TWO Giveaways to Celebrate the Release of A SLIVER OF STARDUST, by: Marissa Burt

**Congrats to ayokosabieh who randomly selected as the winner of the signed copy of A SLIVER OF STARDUST! I'll post the results to the other giveaway on my blog.**

In the stars, a world of wonder and magic awaits...

but it is in grave danger, and only Wren can save it.

Hello Mayhemers!

I am so thrilled that A SLIVER OF STARDUST is officially launched and wending its way into the hands of readers. I want to celebrate by offering a signed hardback to one of you lovely blog readers! To enter, all you have to do is comment on this post. :) For extra entries, check out this widget: a Rafflecopter giveaway. This contest is open to US mailing addresses only and will run from now until midnight on Sunday 11/1.

I'm also running a giveaway on my blog for anyone who pre-ordered or has purchased the book, so check that out, too, in order to win the items below:

Want to know more about this new middle-grade fantasy? Here's a bit from the jacket:

I am a gold lock,
I am a gold key.
However high and low you hunt,
You'll never find me.

Wren Matthews outgrew nursery rhymes a long time ago. Little did she know that songs of twinkling little stars and four-and-twenty blackbirds are the key to the ancient magic of stardust - a magic that only a few people can see and use. And Wren is one of them.

Wren has always preferred to stick to herself. But when she is invited to the faraway fortress where an ancient order has long studied and guarded the stardust, she doesn't hesitate to accept.

Soon Wren is swept up in strange dreams, buried secrets, and rumors that an old enemy is plotting his return. As she tries to master her new abilities, Wren only knows one thing for sure. There's magic in the world - and it's waiting for her.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Happy Autumn! -- Marissa

Book Review and Giveaway: MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN, by: Courtney King Walker

Update: Winner chosen by random.org is #2 - poetryinleaves. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Mayhemers! Marissa here. :)

Today, I'm happy to introduce you to a new middle-grade book from Courtney King Walker. Here is the summary from the back cover of MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN:

"Hidden somewhere in the fog of the San Francisco bay lies Blue Rock Island, home to the bay area's two best-kept secrets: Bell's Bluff, the old, abandoned prison on one side of the island, and the Night Train, a mysterious train ride on the other.

When twelve-year-old Molly Pepper receives a secret invitation promising a night of magic and adventure aboard the Night Train, she is skeptical. In her experience, most promises prove too good to be true. The fact that she lost her mom is proof enough.

Still, Molly gives hope another chance. Together with her loyal friend, Noah Wonderly, they sneak out of the house and follow a string of clues leading tot he Night Train. But when the train stops at Bell's Bluff, Molly discovers the real reason she was invited. There, she starts to wonder if hope and magic not only fix broken promises but make you believe in them again."

And a little bit about the author: " Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco bay area

building rocketships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it to the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children and still dreams of flying to the moon."

This humorous adventure-mystery hits the right mark for middle-grade: a plucky heroine, a winsome best friend, and a magical setting with plenty of adventure. I liked Molly's independence and curiosity and Noah's journey to conquer his fears. Full of tasty foods from doughnuts to cinnamon candy and fun adventures at carnivals and on the night train, the plot carries readers along with Molly as she explores her feelings about her mom's death and learns to regain hope in family and friends.

So if you or the young reader in your life is looking for a fun summer read, pick up MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN. Better yet, enter Project Mayhem's giveaway for a signed paperback. All you have to do is make sure to follow Project Mayhem and then leave us a comment sharing one of your favorite summer reads.

This giveaway is for US addresses only and will be open until Friday 8/7 when I'll post the winner selected by random.org.

Adding Depth to the Nooks & Crannies of Your Novel by Jessica Lawson

It's my pleasure to turn my Project Mayhem slot over for a guest post from Jessica Lawson. In addition to being an amazing critique partner and friend, she is the author of The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher, which my nine-year-old has already read twice since it came out last year. Jessica's second novel, Nooks & Crannies just came out on June 2nd, and it has gotten starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly, and rights have recently been sold to France and Germany! 

One lucky commenter on this post will receive a copy of Nooks & Crannies, a Dahl-esque murder mystery with an unforgettable cast of characters spending a life changing holiday in a haunted mansion. I hope Project Mayhem readers love it as much as I did. Read on for Jessica's tips on adding depth to your middle grade novel. 

Joy McCullough-Carranza

Adding Depth to the Nooks & Crannies of Your Novel

by Jessica Lawson

My second novel Nooks & Crannies is, in ways, a farcical mystery. It was pitched to my publisher as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Clue. A bit of slapstick humor. Exaggerated characters. A caricature feel to the setting. A butler. You get the idea—a book for entertainment, not necessarily meant to address more serious themes and ideas. At least that’s how it started.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned by reading middle grade books, it’s that humor can be the very best medium to explore deeper emotions and themes within a novel. With that in mind, I set out to infuse my farcical mystery with layers. Socioeconomic disparity. Parent-child relationships. The nature of expectations, both the ones parents have for children, and the ones children have for themselves. All that, and a pet mouse, too.

I’ve come to think of layering books in terms of cooking a soup. Too little depth, and the novel won’t be as filling. Get a little butter-flour-wine roux going as a base, and your broth will taste richer. Careful, though; too many spices (aka, details and themes) that fight each other rather than complement each other won’t leave you with as tasty a read. Here are a few ways you can add depth to your manuscript:

*Character Arc: Check your protagonist’s arc and make sure that they’re making a change somehow—in self-confidence, in realization, in strength, whatever. In Nooks & Crannies, Tabitha comes to realizations about her self-worth and her place in the world. Get to the heart of the arc, really give it depth, by embracing your inner 5-year-old-- ask questions and keep asking. Here’s a made-up example:

What does your character want? A new watch. Oh. Why? Because it’s a prize for a contest. It’s a funny book about her trying to win. There’s a prank war and stuff. Funny book, right? Well, why does she need a watch? She doesn’t need it, she really just wants to win. Why? Because she thinks it might make her popular. Why’s that matter? She wants friends. Why? Because while she’s outgoing and competitive, secretly she’s very lonely. You could certainly keep asking “why” here, but that’s the important nugget of information. The fact that your character is secretly lonely is the basis of his/her arc: developing true self-confidence and finding friendship.

*Three-Dimensional Side characters—Flesh out those side characters, even if it’s only with a sentence or two. The baddies in Nooks & Crannies are meant to be over-the-top meanies, but I tried to add, if only very briefly, a bit a character background that might justify their behavior.

*Scene-Level Depth-Check your scenes and see if there’s a way of adding something like weather (wind blowing, fierce amount of sun/heat, fog) or a background noise that could match up with the scene (something ominous, something annoying, something nostalgic) to add an extra layer. Nooks & Crannies features a snowstorm that disturbs the manor’s electricity at key moments. You can also increase tension through resource management—take something away your character needs or add something that complicates the scene.

*Five Senses- Search the manuscript for places you can insert a sense that isn’t being used—a visual, a smell, a taste, a sound, or a texture. At one point in my writing process, I ended a chapter of Nooks & Crannies with a character (no spoilers!) walking down a hallway. Simply adding the sound of knives scraping together in his or her bag/pocket/purse added tension to the scene.

That’s all from me. Happy manuscript cooking. Just leave a comment to be entered in the book giveaway!

BIO: Jessica Lawson does not live in a fancy manor house, but she does deal with mysteries on a daily basis. Most of those mysteries involve missing socks and shadowy dessert disappearances. She lives in Colorado with her husband and children. Visit her online at jessicalawsonbooks.com. You can also find her on Twitter.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway for A SLIVER OF STARDUST, by: Marissa Burt

**Update: Three winners for the ARC giveaway have been selected through rafflecopter's random number generator and notified. Thanks so much to all of you for reading Project Mayhem's blog and for entering the giveaway! I'll let you know of other ARC giveaways for A SLIVER OF STARDUST via my twitter or facebook page. Happy reading! M**

You Guys.

I am beyond excited to reveal the cover for my next book, A SLIVER OF STARDUST.
...
Many, many thanks to the extremely talented people behind this gorgeous cover: to Jakob Eirich who created the jacket art, to David Coulson who did the lettering, and to Michelle Taormina who designed the jacket, and to everyone else on the Harper Team who continues to overwhelm me with their brilliant creative work.
...
But wait! Before you see the cover, a little bit about the story from the jacket copy:

I am a gold lock.

I am a gold key.

However high and low you hunt,

You'll never find me.

Wren Matthews outgrew nursery rhymes a long time ago. Little did she know that songs of twinkling little stars and four-and-twenty blackbirds are the key to the ancient magic of stardust - a magic that only a few people can see and use. And Wren is one of them.

Wren has always preferred to stick to herself. But when she is invited to the faraway fortress where an ancient order has long studied and guarded the stardust, she doesn't hesitate to accept.

Soon Wren is swept up in strange dreams, buried secrets, and rumors that an old enemy is plotting his return. As she tries to master her new abilities, Wren only knows one thing for sure. there's magic in the world - and it's waiting for her.

In the stars, a world of wonder and

magic awaits...but it is in grave danger,

and only Wren can save it.

...

And now...

And, because I want you to see how fantastic the back of the cover is:

Wow. I just can't stop gushing about it...prepare yourself for exclamation points! The aurora! The fantastic details! The glow of the lights in the Crooked House! The excitement on Wren's and Simon's faces! The shadows and spray of the water! The wingspan of Wren's falcon! I love Wren and Simon and their story so much and am so delighted that this cover captures the spirit of their adventure.

Count down the days with me until A SLIVER OF STARDUST will make its way into the hands of readers on October 20, or you can pre-order it now at Amazon!

But if you can't wait that long, enter below for a chance to win one of three ARCs that I'm giving away. Tweet or facebook about the giveaway every day from now until Friday 2/27 for more chances to win. This giveaway is open to US addresses only, and I'll send out the ARCs as soon as they become available.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: THE FOUNDRY'S EDGE, hosted by: Marissa Burt

Hi Mayhemers!

Today, I'm introducing you to THE FIRST BOOK OF ORE: THE FOUNDRY'S EDGE.

From the jacket copy:

"For Phoebe Plumm, life in Meridian revolves around trading pranks with irksome servant Micah Tanner and waiting for her renowned father, Dr. Jules Plumm, to return home. Chief surveyor for the Foundry, a global corporation with control of metal production and technology, Phoebe's father is in the field for months at a time. But when a sudden and unexpected reunion leads to father and daughter's being abducted, Phoebe and would-be hero Micah find themselves stranded in a stunning and volatile alien world - one that has been ruthlessly plundered by the Foundry for centuries and is the secret source of every comfort and innovation the two refugees have ever known.

Cam Baity and Benny Zelkowicz have fashioned an intensely inventive, engaging, and thought-provoking tale of two worlds on a collision course and the two young rivals who find themselves on the front line. THE FOUNDRY'S EDGE is the first book in a trilogy that will transport young readers down a mechanical rabbit hole and send them on an adventure that explores the hidden costs of indulgence, the perils of unchallenged nationalism, and the world-altering power of compassion and conviction."

And the authors have provided us with a copy to give away! This giveaway will run until Friday 10/17, midnight PST, and I'll select and notify the winner shortly thereafter. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

BACKWARDS MOON: a Magical Fiction Debut from Mary Losure and Book Giveaway! by Joanna Roddy

Update: We are extending our giveaway! Winner will be announced Tuesday morning, September 16! Send your friends over to comment for a chance to win, and don't forget to leave a way to contact you in your comment!

Photo credit: Holiday House

BACKWARDS MOON from Mary Losure, a successful children's non-fiction writer prior to this debut novel, is about two young witches, Bracken and Nettle, whose coven is threatened when the modern world encroaches on their hidden valley. Bracken and Nettle must travel to a human city and risk The Fading of their powers to find a magical door to another world where their kind can survive. BACKWARDS MOON has a blend of adventure, magic, and innocence that will appeal to young readers. Mary Losure also has a background as a former public radio reporter and environmental themes emerge from the story as the witches experience the ill effects of modern human existence.

Losure wrote THE FAIRY RING, the true story of the girls behind the Cottingley fairy photographs, which won a Booklist Editor's Choice honor for non-fiction in 2012. She's also written WILD BOY, the real story of the Savage of Aveyron and is working on a forthcoming book about Isaac Newton entitled ISAAC THE ALCHEMIST.

Photo credit: Don Losure

I caught up with Mary Losure to ask her some questions about BACKWARDS MOON and her author experiences:

1.  Prior to BACKWARDS MOON, you've written non-fiction for children: WILD BOY and THE FAIRY RING, bringing creative storytelling to historical incidents. What led you to your first fiction project and how was the experience of writing fiction like and unlike writing non-fiction? Do you anticipate that your readers will be the same as those who read your non-fiction? 

Years ago, when I was a journalist and before I’d written anything for children, I thought I would try writing fiction as an experiment. So that’s when BACKWARDS MOON began. I loved writing it, but it was HARD, very different from nonfiction. In nonfiction, you have a roadmap for your plot, but in a novel you can go anywhere you want … it’s just that it doesn’t always work!  So it took me a long time to learn how to make a novel work. I do think that once I did, it helped me write WILD BOY and THE FAIRY RING in a much more engaging way than I would have.  Now (with the help of my wonderful editor at Holiday House, Julie Amper) BACKWARDS MOON is out, too!  My hope is that all three books will appeal to the same readers.

2. How has your background as a public radio reporter on environmental issues served as an influence on the themes explored in BACKWARDS MOON?  

One of the issues I reported on for years was the increasing loss of what scientists call “biodiversity”: all the beautiful birds and plants and frogs and toads and insects (not to mention tigers, elephants, polar bears, and many other animals) that are fading away in our lifetime. So when as a journalist I sat down to write a book of fiction for kids, I got the idea of witches as an endangered species. The story grew from there. I realized after a while that an environmental “message” didn’t work in a novel, so now it’s just there in the background.

3. What are some of your favorite children's books?

Half Magic and other magic books in that series. The Borrowers. The Lord of the Rings.  As a very young reader I loved My Father’s Dragon and later a book called The Witch Family. Charlotte’s Web, of course, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

4. What is your writing process? When do you write, how frequently, and how long does it take you to develop and execute an idea? Did the story change significantly from when you first began writing it and when it was finished?

I write in the mornings, pretty much every weekday all morning. It takes me years to develop and execute an idea.

With a novel, as I mentioned earlier, the story can change drastically. With nonfiction, the process is more that you discover the story. You can’t change it, but you learn what parts of the historical record bring your characters alive. Then you leave everything else out --all the dutiful facts that don’t pertain to the hero’s story but instead bog the book down.

5. Tell us about your upcoming project about Isaac Newton and anything else you may be working on. Will you be writing any more fiction?

Thanks for asking! The Newton project is called ISAAC THE ALCHEMIST. It’s nonfiction, the story of an angry, lonely boy searching for answers that may lie in the world of magic. The book takes place mostly in his boyhood. The primary sources are Isaac’s childhood notebook and two books he is known to have read as a child.  He grows up to be the world’s greatest alchemist. Along the way, he discovers the laws of the universe and becomes famous forever as Isaac Newton. It will be out in the fall of 2015 from Candlewick Press.

I do definitely plan to write more fiction! I have a sequel in mind for BACKWARDS MOON, and but right now I’m working on another (non-witch related) middle grade novel.  I always like to keep a number of book projects cooking, so when I get stuck on one, I can set it aside, work on something else, then come back later and try to get through the stuck place.

6. In BACKWARDS MOON, do you identify more with impulsive Nettle or the more thoughtful Bracken?

Nettle, I have to say.  Nettle acts first and thinks second, which I tend to do. I worry more than Nettle does, though.

7. Bracken's raccoon friend is a bright spot in the story. Do you think it's possible for humans to have a more harmonious relationship with wildlife?


I think yes, it is possible.  We’re working on it. If we were given a second chance, I don’t think we would drive passenger pigeons to extinction.  Today, people would know better than to shoot the very last ivory-billed woodpecker. It has taken centuries, but we are gradually gaining a great understanding of animal intelligence and the value of wildlife in our world.

Thank you for taking time to talk with us, Mary! BACKWARDS MOON releases on September 15th.

Project Mayhem readers, one commenter will be chosen to receive a hardback copy of BACKWARDS MOON from the publisher, Holiday House. Be sure to give us a way to contact you in your comment! This contest closes Thursday, September 11th. 


You can find Mary at her website and look for BACKWARDS MOON on bookshelves soon!

Karen Rivers & FINDING RUBY STARLING - Interview & Giveaway

UPDATE: THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS TARA! Thanks everyone for commenting and I really encourage you all to check out Karen's marvelous MG books! 

I recently requested a book off NetGalley based mainly on the cover and the premise of “The Parent Trap meets the digital age”, but I hadn’t heard of the book or author and had no idea what to expect. FINDING RUBY STARLING by Karen Rivers delighted me so much I ended up tracking down the fantastic author to answer a few of my questions, and one very lucky blog commenter will win a signed copy of FINDING RUBY STARLING and a copy of its companion novel THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME.

Here’s the description of FINDING RUBY STARLING:

When Ruth Quayle used a special app to search for pictures of herself online, she found dozens of images of "Ruth Quayle" -- and one of "Ruby Starling." When Ruby Starling gets a message from a Ruth Quayle proclaiming them to be long-lost twin sisters, she doesn't know what to do with it -- until another message arrives the day after, and another one. It could be a crazy stalker ... but she and this Ruth do share a birthday, and a very distinctive ear....

Ruth is an extroverted American girl. Ruby is a shy English one. As they investigate the truth of their birth and the circumstances of their separation, they also share lives full of friends, family, and possible romances -- and they realize they each may be the sister the other never knew she needed.

Written entirely in e-mails, letters, Tumblr entries, and movie scripts, FINDING RUBY STARLING is the funny and poignant companion to Karen Rivers's THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME.

Karen was awesome enough to answer a few of my questions. 

FINDING RUBY STARLING is a companion novel to THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME. Since I haven't read THE ENCYCLOPEDIA yet, I can definitely attest that RUBY STARLING stands alone, though now I can't wait to read THE ENCYCLOPEDIA. How did the companion novel come about? Did you have Ruth's story in mind when you were writing THE ENCYCLOPEDIA?

I did not have Ruth's story in mind, but I've long been a fan of "series" books that aren't series. Taking a look into some of the background characters is just a whole lot of fun. I found Ruth fascinating and my editor and I had talked about her quite a bit. She was quite fully realized, even though she wasn't in the book much. I just really wanted to go further with her.  (And also with Freddie Blue Anderson, who will hopefully be the next girl from Cortez to get her own book.) 

FINDING RUBY STARLING is written almost entirely in emails (with the occasional claymation video script and Tumblr poem thrown in). I was concerned as the story went on that we might not get the full weight of the climax, as filtered through emails. As it turned out, I shouldn't have worried (if my sobbing was any indication). How did you decide whose perspective certain scenes should come through? Was it a struggle to hit the right emotional tones in pivotal scenes, given the structural limitations you'd given yourself?

I honestly didn't think of it that way, about who should have the perspective. It just happened naturally. I wrote the book in the order that you are reading it in, when it felt like Ruth's/Ruby's "turn", then I just pivoted and went with it. Some of the scenes were harder than others. The ones that come to mind are the letters from Ruby's mum and from her Nan. Those ones had a LOT of editing. It was hard to go there without going either too far, or not far enough. My instinct was to pull back, but luckily my editor, Cheryl Klein, is smarter than me and convinced me to just put it all out there.   

You write super convincingly as both British and American -- and you are Canadian, right? Have you spent time in the UK, or do you have British relatives? (Amazeog is my new favorite word, by the way.) How did you decide to make Ruby British?

I am Canadian, which makes me a bit half and half. We have a lot of American influences obviously, and I live in a part of Canada that is frequently described (cringingly) as a Little Bit of Olde England. I have many British relatives and a smaller subset of Canadian relatives with a strong penchant for all things British. And I grew up reading British boarding school books and still love reading British books. Originally I started writing this book with a British friend, Kate LeVann. She was going to be the British voice and I was going to be the American, but that hit the skids relatively early in the process and I decided to just run with it, knowing that clever editors would pick up all my glaringly non-British mistakes. I think both characters are suitably over the top with their nationalities such that they come off as being so incredibly different, it's part of what makes the book fun. I have never had so much fun writing two characters, that's for sure.

You write adult fiction, YA, and MG! Any more MG projects in the works right now?

I am writing Freddie Blue Anderson's story, which will be middle grade and will (hopefully) delve into the subject of mental illness in children, as well as touch on things like how society instills a terrible vanity into pre-teens and how sometimes that can be very difficult for them to manage.  And bullying. And toxic friendships that can sometimes be very difficult to dodge. Also, there are auditions and acting; friendship and loss. It doesn't sound that cheery when I describe it like that, but much like ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME and FINDING RUBY STARLING, I think it has a lot of moments of humour all huddled around a much bigger, more serious issue. I also just sold two YA novels to Farrar Strauss Giroux and I'm really excited to see what happens with them. One is called GREAT WHITE ME, and the other is titled HOW TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY TO THE DEAD.   My pet project right now is an adult literary mystery, although that is not really the right descriptor either as it's not so much a mystery as it is an examination of life in the 21st century, wherein it's not as uncommon as it certainly should be for someone to, say, shoot up a school full of children.   It's a look at tragedy in the Pinterest world, let's say. I don't really know for certain where it's going, but there are beaches and long grasses and fireflies (or the search for them). I feel like when I'm asked to describe it, all I see are the sand dunes and crashing waves, so there you have it. I'm loving the experience of writing it, so far. Fundamentally, I don't find there is much difference in writing for teens or tweens or adults, it comes down to the age of the protagonist and then, obviously, the way they see the world through their experience. I feel very lucky to be doing any of it, I couldn't have made up a better job for myself.

Thank you so much, Karen! I can’t wait to read THE ENCYLOPEDIA OF ME and am thrilled there is another companion novel coming!

Project Mayhem readers, one lovely commenter will be chosen to receive a copy of THE ENCYLOPEDIA OF ME and a signed copy of FINDING RUBY STARLING. (Be sure to give us a way to contact you in your comment.) These are really fantastic gems to add to any MG collection! I hope you love them as much as I did!

You can find more about Karen at her website, and on Twitter.

Did you ever imagine a long-lost twin when you were growing up?

The winner of THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY announced...

I had so much fun reading, then writing a blog post, then interacting with all the wonderful people who left a comment on my post about Tracy Holczer's THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY. Now, I have just pressed the button on Random.org, and dear Random tells me that the winner of a signed copy is none other than

Kimberley Griffiths Little

Which is a secret hum of a coincidence, because I will be featuring Kimberley's beautiful novel, THE TIME OF THE FIREFLIES on my other blog, Middle Grade Mafioso, this coming Monday.

What a small world!

Kimberley, I am e-mailing you to tell you of your win. Congratulations, and thanks to all who entered. I hope to do this again soon.

My Love For Tracy Holczer's THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY (And A Giveaway)

THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY by Tracy Holczer (G.P. Putnam's Sons, May 2014)

"Writing would help me through it, just like it always had. And where I used to think that writing was like the little hole in a teakettle to let out steam, I figured it was more than that. I hoped the hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of words I wrote down would help me fill the empty place left by Mama and make me whole." (The Secret Hum of a Daisy, pages 282-283)

The words above are those of 12-year-old Grace, the narrator of Tracy Holczer's luminous debut novel. Every writer, I'm sure, can embrace such a sentiment. For how many times does writing fill our empty places and make us whole? I know it does for me.

Grace has lost her mother in a freak accident. It turns out to be the biggest loss of many losses in her life. Her father and her grandfather were killed in a car accident before she was born, which had a connection with her grandmother sending her mother (pregnant with Grace) away. How could anyone find forgiveness in all this? Especially since now Grace has ended up with the very grandmother whom see believes to be the cause of all her troubles?

The novel starts with Grace's mother's funeral, and her being taken home by her grandmother. There are many humorous scenes, where she tries to put a "Plan B" into effect, trying to force her grandmother to send her back to the friends she lived with at the time of her mother's death. (Laundry detergent being sneakily replaced by dishwashing soap, anyone?) The emotional heft of the novel feels intensely realistic, as Grace moves through her anger and resentment to some understanding of her mother, her grandmother, and herself.

The setting--a small town an hour away from Sacramento--and the cast of characters are captivating. All of them figure in the treasure hunt (a hunt both literal and figurative) which leads Grace to a greater knowledge of herself.

Finally, I loved the way the characters were so richly realized. It would have been easy to "let them off the hook," but each character is flawed--and therefore alive--in their own way. This is the sort of novel that resonates with a reader long after the final page is read and the cover closed. I wouldn't be surprised to hear the words "Newbery" whispered about it.

As for me, in my other blogging life, I am a tough old prune of a Middle Grade Mafioso. You wouldn't expect a 50-something, former Brit like me to be dabbing my eyes with a handkerchief--but believe me, I did so a number of times while reading this glorious book. (I did the same during A Bridge to Terabithia and at the ending of Charlotte's Web.) As a result, I am going to send one lucky winner a copy of this novel, so you can laugh and cry as much as I did. I'm also hoping to have Tracy Holzcer send me an inscribed bookplate for the winner. (You can learn more about Tracy Holczer at her website. There's also a great interview with her by Natalie Aguirre of Literary Rambles.)

All you have to do to be a winner is comment on this post. To add to the fun, choose a number between 1 and 312 and I will gift you with some lines from your chosen page. And believe me, each page has at least one line, if not several, which made me go "Wowzers!"

Thanks for supporting the Mayhem. You have until one minute before midnight PST on Monday the 28th to leave your comment and have a chance of winning. Winner will be notified on the blog on 7/29. U.S./Canada entries only, please.

She's arrived! MAY B.'s available in paperback, and you can win a copy!

Two years ago, I welcomed my first book baby, MAY B., into the world. Today I greet her again, this time as a paperback. In celebration of May's arrival, I'm giving a copy away to a Project Mayhem reader.

The thing I love about this girl is her bravery. She's strong and resilient, though she doesn't know it. When May is faced with insurmountable obstacles, she passes through them. And she doesn't just survive. She thrives.

As an author, you spend a lot of time with your characters. Years, most likely, first creating them, then writing about their world, revising their story on your own and then maybe later with an agent, later still with an editor. All that time together forces self reflection. So here's what I know: I don't possess an ounce of the bravery May does. She's taught me so much and has inspired me to be more. So thank you, May, for being in my life, for sharing so much of your world with me.

What does bravery mean to you? Is there someone whose bravery you admire? Share your stories in the comments below. One of you will be randomly selected to win a copy of MAY B. This contest closes Thursday, January 9.

PARCHED by Melanie Crowder + Giveaway

Silver Medal, Parent’s Choice Awards

Junior Library Guild Selection

“A thrilling, imaginative soul quencher. Crowder’s stunning debut is sure to become a modern classic.” —Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor-winning author of One Crazy Summer

“The writing, especially the descriptions of the drought conditions and extreme thirst, is excellent.” —School Library Journal

“The direct powerful prose in this first novel dramatizes the exciting contemporary survival story. . . . Fans of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet (1987) will want this.” —Booklist

From the jacket flap:

Sarel is a girl with secrets. She knows which tree roots reach down deep to pools of precious water. But now she must learn how to keep herself and her dogs alive. Nandi is the leader of those dogs. She knows they can’t last long without water—and she knows, too, that a boy is coming; a boy with the water song inside him.

Musa is that boy. His talent for finding water got him kidnapped by brutal men, yet he’s escaped, running away across the thirsty land that nearly claims his life. And so Sarel, Musa, and the dogs come together in what might be their last hope of survival.

Review:

I jumped at the chance to review this book, partly because of the beautiful things I’d heard about the writing, partly because I know desert living. I live in New Mexico, where every July and August, we eagerly await the rain. I grew up in Saudi Arabia, where it only rained twice in the three years I was there. But neither of these experiences prepared me for the dire situation Sarel and Musa are in.

Though the African country where the story takes place is never named, the setting truly becomes a character in the story. Sun baked, dusty, unforgiving, the dry land has driven people away and pushed others to behave brutally. Crowder's word choice is a spare reflection of the unforgiving landscape, beautiful and haunting.

The story is told in multiple view points from Seral, a girl surviving on her own on a dust-blown homestead, Nandi the alpha dog in a pack of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Musa, a boy who is a water dowser. Seral and the dogs start the story together, and it is evident that Musa, who has escaped his captors, will find his way to them, and their water, soon.

Crowder has managed to write a story that feels both contemporary and Apocalyptic, one that isn’t afraid to examine hardship, and one that leaves us with hope. This is an ambitious, powerful debut.

Giveaway:

Enter to win a signed copy of Parched by leaving a comment about an experience you’ve had in a harsh landscape. The winner will be randomly selected Sunday, 15 September.

The Cloak Society Review + Giveaway by Shannon O'Donnell

 

  The Cloak Society 

by Jeramey Kraatz

Blurb:

The Cloak Society: An elite organization of supervillains graced with extraordinary powers. Ten years ago the Cloak Society was defeated by Sterling City's superheroes, the Rangers of Justice, and vanished without a trace. But the villains have been waiting for the perfect moment to resurface. . . .

Twelve-year-old Alex Knight is a dedicated junior member of Cloak who has spent years mastering his telekinetic superpowers and preparing for the day when Cloak will rise to power again. Cloak is everything he believes in.

But during his debut mission, Alex does the unthinkable: He saves the life of a Junior Ranger of Justice. Even worse . . . she becomes his friend. And the more time he spends with her, the more Alex wonders what, exactly, he's been fighting for.

Okay, middle grade book lovers, this is a can't-miss series for all fans of fantasy adventure--that means all of you Percy Jackson fans out there. Full of action, great world-building, and likeable characters, this is a sureto please series. I received an ARC of book 1 and really enjoyed it, so I shared it with  my 10-year-old son (now 11). I had NO IDEA he would respond the way he did! To say he loves this series would be an extreme understatement. He has devoured my book 2 ARC and is already "dying" for book 3. Wow.

The second book, The Cloak Society: Villains Rising will be released by HarperCollins in October.and the e-ARC is currently available from Edelweiss.

And because I know you'll love them, I am going to give away my ARC of the first book to one lucky commenter. Just make sure you're a follower of this blog--here and on Facebook--and leave a comment. I'll announce the winner next week.  Good luck!


Blurb:
Alex Knight was raised as one of the Cloak Society's most fiercely loyal junior supervillains. He proudly dedicated himself to this elite organization—until he met Kirbie. A junior member of the Rangers of Justice, Kirbie opened Alex's eyes to Cloak's true mission. Now, Alex is determined to bring Cloak down. And there's no time to lose.
The Cloak Society has just pulled off the greatest takedown in Sterling City's history. Justice Tower is in ruins. And the city's superheroes, the Rangers of Justice, have vanished.
Alex and Kirbie's only hope for defeating Cloak is to bring together the Junior Rangers and the other junior Cloak members who have turned their back on their former leaders. But after years of hatred and enmity, fighting for the same side is easier said than done.

  

If any of you give these books a try, please let me know what you think.

Have you been shocked by the reaction of a child or students to a particular book or series? 

 

STORY'S END giveaway!

**Winners update**

I have e-mailed the following winners.  Congrats to everyone and thanks for entering!

Jpetroroy - signed copy of Storybound

Cassidy Leora - signed copy of Storybound

Sarah Goodwin - signed copy of Story's End

I am so excited to announce that STORY'S END, the sequel to STORYBOUND is now available!  To celebrate, I'm giving away a signed hardback edition of STORY'S END and two paperback copies of STORYBOUND.  To enter, fill out the form below and don't forget to comment and share your favorite final line of a novel!  Entries will be open until midnight on Friday 4/19, and I'll contact the winners shortly thereafter!  This giveaway is only open to U.S. readers.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Upside of Ordinary by Susan Lubner

The Upside of Ordinary by Susan Lubner (Holiday House; October 1, 2012) 
(Project Mayhem received an ARC from the author for review.)

Hi, Mayhemer Michael G. here. Thanks for joining me as I rave about this debut Middle Grade novel from writer Susan Lubner. (She's pubbed by Holiday House, who also publish Hilary and Dawn--so there's a lot of Mayhem love to go around.)

First, here's the story (from the Holiday House website): 

Jermaine Davidson wants to be famous: limo-riding, camera-flashing, crowd-cheering famous. She decides to become the first eleven-year-old producer and star of a reality TV show about her life. Her family quickly tires of her following their every move, filming them night and day. But life around the Davidson house is dull, so Jermaine starts staging events to elicit more drama, excitement, and humor. Her unbridled ambition leads her to alienate her best friend over a disastrous make-over episode, send her arachnophobic mother packing, turn an emotional family crisis into a tacky mystery segment, and ruin her mother's chances to win the annual pickle palooza. Filled with remorse, Jermaine turns her talents to making amends and in the process learns the upside of being part of a loving but ordinary family.

 My Five Favorite Things about the novel:

1. A strong character arc. Jermaine is a completely believable preteen. She is so determined to win fame, that she stages some appalling stunts to make her reality show more exciting. But as events begin to snowball, she realizes the pain she's caused, and takes steps to make amends.
2. A strong supporting cast. From Jermaine's older sister, Zelda--to her parents, aunt and uncle, and best friends--Susan Lubner has created a tremendous ensemble. I found myself nodding at the reactions of Jermaine's mom and dad to her escapades--and could totally believe the anger Ro (Jermaine's best friend) feels when she ends up with hacked-up hair.
3. Believable use of modern technology. I know, I know. Writers struggle with all the modern gadgets and gizmos available, and how to incorporate them effectively in a narrative. Susan Lubner's decision to use a video camera to record all of Jermaine's stunts is skilfully done.
4. Effective use of 1st Person, Present Tense. You hear a lot of grumbling from writers and publishing people about this narrative strategy. When done poorly, it can indeed fall flat. But it works wonderfully here, for a character who lives in the moment.
5. A satisfying ending. I won't give it away, but let me know after you read the novel yourself if you thought the ending was as satisfying as I did. (Hint: the competition result.)
6. Bonus Favorite Thing: Pickles. What more can I say? Crunch. Yum.

Susan Lubner

Now, I'm honored to be able to share the short interview I had with Susan Lubner, titled Fabulous Five questions:

1) You published several picture books before you wrote THE UPSIDE of ORDINARY. What made you try your hand at middle grade? Really it was just that I had this idea for the novel and it wasn’t something that was going to work for a picture book topic-wise. I was actually a bit nervous to attempt to write a whole novel, the process is so different, but I was excited by the new experience and challenge, and I enjoyed it!

2) Your main character's name is Jermaine--and she's 11. Where did you come up with that name? When I first started writing the story I was going to have the parents be big Jackson 5 fans. But I changed my mind about that as I went along …I wasn’t sure my readers would be that familiar with the group and it didn’t seem to be a necessary part of the storyline. But I love the name Jermaine (and okay, I love Jermaine Jackson too!) so I decided to keep that in the book.

3) Like Jermaine, are you a fan of reality TV? If so, what shows do you like? I do like reality TV. I like the “talent” shows (American Idol, Cupcake Wars, Iron Chef) and so do my daughters and we watch those together. I don’t want to throw myself under the bus by admitting to a few others I enjoy (ahem…housewives…). I generally record those shows and then “allow” myself to watch them when I am folding laundry or working out  on my treadmill.

4) Do you LOVE pickles and HATE spiders as much as Jermaine's mom does? YES and YES!!! I crunched my way through a lot of pickles while writing The Upside of Ordinary. and the habit seems to have stuck.  I used to reach for a stash of M&Ms when I worked and needed a break or had writer’s block. Now I go to the fridge for some pickles! As for spiders…just typing the word gives me the shivers.

5) We can't wait for another book from you. What is your next project? I finished a chapter book that I am about to revise (it may go from chapter book to middle grade novel…) and I am just polishing up a picture book manuscript that I will be sending off to my editor very soon.

Thanks so much, Susan! 

You can learn more about Susan Lubner and her writing on her appealing website. She's also newly on Twitter @Slubner, so go follow her there.

BIG BONUS: For every comment, you have the chance to win a copy of THE UPSIDE OF ORDINARY after its release on October 1st. Bonus entries will be given for tweeting (#PMGiveaway) and/or mentions on Facebook. International Entries welcome. Winner will be announced on PM on Thursday September 27th.

MALCOLM AT MIDNIGHT Trailer and Giveaway!

In two months (just in time for the start of school!) my middle grade novel, MALCOLM AT MIDNIGHT, will be in bookstores. Needless to say, I'm a little excited. Anyway, to help send Malcolm on his way, I’ve been tinkering on a book trailer. It's been done for a little while, but the end of the school year has been so crazy, I haven't done much about it. Until now! Project Mayhem seemed the perfect place to post it (try saying that ten times fast!). Anyway, to help celebrate, I'm also giving away an ARC. Please enter below.

So, without further ado . . . here it is: MALCOLM AT MIDNIGHT, a funny middle grade mystery starring classroom pets at midnight, complete with ghostly shrieks, school hijinks, instances of valor, the occasional cheese puff, and . . . footnotes.

More info:

• About the book, including what some very nice authors said.
• Malcolm on Goodreads.
• Malcolm was recently featured at the BEA Middle Grade Editors' Buzz panel! Here are some links to that.
• And finally, I learned a lot in making the trailer. In fact, I posted about 13 things I learned over on my own blog.

Thanks for watching!

~W.H. Beck

a Rafflecopter giveaway

STORY'S END Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

And the WINNER, chosen by Rafflecopter's random number generator, is: STACEY MOORE!  I'll e-mail you to get your mailing info from you, Stacey.  Thanks again, everyone, and happy summer reading!

***

Hello Mayhemers!

I am thrilled to share the cover for Story's End with you!  Get ready to be amazed!  Brandon Dorman,  Alison Klapthor, and the entire team at HarperCollins Children's once again did a tremendous job!

I'd also love to give away an ARC of Story's End to one lucky reader.  If you'd like to enter, fill out the form below.  As soon as ARCs are available (I'm thinking July or August), I'll happily send one out to the winner!

Thanks for stopping by! a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Rock of Ivanore - Review + Giveaway

Expected publication: May 15th 2012 

by Tanglewood Press

Blurb:

The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.

Middle readers will find that The Rock of Ivanore fits nicely among the traditional fantasies they so enjoy. They will also appreciate its fresh and inventive take on the genre.

I especially enjoyed the character and plot development of this book. It is the perfect "epic" story for MG readers: awesome storyline and set-up for following books, but not so long as to be intimidating to middle readers. If we could take the tone of Lord of the Rings and make it 10-year-old friendly, we'd have The Rock of Ivanore.

The characters are what totally make this story shine--especially Xerxes, the talking, walking-stick. Love him! Every one of the boys is individual and likable, with unique traits that add something to the overall storyline. I love the pacing and world building and easy readability. 

This is the perfect choice for middle grade fantasy lovers!

To help spread the fun of this new adventure, I will randomly choose one winner from the comments (must be a follower of this blog) to win my ARC. Good luck!

Giveaway of new MG mystery debut DIZZY MISS LIZZIE and interview with R.M. Clark

I’m very pleased to welcome Robert Clark to Project Mayhem today to talk about his new middle grade mystery debut, DIZZY MISS LIZZIE, and to offer a giveaway of it. My 11-year-old daughter read it first and liked it so much, I had to take it away from her at the dinner table and then also the same night when she went to bed (mean mom.) She got up early the next morning to finish!  That’s about the biggest endorsement I can give to a book. The book also has some fascinating real history in it, which I always like in a story. In interviewing Robert, I found out some interesting things about him as well. It’s always a surprise to find out about a writer’s background!

First, here’s a description of DIZZY MISS LIZZIE:

Thirteen-year-old Kasey Madrid finally has the freedom she's always wanted. Instead of putting up with sitters or camps, she can spend the summer home alone in their "new" house. Never mind that the house is a creepy old place built in the nineteenth century. The creep factor skyrockets when Kasey meets a nineteenth-century girl named Lizzie Bellows in the basement. It takes some time for Lizzie to convince Kasey she's not a ghost, though neither girl understands why they can see each other when they live 120 years apart. The difference in their worlds doesn't stop the two from becoming fast friends. Lizzie's life isn't easy though. In her time, her parents died in a fire many believe Lizzie started herself. As the summer passes and Kasey learns more about her own past, she is shocked to discover Lizzie is part of a terrible Madrid family secret. It's up to Kasey to go back to Lizzie's world to unlock the secret and clear Lizzie's name.

Bob, you have a fascinating background for someone writing books for middle graders. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm a computer scientist with the Department of the Navy. I live in SE Massachusetts (near Fall River) with my wife and two sons. I started writing fiction in early 2007 and am currently at work on my eighth novel. Dizzy Miss Lizzie is my third and it got me an agent in the fall of 2009. The agent couldn't sell the manuscript and we parted ways after less than a year. I kept writing new material while submitting Lizzie to smaller houses. I turned down several offers, then finally agreed to a contract with Marsha Morris at Stanley Publishing in August, 2011. As luck would have it, I got an agent for another book (Good Golly Miss Molly) just two weeks after signing with Stanley. I am now represented by Frances Black and Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel.

How did you think up the idea for the book? (Dee’s daughter’s question) 

I live a few houses away from the one-time summer home of Lizzie Borden's family (Lizzie lived there in the 1880s). We thought about buying the house, but it was too old for our tastes. As I walked by it one day, I wondered "what if we did buy it" and "what if we could talk with a young Lizzie Borden." I changed the main character to a young girl whose family buys the house and I created a secret room in the basement for them to meet. The whole "friensdship with Lizzie Borden" proved to be too dark for my first set of readers, so I created fictional Lizzie Bellows and lightened the mood considerably.

I was interesting the setting, the southeastern part of Massachusetts near Mount Hope Bay. How did you research that part of the story?

The story is set in the fictional town of Chepstow, across the Taunton River from Fall Fiver. Chepstow is a composite of two "towns across the river," including my hometown. I thought it best to use a fictional setting. Our public library has some great books on Victorian-era Fall River, plus I scoured the internet to ensure historical accuracy about clothing, transportation, speech and even the details of the Slade's Ferry Bridge.

Is there any basis in real life for the legends used in the stories? (I’m thinking of the curse stones in particular.)

The Boston Post cane, given to the oldest living resident of a town, was real. The Fall River Press cane and its legend are fictional. Curse stones do exist, but the history and usage in the book are made up.

Did you read mysteries or ghost stories as a child?

Oddly enough, I didn't enjoy mysteries until I started writing. My childhood goal was to become a sportswriter, so I spent many hours reading bios of famous athletes. I went through a Stephen King phase in college, but mysteries are a recent pleasure.

What are you working on now?

I writing an Alice In Wonderland-type middle grade story about a boy who wonders why all the big clocks in his town have stopped. He gets sucked into a crazy "clock world" where two rival villages battle for control and the only way to solve the conflict it is to find the elusive Tick Tick Man. It's completely different from my other stories and it should be done some time this spring.

Robert, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by Project Mayhem. We’re offering a signed copy of DIZZY MISS LIZZIE as a giveaway. To enter, if you are already following Project Mayhem, just leave a comment. If you aren’t yet following us, join us and then leave a comment.  The deadline to enter is 12:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 28^th, and the winner will be picked in a random drawing. I’ll announce the winner later that day.

~ Dee Garretson