Tag Archives: Middle grade

THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I have read many stories recently with young male protagonists. I decided it was time to balance that out. After a lengthy online search to come up with a few female heroines, DESTINY REWRITTEN by Kathryn Fitzmaurice surfaced. I liked … Continue reading

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THE PET WAR for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

First off, I have a love/hate reaction with the cover. Scholastic knows their marketing in that kids (and many big kids) love a good story about animals. The dog and cat are cute, (that’s why I picked it off the … Continue reading

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Quick Reads for the Reluctant Reader

I’ve worked with quite a few kids who would rather be dragged by a fast moving snowmobile with their teeth attached to a rope than actually read a book. When I hand them one of these word filled wonders they … Continue reading

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33 MINUTES… for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Looking for a heartwarming story of lifelong friendship between two boys? How about  a plot that shows how forgiveness is the cornerstone of two best friend’s relationship? Well, you won’t find it in 33 MINUTES… UNTIL MORGAN STURTZ KICKS MY … Continue reading

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Phineas L. MacGuire Series for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I accidentally ran into this book series, otherwise Phineas L. MacGuire would have remained an unknown for me. While at the local library, lost in the shelves of children’s novel section, I rounded the corner and my knee connected with … Continue reading

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FREAKY FAST FRANKIE JOE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The sign of a good book for me is after finishing the last word, I want to read more. What does happen to Frankie Joe, a most endearing character, as he takes on the next chapter in his life? I’d … Continue reading

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Becoming a Writer

In 2010 while sitting in the Atlanta airport, I started my writing career. Did I know what I was doing? A little Was I starting a journey of discovery? For sure. The first discovery was that I was going to … Continue reading

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ROAD TRIP for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Middle grade books these days aren’t lacking for page counts. According to Amazon, many of the tops titles from 2013 far exceeded the normal number of pages expected from this genre. ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY (304 pages), NAVIGATING EARLY … Continue reading

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Middle Grade Heaven

You will find it at the Tattered Cover Bookstore on Colfax Street in Denver. The building is charming and originally was home to the historic 550 seat Bonfils-Lowenstein theater. You can still see the curtain framing the stage. Two levels … Continue reading

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THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Your first question may be – Why now? The classic tale is 138 years old. Well, I was needing an accurate recollection of the “curing warts’ scene for a current writing project. Wasn’t there a dead cat and beans involved? … Continue reading

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