tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21734080549658173522024-03-18T01:03:36.638-05:00PROJECT MAYHEMThe Manic Minds of Middle Grade WritersProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger1151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-18166937861344393292018-08-27T03:00:00.000-05:002018-08-27T03:00:01.911-05:00Eight Energizing Years: Mayhemmers Caroline, Chris, and Paul On Their Writing Lives <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week, after I announced the migration of The Mayhem from blog form to a Facebook group, I asked our bloggers to give a snapshot of their writing careers since Project Mayhem: The Manic Minds of Middle Grade Writers first appeared in 2010. Here are the responses from three of our long-time contributors.<br />
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<b><i>Caroline Starr Rose ~</i></b><br />
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My writing career really got underway around the time Project Mayhem began. In 2010 I sold my first novel, May B. Since then I've sold six more books. As I've moved from an aspiring author to a debut and into a career, I've tried to hold the things <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/hold-loosely-take-long-view/">I can't control loosely and learn to take the long view</a>. <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/whats-the-purpose-of-your-writing/">My aim these years</a> has been to make beautiful books of enduring value that honor and extend dignity to children.<br />
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I hope I can continue to do the same for many years to come!<br />
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<a href="http://www.carolinestarrrose.com/">www.carolinestarrrose.com</a><br />
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<b><i>Chris Eboch ~</i></b><br />
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I'm not sure when I joined Team Mayhem. It wasn't at the beginning, but I feel like I've been part of the family for a long time. So what has happened in recent years?<br />
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I published <i>You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers</i> in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YVNM8PC">Kindle</a>, in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Children-Teenagers/dp/069246977X/">paperback</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Children-Teenagers/dp/1514690063/">Large Print paperback</a>. To put together this book, I adapted many of the articles I wrote for <i>Children's Writer</i> newsletter, the annual <i>Writer's Guid</i>e books, or other publications. It's one more way of sharing my love of writing Kidlit, and the knowledge I've amassed over the years of working in the industry.<br />
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Since 2015, 20 more of the educational publishing books I've written have come out. The most recent are four books in the <i>Sweet Eats with a Side of Science</i> series from Capstone, and <i>Living through World War I</i> and <i>Living through World War II</i> from Rourke. In addition, I've done 10 titles in the <i>Introducing Issues with Opposing Viewpoints</i> series, where I curate articles and write introductions and questions. This brings me up to 52 nonfiction books and 14 fiction titles traditionally published! That's not something I ever expected when I sold my first novel, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Eboch/e/B001JS25VE/">The Well of Sacrifice</a></i>, way back in the late 90s.<br />
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I'm also still writing for adults as Kris Bock. I haven't published a new romantic suspense novel since <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kris-Bock/e/B006WV4I5O">The Skeleton Canyon Treasure</a></i> in 2016, but I've been working on a mystery novel that's ready to send to agents.<br />
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Less has changed on the personal front. I'm still living in a small town in New Mexico, still married to a wonderful man, still hiking most weeks, and still keeping ferrets – although our current pair are only a year old, so they are relatively new. Princess Pandemonium (Panda) and Teddy Black Bear (Bear) are playful when awake and snugly when sleeping, which is most of the time.<br />
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<b><i>Paul Greci ~</i></b><br />
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A close friend, who teaches elementary school, once said to me, <i>I never teach the same lesson twice because I am never the same person twice</i>. Life is change and over the last eight years, like most people, I’ve seen my share. As a writer, I’ve had one book come out, <i>Surviving Bear Island</i> (Move Books 2015) and have five more under contract with three different publishers—Move, Macmillan, and Benchmark—scheduled to come out over the next four years.<br />
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I still write in the morning before heading to my teaching job, and my wife is still my main reader of manuscripts outside of my agent and the editors I’m working with at the publishing houses. That said, the biggest change for me as a writer has been writing books from start to finish that are already under contract as opposed to writing a book for which I do not yet have a publisher. Even though I am a disciplined writer, I admit that having deadlines I’ve signed off on has kept me on task even more.<br />
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One thing that hasn’t changed is the wonder, engagement and challenge I experience when writing a novel and seeing it through the twists and turns of the creative process. Another thing that hasn’t changed (which is also something I love about writing) is the continual learning curve I’m traveling as a writer. There is always more to learn when crafting a story, and that learning keeps the journey fresh.Michael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-63474798601438820272018-08-20T03:30:00.000-05:002018-08-20T03:30:02.922-05:00What's Up With The Mayhem? by Michael Gettel-Gilmartin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi folks! Here's hoping you've all been having a great summer, full of adventures and activities, and just plain fun with families and friends. Summer always seems to whizz by, doesn't it?<br />
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Here at Project Middle Grade Mayhem we've been doing some summer-inspired soul-searching. When we look back at the past eight years--yes, we've been bringing you the very best of middle-grade for eight, wonderful years!--we see over 1000 blog posts, myriad page views and comments, and an ever-evolving gang of some of the best middle grade writers on the planet.<br />
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But we've also noticed a trend. Plainly speaking, blog reading is down. As more short-forms of social media have evolved (think Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the rest), people have even less time to interact with long-form blogging. I mean, who among us <i>really</i> wants to stare at a screen all day?<br />
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As writers, it's always a struggle keeping up the social connectivity and working on promotion of our work, and doing what we all love doing best: immersing ourselves in the worlds of our stories. More and more of us feel the tug to take a break from social media, and reconnect with our own creativity. (One of our founding members, Caroline Starr Rose, has written persuasively about this on the blog: <a href="http://project-middle-grade-mayhem.blogspot.com/2018/02/deep-work-and-digital-declutter-by_22.html">Deep Work and a Digital Declutter</a>.)<br />
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So basically, we've come to a crossroads, and our membership has decided it's time to put our blog to bed. That's not to say you'll never hear from us again. Our plan is to migrate to Facebook, where we will be setting up a group page where conversations can continue and mayhem can flourish. In essence, we'll be growing our Project Middle Grade Mayhem family as we invite you to share your thoughts, promote your books, and celebrate all the wonderful things about middle grade fiction and nonfiction.<br />
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So please stay tuned for things to change in September--and thank you all for your support during these eight magnificent mayhem-filled years. May the Mayhem be with you!<br />
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<br />Michael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-84137417911876839352018-08-13T19:26:00.000-05:002018-08-19T16:58:26.560-05:00Fall Middle Grade Standouts by Kristen Zayon<br />
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Fall is an exciting time for school librarians. We head back
to school, get our space reorganized, put up our displays, plan out what we’re
going to teach the kids, and the books we will read to them. Far and away the
most fun task – and the most difficult – is ordering new books. There is such a
wealth of new middle grade books being published every day it can be hard to
discern what’s a necessity versus what would be nice to add to your collection
if you had more money. For your consideration today, I offer my list of the top
middle grade books that you should add to your library collection. Or buy for
your kids. Or offer to the students in your classroom. Or buy for your favorite
niece or nephew for Christmas. Or just rush out and read if you love reading
middle grade books like I do.<o:p></o:p> </span></span><br />
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<li><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Amal Unbound</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">, by Aisha Saeed – In India, young Amal, who longs to become a teacher, has a social awakening while working as a servant to pay a family debt.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Be Prepared</b>, by Vera Brosgol – In this autobiographical graphic memoir, the author recounts her month at a Russian summer camp where she feels she doesn’t fit in.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Front Desk</b>, by Kelly Yang – Mia, a Chinese immigrant, ably takes over the front desk at the motel her parents are managing, while dreaming of a future as a writer. (I’ve been hearing Newbery buzz about this one!)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Smart Cookie</b>, by Elly D Swartz – Frankie lives with her Dad and Grandmother at a bed and breakfast, while dealing with Gram’s hoarding, ghost rumors and trying to find a new wife (and acceptable new mom) for her father.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Louisiana’s Way Home</b>, by Kate DiCamillo (releases October 2nd) – this companion to DiCamillo’s charming Raymie Nightingale follows the trials and tribulations of Louisiana Elefante. Manages to be heartbreaking, uplifting, and truly funny.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Saving Winslow</b>, by Sharon Creech (releases September 11th) – Louie doesn’t have a good track record with animal care, but when his father brings home an orphaned mini-donkey, he’s determined to save it. Perfect for E.B. White fans.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Dollar Kids</b>, by Jennifer Jacobson – Lowen and his family move to a struggling town where houses are being sold for a dollar to encourage new residents. Various social issues are raised – job loss, class and race divisions, gun violence, prejudices.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Harbor Me</b>, by Jacqueline Woodson (releases August 21st) – In a talking circle of sorts, Haley and her 6th grade classmates discuss issues such as incarcerated parents, death, families split by immigration, job loss and other daily struggles.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cilla Lee-Jenkins, This Book is a Classic</b>, by Susan Tan – In her first book, aspiring author Cilla wrote her memoir. Now she’s working on a classic, and to do so, she focuses on the traditions around her, noting differences in the two sides of her biracial family, and centering on the wedding of her beloved Aunt Eva.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Stanley Will Probably Be Fine</b>, by Sally J. Pla – Stanley has anxiety and sensory processing disorders, and sometimes gets overwhelmed by crowds, noise and his brother’s pestering. Now his best friend is acting strange and he humiliates himself at school.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Science of Breakable Things</b>, by Tae Keller – in the process of a classic egg-drop contest, Natalie is also dealing with her mother’s deepening depression, and a yearning for a deeper connection with the Korean part of her heritage.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Mad Wolf’s Daughter</b> by Diane Magras – Set in 13th century Scotland, young Drest embarks on a quest to rescue her father and brothers when they are captured by a band of knights. She has five days to reach Faintree Castle and trade an injured knight for her family’s freedom.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Hurricane Child</b>, by Kheryn Callender – Caroline is considered unlucky in her Virgin Islands home, because she was born during a hurricane. Also bullied for her dark skin tone, she is lonely until she befriends newcomer Kalinda. Coming of age novel with LGBTQ elements.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Just Like Jackie</b>, by Lindsey Stoddard – Jackie has problems. There’s her short fuse, and now her Grandpa, her only family, is starting to become very forgetful. A class project to do a family tree is a catalyst for change and growth in her life.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A Dash of Trouble</b>, by Anna Meriano – Leonora, youngest of five sisters, discovers that the secret to her family bakery’s wonderful goods is magic. Leo steals a book of magical recipes and her experimentation leads to all kinds of problems. Back matter includes non-magical recipes.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Me, Frida & the Secret of the Peacock Ring,</b> by Angela Cervantes – On Paloma’s first trip to her father’s native Mexico, she becomes embroiled in a mystery having to do with Frida Kahlo and a missing ring. Despite her low expectations at the start of the trip, Paloma makes friends and has more adventures than she bargained for.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <b>If you have any other suggestions for this list, please share them below!</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05293847049190975687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-6104333898632180312018-07-30T05:30:00.000-05:002018-07-30T05:30:18.729-05:00Twenty Years of Writing: The Stats by Caroline Starr Rose<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/twenty-years-of-writing-the-stats/uqhlw0ccs4ehgqtqwqsovw/" rel="attachment wp-att-8105" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-8105" height="300" src="https://carolinestarrrose.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/uqHLw0cCS4eHgqTqWQSOvw-1024x768.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">See this? It's a rejection from my editor Stacey, written in 2008! </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">She didn't buy a book from me until 2013.</span></div>
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<a href="https://wp.me/p4ILGH-1b"><br />I first started writing the summer of 1998</a>. Back then, I was a teacher on break with three months stretching before me. After years of dreaming, I decided it was finally time to dig in and try to write a book.<br />
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For eleven years I wrote, submitting my four novels and six picture books almost exclusively to editors.* This was back in the snail mail querying age. Remember the anticipation you experienced as a child waiting for birthday presents to arrive in the mail? That was me for about a decade.<br />
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In spring 2009, I won a contest at a local writing conference. At the last minute, I’d decided to send in <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/may-b/">my middle-grade historical novel-in-verse</a>. It was my best work, but I wasn’t sure how it would be received alongside pieces meant for the adult market.** My prize included a one-on-one with an editor who specialized in fantasy, sci-fi, and women’s fiction, a world apart from my writing. She took one look at my manuscript and asked, “Why don’t you have an agent yet?”<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of my very high-tech submission records and some artwork from my son.</td></tr>
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That’s when I started subbing to agents in earnest, sending three to five queries at a time. By May, I'd gotten my first full request. In June I got two more. In July another two. In September, yet another two.<br />
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By October, I’d had ten agents request fulls and two ask for partials. One agent liked my story, but felt some significant changes were necessary. I thought through her suggestions but took things in another direction, coming up with an entirely new, stronger ending. In the days I spent revising, two more agents requested fulls, bringing my total to twelve. I contacted the first agent, telling her I’d made changes to the story, though not along the lines she’d suggested. If she was still interested, I told her, I’d be happy to send it, but I also wanted her to know two more agents were reading the newer version. She graciously told me she’d love to see the story if the other two agents passed. One did. One didn’t.<br />
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Writing stats from 1998 to 2010, when I signed with my first agent:</h3>
<strong>10 manuscripts (4 novels, 6 picture books)</strong><br /><strong>211 rejections from editors (2 fulls and 1 partial requested)</strong><br /><strong>12 contests/grants (1 win)</strong><br /><strong>75 rejections from agents (12 fulls and 2 partials requested)</strong><br />
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With my first agent I sold two books,<a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/may-b/"><em> May B.</em></a> (novel #4, which subbed to eleven editors and had 3 offers. It <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/when-things-dont-go-as-planned/"> was orphaned when Random House closed Tricycle Press. </a> The book was days from its ARC printing. Six weeks later, it was picked up by another Random House imprint, Schwartz and Wade, and went through three more rounds of edits), and <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/wetlands-coming-2015/"><em>Over in the Wetlands</em></a> (picture book #5, which sold to Schwartz and Wade with zero rejections). After reworking several manuscripts, I officially retired most of them and drafted my verse novel, <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/blue-birds/"><em>Blue Birds</em></a>.<br />
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In 2013, I was on the hunt again for an agent. I submitted to three agencies and got two offers. I've been with <a href="http://www.adamsliterary.com/">Tracey Adams of Adams Literary</a> ever since.<br />
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<h3>
Writing stats for the last five years:</h3>
<strong>7.5 manuscripts (1.5 novels, 6 picture books -- 3 of these manuscripts have been officially retired)</strong><br /><strong>5 sales (3 novels, 2 picture books...the second picture book I hope to be able announce soon-ish!)</strong><br /><strong>2 anthology pieces,<a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/writing-efficient-effort-ever-wasted/"> including an overhauled chapter from novel #2</a>...the one Stacey rejected in 2008!</strong><br /><strong>3 grants / 2 contests (with no wins)</strong><br /><strong>55 rejections</strong><br />
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<h3>
Some thoughts</h3>
You could look at these numbers and get pretty discouraged. 14 years to see a book on the shelf? Regular rejection with 7 books sold?<em> I</em> can look at these numbers -- even knowing things worked out in the end -- and feel the same. I know plenty of people with a shorter apprenticeship. I've got lots of friends far more prolific. All sorts of authors I debuted with in 2012 have published far more than I have. Here's the thing: Your process is yours. Your journey is yours. Each book finds its way on its own.<br />
<br />
Two truths kept me going before I sold my first book (and aren't bad to remember now):<br />
<ul>
<li>I have something unique to say (even when I'm not sure what that is).</li>
<li>My work can only improve if I keep at it.</li>
</ul>
Rejection continues to be a part of the process. That's just how it goes.<br />
<br />
The writing life (and the publication process) is a long-road, long-view, long-term journey. There's no other way to look at it.<br />
<br />
So, my friends, if you are on this journey, too, take heart. There is no right way. There's no quick fix. There is no easy road. There is a fair dose of frustration and disappointment. But there is joy and satisfaction, too.<br />
<br />
<strong>Here's to all the good work ahead. Here's to the next twenty years.</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong><br /></strong>
<br />
*Because an agent isn’t a necessity in the children's market (but is a REALLY GOOD IDEA), I figured submitting to an agent was an extra, unnecessary step. Perhaps not my smartest move, but it also was not detrimental, as my writing wasn't yet ready for a sale or representation. These were my apprenticeship years.<br />
<br />
**I also wasn't sure if anyone would understand what I was trying to do with this verse thing. A few months before I had submitted the first ten pages to an editor at a children's conference. She clearly was unfamiliar with the form and thought it was a rather mature picture book that was missing its ending!Caroline Starr Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-49946752715667000912018-07-19T00:30:00.000-05:002018-08-19T17:30:22.617-05:00CREATING IN A HECTIC WORLD by James Mihaley<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I’ve been
collaborating on a children’s book with a friend of mine for the last six
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m the writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s the illustrator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially we were in a good groove,
meeting once a week for a two-hour session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the advantage of living one mile apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we both got busy, our momentum
waned and the project stalled halfway to the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">It remained stuck
there for several months, a book fraught with potential that might never be
completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met at a coffee shop
to discuss our dilemma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to escalating responsibilities, we no longer had two hours per week to devote to the
project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t even have an
hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend suggested that we
try shorter sessions, with a twenty-minute minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I’m happy to report
that the book is almost done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
found our groove again through a series of short bursts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly recommend short bursts, not
just for collaborations, but for writing on your own as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d all love to have three hours each
day to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For most of us, that
simply isn’t viable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d be
amazed by what you can accomplish in twenty minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If nothing else, you will keep the pulse of your book alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, by itself, is a grand
achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958657151960409700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-43348861089982972222018-07-12T04:00:00.000-05:002018-07-12T04:00:03.126-05:00TRAVELING THE WORLD THROUGH BOOKS, by Hilda Eunice Burgos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sSsNGJI9Gmg/Wzg_BlF_tRI/AAAAAAAAAJc/JltfTJ1ktssxJ_Ehvod4SgagXoomCpKjACLcBGAs/s1600/vacation.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="343" height="137" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sSsNGJI9Gmg/Wzg_BlF_tRI/AAAAAAAAAJc/JltfTJ1ktssxJ_Ehvod4SgagXoomCpKjACLcBGAs/s320/vacation.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">It’s the middle of summer vacation, and many families take this opportunity to visit new places with their children.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What better way to learn about the world than to see it firsthand?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unfortunately, that is not in everyone’s budget or schedule.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My family did not take many trips when I was a child, but the local public library was right down the street.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As a result, I did a lot of “traveling” during my summer breaks, and I continue to see the world through books.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">This year alone I experienced a Palestinian wedding in the Middle East through Randa Abdel-Fattah’s moving book, </span><span class="s2">Where the Streets Had a Name</span><span class="s1">, I visited Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico with the exciting </span><span class="s2">Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring</span><span class="s1">, by Angela Cervantes, and I saw the heart of Cuba when I read Margarita Engle’s lyrical </span><span class="s2">Forest World</span><span class="s1">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>These are just a few examples of the wonderful middle grade books that take us outside of our country and help expand our minds and awareness.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Let’s encourage our kids to step into a book and travel the world.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Does anyone have additional recommendations?</span></div>
<br />Hildahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01363768354595022395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-44595787704030867362018-07-09T10:03:00.000-05:002018-07-09T11:19:35.454-05:00To Write or Not to Write...Every Day by Hilary Wagner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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mso-style-priority:99;
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mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
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mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
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<![endif]-->
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rYbrSKF-1XI/W0N45yQtCFI/AAAAAAAADZg/8-dDhut1AdgoMcKNFc2frocYW1-_BZTXwCLcBGAs/s1600/-frustrated-writer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rYbrSKF-1XI/W0N45yQtCFI/AAAAAAAADZg/8-dDhut1AdgoMcKNFc2frocYW1-_BZTXwCLcBGAs/s320/-frustrated-writer.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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A lot of writers think writing every day is the best
medicine to keep your skills sharp and get yourself out of writers' block. Then
there are others who believe it's best to step away for a time until an idea
strikes or simply to take a mental break. </div>
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I'm in the step away house, generally for no more than a
week. If I'm not feeling it, I'm just not feeling it. And let me add, I don't mean
editing or reworking a scene I've already written. I can do that and it has
helped me in the past. I mean writing brand spanking new material. </div>
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Generally, when I take a break, my brain can calm down
(somewhat anyway) and I can unknot the jumble of thoughts and ideas tangled up in
my head. I can literally visualize them unraveling and the not-so-great ideas
dissolving away and the better ideas coming into clear focus. Stepping away actually
keeps me from going down a bad path and then being too invested in it to get
myself out. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqDKHLBs6yA/W0N4_HBTJaI/AAAAAAAADZk/4FumvCFiRSgmgoxm1JnH-kjH_YP4g4I8ACLcBGAs/s1600/typewriter-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqDKHLBs6yA/W0N4_HBTJaI/AAAAAAAADZk/4FumvCFiRSgmgoxm1JnH-kjH_YP4g4I8ACLcBGAs/s320/typewriter-photo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I truly believe everyone is different in this way. What
works for me undoubtedly would backfire on someone else. What makes my mind fresh, might make others even more stuck in their work.</div>
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What are your thoughts? Do you believe in writing every day?
If so, how does it help you? How do know it won't take you down a bad path in
your current manuscript or do you write something off topic as a mental exercise?<br />
<br />
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Thanks, everyone! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Hilary</div>
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Hilary Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18199287020561210673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-9193225968524277642018-07-05T04:00:00.000-05:002018-07-05T04:00:00.184-05:00Project Mayhem's Summer Book Bingo Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever
tried book bingo? It's a fun challenge that could encourage you to read new and
wonderful titles. If you read a book that matches a genre, concept or trope
listed on one of the squares, cross it off. If you get five in a row, that's
bingo! You could even keep going and try to fill in the entire block.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can download
and print this book bingo (right-click on the image and "save as" to
your computer), or find more online, or even get a template and make your own.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTHgvzzA0Ow/Wz0xttQHc-I/AAAAAAAAOO4/yy2-NPhJWr4-wleg-RqYoPRtav5qauu4gCLcBGAs/s1600/Project%2Bmayhem%2BSummer%2BBook%2BBingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="761" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTHgvzzA0Ow/Wz0xttQHc-I/AAAAAAAAOO4/yy2-NPhJWr4-wleg-RqYoPRtav5qauu4gCLcBGAs/s640/Project%2Bmayhem%2BSummer%2BBook%2BBingo.jpg" width="495" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are some
suggested titles to get you started. (This heavily features the Project Mayhem
crew and other writers I know. Hey, when you can help out friends AND be lazy
by avoiding doing too much extra research, it's a double win.) Feel free to add
other suggested books in the comments, including your own!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book with animal main characters</b>:<b><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></b><a href="http://hilarywagnerbooks.com/">Nightshade Chronicles by Hilary Wagner</a>:
Deep beneath a modern metropolis lies the Catacombs, a kingdom of remarkable
rats of superior intellect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See also <a href="https://bookriot.com/2016/09/26/25-favorite-books-animal-main-character/">25+
of Your Favorite Books With An Animal As The Main Character</a> and this <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/22482.Best_Middle_Grade_and_YA_Animal_Fiction">GoodReads
list of Best Middle Grade and YA Animal Fiction</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prize winner</b>: Try the <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal">Newbery
Medal and Honor Books</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Banned book</b>: ALA's <a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics">Banned
and Challenged Classics</a> or <a href="http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/">Banned
Books Week</a> are good resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#OwnVoices title</b>: Here's a list of <a href="https://bookriot.com/2017/09/30/25-middle-grade-ownvoices-books/">25
middle grade #OwnVoices books</a>. See also <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39397847-ana-maria-reyes-does-not-live-in-a-castle">Ana
María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by Hilda Eunice Burgos</span></a></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">: Ana Maria Reyes; and </span><a href="https://marylouisesanchez.com/books/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Wind Called My Name</i> by Mary Louise Sanchez</a> (see below).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Historical set before 1600 CE</b>: <i><a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Eyes of Pharaoh<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> by </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Chris Eboch</span></a></i>: 1177 BC: When their
friend disappears, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and
royalty. Can they stop the plot against Egypt in time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/blue-birds/">Blue Birds by Caroline Starr
Rose</a>: In 1587, an English girl settling the island Roanoke befriends a
Roanoke girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Well of Sacrifice<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Chris Eboch</span></a></i>, a Mayan girl in
ninth-century Guatemala rebels against the High Priest who sacrifices anyone
challenging his power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mystery</b>:<i> </i><a href="http://jodileastewart.com/books/silki-summer-of-the-ancient/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Silki: Summer of the Ancient</i> by Jodi Lea
Stewart</a>: Silki, a young Navajo girl, thought she'd made up Wol-la-chee, the
Ancient Ant Man, on one of her horseback rides with her best friend Birdie.
When Wol-la-chee shrieks into her life one summer day on Concho Mountain, Silki's
world turns upside down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://johackl.com/about-smack-dab-middle-maybe/">Smack Dab in the Middle
of Maybe<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Jo Watson Hackl</span></a></i>: 12-year-old Cricket and a field cricket
named Charlene find adventure in an overgrown ghost town in Electric City,
Mississippi. They follow a thirty-year-old clue trail left by an eccentric artist
in search of a secret room that may or may not exist–all to try to win back
Cricket's run-away mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Eyes of Pharaoh<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> by </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Chris Eboch</span></a></i>: 1177 BC: When their
friend disappears, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and
royalty. Can they stop the plot against Egypt in time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fairy
tale or legend influence</b>:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Genie's Gift<span style="font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by </span>Chris
Eboch</span></a></i> is a lighthearted action novel set in the
fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Arabian Nights</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.tracybarrett.com/">Marabel and the Book of Fate<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Tracy Barrett</span></a></i>: Free-spirited
Marabel must defy expectations to rescue her brother--and their kingdom--in
this charming, action-packed, and magical story perfect for fans of <i>Ella
Enchanted</i> and <i>Dealing with Dragons.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://diannesalerni.com/books/the-eighth-day-series/">The Eighth Day<span style="font-style: normal;"> by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dianne K.
Salerni</span></span></a></span></i><span style="color: black;">:</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></i><span style="color: black;">In this riveting fantasy
adventure, thirteen-year-old Jax Aubrey discovers a secret eighth day with
roots tracing back to Arthurian legend. Fans of Percy Jackson will devour this
first book in a new series that combines exciting magic and pulse-pounding
suspense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reread a favorite</b>: You tell me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Set in another country</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://5cousinsadventures.com/">Operation Golden Llama<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Sam Bond</span></a></i>: Dumped at their
eccentric Grandma's, Cagney, Olivia, Aidan, Lissy and Tess are convinced they're
in for a boring summer. But when Grandma gets a series of mysterious phone
calls and a highly unlikely pet sitter arrives, the cousins find themselves
jetting off to Peru, where their adventures have only just begun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.jenniferbohnhoff.com/">Elephants on the Moon<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> by Jennifer Bohnhoff</span></a></i>: Set in Normandy
just before the D-Day invasion. As rumors of an allied invasion swirl around
her, Eponine begins to understand that nothing and no one is what it seems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dreamcatcher-Jen-McVeity/dp/0850919649/">Dreamcatcher
(aka On Different Shores) by Jen McVeity</a></i></span>: The only thing that interests Tess is
leading a group of young environmental activists, the 'Green Guerillas'. And
even though Tess never goes near the water now, she still has nightmares about
drowning ... (Published in Australia but available in paperback on Amazon and
other book sites.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Science fiction</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12159927-you-can-t-have-my-planet-but-take-my-brother-please">You
Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother<span style="font-style: normal;">, </span>Please<span style="font-style: normal;"> by James Mihaley</span></a></i>: When Giles
witnesses an alien realtor showing Earth to possible new tenants, he knows he'd
better do something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://bancroftpress.com/eden-unger-bowditch/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Atomic Weight of Secrets Or the Arrival of the Mysterious Men in
Black,</i> by Eden Unger Bowditch</a>: In 1903, five truly brilliant young
inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, are taken
from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://gfishbone.com/books/">The Galaxy Games Series: Book #1: The
Challengers<b><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></b><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">by Greg R. Fishbone:</span></a></i> Thirteen-year-old Tyler Sato has lied,
cheated, and scammed his way into the Galaxy Games. Now, on the eve of the
galaxy-spanning sports tournament, Tyler's past is catching up with a
vengeance! <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author's debut novel</b>:<i><span style="color: #555555;"> </span></i><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39397847-ana-maria-reyes-does-not-live-in-a-castle">Ana
María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by Hilda Eunice Burgos</span></a></i>: Ana Maria
Reyes is stuck in a tiny apartment with too many family members. Then she hears
about New York City's best private academy. If Ana Maria can win a scholarship,
she'll be able to achieve the education she's longed for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://marylouisesanchez.com/books/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Wind Called My Name</i> by Mary Louise Sanchez</a>: The country has been
gripped by the Great Depression, so times are hard everywhere. Then Margaríta
Sandovalhas to leave her familia and compadres in New Mexico—especially her
beloved Abuelita—to move to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where her father has taken a
job on the railroad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="file:///E:/Documents/writing%20business/Blog/Project%20Mayhem/The%20Sweet%20Spot,%20by%20Stacy%20Barnett%20Mozer">The Sweet Spot<span style="font-style: normal;">, by Stacy Barnett Mozer</span></a></i>: When thirteen-year-old Sam Barrette's
baseball coach tells her that her attitude's holding her back, she wants to hit
him in the head with a line drive. All stakes now rest on Sam's performance at
baseball training camp. But the moment she arrives, miscommunication sets the
week up for potential disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://laurashovan.com/books/">The
Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Laura
Shovan</span></a></i>:
Families change and new friendships form as these terrific kids grow up and
move on in this whimsical novel-in-verse about finding your voice and making
sure others hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A book that made you cry</b>: Sorry, I don't know what sets you off.
But if something fits in this and another category, you get two for one!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Ghost story</b>: <i><a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Ghost on the Stairs<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
by </span><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chris
Eboch</span></a>:</i><i> </i>While filming at an old hotel in
Colorado, Jon and Tania find themselves trapped in a ghostly love story that
happened more than a century ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-Visions-Ghost-Stories-Ink/dp/0991245636/">Night
Visions<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Ghost Stories Ink</span></a></i>: This anthology of short stories was
inspired by paranormal investigations performed by Jessica<b><span style="background: white; color: #404040;"> </span></b>Freeburg's
group of ghost hunting children's authors and illustrators, Ghost Stories Ink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://brucecoville.com/product-category/nina-tanleven-series/">The
Ghost in the Third Row<span style="font-style: normal;">, by Bruce Coville</span></a></i>: For sixth-grader Nina Tanleven, trying
out for a part in a play is pretty scary. But nothing can compare to seeing a
ghost, a woman in white, sitting in the audience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book with an animal on the cover</b>:<i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span><a href="http://robertleemurphy.net/">Eagle Talons, The Iron
Horse Chronicles <span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Robert Lee Murphy</span></span></a></i>: Will
Braddock, a fourteen-year-old orphan, sets out in 1867 on a quest to determine
his own destiny and winds up being involved in the building of the first
transcontinental railroad. <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://5cousinsadventures.com/">Operation
Golden Llama<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Sam Bond</span></a></i>: Dumped at their eccentric Grandma's,
Cagney, Olivia, Aidan, Lissy and Tess are convinced they're in for a boring
summer. But when Grandma gets a series of mysterious phone calls and a highly
unlikely pet sitter arrives, the cousins find themselves jetting off to Peru,
where their adventures have only just begun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Ghost Miner's Treasure<span style="font-style: normal;">, Book 4 of the Haunted series by Chris Eboch</span></a></i>: Jon and Tania travel with the ghost
hunter TV show to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, where the ghost of an
old miner is still looking for his lost mine. The siblings want to help him
move on, but first they'll have to find the mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Historical set in your country</b>: (if you're in the U.S.) <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/may-b/">May B. by Caroline Starr Rose</a>: May
is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—then she is
abandoned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/jasper-riddle-rileys-mine/">Jasper and the
Riddle of Riley's Mine by Caroline Starr Rose</a>: Action, history,
survival, and the bond of brotherhood all rolled into one as an eleven-year-old
boy searches for gold and freedom in Alaska.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://bancroftpress.com/eden-unger-bowditch/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Atomic Weight of Secrets Or the Arrival of the Mysterious Men in
Black,</i> by Eden Unger Bowditch</a>: In 1903, five truly brilliant young
inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, are taken
from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.jenniferbohnhoff.com/">The Bent Reed<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by
Jennifer Bohnhoff</span></a></i>: It's June of 1863 and Sarah McCoombs feels
isolated and uncomfortable when her mother pulls her from school and allows a
doctor to treat her scoliosis with a cumbersome body cast. When the McCoombs
farm becomes a battlefield and then a hospital, Sarah must reach deep inside
herself to find the strength to cope as she nurses wounded soldiers from both
sides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://robertleemurphy.net/">Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles <span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Robert Lee Murphy</span></span></a></i>: Will Braddock, a fourteen-year-old
orphan, sets out in 1867 on a quest to determine his own destiny and winds up
being involved in the building of the first transcontinental railroad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A book that made you laugh</b>: Try <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12159927-you-can-t-have-my-planet-but-take-my-brother-please">You
Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother<span style="font-style: normal;">, </span>Please<span style="font-style: normal;"> by James Mihaley</span></a></i>: When Giles
witnesses an alien realtor showing Earth to possible new tenants, he knows he'd
better do something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://www.stephenbramucci.com/danger-gang">The Danger Gang and The
Pirates of Borneo<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> by</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> S</span><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">tephen Bramucci</span></a></i>: "Adventure, suspense, humor and heart! I
loved reading about Ronald and his brave friends, and I know you will, too!
Watch out evildoers--you don't stand a chance against the unflappable Ronald
Zupan!" - Varian Johnson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://gfishbone.com/books/">The Penguins of Doom<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> by Greg R. Fishbone</span></a></i>: "Dear Reader, In order to make this book I had
to escape from a mad scientist, adopt a trio of wild penguins, become an
Olympic freestyle skateboarder, collect a whole bunch of empty yogurt
containers, and find my missing tripletsister. In order to enjoy it, all you
have to do is read every page. Thanks for doing your part!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A book your friend loves</b>: Ask your friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Historical set in another country</b>:<i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span><a href="http://skjoiner.blogspot.com/">After the Ashes<span style="font-style: normal;"> by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sara
K Joiner</span></span></a></i>: Katrien lives on Java in the Dutch East Indies in 1883. She loves science and
observing the natural world. When Krakatoa erupts, Katrien is forced to flee
farther into the jungle, and the only person who agrees to her plan is her
hated rival, Brigitta.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://annenesbet.com/?page_id=5">Cloud
and Wallfish<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Anne Nesbet</span></a></i>: In 1989, Noah Brown's ordinary,
everyday life is smashed to smithereens the day his parents tell him his name
isn't really Noah, his birthday isn't really in March, and his new home is
going to be East Berlin, on the other side of the Iron Curtain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.chrischeng.com/fiction">New Gold Mountain<span style="font-style: normal;">, by Christopher Chen</span></a></i>: In 1860, tension grows between European
and Chinese miners at the Lambing Flat goldfields in New South Wales.
Twelve-year-old Shu Cheong records his thoughts and experiences as he witnesses
the brutal anti-Chinese demonstrations held by white miners. But at the same
time, he discovers that not all white Australians hold the views of the violent
mob. (Published in Australia so it might be hard to find.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 4.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fantasy</b>:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">The Genie's Gift<span style="font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by </span>Chris
Eboch</span></a></i> is a lighthearted action novel set in the
fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Arabian Nights</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 4.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://annenesbet.com/?page_id=5">The Cabinet of Earths<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Anne Nesbet</span></a></i>: On their first day in Paris, Maya and
her little brother, James, find themselves caught up in some very old magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 4.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://kellandrews.com/deadwood/">Deadwood<span style="font-style: normal;">,
by Kell Andrews</span></a></i>:
Seventh-grader Martin Cruz hates his rotten new town, Lower Brynwood, but with
his mom fighting a war in Afghanistan, he has no other choice but to live with
his crazy aunt. Then he gets a message from a tree telling him it's cursed—and
so is he.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 4.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://deannaroy.com/">Jinnie
Wishmaker<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> by Deanna
Roy</span></a></i>: Jinnie Wishmaker can grant any living thing its one true wish. But
somehow, the wishes always have a mind of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.donnagalanti.com/books/">Joshua and the Lightning Road<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Donna Galanti</span></a></i>: Joshua Cooper learns that lightning
never strikes by chance when a bolt strikes his house and whisks away his best
friend—possibly forever. To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road
to a dark world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://annenesbet.com/?page_id=5">The
Wrinkled Crown<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Anne Nesbet</span></a></i>: Up in the magical, wrinkled hills,
Linny breaks an ancient law. No matter how musical a girl may be, she must not
so much as touch a string of a lourka before she turns twelve, or she'll be
spirited off to Away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.jonisensel.com/">Reality
Leak<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Joni Sensel</span></a></i>: When 11-year-old Bryan starts to get
mail through the toaster, he has to find — and fix! — a crack in reality that
has started to leak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Set in the Twentieth Century</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://annenesbet.com/?page_id=5">The Orphan Band of Springdale<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Anne Nesbet</span></a></i>: It's 1941, and
tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in
Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta's life, like the world around her, is about to
change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://lindajacksonwrites.blogspot.com/p/book.html">Midnight Without a
Moon <span style="font-style: normal;">by Linda Williams Jackson</span></a></i>: It's Mississippi in the summer of 1955,
and thirteen-year-old Rose Lee Carter is living with her sharecropper
grandparents on a white man's cotton plantation. Then, one town over, a
fourteen-year-old African American boy, Emmett Till, is killed for allegedly
whistling at a white woman. When Till's murderers are unjustly acquitted, Rose
realizes that the South needs a change . . . and that she should be part of the
movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://marylouisesanchez.com/books/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Wind Called My Name</i> by Mary Louise Sanchez</a>: The country has been
gripped by the Great Depression, so times are hard everywhere. Then Margaríta
Sandovalhas to leave her familia and compadres in New Mexico—especially her
beloved Abuelita—to move to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where her father has taken a
job on the railroad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://annenesbet.com/?page_id=5">Cloud
and Wallfish<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Anne Nesbet</span></a></i>: In 1989, Noah Brown's ordinary,
everyday life is smashed to smithereens the day his parents tell him his name
isn't really Noah, his birthday isn't really in March, and his new home is
going to be East Berlin, on the other side of the Iron Curtain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventure or survival story</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://paulgreci.wordpress.com/category/surviving-bear-island/">Surviving
Bear Island<span style="font-style: normal;">, by Paul Greci</span></a></i>:
After a sea kayaking trip with his father takes a dangerous turn, Tom Parker is
stranded on the remote, outer coast of unpopulated Bear Island in the waters of
Prince William Sound, Alaska.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://chriseboch.com/chris-ebochs-books/">Bandits
Peak<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Chris Eboch</span></a></i>: A teenage boy meets strangers hiding in
the mountains and gets drawn into their mystery. But when he discovers their
true purpose, will he risk his life to expose them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://yamilesmendez.com/index.php/publications/">Blizzard Besties: A
Wish Novel<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Yamile Saied Méndez</span></a></i>: Vanesa Campos can't wait for winter
vacation. Skiing on the slopes, sipping hot cocoa . . . But when the flakes
start falling, everything changes. Vanesa's little brother, Hunter, might be
stranded out in the blizzard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://paulgreci.wordpress.com/the-wild-lands/">The Wild Lands<span style="font-style: normal;">, by Paul Greci</span></a></i>: Natural
disasters and a breakdown of civilization have cut off Alaska from the world
and destroyed its landscape. Now, as food runs out and the few who remain turn
on each other, Travis and his younger sister, Jess, must cross hundreds of
miles in search of civilization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://skjoiner.blogspot.com/">After the Ashes<span style="font-style: normal;"> by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sara K Joiner</span></span></a></i>: Katrien lives on Java in the Dutch East
Indies in 1883. She loves science and observing the natural world. When
Krakatoa erupts, Katrien is forced to flee farther into the jungle, and the
only person who agrees to her plan is her hated rival, Brigitta.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Featuring a person with a disability</b>:<i> <a href="http://www.jenniferbohnhoff.com/">The Bent Reed<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by
Jennifer Bohnhoff</span></a></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">: It's
June of 1863 and Sarah McCoombs feels isolated and uncomfortable when her
mother pulls her from school and allows a doctor to treat her scoliosis with a
cumbersome body cast. When the McCoombs farm becomes a battlefield and then a
hospital, Sarah must reach deep inside herself to find the strength to cope as
she nurses wounded soldiers from both sides. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.suzannemorganwilliams.com/fiction.html">Bull Rider<span style="font-style: normal;"> by Suzanne Morgan Williams</span></a></i>: Fourteen year old Cam O'Mara is a
ranch kid from the sage brush country of central Nevada. He is a skateboarder,
not a champion bull rider like his brother Ben, but when Ben joins the Marines
and is seriously injured in Iraq, Cam turns to his family traditions and in
particular bull riding to overcome his grief and to give his brother hope for a
new life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://kaholt.com/books/">House
Arrest<span style="font-style: normal;"> by K. A. Holt</span></a></i>: Timothy is on probation. But when he
must take drastic measures to help his struggling family, staying out of
trouble proves more difficult than Timothy ever thought it would be. House Arrest is a middlegrade novel in
verse about one boy’s path to redemption as he navigates life with a sick
brother, a grieving mother, and one tough probation officer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alternative history or time travel</b>: <i><a href="https://madaboutmghistory.blogspot.com/p/louise-spiegler.html">The
Amethyst Road <span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">by</span>
<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Louise Spiegler</span></a></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: A run-in with social services, aptly
nicknamed the Cruelty, launches Serena on a journey that is at once an escape
and a quest to reunite her family. This fantasy is set in an alternative
Pacific Northwest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://madaboutmghistory.blogspot.com/p/louise-spiegler.html">The
Jewel and the Key <span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">by</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Louise Spiegler</span></a></i>: An earthquake
and the discovery of a mysterious antique mirror unleash forces that jolt
sixteen-year-old Addie McNeal back to 1917 Seattle, just as the United States
is entering World War I. Addie finds herself shuttling back and forth between
past and present, drawn in both times to the grand Jewel Theater. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jonisensel.com/">The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel</a>: When
12-year-old Ariel stumbles on a mysterious dart in the woods, she's soon swept
on a perilous journey with little more than a kidnapper and a ghost to guide
her. Only by trusting her instincts can she solve a dangerous riddle from the
past to reveal a legendary treasure — and a startling truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.tracybarrett.com/on_etruscan_time_41968.htm">On Etruscan Time<span style="font-style: normal;">, by Tracy Barrett</span></a></i>: Hector, spending the summer with his
archaeologist mother at a dig near Florence, unearths a strange eye-shaped
stone at the site of what was once an Etruscan village. The artifact brings on
nightmares about Arath, who lived two thousand years ago and was in terrible
danger. The stone transports both boys back and forth into each other's
time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Please share this, and feel free to add other suggested books in the comments, including your own!</b></span></div>
</div>
Kris Bockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217265282250089583noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-11002236626587829372018-07-02T05:00:00.000-05:002018-07-08T16:18:34.168-05:00STILL WATERS CHURN DEEP: WRITING A “QUIET” CHARACTER by Mary E. Cronin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-clY49pZcvS0/WzlQt2DuinI/AAAAAAAABzk/rHPqUPxSShUJ6Run64vD9xcMAbrdl1I8wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Frances%2BPauley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-clY49pZcvS0/WzlQt2DuinI/AAAAAAAABzk/rHPqUPxSShUJ6Run64vD9xcMAbrdl1I8wCEwYBhgL/s320/Frances%2BPauley.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Quiet characters get a bad rap, but they have much to offer and to teach us as writers. Consider our readers, many of whom may be quiet themselves. It’s part of the whole <a href="https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf" target="_blank">window/mirror equation:</a> it’s important to present a reflection to a young reader who is quiet or a late bloomer or a bit of an introvert.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Eleven-year-old Frances fits this description. She’s the main character in <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/553654/the-heart-and-mind-of-frances-pauley-by-april-stevens/" target="_blank">THE HEART AND MIND OF FRANCES PAULEY</a>, a quiet storm of a middle-grade novel by April Stevens which gives us an excellent example of a “quiet” book that churns deeply.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Frances is quirky and introverted. And Stevens paints her metamorphosis with the most delicate of brush strokes. That’s the take-away here: capturing the granular, stop-action moments of growth in a quiet character makes their trajectory leap off the page. It’s all about detail.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Main character Frances is a lot of things: a nature-lover, an introvert, someone who strongly dislikes change (hence her wearing the same coat and hat with earflaps for far too long!). She’s also super-smart, but knows to dial it down in class because she notices that it irritates her peers if she raises her hand too much. Frances also has a name that she calls herself: Figgrotten. Frances’s quirks (and name) drive her big sister crazy, and the siblings often clash. Her only friend at the outset of the story is her school bus driver Alvin.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Here is what editor <a href="http://www.drydenbks.com/about.html" target="_blank">Emma Dryden</a> says about these stories in her blog post T<a href="https://emmaddryden.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-resonant-roar-of-quiet-books.html" target="_blank">he Resonant Roar of Quiet Books</a>:<span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span>When a quiet story—what I will call a deceptively quiet story—manages to make readers experience emotions deeply, that to my mind is a story that has the opportunity to roar, to thunder, to resonate so very loudly with readers.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
</span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author April Stevens</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">In THE HEART AND MIND OF FRANCES PAULEY, author <a href="https://www.aprilstevensbooks.com/" target="_blank">April Stevens </a>accomplishes this with deft and artful use of detail. Here are a few gems from THE HEART AND MIND OF FRANCES PAULEY that demonstrate how these fine brush strokes can make readers catch their breath and recognize a bit of themselves on the page.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Frances cares little about her appearance for most of the first half of the book, and this earns the scorn of her older sister, who calls Frances “an ugly little freak” in a heated moment. Later in the book, Frances finds one of her sister’s abandoned hair clips in the bathroom.<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">She… "took the little clip, snapped it into her hair, and stepped back and looked at herself. How was it possible that something so small could make her look so different?”<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Frances shoves the clip in her pocket, and the next day at school, asks her new friend Fiona (another wonderfully quirky quiet girl character) to help her put it on. Fiona cheerfully agrees, saying, “Sure… but you know you have to take off your hat.” This is a huge physical and symbolic act, as Frances removes the security of her hat with earflaps to take a small step into a new way of being: <o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">“Figgrotten turned and looked at herself in the mirror and again felt surprised at how the little clip changed her so much. Then she stuffed her hat into her jacket pocket, took a deep breath, and walked out of the bathroom…Having the clip in her hair for the rest of the day made Figgrotten feel so different she might as well have been wearing fake eyelashes for the first time. Or a dress.”<span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">See what I mean? Tiny brush strokes. Small moments. Granular detail. They make the reader <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i>. We see Frances/Figgrotten and her tentative steps into a new openness, a newer, more vulnerable way of being in the world. As a result, we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i> that hope and tentativeness and courage and vulnerability right along with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">As Emma Dryden points out, “</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">it is the “quiet” story that can, if crafted well, be loud as thunder to a reader and have a lasting impact, wholly remarkable and memorable.” <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-di7peyOyozY/WzlQtwSiw3I/AAAAAAAABzs/ejdKYtqbwbgHRntIwzaAh_VzC2Od4zPSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Editor%2BEmma%2BDryden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="158" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-di7peyOyozY/WzlQtwSiw3I/AAAAAAAABzs/ejdKYtqbwbgHRntIwzaAh_VzC2Od4zPSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Editor%2BEmma%2BDryden.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Editor Emma Dryden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">April Stevens has reminded me of this—the resonant power of the quiet story. Don’t shy away from reading them, for there is much to be gained from studying the craft within them. And don’t shy away from writing them either—there are readers who need to see themselves in “deceptively quiet” stories. What "quiet" stories do you recommend?</span></div>
maryecroninhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14163358144893223781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-19655326225479761292018-06-25T01:35:00.000-05:002018-06-25T01:35:08.843-05:00The Romance of Middle Grade Literature<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone who
knows me well knows that I am a sucker for romance. Whether it’s movies or
books, I’m all about that sweet moment when you see that spark of attraction
between two characters, or when thwarted lovers finally embrace. This is
probably why, when I have time to read just for fun, I usually choose young
adult books, which almost always have a love story. Middle grade novels, on the
other hand, are not thought of as being romantic, at least not in the sense
that you might find in YA and adult books. And yet, if you look more closely,
relationship romance is alive and well in the middle grade novel. It just looks
and behaves differently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBSxN8lwRZs/WzCJJdrwzuI/AAAAAAAAABs/6xOHHBGEx5Ap9gMsppm4N9HSiCtn2zJXACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-06-24%2Bat%2B10.15.08%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBSxN8lwRZs/WzCJJdrwzuI/AAAAAAAAABs/6xOHHBGEx5Ap9gMsppm4N9HSiCtn2zJXACEwYBhgL/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-06-24%2Bat%2B10.15.08%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The
question was raised to me this past school year, when a fifth-grade girl
approached me looking for the romance books. I told her that in middle grade there
isn’t really a romance category, but there are books that have a hint of
romance in them. I was able to find a few for her off the top of my head –
Wendelin Van Draanen’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flipped</i>,
Shannon Hale’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Princess Academy,</i> the
classic <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Witch of Blackbird Pond</i> – but
my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to see what else I could find for her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Digging a
little deeper, I asked myself, what is it that sets a middle grade “love story”
apart from the more traditional form we see in books for older readers? Not
only is the physicality greatly reduced (mostly crushes, hand-holding and the
occasional chaste kiss), but the build-up is different. Most middle grade
romances are derived from friendships. We don’t see the instant, chemical
attraction you might find in a YA book. Love in tween stories takes time to
build up, often over the course of several books. Sometimes the affection grows
naturally from a long-time friendship, such as that between Miri and Peder in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Princess Academy</i>. It’s only at the end
of the book that they acknowledge the affection between them, and their
relationship continues to develop, ever so slowly, through two subsequent
books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSiukVM6MvM/WzCKLEdKqUI/AAAAAAAAAB0/7jhQhfYYB3My-vqZvTHHewJwMPsX-plSQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-06-24%2Bat%2B10.17.48%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="397" height="130" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSiukVM6MvM/WzCKLEdKqUI/AAAAAAAAAB0/7jhQhfYYB3My-vqZvTHHewJwMPsX-plSQCEwYBhgL/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-06-24%2Bat%2B10.17.48%2BPM.png" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> This is not
uncommon in a middle grade series. Over the first book or two, the friendship
is built and established, and it often isn’t until book three or more that the
hinted-at romance comes to fruition. Numerous series come to mind – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anne of Green </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gables, The City of Ember,
Harry Potter, Gregor the Overlander, The Golden Compass, Magnus Chase and the
Gods of Asgard</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. In all of these series, readers are patiently rewarded with
love finally requited, albeit in an age appropriate manner. And to the </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">authors’
credit, we don’t always get the perfectly happy ending that we might have </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hoped
for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Another
device you might find is that the romantic element of the book involves not the
main character(s), but side characters. For example, in Dianne Salerni’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">8<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> Day </i>series, the love
story involves the MC’s guardian. This sub-plot is engaging, and while it may
not be essential, it adds interest and depth to the story. Also interesting to note is that Dianne originally wrote <i>The 8th Day</i> as a YA novel, but later revised it for middle grade, and for that reason, she actually had to tone down the romance significantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> Love in the
middle grade novel is hardly a new-fangled thing. In addition to the
afore-mentioned <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anne of Green Gables</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Witch of Blackbird Pond</i>, there
are other, decades-old books that involve romantic relationships. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Westing Game</i>, Turtle has a crush on
Doug Hoo through most of the book, while her future husband, Theo, is mesmerized
by her sister, Angela. Calvin and Meg hold hands and awkwardly kiss in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Wrinkle in Time</i>. If you’ve read the
further books, (spoiler alert if you haven’t!) you know that they end up
married with children. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Little House</i>
books eventually have Laura being courted by and married to a local farmer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> So, is
romance appropriate in children’s books? I suppose some parents would tell you that unequivocally, NO, it's not. But if handled sensitively and carefully, romantic love,
which is a natural part of life and something that older children especially are curious
about, can be included in books for kids. What follows is a list of books that I
came up with in my research. If you can think of others, or you
want to share any of your favorites, please feel free to comment. Hope you
“love” these books!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tuck Everlasting</i>,
by Natalie Babbitt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Frog Princess,</i>
by E.D. Baker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Penderwick’s </i>series<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i> by Jeanne Birdsall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doll Bones,</i> by
Holly Black<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Underland
Chronicles</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gregor the Overlander</i>),
by Suzanne Collins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The City of Ember</i>
series, by Jeanne DuPrau<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Goose Girl</i>
series, by Shannon Hale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Princess Academy</i>
series, by Shannon Hale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Wrinkle in Time</i>
series, by Madeleine L’Engle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ella Enchanted</i>, by
Gail Carson Levine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anne of Green Gables</i>
series, by L.M. Montgomery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Agnes Parker, Keeping
Cool in Middle School</i>, by Kathleen O’Dell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His Dark Materials Trilogy</i>
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Golden Compass</i>), by Philip Pullman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magnus Chase</i>
series, by Rick Riordan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Harry Potter</i>
series, by J.K. Rowling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The 8<sup>th</sup> Day</i>
series, by Dianne Salerni<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Witch of Blackbird
Pond</i>, by Elizabeth George Speare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stargirl</i>, by Jerry
Spinelli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When You Reach Me</i>,
by Rebecca Stead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emma Jean Lazarus Fell
in Love</i>, by Lauren Tarshis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The One Safe Place,</i>
by Tania Unsworth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flipped</i>, by
Wendelin VanDraanen</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05293847049190975687noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-62467977105025221672018-06-21T06:00:00.000-05:002018-06-21T06:00:10.322-05:00A middle grade Adventure: Naya Nuki by Kenneth Thomasma (post by Paul Greci)
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/kenneth-thomasma/naya-nuki.htm" target="_blank">NayaNuki</a> by <a href="http://www.grandviewpublishing.net/KenThomasma.html" target="_blank">Kenneth Thomasma</a> came to me via an old friend in Hawaii who discovered
it in a used bookstore, thought I would like it, and sent it to me. It is one
of those books that sucks you in from page one and takes you on journey. I
cracked the cover on a Sunday and by Tuesday morning was turning the last page
as a very satisfied reader.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From the
back cover:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Naya Nuki was only eleven when
she was taken captive by a rival Indian tribe. She and her best friend,
Sacajawea, were forced to march 1000 miles from Montana to a North Dakota
Indian village, where Naya Nuki became a slave.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Escape and reunion with her
Shonshoni people was the only thing on Naya Nuki’s mind. She secretly began to
prepare for her escape along the Missouri River. All during the long march east
she had been watching for landmarks and hiding places.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finally the opportunity to run
away came. Naya Nuki traveled alone in the wilderness for more than a month.
Her journey presents an amazing story of danger, courage, and survival skills.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Published
in 1991 by Baker Books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Reading
level: Ages 9 to 13.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’d
recommend it for girls and boys who are drawn to survival stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Naya
Nuki was Kenneth Thomasma’s first novel. He has written and published nine
additional novels, which you can learn more about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kenneth%20Thomasma/e/B000APQJJ6/ref=la_B000APQJJ6_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB000APQJJ6&page=2&sort=author-pages-popularity-rank&ie=UTF8&qid=1529450961" target="_blank">here</a>. He’s also the author of the nonfiction book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Sacajawea-Lewis-Expedition/dp/1880114186" target="_blank">The Truth about Sacajawea</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I feel fortunate that my friend sent me Naya Nuki. I can't wait to check out another Kenneth Thomasma book!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YG0yWh_dZM/VOSm8GKnUAI/AAAAAAAAAUg/0-XXR5JT21AH81ILeauyHnL8Aqm_qlatwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/10887107_593638450768945_837515248378900968_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YG0yWh_dZM/VOSm8GKnUAI/AAAAAAAAAUg/0-XXR5JT21AH81ILeauyHnL8Aqm_qlatwCPcBGAYYCw/s200/10887107_593638450768945_837515248378900968_o.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><a href="http://www.acsalaska.net/%7Epaulgreci/" target="_blank">Paul Greci</a> is the author of <a href="http://www.acsalaska.net/%7Epaulgreci/books.htm" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Surviving Bear Island</i></a>,
a
2015 Junior Library Guild Selection and a 2016 Scholastic Reading Club
Selection. Forthcoming soon is <a href="https://paulgreci.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/book-news/" target="_blank"><i>Follow the River</i></a>, a sequel to
Surviving Bear Island to be published by Move Books. In January 2019, Paul's first
young adult novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Lands-Paul-Greci/dp/1250183588/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><i></i></a><i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">The Wild Lands</a></i> will be published by Macmillan. It is available for pre-order <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Lands-Paul-Greci/dp/1250183588/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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</style>Paul Grecihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340974339238587138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-69846662295984751402018-06-18T00:00:00.001-05:002018-06-18T00:00:06.174-05:00The Land of Yesterday, by K. A. Reynolds <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm thrilled to present you this interview with <a href="https://www.kareynoldsbooks.com/home"><span class="s1">Kristin Reynolds (K. A. Reynolds)</span></a> as the publication date of her debut <i>The Land of Yesterday</i> from HarperCollins approaches (July 31, 2018!). Everyone please <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Land-Yesterday-K-Reynolds/dp/0062673920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528824519&sr=8-1&keywords=the+land+of+yesterday"><span class="s1">pre-order</span></a> it! It's beautiful, lyrical, emotional, and so perfectly crafted! I met Kristin several years ago when we were both looking for agents, and I've been so inspired by her journey to publication.</div>
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After Cecelia Dahl’s little brother, Celadon, dies tragically, his soul goes where all souls </div>
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go: the Land of Yesterday—and Cecelia is left behind in a fractured world without him. Her beloved house’s spirit is crumbling beyond repair, her father is imprisoned by sorrow, and worst of all, her grief-stricken mother abandons the land of the living to follow Celadon into Yesterday. It’s up to Cecelia to put her family back together, even if that means venturing into the dark and forbidden Land of Yesterday on her own. But as Cecilia braves a hot-air balloon commanded by two gnomes, a sea of daisies, and the Planet of Nightmares, it’s clear that even if she finds her family, she might not be able to save them. And if she’s not careful, she might just become a lost soul herself, trapped forever in Yesterday.</div>
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<b>1- Have you always been a writer? When and why did you start writing?</b></div>
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Like many authors, I feel like I’ve always been a writer. Like maybe the seed came planted within me. Writing was how I processed pain, misunderstandings, beauty. How I made sense of my world and better understood myself. I have something of a disconnect between my thoughts and mouth, trouble articulating what I want to say. This really makes for interesting conversation when I’m nervous! But when my thoughts roll down my neck, into my arm and out my fingers? My true voice flows free.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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I started writing poetry very young, seven or eight, after my mother died. The older I grew, the darker my poetry became. And yet it was always an outlet. Sort of like bloodletting, but with emotions—anger, sadness, hatred, fear, the usual suspects—and always felt better once I had written. As an adult, I let my writing go until my youngest child was born, but finally rediscovered my pen. I wrote my first novel in 2011 and haven’t stopped since!</div>
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<b>2- What was the seed from which this story sprouted? Was it different from other things you’ve written before? Similar? How so?</b></div>
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Goodness, that’s so hard to answer! I think <i>The Land of Yesterday</i> is something of a slow creeping ivy, much like the vines on the cover of the book. Sad and dark little seeds planted after my mother passed away. I have few memories of my childhood, but one is clear and sharp. Of seven-year-old Kristin writing my mum a letter on the red carpet in the basement, asking her why she died, why she left me, and when she was coming home. I stood in the center of that bright red carpet and threw it to the sky, hoping my mother would catch it in heaven. When it hit the ceiling and floated back down, I fell with it and cried. I think that letter was the first seed. Because soon after we meet my main character, Cecelia, she is writing her mother a letter, asking her why she left and when she was coming home.</div>
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This was my first middle grade book. I’d written four books before it—two adult and two YA—that were eventually shelved. So, it was 100% different than any before. Well . . . okay maybe not <i>100%,</i> because this was dark and whimsical, lyrical and heart-heavy, like those before it. I love fantasy, what can I say!</div>
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<b>3- You’ve mentioned on different places that The Land of Yesterday will appeal to fans of Coraline and The Little Prince. What other works/artists influenced your style?</b></div>
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Love this question because I love talking up my favorite authors. In no particular order:</div>
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*Tove Jansson: all the Tales from Moominvalley books. As a girl, I was obsessed. My gran read these to me before bed each night. I swear, their bizarre little fantasy worlds wrapped around my heart and grew the perfect foundation for the writer I would become.</div>
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*Stephen King: I was reading him at twelve and couldn’t get enough. <i>The Dark Tower</i> series is still my all-time favorite adult series, and <i>The Stand</i> is right up there for standalones. He writes people <i>so</i> freaking well. I learned a lot about voice and characterization from King.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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*Haruki Murakami: My favorite author. He writes the way most dream. And, like dreams, one thing always means something else. He is philosophical, poetic, and his metaphor game is on point—all things I love. I learned a lot about writing what I love from Murakami’s genius.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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*J. K. Rowling: I mean . . . the woman is a goddess for writing a series that changed the world. It wasn’t until I finished reading book 7 that I thought, <i>I want to write a book</i>. She showed my how to weave backstory and pull all the tangled threads of a story together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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*Laini Taylor: When I read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I knew I’d found a kindred spirit in Laini. She paints poetry in full color, stories of all my favorite things. I struggled to balance poetic language and plot for years. Laini’s books showed me this balance could be mastered. Plus, she’s an amazing human being and I still can’t believe she blurbed my book!</div>
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<b>4- What’s your writing fuel? (Can be food related or emotionally related) </b></div>
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Tea, water, walking, and living. Green tea in the morning. Water all day long. Walking on the treadmill and writing helps keep my spinning mind on task. And remembering to live. To experience the real world. This last one is most important for writing, I think.</div>
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<b>5- What’s something you’ve been wanting to share about The Land of Yesterday that no one has asked you before?</b></div>
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What were the former titles of <i>The Land of Yesterday</i>? As a HUGE name and title nerd, I <i>really</i> love talking about and brainstorming titles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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The original title for The Land of Yesterday was <i>The Letter Writer</i>. After that, <i>The Lamplighter of Widdendream. </i>The title I finally chose, and the one that went on sub, was <i>The Last Paper Dahl</i>. When we were ready for a new title, I threw some out to my editor and we both agreed that The Land of Yesterday was the way to go.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<b>6- What are you working on next? </b></div>
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My second MG fantasy, THE SPINNER OF DREAMS. This is a fairytale-ish story about Annalise Meriwether, a girl with anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD, who must find the courage to battle the Fate Spinner inside an enchanted labyrinth for a chance at making her greatest dreams come true. This was a hard book to write and took two years to finish. Many times, I wanted to give up, but I felt it was too important to quit. Mental illness in middle grade is rarely explored, even less so when the main character is the one with the illness, yet it occurs more often than many might think. As a child living with these mental illnesses, I’d have loved a book with a main character whose mind and body worked like mine. A book filled with magic that gave no magical cure for my mental and physical challenges, but showed me that I could still be strong, that I was still brave, that I was magical and lovable, not despite them, but because of them. I love Annalise and I hope others love her, too.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A119CxjjzyL._SY200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="K. A. Reynolds" border="0" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A119CxjjzyL._SY200_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K.A. Reynolds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I’m also drafting a secret project that is really different from my last two, but with a voice I really love and am really excited about!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<b>7- What would you tell your younger writer self about the writing journey and especially the days previous to your book release? </b></div>
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Kristin, the path to becoming an author is going to try you like nothing else. You’re going to feel like you can’t go on. Like you’re a failure. Like nobody wants to read your words and nothing you write will ever be good enough. Like the one thing you always thought you were good at was a lie. But you mustn’t listen to these doubts. Instead, listen to your heart. To the joy you feel when opening a new document and writing down your epiphany. To writing that perfect line or paragraph that runs a tingle up your spine. To the secret smile you don at 3:00a.m when your story opens wide and shows you who you are. And, one day, when your books are on shelves and in the hands of children just like you used to be, you will know that all you went through to get here was worth it. That, in fact, without all that practice to failure and unflinching faith, you’d have never have made it. Believe in yourself. Believe in your words. Believe you are magic, and the right story will fall into place.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-35832413957313410092018-06-15T03:00:00.000-05:002018-06-15T03:00:17.114-05:00Tales of a Reading Buddy by Michael Gettel-Gilmartin<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the beginning of the school year, I finally took the
plunge and became a “reading buddy.” I’d always told myself I was too busy, and
could give the one hour a week that the program asked for, but now the
coordinator sounded a bit desperate. There were so many students struggling to
read, and too few “buddies” to help them along. I said I’d help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was assigned two 4<sup>th</sup> graders. Anthony was new
to the school. Ian had had a reading buddy since 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I’ve
never had any formal training in teaching reading, and wondered how much I
would be able to help. “Just help them to see that reading isn’t something to
be feared,” the coordinator said. “Try and make it fun.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At our first meeting, Anthony told me he hated reading. He
could read, but it was a struggle. He picked out a graphic novel and, with a
heavy sigh, started to read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It soon became apparent that he found the very act of
reading to be physically taxing. Every minute or two, he would stop, apologize,
and yawn loudly. I asked him if he hadn’t slept well, and he said no, he’d gone
to bed early. It was just that reading hurt his brain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I decided to ask him about his interests and his life. He was
into Minecraft. He lived with his mother, and she had a boyfriend, but I was
never sure if the boyfriend lived with them or not. He also had a cat.
Sometimes, he went to visit his grandmother, and she lived in the country, but
he wasn’t sure where. Somewhere in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:state>.
Kids at school were always mean to him, but he had one friend, Gabe. He hoped
to have a sleepover with Gabe some day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My other reading buddy, Ian, I soon discovered, was not really going to read aloud
to me. His agenda was to play Dungeons and Dragons, as well as share his own
comic books. They were miniature, and I marveled at how small his
writing was. I also told him that I thought the title of the story he was
writing, “The Knight in Shiny Shorts,” was fantastic. He shrugged off the
praise, but at the end of our very first meeting he told me he was sad about
the end of the school year. “You are?” I asked, astonished. “Why?” This was
October. There were months to go. “Because your kid’s in fifth grade, and he’ll
leave the school, and I won’t have you as a reading buddy any more.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I met with them every week. Ian eventually lost interest in Dungeons
and Dragons, and became obsessed with The Guinness Book of World Records.” We
read every page of every edition from 2007, the year he was born. Anthony, for
his part, still yawned a lot, but he seemed happy to read books on Minecraft.
He also liked the “I Survived” Series, as well as a graphic novel series called
Stick Dog. Graphic novels allowed him to do what he was best at: read dialogue
with great expression. “Anthony, I told him. “Maybe you should think about
being an actor.” He smiled slightly, shyly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A week before the end of the school year, the reading
buddies, student and adult, were invited to a pizza party. The coordinator gave
out certificates to each student participant, and they were then let loose on
the pizza, cookies, and juice. I gave both Ian and Anthony a card, saying how
much I’d enjoyed spending time with them. Quietly, Anthony said he had a
present for me in return.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He handed me a gift bag. In it, there was a lollipop and a
little blue cat. Folded in a handmade yellow card were two dollars. “Thank you,
Anthony,” I told him, knowing that this was a substantial sacrifice for him. “Read
the card,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I opened the card. In it were words which I will always
treasure, and which made every minute of being a reading buddy worthwhile. Words
which surely would delight every teacher, every reader, every writer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anthony had written: “To my reading buddy. I appreciate everything you did. It changed my life and helped me read. Thanks."</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Michael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-4499825585472462502018-06-11T05:30:00.000-05:002018-06-11T05:30:00.771-05:00The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast -- A Review by Caroline Starr Rose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Praise</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Clark writes with a lyrical and appealing rhythm, as she viscerally explores childhood emotions of fear and anxiety relating to bullying, abandonment, and getting lost. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- Publishers Weekly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>An unforgettable, life-affirming tale. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- Booklist</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>With a sharp focus on the isolated protagonist and his internal struggle, it is character development that shines most clearly, though the external environmental dangers and the mystery keep the suspense taut….A poignant story. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- School Library Journal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This first novel from Clark offers unusual imaginative and emotion-driven introspection, earning its several allusions to The Little Prince.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books</span><br />
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Review</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m a long-time fan of survival stories. <a href="https://carolinestarrrose.com/may-b/">I even wrote one of my own</a>. <i>The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast</i> is a wonderful new addition to the genre.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story begins with a Boy waking up on a beach. The Boy doesn’t know how he got there. He doesn’t know his history. He can’t even remember his name. He soon comes to realize a Beast lurks in the woods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Survival stories face unique challenges, especially when a character is all alone. There are no other characters to play off of. That means there’s no one to talk to, either! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH1AgbhmUpc">The brilliant solution in the movie <i>Castaway</i> was the addition of the volleyball, Wilson</a>. In <i>The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast</i>, the Boy must face a Bully — an antagonistic version of himself. Like Wilson, the Bully let’s readers listen in to the Boy’s world. We hear his doubts and struggles firsthand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Survival stories are deeply internal. They often rely on backstory and memories. As the Boy struggles to remember who he is and how he might find his way home, he is faced with pieces of his past. Sometimes they seem real enough to touch. Some memories are hopeful and warm. Some leave him feeling inadequate and even more alone. And as the Boy gets glimpses of his history, readers get a clearer picture of the Boy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, survival stories must also be external. There are physical challenges. Struggles. Obstacles that feel impossible to overcome. This story has all that, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast</i> takes the survival genre one step further in ways it would be unfair for me to share. The story must speak for itself. But I can promise you this is memorable and powerful read -- as Booklist describes it, <i>a</i></span><i style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">n unforgettable, life-affirming tale. </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the review copy.</span>Caroline Starr Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-54804375742390011062018-06-07T14:08:00.000-05:002018-06-07T14:10:42.860-05:00Let's Talk More About . . . Fear, by Anne Nesbet<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I've been putting together a set of teaching materials (under the rubric of "History through Primary Sources") to accompany <i>The Orphan Band of Springdale</i>, which tells the story of 11-year-old Gusta Neubronner's arrival in the rural town of Springdale, Maine, in 1941, and so I find I've been thinking a lot about a topic that doesn't get an enormous amount of treatment in middle-grade books: <b>fear</b>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"Wait!" you say. "There are lots of scary books out there! And--ahem--look at your cover, Nesbet--that does NOT look like a book about fear--"<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Well, right. I don't mean the kind of fear that makes a zombie story so delicious. I am interested in exploring the way "fear" wriggles into our brains and gets us to do sometimes hurtful things, <i>as if fear itself were a rational reason.</i>This sneaky, powerful kind of fear is very much at work today--and it was very much at work in 1941.</div>
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Here's the basic blurby version of what <i>The Orphan Band of Springdale </i>is about:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">It’s 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta’s life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. Nearsighted, snaggletoothed Gusta arrives in Springdale, Maine, lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father. Gusta finds herself facing patriotism turned to prejudice, alien registration drives, and a family secret likely to turn the small town upside down.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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In Springdale, Maine, in 1941, people are afraid of a great number of different things:<o:p></o:p></div>
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--having family secrets exposed;<o:p></o:p></div>
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--labor organizers and Communists;<o:p></o:p></div>
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--vision charts (and other tests they cannot pass);<o:p></o:p></div>
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--Germans and in general anyone with "foreign" names;<o:p></o:p></div>
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--aliens;<o:p></o:p></div>
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--cows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The fear of cows doesn't necessarily cause a lot of harm (though it's embarrassing if your family runs a dairy), but some of these other fears can reshape our view of the world and affect the way we treat the people around us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1940 the United States passed a law known as the "Smith Act" or the "Alien Registration Act." One of its provisions was that all non-citizens ("aliens"), no matter how long they had been living in the United States, had to go in to an official place (often the post office), fill in forms and be fingerprinted. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The local effects of this new law can be seen in the <i>Sanford Tribune </i>(the real-life newspaper covering the area of my fictional "Springdale"):<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my teaching materials about the Smith Act, I ask some questions about this article, and the way it must have affected the residents of Sanford-Springvale when they read it:<o:p></o:p></div>
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What word is used here to describe people who are not United States citizens? What effect does that word have, do you think?<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you came from a French-Canadian family and had been living in the Sanford area for a long time (generations, perhaps), but had not switched your official citizenship to "United States," what did the new law make you do?<o:p></o:p></div>
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What words in this article might worry you, if you were a non-citizen in 1941?<o:p></o:p></div>
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What would the effect of this article be on someone who WAS a citizen in 1941? What new thoughts about their non-citizen neighbors might the article make them have?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Notice how the words "person" or "people" do not appear once in this article. The people without U. S. citizenship--the same people who used to just be your neighbors on the next street--have been entirely transformed into "aliens."<o:p></o:p></div>
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In <i>The Orphan Band of Springdale</i>, the characters are afraid of all sorts of different kinds of things. At one point Molly Gowen, one of Gusta's classmates, argues that registering "aliens" is "just trying to be careful": <o:p></o:p></div>
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As the narrator comments, "Some conversations are like two people picking their way toward each other across a swamp." And fear is very hard to talk about. Some of Molly's fears seem pretty reasonable, right? But some of them have serious side-effects, like getting the Sheriff wondering whether Gusta or the German refugee oculist Mr. Bertmann belong in town at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here's how Gusta responds to Molly: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "baskerville old face";">"Even if my papa came here from Germany, haven't you ever thought for one minute that some people might leave Germany <i>because</i>they don't agree with what the Nazis are doing? Haven't you thought for a moment how dangerous it would be, to be someone who disagrees with what the Nazis think? If someone like my father put his foot into Germany, you know what they would do? They would lock him up! And then they would probably kill him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fear is a complicated feeling with complicated effects--which I guess means it is exactly the sort of thing middle-grade fiction should bravely explore. Fear can make us do <i>hurtful </i>things--but it can also make us <i>cautious </i>(which isn't always bad)--and it can even inspire us to be <i>brave, </i>despite our fear. I realize now, thinking it over, that there are examples of all sorts of different reactions to fear (hurtful actions, cautious actions, brave actions) in <i>The Orphan Band of Springdale</i>. I didn't know this book about love and family and courage and music would turn out also to be a book about fear, but I'm glad it did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let's dig thoughtfully into ALL the tangled feelings and emotions and motivations in our books--in our reading and our writing!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anne Nesbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18222621016915405281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-21809781045972935972018-06-04T11:12:00.000-05:002018-06-04T11:12:37.210-05:00Review: The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Fovea Munson discovers three disembodied heads that won't stop talking in this funny, gross-out, genuine middle-grade novel by a talented debut author.”</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saved the receipts!</td></tr>
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I like this book. A lot. And I’ve been waiting for it for six years, people. Tomorrow it drops and you should run out and get it. Ask your librarian to order it. Stalk your local independent bookseller, or point-click-ship it into your life ASAP.<br />
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You will thank me.<br />
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Mary Winn Heider is yet-another-VCFA grad. I first encountered Fovea Munson and her talking heads during Mary Winn’s graduate reading. I literally LOL’d, as did everybody else in the room.<br />
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The book is weird. It’s a little bit gross. The whole novel is a lesson in “yes and” as it builds absurdity on top of absurdity. But, you buy into it every step of the way because, as whacky as it gets, it all makes sense.<br />
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Mary Winn is clockmaker of the bizarre and this book keeps perfect time.<br />
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And yet, even as the comic twists pile up, there’s a yearning heartfelt middle-grade character arc happening. One that does something I haven’t seen very often (if at all) in any other books. Fovea loses. She doesn’t get what she sets out for, and reader, it kind of hurts. And I think that might be the mightiest part of this story.<br />
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The hero gets hurt. The hero suffers. The hero gets over it. Sort of. And continues to feel that heartache. And life goes on.<br />
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In other words, Fovea is real.<br />
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Talking heads and all.<br />
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Meet the Author</h3>
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<b>You make comedy look easy. Is it? </b><br />
Super easy. Easy as pie. Pie that has been made out of magical apples that run around really fast and do not want to be in pie.<br />
So that is super nice of you. Er, no. But also, I loved spending time with these characters and most of the funny came from understanding what they would do and want in the given circumstances. So it was fun hard work.<br />
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<b>Um, you worked in a cadaver lab? </b><br />
Yep! It was very weird and very inspiring, which is sort of a sweet spot for me. I was the receptionist- the same job that Fovea gets stuck with, and, like her, it ended up being a little...more involved. Very minor spoiler: in the book, she accidentally orders 600 legs. I did that.<br />
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<b>Is there a sequel? Cadaver Jam 2020! </b><br />
SOLD! No, next up is another stand-alone middle grade! I keep writing what I call Dirtbag Fabulism- stories with fantastical elements that are still grounded in the kids being regular kids and not The Chosen One. The next book starts when somebody throws all the tubas off the school roof. (As former second chair French horn for Hand Middle School, I have concerns.)<br />
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<b>What are you reading now?</b><br />
I just finished Bizarre Romance by Audrey Niffenegger and Eddie Campbell. Next up is the latest issue of the Backstagers comic, Spineless by Juli Berwald, and Tiny Infinities by J.H.Diehl. My TBR pile is going to crush me.<br />
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<b>Anything else you want to share?</b><br />
Hmm...this magical apple pie?<br />
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<br />Hey, Jim Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01186967953208326943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-78433561935548081772018-05-31T02:00:00.000-05:002018-06-04T10:26:39.385-05:00Your Job Is to Create by Linda Williams Jackson<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A few years ago, my daughter created a lovely sketch
of one of her friends for her 16th birthday party. On the day of the party,
my daughter changed her mind and didn't want to present the sketch to her
friend.<br />
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"Why?" I asked.<br />
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"She might not like it."<br />
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"That's not for you to decide beforehand," I told her. "That's
for the person who's receiving the gift to decide. <em><strong>Your job is to
create</strong></em>."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A painting my daughter gifted me for Mother's Day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Telling my daughter those words opened my own eyes. So many times, I simply
don't want to show up and do the work. Writing a book is hard, especially when
you fear that no one will like what you’ve written. But you know what? It’s not
my job to worry about who will like my creations. My job is to create. And so
is yours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So create and submit. Then allow the recipient of your
creative work to decide whether it's right for them or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Until next time, happy writing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Linda Williams Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14647596295112510383noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-40603771535856642392018-05-24T05:00:00.000-05:002018-05-24T05:00:11.800-05:00DOES PERFECT GRAMMAR RUIN VOICE? by Hilda Eunice Burgos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1">During the revision process for my upcoming book, my editor pointed out some places where the eleven-year-old first person narrator didn’t sound natural.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I reread those passages and found that I agreed with her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The problem was that the narrator’s sentences were grammatically correct, and most kids wouldn’t speak that way (e.g., saying “I felt badly” instead of “I felt bad”).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This created a dilemma for me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>While I didn’t want to sacrifice voice for grammar, I also didn’t want to sacrifice grammar for voice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I asked myself: are grammar and voice mutually exclusive?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or can they happily co-exist?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I think the answer is (mostly) the latter, although I have to admit that I have read many excellent books that toss the rules of grammar aside.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I always feel torn when I read those books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>On the one hand, the grammatically incorrect voice is often a major contributor to the book’s excellence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>On the other hand, I think about how I learned English through school and books because my family spoke only Spanish at home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If grammar had not been taught at my schools, how would I have learned it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And if all the books I read had been full of — albeit intentional — grammatical errors, wouldn’t I have been thoroughly confused?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Many middle and high school English classes no longer include rigorous grammar instruction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Does this mean that books have to fill that void?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If they don’t, will children from non-English-speaking households be at a disadvantage?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I’m not certain about the answers to these questions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What do other writers think?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m going to keep thinking about this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the meantime, I don’t want to misinform kids — especially bilingual kids like me — about the proper rules of English grammar.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I’ll do my best to seamlessly join grammar and voice in my books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hopefully my readers will be entertained by the characters and stories while also learning a thing or two about conjugating verbs and using objective pronouns.</span></div>
<br />Hildahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01363768354595022395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-61905178859201677402018-05-21T08:26:00.000-05:002018-05-21T10:19:45.030-05:00BLIZZARD BESTIES Cover Reveal, Giveaway & Interview with Author Yamile Méndez<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 32px;">Along the author's journey to publication are certain milestones, and the cover reveal is one of the biggies. It's the moment your book starts to feel real, not only to you but to the whole ding-dang world! I'm super excited to share fellow VCFA alum <a href="http://yamilesmendez.com/" target="_blank">Yamile Méndez's</a> cover with you and give you a taste of the book as well as a quickie interview with the author herself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>BLIZZARD BESTIES </i>is a fun adventure in which twelve-year-old Vanesa will have to team up with other kids, and a terrifying giant dog, to save her little brother who might be lost in a blizzard because of her. Vanesa has a reputation for ruining family vacations, and she’s determined not to ruin this special one to Pinecloud Lodge. But to do so, she’ll have to learn to trust herself and others and accept all the help she can get, <i>even </i>if it comes from a ghost. <i><span style="color: #cc0000;">(ed. Whoa! Plot twist!)</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did you start this at VCFA?<o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I started this novel after my graduation from <a href="https://vcfa.edu/wcya" target="_blank">VCFA</a>, and once the book was contracted, the deadlines were very tight in order to hit the ideal publication date this coming winter. <b>It comes out December 26!</b> I never would’ve been able to revise with my editors in such a short time if I hadn’t been prepared by my training during the MFA program. My revision phase was a period to put into practice everything my wonderful advisors taught me about trusting my authorial voice, respecting my character’s voice, being true to myself and honest with my reader, and having a lot of fun while doing it. My classmate Suma Subramanian was one of my early readers and her wonderful feedback was super important in helping me make this book the best I could write. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please tell us about your sensitivity reader service, and why it’s important<o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been a sensitivity reader for a long time, helping authors as they try to create authentic characters and situations that reflect the reality of a Latinx character. Now it was <i>my </i>time to receive this help! My character, Vanesa, is a California girl, and although we’re both Latinas, I’ve never lived in the Golden State and our lives are very different. I wanted to make sure that my characterization was right on point, and that I got those details that would make my character as authentic as possible. The Latinx experience is so broad and different depending on cultural background, and geographical location, and it was very important to me that my writing reflected this point. Even though my story isn’t an “issue” story, racial and cultural identity influence the character in crucial ways no matter what kind of story it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My favorite indie bookstore is <a href="https://www.kingsenglish.com/" target="_blank">The King’s English</a>. The Utah kidlit community is very active and prolific, and I love attending events at the bookstore or at different venues to support my fellow author friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m reading <i>Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring</i>by Angela Cervantes. From the beautiful cover by Rafael López and Angela’s amazing writing to the setting in Mexico City and the mystery surrounding a ring belonging to THE Frida, Paloma’s story is one readers will not want to miss!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My agent is <a href="https://twitter.com/LindaRandom" target="_blank">Linda Camacho</a> from the <a href="http://galltzacker.com/" target="_blank">Gallt and Zacker Agency</a>. Although she also attended VCFA, we didn’t overlap during the program, but when she started as a new agent and read an interview on Cynsations, I knew I wanted to work with her! I cold queried her, and she found me on the slush pile! Working with her has been the one changing factor in my career, and I couldn’t be more grateful for an agent who’s my advocate and who gets my writing in all levels. Gracias, Linda!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Working with my editors at Scholastic has been a life-changing experience. Debuting as part of the WISH line comes with the responsibility of my title living up to the expectations set by the rest of the wonderful stories that came before mine, and I’m thrilled that <i>BLIZZARD BESTIES </i>is in such amazing company! Although I’m naturally a summer creature, I can’t wait for winter to come back so I can share my story with the world! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">She was wearing a million layers, but goose bumps covered her arms. Her ears popped. Maybe they did because the minibus was going full speed down a mountain road across Parley’s Canyon. They were headed toward Park City, Utah—and, hopefully, the world’s greatest ski vacation. Vanesa had her eyes shut so she wouldn’t get carsick. She twisted her new friendship bracelet between her fingers. It was the ugliest shade of brown in the world. Amber had promised Vanesa that after the break she could have a golden bracelet—<i>if </i>she became an official Sunshine Darling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The shuttle came to a sudden stop, and the driver exclaimed, “Welcome to Pinecloud Lodge!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Right on cue, Vanesa’s phone vibrated in her pocket, announcing the arrival of an avalanche of messages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">She sneaked her phone out carefully and peeked at the screen. Seeing that her notifications were in the double digits, she whispered, “Finally!” She also added a silent prayer of thanks to the Internet fairies. The <i>PinecloudGuests </i>Wi-Fi had three solid bars, which guaranteed uninterrupted connection to her friends. If she broke her perfect message streak with the group, her chance for permanent membership in the Darlings would vanish—she was already on probation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">She had to reply to all her messages, but that would have to wait a little longer. She slipped her phone back into her pocket. From the seat beside her, Mami pressed Vanesa’s free hand affectionately and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">“Finally!” she echoed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Vanesa pressed her mom’s hand back. In the seat ahead, Papi looked over his shoulder and gave them a thumbs-up, grinning like a little kid. Vanesa knew that her parents had been saving up for a long time for this </span><i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">real </span></i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">vacation—one that wasn’t just visiting family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hunter, her little brother, who sat next to Papi, turned around, his head popping over the seat. He spoke in a whisper that for sure carried to all the passengers. “Remember,” he said to Vanesa, “let’s not ruin this vacation. And when I say </span><i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">let’s</span></i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">, I mean </span><i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">don’t</span></i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">. I’ve never been on a real vacation before, and I’m seven-and-three-quarters years old already!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Papi, Mami, and Vanesa cringed, but Hunter was too cute to tell off. Besides, he was only voicing everyone’s biggest concern. Luckily, Papi urged him to turn around again, shooting Vanesa an apologetic smile that didn’t make her feel any better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Vanesa </span><i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">did </span></i><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 12pt;">have a reputation for ruining family outings.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Excerpt from <i>Blizzard Besties</i>by Yamile Saied Méndez © 2019. Used with permission from Scholastic Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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For a chance to win a pre-order copy of <i>BLIZZARD BESTIES </i>and Angela Cervantes’ WISH line book <i><a href="https://www.scholastic.com/kids/book/allie-first-at-last-by-angela-cervantes/" target="_blank">ALLIE, FIRST AND LAST</a>, </i>leave a comment and tell me what your favorite wintery activity is. That’s it! </blockquote>
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Hey, Jim Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01186967953208326943noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-62252236922556305512018-05-17T05:00:00.000-05:002018-05-17T05:00:01.292-05:00ASK A LIBRARIAN: WHAT ARE MIDDLE-GRADERS READING? by Mary E. Cronin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are middle-grade readers reaching for these days? Insights from two librarians may give middle-grade writers the courage to try a new form or the confirmation that they are on the right track!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brittany Thurman is a writer and Children's Specialist at the C<a href="https://www.carnegielibrary.org/" target="_blank">arnegie Library of Pittsburgh. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joanna Marple is a writer, blogger, and bilingual school librarian at the <a href="https://www.fasny.org/" target="_blank">French American School of New York. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They have much food for thought to offer! Let’s dive in...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Question 1: What middle-grade books do you see readers drawn to lately?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brittany</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's something about graphic novels that kids cannot get enough of, especially those reading on a middle-grade level. <u>Raina Telgemeier</u> has become a hit with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Ghosts</u></i>, a graphic novel about Catrina, who moves to a new town where its residents are obsessed with...wait for it....ghosts. A question that I receive more than once a week is, "Where are the Raina Telgemeier books?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">El <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deafo</i></span></u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is another popular favorite, about Cece who is hearing impaired, and one day realizes that her hearing device allows her to hear EVERYTHING in the school. What a superpower! Both of these graphic novels feature relatable characters and situations, so I can see why kids are drawn to them. I have to be honest, I've jumped on the graphic novel bandwagon too and eat these books up like candy. I think that another reason why kids are drawn to middle-grade graphic novels is that not all kids are comfortable reading a 400-page book. When parents come in asking, "What can I give my struggling ten-year-old?" I'm more than happy to suggest a graphic novel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Graphic novels aren't the only middle-grade craze to walk through our library doors. Picture book author <u>Peter Brown's</u> middle grade <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Wild Robot</i> has sparked not only calls about if it's on our shelves, but many patrons come in asking for the book and its sequel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Wild Robot Escapes</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can't finish answering this question without mentioning the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Warriors</u></i> series by Erin Hunter. This is a go-to series for middle-grade readers, and like the Raina Telgemeier books, kids come in asking for books in this series multiple times each week. I haven't read them myself, but they are a hit with the kids here at our library. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joanna echoes the thirst for graphic novels:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joanna:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If I had to pick one genre my middle-grade readers are drawn to, I would say graphic novels such as, <i><u>Awkward</u></i><u> by Svetlana Chmakova</u> or any of Raina Telgemeier's books. I recently added the <i><u>Lumberjanes</u></i> series to our large collection of graphic novels, and that is proving popular too. There are perennial favorites like <i>Wimpy Kid</i> for the 6th Graders or any of Rick Riordan's for the 7th and 8th graders. We have over 50 nationalities represented in our school so diversity has to be a huge focus in my acquisitions. I am always happy when I see more than one student pick up books like<i> <u>Lily and Dunkin</u></i><u> by Donna Gephart</u> or <i><u>The First Rule of Punk</u></i><u> by Celia Perez.</u> And every student I have given <i><u>Brown Girl Dreaming</u></i> by Jackie Woodson has adored it and asked for more by her. I do try and rotate my books on display regularly as I find students will often pick one of those up and give it a try. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both Joanna and Brittany spoke about aspects of diversity in response to question 2: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What middle-grade stories would you like to see, or see more of, to meet the needs of readers?</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brittany</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A while back I had a young patron come in and ask, "Do you have any books about girls like me doing magic?" I was at a loss because I knew of all of the books featuring boy protagonists doing magic or being part of a magical world, but one with a girl protagonist who was also African American? At the time the options were slim pickings. That's what I would like to see more of: African American protagonists living in amazing fantasy worlds, doing what they do in those out-of-the-ordinary worlds: making magic, slaying dragons, creating potions, halting monstrous wizards in their tracks, being demigods and then going to their 5 pm swim meet. This is one of many lacks that exist on library and bookstore shelves and frankly, I'm sick of it. While things in terms of representation on bookshelves have improved over the past couple of years, it's not anywhere near where it should be. When a child comes in and asks something as simple as, "Where are the books with kids like me doing cool things?" I should be able to provide an answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joanna: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I <i>lose </i>more LGBTQIA+ books than any others in the library, and honestly, I don't mind, and am happy to replace them each year. I would love to see more books like <i><u>Star Crossed </u></i><u>by Barbara Dee</u> and <i><u>The Other Boy</u></i><u> by M. G. Hennessey</u> for my middle school library. My queer shelf is expanding well for the high school, but those fabulous questioning and coming out years of middle school need to see far greater representation in my mind, especially with female protagonists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank you to librarians extraordinaire Joanna Marple and Brittany Thurman for sharing their thoughts on what is sought after by middle-grade readers, and what is needed. You can connect with and read more about Brittany and Joanna here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Brittany J. Thurman is a Children's Specialist at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. She conducts story times for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. She is a graduate of Kingston University, London, England where she studied Theatre, and holds a Master of Fine Art in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. When she's not at the library, she is more than likely reading. When she isn't reading she is writing, which she should always be doing since she is a writer. Brittany writes pictures books, middle grade, and young adult. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can find out more about Brittany at </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brittanythurman.com/">www.brittanythurman.com</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brittanythurman.com/" target="_blank"> </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Twitter: @janeebrittany<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Instagram: @britjanee <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joanna Marple is a European nomad. During her work, study and trips across the continents (she currently resides just north of NYC), she has discovered a passion for storytelling that unites us and helps make sense of our world. She writes books for children and young adults that offer readers mirrors and windows. She believes that equity and empathy should be at the core of our actions and words. She is also a bilingual school librarian at the French American School of New York, and gets a kick out of book matchmaking. Joanna has a lively blog called </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://joannamarple.com/" target="_blank">Miss Marple's Musings</a></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><a href="http://joannamarple.com/" target="_blank"> </a>where she has become known for her interviews and book reviews, always with an emphasis on diversity. She is subbing an #ownvoices conversion therapy YA manuscript right now called, CAMP OUT.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
maryecroninhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14163358144893223781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-35227629207479439102018-05-14T03:30:00.000-05:002018-05-14T23:30:58.176-05:00Writing for the Right Age: #KidLit #Writing Tips from Chris Eboch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-rFs5HV4ds/WTWjz-nAsoI/AAAAAAAAIpA/buLqvg-hidoUxeJM_2yAlc9NH6dBlIUqACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Write%2Bfor%2BChildren%2B%2B6x9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-rFs5HV4ds/WTWjz-nAsoI/AAAAAAAAIpA/buLqvg-hidoUxeJM_2yAlc9NH6dBlIUqACPcBGAYYCw/s320/Write%2Bfor%2BChildren%2B%2B6x9.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is adapted from chapter 16 of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YVNM8PC"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
Can Write for Children</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: How to
Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers. </i>The full
book is available for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YVNM8PC">Kindle</a>,
in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Children-Teenagers/dp/069246977X/">paperback</a>,
or in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Children-Teenagers/dp/1514690063/">Large
Print paperback</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in 3.5in 5.25in 5.75in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Writing for children
is different from writing for adults in a few important ways. One issue is the need
to consider reading level. The grade level or reading level needs to fit the
audience. Most fifth-graders cannot read material written at a high school
level. This means a story aimed at elementary children can look quite different
from one aimed at teenagers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you are using
Microsoft Word, you can get an idea of the grade level of your work. It’s
simply a matter of having grammar check turned on along with spell check.
Search for “readability” in the Help menu for instructions. You can check a
complete story or article, a paragraph, or even a single sentence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a great way
to explore how changing your wording changes your reading level. Write a
paragraph and check the grade level. Then edit the paragraph and check the
grade level again. In general, simpler vocabulary and shorter sentences will
make the reading level lower. Play with the language to see if you can simplify
it even more. Do this over and over, and see how things change. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let’s try an example.
Here’s a made-up sentence for an imaginary fantasy story:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She barreled down
the lengthy hallway, staggering to a stop in the rotunda, where an enormous
mythical creature was ascending from a gaping chasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lot is wrong with
that sentence, including too much action packed into two lines. The main point
for this example is that it comes out at a 12.9 reading level. (That’s means it’s
appropriate for the ninth month of 12th grade.) Let’s try to simplify it.
First, I’ll simply break it into two sentences:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She barreled down
the lengthy hallway and staggered to a stop in the rotunda. An enormous
mythical creature was ascending from a gaping chasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That brought it down
to an 7.7 grade level. The first sentence is at a 6.7 reading level, and the
second sentence is at 9.5. That’s fine for a young adult novel, and probably
all right for a middle grade novel, so long as the entire book isn’t written at
such a high level. But what if the target audience is younger, or you simply
want to make sure that even weaker readers will be able to follow your plot? Let’s
try some more changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She barreled down
the long hallway. In a large, circular hall, she staggered to a stop. A giant
mythical creature was rising from a gaping crack in the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overall, that’s now
at a 4.4 reading level. The first two sentences are easy enough for early
middle grade, or even upper elementary. In the last sentence, replacing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enormous</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ascending</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chasm</i> with
simpler words brought it down to a 6.7 grade level. It’s a few words longer
than the previous version, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">crack in
the ground</i> is easier than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chasm</i>.
I tried replacing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mythical</i> with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fairytale</i>, but that didn’t change the
grade level. Replacing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">creature</i> with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">animal</i> made it worse. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, maybe I
could figure out what kind of mythical creature it is, and name it or describe
it in simple detail. That would not only get rid of the challenging words, but
would also create a clearer picture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Worrying about
reading level might sound restrictive, but in reality, simpler writing is often
clearer, and therefore more effective. Trying to find a simpler way of saying
things can often encourage you to choose more vivid and precise language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You don’t need to
mention the grade level when you submit work, unless the publisher specifically
asks for it. Publishers don’t usually care about the computerized grade level, unless
books are targeted at the school and library market. Still, checking your grade
level is a good way to get an idea of the complexity of your work. If you are
trying to write stories for middle grade children, but your writing is coming
out at a college grade level, you may have a problem. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course,
regardless of your readership age, you want your stories and articles to be fun
and engaging. This usually means straightforward language and relatively simple
sentences. Forget the dry, academic language you may have learned in college or
on the job. Look for lively, active verbs, language that paints a clear
picture, and a good mix of action and dialogue, with just enough description to
set the scene. In addition, try to keep your sentences short and simple, but
with enough variety that the story does not sound clunky. Reading the work
aloud is a good way to check this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another great
exercise is retyping a published story, article, picture book, or a few pages
of a novel. By typing the words yourself, you get a feel for appropriate
language for that audience. For a picture book, you also get to see how the
story would look in manuscript format, without illustrations and page breaks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can also use the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Children’s
Writer’s Word Book</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> to check
which words are at what reading level, and to find suggestions for
alternatives.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There’s another
advantage to keeping your writing relatively simple. One of the keys to writing
well for children is writing “tight,” with no unnecessary words. Most magazines
have a limit on the length of story or article they will accept, and often the
word count can’t be very high. You need to pack a lot into a small space. You’ll
have more flexibility with novels, but the pacing should still feel fast. Tight
writing is typically more interesting and fun to read. Try to say things in the
fewest words possible, as long as you can still be clear and interesting. That
will keep your story moving, and often help your grade level suit the audience
as well.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">***</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YVNM8PC" style="text-align: center;"><i>You Can Write for Children</i></a><i style="text-align: center;">: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and
Books for Kids and Teenagers </i><span style="text-align: center;">is available for the </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YVNM8PC" style="text-align: center;">Kindle</a><span style="text-align: center;">, in </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Children-Teenagers/dp/069246977X/" style="text-align: center;">paperback</a><span style="text-align: center;">,
or in </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Children-Teenagers/dp/1514690063/" style="text-align: center;">Large
Print paperback</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MEEjpEFZhyw/Wqa20soH2II/AAAAAAAALxs/ZdSp_of1Bhsf7T9yhqARrkBQVQi5O8XsACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/CE%2Blong%2Bbanner%2B700x213.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="700" height="121" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MEEjpEFZhyw/Wqa20soH2II/AAAAAAAALxs/ZdSp_of1Bhsf7T9yhqARrkBQVQi5O8XsACPcBGAYYCw/s400/CE%2Blong%2Bbanner%2B700x213.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chris Eboch is the author of over 50 books for children,
including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for
ages nine and up include <i>The Eyes of Pharaoh</i>, a mystery in ancient
Egypt; <i>The Well of Sacrifice</i>, a Mayan adventure; <i>The Genie’s
Gift</i>, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who
travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with <i>The Ghost on the
Stairs</i>. Her writing craft books include <i>You Can Write for Children:
How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers</i>,
and <i>Advanced Plotting</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn more at <a href="http://www.chriseboch.com/">https://chriseboch.com/</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Eboch/e/B001JS25VE/">her Amazon page</a>, or
check out her writing tips at her <a href="http://chriseboch.blogspot.com/">Write
Like a Pro! blog</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16dWx4L2BPw/WvBxr4qY8uI/AAAAAAAANFA/Y0Fp3uFhdrkp9Gf0bnT04cUzntfjECXsACKgBGAs/s1600/covers%2Bjpg%2B851x315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="147" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16dWx4L2BPw/WvBxr4qY8uI/AAAAAAAANFA/Y0Fp3uFhdrkp9Gf0bnT04cUzntfjECXsACKgBGAs/s400/covers%2Bjpg%2B851x315.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Kris
Bock writes action-packed romantic suspense involving outdoor adventures amidst
Southwestern landscapes. <i>The Mad Monk’s
Treasure</i> follows a treasure hunt in New Mexico. <i>Whispers in the Dark </i>involves
intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. <i>Counterfeits</i>
starts a series about art theft. <i>What We
Found</i> is a mystery with romantic elements about a young woman who finds a
murder victim in the woods. Read excerpts at <a href="http://www.krisbock.com/">www.krisbock.com</a>
or visit her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kris-Bock/e/B006WV4I5O/">Amazon
page</a>.</span></div>
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Kris Bockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217265282250089583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-13395079337070015642018-05-07T03:00:00.000-05:002018-05-07T03:00:08.851-05:00Cover Reveal: THE DANGER GANG AND THE ISLE OF FERAL BEASTS by Stephen Bramucci<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Mayhemmers are doing a lot of cover reveals recently, which is excellent news. The latest in our merry band is the new one from Stephen Brammuci, the sequel to <i>The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo. </i>Look out for this one--it publishes on October the 2nd, 2018!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What It's About:</b><br />
Ronald Zupan, his quick-witted fencing partner Julianne Sato, and his trusty butler Jeeves are off on another adventure. This time, they're trying to rescue the movie star Josh Brigand--who was kidnapped from his latest film premiere by the dreaded Liars' Club.<br />
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As the Danger Gang races to save their friend, they face off with a poisoning poet, a band of Roman candle-wielding thugs, and thousands of feral foxes. When their skills of deduction are put to the ultimate test, will Ronald and his pals be able to stick together long enough to rescue Josh and defeat the Liar's Club once and for all?<br />
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<br />
Fully illustrated by picture book talent Arree Chung, this hilarious, high-action series is a must-have for all adventurers.Michael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-74507928631251622172018-05-03T06:32:00.000-05:002018-05-03T07:03:49.095-05:00Cover Reveal: THE BOOK DRAGON, by Kell Andrews<b>Beware the Book Dragon! </b><br />
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When I joined at Project Middle-Grade Mayhem, I was (of course) a middle-grade writer. I didn't imagine then that my next two books would be picture books, or the I would love writing for this age group that much. <br />
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But I do! And that brings me to today, revealing the cover of <a href="https://kellandrews.com/the-book-dragon/">The Book Dragon (Sterling, October 2, 2018)</a>, whimsically illustrated by the wonderful <a href="http://www.evachatelain.com/illustration">Éva Chatelain</a>.<br />
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Here's the beautiful front:<br />
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And the equally inviting back:<br />
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And here's what it's about: <br />
<h2 style="padding-left: 30px;">
<a href="https://www.sterlingpublishing.com/9781454926856/"><i>The Book Dragon</i>, by Kell Andrews, illustrated by Éva Chatelain</a></h2>
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Reading is tiresome in the village of
Lesser Scrump because the only words allowed must be written in dirt or
scratched onto bark. Books are forbidden because the Book Dragon
snatches them away at night to add to her massive hoard. But Rosehilda
isn’t afraid of the Book Dragon, and she has a better idea for what to
do with the Book Dragon’s stash.</div>
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Are you a book hoarder too? Confess in the comments. </div>
Kell Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089691866850131698noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-20231093418079725582018-04-30T02:30:00.000-05:002018-05-01T18:13:36.605-05:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: RIDERS OF THE REALM: ACROSS THE DARK WATER by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>So thrilled to be able to talk about this book today. We unveiled the book trailer a couple of weeks ago on Project Mayhem, and will reveal the winner of a signed copy at the end of this post!</b><br />
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<b>What It's About (from HarperCollins website):</b><br />
Deep in the jungles of the Realm, the Sandwen clan live amongst deadly spit dragons and hordes of warring giants. But with their winged battle horses, they manage to keep their people safe.<br />
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Twelve-year-old Rahkki is a stable groom for the Riders in the Sandwen army, taking care of his brother’s winged stallion. The Sandwens believe they have tamed all the wild pegasi in their land, and turned them into flying warhorses. But when a herd of wild steeds flies over their village, Rahkki and his clanmates are stunned.<br />
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Meanwhile, a small herd of pegasi have journeyed across a treacherous ocean to settle in a new and free land. Led by Echofrost and Hazelwind, the Storm Herd steeds are unaware of the Sandwens. But when the unthinkable happens, Echofrost and the rest of Storm Herd will have to come to trust the Sandwens, or both may not survive.<br />
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<b>Opening Lines:</b><br />
"Every Sandwen child dreamed of riding a winged horse, though most never would, and one would rather not."<br />
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<b>What I Loved About It:</b><br />
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is one of the most talented and most professional middle grade writers around. Her <i>Guardian Herd </i>books have a devoted following, and now she has a new series that I think will be equally popular: <i>Riders of the Realm</i>.<br />
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In this first book, subtitled <i>Across the Dark Water</i>, a band of Pegasi have escaped the terrors of Anok and crossed the Dark Water to the land of the Sandwen clans. First off, I have to say that Alvarez's <b>world-building is exquisite</b>. She has created a matriarchal culture, with warriors, tame Pegasi, dragons, giants, and now the herd of wild Pegasi which has arrived.<br />
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There is <b>action aplenty</b>, with fights, chases, and some super pegasus aerial derring do. I kid you not, I think this would be an excellent movie (so come on, Hollywood producers!)<br />
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I was <b>moved by the relationship</b> between young Rahkki and his older brother, Brauk--and the losses they have endured. The main point-of-view Pegasus character, Echofrost, has similar losses, and this really ties the narrative together. At the end of my reading, I was left yearning for more of this story (Jennifer Lynn Alvarez sets up some tantalizing story questions for a sequel). Oh, and did I mention there's also some <b>great humor</b> within the pages too? (Let's hear it for Lutegar, the swamp buffalo.)<br />
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In writing terms, Alvarez goes a great job of alternating the third person narrative between Echofrost and Rahkki's point of view. Also, she's a master of the chapter cliffhanger. Writers, she is definitely worthy of study.<br />
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<b>About the Author: </b>Jennifer Lynn Alvarez draws on her lifelong love of horses when writing her books. She lives in Northern California with her husband, children, and more than her fair share of pets. She's pictured here with her beloved mare, Maddie.<br />
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Visit the official website to play games, take quizzes, meet the pegasi, chat on the fan forum, enter to win prizes, subscribe to the newsletter! <a href="http://www.theguardianherd.com/">www.theguardianherd.com</a><br />
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<b>AND NOW...</b><br />
<b>THE REVEAL OF THE WINNER OF THE RIDERS OF THE REALM BOOK TRAILER AND GIVEAWAY (drumroll, please)</b><br />
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<b>TAYLOR NORBIE!!!</b></div>
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<b>(Taylor, please get in touch with me at my email, gilmartin_michael@yahoo.com, and I'll get your information to Jennifer's publisher so you can receive a signed copy. Congratulations!!!)</b></div>
<br />Michael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-56815863846181209922018-04-26T09:39:00.000-05:002018-04-26T09:39:26.564-05:00A Day in the Life of a School Librarian by Kristen Zayon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the sole librarian amongst Team Mayhem, I have a unique perspective on the world of middle grade books. I read them, I teach about them, I champion them, and I buy hundreds of them every school year. I’m able to develop an insight into what kids like, based on their reactions when I read to them and on what they check out. That’s not to say I have the finger on the pulse of middle-graders everywhere. What’s popular in Fairbanks, Alaska is not necessarily what’s going to be popular in Des Moines or Birmingham or Spokane. But it does give me a good general idea about what interests your average 8-12 year old.<br />
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I’m not a librarian with a capital “L”; I don’t have a Masters of Library or Information Science. I grew up in a reading family, and both of my sisters are also librarians, so you might say library work is in the blood. I came to this job with a degree in business, extra classes in library science and children’s literature, and a deep and abiding love for children and books. They are what my whole life revolves around Here’s a glimpse into my world:<br />
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The absolute hardest part of my day occurs from 6:30-7:45 a.m. This is the magical hour in which I awake my four children who currently live at home. I then must spur, wheedle and cajole them to “get ready, for the love of God and don’t make me late for work.” Prior to that time of chaos, I’ve usually enjoyed a couple quiet cups of coffee, and God willing, managed to get a little writing in.<br />
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My husband rises and joins me in the kid rodeo before zooming our oldest son off to the high school, while I wrangle the other three into my gas-guzzling old Suburban and on the short drive up into the birch-covered hills where my school is nestled. The two youngest attend there, while the third catches the bus from there to the middle school.<br />
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The first hour of my day at work often involves tidying up from the night before, and always there is the checking of emails and other daily prep work. Three mornings a week I have curb duty – I stand on the sidewalk in front of the school with a radio and a nifty safety-yellow vest and greet students as they arrive while also trying to keep the adults in the cars civil, and moving along in an orderly fashion.<br />
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And then it’s on to the students. Each day I see between three and six classes of students, depending on that day’s schedule. The days with three classes are a breeze, with plentiful time for the never-ending tasks of library maintenance. The days with six classes are so busy, I’ve barely got time to refill my water bottle or hit the bathroom between groups. Over the course of the week, approximately 500 students pass through my door as part of scheduled library classes. But I have an open-door policy, so there are also the students who come in throughout the day; to grab another graphic novel to tide them over, to find out if I’ve got the latest book they are looking for, to find a quiet corner to finish a paper, or to pull a pile of books for their ancient civilizations research project. Teachers drop in regularly too. They borrow books, videos and equipment, let me know about upcoming projects, and look for book recommendations. I end my day with more tidying, tying up loose ends, and preparing my heart and mind for the next day. Then the final bell rings, my two youngest show up in the library, and I put my Mom hat back on. Go home, feed people, work out, clean, supervise homework, drop-off/pick-up for ballet/soccer/math tutor, then get up and repeat the next day.<br />
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Regular maintenance of the library and its collection takes up the majority of my non-instructional time. The books must be weeded constantly. When they become damaged, irrelevant, outdated, or just aren’t moving anymore, out they go.<br />
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What to do with the books that have been weeded is a constant problem. Believe me, I do all that I can to keep them from ending up in the landfill. Next, research must be done on newer, better items to take their places. All the books I want to purchase go on to a list. Currently, the value of that list is about $6000; my budget for this school year is already gone and next year’s budget won’t begin to cover that amount. So, I start looking harder at each book, checking reviews, thinking of my patrons, narrowing my list. And in the meantime, more wonderful, attractive, tempting titles are published. Over time, I’ve learned (and am still learning!) what my school population wants. Here’s a hint; it’s not always what I want.<br />
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I’m tasked with teaching students all they need to know about our school libraries. How to access and search the catalog, how to utilize features on the catalog to organize and improve their research. I teach them how libraries are organized and how to find what they’re looking for. We talk about categories, genres and sub-genres. I do a big unit on Newbery and Caldecott books. Currently, I am running a poetry contest in conjunction with National Poetry Month. And, of course, I introduce them to the latest titles with book talks.<br />
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But mostly, I read to them. That is the heart of what I do. I believe that my core function and my mission are to help every child who passes through my door discover a love of reading. Sometimes it’s easy. Some kids are born book lovers. They’ve got parents who read, and who have read to them from birth. They gobble up everything I put in front of them. For some it’s harder. For kids who struggle with reading, it’s about finding a book within their abilities that also interests them. And in this distracted age, there are kids who simply would rather be doing other things. A book seems boring in comparison with Minecraft or Netflix. For these kids, it’s about putting the right book in their hand at the right time. Show me a kid who says “I don’t like reading,” and I will do everything within my power to change that statement. I’ve discovered that even those kids still enjoy a well-told story, even if they don’t want to bother reading it themselves.<br />
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As with any avid reader, I have certain book tastes. Fantasy is delicious; romance is required. But these tastes must be set aside. Perhaps the Wimpy Kid books and Captain Underpants aren’t my thing, but they may be just the ticket for one student. While not my first choice to read, I have developed a certain enjoyment for graphic novels. Graphic novels are pure magic in pulling reluctant readers into the realm of books. It doesn’t matter if I like it. It matters if they like it. A statement that I live by comes from the always quotable Neil Gaiman: “The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to show them that reading is a pleasurable activity. And that means finding books that they enjoy, giving them access to those books, and letting them read them.”<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-arX1Xu2mSr0/WuHid9i6YHI/AAAAAAAAA0o/za4z_QZnV7AYAwJakDgbuDbn3tKYJmqKgCLcBGAs/s1600/Kristen%2BZayon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-arX1Xu2mSr0/WuHid9i6YHI/AAAAAAAAA0o/za4z_QZnV7AYAwJakDgbuDbn3tKYJmqKgCLcBGAs/s320/Kristen%2BZayon.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristen Zayon</td></tr>
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<br />Michael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.com2