MMGM: What I Came To Tell You by Tommy Hays

Published: September 24, 2013
ISBN: 1606844334
Genre: Middle grade, contemporary
Publisher: Egmont, USA
Themes: friendship, family, place, home, loss
Add it on: Goodreads, / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About the Book: Since his mother died earlier this year, Grover Johnston (named after a character in Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward Angel) has watched his family fall to pieces as his father throws himself into his work rather than dealing with the pain. Left to care for his younger sister, Sudie, Grover finds solace in creating intricate weavings out of the natural materials found in the bamboo forest behind his North Carolina home, a pursuit that his father sees only as a waste of time.

But as tensions mount between father and son, two unlikely forces conspire to lead the Johnstons on a new path -- a presence that seems to come to Grover in his darkest moments and new tenants in the rental house across the street who have come from deep in the Carolina hills and plopped themselves right into Grover's life. The families seem so different but become increasingly intertwined, bound together in unexpected ways. Until one devastating disaster threatens to tear them apart.

Tender, touching, and utterly compelling, What I Came to Tell You, the first middle-grade novel from critically acclaimed Asheville author Tommy Hays, is a story of grief, love, and hard-won redemption.

First Line: Before their mother became Buddhist, she would take Grover and his sister to the First Presbyterian Church downtown.

What Others Are Saying: "Though the book spans just a few months, it's packed with incident and complex connections between a range of characters. Hays is especially strong at depicting the network of people, old and young, who help Grover and his family move through their grief and, along the way, save his beloved forest." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"Hays’ story is filled with touching honesty and youthful wisdom, all of which help undergird Grover’s own discovery of the healing power of family, love, and art." —Booklist Review

Bloggers Weigh In:

Pen and Prose

The Reading Life

Vicki Lane Mysteries

What I Thought: "What I Came To Tell You," is the kind of book that starts out quiet, builds slowly, ends too soon and leaves an emotional punch that stays with you long afterward. This would be an excellent book to read-aloud, because it may begin too slowly for some middle grade readers. These types of books are few and far between and often lost in the action-packed fantasy and non-stop humor books that fill our middle grade shelves. The characters alone are worth the trip to Asheville, North Carolina, where the book is set. As an educator, I see several wonderful tie-ins for integrated curriculum: art-weaving, math-grids, literature-Wolfe, science-nature and conservation. I still have a great desire to create my own weaving of twigs, grasses and leaves. I highly recommend this book because of it's themes and opportunities for dialogue. 

Photo by Michael Mauney

About The Author: Tommy Hays

Website

Facebook

Interview with Jo Maeder

Who: Executive Director of the Great Smokies Writing Program and Lecturer in the Master of Liberal Arts program at UNC Asheville. He teaches in the MFA Creative Writing Program at Murray State University.

His adult novel, The Pleasure Was Mine, was a Finalist for the SIBA Fiction Award in 2006, and has been chosen for numerous community reads, including the One City, One Book program in Greensboro and the Amazing Read in Greenville, SC. The novel was read on National Public Radio’s “Radio Reader” and South Carolina ETVRadio’s “Southern Read”. His other adult novels are Sam’s Crossing, which has been recently re-released, and In the Family Way, winner of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award.

A member of the National Book Critics Circle, he received his BA in English from Furman University and graduated from the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. He lives in Asheville with his wife, Connie, and their two children, Max and Ruth. —Authors Website

Be sure to stop by the other MMGM book reviewers. You can find them in my sidebar...

And last, but not least, I have a giveaway going on over at Goodreads!

 

MMGM: Road Trip by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen

Date Published: January 8, 2013 ISBN: 0375990313
Genre: Middle Grade, realistic fiction, humorous fiction
Publisher: Random House
Themes: dogs, rescue, father and son, family
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them.

First Few Lines: 
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Absolutely."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your father and I said so."
"That's really lame."

What Others Are Saying: “The authors score on all fronts: they set an entertainingly frenzied pace, provide twists aplenty, create true dialogue that blends humor and pathos, and bring together a close-knit ensemble.” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review
  
"Dog lovers will especially enjoy the amusing glimpses into the wise dog's mind.Given its notable brevity and Ben's age-appropriate, oft-times snarky, attitude, this should be an easy sell for reluctant readers." —Kirkus Reviews

Tween Review: "My favorite part of this book was the border collie Atticus. The funny part was he didn’t know he was a dog!"—Teen Scene

Bloggers Weigh In:

Twenty By Jenny

Storytime Hooligans

The Late Bloomers Book Blog

What I Thought: A quick fun ride for dog lovers, Road Trip offers twists and turns characteristic of Paulsen's other books. The tween voice of Ben has just the right amount of a sardonic tone to sound authentic. I rarely like when a story is told from the point of view of a dog, usually because too many human characteristics makes the character of the dog seem forced. Atticus was okay and didn't distract from the story. The target age will appreciate Atticus's straight shooting perspective.This will appeal to older middle grade and reluctant readers. 

Photo Credit: Publishers Weekly

About The Authors: 

Gary and Jim Paulsen

Gary's Website
Jim's Website

Publisher Weekly- Great interview with both authors.

Gary: "Running away from home at the age of 14 and traveling with a carnival, Paulsen acquired a taste for adventure. A youthful summer of rigorous chores on a farm; jobs as an engineer, construction worker, ranch hand, truck driver, and sailor; and two rounds of the 1,180-mile Alaskan dog sled race, the Iditarod; have provided ample material from which he creates his powerful stories." —Website

Jim: After studying to be a teacher, Jim realized that even though he loved teaching he missed the arts. He quit teaching and began searching for his place in the art world. "While on the phone on a winters day in 1998, I thumbed a piece of my daughter's play dough. By the end of the conversation, I had completed a simple, crude bust of a man. I fell in love with the clay at that very moment and knew what I was looking for." —Paulsen and Paulsen Fine Art

MMGM: Fog by Caroline B. Cooney

E-book includes illustrated
 biography for Cooney Fans! 

Date Published: August 7, 2012, Ebook Form

ISBN: 1453264221
Genre: Middle Grade and YA, thriller, supernatural,
Publisher: Open Books
Themes: friendship, family, home, class, thriller
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble/ Sony/ Kobo/ Google/ Apple

About The Book: The Shevvingtons are perfect. Mr. Shevvington is the charming, handsome principal of Christina's school. His wife is a dedicated English teacher. When the Autumn fog rolls over the coast, Christian and Anya begin boarding at the Shevvington's home, where Christina discovers that nothing is as it seems. Anya is slowly losing her mind, and Christina knows the Shevvingtons are behind it. But who will take her word against that of the Shevvingtons? This is book one in the Losing Christina series.

First Line: It was very hot the last week before school began: as though the wind from another world were crossing the island.

Great Passage: "Above them the poster of the sea looked out the window. The fingers that rode the painted white froth beckoned, and the curl of the waves was like the curl of the waves." —Kindle Location 1011

What Others Have Said: "The islanders know that the mainland kids will pick on them, but that trouble pales as Christine becomes aware of something evil: Anya seems to be going mad, and Christine is sure that the loathsome Shevvingtons are behind it. They seem to be conspiring with the ocean for a human sacrifice. Short on logic and suspense, this novel may appeal to diehard horror fans, but Stephen King or Dean Koontz would might be a better choice."
 —Publishers Weekly 1989, First edition, seen on Amazon.

"I loved the idea of the story - the strong beginning had me entranced and the personification of the sea was excellent, allowing me to view it as the real villain of the story. The ending had an excellent twist which I really didn't expect. The atmosphere was excellent and I did feel a chill on reading the scarier parts. Some of the main characters were very strong and well written." —Serendipity Reviews 


More Bloggers Weigh In:
Secrets And Sharing Soda
comp lit and mediaphilia

The Write Path

What I Thought: I thought this was a fun, scary and at times intense story. The original came out in 1989 and has just been released as an E-book. I received a copy from Netgalley. I was interested because I new her from my own childhood with the famous book/movie, Face On The Milk Carton, also being re-released with a new cover. I was relieved that changes weren't made to the original story because I have seen incidents where authors try and update a book. It usually doesn't work. I think there is nothing scarier to a child than to not be listened to by the adults that matter in their lives.The first in this series newly released as the Losing Christina series.

Writing Insights:
Setting as Character: This is a great example where the author has used setting as a character. The ocean is the antagonist that that washes up against all the characters providing pounding rhythmic tension throughout the story. 

Re-Release Strategies: I was very interested in how Cooney's books are being released with new covers, titles and series names. This trilogy  has been repackaged as the Losing Christine Series. Her famous Face on The Milk Carton, five book series is being released as the Janie Series . Book 4 is actually split into two, which comprises a  32-page short story released in May, 2012. Updating the whole series in preparation for the final book five that came out January, 2013.
The Take-away:  Short fiction is a great way to test the waters if you've had a series and are thinking about adding to it. Short fiction can also keep you in the minds of your readers. Lindsey Buroker has some interesting article about short fiction here. Here's a link to an interview with several authors who have found success with the short fiction in e-books.  

About The Author: 
Caroline B. Cooney
Website

Who: Caroline Cooney was born in 1947 and grew up in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. This prolific author was always ambitious, and as a youth, loved school and was involved in many different activities. Cooney was also an avid reader and recalls that series books such as The Hardy Boys and Cherry Ames were her favorites. These characters had a big influence on her life, and in fact, she says that "Cherry Ames, Student Nurse was my reason to go to nursing school in Boston later in life." —Teen Reads

When: Cooney began writing in college. She professes, "I love writing and do not know why it is considered such a difficult, agonizing profession. I love all of it, thinking up the plots, getting to know the kids in the story, their parents, backyards, pizza toppings." —Teen Reads

What: Cooney is the author of more than 90 suspense, mystery, and romance novels for teenagers, which have sold over 15,000,000 copies and are published in several languages. The Face on the Milk Carton has sold over 3,000,000 copies and was made into a television movie. Her books have won many state library awards and are on many booklists, such as the New York Public Library’s annual teen picks. Caroline grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and spent most of her life on the shoreline of that state but recently moved to South Carolina to live near family. She has three children and four grandchildren. She was a church organist for many years, accompanied the choirs at her children’s schools, and now plays keyboard for musicals. Among her recent titles areThree Black Swans, They Never Came Back, and If the Witness Lied. Her most recent is The Lost Songs, set in her new part of the world. Soon to come is Janie Face to Face, the fifth book in the Janie series, which begins with The Face on the Milk Carton. She is researching her next book, which will be the exciting, terrifying, and completely unexpected story of the children who will one day sail on the Mayflower to the New World. —Author's Website


What are your thoughts on short fiction or releasing previously published books in E-book form? 

Please take some time to check out the other MMGM review bloggers in my sidebar!

Next Week: The Cyper by Julian Rosado-Machain

See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles

Welcome to my first 2013 Marvelous Middle Grade Monday review! Each Monday, you can depend on me for a review of a great middle grade read. I've changed up the format, so let me know what you think.

Date Published: May 8th 2012

ISBN: 0763654078

Genre: MG, Contemporary

Themes: Bullying, loss, friendship, family, grief, siblings, LGBT

About The Book: Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. It seems as though everyone in her family has better things to do than pay attention to her: Mom (when she’s not meditating) helps Dad run the family restaurant; Sarah is taking a gap year after high school; and Holden pretends that Mom and Dad and everyone else doesn’t know he’s gay, even as he fends off bullies at school. Then there’s Charlie: three years old, a "surprise" baby, the center of everyone’s world. He’s devoted to Fern, but he’s annoying, too, always getting his way, always dirty, always commanding attention. If it wasn’t for Ran, Fern’s calm and positive best friend, there’d be nowhere to turn. Ran’s mantra, "All will be well," is soothing in a way that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can almost believe it’s true. But then tragedy strikes- and Fern feels not only more alone than ever, but also responsible for the accident that has wrenched her family apart. All will not be well. Or at least all will never be the same.—Goodreads

First Line: The very best day of my whole life, I through up four times and had a fever of 103 degrees.

Great Quote: "The sun blasts down on me, and I feel a drip of sweat slowly slip down my chest and unto my blly button under my shirt." (73)

What Others Thought: "Prescient writing, fully developed characters and completely, tragically believable situations elevate this sad, gripping tale to a must-read level." —Kirkus Review 

"See You At Harry's is one of the most beautiful, moving books I've ever read. Full of laughter, love, and tears, it will break your heart and put it back together again, with a little more light, a little more hope than there was before.  —Kate Messner

Other Blogger Reviews:
Rather Be Reading
Paperback Treasures
Jenn Renee Review

My Analysis: 

1. Narrator/ Protagonist is twelve-year-old Fern.

2. 310 pages/ Chapter avg. length 5 pages

3. The Hook: Fern is "deathly" ill and how she became sick.

4. Inciting Event: Chapter 5 

5. Plot and Pace: Every sentence pushed the plot and never lost pace.

6. Voice: Authentic and honest

What I Thought: If this was a movie, it might have been a sleeper. An unremarkable cover, lost among the splashes of color and tantalizing adventure illustrated sleeves, See You At Harry's quietly burst forth in early May, 2012. It was on my list, but I admittedly kept pushing it back for action packed titles. It's a quiet story with a strong middle grade voice and themes that leave you running for the tissues for both laughing and crying. Knowles bravely addresses the issue of Fern's brother being bullied because he's gay. Don't miss this gem. I highly recommend this wonderful narrative that reminds all of us how precious life is and how very short it can be. 

Awards: 

Kirkus Reviews- Best YA Books of the Year

New York Times Notable Children's Books

Amazon.com Best Books of the Year

YALSA Reader's Choice List Nominee

Best Fiction for Young Adults- Nominee

About The Author: Jo Knowles

Website

Live Journal

Twitter

Facebook
Linked In

Who: "In college I took a children’s literature course, got hooked, and went to grad school to learn more. There, I took a course on writing for children. I loved it so much, I decided to write my first YA novel for my graduate thesis. That semester I was lucky enough to meet Robert Cormier, my hero. I told him how his book had turned me into “a reader.” He gave me his address and said to send him my novel when I finished. That message helped me finish my book. I sent it. He wrote back and told me I had talent, and that he hoped one day my book would be published with a blurb from him on the back. I have that letter framed in my office.

"In February 2006, I sold my first novel, Lessons From A Dead Girl, to Candlewick Press. My dream of becoming a published author finally came true.

"Now, I live in Vermont with my husband and son. I’m a freelance writer, and I work on my fiction whenever I can find the time. And I read. I try to read at least one novel a week. If you want to be a writer, I suggest you try to read a book a week, too. Reading makes us better writers. I’m a firm believer in that." — Knowles Website

Other Books:

Pearl

Dear Bully

Lessons From A Dead Girl

Jumping Off Swings

Be sure to stop by the other MMGM reviewers for some great reads to add to you list!

Next Week: What Came From The Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

MMGM: Audio Book Review—Wonder by R.J. Palacio

About The Book: August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school?until now. He's about to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep, and if you?ve ever been the new kid, then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? R. J. Palacio has crafted an uplifting novel full of wonderfully realistic family interactions, lively school scenes, and writing that shines with spare emotional power. Wonder is a book with such a big, wide heart? it shows how we are all fragile, imperfect, and perfectly beautiful creatures. —Goodreads

First Line: I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid.

One Great Line: “The best way to measure how much you've grown isn't by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average-- though those things are important, to be sure. It's what you've done with your time, how you've chosen to spend your days, and whom you've touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.”

What Others Are Saying: “Palacio makes it feel not only effortless but downright graceful, and by the stand-up-and-cheer conclusion, readers will be doing just that, and feeling as if they are part of this troubled but ultimately warm-hearted community.”— Starred Review, Booklist, February 1, 2012

"While one bully manages, temporarily, to turn most of Auggie's classmates against him (Auggie likens this to becoming the human equivalent of "the Cheese Touch," a clever Diary of a Wimpy Kid reference), good wins out. Few first novels pack more of a punch: it's a rare story with the power to open eyes--and hearts--to what it's like to be singled out for a difference you can't control, when all you want is to be just another face in the crowd. " —Starred review, Publisher's Weekly

What I Thought: Wonder is probably the most honest book I've read in a very long time.The short chapters 
written from different points of view. Palacio has developed these characters with real depth, so much so that I'm sure if I met any of them on the street I would instantly recognize them. I was impressed with how Auggie isn't defined by his face and you get a glimpse of his inner pain. The contrasts are vivid through the juxtaposition of the different characters during the same scenes. The reader is led through the small nuances that are the savory meat at the heart of the story.  I believe that until we conquer the fear, elitism and prejudice at this primary level, how can we believe that the world will know peace anytime soon. Anyone who reads this will be forever changed and "wonder" at its profound impact. It is a must read!!

If you're looking for a great audio book, Wonder is one of the best I've heard. Each character has their own voice and they are full of expression and lively inflection. 

Awards:   A School Library Journal Best of Children's Books 2012
A Publishers Weekly Best of Children's Books 2012A Kirkus Reviews Best of Children's Books 2012
A Booklist Best of Children's Books 2012

About The Author: 
R.J. Palacio
Website
Twitter

Blog

Who: "I live in NYC with my husband, two sons, and two dogs. For many years, I was an art director and book jacket designer, designing covers for countless well-known and not so well-known writers in every genre of fiction and nonfiction. I always wanted to write, though. I kept waiting for the perfect time in my life to start writing, but after more than twenty years of designing book jackets for other people, I realized that the perfect time would never really present itself. It's never the perfect time to start writing a book. So I decided to just go for it. Wonder is my first novel. And no, I didn't design the cover, but I sure do love it." —R.J.Palacio

This wraps up my reviews for 2012, if you missed one be sure to check out all my reviews here. 

You can find links to all the MMGM reviewers in my sidebar. There have been some wonderful books reviewed that are now on my 2013 TBR list!

On Wednesday, join me for an in depth interview with The Book Doctor, Jason Black where he reveals some of his secrets to great writing!

MMGM NW Authors: Pebblehoof by Jason Black

About The Book: Maria Browning never asked to be dragged from Chicago into the untamed Nebraska Territory to help her parents find their dream of freedom on the frontier. But when she meets and befriends a wild horse, the prairie begins to grow on her. The spring of 1863 takes a turn for the better when the family learns that the Transcontinental Railroad will be coming through the nearby town of Columbus. But their excitement quickly sours when the railroad boss unexpectedly changes the planned route to run rails directly through the family’s land. Maria’s hardheaded father clashes with the railroad man and his underhanded tricks. Caught in the middle, Maria’s mother suffers a terrible injury, and the family’s crops are destroyed. Faced with returning to Chicago, Maria finds she cannot bear to leave behind her beloved horse and the prairie she has come to call home. Her only question is, can a ten-year-old girl defy the most powerful man in the territory and move a railroad, to save her home and her parents’ dream? —Amazon

First Line: "Mama must I?" Maria Browning asked.

What Others Are Saying: "Not just for girls! The unrelenting pace of the story, driven by the challenges of life in the 1860s, will also captivate boys. I was actually sorry to see the book end. Definitely a good read for adults as well as middle grades and up. Caution for parents: the book includes a couple of swear words (which I plan to omit when reading to kids.) Nathan Everett's graphics at chapter beginnings and between scenes add to the ambiance, and I appreciated the Author's Notes at the end about the real places and people in the story." —Norma Nill on Amazon

"There's tension, conflict and villains drawn from the historical figures of the time. As children read the story, they will be learning without even noticing about such things as what homesteads were, soap making, and what everyday life was like. They may also learn some German! The author clearly respects children, providing them with this intelligent and compelling story." —AMB on Amazon

What I Thought: From the first page I was drawn into Maria's new life on the prairie. It has been a very long time since I have had a historical fiction resonate with me in the same way that Laura Ingalls Wilder books did. I have never forgotten the descriptions of everyday tasks in Laura's world, the pig bladder, cutting sod and planting vegetables. When Black told about Maria making soap with her mother, I found myself transported again to a time before supermarkets, details so vivid I could almost smell the lye. That said, I think the underlying theme is about finding where you belong in a new place. Maria is taken from everything she knows, but finds a new friend and ultimately home.  

About The Author: Jason Black
Website
Guest Post on Seekerville
Radio Interview

Who: I met Jason two years ago at my first PNWA writers conference. I took one of his classes and now I'm a religious reader of his articles on Author Magazine. His most recent article "Let Your Characters Speak For Your Readers" is an excellent look at how important it is to avoid making a mystery seem like a mistake. Black writes,"Readers will follow you pretty much anywhere, so long as they trust you to know what you’re doing." 

"My name is Jason Black. I was born between Apollo 11 and the breakup of The Beatles. I live in Washington State, in a suburb outside of Seattle, with my wife and two young children whose future college educations I'm hoping you’ll help me pay for. I'm a computer geek, a local-food enthusiast, occasional gardener, ardent PNWA supporter, monthly contributor to PNWA's Author Magazine, and die-hard NaNoWriMo participant." —Black on Plot to Punctuation

Join the other MMGM reviewers, they have some great books, too! You can find links in my sidebar.

Coming soon: Kathleen Schlick Noe's, author of Something To Hold interview and book giveaway.

Another NW author review of Heather Vogel Frederick's Once Upon a Toad.

MMGM NW Author and a Giveaway: The Ring of Leilani by Annie Crawford

About The Book: The last thing fifteen-year-old Julia Dickinson expects while vacationing with her parents in Cancun is to find an ancient crown in an underwater cave, try it on...and be transformed into a mermaid. And not just any mermaid, but a direct descendant of the long-lost Princess Leilani and the heir to Leilani’s throne. The idea of being a queen is exciting, and the members of the merclan are overjoyed to have a leader once more...but Julia’s not at all sure she’s ready to give up her life as a human.
  
Julia’s fate hinges on a missing magic ring. Before she can become queen, she must find the ring, lost for a hundred fifty years, since the crown is useless without it. And when she learns that the combined power of crown and ring can make her human again, she’s even more motivated to search for it.
  
Accompanied by one of the merclan elders, Julia embarks on a perilous quest to find the ring. Along the way she blunders into a fishing net and meets Chac, a seventeen-year-old Mayan boy enamored of merfolk who promises to help her in her search. But if and when Julia does find the ring, can she also find happiness as a mermaid queen? —Goodreads

The Cover: Illustrated by Linda Ingraham
Website
Art Studio
Facebook
Quote:  “I am drawn to beautiful things...but beauty that reaches beyond the eyes and into the soul, the poignant beauty of spirituality, loss, fragility, and hope. These are the themes that weave a common thread through my work using nature as metaphor to explore the human psyche.” —Ingraham on Website
  
First Line: "Mom....please! Just five more minutes!"
  
Great Character Line: "...Think about what you're living right now! That's all any of us have, the moment."—Chac (85)

What Others Are Saying: “I found it refreshing that it seemed to break the current YA trend of love-triangles, sappy, weak-willed heroines, and girls who turn into mush at the first sight of a handsome boy. . . Julia is intelligent and strong, and while there is a cute boy involved, they work more as a team. . . love to read more!” —Sophia Flynt

"I read this book in one sitting. I LOVED it!! The writing was clear and crisp, with short chapters and a fast pace. I was never bored or lost interest for a moment. The plotline kept me guessing until the end...)  —Stacy on Goodreads

What I Thought: It's hard to choose what I liked best about this book. I loved Julia's character, she's strong and brave, yet impulsive. Crawford does an incredible job of world building and her descriptions of culture reminded me of Lewis Carrol, Frank Baum and J.M. Barrie and the way their writing whisked me off to distant lands. The pacing was perfect and the plot provided some unexpected twists. While this is young adult—Julia is fifteen— I think this would appeal to Tweens because it's full of adventure, self-discovery and a touch of magic.

About The Author: 
Annie Crawford
Website
Twitter
Interview
Facebook

Who: "I’ve been an avid reader ever since I learned what those funny squiggles on the page were all about. I’m also a writer, with two completed novels under my belt, The Ring of Leilani and The Curse of the Jade Amulet (find them on Amazon or Smashwords.com), two that have been put on the shelf for the time being, and another where I’m currently finishing up the first draft. What age levels are my books for? That’s hard to say. Personally, I don’t think the dividing line’s always that clear. I love good books, whether they’re for adults or children. Great kids’ books aren’t just for kids, they’re for everyone who loves magic, fantasy and discovering new worlds. As for adult books being for kids—well, my parents didn’t police the bookshelves and I readTropic of Capricorn at eleven. But that’s another story, and I don’t necessarily recommend Henry Miller for tweens!"
 —Magic And The Muse


I'm giving away my copy all you have to do is answer the question in a comment.
  
Who said, "beauty that reaches beyond the eyes and into the soul"?
  
Don't miss the other MMGM reviewers! Great books this week... you can find them in my sidebar!

New Release: Here Where The Sunbeams Are Green by Helen Phillips

Released on Nov. 13th
Advanced Readers Copy Provided by Netgalley

About The Book: Mad's dad is the Bird Guy. He'll go anywhere to study birds. So when he's offered a bird-tracking job in Central America, his bags are packed and he's jungle bound.
But going bird tracking in the jungle and disappearing completely are very different things, and when the Very Strange and Incredibly Creepy Letter arrives, Mad can't shake the terrible feeling that her father is in trouble.

Roo, Mad's younger sister, is convinced that the letter is a coded message. And their mom is worried, because the letter doesn't sound like Dad at all. But Mad is sure it's a sign of something sinister.

The only way to get to the bottom of it is to go to Lava Bird Volcano and find their dad themselves. Though they never could have imagined what they're about to discover.

From new talent Helen Phillips, Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green is the story of what can happen when two sisters make some unusual friends, trust in each other, and bravely face a jungle of trouble all to bring their family back together.
  
First Line: So here we are in the shaky little airplane above the jungle, which is kind of (very) scary.

Illustrators Are Often Elusive
 About Self Portraits

Illustrator: Jennifer Bricking
Website
Portfolio

Who: "I graduated from Ringling College of Art & Design wayyy back in 2004. I've worked as a Concept Artist for games and animation and as a Children's Book Illustrator for publishing companies like Harper Collins, Random House, and Simon & Schuster. I am currently working full time at Disney Interactive Studios in San Diego, CA. You can usually find me riding my bike around San Diego, skateboarding, and sometimes wandering around foreign countries; camera in one hand, sketchbook in the other. I love anything art, animation, technology and science related. Puppies and cupcakes, too."—Jennifer Bricking on her website.

One Great Line: That's what makes it such an awesome color—if you like the color, you gotta like the stick.

What Others Are Saying: "All middle grade readers will love the adventure. But sisters will love the story. A truly remarkable tale of survival against all odds fueled by the bonds between two young girls. Excuse me, one young girl. . . and one not-so-young girl." —Alamosa Books  Independent Book Store in Albuquerque

"More fantasy than magical realism, this eco-adventure maintains its mystery and suspense right up to the end." —Kirkus

What I Thought: From the first sentence I was whisked into and adventure that was fast moving, intense at times and yet full of humor. My kind of book. I love Mad's and Roo's relationship. Roo is everything I wish I could have been in middle grade, fearless, smart and funny. I identified, as I'm sure others will, to Mad's angst and desire to stay out of the way, avoiding any attention toward herself. When Mad has the first stirrings of attraction for Golden-Eyed Boy, the nervousness and new feelings are believable and age appropriate. This is one of those books that you want to keep reading because something happens on every single page. A great read with lots of surprises. 

About The Author: 
Helen Phillips
Website

Who:  "Before I could read, I remember feeling very jealous whenever I saw my parents reading. They could add all those confusing letters up to something magical! It made me mad, and I tried to learn to read as quickly as possible so I wouldn’t have to be jealous anymore.

I knew I wanted to be a writer from the time I was able to write my first story at the age of six." —Helen Phillips [Read entire bio here.]

Book Trailer Created by her husband, Adam Phillips.

Striking A Balance Between Planning and Surprise: An Interview with Daniel McInerny

Why do you write for children?

I love writing middle grade fiction because it’s addressed to kids ready for a more nuanced narrative and emotional palette, but who haven’t yet been inveigled out of their natural sense of innocent enchantment about the world. That sense of enchantment includes a robust spirit of adventure and mystery, as well as a love of comedy. All of those ingredients make middle grade the perfect mix for me.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became a writer.

I’m a not-quite-48-year-old husband and father of three who lives in Northern Virginia not terribly far from Washington, D.C. I am a native of South Bend, Indiana (just downriver from Patria), a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BA in English), and a holder of a PhD in philosophy. I spent nearly 18 years teaching and working at various universities in the United States, and just over a year ago left academia and launched Trojan Tub Entertainment.


I have been writing fiction all of my adult life, but only recently have begun to publish. I don’t only write children’s fiction. Last month I published my first novel for adults, a dark comic thriller called High Concepts: A Hollywood Nightmare. I also write short stories and screenplays and am currently at work on a radio play for a competition sponsored by the BBC.

See My Review Here!

What was the inspiration for your Kingdom of Patria series?I am a great fan of the comic stories of P.G. Wodehouse. In praising Wodehouse’s tales of feckless bachelors and wise butlers, Evelyn Waugh spoke of Wodehouse as creating a “fairy tale” world. It occurred to me that it would be fun to turn Waugh’s comment on its head and set out to create a fairy tale world that aspired to be as comical as the books of Wodehouse. My Patria stories are first and foremost meant to be laugh-out-load funny. Their plots revolve around adventure and mystery, but the tone is always light and fluffy. Their humor owes a lot to Wodehouse, but also to that of Roald Dahl, as well as J.K. Rowling in the more whimsical portions of the Harry Potter books. One of my reviewers on Amazon compared Stout Hearts & Whizzing Biscuits to the film version of Ian Fleming’ children’s novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I like that comparison. Rob Reiner’s film, The Princess Bride, from a script by William Goldman, also masterfully hits the tone I am striving for.

Tell us about your process.

I will usually get an almost hopelessly vague but nonetheless exciting germ of an idea and then follow it up with a lot of note-taking and outlining before actually getting going on composing the story. My Patria books involve a lot of characters mixed up in complicated, farcical plots, so that it’s simply not practical to plunge in like Hemingway and start writing to see where the story leads. If I proceeded in that way, I would eventually have to stop and start note-taking and outlining, because again, my stories have too many moving parts to keep straight without some kind of roadmap (to mix my metaphor).

The trap for me is that I can linger too long over the note-taking and outlining, becoming too left-brained about the process. I thus have to strike a balance between the desire to plan and know every aspect of the plot beforehand and the need to just start writing and let my imagination surprise me. I’m better than I used to be at striking this balance, but I still, with every project, reach a point where I become too analytical and where I need to simply put aside the notes and outlines and start writing.

  

What does a typical writing day look like?


I’m a morning writer. Afternoons when a deadline presses. Practically never in the evenings. These days I start pretty early and write until about mid-day.

Where is your favorite place to write?

The ideal for me is to be able to write anywhere, to be prepared to put words on paper even if my regular routine is upended. That being said, I enjoy writing in my home office the most. That’s where I am most comfortable and disciplined. I like being surrounded by all my books, having Internet access if I have to look something up or I want to read the paper during a break, and being able to go downstairs at will for a cup of coffee or tea.

Public spaces, like a Barnes & Noble, can work well for background work and a change of scene, but it takes a great deal of concentration for me to actually compose fiction in such a setting. Sometimes I do, but rarely.
What did or do you find most challenging in creating the story and getting it published? What do you wish you would have known?

These days, there’s really no reason to experience any significant trouble in self-publishing one’s books (as I do). Advances in digital technology and the new distribution platforms provided by Amazon and others make publishing a breeze. The real challenges come with the marketing.

I wish I had learned a little earlier than I did that the best kind of marketing is “content marketing,” i.e. providing rich fictional and other entertainment and informational content, some of it for a price, but a lot of it for free, in order to draw my audience in. The free content on the Kingdom of Patria site--the short stories, the activities that the two clubs are involved with, the character blogs, the Kingdom of Patria Storytime Radio--all helps kids and parents become familiar and comfortable with my brand. 

I've heard it said that from the Internet people are looking for either information or entertainment. A lot of self-pubbers do a great job at content marketing through information, "How To" articles and the like. All that is great and I consume a fair amount of it and produce some too, but my favored approach is to entertain by providing free fictional content. That's what interests me most and what I feel I'm best at.
What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

“A writer is someone who writes.” That’s an unromantic, lunch pail, craftsman’s take on what it means to be a writer, and I think it’s the best advice that any writer can begin with and return to.

When it comes to entire books on writing, I like Dorothea Brande’s Becoming A Writer, Stephen King’s On Writing, Robert McKee’s Story, and Flannery O’Connor’s Mystery and Manners.

Are you working on a new project? Can you tell us about it?


I could tell you about it, but then I would have to send the Knights of the Blue Sock out to hunt you down! :)

Among other things I do have a new children’s book brewing. I’m just getting started with it. All I’m able to say is that it’s a kind of prequel to the two Patria novels I’ve released. Why should George Lucas and Peter Jackson have all the fun!

What advice would you give others that write for children?

First and foremost I would urge them to enjoy the process, to play with the story, to let one’s own childlikeness (not childishness) come through in the writing. Second, to keep in mind that children’s literature is not only for children, but should be of such a quality that it can be enjoyed by anyone. Third, not to introduce children, in the hopes of being “relevant” or “edgy,” to aspects of the adult world that are beyond their maturity level.

Everyone is always welcome to the Kingdom of Patria! You can also keep up with the news from Patria by “liking” the Trojan Tub Entertainment Facebook page. Daniel McInerny can be found on his blog at the Kingdom of Patria, at his author site,danielmcinerny.com, and on Twitter: @kingdomofpatria.