new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: mg, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 26 - 50 of 79
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: mg in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
By: Julie,
on 8/17/2012
Blog:
Manga Maniac Cafe
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
YA,
Young Adult,
Sales,
Middle Grade,
Dogs,
Animals,
ebook,
MG,
Bargains,
Add a tag
Here are some YA and MG Kindle books featuring dogs, all priced at below 5 bucks! Click on the title to order.
Boys Are Dogs (Annabelle Unleashed)
by Leslie Margolis (.99)
Middle-school boys act like wild animals.
That’s what Annabelle discovers on her first day in her brand-new life. Birchwood Middle School is totally different from her old all-girls elementary. In fact, lots of things in Annabelle’s life are totally different now that she’s back from summer camp. There’s mom’s new boyfriend, a new house, new friends—even a new puppy that likes to chew on Annabelle’s clothes. Well, at least the puppy comes with a leash and a training manual! If only she could say the same for the boys . . .
Featuring Annabelle’s hilarious take on friendship, boys, and her all-new life, this novel / survival guide perfectly captures the joy—and agony—of junior high school. And it might just teach you how to tame the wildest beast of all, the teenage boy.
What the Dog Said
by Randi Reisfeld ($1.99)
Ever since her police officer father was killed a few months ago, Grace Abernathy hasn’t wanted to do much of anything. She’s pulled away from her friends, her grades are plummeting . . . it’s a problem. The last thing Grace wants is to be dragged into her older sister Regan’s plan to train a shelter dog as a service dog. But Grace has no idea how involved she’ll get-especially when a mangy mutt named Rex starts talking to her. Has Grace gone off the deep end? Or might this dog be something really special-an angel? A spirit? Either way, he is exactly the therapy that Grace needs.
Me & Jack
Here are some new and notable Young Adult and Middle Grade releases for the week:
The Wednesdays by Julie Bourbeau
After Eli by Rebecca Rupp
Department 19: The Rising by Will Hill
Spookygirl by Jill Baguchinsky
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Long
Blood Crave by Jennifer Knight
Counting Backwards by Laura Lascarso
The Fallen 4 by Thomas E Sniegoski
Intentions by Deborah Heligman
The Kill Order by James Dashner
Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle
Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
The Mourning Emporium by Michelle Lovric
Touched by Cyn Balog
The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent
What’s on your shopping list this week?
Here are some new and notable Young Adult and Middle Grade releases for the week:
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley
True Blue by Jane Smiley
Blood Fever by Veronica Wolff
The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms #3) by Cinda WIlliams Chima
Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Nevermore by James Patterson
Wake by Amanda Hocking
Rift by Andrea Cremer
Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman
Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear
Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
The End of Infinity by Matt Myklusch
Canterwood Crest: Comeback by jessica Burkhart
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
Auracle by Gina Rosati
Between You and Me by Marisa Calin
Courtship and Curse by Marissa Doyle
Are any of these on your to buy list?
| Title: Storybound Author: Marissa Burt Publisher: HarperCollins ISBN: 978-0062020529 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| When Una Fairchild stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, she thinks nothing of opening the cover and diving in. But instead of paging through a regular novel, Una suddenly finds herself Written In to the land of Story—a world filled with Heroes and Villains and fairy-tale characters. But not everything in Story is as magical as it seems. Una must figure out why she has been Written In—and fast—before anyone else discovers her secret. Together with her new friend Peter and a talking cat named Sam, Una digs deep into Story’s shadowy past. She quickly realizes that she is tied to the world in ways she never could have imagined—and it might be up to her to save it. |
Review:
I am having a fantastic winning streak of wonderful Middle-Grade novels so far in 2012. Storybound turned out to be another winner. The premise is fantastic, and I could not put the book down. I was literally glued to my reading chair for an entire afternoon as I frantically turned pages, eager to see what kind of trouble Una would find herself in.
Like Harry Potter, Una has never known her parents. She has been shuffled through the foster care system, and she currently lives with Ms. McDonough, an odd woman who speaks to her cats far more frequently than she speaks to Una. Una is fine with that, because she finally has some time to herself after being fostered in big families where she never felt that she belonged. She feels invisible, both at her foster home and at school. One day when Una is reading in the library in the basement at school, she finds a mysterious book. A book about her. Before she even has a chance to catch her breath, she finds herself sucked into the book, trapped as a character in the story. Now she must find her way back out again, all without getting killed. Whoa!
In the land of Story, Una finds must become a student at the school where the children of Story learn how to be characters in books. All of the citizens of Story have roles in books, and they all have to behave in a manner consistent with the character they are playing. I loved the concept of this world. Una’s ally, Peter, is learning to be a Hero. He takes his studies very seriously, and when Una is magically zapped into one of his practical exams, he is not very happy when she screws it up for him. With Peter’s help, Una learns that she was Written In. Peter is shocked, because no one has been Written In since the Tale Keepers overthrew the evil Muses and took control of Story.
I am going to gush about how much I adored Una. She is resourceful, clever, and loyal, and she is my favorite kind of protagonist. She meets setback after setback, but each one makes her more determined to figure out what is going on. Something is stinky in the land of Story, and Una won’t rest until she discovers what it is. There is something wrong with the Tale Keepers, and she doesn’t believe that the Muses were evil. With the help of Peter and Sam, a talking cat, she searches for the truth, even when it puts her in mortal danger. And Una is in a lot of danger. She doesn’t belong in Story, and she needs to get back home before someone fi
| Title: Sports Illustrated Kids Pro Files: Baseball Publisher: Time ISBN: 9781603202381 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| A must-have for every young baseball fan and player, "Pro Files: Baseball" showcases 15 of the big league’s hottest stars and fathers through "Sports Illustrated: Kids’" signature content: great writing, fun trivia, amazing statistics, and dynamic photography. Full color. |
Review:
Even though I am not a huge sports fan, I enjoy reviewing these SI Kids books. They are attractively packaged, engagingly written, and filled with glossy action shots. In addition to giving tips on how to play like a pro, each featured player has an introduction which includes their stats and career highlights. While this is nice, I appreciated the background information for each player even more. The human interest elements made the book accessible to me, a self-admitted non-fan of baseball. Each player also has a selection entitled Inside Information, which lists their favorite foods, movies, cartoon characters, and even video games. That’s the stuff that I’m interested in. It’s great to know all of Justin Verlander’s stats, but since I don’t get into the game, those are just random numbers to me.
I took this book to work to show to a co-worker, and he really liked reading through it, too. He is a huge baseball fan, and while he questioned some of the players that were included, overall he agreed that the featured athletes were among the top of their game. He liked the photographs, which are printed on bright, glossy paper and capture a variety of intense action shots. He agreed that the text will interest both fans and those not so enthusiastic about the game. The tips are fun to read, too, though I doubt that I will ever be able to advance my skills to the level of Ichiro Suzuki or Dustin Pedroia. Chris, on the other hand, insists that with practice, he will be able to pitch just like Verlander. I remain slightly skeptical.
If you have a baseball fan at home, this would be a great purchase for them. I bet that even reluctant readers will be cheerfully engrossed learning about the players, their backgrounds, and the secrets behind their moves.
Grade: B+
Review copy provided by publisher
Subscribe in a reader
| | Title: Choose-Your-Own-Fate Adventure Book Batman: Super-Villains Strike Author: Michael Teitelbaum Publisher: Starscape ISBN: 978-0765364814 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| Batman’s instincts tell him that Catwoman, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy are all involved. But how could that be? They are all behind bars at Arkham Asylum. Batman knows these super-villains would never agree to work together…or would they? Is a copycat criminal to blame? How could one person be in all these places at once? Follow the clues with Batman and then make your own choices for how the story will go. Can you help Batman solve this mystery? Will you be able to put the criminal—or criminals—behind bars and save Gotham City from chaos? These DC Super Hero “interactive” stories will incorporate fabulous DC art along with puzzles and games to guide the reader through multiple outcomes of the story. The puzzles and games will appear at random chapter endings providing clues to help the reader decide where to go next. Familiar interactive elements, for readers otherwise absorbed with online games and other digital devices, these original concept books will add a new level of excitement and challenge for the reader. |
Review:
I received this unsolicited Choose-Your-Fate Adventure Book, and since I am a big fan of both Batman and choosing your own fate, I sat down with it and put the book through its paces. Intended for readers 7 – 10, Batman: Super-Villains Strike keeps poor Batman on his toes from the first page. Four of the most dangerous criminals in the world are committing crimes in Gotham City, even though you, as Batman, are certain they are all still behind bars in Arkham Asylum. Dodging one villain after another, you are desperate to catch Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Mr Freeze, and The Riddler red-handed and hustle them back to their jail cells.
While I love the concept of these choose your own adventure books, I am not fond of the execution of this one in particular. The continuity is not smooth, and there were several paths I traveled along that jerked me from one location to another with no explanation, and worse, from one villain encounter to another without regard to events in the chapter I launched off from. Several times I was chasing after Catwoman, picked a path, and was suddenly pondering riddles from The Riddler, even though I hadn’t encountered him previously in my adventures. I didn’t even know he was out of jail yet. This was frustrating when it happened.
To assist me in my crime-fighting journey, there are several puzzles that I had to solve that added variety to the adventure. Word searches, mazes, and scrambled words gave the book a more interactive feel. I enjoyed these little brain teasers, and would have liked to see more of them.
One thing I didn’t like was having to search for chapter numbers. I wish instead that I had been directed to a specific page number, instead of the numbered chapters.
Continuity issues aside, this book will keep younger readers occupied during wait times or trips in the car. Just don’t be surprised if they ask you where The Riddler or Poison Ivy suddenly came from!
Review copy provided by publisher
| | Title: Goddess Girls: Medusa the Mean Author: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams Publisher: Aladdin ISBN: 978-1442433793 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| Medusa wants to be more like her two sisters and the other kids at Mount Olympus Academy — immortal. Is that too much to ask? As one of the few mortals at MOA, it’s hard not to get jealous when you’re surrounded by beautiful, powerful goddessgirl and godboy classmates. And it isn’t easy making friends either, especially when you have snakes for hair and one mean reputation! |
Review:
I have been interested in The Goddess Girls for a while, but I was reluctant to go back and try to catch up on the series. Medusa the Mean is the eighth installment, and when I had the opportunity to be part of a blog tour, I jumped at the chance. I ‘m glad that I did, too. I had no problems following along with the plot, and found this to be a very fun MG read.
Medusa has a few issues. She wants to be popular, and she wants super hottie Poseidon to notice her. The problem? Nobody is tripping over themselves to be her friend. Who wants to be BFFs with a mortal girl with snakes for hair? Her own parents don’t even seem to care for her, so it’s easy to see how Medusa developed an Olympus sized chip on her green shoulder.
I was extremely sympathetic toward Medusa. She is one of the only mortals to attend Mount Olympus Academy, and she feels that she doesn’t fit in. She longs to be immortal and to have powers like her sisters. It’s hard being the only triplet without special powers! Medusa is so desperate to obtain immortality that she falls for gimmicks that keep getting her into trouble.
Despite her desire to have friends, Medusa is wary of her peers. Being the object of ridicule will do that, and Medusa is often the butt of jokes and teasing. It seems that only her snakes accept her for who she really is. With her trust issues, she keeps rejecting the friendly overtures from the girls she longs to be friends with. I could relate to Medusa and her social awkwardness. It’s hard to make friends when you worry constantly that people are only setting you up for a joke. Instead, she reacts with snarky comebacks, or worse, ignores everyone in the vicinity. While she keeps finding fault in herself, she feels that she must also find fault in others.
Medusa the Mean is a quick, feel good read. Though I was starting to worry that Medusa would never catch a clue, she eventfully learns that being friends is a two-way street. She learns that if she wants people to like her, she can’t be selfish and self-absorbed. Most importantly, she has to accept herself for who she is, and stop judging people based on their looks, instead of their personality. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and wouldn’t hesitate to read more books in the Goddess Girls series.
Grade: B
Review copy provided by {teen} Book Scene
By:
Elizabeth Varadan,
on 4/9/2012
Blog:
Elizabeth Varadan's Fourth Wish
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
book review,
Spain,
MG,
Galicia,
lucky 7 meme,
house sitter,
ciao,
dog sitter,
adios,
Add a tag
 |
| The Puente Roman in Monforte de Lemos |
 |
| A view from our galería window in Trasulfe |
 |
| Nightfall in Tasulfe |
Wednesday we will be on our way to Galicia, Spain, for four weeks. Four weeks that will be almost entirely in Spanish, except when we are with our British friends. Does this mean that we are fluent in Spanish? No. It means our Spanish friends are supportive and kind as we thumb madly through our pocket dictionaries to figure out what they just said. But we love the experience. And our Spanish is getting better.
So, I probably will not be blogging before Sunday. But please check back, because I have lots to share:
A review of Richard Hughes' story collection, Only the Lonely. (And my apologies, Richard, for putting your last name as Hansen in my last post when I passed out the Lucky 7 Meme. I have another friend named Hansen, and that just leaps out every time. I've made the correction in the post. And anyone reading this today, go check out his cool blog here. . . .)
A review of a book by Lewis Buzbee (title withheld to keep you wondering.)
A sprinkle of posts about Galicia.
14 Comments on Almost Off to Spain, last added: 4/13/2012
[Manga Maniac Café] Hi, Joan and Suzanne! Thanks for dropping by!
[Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams] Hi, Julie! Thanks so much for hosting our Goddess Girls 8: Medusa the Mean blog tour!
Medusa insists on speaking for herself in your Character This or That. We hope that’s okay.
[Manga Maniac Café] Perfectly fine! I am not about to argue with a girl who has snakes for hair!
Hi, Medusa! Welcome to This or That! Would you like a cup of tea before we get started?
[Medusa] Don’t forget the cookies. It’s a long journey from Mt Olympus.
[Manga Maniac Café] Of course! Here you are, and let’s start This or That!
[Medusa] I guess…
[Manga Maniac Café] Water or Sand
[Medusa] With a sea monster mom and a seahog dad, I can swim like a fish. So, water! Definitely.
[Manga Maniac Café] Blue or Red
[Medusa] Hmm. Blue is pretty close to my favorite color, green. And red is the complement of green. So, neither. I choose green.
[Manga Maniac Café] Sun or Stars
[Medusa] Stars, like the ones I have in my eyes when I look at my supercrush, Poseidon.
[Manga Maniac Café] Walking or Running
[Medusa] Running. I’m a mortal at an immortal school. I’ve got to move it to keep up. At times, it’s hard for me. But that’s my little secret.
[Manga Maniac Café] Birds or Fish
[Medusa] Fish, because I can swim like one. And Poseidon is godboy of the sea. Duh. We are so perfect for each other. Why can’t he see that?
[Manga Maniac Café] Hot or Cold
[Medusa] Cold. It’s better for my pet snakes. I have a dozen on my head. Did you notice? I used to think they were a pain, but now they’re my pets. I even gave each of them names.
[Manga Maniac Café] Food or Drink
[Medusa] Drink, because it reminds me of water, which reminds me of swimming, which I’m good at.
[Manga Maniac Café] Singing or Dancing
[Medusa] Dancing. If I win a chance to be in Principal Zeus’s wedding, I’m going to dance the night away!
[Manga Maniac Café] Naughty or Nice
[Medusa] I never play nice!
[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you, Medusa!
Goddess Girls: Medusa the Mean is available now! You can order a copy from your favorite bookseller, or by clicking the widget below:
Thank you {teen} Book Scene for arranging this meeting with Joan, Suzanne, and Medusa!
By:
Smoore,
on 3/30/2012
Blog:
Great Books for Children
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
adventure,
Middle Grade fiction,
Middle Grade,
mg,
action,
Disney World,
Ridley Pearson,
YA (Young Adult),
Action/Adventure,
Kindgom Keepers,
Add a tag
Prolific author for both children and adults, Ridley Pearson has written another edge-of-your-seat, action/adventure book in his Kingdom Keepers series. Book V of the series, The Shell Game, takes the five Kingdom Keepers–Finn, Maybeck, Charlene, Willa, and Philby–on a Disney cruise infiltrated by Disney villains. Disney World is under seige and it’s up to the Kingdom Keepers to save the day. I’m not quite finished reading the book, but true to form, Ridley Pearson takes you on a roller coaster ride of a story full of suspense and action. If you like the Alex Rider series, then Kingdom Keepers is for you! And if you need another plug for Ridley Pearson, I’ve heard him speak several times at book signings and author events, and he always impresses with his “never give up, you can do it” advice to writers. Sometimes authors at book signings are too tired and grumpy to even smile (even children’s authors), but not Ridley. He and Dave Barry even took the time to sign my son’s cast. Fantastic.
By:
Smoore,
on 3/30/2012
Blog:
Great Books for Children
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
fairy tale,
Middle Grade fiction,
Middle Grade,
Nature,
environment,
Disney,
mg,
charlotte's web,
hoot,
Friendship Stories,
moranville,
Add a tag
Take Charlotte’s Web, Carl Hiassen’s Hoot, and toss in a dash of The Frog Prince, and what do you get? The charming middle grade novel The Hop (Disney Hyperion 2012) by Sharelle Byars Moranville. The story begins with young Tad the toad: The loamy tunnel had fallen around Tad during the long night of winter and padded him like a brown blanket. But now the earth was stirring. And even three feet down, the young hopper felt it. Maybe it was the footsteps of people in the garden, or the deep, seepy drip of warm rain. Maybe it was the chorus of spring peepers. But Tad’s winter slumber has been troubled by strange dreams, dreams that foretell the potential doom of his home, Toadville-by-Tumbledown. He learns he must kiss the Queen of the Hop in order to save his home and his people. But how can he find this Queen. Tad reminds me a bit of Frodo–humble, fearful of the big wide world, and destined to go on a perilous quest. Enter Taylor, a girl who’s life has been turned upside down by her grandma’s chemotherapy and by the sale of the pond and acreage next to her grandma’s house. Gone are her regular afternoons at grandma’s [...]
Marissa Burt is the author of Storybound, a Middle Grade fantasy that looks fantastic. This year has been a banner year so far for awesome MG novels, and I am eagerly anticipating Marissa’s debut in April. Until then, I invited her to the virtual offices for a chat about her soon to be released novel.
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Marissa Burt] MG fantasy author. Wife. Mother to three boys. Cat lover. Ice-cream connoisseur. Obsessive book reader. A wee bit neurotic.
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about Storybound?
[Marissa Burt] When Una Fairchild stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, she thinks nothing of opening the cover and diving in. But instead of paging through a regular novel, Una suddenly finds herself Written In to the land of Story—a world filled with Heroes and Villains and fairy-tale characters.
But not everything in Story is as magical as it seems. Una must figure out why she has been Written In—and fast—before anyone else discovers her secret. Together with her new friend Peter and a talking cat named Sam, Una digs deep into Story’s shadowy past. She quickly realizes that she is tied to the world in ways she never could have imagined—and it might be up to her to save it.
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Marissa Burt] I’ve always loved to read, and, like many book-lovers, I’m a bit sad when I come to the end of a good book and have to say farewell to the characters. So I imagined a world where the characters carry on without nosy readers peering over their shoulders. And I wondered what would happen if a girl from our reader’s world fell into theirs.
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the story?
[Marissa Burt] The biggest challenge was making myself write it – ha! I had the idea for probably about a year before I sat down and found the regular time needed to write a novel. I kept waiting for inspiration to strike and instead I was left with plain old determination. I’ve since learned that it’s best to just keep on writing, whether circumstances are conducive to creativity or not.
[Manga Maniac Café] What three words best describe Una?
[Marissa Burt] Brave. Clever. Determined.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are three things Peter would never have in his pocket?
[Marissa Burt] Ooooh, interesting question. Peter would never have any mean notes about anyone – his heroic ideals are very important to him. Since he’s from the Fantasy District, Peter wouldn’t have any contraptions belonging to a Modern character – no calculators, ink-pens, or i-phones. And I’m not sure Peter would have any snacks or food. He’s usually too busy eating them to stow them away for later.
[Manga Maniac Café] Why did you decide to write for the Middle Grade audience?
[Marissa Burt] I love reading Middle Grade books! I think that’s the era in reading where I began to discover favorite authors of my own, so I’m a bit nostalgic for it. Also, I love that Middle Grade is a place where you can have fun and silliness and also explore pieces of the grown-up world. Very magical.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Marissa Burt] This is a great question! I think my favorite books can’t help but influence my creativity and imagination. So at my core there’s a good b
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Clarion Books, 2011, 368 pp, ISBN: 0547152604
Recap:When Doug's dad loses his job, their family is forced to pick up and move to stupid Marysville. And moving is never easy, but it's even more difficult when half the town thinks you're some kind of skinny thug and your big brother's just come back from Vietnam. His father is pretty abusive too, but that's nothing new.
When Doug finds his way into the public library -
So what? So what? It's not like he's reading books - things start to shift. Not very quickly, not so's you would even notice at first. But a change is coming.
Review:Who would have ever thought that a book about Audobon's bird paintings would become one of my favorites of the whole year? Not me, that's for sure. But Gary Schmidt's Okay for Now won me over almost immediately.
I am telling you right now. Do not be dissuaded by the weird/boring cover or all of the Audobon talk. Okay for Now is will not disappoint. And I think the #1 reason why is Voice. I can't remember the last time I read a book with such an incredibly strong voice. My parents visited over the weekend (Hi, Mom!) and I read aloud to my mom pretty much the entire way to church and back because every single paragraph was better than the one before. I can still hear Doug's voice in my head saying "So what? So what? I'm not a chump!" in my head.
ALL of the characters in Doug's life are so real you would swear they exist in real life. I would not be surprised to find stupid Marysville on a map, and you know Mr. Powell would have Okay for Now on the front desk at the library.
I really want to keep this review short because the main point is this: Okay for Now is one stellar read. It's up against Wonderstruck on Thursday in the BoB, and not only am I confident that Wonderstruck is toast, I wouldn't be surprised if Okay for Now won the whole shebang.
Recommendation:Read this book. Boy or girl, young or old, sports fan or bird watcher - you're going to love Okay for Now.
| | Title: Above World Author: Jenn Reece Publisher: Candlewick ISBN: 978-0763654177 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is in doubt. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna’s warrior spirit and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt—growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains—here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true. |
Review:
After reading Dark Life by Kat Falls, I became fascinated by the idea of living in the ocean. When I saw Above World by Jenn Reese, I was chomping at the bit to read it. In this Middle Grade adventure, Aluna, a girl who lives in the ocean, must venture Above World to discover why the technology that allows her people to breathe underwater is failing. I loved the spunky Aluna, and I also thought that her best friend, Hoku, was a wonderful character, too. Both of them have to deal with very frightening situations, and as they face down death time and again, the thought of saving their people gives them the courage to continue on their journey.
When Aluna finds the body of one of her friends, she discovers that the elders are keeping a secret from the residents of her city – the breathing tech that allows the Kampii to live underwater is failing. Each Kampii has a bio-tech breathing necklace that keeps them from drowning. Several of the necklaces ceased functioning, and the elders, including Aluna’s father, have quickly covered up the resulting deaths, not wanting to start a panic. Instead of trying to discover why the necklaces are starting to fail, the elders are firmly denying that there is a problem. The Kampii in her city have kept themselves hidden from the Above World for generations, and they don’t want to have anything to do with the surface world. Aluna runs away from home, determined to save her people.
I loved the world building in this post-apocalyptic adventure. As the population swelled and the available land was consumed by growing numbers of people, new environments were exploited with the help of bio-technology. The Kampii, who are like mermaids, were allowed to live under the water with their necklaces. Centaurs were engineered to live in the desert, and Aviars were given wings so they could live on top of mountains. Disease swept through the human population, and chaos followed. Now the remaining life forms are at war, battling for control of the old technology.
Aluna is a strong, determined protagonist, and I liked her a lot. She is impulsive and stubborn, and these flaws work to get her out of many dicey situations. She isn’t able to give up, and and she can’t accept failure. That’s just not an option for her. The thought of quitting never occurs to her, even when she is standing up to very scary enemies that would have had me running, screaming, in the opposite direction
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, Scholastic Press, 2011, 608 pp, ISBN: 0545027896
Recap:Two very separate lives, decades apart, become inextricably linked through the magic of howling wolves (not werewolves, real wolves!), a great big museum, and a little blue book called Wonderstruck.
Review:The story of Wonderstruck is lovely - a little girl growing up in New Jersey in the 20s, and a little boy growing up in Minnesota in the 70s, are unaware that their lives are being knit closer and closer together with each passing page. Neither have any parents to speak - due to either death or just really bad, dismissive parenting. And both are deaf, and just beginning to learn to communicate with their hands.
I had a few different ideas about how their stories would eventually connect, and I thought that their ultimate resolution was completely satisfying.
But... the real star of this story is the artwork. And that's not just because Brian Selznick creates some truly fantastic illustrations. Obviously, he does that, but the magic of the artwork here is the way that they communicate an entire storyline with almost zero words.A series of illustrations will zoom in and out, so you think you're seeing one thing, but then realize that it's actually only a small part of a much larger scene. And he includes tiny details, so that discerning readers can approach each page as a treasure hunt, searching for clues that will connect back to the story in prose.I remember reading The Inventio
March is coming in like a lion! This month is full of some crazy, exciting stuff and I do not mean NCAA brackets or The Bachelor finale
(although both of those things are awesome, too).
Crazy, exciting #1: Middle Grade March Madness at
The O.W.L.! If you love MG, or are looking for great new MG suggestions, then you are in for a treat. Every single day this month The O.W.L. will have a MG review, guest post, giveaway, or some combination of all of the above. And, a guest post/giveaway from
Book Love toward the end of the month :)
Crazy, exciting #2: School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books!!!!! Seriously book lovers, this is some of the best reading and reviewing that you'll see all year. The BOB "Contenders" cover a huge range of genres and reading levels and every single year I find new favorite books that I never would have otherwise read. They definitely don't just stick to award winners, although a few can be found.
The judges for each round of this bracket-style tournament are all authors, and they write
Simply Amazing reviews - comparing the two literary opponents and then defending their winners. This year I am determined to read every single contender before their round in the BoB begins. As of now I've read 8 out 16 so I've still got some great reading ahead of me.
***And don't forget to vote for The Undead before March 11! We, the Peanut Gallery, get to cast our votes for our favorite contender, so if it is killed off before the Big Kahuna Round, it still has the chance to come back and compete in the end. Please, oh please, oh please let
Between Shades of Gray make it to the end!!!
What are you looking forward to this month, book lovers? And which contender do you predict will come out on top in the BoB?
The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Una Krishnaswami, Illustrated by Abigail Halpin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011, 272 pp, ISBN: 1416995897
Recap:Eleven-year-old Dini and her best friend Maddie are in love. They are in love with Dolly Singh, the most beautiful and talented actress/singer/dancer in all of Bollywood. But they have been picking up on signs - signs that only a true fan would notice! - that Dolly is in some kind of trouble. When Dini's family suddenly moves to India, she knows this is her chance to find Dolly and fix everything. The only problem is, she'll be leaving Maddie behind...
Review:Doesn't this book just look adorable? I love the fact that the protagonist is Indian-American and that much of the story takes place in India. That is certainly a country we don't get to see much of in MG or YA literature. And the introduction to Bollywood, complete with song lyrics and descriptions of big dance numbers, was a welcome break from more typical tween obsessions.
Dini and Maddie's friendship was very sweet, and I can envision two little girls giggling over this book together in real life. In fact, it could be a perfect "going away" present for a friend who has to move - proof in print that distance doesn't end friendships!
And I need to mention that the illustrations throughout are just as charming as the cover. I think Abigail Halpin just might be my new favorite artist. Check out
this interview with both Halpin and author Uma Krishnaswami for more images and details on the creation of
The Grand Plan to Fix Everything.
But... something about this story just didn't sit right with me. The third person narration was a small factor in that I never truly connected with Dini. It was also a little too convenient that Dolly just so happened to be living in the same remote, rural village that Dini had moved to.
*Don't worry: That's not really a spoiler. Dini figures it out the day that she moves.* In fact, all the way through the book, the narrator makes it seem like Dini is having such a hard time "fixing everything" for Dolly, when really everything just kept
(very unrealistically) falling into place.
Jenn Reese is the author of Above World, a middle-grade adventure about a girl desperate to save her underwater home. Jenn stopped by the virtual offices to discuss her debut book.
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Jenn Reese] I’m a writer, martial artist, and geek. I’m an unapologetic lover of heroics and happy endings, and of being the biggest goofball I can be.
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about your book, Above World?
[Jenn Reese] Above World is an adventure story set in the far future, after humans have bioengineered themselves into mythological creatures in order to live in harsh climates. Some live in the oceans and have mermaid tails, some live high in the mountains and have wings, and some live in the deserts and have the bodies of horses, like centaurs. The story follows a girl warrior, Aluna, and her tech-obsessed friend, Hoku, as they try to figure out why the technology that allows their people to breathe underwater is starting to fail. During their journey to "the Above World," Aluna and Hoku encounter other races and discover a growing danger that threatens everyone.
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Jenn Reese] I was trying to come up with an idea for a short story, some sort of adventure in space. I asked myself what sort of person might make a good space captain, and the answer came to me right away: a mermaid! That’s how I got the idea of combining mythology with science fiction. I also knew I wanted a girl fighter as a main character. I love martial arts and one of my life goals is to inspire kids — girls especially — to fall in love with martial arts, too. Months of brainstorming and filling notebooks with ideas followed.
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
[Jenn Reese] I found almost every aspect challenging! If I had to pick, though, I’d say solidifying the book’s tone. The first draft was all over the place, more of an exploration of ideas than a coherent whole. Then I got hooked on the animated TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender and a light bulb went off. The show had the perfect mix of adventure, humor, and drama — exactly the tone I wanted for my story. During subsequent drafts, I tried to keep Avatar in mind as a touchstone. It really helped me hone my vision and make the right decisions about the book.
[Manga Maniac Café] Name three things Aluna would miss most about her ocean home during her adventures above the water.
[Jenn Reese] 1. The freedom of being able to swim far and fast whenever she wanted.
2. Fighting lessons with her brother.
3. Her sister Daphine.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Jenn Reese] I’m inspired by so many things — art, music, movies and TV shows, other cultures, martial arts, and books, to name a few — but today I’ll single out Dungeons & Dragons. I taught myself to play when I was 12, and that game engendered a deep love of world-building, adventure, and sense of wonder. Before I decided to write stories and novels, I wrote stories about my characters, descriptions of new races, and histories of magical artifacts. I can’t even begin to describe the profound impact it had on me, and that it continues to have.
[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Jenn Reese] I try to keep my writing needs minimal: either a Moleskine notebook and a good pen, or a computer and a power source. Earbuds or headphones for blocking out distractions. Coffee if it’s
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010, 224 pp, ISBN: 0316043079
Recap:With Hurricane Katrina on its way, twelve-year-old Lanesha is all alone with Mama Ya Ya. Well, all alone unless you count the ghost of her Momma and a dog named Spot for company. Goodness knows her uptown family - her blood relatives - sure aren't going to do anything to help her.
And Mama Ya Ya was right when she foresaw that the storm wouldn't be the worst of their troubles. Lanesha's real work would be surviving what came after.
Review:Ninth Ward may be told through the voice of a child, but there is absolutely nothing childish about this story. Giving a warm, love-filled glimpse into what life was like in the Ninth Ward, prior to Hurricane Katrina,
Jewell Parker Rhodes eases her readers into Lanesha's tale.
In the person of Lanesha, Rhodes crafted a character that I hope students will look up to - socially on the fringe because of her ability to see ghosts, Lanesha wastes no time pitying herself because she isn't popular. Instead, she works her tail off in school, befriends the friendless, and lavishes love on those who do love her. Mama Ya Ya, the woman who raised her, taught her to love herself and that's exactly what she does.
"At lunch, I eat my tuna sandwich and apple juice at my table. I call it "my table," 'cause no one else will sit with me. But, unlike TaShon, I don't try to be invisible. I sit right in the middle of the cafeteria. I'm not ashamed of me."
Much of
Ninth Ward gives an inside look into what life was like for residents of New Orleans' Ninth Ward in the days leading up to, and after, one of our country's most notorious hurricanes. Many people there, like Mama Ya Ya, were too poor to own a car or too old to leave on their own two feet, so they were forced to stay in their homes for the duration. The flooding that followed was perhaps more terrifying than the storm itself - a disaster that Lanesha simply and powerfully illustrates.
It bears mentioning that
Ninth Ward is also a ghost story. Lanesha can see spirits and Mama Ya Ya has an uncanny ability to interpret dreams and foretell future events - an ability that saves more than one life in this story.
Recommendation:
A gem of a middle grade novel, and one that will surely resonate with older readers as well, Ninth Ward deserves a spot on you
Sarah Prineas writes middle-grade fantasy novels. Her recently released Winterling was a wonderful read. She is also the author of The Magic Thief series. Sarah dropped by the virtual offices to chat about her writing. Check out what she has to say.
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Sarah Prineas] Author of the MAGIC THIEF series and WINTERLING (both from HarperCollins Childrens). Running addict, pie-shake eater, homeschooling mom, dog person.
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about Winterling? [Sarah Prineas] Sure! Winterling is about a girl named Fer (short for Jennifer) who lives in the Iowa countryside with her grandma. She follows a cranky puck (boy who can turn into a dog or a horse) through a "Way" into a magical world where she must set right a terrible evil. (You can watch the trailer later in this post)
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Sarah Prineas] I wanted Fer to be a wild girl, a fierce protagonist. At the beginning of the book she uses a stick to chase off three wolves that are attacking Rook, the puck-boy, and she will always do what she thinks is right, even if it means putting herself into danger. For the puck character I had to do a little research into traditional fairy lore. The puck appears in Irish, Scottish, English, and Scandinavian stories.
I just turned in the companion novel, The Summerkin, and the pucks play a much bigger role. Pucks are always tricksters, though my pucks are their own weird little society.
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the story?
[Sarah Prineas] The Magic Thief books were written in the first person, from the point of view of the thief-wizard Conn. Switching from that voice to the third person storyteller was tough. It took me a lot longer to figure Fer out.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are five things Grand-Jane would never have in her kitchen?
[Sarah Prineas] I love this question! Grand-Jane is a witch who grows magical herbs and raises bees, and she’s a vegetarian. So the five things:
A microwave
A meat thermometer
Non-dairy creamer
Tupperware
Store-bought tea bags
[Manga Maniac Café] What do you enjoy most about fantasy? What prompted you to try writing your own?
[Sarah Prineas] I started writing fantasy because magic allows for so many possibilities, and also because I hope to invoke a sense of wonder in the reader. I also love that in a fantasy novel–to paraphrase Tolkien–even the smallest person has the power to change the world.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Sarah Prineas] I’m a huge fan of JRR Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings. His use of language and his ability to create detailed fantasy worlds have been a big inspiration for me. Another big influence is the director Hayao Miyazaki. I’ve seen all of his movies, and I think Spirited Away is a creative masterpiece. I love Miyazaki’s themes–the importance of nature, and I love that he’s got plenty of strong girl characters in his movies.
[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?
![]()
8th Grade Super-Zero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Arthur A. Levine Books, 2010, 336 pp, ISBN: 0545096766
Recap: "Say to them,say to the down-keepers,the sun-slappers,the self-soilers,the harmony-hushers,'even if you are not ready for day,it cannot always be night.'" - Gwendolyn Brooks, from "Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward"
Reggie is a zero. After vomiting in front of the entire student body on the first day of school, more people now know him as "Pukey" than as "Reggie." He has his two best friends, Ruthie and Joe C, but it's tough to be thankful for two when you're teased on a daily basis by pretty much everyone else.
Reggie's youth group, made up of kids from all different schools, is the only place where he gets to just be himself. When the group gets involved at a local homeless shelter, Reggie stops trying to shrink into the background and actually starts stepping up to lead some things. And it feels pretty good.
But stepping up at school, in front of Donovan, Hector, Sparrow and all of the other kids who love making him miserable... it would take a super hero to do that.
Review:This is NOT at all what I was expecting. I vividly remember seeing this title on at least 6 different blog posts over at Reading In Color last year. I had wanted to read it because Ari was such a huge fan, but just kept putting it off. When I decided to take on the personal challenge of reading ONLY books by or about people of color for this month, 8th Grade Super Zero was at the top of my list.
Honestly, even though it had such stellar recommendations
S.R. Johannes is the author of Untraceable, as well as the newly released MG novel On the Bright Side. Shelli dropped by the virtual offices to share why she thinks angels are so popular in fiction.
The Rise of Angels in YA by S.R. Johannes
Angels seem to be popular these days, especially in young adult. With On The Bright Side, I wanted to expand the talk of angels into tween and middle grade. Which meant it needed to be fun and interesting.
But why have angels been so important in recent years?
One – I think angels offer some a connection to religion that may not be addressed enough in fiction today. I think kids begin questioning God and the world at a very young age. And sometimes, they may have questions that they can’t voice or even understand.
Two – Good angels show us balance– with the pure white angel on one side representing the good side; while the dark angel is on the other side representing the darker side. This relates to us as humans struggling to balance the parts of us that are good with the pieces of us that may be negative or angry. I think that is why dark angels and demons have shown up in fiction lately – the dark side is a curious place to investigate. With angels – we know there is a good side so it provides comfort. I think kids struggle with balancing these 2 sides of themselves even from a young age.
Three – I also think with the difficult things our society has gone through since 911, angels have been discussed more because they can be comforting to some people. They also represent safety in the unknown.
I wanted Gabby to be an angel. But I wanted her removed from religion and everything we think angels are. So I called her a Bright and called Heaven, Cirrus. All to break through the religious perceptions. I also made Gabby human-like – she has a good side and a bad side. I think this allows kids to relate to her and understand – we all have those moments we are not proud of.
I hope On The Bright Side allows kids to step away from their religious beliefs and the idea of perfection. To look at some of the questions we all have about life and death. Also show them about balancing all those good and bad feelings or decisions that sometimes come with puberty. I want kids to realize that no one – not them, their parents or even angels are perfect. That we all make mistakes and it’s okay.
No one is perfect – not even a Bright.
Thank you!
You can learn more about Shelli by visiting her website and by following her on Twitter.
You can purchase On The Bright Side by clicking the link below (it is only .99 for a limited time, so grab it now!)
Subscribe in a reader
I just finished Winterling by Sarah Prineas. What a good book! This is MG fantasy at its best, with a very relatable protagonist, a great big evil to defeat, and a wonderful supporting cast of characters. Heroine Fer really sealed the deal, though. She is a caring, brave girl who refuses to let her fears stop her from doing what her heart compels her to.
| “Ah.” The Lady fell silent. When she spoke the edge had left her voice. She almost sounded sad. “Our oaths and our rules bind us together, Gwynnefar. When an oath is broken there is a price. And it is always more than the oath breaker can pay.” |
While browsing the comments at Dear Author, I discovered The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. The hero has Asperger’s, which immediately caught my interest. I purchased it for my Kindle, and so far, I am finding it a hard to put 
down read. Ian is proving to be a very unique character, to say the least.
| Beth blinked. “I beg your pardon?” “I said, you could marry me. I don’t give a damn about your fortune.” “My lord, why on earth should you ask me to marry you?” “Because you have beautiful eyes.” “How do you know?" You’ve not once looked at them.” “I know.” |
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Subscribe in a reader
By: Julie,
on 1/10/2012
Blog:
Manga Maniac Cafe
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Harper,
Action-Adventure,
Action/Adventure,
review,
Magic,
Fantasy,
Middle Grade,
MG,
Harper Collins,
Add a tag
| Title: The Book of Wonders Author: Jasmine Richards Publisher: HarperCollins ISBN: 978-0062010070 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| Sorcerers, Cyclops, Djinnis . . . Magic. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone who is caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying tyrant who, even with his eyes closed, can see all. When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must risk everything to rescue her. Along with Rhidan, who is her best friend, and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all. |
Review:
I spent most of my holiday vacation reading. I am amazed by all of the great stories I was able to enjoy during my time away from work. The Book of Wonders is one of the titles that I devoured, and I literally spent most of a day flipping the pages of this fun middle-grade adventure. An exciting spin on the 1001 Nights, there is plenty of action, adventure, and death-defying feats to keep readers entertained. I liked the characters, especially the spunky Scheherazade (nicknamed Zardi). She managed to get herself into, and back out of, an alarming amount of trouble over the course of the book. With her best friend’s help, she remained surprising unscathed even during the most trying of circumstances.
Zardi lives with her family and her best friend, Rhidan, in the city of Taraket. Her country is ruled by the evil sultan, Shahryar, who has outlawed all magic from his kingdom. He is a cruel and vicious ruler, and he delights in the discomfort and pain of others. When Zardi’s older sister, Zubeyda, is chosen to be the sultan’s next praisemaker, Zardi knows only fear. The career of each praisemaker is terrifyingly short, and each ends with a hunt. Zubeyda will be tracked down and killed! Zardi is determined save her gentle sister from this cruel fate, and she will risk her life to save her!
This is a fast-paced read, with one frantic adventure following another. With the help of Rhidan, Zardi leaps into the adventure of a lifetime. She thinks that the key to saving her sister is finding the Varish, a group of rebels threatening to overthrow the sultan and return Aladdin, the rightful ruler, to the throne. Rhidan, who was abandoned by his family and raised by Zardi’s family, believes that the sorcerers of the Black Isle will hold the key to his true identity, as well as help save Zubeyda. And so the two sneak away in the middle of night, and soon find themselves working on Sinbad’s ship.
I thought Zardi was a fun character. She refused to allow anything to get in the way of saving her sister. Not even being a shipwreck, the Cyclops, or the queen of snakes could deter her from her goal. Each new challenge was met with the grim knowledge that she could not fail, or her sister would die
By:
Darcy Pattison,
on 11/22/2011
Blog:
Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
YA,
story,
kids,
Picture book,
young adult,
middle grade,
child,
tone,
MG,
how to write,
novel revision,
Add a tag
Tone is the overall feel of a story. Does this sound depressed, joyful, or hopeful?
Beyond that, though, tone can determine the audience for your story. One of the main differences between a middle grade and YA, or a YA and an adult story, is the tone of the piece. Tone reflects the author’s attitude toward the characters, the plot, the setting, and the theme of the story.
One of the easiest ways to signal tone and, as a result, audience is to control your sentence structure. A simplistic explanation would say that simple sentences are for younger audiences, while longer sentences are for older. But that’s too simplistic.
Tone of a Picture Book
It is true that picture book language is simpler, but it’s not necessarily simplistic.
Clarity is paramount. You can—I love to do this—interrupt a sentence with another sentence. When I was teaching college level courses and taught this sentence construction, one student came back to class and reported that her three year old daughter had done this. Even young kids talk in complex ways. But the connections from sentence to sentence must be absolutely clear. Using lots of introductory clauses, even when well used, can be confusing. Instead, be simple and direct. Make sure everything is clear.
Tone of a Middle Grade
The tone here is more complex and respectful. Never take the tone of talking down to a “little kid.” For sentence structures, you’ll still want to be clear, easy to understand. You can take more detours, for example, explaining a character’s motivations, or describing in more detail. But the tone is honest, open, fun, entertaining. Simple sentences are complemented by compound and complex sentences.
Tone of a Young Adult (YA)
The difference here is that, besides a full range of sentence structures, the attitude is more irreverent, questioning, “edgy.” This may mean experimentation with sentence fragments, POV, invented words, jargon—including cursing, lists, long sentences with plenty of semi-colons. The mandate here is freshness, in content and in presentation (your sentences).
A great book to shake up your grammar is Spunk & Bite: A Writer’s Guild to Bold, Contemporary Style by Arthur Plotnik.
Tone of an Adult Story or Novel
The adult story has sophistication, nuances and maturity as hallmarks of its tone, regardless of genre. The full range of sentence structures can and should be present and you may use whatever is appropriate for your story. For a brush-up on sentence structure possibilities, read this book.
This isn’t a call for simple sentences for picture books.
I write picture books.
I write easy picture books
I write boring picture books.
This is a call to make sure that in the tone—especially in how sentences affect tone—is a crucial part of your decision making as you write a story. Examine your typical sentence structures and shake it up some!
.jpeg?picon=3604)
Have fun in Spain. I loved it when we were there. Fortunatly my hubby spoke pretty good spanish.
Will read your posts on Spain with interest. Fingers crossed we may travel there for the first time later in the fall. Enjoy :-)
*Sigh* Can you take me with you?
Just kidding (not really).
Have fun! :)
Love your posts from Spain.
Hi,
It's Annie (previously) from the Sunday morning writing group.
I'm well acquainted with Buzbee's wife, Julie Bruck, so I'm looking forward to your review. Actually, Julie has a new book of poetry out as well.
Enjoy Spain! It's one of the few countries still on my to-do list. Such beauty!
Have a fabulous time, Mitty! I'll be looking forward to traveling vicariously with you.
Yay, off again, and this time not so far from me. I bet that is a good place to write! Have a most wonderful month!
Hi, S.P, thanks for stopping by. It's good that your husband knows Spanish. We are getting there at tortoise speed.
Linda, Joanna, and Rosi, thanks for the good wishes.
Kenda, we will be going again in the fall. Keep me posted about your dates and where in Spain.
Richard, thanks for the encouragement you always give me about those posts. Your support has made me take a look at maybe doing some travel writing.
Annie, small world! I love Buzbee's books and knew his wife was a poet. I will look for her new book, as I also love poetry.
A month in Spain? Oh how wonderful! I should imagine your Spanish will come on in leaps and bounds, and that pocket dictionary will stay snugly tucked away. Enjoy, relax, and have a wonderful time. :)
Have a wonderful trip! I absolutely love Spain, so much so, I've been there six times ;)
Hope you improve your Spanish :D
Jayne and Claudia, thanks for the good wishes. I am so ready for this vacation!
Actually our Spanish is probably better than I've made it sound. We really are progressing. It's just that every time we start feeling, hey, we're on our way with Spanish, someone will say something, and we don't have a clue! :-)
Ah well, "poco a poco" as they say. ("little by little")
Hope you have a lovely trip and that you get some work done while you're in Spain.
Oh, enjoy your trip!! That sounds like a marvelous opportunity. I think Spain would be a great place to visit or go on vacation to. :)
Joy and Carol, Thanks for the good wishes. The part of Spain we go to is Galicia, in the northwest corner; except for some small cities and the famous pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, it's mostly rural with tiny hilltop villages and lots of misty valleys. Very peaceful, and a great place to do work, so yes, I will be working on my book--as well as enjoying week-end fiestas and socializing with friends.