The Luck of Reading The Luck Uglies: Review of an Adventurous Debut Novel by Paul Durham

There are books we all hope to find that do more than simply tell a story. These books take us with them. They take us with them on the adventure and we feel like we know the world around us when we go. And these are rare treasures we keep and pass along. Author Paul Durham’s first MG/YA novel, The Luck Uglies, is one of those rare books.

An adventure and an introduction to Village Drowning and all its inhabitants, The Luck Uglies has a timeless feel, as if it might just as believably come from the hidden library in a castle as from the work of a modern writer.  It is both clever, never underestimating the intelligence of the young reader, and exciting, never forgetting that everyone loves a good adventure.

 

We were able to catch Paul Durham in the midst of all the excitement of The Luck Uglies. While there are heaps of questions I could list, like Rye O'Chanter, we will have to be content with a few at a time:

1. Who are a few of your favorite authors and/or books (few people have just one!) that might have inspired some of your writing? 

 There are so many great middle grade authors and books it is indeed difficult to narrow it down, but I always find myself coming back to the same examples.

The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander has stayed with me ever since I was a child. I’ve reread the series twice as an adult and it still holds up as compelling reading. Its five books tell a story that is timeless and epic in scope, and yet the storytelling remains intimate and accessible.

A more contemporary favorite is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. This was one of those books that just knocked me over when I read it because it was so good. It's hard to call it a children's book because, really, it's for everybody. It is exactly the type of book that inspires me to be a better writer.

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2. You mention that you started telling the story to your kids. Who were your first characters? 

Rye O'Chanter was the very first character to make it onto the page. This seems so fitting because she was heavily inspired by my own daughter, who prompted my to write The Luck Uglies in the first place. Of course, Rye needed cohorts, so her little sister Lottie and her best friends, Folly and Quinn, weren't far behind. 

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3. There is such a rich Village Drowning history the reader can sense. Can you give us a few things about the place that aren't in the book? 

That's such a great question--I often think of Village Drowning as its own "character." Like any character, there are things about it that even I haven't discovered yet, but here are two tidbits I can share. Beneath the streets of the village, there is a place even older than the Spoke that the link rats call home. Also, in addition to the bogs and river, Drowning is bordered by a brackish body of water called the Great Eel Pond. Enormous culverts drain water from the pond under, rather than over, the village. Needless to say, Drowning remains damp even under the best of circumstances. 

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4. Is this the beginning of a journey for Rye? Are there more Luck Ugly book coming? 

Yes, I'm happy to report that this is just the start of Rye's journey. The Luck Uglies is a trilogy, with more books to come in spring 2015 and 2016. I'm finishing Book 2 right now.

Durham weaves a tale that truly brings you into Rye O’Chanter’s strange and mysterious world. The story makes you wish the book would not end so you can uncover more secrets that promise to be hidden there.

- eden unger bowditch

MG Debut: Eddie Red Undercover by Marcia Wells

Marcia Wells has written a memorable debut middle grade mystery that I totally enjoyed reading.

First, the cover copy for Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile:

Sixth-grader Edmund Xavier Lonnrot, code name “Eddie Red,” has a photographic memory and a prodigious talent for drawing anything he sees. When the NYPD is stumped by a mastermind art thief, Eddie becomes their secret weapon to solve the case, drawing Eddie deeper into New York’s famous Museum Mile and closer to a dangerous criminal group known as the Picasso Gang. Can Eddie help catch the thieves in time, or will his first big case be his last?
Laugh-out-loud humor, adventure, and friendship combine in this illustrated middle grade series debut, a must-read for any fan of puzzles, mystery, and art.

Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13/ EAN: 9780544238336
ISBN-10: 0544238338
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 04/01/2014
Carton Quantity: 24
Grade Level: 4,5,6,7
Age Range: 9,10,11,12

And yes, I did laugh out loud several times. Eddie has a great voice. He’s informal, self-confident but not in a cocky way, and funny. Combine his voice with a page-turning mystery sprinkled with some seriously strange adults and you’ve got a great read. And, I also loved the way the game of Chess plays into the story. I’ll stop now. No spoilers here.

And, the illustrations by Marcos Calo are top-notch.

 Copyright 2014 Marcos Calo

Eddie Red Undercover debuts on April 1^st, but you can preorder it now right here.

Congrats to Marcia!!

Thanks for stopping by.

An Interview with Polly Holyoke, Author of THE NEPTUNE PROJECT

Polly Holyoke - THE NEPTUNE PROJECT
Disney Hyperion and Puffin Books UK
May 21, 2013

What inspired you to write this story?
I’ve often wondered where our species would go if we so totally foul up the land of our planet that we render it unlivable. It’s always seemed logical to me that eventually we would try to live in our oceans. After all, five-sixths of our planet is covered by seas. But first we would need to figure out a few small technical problems… such as how to breathe water! Genetic engineering takes care of that challenge very conveniently for the characters in THE NEPTUNE PROJECT.

What was your publication process like from initial idea to sale?
I was fortunate to have a relatively quick trip for this particular project. I wrote ten chapters and started marketing a proposal for THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, and my agent’s assistant wrote back shortly after Sterling Lord Literistic received it. He said they wanted to see the rest of the novel RIGHT AWAY. The funny thing was, I had completed six children’s novels before this one, and they asked to see the one novel in my closet that I hadn’t completed! I wrote and wrote and had the whole of the story finished four months later. Then I had a nail-biter of a fall waiting to hear if the main agent liked it, and HE DID! He sat down and read it in a day, and he staged an auction for it a week later. Then he pulled off another wonderful coup and sold the book to Puffin Books UK, so I started off with a foreign sale. I still can’t quite believe I’m getting paid twice for the same work, and that kids in the Commonwealth countries around the world are going to be reading my books!

What books shaped you as a reader and writer, from childhood to present?
I have always loved fantasy and science fiction. I read lots of C.S. Lewis and J. R.R. Tolkien, and later I loved Ann McCaffrey’s dragon books. I think reading so many books with excellent world-building in them helped me to understand how important that aspect of science fiction is.

What is one thing people misunderstand/tend to misunderstand about science fiction?
Sometimes sci/fi authors have incredible premises, cool technology and non-stop action, but the very best sci/fi, in my opinion, includes unforgettable characters. THE HUNGER GAMES works so well because Katniss is such a strong and well-developed character with plenty of issues and flaws.

Are you working on anything new?
I recently completed Book 2 in the Neptune series for Puffin UK, and I’m hoping they’ll want a third book which I already have plotted. But in the meantime, I’m always jotting down ideas for new stories. I sometimes wonder if the creative well might run dry for me, but somehow my subconscious is most obliging and new concepts and premises keep bubbling up!



Thank you, Polly, for joining us today! Best of luck with your debut.

Blog Tour: Keeper of The Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Today is my day to feature Shannon Messenger on her blog tour for the release of her debut novel, Keeper of the Lost Cities. Special thanks to Katie, from Mundie Moms, for organizing the tour (visit this link for more info, and extra giveaways). Anyway, I could go on about what a great friend Shannon is, or about how much my kid loved her book, but I think it's probably best to let her get to her guest post. Take it away, Shannon:

I can't tell you how excited I am to be here, today. Project Mayhem is one of my favorite middle grade blogs, so it's so much fun that I get to come hang out with you guys. I promise I will try not to break the awesome around here!

I've been asked to talk today about 5 books I loved as a kid--which is awesome because dude, I LOVED books growing up. But it's also like--AHHH HOW CAN I POSSIBLY LIMIT MY LIST TO FIVE?????????????????

I've forced myself to be good though, so here they are (in random order because I refuse to pick favorites)

A LITTLE PRINCESS

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

What little girl DOESN'T love this book? There is just something so timeless and endearing about it. I love every word. THE SECRET GARDEN is equally amazing. But A LITTLE PRINCESS was the one I read over and over and over.



MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS

by Robert Lawson, Florence Atwater

I know they recently made a movie out of this, and I have yet to see it and find out how much they changed it. But I hope not a lot because I thought this book was pretty much perfect as a kid. And yes, I may have tried to convince my parents I needed a pet penguin.


THE MYSTERY OF THE CUPBOARD

by Lynne Reid Banks

I loved the whole Indian in the Cupboard series (what kid doesn't want a magic cupboard that brings their toys to life????) but this one was my favorite because it takes readers back in time and history to find out how the cupboard came to be. And she had quite a few tricks up her sleeve with that!


THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE

by: Beverly Clearly

I read and adored pretty much everything Beverly Cleary wrote, but my two favorite characters were Ramona Quimby and Ralph S. Mouse. I mean, look at his little helmet--DO YOU GET MORE ADORABLE THAN THAT??? I think not.


SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL

by: Louis Sachar

Okay, I know this is a collection of short stories instead of a novel, but dude, I loved each and every one of them. I actually loved all the Wayside School stories, but I will never forget Mrs. Gorf and her evil ability to turn her students into apples. If you haven't read this book you NEED to.

Gah--there's so many more I want to feature--but I'm trying to be a courteous little guest author, so I will stop right there. But feel free to tell me about the books you loved in the comments.

And thank you so much to Project Mayhem for having me. I will now hand your blog back to you, and let you guys get back to the mayhem causing! *waves* *blows kisses*

Now, about the book:

Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit in. She's not comfortable with her family and keeping a secret—she's a telepath. But then she meets Fitz, who tells her the reason she has never felt at home is that, well, she isn't. But Sophie still has secrets, and they're buried deep in her memory for good reason: the answers are in high-demand. The truth could mean life or death, and time is running out.

By: Shannon Messenger
Published by: Simon & Schuster
To Be Released on: October 2nd, 2012
Purchase from:
Simon & Schuster
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Indiebound
iTunes
SIGNED Copies from Once Upon a Time (Must order by October 2nd)
The Book Depository

And, about the Author:

SHANNON MESSENGER graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She also regularly eats cupcakes for breakfast, sleeps with a bright blue stuffed elephant named Ella, and occasionally gets caught talking to imaginary people. So it was only natural for her to write stories for children. Keeper of the Lost Cities is her first middle grade novel. Let the Sky Fall, a young adult novel, will follow in Spring 2013. She lives in Southern California with her husband and an embarrassing number of cats.

Follow Shannon:

Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook | GoodReads | Pinterest

And finally, a giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Five Debut Mid-Grades for 2012

Here are five new middle grade novels I'm looking forward to next year:

Glory Be - Augusta Scattergood

releasing January 1, 2012

A Mississippi town in 1964 gets riled when tempers flare at the segregated public pool. Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create a memorable novel about family, friendship, and choices that aren’t always easy. 

The Mapmaker and the Ghost - Sarvenaz Tash

releasing April 24, 2012

A simple decision to map a forest lands 11-year-old Goldenrod in the midst of a true blue adventure involving a gang of brilliant troublemakers, a mysterious and very ugly old lady, and an exceedingly unexpected—and long dead—questmaster.

Chained - Lynne Kelly

releasing May 8, 2012

The touching story of a boy and an elephant who have a friendship that’s stronger than any lock, shackle, or chain.

One for the Murphys - Lynne Mullaly Hunt

releasing May 10, 2012

In the wake of heart breaking betrayal, Carley Connors becomes a foster child who finds herself in the hands of the bustling, happy Murphys, a family that shows her a side of life she’d believed did not exist.

Small Medium at Large - Joanne Levy

releasing July 3, 2012

Because being 12, flat-chested and harassed by the school’s popular girl isn’t bad enough, Lilah Bloom’s life changes forever when she is hit by lightning and can suddenly hear dead people.

Any here you might add to your reading list?

Three Middle-Grade Debuts

Check out these new books!

Tess Hilmo’s WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE

One-sentence summary:

Southern murder mystery with heart and soul.

Favorite middle-grade character of all time:

My favorite MG character is easily Kit from THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. She is witty, spunky and fights for what she knows is right.  That book started my love affair with historical fiction.

Why you write middle grade:

I can't write anything other than middle grade. Every character I write comes out sounding like they are twelve or thirteen. So, I figured I should embrace it and have been writing middle grade ever since!

Sheela Chari’s VANISHED

One sentence summary:

11-year-old Neela dreams of being a famous musician until her instrument goes missing, and she must find a way to get it back.

Favorite middle-grade character of all time:

The character I admire the most is Lyra, from The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. She is bold, assertive, and has a bad temper. I love that she's not perfect and not always easy to be around, but that her instinct is to do the right thing, that she is fiercely loyal to her friends, and finds solutions to her problems on her own.

Why you write middle grade:

I write middle grade because that's the age I remember the most distinctly from my childhood, at a time when I discovered and loved reading books. I think middle grade is my natural writing voice.

Anna Staniszewski’s MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

One sentence summary:

12-year-old Jenny spends her days solving magical problems...but she's getting mighty sick of it, and she wants out.

Favorite middle-grade character of all time:

Oh dear. I have to pick just one? I think it would have to be Emma-Jean Lazarus. She's such a unique, layered character with her own logic and way of seeing the world. She's also pretty hilarious, whether she realizes it or not.

Why you write middle grade:

I write MG because that's what comes naturally to me. Often when I try to write for an older audience, it morphs into a MG story all by itself. I think this is partly because deep down I'll always been about 12 or 13. I also love the dynamic characters and rich storytelling that you often find in MG books.

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier

Every once in a while you get your hands on a debut novel, and you have to wonder: if this person can write this well, and they're not like 21 years old or something, what the heck have they been doing with their lives until now?

I'm mostly kidding, because we all know how long it can take to get published, but Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier, is one of those novels.

This may sound odd, because I work for a Middle Grade blog, but this is the first MG novel I've read this year. It's possible that's clouding my opinion of this book, but I don't think so. I think it's just that good.

Here is the jacket copy:

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny.

And here is what I have to say:

It's very rare that I read a book in less than a week. As a writer with a soul-sucking day job, and a family to raise, there just isn't much time to read. I never read a book a single sitting. Not even this one. But I did read it in three days, which is incredibly fast for me.

I was drawn into this novel right from the get go. Jonathan has a way of telling stories and of drawing you into a world that is absolutely fascinating. Peter is an immediately compelling character, even in spite of his obvious ambiguity. He's a thief, yes, but he's a blind thief, and a darn good one, and we quickly learn that Peter has a strong sense of right and wrong, even if his circumstances have forced him into a life of crime.

Even more compelling, at least for me, and at least at the beginning, was Peter's world. The setting for this novel is fantastic, and is so alive with depth and color that it's almost a character of its own. It reminds me of a cross between Stardust, Through the Looking Glass, Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events, and Peter Pan. In other words: nothing is as it seems, but everything is fun and very interesting.

There is one particular passage I want to quote for you, which struck me very early on when it comes to Jon's ability to describe ... not necessarily the mundane, but perhaps the commonplace in novels of this type:

Screams, as you know, are dreadful, shrill noises that tiresome people make when they want attention. They are rarely effective, as most hearers simply plug their ears and go on about their business. But there is another kind of scream that cannot be ignored so easily: the cry of a creature facing death--a primal, desperate gasp that speaks not the the ears, but to the very quick of our beings. Peter had heard that sound only once before, when freeing himself from a bag of drowning kittens. He was now hearing that terrible scream again, and it was very close.

Sometimes people mistake words like our, you, us, we, your, and so forth for "second person." They're usually wrong, and this is a good example of how it can sometimes get confusing. The narrator in this story is great: subtle, removed, funny, sarcastic, wise, but never in your face. I got along with this storyteller quite well.

There is one review I saw, somewhere out there, that had a complaint about the Point of View, and the fact that a book like this, with a blind protagonist, often uses very vivid visual descriptions. I understand the point that critique makes, but it never bothered me, not once. The narration is mainly told from a third person point of view, and the descriptions, observations, and even expositions are transitioned into so smoothly ... I never once noticed it.

Then again, I'm not a literary critic. I'm just a dude who loves books, and I love this book.

Ahem. So I don't want to go on any longer, because I'll probably end up ruining this story for you, but I can tell you that Peter Nimble comes out this week, and if you enjoy MG novels, this one is not to be missed.

Here is where you can find out more about Peter, and even Jonathan:

TheScop.com is giving away a FREE KINDLE, preloaded with a copy of Peter Nimble.

TheScop.com is also Jon's website, in general.

Jonathan was recently interviewed by my dear friend, Shannon Messenger (she talks about the book, too)

Peter Nimble reviewed on the School Library Journal Blog.

Jonathan Auxier on Twitter.

Any questions?

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that I received this ARC (through Hilary) from the publisher. But, full disclosure, I call it like I see it, and this is a great book, regardless of where it came from.

Middle-Grade Book Review & Giveaway: The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless

Title: The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless #1

Author: Allan Woodrow
Illustrator: Aaron Blecha

Release Date: April 26^th, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: Swiped the ARC out of the author's hands--literally!

Reviewer: Hilary Wagner
Giveaway: ARC and matching bookmark

Okay, so I met Allan at a recent author event we both appeared at in Chicagoland. The book signing portion comes along, and wouldn't you know it, Wagner and Woodrow are sitting side-by-side! I know Alan from the SCBWI, but had never met him in-person, so as you can imagine, when he pulled out a stack of those bright purple and green Zachary Ruthless ARC's, I got real chummy, real fast! Long story short, Allan's a super cool guy, and his debut novel THE ROTTEN ADVENTURES OF ZACHARY RUTHLESS is just as funny and fantastic as he is!

About the Book:

Zachary's lifelong dream is to join SOURBALLS, the world's most evil gang of super villains. But first he must perform a horrible deed. Zachary is forced to battle the horrible Mayor Mudfogg and others, not only to join the Society Of Utterly Rotten, Beastly And Loathsome Lawbreaking Scoundrels, but to survive.

What I Thought:

Boll weevils, rubber cockroaches, mustard, zombies, zucchini flavored gum, hypnotizing glasses, and of course a Box of Rotten...these are just a handful of the oh so handy things you'll find in THE ROTTEN ADVENTURES OF ZACHARY RUTHLESS.

The first book in the series, which follows around ten year old Zachary Ruthless, who, as you can guess by his name, is NOT exactly the sweetest kid on the block, is laugh out loud hilarious! I read it with my eight year old son, who was laughing his eight year old head off throughout the book, even dragging me (well, I wanted to see it, but I acted like I was being dragged) onto the www.evilbadguystuff.com website, a fun addition to the series, not to mention a great place to "Shop Evil"!

Woodrow has done a masterful job at relating the mindset of middle-grade kids, especially the naughty ones (which led me to some regret after reading, because he's only given my son more ideas on how to drive me insane!) This book is great for kids at all reading levels, and like the Wimpy Kid series, it will pull any reluctant reader out of their shell. It reads quickly and it's fast pace and action will allow even the most restless of readers to stay sitting for the whole book. Illustrator, Aarron Blecha, does a great job as well. The illustrations are perfect for the tone of the book and really add to the action.

Allan Woodrow

All-in-all, excellent debut! I'm so glad Allan so graciously allowed me to pilfer a copy! My son and I loved every minute of it, even though my son is now plotting his first horrible deed, hopefully it won't involve mustard. That stains everything! ;)

GIVEAWAY RULES: 

As a special bonus, Project Mayhem is giving away the ARC of THE ROTTEN ADVENTURES OF ZACHARY RUTHLESS, plus a matching uber cool Zachary Ruthless bookmark to one lucky reader. To enter the giveaway, follow the Project Mayhem blog and leave a comment! Winner will be announced Tuesday, April 1st!

You can pre-order this awesome book now and be sure to check out the Evil Bad Guy Stuff website!


xoxo -- Hilary