SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010
Published by Clairon Books, this novel won a Newbery Honor in
2008. Told in first person (m/c Holling Hoodhood) past tense, the backdrop is
1967 seventh-grade. I loved the humor and the realistic family dynamics.
I purchased this book after hearing an agent at a SCBWI's
Tri-Region Agent's Day. Copyright in 2007, published by Delacorte Press, the
contemporary fiction novel is definitely Y.A. (cursing and other content). The
self-deprecating humor was hilarious and believable. Portman's m/c refers to
Catcher in the Rye throughout the book. I've never read J.D. Salinger's famous
novel, but it didn't interfere with the enjoyment of the book.
I was excited to hear the author speak in a break-out secession at the 2009 SCBWI conference to which I wasn't disappointed. This is a great book for older teen boys 15+.
I was excited to hear the author speak in a break-out secession at the 2009 SCBWI conference to which I wasn't disappointed. This is a great book for older teen boys 15+.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2010
My daughter, Lucy and I listed to the first three unabridged
audio books in the Unfortunate Events series: The
Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window. The
first two books are read by Tim Curry while The Wide Window was read by the
author.
Lucy said that many of her friends have read and loved these books, just like she did when we listed to them. It was fun to see the surprise on her face as she would figure out clues along with the Baudelaire children. I asked Lucy if it the continual sad things that happen to the children upset her and she told me, "That's why it's called A Series of Unfortunate Events."
The stories are told in third person, past tense with narrator intrusion. These interruptions are hilarious and informative. What I like about these stories is the time the author takes to give the definition of certain words, thus building the reader (in our case listeners) vocabulary.
Lucy said that many of her friends have read and loved these books, just like she did when we listed to them. It was fun to see the surprise on her face as she would figure out clues along with the Baudelaire children. I asked Lucy if it the continual sad things that happen to the children upset her and she told me, "That's why it's called A Series of Unfortunate Events."
The stories are told in third person, past tense with narrator intrusion. These interruptions are hilarious and informative. What I like about these stories is the time the author takes to give the definition of certain words, thus building the reader (in our case listeners) vocabulary.
My daughter and I listened to the unabridged audio books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. It is
quite a fun and crazy listen and we could not help but compare them to the
Disney classic.
It is interesting how Disney blended events from both books for his movie. For example, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee are introduced in Alice Through the Looking Glass along with the talking garden flowers.
Another thing that is hard to get out of one's mind as we listened to the books being read by Jim Dale (Adventures in Wonderland) and Michael Page (Looking Glass) is what Lewis Carroll was thinking, or doing, while writing his literary nonsense masterpieces.
It is interesting how Disney blended events from both books for his movie. For example, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee are introduced in Alice Through the Looking Glass along with the talking garden flowers.
Another thing that is hard to get out of one's mind as we listened to the books being read by Jim Dale (Adventures in Wonderland) and Michael Page (Looking Glass) is what Lewis Carroll was thinking, or doing, while writing his literary nonsense masterpieces.
I purchased this book at the 2008 SCBWI's Temecula Writers
Retreat and had it signed by the author Jacqueline Levering Sullivan. This
middle grade historical novel is set a year after WWII.
Copyright is 2007 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Told in first person past tense, it is a sweet story and I enjoyed the book.
Copyright is 2007 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Told in first person past tense, it is a sweet story and I enjoyed the book.
The Underneath was a National Book Award Finalist and a 2009
Newbery Honor. I enjoyed this book for its beautiful imagery and poetic language.
However, I don't think my daughter or most of her fifth grade class would have
been able to appreciate the plot and storyline they way an adult reader would.
There are multiple pov switches woven in two storylines that melt together at the end of the book to produce a satisfing ending.
There are multiple pov switches woven in two storylines that melt together at the end of the book to produce a satisfing ending.
[Author experience... ] I
purchased this book after hearing the author, Ellen Hopkins, speak at the SCBWI
Tri-Regions 2008 Temecula Retreat. I also had the honor of having Ellen at my
critique table when the conference participates shared their stories. Ellen
suggested I write my novel Crazy Like Mom in
first person, present tense to make it more immediate. She was right. I also made Ellen promise that when my book was published she would write a review for my inside cover... get ready Ellen.
In Ellen's book, like my m/c, the characters in Impulse are impacted by mental illness in one way or another. Copyright 2007 published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, this Y.A. novel is written in verse with three distinct teen pov: Conner, Vanessa, and Troy. The lives of these characters are tragic and I cried for each one of them. How their lives intertwine inside the hospital is compelling. I wanted to embrace each one of them and tell them everything will be okay, but for other teens with similar lives it's their reality.
For these reasons, this book remains one of my favorite Y.A. books.
In Ellen's book, like my m/c, the characters in Impulse are impacted by mental illness in one way or another. Copyright 2007 published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, this Y.A. novel is written in verse with three distinct teen pov: Conner, Vanessa, and Troy. The lives of these characters are tragic and I cried for each one of them. How their lives intertwine inside the hospital is compelling. I wanted to embrace each one of them and tell them everything will be okay, but for other teens with similar lives it's their reality.
For these reasons, this book remains one of my favorite Y.A. books.
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