MMGM: Joy of Apex by Napatsi Folger

Date Published: May 15, 2012

ISBN: 1926569474
Genre: Middle grade fiction, contemporary
Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc.
Themes: friendship, family, home, cultural diversity
Add it on: Goodreads / Indie Bound / Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

About The Book: Joy is ten years old, living in Apex, Nunavut—a suburb of Iqaluit—and loving life. Her little sister Allashua may be annoying, but all in all Joy loves living at the top of the world in Apex. But when Joy begins to notice her parents fighting a lot more than usual, and her mom staying with her sisters in Iqaluit more than she is home, Joy’s perfect life soon becomes a lot more complicated. As Joy navigates her parents’ separation and its affect on her family, she learns some valuable lessons about how to cope when life gets tough. Told in the wry, funny voice of a smart and savvy ten-year-old girl, this book will appeal to young readers everywhere.

First Line: My name is Joy Magnussen and I live in Apex, or Niaqunngun, which is the Inuktitut name for my hometown.

What Others Are Saying: "This is a well-written volume and an engaging read. The work is clearly rooted in the author’s personal experience growing up in the Eastern Arctic. Pre-teens through adult readers will enjoy this book. Highly recommended for public libraries and school libraries everywhere" —The Deakin Review

"Folger is careful at letting the story go first, working in sensory reminiscences from her own childhood in Iqaluit without creating a setting that outweighs plot or character." —Scoop It

Bloggers Weigh In:
Paper Tigers
Beverly Brenna
Pigeon Peas Booknook

What I Thought: Joy of Apex is a slice-of-life contemporary novel about a ten year old girl who's parents split up. Folger does a great job of injecting cultural detail without sacrificing plot pace. I think this would be a great choice for a cultural diversity discussion. It shares interesting peeks into Inuit life while demonstrating common threads all middle grade students share. 

Photo Credit: Nunavut Online

About The Author: Napatsi Folger

Who: Napatsi Folger was born and grew up in Iqaluit, Nunavut, She lived there until her family moved to Vancouver in 1991. Napatsi returned to Iqaluit in 2004, to work for the Department of Education, Government of Nunavut. In 2010 she moved to Toronto to continue her education at the University of Toronto. Joy of Apex is Napatsi Folger's first novel.

Next Week: 
A Week With Fiona Wonder 
                  by Kelly Huddleston







Check out the awesome books the other MMGM bloggers are highlighting:

- Natalie Aguirre is interviewing author Kelley Armstrong and giving away a copy of LOKI'S WOLVES. Click HERE for all the fun.  

- Flash, the Feline Extraordinaire, (and Professional Mews to Cindy Strandvold) recommends THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY. Click HERE to see what that's all about.    

- Michelle Mason is cheering for PLASTIC POLLY. Click HERE for her review. 

- Sue Heavenrich is captivated by THE UNIVERSE OF FAIR. Click HERE to see what she thought. 

- Gina Carey is singing praises for INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. Click HERE to read her review.  

 - Barbara Watson is highlighting the classic MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH. Click HERE to see what she thought.  

- Mark Baker is spotlighting ALCATRAZ VS. THE SHATTERED LENS. Click HEREto see his review. 

- Michelle Isenhoff is spreading the love for THE SILVER CHAIR. Click HERE to see why she loves this classic. 

- Xander is rooting for MILA 2.0. Click HERE to see why he thinks it's not just for YA Readers. 

- Susan Olson is raving about THE SILVER TREE. Click HERE for her review.   

- Laurisa White Reyes is featuring THE SCORCH TRIALS--with a GIVEAWAY. ClickHERE for details 

       - Rosi Hollinbeck is championing NEW LANDS--with a GIVEAWAY! 
          Click HERE for details.

- Michael Gettel-Gilmarten is making sure you all REMEMBER DIPPY. Click HERE to see why.   

- Chelanne Green is caught up in NAVIGATING EARLY. Click HERE for her review 

- Annie McMahon is soaring for THE BOY WHO FLEW WITH EAGLES. Click HERE to see what she thought. 

- Dorine White has an introduction to THE EMERALD RING blog tour. Click HERE to see what that's all about.

- Deb Marshall is an MMGM regular. Click HERE to see what she's featuring this week. 

- Joanne Fritz always has an MMGM for you. Click HERE to see what she's talking about this week. 

- The Mundie Moms are always part of the MMGM fun (YAY!). Click HERE to see their newest recommendations. And if you aren't also following their Mundie Kids site, get thee over THERE and check out all the awesome!    

- The lovely Shannon O'Donnell always has an MMGM ready for you! Click HERE to see what she's featuring this week.

  - Karen Yingling also always has some awesome MMGM recommendations for you. Click HERE to which ones she picked this time!

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!

Millicent Marie Tour With Karen Pokras Toz

Welcome To The Blog Tour!! 

I'm so glad you stopped by. We've got so much going on,

 so don't miss any of it!

Today, Millicent has stopped by for a character post she's absolutely positive you will enjoy. So without further adieu, I introduce Millicent Marie, well she says that it's not her name but for now I have no idea what else to call her.

Hi everyone!

I’m twelve years old, and I’m in sixth grade. It’s kind of a big year for me because we get to do all kinds of cool stuff like go on fun trips, do sports, join the Drama Club, and even have a sixth-grade dance. 

I was going to join the soccer club, but there is this girl Haylee, who keeps saying mean things about me. She decided to join the team this year, which meant, I decided not to join the team this year. 

None of the things Haylee says about me are true. I don’t know why she has to make stuff up. She has to know it hurts my feelings. Whenever she says something about me, the other kids laugh, and then I feel even worse. I would never do anything like that. Okay, well maybe I have said some things about people, but they’ve all been true. That’s different right? I’m just reporting back facts; I’m not telling lies just to be mean. Besides, if I didn’t say it, someone else would. I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s not like I’m hurting anyone’s feelings, I’m just . . . Oh no . . . I’m doing exactly the same thing that Haylee is doing! Is that possible? 

I never thought of it like that before, but it’s true! Gossip doesn’t have to be something that is made up. Gossip is just talking about someone else, and at times it can be hurtful! I know, I’ve been on the receiving end, and sadly, it looks like I’ve been on the other end a well. But now that I know, it’s time to stop. There is nothing good that can come out of gossiping. Now I just need to figure out how to spread the message (in a non-gossiping way, of course), so other people can stop as well. 

Can you help me? Have a discussion with a friend or child, and let them know how gossiping can hurt others. Together we can make a difference.

I totally agree, Millicent and I'm definitely going to do my part. Thanks, so much for stopping by! Now, I'd like to tell you what I thought about the book.

ORDER HERE!

About The Book: Twelve-year-old 
Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most lovable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she
writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda ñ the name she
always wished she had.
       When Millie ís younger brother finds her
diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary ís most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice
columnist.
      But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly
learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all
Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship
and respect.

First Line: September 9-Sometimes our parents have a momentary lapse of judgment when it comes to their children. 

What I Thought: Karen Toz has really hit the mark with this middle grade novel about what it's like to be in middle grade. When Millie's talking to her brother, her voice is genuine and angst drips from the words. "Go ahead and tell who ever you want. Just be prepared to have to explain to Mom and Dad why it was you were in my room, looking at my personal diary, and then setting up a blog to send it off over the Internet – cause in my book, that’s way worse than anything I’ve done. Now beat it!” The plot is great and everything keeps moving quickly. I love all the blog posts, too. 

Connect:

Website: www.karentoz.com

Blog: http://kptoz.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/karenptoz

Twitter: www.twitter.com/karentoz

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5009570.KarenPokrasToz

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/karentoz

AND NOW....(drum roll please) THE GOODIES!

Comment on this blog for a chance to win your very own Millicent Swag Bag!

Karen Pokras Toz is also having a huge giveaway as part of this awesome blog tour. You won't believe the prizes, they are incredible!

Karen will be on

tour for the entire month of October. Check out the full schedule here. 

The Grand prize is a swag pack plus tote bage, mug, and Amazon Gift Card. You can enter that below!

As usual, don't forget to visit the other incredible middle grade book reviewers for some other great books to add to your TBR.
 I know I am!

MMGM: Pale By Chris Wooding and the Hi/Lo Controversy

About The Book: The Lazarus Serum can bring you back from the dead. Only thing is, it turns you into a Pale. Jed can't imagine anything worse, but then the choice is taken out of his hands...

First Line: We got the Pale on his way to school.

Note: Pale was published by Stoke Books an imprint of Lerner Books. They specialize in books specifically designed for the reluctant or challenged middle grade reader. This is what is often refered to by teachers and librarians as Hi/Lo books, a Lexile measurement of readability. See what HL means here. Chris Wooding's own explanation about the book.

What Others Are Saying: "Although it doesn’t preach, this thought-provoking story about what really matters in life will set readers thinking." —Julia Eccleshare at Love Reading 4Kids

"Since I have spent most of my teaching career working with struggling and reluctant readers, I can safely say that this would have lot of appeal for that group of readers. My middle school boys would be able to relate to Jed easily. The underlying themes of acceptance and bullying would also appeal to today's youth." —The Flashlight Reader [middle grade language arts teacher]

"I was disappointed with the story. It feels unfinished and the characters don't seem natural to me. The changes in them are too abrupt and not very believable. It is also too much of an issue book sprinkled with a bit of sci-fi, which is what bugs me mostly about many teen Hi/Lo books."  —Virginia on Boys Do Read

What I Thought: I haven't read any of Wooding's other books so I had nothing to compare this one to. I always find it interesting when the reviews of a particular book are all over the map, some readers really liked it, others hated it and several thought it was okay. Since I went into this knowing who it's intended audience was, I believe my perpective may be different from someone just picking this up off the shelf. 
     I was a reluctant middle grade reader and often felt left out when others spoke about endings of books that I couldn't seem to finish. After a while you just quit trying. Your reading speed is so slow that you get bored very fast and get bogged down in the words and descriptions. I also had a couple of children that were reluctant readers and finding something to encourage them to read was always a challenge.
     Why I think this is an excellent Hi/Lo choice:
1. Feeling success at finishing an entire book is really important. There are only 72 pages.
2. Action on every page. Since it is short there is something happening on every page.
3. The verbiage is very basic, no flowery language to get bogged down in.
           That said, I really liked the book. The themes of bullying are pertinent and a great launchpad for discussion and thought. 

About The Author: 

Chris Wooding

Website

Who: Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.

Interesting video from a 
five-part series about setting. 

What are your feelings and thoughts about Hi/Lo books?  Are they important? What characteristics do you think one should have?


Be sure to click on the awesome MMGM bloggers in my sidebar!

Plus...Rachel over on Rai29 Book, Read N Review has a fun interview and promotion.

MMGM: Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt

About The Book: Midwesterner Gary D. Schmidt won Newbery Honor awards for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys and The Wednesday Wars, two coming-of-age novels about unlikely friends finding a bond. Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.
                                                                                                  -Goodreads
First Two Lines: Joe Pepitone once gave me his New York yankees baseball cap. I'm not lying.

Another Great Line: "Or maybe something starts out whole and then it turns into junk, like Joe Pepitone's cap getting rained on in a gutter somewhere." (176)

What Others Are Saying: "Readers will miss Doug and his world when they're done, and will feel richer for having experienced his engaging, tough, and endearing story."— School Library Journal, starred review


What I Thought: Okay For Now is labeled a YA, but since Doug is going into seventh grade I took a chance and was glad I did. Doug is like a Sour Patch candy, when you first start to eat it your tongue quivers, your cheeks pucker and your mouth is flooded with saliva but after the initial shock you get to the sweeter part and then you want it to last forever. Voice oozes from every page and as a writer you come away saying, yes, that's why I write, I want to give that to my readers. I especially appreciate when an author weaves deeper meaning through something concrete like Schmidt does with the Audubon paintings. The connections are subtle enough that they don't hit you over the head but resonate strongly long after the book ends. The sense of place is rooted in tangible things like the library, The Dump and the school. Places that anchor Doug in the 1960 time period. This is a real story, one that needs to be told because it's honest and gives voice to the real pain and struggle that loss can have on an already fragile family. Another great thing is while I suggest you read Wednesday Wars it isn't necessary because this is a companion book not a sequel.

About The Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Website
Facebook
Article in The Calvin Spark

Quote: "Write what you know. That’s too limiting. You write what you are desperate to know." —Gary Schmidt (More here.)

Hope you enjoy this video of Gary as much as I did. There is a wealth of interviews and information about him so be sure to check out the links.

Be sure to check out all the MMGM reviews today. You can find links to all of them in my sidebar!


On Wednesday I'll be interviewing debut author Annie Crawford. Her new book The Curse of the Jade Amulet is now available on Amazon and Smashwords!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Toonopolis Gemini by Jeremy Rodden, Illustrated by Cami Woodruff

About the Book: Toonopolis is a cartoon city that is home to the thoughts and ideas of all sentient beings in the universe. As the center of the Tooniverse, it acts as an other-worldly rest stop for these creations.
      Gemini is a teenage human boy who is thrust into Toonopolis through his father's scientific research program.
He loses part of himself in the process and immediately begins a quest to regain his lost memories with the help of his Tooniverse guide named Jimbob the Talking Eggplant.
      After an altercation with a mysterious Shadowy Figure, Gemini's mission is changed, and he begins a new quest to defeat Shadowy Figure and protect Toonopolis from his nefarious destruction. Along the way, he meets new friends, discovers just how diverse and strange Toonopolis is, and learns lessons about compassion, forgiveness, redemption, and being true to oneself. -Goodreads

First Line: "When I first returned from my trip to Toonopolis, I found it hard to put into words what I had experienced." 

What Others Are Saying: "Toonopolis: Gemini is a clever representation of the unique ideas and passion that are responsible for the types of media we all enjoy, whether they be drawn, animated or pixelated. Rodden has taken all of these wonderful concepts and brought them together in one place, then asks the question, “Okay, what happens now?" -The Adrenaline Vault

“Jeremy also has made a link between our world and Toonopolis, a very important link between creator and created, one which lends an air of danger and immediacy to Gemini’s tour of this fantastic world.” -Graphic Novel News

What I Thought: I have a dirty little secret. I abhor cartoons. Or should I say for most of my life I have abhorred them, my husband has worked tirelessly to convert me. He has shown me the philosophical wisdom of the medium, it's artful execution and their complex plots. (How many times do you need to watch Wile E Coyote be outsmarted by Road Runner. Right?) But just like any artform there are wide extremes and everything in between.
       So when Jeremy contacted me to review his book, admittedly I was reticent. Then I read what it was about and and was intrigued. Could I suspend my disbelief long enough to submerge myself into the cartoon world. Me, who can barely play Wii bowl, let alone manipulate a playstation controller. I am happy to report that I was and found myself caring about the characters, especially the talking eggplant.
     These cartoon characters are far from flat and the adventure and world that Jeremy creates is complex. While I might not have enjoyed it as much as a cartoon aficionado, I do have a new found respect for the medium. I liked recognizing characters from my childhood that made their home in the alter-universe subject to the whims of their creators. I developed real compassion for their plights and cheered them on.
      So...if you know some passionate cartoon readers or gamers, they're going to love this. While the reading level is probably older middle grade to young adult, this would make a great read-aloud for younger readers.

Illustrator: Cami Woodruff  [This is something that I should have included a long time ago with all my reviews.]  Check out her great portfolio here.

Author: Jeremy Rodden

Website

Blog 

Twitter

Who:  I spent the first ten years of my professional life in retail sales, working my way up to store management positions in two different Fortune 500 retailers. Along the way, I managed to earn a BA in Religion and English Writing from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA and an MA in Secondary Education from Holy Family University, also in Philadelphia.
     After completing my Masters, I began teaching high school English. When my second son was born in May, 2010, however, my wife and I decided that it would be more prudent for me to be a stay-at-home dad, taking care of the new baby along with my first son, who was born in June, 2005. I have since had the challenge and pleasure of being a homemaker."  -Toonapolis, The Blog


When: "I actually wanted to be a writer since elementary school. I waffled with some other career options as a kid: teacher, lawyer, etc. I actually even thought about being an actuary at one point because I excelled in math.
      What I learned, though, is that aptitude for something does not necessarily mean that it is the best career choice. You have to have a passion for it as well. As good as I was at math, I couldn’t imagine sitting at a desk calculating insurance rates or some other mundane probability-related career.
     I did become a teacher briefly (high school English) before switching to a role as a stay-at-home dad turned author and all three of those careers are much more in line with both my skillset and passion." Rodden @ --Hampton Reviews


Why:  "Two of my favorite authors are Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis. Both of them were able to create unique fantasy worlds that were linked with the “Real World” and appeal to readers of all ages. One of my biggest goals in writing a novel was to write something that could share that classification. I pulled pieces of my world-building from tons of sources: cartoons, comics, movies, books, and video games. I’m a big geek.
     As a former high school English teacher, one of the things I always tried to do with my students was link new material with prior knowledge. I hope that anyone who reads this book will find a sense of familiarity and connect their own forms of nostalgia to the story that would make them connect to my world in their own way." Rodden @ -Books: The Cheapest Vacation You Can Buy


How: "I can’t really answer that except that they are very alive in my mind. With some of the secondary characters, I started with stock characters (such as Miss Fire and Hawk) and just allowed them to grow and respond to situations that they normally wouldn’t face. A stock character in a stock world is boring. A stock character in a different world becomes a whole new creation. My main characters have existed in my mind for over ten years. They’ve grown and changed over the years. Gemini, for example, was originally Kid Gemini and 3 years younger. Jimbob gained a new wrinkle a few years ago that people will learn when they read the book."  Rodden @ -Book Worm Castle


Be Sure And Stop By The Other MMGM bloggers in my sidebar!!

Middle School Book Review: Savvy by Ingrid Law

TweetAbout The Book: Savvy is a fast paced ride through a modern tall tale where one family passes special powers , a Savvy, down to their progeny. There is no preparing for your inevitable inheritance on your thirteenth birthday and no way to know what your power will be. For Mibbs she finds her Savvy hard to understand which leads her along with some of her siblings on a wild adventure across country.-See full Synopsis here.

One Great Line: "The itch and scritch of birthday buzz was about all I was feeling on the Thursday before the Friday before the Saturday I turned thirteen."

What Others Are Saying:

"Law's storytelling is rollicking, her language imaginative, and her entire cast of whacky, yet believable characters delightful...wholly engaging and lots of fun." --Booklist

"Law displays both a fertile imagination...dab hand for likable, characters...[a] marvel laden debut" -Kirkus

What I Thought: I was repeatedly wowed by her use of words, strange combinations and long sentences that carried a rhythm that periods would have denied. I truly admire Law's story telling ability that reminds me of sitting down listening to my mother read the tales of Brear Rabbit and Paul Bunyan. It is rare to find a book that tickles your tongue as much as your imagination. It was a wild woolly ride.

First Line: "When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he'd caused it".

Awards: Newberry Honor Book 2010

My rating: ***** Five stars!!

About the Author:

Website: Ingrid Law Author

Blog: Straight from The Jar

Publisher: Penguin Group

Agent: Daniel Lazar with Writers House LLC

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

"... there have always been stories in my head, and once I found that I could get those stories onto paper, and that my words could be beautiful and fiery and constructive, I knew that I was on the right track and doing something that I love." 

What inspired Savvy?

 "I started with the very first sentence, not even knowing what I was going to write about, simply determined to write the most fun, most off-the-wall sentence I could without thinking too hard about it, and then see where things went from there."

"When I began writing SAVVY, I wanted to create an empowering story about extraordinary kids using my own brand of tall tale, Americana magic…and I didn’t want to use the word magic.

“I use a lot of small towns, and fall back on the tradition of tall tales, stories that are larger than life, with a conquering-the-wilderness idea. It’s an emotional element of becoming a teenager, needing to tame the external and internal.” -Kidsreads, see rest of interview here.

 

Any challenges?

"Law says she found her writerly voice when, after a decade of ill-fated manuscripts, she decided to ignore her doubts and go where her characters took her: “I decided I would pull out all the stops, not judge what I wrote, and push my voice to the limit." BookPage -See rest of interview here.

Newest Book: Scumble

First Line:  "Mom and Dad had known about the wedding at my uncle Autry's ranch for months. But with the date set a mere ten days after my thirteenth birthday, my family's RSVP had remained solidly unconfirmed until the last possible wait-and-see moment." 

 Observations: I'm always interested in how an author ties in the next book in a series. What I like about Scumble is you don't have to of read Savvy to enjoy Scumble. It can stand alone. New and complicated characters to get to know. 

One Great Line: "My vocal cords stretched and snapped over the words like rubber bands pulled too tight."

 

Three reasons writers should hate her. *wink, wink*

1. It took her 4 months to write Savvy, by 10 months the fully edited version was complete.

2. She started with one sentence and just let the writing carry her away.

3. Walden Media has already obtained the option for a movie and the screenplay is already in the works. 

I have to say I am really excited to see what Law does next. According to her, the next book is in a completely different direction. If you've read either of these, what did you think?

Why I Write For Middle School

Tweet There are many reasons I have chosen to  focus on middle school writing.  Each reason plays a vital role in my development as a writer and I hope you find them interesting. Since there are too many for one blog post I will be giving you small glimpses into my paradigm in hopes that you will share yours with me. 

     Some of my earliest memories are my mother as she read to us. I remember the way she brought each character to life with only the sound of her voice. I think that's where my siblings and I learned to create voices. Get all of us in a room and you quickly learn that we have a unique way of communicating; we love to imitate inflection and sounds of voices other than our own. We seem to have a knack for putting words in other peoples mouths by imitating not just what we think they would say but how they would say it. This often is confusing for people that don't "get us". (Sometimes mistaken for multiple personality disorder.) In any event, we have all become expert observers of behavior and communication. 

     When the Harry Potter series first came out, I immediately began reading this to my children. This was long before Hogwarts was a household word.  I found her characters easily brought to life by my repertoire of voices. So distinct were my voices that when the first movie came out, my children complained that the voice of Dobby was all wrong. These characters changed and grew up with my children which made them incredibly compelling. 


     The huge changes and growth that occur during the middle school years are ideal for creating characters with conflict.  

 Do your early memories play a role in your writing? Does anybody else create voices for their characters?