MMGM: The In-Between by Barbara Stewart

About The Book: When Elanor’s near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by bold, beautiful Madeline, she finds her life quickly spiraling out of control

Fourteen-year-old Elanor Moss has always been an outcast who fails at everything she tries—she's even got the fine, white scars to prove it. Moving was supposed to be a chance at a fresh start, a way to leave behind all the pain and ugliness of her old life. But, when a terrible car accident changes her life forever, her near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by Madeline Torus . . . Madeline is everything Elanor isn’t: beautiful, bold, brave. She is exactly what Elanor has always wanted in a best friend and more—their connection runs deeper than friendship. But Madeline is not like other girls, and Elanor has to keep her new friend a secret or risk being labeled “crazy.” Soon, though, even Elanor starts to doubt her own sanity. Madeline is her entire life, and that life is drastically spinning out of control. Elanor knows what happens when your best friend becomes your worst enemy. But what happens when your worst enemy is yourself?

First Line: I was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

What Others Are Saying: "Stewart conveys with gripping conviction the differences in Ellie's perceptions and those of Ellie's mother. Ellie sees, hears, and feels Madeline though her mother does not, or at least says she does not. The creepiness of the story is intensified by the reader's growing awareness that Madeline is much more than Ellie's ghostly BFF. In the vein of V. C. Andrews, Stewart has created a taut psychological drama that teens will adore." —School Library Journal

Stewart’s debut novel is a riveting page-turner with real empathy and compassion. The journal format clarifies Ellie’s different stages and lends a wonderful voyeuristic appeal. —Booklist

Written in journal form, the scenes change as Ellie enters new periods in her life and begins new journals. Readers, then, encounter only the unreliable narrator, and it is they who will decide if events have been real or imagined.
      A most intriguing book and debut. —Kirkus

Bloggers Weigh In:
Teen Ink

This Ain't Livin

Xpresso Reads

What I Thought: If you're looking for a light summer read, this isn't the book. If, however, you're looking to escape into a world full of twists and turns that force you to question what's real and what's only in the mind of the protagonist you will enjoy this ride. Fast moving, constantly readjusting your perspective as Ellie moves through the ordinary, only to discover that there is no such thing as ordinary. What is real and what is in her mind? That's up to you to decide. 

About The Author: Barbara Stewart

Website

Author Interview

Who:  "I spent the first nineteen years of my life wanting to be someone else: Laura Ingalls, Elton John, Nancy Spungen, Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, Sylvia Plath. It was hard finding work as any of those people, so I went to college. That was hard, too, because I had to pick a major. I was interested in a lot of things—psychology, sociology, history—but none of them screamed "career" at me.

And then my English professor asked if I wanted to write a short story for extra credit. I gave it a shot. And then I wrote another and another…I couldn’t stop. I knew what I wanted to do." —Author's Website


Tomorrow is the last day for the It's NOT Just A Dog Blog Tour and Giveaway! With over 900 entries and over a 100 new likes on the Project Madison Fan page it's been a fun month-long run. If you haven't yet entered you have one more day for a chance to win some awesome prizes! 

MMGM: The Last Akaway by Gary Karton

About The Book: An Akaway is a rare and magical creature that connects you to your spirit animal. Once you're connected, you have all the special powers that your spirit animal possesses. But those powers are in serious jeopardy when the diabolical Uncle Skeeta tricks 11-year-old Brody Boondoggle into helping him steal the Akaway's spirit.
Now, aided by his skeptical big brother, Jake, and guided by his quirky Grammy, Brody must lead the way on an adventure to defeat Uncle Skeeta, save the last Akaway, and protect the special powers of kids everywhere.

First Line: "Freeze," said Grammy, in the spirited tone that she saved for particularly important discoveries.

My Favorite Line: "The best part about grins is that many times, they lead to smiles, then actual laughter, and before long, Grammy, Jake and Brody were experiencing big, full, belly laughs that are know to extend lives, end wars, and fuel adventures that just might open the protal, save the Adaway, and bring balance back to the universe."

What Others Are Saying: "A refreshingly imaginative, emotionally satisfying quest for all ages... Author Karton has an ear finely tuned to the rhythms and sweet absurdities of childhood patter, and his tale has enough fabulous twists and turns to keep even the most grown-up young adults intrigued... Adults reading to children will also delight in the wholesomely irreverent tone and moments of linguistic fancy... the villain and resolution are wonderfully original."-Kirkus Review

Bloggers Weigh In: 

Journey of a Bookseller

Tatal -Great interview with the author.

Bewitching Bibliophile

My Heart Vine

Lemur Kat's Library

Awards:  2013 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards , 2014 Elit Awards

What I Thought:  I'm always looking for books that encourage generational connections or connections to the natural world. This book hits it out of the part. This is a quiet fantasy for younger boys age 7-11, those boys who are beginning to get quite enamored with the gaming technology. What I liked best was Grammy's personality, a little hard or hearing, she was always messing up what Brody was talking about which would make it a great read aloud. It's going on my list of 2014 Summer Reads With Grams List! (Coming Soon)

About The Author: Gary Karton

Website

Facebook 

Who:Gary began his career as a reporter for The Washington Post. He stood out because of an innate ability to unjam the copy machine under deadline pressure. He has spent the past 17 years working for children and families at nonprofits such as the Welfare to Work Partnership, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and Safe Kids Worldwide. He is also the author of No Free Lunch: One Man's Journey from Welfare to the American Dream (Ballantine, May 2002). Gary lives in Virginia with his wife, two sons, and dog. - See more at: http://www.brodyboondoggle.com/author#sthash.d6oOlbin.dpuf

Celebrating Teen Read Week: The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day! Enjoy!

Published: October 10, 2013
ISBN: 0307976815
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Themes: family, mystery, friendship, independence
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: Max Starling's theatrical father likes to say that at twelve a boy is independent. He also likes to boast (about his acting skills, his wife's acting skills, a fortune only his family knows is metaphorical), but more than anything he likes to have adventures. Max Starling's equally theatrical mother is not a boaster but she enjoys a good adventure as much as her husband. When these two disappear, what can sort-of-theatrical Max and his not-at-all theatrical grandmother do? They have to wait to find out something, anything, and to worry, and, in Max's case, to figure out how to earn a living at the same time as he maintains his independence. This is the first of three books, all featuring the mysterious Mister Max.

What Others Are Saying:  "The charm, the quirkiness, the quiet originality of “The Book of Lost Things” are immensely appealing to those of us who love the classic possibilities and styles of children’s literature. Yet the big question is whether this is what an 11-year-old I know calls, witheringly but honestly, “a grown-up’s idea of a children’s book” or a book that will actually appeal to children." —NY Times

What I Thought: Intrigued by the cover and the premise of a young boy being abandoned by his parents would have been enough to entice me to read. After the first 100 pages I felt carried away in Voigts descriptions and Max's world, but the pace was reminiscent of classic children's literature of the past. Possibly, too slow for younger middle graders. Those willing to stick with it will be rewarded by watching Max solve other peoples problems, becoming a solutioner. 

About The Author: 

Cynthia Voigt

Website

Interview on Ingram

Newberry Award 

Facebook

Who: "I can pretty much pinpoint the time when I decided I wanted to write. Previously, in chronological order, I had wanted to be a cowgirl, a fire-person, a horsewoman, a veterinarian, a detective. But in the spring of my 9th grade year, I made up my mind. Here is the story:

Our English class had read The Idylls of the King, Tennyson's epic poem about King Arthur and his knights, and the final assignment, Miss Moody (who was not at all moody) assigned was to add a chapter to the book. I remember clearly that at rather the last minute, as was my style, I sat down at the leather-topped desk from which my parents conducted their financial and social affairs, took out one of the lined pads my father brought home from the office, and started to write. This was when I thought smart people didn't need outlines (maybe they don't need them but they do better work with their help) and didn't revise (wrong!). I sat and wrote, wrote my story, wrote it in blank verse. Then I handed it in and forgot about it.

Imagine my pleasure when Miss Moody gave it an A and praised it highly. Imagine now how pleased I was to have it chosen to be published in the graduation edition of the school newspaper. After all, I was a 9th grader and this was the high school paper. Things only got better after that: my parents were visibly proud of me and my sisters were jealous; people – grownups included – read it and came up to praise me; a boy I had my eye on asked a very intelligent question about my poem . . . .

Of course I decided I wanted to be a writer. It was easy, it was fun to do, you got lots of attention and praise for doing it, and boys admired you for it. Who could resist?" —Cynthia Voigt, Author

Celebrating Teen Read Week: Dive by Hannah Safren

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day! Don't miss one!

Published: April 12th 2013
ISBN: 1938912284
Genre: YA
Publisher: Write Bloody Publishing
Themes: baseball, friends, family, coping, change
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: The empowering story of one female athlete's incredible discovery of what it means to truly feel alive. Based on Reba Tutt's heart-wrenching life and fight, Dive details the painful, yet empowering process of healing. The murder of Reba's older sister, Ari, fuels painful flashbacks and unstitches eight years of Reba's healing. With just two months to go before graduation, Reba is consumed by the past, lost in the present and hesitant for the future. With the support of her boyfriend, Pittsburgh basketball player Ronald Ramon, the guidance of her father, and the need to keep her final promise to her mother, Reba learns what it means to accept and persevere through life's many challenges.

First Line: That winter I didn't know if I'd make it.

Quotable Quote: "Surviving is simple. It's nothing more than breathing, moving, eating, and sleeping. Living, however, requires far more than just being alive; it requires feeling alive. It requires a sense of fearlessness and an urge to grow- not just because the days pass, but for a reason, for a purpose." (Chapter 13)

What Other's Are Saying: "I couldn't see the main problem here. Well, yes I know Reba Tutt was trying to move one, but that was just it. I remember couple days ago my lecture said that the main character can't build the story by itself, supporting characters are important. But in this story, the supporting characters had nothing to do with the main topic. So the story is just all about Reba Tutt. In each chapter, Reba brought out a piece of her journals. This is what I liked the most, the journal! There are so many inspiring words on them." —Awesome Nerd

Plays for the Pittsburg Panthers

What I Thought: This was a wonderful non-fiction about overcoming obstacles. I loved how Reba used her sports to relieve her stress and give her something to focus on. It would have been easy for her to just give-up and succumb to her sadness. Even though the story is a bit thin on character and plot development, the journal entries are enough to propel this to a great read for teens. Especially, anyone facing adversity. The message: Life is more than just surviving. 

More about Reba:
WP Sports
Pittsburg Panthers
Twitter
Google News

About The Author: 
Hannah Safren
Website
Facebook
Twitter

A Tribute To My Aunt Jean

It's hard to put into words how I feel about Aunt Jean's passing. Of course the natural emotions of loss and nostalgia pure over me, but there's something else. A strange sense of frustration as I try to bring to mind her facial expressions, her voice and most of all her personality. We were robbed of all or most of that years ago as multiple sclerosis ravaged her body. How can we not feel a sense of unfairness? The utter waste, as each year more of Jean disappeared.

I can't help wondering why it is that some are snapped up in an instant. They're here one moment and then their gone. Why others linger, trapped in a body that no longer serves their soul, and we mourn each lost faculty, one heartbreaking moment at a time. 

You won't hear me reciting familiar, age old Psalms about comfort and peace. I won't justify it all with a simple, God works in mysterious ways or she's in a better place. Not because I don't feel those things, I do. As a matter of fact I envision Jean painting, moving her brush across the canvas of the sky, tilting the light between the leaves just right. I feel her warmth in the sun on my face, the squeeze of her hand as I caress my grandchild as he sleeps. 

I don't have any answers. Any more than I understand the suffering around the world and how a loving God could stand by, let alone watch. I'm saddened by the greed and pride that wreak havoc on our world. It's easy to feel despondent, lost upon the sea, as others yell their judgements, calling unbelievers sinners and puff themselves with pride that they have all the answers. 

But I don't need any simple answers. I don't need to understand all the mysteries of why some are born with sight and others never see. I'm content with what I know. Which isn't very much. 

When I think of my Aunt Jean, I think of light. How her life, however stifled it appeared, still brought joy to those around her. She may not have been famous or discovered something new, but her energy of spirit drove all that's right about this world. 

So when I'm sad or frustrated I can think of my Aunt Jean who always made me feel so special, like a little princess in her care. I remember sitting still in a chair as she gently brushed my hair and pinned it up. She whispered in my ear how fun it was to have a girl since my cousins were all boys. Once or twice while attending USU, I popped into their church service and surprised them with a visit. She introduced me proudly, beaming ear to ear. I've never forgotten her artist eyes, always bright and open wide as if she didn't want to miss a moment of the beauty of this world. There was an energy within her, a light that never wained. She gifted that to us, to all of us that knew her. I'm proud to carry a small part within my heart.

Jean's been on my mind for the last few months and I regret not reaching out, there was something I was sensing, a kind of soul connection. I hope someday, when I feel those tugs of spiritual communion, I'll be more inclined to act. I want so badly for her to know how much her life meant to me. 

There is something I can do. I'll bring more joy to those around me, help them see the beauty that she saw. Because when all this earth has passed away—all we really have are our connections to each other—they're what matter in the end. 

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

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!

Classic MMGM: How To Steal A Dog by Barbara O'Conner

Date Published: March 20, 2007

ISBN: 0374334978
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Themes: Homelessness, family, persistence, conscience, values

About The Book: Half of me was thinking, Georgina, don’t do this. Stealing a dog is just plain wrong. The other half of me was thinking, Georgina, you’re in a bad fix and you got to do whatever it takes to get yourself out of it.
Georgina Hayes is desperate. Ever since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment, her family has been living in their car. With her mama juggling two jobs and trying to make enough money to find a place to live, Georgina is stuck looking after her younger brother, Toby. And she has her heart set on improving their situation. When Georgina spots a missing-dog poster with a reward of five hundred dollars, the solution to all her problems suddenly seems within reach. All she has to do is “borrow” the right dog and its owners are sure to offer a reward. What happens next is the last thing she expected. —Goodreads 

First Line: The day I decided to steal a dog was the same day my friend Luanne Godfrey, fount out I lived in a car.

What Other's Are Saying: "Though set inside a heavy topic, this novel's gentle storytelling carries a theme of love and emphasizes what is really right in the world." —School Library Journal

"It's puzzling why Mom doesn't seek outside help for her desperate family, and the appearance of wise Mookie, a sort of transient deus ex machina, verges on excess. Yet in the end, this is truly Georgina's story, and to O'Connor's great credit, it's Georgina herself who figures out what's right and does it. The myriad effects of homelessness and the realistic picture of a moral quandary will surely generate discussion." —Booklist Online

Book Bloggers Weigh In:

Sweet On Books

Awesome World (Kids Review)

ReadKiddo.Com (James Patterson's)

Awards: Parents' Choice,ALA Book Links Lasting Connections 2007, Bank Street College Best Books of the Year 2007, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2008
International Reading Assoc Notable Books for a Global Society 2008
NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies 2008

South Carolina Book Award for Children's Book Award (2009), Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee (2011)

What I Thought: I applaud O'Conner for her courage and honest writing. Most of the negative reviews are concerned the subject matter too negative or unpleasant for nine to eleven-year-olds. I have to say that I found that view misguided in light of statistics, especially in the South where O'Conner lives, homeless levels are the highest with mother's and children being the fastest growing group. In just the last three years since the book was published, homelessness has increased by 33%. (See USA Today) That said, I think O'Conner's book is an important look at realities that 1in 45 children face in this country. It's a reality that can't be ignored. An excellent read-aloud that presents difficult questions that children today are dealing with. With 46.2 million living in poverty in 2011 and much more now, it is an unavoidable reality that children are either dealing with personally or know someone who is.  

About The Author: Barbara O'Conner

Website

Blog

Who: "She's author of numerous acclaimed books for children, including Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia, How to Steal a Dog, The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis, and The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester. She has been awarded the Parents’ Choice Gold and Silver Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, the Kansas William Allen White Award, the South Carolina Children's Book Award, the Indiana Young Hoosier Award, the South Dakota Children's Book Award, and the Dolly Gray Award, among many honors. As a child, she loved dogs, salamanders, tap dancing, school, and even homework. Her favorite days were when the bookmobile came to town. She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and now lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a historic seaside village not far from Plymouth Rock. —Macmillan

Her Newest Book:

MMGM: Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff

Date Published: January 8, 2013

ISBN: 0375938915

Genre: Historical Fiction
Themes: Family, home, friendship, food, wartime  

About The Book: It's 1944, W.W. II is raging. Jayna's big brother Rob is her only family. When Rob is called to duty on a destroyer, Jayna is left in their small town in upstate New York with their cranky landlady. But right before he leaves, Rob tells Jayna a secret: they may have a grandmother in Brooklyn. Rob found a little blue recipe book with her name and an address for a bakery. When Jayna learns that Rob is missing in action, she's devastated. Along with her turtle Theresa, the recipe book, and an encouraging, ghostly voice as her guide, Jayna sets out for Brooklyn in hopes of finding the family she so desperately needs.
First Line: Just a couple of dreams?

One Great Line: You can't help but love the simple recipes that Jayna shares throughout the book. Here's my favorite. 

   

What Others Are Saying: "Unfortunately, the cover image of a girl with a suitcase walking by brownstone houses won't entice readers, though the story itself is riveting. While the outcome is foreseeable, Jayna's journey is a memorable one." —Kirkus Starred Reviews

"Not full of difficult vocabulary, the book is a gem of character development. Perfect to use when teaching third through fifth graders about character traits. All the characters in the book have unique characters traits that are created and solidified during the course of the book.
This would be a wonderful read aloud or a great book for small group discussion. Great choice for a classroom teacher or a young book group." —The Examiner

Some Other Bloggers Weigh In:

Jen Robinson's Book Page

The Children's War
Book Mama

My Analysis:
1. POV is consistently first person through Jayna's perspective and
2. 160 pages
3. The Hook: Giff uses an interesting introduction labeled "Afterward" where Jayna actually tempts the reader: "If you don't believe in ghosts or voices that c ome out of almost nowhere, there's probably no sense in reading what I have to say." What middle grader could resist some reverse psychology?
4. Inciting event: Rob leaves to fight in the war.
5. Plot and Pace: The character driven plot had several twists and lots of tension on every page.
6. Voice: It was easy to submerge myself into Jayna's world because her voice was believable and very middle grade.

What I Thought Overall: I really enjoyed Jayna's journey to find home. The universal themes of family and self discovery that led her and then the mysterious ghost all kept me reading. Add to that the historical setting, Brooklyn, the food and the relationships together wrapped me in a cozy blanket during this quick read. Amazing how much happened in only 160 short pages.  

About The Author: 
     Patricia Reilly Giff
Website
Blog (Hasn't been updated since 6/11)
Interview

Who: "In Brooklyn, there's a garden so small I could almost put my arms around it: Emily's garden. I stop to look at it whenever I go back. I walk from there along the streets my parents and grandparents must have walked when they were young. I keep looking up because in front of me is the most beautiful bridge in the world.

"Ah, that Brooklyn Bridge. It's so delicate, so lovely. It's hard to believe that its hundredth birthday was a long time ago. It's hard to believe that men scrambled deep under the East River in caissons to begin that bridge, that they hung in chairs high overhead to finish it.

"I wrote Water Street because I love Brooklyn and that bridge, and because a woman named Emily finished the bridge during a time when women stayed home. But more, I wrote it because the Mallon family is alive to me: Nory and Sean, Bird, and Thomas Neary, Bird's friend. The love they have for each other is like the love I find every day in my own family. And they remind me of what it must have been like to live in Brooklyn in those long ago days when the bridge was being built.

"I hope you enjoy the story of these people. Maybe you'll go to Brooklyn as I do, and see Emily's garden and that beautiful bridge." —Patricia Reilly Giff

"I want the children to bubble up with laughter, or to cry over my books. I want to picture them under a cherry tree or at the library with my book in their hands. But more, I want to see them reading in the classroom. I want to see children in solitude at their desks, reading, absorbing, lost in a book."—Giff

If you haven't read any of Giff's other books here's a great list to check out. Talk about a prolific writer! She's received multiple honors for several of her books: The Newbery Honor for Pictures of Hollis Woods and Lily's Crossing, which is also a Boston Globe—Horn Book Honor Book. Nory Ryan's Song was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and an ALA Notable Book.

Next week: Newbery Medal Winner Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool 

The list of MMGM Reviewers has really grown, be sure to stop by some of the others. You can find them in my sidebar!!