demand to be discussed and I was left to think about the story on my own. It was helpful to read the Goodreads and Amazon reviews and find what others felt about the experiences of Harper Lee.
  5. ALSO KNOWN AS HARPER LEE is a quiet book with a great story. You won’t find much action, but sometimes that is just the type of book you need.

FAVORITE LINES:

I sat down on the toilet and closed my eyes and tried to pretend I was back in my old bedroom. Before it ended up on our front lawn.

Now I need a break from this type of story. Something funny and upbeat. I’ve got many on my TBR list to choose from.

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

MMGM2

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THE KINDLING for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

My quest to read at least one title from every middle grade series this year got a much needed kick when I crossed paths with author Braden Bell. We share similar teaching backgrounds in the trenches with middle level kids. His Middle Grade Magic series began with THE KINDLING (today’s review), followed by PENUMBRAS (2013), and this year 1197097LUMINESCENCE. Braden graciously sent me digital copies of all three titles.

I always feel the first book in a series is the set-up for the other stories. If it fails, who would want to read more? Braden Bell is a fantastic story teller and he leaves you wanting to revisit his trio of heroes and heroines. I have Epsiode #2 an #3 on my future read list and can’t wait to get back to the magical world of the Magi.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2012    PAGES: 304

FULL PLOT (From Bradenbell.com): All thirteen-year-old Connor Dell wants to do is pass pre-algebra, play lacrosse, and possibly kiss Melanie Stephens. He didn’t mean to set anyone’s gym shorts on fire or make school lunches explode. But now that the strange powers inside him have been ignited, Connor’s normal teenage life is about to go up in flames!
Homework? Of course. Crushes? Sure. But who knew seventh grade included superpowers?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THE KINDLING

  1. The three 13-year-old main characters fly off the pages with their humor, charm, and insecurities. I enjoyed learning about their individual powers and how they dealt with their school life and new magical abilities.
  2. Disney World. What a superb choice for a side trip in the story. It moved the plot along at a furious pace. The last time I rode on It’s Small World, I vowed to never hear the theme song again. Now, I can’t wait to visit the attraction once more and relive a very exciting part of THE KINDLING.
  3. Music and theater are expertly woven into the story. The connections made to some of our beloved musicals and plays had me whistling some of the tunes myself.
  4. A strong family unit. So many MG stories are full of missing parents, it’s nice to read one where a two parent family exists and a loving one at that.
  5. Action, danger, suspense… the perfect ingredients for a wild ride and one that’s hard to put down. Thank your Braden!

FAVORITE LINES:

Mr. Miller snorted. “Any Darkhand who steps on my campus is the one who needs to be careful.” He slammed his mop down, and streaks of bright green light spread across the floor like a spider web.

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

MMGM2

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TURN LEFT AT THE COW for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

This Upper MG book is by Lisa Bullard, new to the MG world, but hardly new to being an author. She has a long list of successful picture books and non-fiction books for the K-4 audience. She  also has a few writing titles out for adults.

17165955First off – TURN LEFT AT THE COW – How can you not love the title? Written from 13-year-old Trav’s perspective, his opinion and views of the world would hit home with a 5-8th grade audience. This is a mystery at heart and a great one at that. I figured out the bad guy fairly early, but still the tension built throughout made this story soar.

PUBLICATION DATE:2013    LEVEL: 5.6  WORD COUNT: 59,336

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Thirteen-year-old Trav has always wondered about his dead-before-he-was-born dad. But when he heads from California to his grandmother’s house in rural Minnesota, hoping to learn about his past, he gets more than he bargained for.
It turns out his dad was involved in a bank robbery right before he mysteriously disappeared, and the loot from the take is still missing. Along with Kenny and Iz, the kids next door, Trav embarks on a search for the cash. But the trio’s adventure quickly turns dangerous when it becomes clear that someone else is looking for the money—someone who won’t give up without a fight!

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT TURN LEFT AT THE COW

  1. The author’s words as she weaved in details of the Minnesota setting had me wanting to visit. Church basement gatherings, lakes galore, patriotic parades, and yes., live-bait vending machines makes the reader feel like they are there.
  2. Trav’s inner dialog is superb and you feel like you really know this kid. His sometimes mis-wired views are natural for an early teen. Just an all out great voice to spend time with.
  3. Any book that features several pages on chicken-poop-bingo is going to have many laughs popping up inside the mystery. The humor was never forced and always a surprise.
  4. The relationship with Trav and his grandmother was real – heartbreaking one moment and heartwarming the next.
  5. The tenderness of Trav’s understanding of his first romance, family dynamics, and forgiveness. All the plot lines were neatly sewn up and the ending was satisfying.

FAVORITE LINE:

There were so many dead bodies stuffed into Gram’s freezer chest that it was kind of like wandering through a cryonics lab.

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

MMGM2

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The Most Important Slush Pile of All

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

I taught creative writing (among other things) to 11-12 year old students for 20 years. I’d go home weekends with a pile of stories to read. The range of abilities was tremendous. Most could put a 1-3 page story together, a handful could barely write a decent paragraph, and a few were beyond excellent for a middle grade student writer.Children PlayingMy job was to make sure they had growth no matter where the starting line began. The advice I gave to individual students keeps reappearing for me as I write still another draft or create a new story.

  1. Write stories that excite you, but also don’t be afraid to jump out of your comfort zone.
  2. Read your story out loud so others can hear how your words sound.
  3. Get your story down first. Worry about spelling and grammar later.
  4. Take criticism not as a put down but as suggestions to make your writing better.
  5. Write the story that is in your head. Read through it once to make changes and then put it a way for at least a week. Revising will be a lot easier.
  6. Save everything. The good, the not so good, and anything in between. You may be able to use it another time.
  7. Your writing can always improve.
  8. Read. Read. Read.

Speaking of slush piles… I entered my 39,000 contemporary MG novel, THE BIRTHDAY JINX, into a fun contest over at SC Writes. It’s called The Writer’s Tank and I’m happy to report I made the final cut. Now the fun begins as agents participating can request pages or full manuscripts. You can look at my entry and all the others HERE. It’s the first 250 words. This is the only time THE BIRTHDAY JINX has left the confines of my computer so it’s pretty exciting!

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HOPE IS A FERRIS WHEEL for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Greg Pattridge

18405519 It’s time to get back to more recent releases. How about one from last month? HOPE IS A FERRIS WHEEL, a debut by author Robin Herrera, is told from the perspective of young Star Mackie. It’s an unusual MG book that explores social class and its effect on our protagonist and her family. I was ‘hoping’ for a perfect ending – for Star, her older sister she adores, and the dad she has never met – but alas in Star’s “Trailer Trash” world it’s the best you can get. Just like a ride on the ferris wheel theme portrayed in the core of this story, hope is alive in different forms. A heartwarming first effort.

PUBLICATION DATE:2014    PAGES: 272

FULL PLOT (From Amazon): Ten-year-old Star Mackie lives in a trailer park with her flaky mom and her melancholy older sister, Winter, whom Star idolizes. Moving to a new town has made it difficult for Star to make friends, when her classmates tease her because of where she lives and because of her layered blue hair. But when Star starts a poetry club, she develops a love of Emily Dickinson and, through Dickinson’s poetry, learns some important lessons about herself and comes to terms with her hopes for the future.
With an unforgettable voice with a lot of heart, Hope Is a Ferris Wheel is the story of a young girl who learns to accept her family and herself while trying to make sense of the world around her.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT HOPE IS A FERRIS WHEEL

  1. The relationship Star has with her older sister, Winter. It’s covers the bond that changes as Star learns more about her sister’s YA world, although it never crosses into that genre.
  2. I went back and re-read Star’s vocabulary assignment she has trouble turning in. They are featured throughout the book and are heart tugging to read as Star portrays her problem filled world in those sentences. Nice touch that adds meaning to the story.
  3. The poetry theme as Emily Dickinson again takes center stage in the plot of an MG book (Destiny, Rewritten is the other recent addition). Star’s attempts at a poetry club help all of the characters grow.
  4. Teachers will love all the possible themes in the story for discussion purposes (Absent father, poverty, and many more I won’t give away as spoilers), plus there is a handy study guide in the back of the book.
  5. The biases Star fights against, only to see her have many of her own. It’s the changes she goes through as she becomes aware of them. It kind of renews your hope in the world.

FAVORITE LINE:

I wish there was a harsher word for people who didn’t live in trailer parks, something as bad as trashy, but the truth was, no one made fun of you for living in a house.

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

MMGM2

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