THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010
I love
this book!!! I want to write like this talented woman. She has an incredible
way to make a reader laugh and cry on the same page. Copyright 2006 and published by Candlewick Press. Told in third person, past
tense the m/c, Edward, is a porcelain rabbit. In the beginning Edward is not a
likable character (this is what I like best about the story). Things happen to
Edward, but he can't react to his circumstances because he is a toy. The author
stays true to this fact. Edward does, however, think and feel and his character arch develops despite
his inability to react physically to what happens to him.
Published by Little Brown, Jerry Spinelli won the 1991 Newbery
for this masterpiece. The book is told in third person, past tense. I loved
this book. It reminded me of the movies "Big Fish" and "Forest
Gump" because of the myth-like m/c. This is a fun read and I would pass it on to any fourth through middle grade
reader.
The
book is actually called An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of
the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. Published by Scholastic, this non-fiction
book won a Newbery Honor in 2004 and deservedly so. I thought it was an
interesting read, and until I read the book I was not familiar with this event
in American History.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010
I purchased a copy of this book at an SCBWI Tri-Region Editor's
Day at the Santa Ana Zoo in 2008. It is published by Milkweed Editions and one
of the editors of Milkweed gave a speech at the conference. Copyright 2004. The voice of the m/c Isabelle is strong with the sarcasm and humor to match any
eight grade thirteen-year-old. The first two paragraphs are first person,
present tense but in the third paragraph it flashes back to explain the main
events of the story. The story returns to present tense for the last two pages
to sum up the family's relationship. Isabelle's problem is believable and the
topic of eating disorders is an important one that needs to be addressed. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010
Published by Disney/Hyperion and copyright 2006, SOLD was a National Book Award
Finalist. The book is told in first person, present tense. The main character,
Lakshmi, is a thirteen-year-old girl who is sold into slavery.
The author handles the horrific topic of human trafficking in a delicate and respectful way, thus protecting the innocence of the victims--for they are indeed innocent. I would have no problem letting my eleven-year-old daughter read this book because this is a reality for victims of such crimes. How can we change the world for the better if we pretend that children are not exploited and abused? And how can we live with ourselves if we fail to oppose such evil? McCormick was brave enough to tell this story. Likewise, reading it continues the fight.
The author handles the horrific topic of human trafficking in a delicate and respectful way, thus protecting the innocence of the victims--for they are indeed innocent. I would have no problem letting my eleven-year-old daughter read this book because this is a reality for victims of such crimes. How can we change the world for the better if we pretend that children are not exploited and abused? And how can we live with ourselves if we fail to oppose such evil? McCormick was brave enough to tell this story. Likewise, reading it continues the fight.
FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010
I really liked this book for its honestly and sensitivity, it is
written in first person, present tense verse. Copyright 1999 and published by
HarperTempest. It is an easy read and its simplicity helps reinforce the thirteen-year-old
main character's plight to cope when her world--her family--is torn apart. My eleven-year-old daughter is now reading this book, and I see compassion and
understanding grow in her as she finishes each poem. In my opinion, mental
illness is an important topic to which children need to be educated.
MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010
Published by Scholastic, the Wanderer is a Newbery Honor in
2001. A contemporary fiction novel, written in present tense, first person with
two distinct POV, Sophie and Cody. The two perspectives give depth and insight
to understanding the family’s dynamics and interaction with each other. Main character is thirteen-year-old Sophie. She and her cousins (Cody and
Brian) and her three uncles embark on a journey to sail across the Atlantic to
visit their grandfather, Bompie. The journey releases memories that Sophie had
suppressed about a tragic event in her past. The book was an easy read and would be good book for any middle grader.
Published by Aladdin Paperbacks and copyright in 2006. This is
the second book I’d read by the author, and I enjoyed this book more than Kira Kira—won the Newbery Medal in
2005. Kira Kira is a sweet story told in first person by m/c Katie describing the relationship she had with her terminally ill sister. I enjoyed this touching story and the feelings expressed by the m/c are honest and believable.
I purchased Weedflower while visiting Manzanar, so reading the book after
my visit made the story more personal for me. Told in past tense, third person limited POV of Sumiko, a twelve-year-old girl.
She and her family were sent to live in an internment camp after the bombing of
Pearl Harbor during the war. Kabota has a talent for creating sympathy for the
plight of her main character while inserting historical facts about the plight
and discrimination of our Japanese-American citizens during WWII.
When reading this story—and other books by the same author—I am able to see how much the author relies on “telling” in her writing style.
OLD YELLER by Fred Gipson
When reading this story—and other books by the same author—I am able to see how much the author relies on “telling” in her writing style.
OLD YELLER by Fred Gipson
A Newbery Honor winner in 1957 and published by HarperCollins.
This MG novel is told in first person, past tense. The book hooked me from the
first page because the voice is authentic. Despite being over fifty-five years
old, the voice and tone of the book can compete with any contemporary on the
book selves. It has humor and tenderness, while giving the reader a glimpse
into the life of a boy living on the frontier in the late 1860’s.
FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010
This is
book was also recommend by Eve Adler at the Temecula Conference, and I have to
say, "I loved it!" Published by Dell Yearling and copyrighted 1999,
this book was a National Book Award Winner. Setting is summer 1971 in a small Texas town. Toby Wilson, 13, has many things
on his mind: his mother, who is away at a singing competition; his best friend,
Cal, whose brother is serving in Vietnam; Scarlett, the girl he's crushing on;
and the fattest kid in the world, Zachary Beaver. I was hooked from the first page. Told in first person, present tense, Toby's
voice is authentic, along with all the characters in the book. Even tertiary
characters like Wayne, Cal's brother, that the reader gets to know through
letters and Toby's inner dialogue are genuine. Every word written gives insight
into one of the small town's citizens. How could a reader not love this book?
Another thing the author conveys is subtle foreshadowing, which lends itself to strengthen the feelings and actions of the characters. Great family dynamics and true emotional reactions is why this book will be one of my favorites, right along side Al Capone Does My Shirts and The Watson's Go To Birmingham, 1963.
Another thing the author conveys is subtle foreshadowing, which lends itself to strengthen the feelings and actions of the characters. Great family dynamics and true emotional reactions is why this book will be one of my favorites, right along side Al Capone Does My Shirts and The Watson's Go To Birmingham, 1963.
TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2010
This book won a Newbery Honor in 1993. Published by Scholastic
Inc. I liked this book and I would recommend it, but I didn't enjoy it as much
as I liked Monster by the
same author. While I read the book I noticed there were times when the certain phrases or
words were used to describe things. The first time the word or phrase was used,
I appreciated it and thought of the imagery it invoked, but when it was used
again later, the beauty of the image faded and it became easier to catch
similar patterns. It is the content of the story and the growth of the main character that is
important, and in that respect, the story met all qualifications of a good
book.
The more I think about this book, the more I relalize how much I
like it. Although I didn't like the main character John "Crash"
Coogan until the the last third of the book. Copyright 1996. Published by Dell
Yearling imprint of Random House. Y.A. contemporary fiction, told in 1st
person, present tense. The story has flashbacks and leaps from present to past
as the m/c describes what happened last week, yesterday, or even an hour ago;
yet it works beautifully. At SCBWI 2010 Agent's Day in Newport Beach, one of the agents said it is okay
to have unlikeable characters. After reading this book, I understand why. As a
reader, I didn't hate Crash, but I didn't like him either. He was a
self-centered bully. As the chapters fly by, the author shows how being neglected--even though you
have your basic needs met--by workaholic parents affects Crash's behavior. His
continual "picking" on neighbor Penn Webb made me laugh, while at the
same time, I wanted to spank Crash for his bad behavior. I love it when a book generates intense feelings, which is why I would recommend
this book.
This book was recommended by Eve Adler when she spoke at SCBWI
Tri-Region's Temecula Retreat in March 2010. Told in first person, past tense, Mary Jane Auch's historical fiction story
Ashes of Roses is about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March
25, 1911 that killed 146 factory workers. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it because of the interesting
historical aspects of the subject the main character finds herself in; however,
the Irish dialect was overdone and I found it distracting.
On the website Dear-Editor.com excellent advice was given to a writer regarding dialects and I agree with the information shared on the topic.
On the website Dear-Editor.com excellent advice was given to a writer regarding dialects and I agree with the information shared on the topic.
I purchased this book because of an article in the 2008
Childrens' Writer's and Illistrator's Market. Author Melina Marchetta's book
Saving Francesca was first copyright 2003 by Penguin Books Austrialia. YA contemporary fiction, first person, present tense. The book is about
sixteen-year-old Francesca and how she must cope with her mother's (Mia) severe
depression after a miscarriage. From the first sentence, "This morning, my mother didn't get out of
bed.", I was hooked and I would recommend this book. I enjoyed the
realistic family dynamics between Francesca and her parents. The author's
description of Mia's depression was authentic.
I enjoyed Jaclyn Moriarty's book Feeling Sorry for
Celia--Copyright 2000 by Pan Macmillian Australia Pty Limited.
Y.A. contemporary fiction, written in first person, present tense. I was hooked at the self-deprecating humor leaping out of the first page. What makes it such a unique is the fact that the book is written in letters and post-its notes between the main character and sub-characters.
Elizabeth Clarry's parents are divorced and between her mother's busy work schedule and her rare visits with her father, Elizabeth's communication with her parents is through letters and post-it notes. When Elizabeth's best friend, Celia, runs away to join the circus, Elizabeth decides that she needs to bring her friend home.
Y.A. contemporary fiction, written in first person, present tense. I was hooked at the self-deprecating humor leaping out of the first page. What makes it such a unique is the fact that the book is written in letters and post-its notes between the main character and sub-characters.
Elizabeth Clarry's parents are divorced and between her mother's busy work schedule and her rare visits with her father, Elizabeth's communication with her parents is through letters and post-it notes. When Elizabeth's best friend, Celia, runs away to join the circus, Elizabeth decides that she needs to bring her friend home.
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
Jacqueline Woodson is one of my favorite authors. I love her
writing because she can make me laugh one minute while tugging at my
heartstrings the next minute. I have read After Tupac and
D Foster and I loved the book despite the fact that I have nothing in
common with the m/c since I'm a middle-aged white mom who knows nothing of rap
or Tupac. But it was the story of the m/c--a young, black girl and how she
relates to the world around her--that drew me in. I've also read Feathers and Locomotion which I thought were
brilliant. This is an author that I'd love to emulate.
But... I did not love HUSH.
Published by Scholastic in 2002, HUSH is about a thirteen-year-old, black girl whose father witnessed a murder. In order to protect his family, he testifies and the family enters into witness protection. The author communicates the frustration and helplessness that the various family members feel about abandoning their former selves. The family dynamics are real, which is why I love this writer so much. The book is written in 1st person, present tense, but the first five pages are a "Telling" flashback. I wasn't hooked on the story but because I love the author I read on. It is contemporary MG fiction. The m/c voice wasn't strong enough for me. She came across whinny and weak, but under the circumstances of the plot and story arch any other child would behave the same way. Just another reason why the author is such an excellent writer of the human experience and family dynamics. Yet, the book weaves the reader through flashback after flashback between how things were and what they are know that I, the reader, wanted to ignore the past and just read about how she was coping now. Also, there are several times when the m/c addresses the reader as "you". This was particularly troublesome for me. As a reader I like the anonymity of looking into the life of a m/c without being called on it.
Just my thoughts on the book. I still liked it, just not as much as her other books. HUSH was unique because of the topic. I've never read about witness protection from a child's POV.
But... I did not love HUSH.
Published by Scholastic in 2002, HUSH is about a thirteen-year-old, black girl whose father witnessed a murder. In order to protect his family, he testifies and the family enters into witness protection. The author communicates the frustration and helplessness that the various family members feel about abandoning their former selves. The family dynamics are real, which is why I love this writer so much. The book is written in 1st person, present tense, but the first five pages are a "Telling" flashback. I wasn't hooked on the story but because I love the author I read on. It is contemporary MG fiction. The m/c voice wasn't strong enough for me. She came across whinny and weak, but under the circumstances of the plot and story arch any other child would behave the same way. Just another reason why the author is such an excellent writer of the human experience and family dynamics. Yet, the book weaves the reader through flashback after flashback between how things were and what they are know that I, the reader, wanted to ignore the past and just read about how she was coping now. Also, there are several times when the m/c addresses the reader as "you". This was particularly troublesome for me. As a reader I like the anonymity of looking into the life of a m/c without being called on it.
Just my thoughts on the book. I still liked it, just not as much as her other books. HUSH was unique because of the topic. I've never read about witness protection from a child's POV.
FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010
As you
can tell by my blog, I am a very inconsistent contributor but I think I've
found a solution. I love to read. I didn't used to. In fact, I hated to read when I was a kid
because I was a slow reader. I transposed words and letters and lost my place
continually. Today they call it tracking issues. I know this because my
daughter has the same problems I did. Anyway, I don't think I ever read more than twenty books in my entire life,
until I was told by a former editor who critiqued something I wrote for the La
Jolla Writers Conference in 2007, "You must read if you want to
write." Then she gave me a list of about twenty books that I should read.
Some of the books on her list had to do with craft (i.e. Noah Lukeman) and some
books were by contemporary authors (i.e. Christopher Paul Curtis) in middle
grade genre. At that time, I had no understanding of "Show Don't Tell" but I took
her advice and read all of her books and gradually the concept began to sink
in. Since 2007, I've must have read over a hundred books in the MG and YA
genre. At first I only found pleasure in the stories, but now I'm able to study
the book as a learning tool. So, I'm going to use my blog entries to discuss and analyze the books that I
have read. The thoughts that I write on the books I read are only my opinions
and I express them to help me become a better writer.
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