Read Between the Lines
by Jo Knowles. Candlewick Press. 2015. Reviewed from ARC.
The Plot: Ten chapters takes us to one day in the life of a high school, told through voices of past and present students and one teacher.
In each, a raised middle finger is part of the story. It gives power to the person giving someone the finger; it hurts the person who it's aimed at.
And in each, we see how a person looks at others and judges them; or how they look at themselves.
OK for those who want more of a plot: a group of boys think it's smart and clever to fake car accidents to get people to give them cash instead of calling the police -- until it backfires.
The Good; I love this type of book! I love that each chapter is told by someone different, and it's their own story, and that the thread connecting them is sometimes obvious and strong, and other times takes a bit to figure out.
And I love that there are ten chapters; one for each finger.
I love that a bullied boy becomes empowered by his broken finger that means he is constantly giving the finger; but before we embrace the idea that hey, it's not so bad, a girl is disturbed and upset when an angry man gives her the finger. The finger means rage, anger, hatred, rebellion. It's like a word: context matters.
I love that sometimes someone is viewed as a bully and then it turns out they have their own inner demons or frustrations that others don't see. If there were a moral to this story, it's that everyone is fighting their own internal battles, and be a bit less quick to judge.
Also, if your teenage son has a lot of spending money and his old car keeps getting dinged and battered, you may want to ask a few questions.
A Favorite Book for 2015.
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Stop pretending to be a grown-up.
Because I know better.
You are a teenager.
You MUST be.
Because you just NAIL the teen voice in your amazing new book.
 |
| Read Between the Lines |
I mean, no grown-up I know writes:
"Simon!" I yell, just to harsh his mellow.
or can create such achingly realitic teen characters...
....like Sapphie...
Whatyoulookinat
She said it loud and tough. Fast. Like the four words were one.
Whatyoulookinat
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.
Jo Knowles and I go way back.
We knew each other online and then at a conference somewhere (they all moosh together for me)....
she was going down the escalator...
...and I was going up the escalator.
We recognized each other and smiled and waved and that was the best we could do.
But then at an NCTE conference in 2009 we finally got to meet properly. (Or maybe it was the same conference. They all moosh together.)
 |
| Jo Knowles (right) and me |
THEN in 2011, we were on a panel together at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA.
We corresponded by email about our presentations and we each confessed that we were freaking out a little bit.
Ever since then, we have affectionately referred to ourselves as the Freak Sisters.
And, by the way, we survived that presentation.
No freak-out necessary.
 |
| [Note: I blurred her signature because I don't like to post signatures online.] |
Read Between the Lines is AMAZING.
I loved it SO much.
From the flap copy:
The voices of seemingly ordinary teenagers speak loud and clear of the complex dance that is life in a small town. Over the course of a single day, these characters orbit one another in their innocent attempts to understand and be understood.
So run, don't walk, and get this book.
And, yo, Jo....high five, Freaky!!!
I arrived home last night after a terrific trip to Michigan, courtesy of the good, kind folks at West Bloomfield Township Public Library. I was treated much too kindly and given the opportunity to speak with young people from 8th grade all the way up to preschool.
(See what I did there?)
More details on that trip another day.
This morning a friend directed me to this link, with information about “The Global Read Aloud.”
“What in the world’s that?”
According to the site:
The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world. Now with three years under our belt and more than 30,000 connections made, we realize we are on to something larger than us so we look forward to continuing the global connections.
The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. The scope and depth of the project is up to you. In the past we have used Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, our wiki, email, regular mail, Kidblog, and any other tools we can think of to make these connections. Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project with, hopefully inspiring them to continue these connections through the year.
I was surprised and honored to see one of my books listed along with such company. It’s nice to be in the conversation, much appreciated. The project looks at books in various categories, according to grades. There’s “Picture Book,” “Grades 1-3,” “Grades 4-6″ and “Grades 7-up.” Some of the folks named include some of my personal favorites, such as Peter Reynolds, Kevin Henkes, Kate DiCamillo, Anne Urso, Jo Knowles, and others.
Oh, wait. Before I forget, look at this cake that was made for me at Algonquin Middle School. It happened a while back, but I just found the photo on the net. I’m only a year and a half behind!
Here’s another sweet shot from that same visit to Algonquin. Thank you, Rebecca.
You can sign up for the Global Read Aloud right here.
Here are the 5 books listed for 7th-grade and up. It looks like I have some reading to do — which, to me, is always the primary point of these lists. Glad to be a contender:
- Endangered by Elliot Schrefer
- Bystander by James Preller
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Gein
I was recently invited for an interview by Brittney Breakey over at AUTHOR TURF. Brittney has really accomplished a lot with her site. It’s worth checking out. She’s recently interviewed Holly Goldberg Sloan, Sally Nicholls, Gennifer Choldenko, Jo Knowles, Kathryn Erskine . . . and my great pal, Lewis Buzbee.
For me, that’s a double-edged sword. I’ll be honest, I’ve always hoped to be the kind of person who somebody wanted to interview. It’s an incredible compliment. And a true honor.
In my career, some of the first work I ever did was interviews of authors for promotional brochures. I think Ann McGovern was my first interview, back when I worked as a junior copywriter for Scholastic. Or it might have been Johanna Hurwitz. I don’t think I saved them. This would have been in 1985, I guess. Life went on and I’ve interviewed some talented authors and illustrators over the years.
You’d think I’d have learned some things along the line, but my basic feeling is usually one of disorientation, a sense that I have no idea what I’m doing, most likely saying the wrong things, awkwardly. Oh well.
I do have lucid moments, times when I think, “Okay, not terrible.” But in general I can’t read things like this without wincing, without twitching and blinking too often. I don’t know, it’s weird. I try to be honest, authentic, and hope for the best.
Below, you’ll find a brief excerpt of a much longer interview. Click here for the whole shebang.
What’s the worst thing you did as a kid?
It’s interesting you ask this, because I recently wrote about it in my journal. A theme that I’m exploring in the book I currently writing (or should be writing), which is a quasi-sequel to BYSTANDER. I have superstitions about talking about books before they are finished, but I’ll say this: In the summer between 7th and 8th grade, a girl in my homeroom died unexpectedly. I didn’t know her well, and wouldn’t call her a friend. When I first heard about Barbara’s death, I was with a bunch of friends –- I can picture it vividly, a bunch of us lounging around — and I said something dumb, snarky, immature. Of course, the death of a peer was completely new to me, a big deal, and I didn’t know how to react. I still feel a sense of shame about it, across these forty years, that one dumb thing I said that no one else even noticed. I’ve been reflecting a lot about identity lately, the idea of self not as a revelation, but as a made thing. Something you earn. Bryan Stevenson gave an incredible presentation for TED Talks -– everyone in America should Youtube it -– and he said, “I’ve come to understand and to believe that each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” That’s a huge, complicated, controversial idea –- and it speaks directly to the topic of my next book. [NOTE: I've embedded Stevenson's talk, below.]
Was there ever a time in your writing career where you wanted to seriously give up? If so, how did you find the motivation to continue?
Yes, I’ve wanted to quit. Absolutely. Mostly because it’s hard, and because I’ve felt (and still feel, though less so) insecure about my own ability –- that I was a pretender, a self-deceiver, a fake. Also, it’s a bunny-eat-bunny business that can crush your soul at times. As a husband and father, I’ve worried about my ability to provide for my family, to keep paying the bills. But that’s life, right? You have to keep getting up. You can’t just lie there on the canvas. That said: Every day I feel blessed that I can do this for a living. The hard is what makes the good.
What’s your favorite writing quote?
It’s not a quote, so much as an attitude about doing the work, a sort of blue collar distrust of pretentiousness. In a phrase, shut up, sit down, and write. Or not! But either way, shut up. It’s hard, writers are told that we need to promote ourselves, we need to “have a presence” on the web, we need to “get out there.” And I just keep thinking, we need to write great books. That’s all that matters.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing? What comes easily?
The whole thing is a challenge. One thing about having published a bunch of things over a long period of time is that I’ve come to understand that each book is its own, self-contained thing. You write the story that’s in front of you. Then you write the next one. And the next. You don’t control what happens after that and, on good days, you accept that plain fact.
Jo Knowles is here to talk about her latest novel,
See You at Harry's. (Read a rave review on
Stacked, and note that it got a star from
Kirkus!)
"I think I imagined [the cover as] an image of the restaurant described in the book [as I was writing]. Or the family posing for their annual Christmas card. But… nothing really concrete. I was just hoping whatever it was, I would love it.
"My publisher didn't ask for input. But I gave a few suggestions when I was arguing to keep the title, which is another whole story.
"When I first saw the cover, I felt... Relief! I thought the image was perfect. I liked that the background was blue, not pink. I liked that it wasn’t an image of a sad or lonely girl. I loved that the empty dish had two spoons, not one. I felt that the image captured the mood of the book just right, without giving too much away..."
Read the rest of Jo's Cover Story, and see the cover that a big book chain didn't love, at
melissacwalker.com.
The fabulous Jo Knowles is the author of the young adult novels Lessons from a Dead Girl, Jumping Off Swings, Pearl, and See You At Harry’s (coming May 2012). She has a master’s degree in children’s literature. Some of her awards include the PEN New England Discovery Award, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, YALSA Quick Picks Top Ten, International Reading Associations Young Adult Choices List, Tayshas List, and Bank Street College’s Best Books for Children (Outstanding Merit). Jo lives in Vermont with her husband and son, and she was kind enough to do a guest post for us today. Once you've read it, you'll want to go see her on her web site, her blog, her facebook page, and/or her twitter feed. Really.
Why the Long and Winding Road Isn’t Such a Bad Thing After All
by Jo Knowles
One of the questions I can rely on being asked at any given Q&A is “How long did it take you to get published?” I brace myself for it every time. The worst is when I’m on a big panel and we have to go down the line of authors and everyone tells their amazing success stories of selling their book in one year, or three months, or some other amazingly short amount of time. You can see the hopeful looks on the audience members. “That could be me!” I imagine them thinking.
And then it’s my turn to answer the question.
And I cringe. Because I know when I answer, everyone else will cringe, too.
Why?
Because my own journey took about ten years.
That’s right.
Pearl by Jo Knowles
Jo Knowles has an amazing gift for writing emotionally raw, true characters. I adored
Pearl, aka Bean. I adored Henry. I adored Sally. I adored Gus.
This book wowed me on so many levels. I loved the attention to detail that put me right there in that kitchen, on that sofa, under that bed, in that boat, drinking that vodka.
A gem of a book. (My favorite of Jo's, and I love them all!)
by Jo Knowles
Henry Holt 2011
When fifteen year old Pearl (aka Bean) loses her grandfather, the one person she felt knew and loved her best, a whole world of secrets open up that forces her to question everything she's ever believed about her world.
Pearl, who goes by the nickname Bean, and her best friend Henry are self-separated outcasts. Henry's mom Sally spends her days watching
Saturday I got to spend the day immersed in children's literature at Simmons College's Children's Literature Summer Institute.
So much fun.
I got a chance to listen to and chat with lots of talented folks, including David Small, Jack Gantos, and my Freak Sister, (a little inside joke) the sweet, smart and talented Jo Knowles.
One highlight for me was finally meeting my friend, the uber-talented, smart, kind, friendly, lovely, author Helen Frost.
Here we are looking a little blurry. We are much sharper than this.
The most compelling stories are the ones that pull us beneath the surface, draw readers into a powerful emotional current, offer a clear-sighted view into the deepest recesses of a character’s heart.That’s the kind of first novel that Jo Knowles has written, exploring the ever-shifting boundary lines of friendship, sexuality, and identity with the precision and self-assuredness of a master
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By:
Cheryl Rainfield,
on 9/26/2010
Blog:
Cheryl Rainfield: Avid Reader, Teen Fiction Writer, and Book-a-holic. Focus on Children & Teen Books
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Did you know it’s Banned Book Week? I think this is especially poignant with the recent attempt at challenging Laurie Halse Anderson’sSpeak
and Twisted
; Ellen Hopkins’ disinvite and the censorship of Burned
; and the recent challenge of Jo Knowles’ Lessons from a Dead Girl
. Those are all wonderful, powerful, truly *important* YA books that deserve to reach people–that teens and adults should have the chance to discover and read.
I may be extra sensitive to book banning, since my parents literally burned and tore up some of my favorite books, and prevented me from having access to books through removing all my books for weeks at a time as punishment when I (quite desperately) depended on books as survival. And also because they consistently tried to silence me.
Books are so important, and a way for people to find validation, support, and information in a safe way that they wouldn’t otherwise find out about. They offer healing, a widening of the world and of dreams, and for me, they have been soul food. So to hear about people trying to prevent others from reading any book makes me angry. If you don’t want to read a book yourself, that’s fine–walk away from it. But to try to keep a book from everyone, or from a group of people? That’s not okay.
I found one of my favorite picture books, And Tango Makes Three
, about a gay penguin couple, through book banning and challenges. So sometimes book banning may help to get the word out…to *some* people. But it prevents others from finding these wonderful books, and it saddens and angers me that this happens at all–and still happens today. To me it seems like an act of oppression, and of power. Something I’m quite familiar with.
I hope you’ll consider buying (or borrowing) and reading some of these banned books–and sharing them with others. I hope, too, that you’ll
JUMPING OFF SWINGS, by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
joknowles is the kind of book that pulls you in from the first page. The kind of book you can't put down, because you are so invested in the characters you must find out what happens to them. I've often heard Jo mention her mantra of, "Is it true yet?" And that search for "true" is evident in the writing, the dialogue, the characters. This is a book that seems so... real.
Unfortunately, although this is the kind of book you feel you can't put down, I never seem to have time to read a book straight through. So, I grabbed time to read JUMPING OFF SWINGS every chance I could. While waiting for my daughter outside campground showers. During car trips when it wasn't my turn to drive. At my son's Ortho app't--and, of course, at a point when my eyes flooded with tears, the hygienist came into the waiting room to collect my son.
I finally finished the book yesterday. And, Jo, I loved it. I will dig deeper in my own writing now because I've read it.
Unfortunately, as a blogger that attempts to review everything I read, I do sometimes have to provide reviews of books I really didn't completely love. Does that stink? Yes...it's not fun to write about something that was boring or slow or I just plain didn't like, but that was my resolution for this year...to write about everything (and that will be changing next year!). These three books were not titles that I "disliked," they were just ok. Nothing entirely bad, but nothing really good for me either. You may love them!
One Lonely Degree, written by C.K. Kelly Martin was a big surprise for me, not really loving. I did enjoy the last book from this author, I Know It's Over, when I read it last year for the Cybils, and I was really hoping this one would get that same reaction.
Jacket description:
"Fifteen-year-old Finn has always felt out of place, but suddenly her world is unraveling. It all started with The Party. And Adam Porter. And the night in September that changed everything. The only person who knows about that night is Audrey--Finn's best friend, her witness to everything, and the one person (under thirty) finn trusts implicitly. So when Finn's childhood friend, Jersy moves back into town--reckless, beautiful boy Jersy, all lips and eyes and hair so soft you'd want to dip your fingers into it if you weren't careful--Finn gives her blessing for Audrey to date him. After all, how could she possibly say no to Audrey?
With Audrey gone for the summer, though, Finn finds herself spending moer and more time with Jersy, and for the first time since September, for the first time in her life maybe, something feels right--absolutely, stunningly right. But Finn can't be the girl who does this to her best friend...can she?"
Unfortunately, I felt the book dragged. It moved really slowly for me and I really didn't understand what part of the plot was supposed to be the main point. Was it Audrey and Finn's friendship possibly being broken up over a guy? Or was it Finn's emotional healing after an assault?
Oh and as a last note...I didn't like the cover even a little bit.
It gets great reviews on Amazon, so I may alone in my feelings about this one.
One Lonely Degree
C.K. Kelly Martin
256 pages
Young Adult
Random House
9780375851636
May 2009
Review copy provided by publisher
Well at least I loved the cover for this next one! Karma for Beginners, written by Jessica Blank, had a whole lot of promise for me. I really liked the description, the cover was one of those that pulled me in and made me want to flip through the pages, and I actually really enjoyed the plot, until I was about 3/4 of the way through.
Jacket description:
"Fourteen-year-old Tessa has never had a normal life. Her mother, a frustrated hippie with awful taste in men, has seen to that. But when her mom pulls her out of school to live at an ashram in the Catskills, Tessa goes from being a freak among normal people to being an outcast among freaks. Freaks who worship an orange robe-wearing guru. And while her mom is buzzing with spiritual energy, and finding a little too much favor with the guru, all Tessa feels are weird vibes.
Unless she's with Colin, the gorgeous boy who fixes trucks for the ashram. The connection they share is the most spiritual thing Tessa has ever felt. But he's older-like illegally older-and Tessa's taking dangerous risks to spend time with him. Soon her life is blooming into a psychedelic web of secrets and lies and it's clear that something's about to give way. When it does, will she have anyone to hold on to? Will she even know herself?"
I really was intrigued by the inside look at a cult-like setting and I thought the relationship between Tessa and her mother and then Tessa and Colin was interesting as well. I felt connected with Tessa and her feelings of not fitting in and confusion over why her mother doesn't seem to love her as much as she loves the guru. And Tessa wanting to know her absent father...that was a great plot point as well. When Tessa decided about 3/4 of the way through the book that she would become a pothead and begin taking all sorts of strange drugs and doing totally crazy things, I was pretty much over the book. Done. It was soooo not needed.
I thought the smoking pot part was ok, as much as drug use in a teen novel can be ok...it seemed to fit the plot. However, when acid and doing illegal stuff and sleeping with a 20 year old guy came into the picture, it was unnecessary and took away from what I really enjoyed in the beginning. And the fact that Tessa's mom finally begins to understand her after she comes down off an acid trip after stealing a statue from the ashram and the police arrest Colin? Yeah...not exactly believable.
So...I'm probably not going to be recommending this one to anyone, but once again, it gets a 5 star review from someone on Amazon and has been nominated for a Cybil, so someone out there loves it. Maybe you!
Karma for Beginners
Jessica Blank
320 pages
Young Adult
Hyperion
9781423117513
September 2009
Review copy provided by publisher
Finally, the one I probably enjoyed the most out of this bunch, but still wasn't totally loving, was Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles. I'll probably get some flack for this one...I know a lot of you really loved it, but it just moved soooo slowly for me. It took me almost a week to read it, just because I kept wanting to put it down and get a faster-paced story into my hands.
Jacket description:
"Ellie has hooked up with more than a few boys. Each time, she is certain there will be more to the encounter than juts sex. While she is with them, she feels loved. For awhile anyways. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, ellie follows. But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect : Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their close friends, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions. No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result.
Told alternately from each character's point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one girl's life--and the realities of leaving innocence behind."
I did really like the alternating character voices and I really enjoyed and believed in each character and their purpose to the story. Totally relevant to today's teens, I felt the plot was well-done, just really slow.
This is one I would recommend to teens and I think they will definitely enjoy. It really was just "me" that wasn't feeling the pace.
Jumping Off Swings
Jo Knowles
224 pages
Young Adult
Candlewick
9780763639495
August 2009
Review copy provided by publisher
To learn more about any of these titles, or to purchase, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small portion of your purchase price.
Jumping Off Swings
by Jo Knowles. Candlewick. 2009. Reviewed from ARC from publisher.
The Plot: Four friends. Ellie, Corinne, Caleb, Josh. High School Juniors. Ellie and Josh "hook up." Three months later, she's late. One person's choices impact all their lives.
The Good: You start feeling sorry for Ellie and hating Josh. It's September, and Josh walks away from the van as Ellie fixes her clothes. She thought, this time, this one time, the guy would stay. She watches as Josh returns to the party and laughs with his friends. And, she realizes, laughs at her. With his friends, some of the other boys -- boys who she believes as the say they love her, yet then walk away and laugh. Hook ups but no boyfriends. It's her friend, Corinne, who is there as Ellie throws up, disgusted.
Different chapters tell the different point of views -- Ellie, believing the boys, wanting the love, being left with nothing. Corinne, the best friend who doesn't know what to say or do. Caleb, their friend who has a crush on Ellie and doesn't want to believe the rumors about her. Josh, who did believe the rumors and now is embarrassed by what he did and didn't do.
Knowles drops in on these four for a few days every few months; in September, when Ellie and Josh hook up and Ellie realizes that her attempts to find love are having the opposite affect. When Josh realizes that his actions don't reflect the person he thinks he is. In December, when Ellie realizes she is pregnant and isn't sure what to do or who to tell. In March and June, when Ellie, Josh, Corinne and Caleb live with the consequences of their friends' actions.
Swings are an actual physical place -- where these teens go to escape, where they meet each other now and met each other as children. But it also reflects teens with a foot in two worlds: childhood and adulthood. Trying to figure out how to leave one and enter the other. Is it what one does -- having sex? What one does not do? Is it how one deals with the consequences of ones actions? Does one choice define us, or is it the sum of our choices?
At the beginning, it is Ellie, left alone, who we know the most, who we feel sorry for. But as the story unravels, we see more about each of these four teens. Corinne, who everyone thinks is the bad girl because her sister had an abortion last year. Caleb, shy, a bit nerdy, who doesn't say what he wants until it's almost too late. Josh, who has been emotionally abandoned by his parents and was looking for -- something -- that night in September, something more than a conquest, a joke, a laugh. Josh, who needs as much reassurance and love and acceptance as Ellie. As anyone.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Jo is beautiful inside and out.
Hip hip hooray! What a glorious day!
I'm swinging high above the trees, and the view is amazing. I plan to stay up here awhile. Want to join me? It's the perfect way to celebrate the official release today of Jo Knowles's brand new young adult novel, Jumping Off Swings (Candlewick, 2009)! WooHoo!
JUMPING OFF SWINGS by Jo Knowles
(Candlewick Press, 2009), 240 pp.
Young Adult Fiction
*loving the fresh air blowing through my hair*
I'm so happy pub day is finally here, because I've been hearing so many good things about this book. Can't wait to read it! I've been a big Jo fan ever since reading her first novel, Lessons from a Dead Girl (Candlewick, 2007). I remember being totally captivated and impressed with her writing from page one. I loved her pared down, straightforward prose -- so evocative and compelling, not a word wasted. I admired her handling of a difficult, painful subject (children abusing other children), with such sensitivity and innate awareness. Jo really knows how to touch the heart and capture the anguish.
photo by Guacamole Goalie.
In Jumping Off Swings, she writes about another sensitive and potentially volatile issue: teen pregnancy. This time, the story is told through alternating points of view, the voices of four friends -- Ellie, Josh, Caleb, and Corinne, who've known each other since childhood.
Ellie has been bouncing from one boy to the next, in a desperate and futile attempt to feel loved. Josh, who has a troubled home life, is eager to lose his virginity, and convinces Ellie to sleep with him in the back of his van. When he casts her off immediately after having sex, Ellie is devastated. Then she discovers she's pregnant, and everyone must deal with the aftershock -- Josh is heartbroken and ashamed; Caleb, who's harbored a crush on Ellie for years, is hurt and angry. What follows is a swirl of emotions, unforeseen obstacles, hard choices, and the inevitable loss of innocence as all four come to realize the rammifications of a single misguided action.
Early reviews have been unanimously favorable and enthusiastic, praising the perfect pacing and overall flow of the narrative, realistic dialogue, and the multidimensional wholeness of all four protagonists. Lisa Schroeder cited Jo's special gift for tackling "tough subjects in a way that is honest and real." Majorie Light appreciated Jo's ability to convey a vital message and strong themes without overt moralizing: "Instead, she shows us the pain it causes, the chasms it creates, and the scars it leaves. She gently takes us by the hand and leads us along the darkened path, illuminating the characters' souls, exposing their needs and wants to all. We are left to make our own decisions, but her writing is so poignant and lyrical -- and true -- that there is really only one path we can follow after the last word is read."
*get ready to swing even higher*
Hard-to-please Kirkus gave Jumping Off Swings a glowing review, calling it "heartbreakingly honest" and "finely executed." Just yesterday, TeensReadToo gave it a Gold Star Award, and Publisher's Weekly gave it a *starred review*: "absorbing from first page to last . . . eloquently expresses the pain of loss innocence." The book has also been nominated to the YALSA Quick Pick List for Reluctant Readers. Apparently this novel has been seven years in the making, the result of Jo's 2002 SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant for Contemporary Fiction. I imagine she's extremely proud and happy that it's finally out in the world today, for all of us to enjoy!
Are you ready now to jump off your swings and dive right into our special bowl of celebration soup? Thank you, Jo, for your courage in writing about some of the tough issues teens face today, giving them, and all of us, honest portrayals, new understanding, insight, and hope. Congratulations on all the accolades -- we're thrilled for you!
Today's Special: Friendship Soup (seasoned with love, compassion, and truth).
After you're done slurping and swinging your legs from the edge of the bowl, have some of this chocolate sundae, a dessert inspired by The Chocolate Wars (turned Jo onto reading), and because her family once owned a genuine-for-real ice cream factory in New Hampshire! :9
photo by cotarr.
Why are you still here? Go on -- race to your nearest brick and mortar bookstore, or click over to Indiebound to order your very own copy of Jumping Off Swings. It's a perfect summer read, and a great one to share with book clubs or reading groups. ☺
Swing high, dream big!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Jo Knowles Official Website and Live Journal Blog.
Fab blog post by Jo about "Writing What's True" at TeenReads.com.
May 2009 Interview at HipWriterMama.
Online/Blog Reviews:
Lisa Schroeder
Marjorie Light
Richie Partington
Teri Lesesne
TeensReadToo
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More Soup of the Day posts here!
"Don’t give up. Write honestly and from the heart. Be brave. Work hard. Be kind to others and to yourself. Celebrate every milestone. Read at least one book a week. Never deny yourself chocolate." ~ Jo Knowles (November 2007 interview with Debbi Michiko Florence).
*Girl on swing photo by Neil Aiston.
Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
photo by kko19652001.
Have you heard?
Uber talented author Jo Knowles is celebrating her soon-to-be-released young adult novel, Jumping Off Swings, with a cool contest!
There are lots of ways to enter -- by submitting a picture of you jumping off a swing or sitting on a swing, by helping to spread the word via your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc., by telling your librarian or friend about the book, or by leaving a comment at the contest post. Each thing you do = one entry.
Jo will be presenting three lucky winners with a set of both her books -- Jumping Off Swings and a paperback edition of her first novel, Lessons from a Dead Girl, which will also be released on August 11th!
Get thee over to her blog right now to read all the details. She's posted a great slideshow of lots of entrants swinging. Wanna be one of those swingers? Send Jo your photo by the contest deadline of August 10, 2009.
or not 
I never pass up an opportunity to ramble about myself a little. So here goes: my name is Jessica, but you can call me Miss Shortskirt. I am the brand new co-blogger here at Required Reading, which is cool because
for the last 10+ years of my life, I have been reading 90% young adult books
Even when I was 10. Even when I was 17. Even when I was supposed to be reading War and Peace in ENG 262. Even now, when I am a ripe old 23-years-old.
It’s an addiction. A fixation. A deeply seeded love. I simply can’t get enough of it.
Take for instance, yesterday. I was feeling grumpy, and I had the day off, so I decided to pick up this book I checked out from the public library. Even though the story was predictable and the writing just a little too subtle for my grumpy attention span, I didn’t get up until I was finished.
That book was Lessons From A Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
Since I’m just introducing myself here, I won’t go into a full-fledged review. It was entertaining. Dark. Confusingly tragic. Good, but not Top 10 Books Ever good. And you’ll have to trust me when I say that the following discussion paragraph is not a spoiler at all:
What’s up with tragic teenaged girls freaking out and ending up dead? I can’t even list them all because I’m afraid I might spoil a book for someone, but there are a lot out there. It’s making me wish there were more books about girls with their head on their shoulders instead of this influx of Ophelia-esque characters.
I’m looking forward to spending some time here at Required Reading, and a big thanks to Erin for inviting me I blog on Livejournal about my life, books, and writing, so feel free to add me, or if you don’t like me but just like books, add me on GoodReads.
Happy reading!
Voraciously yours,
Miss Shortskirt
Conversing in the blogosphere is an art form. Sometimes, I feel as if I'm at a huge party, and there are clusters of fascinating, nattily dressed people filling the multi-leveled hip club, with music thumping and lights flashing, and I'm running (in my sensible tennis shoes) from one cool conversation to the next. I'm running because, instead of talking about Spice Girl's baby, these people are talking books, and writing, and art. (The Eternal Conversation, right?)
At first, I tried to handle my rounds alone. Then I hired the much younger----but with such cute glasses!---Mr. Google Reader to assist me. Great! Now I could follow multiple conversations at once. The only problem was that (and here the party gets weird) if I actually spoke during one of these conversations, instead of just sagely nodding at the fringes, then I had to keep dashing back to that group of people to see if anyone had replied. Which was often days later. (How I would love to hear Dorothy Parker handle this kind of conversational time travel.)
A breakthrough occurred when I discovered I could subscribe to all comments as well as all original posts. (And just so you know, you can do that for the conversations here by clicking on the link "Subscribe to all comments" at the right.) And joy! joy! some blogs even offered to only tap me on the shoulder when a particularly scintillating conversation had new thoughts. (That would be found here by clicking on the title of a post, and then scrolling to the bottom for the link marked "Subscribe to: post comments.")
And here's where I need your help: I can't find these links for some of the wildly wonderful, totally fascinating, non-probation anklet conversations I want to follow. Is this not available in some blogging software? Or is it an option the blogger turns on or off? Please, I'm begging you, enlighten me. Because I really want to ditch my sensible tennies and slip on my three-inch bronze snakeskin heels.
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Thanks for reminding us to stay on the road. And I'm glad to know I won't be the only one that is taking a long time following that road. Good luck with your book.
You're welcome, Natalie! Keep on truckin' ;-)
Jo
Big hugs to Jo for writing this post. :D
Thanks Stina!! <3
*feels guilty that I missed my morning shift of writing*
Say, your cover looks similar to the one for MATCHED by Ally Condie. The formatting is similar, and both covers feature a sphere.
No guilt, CO! :-)
The covers do look similar online, but physically they're pretty different. But yeah, it's always odd when you find out your cover looks like another one. Authors really have little to no say in their covers though. :)
Jo
Wow, did I need this today! Thanks so much, Jo.
You're welcome, Mary Ann! <3
Glad to help.
Wonderful post, Jo. Exactly what I needed to hear today :)
Inspiring post. Thanks Jo.
Trish
Thanks Kathleen and Trish! :-)
Jo
This is great, Jo. Especially for someone just starting out like me. If you tell anyone you're writing a book the first thing they ask is, "when is it coming out?" I just laugh. I think for me, reading authors blogs and hearing different success stories allows me to be more realistic about publishing. I somehow feel a sense of ease about the whole thing. I actually expect it to take a long time. I hope this will soften some of the what is sure to be disappointment when the time comes.
Thank you for sharing your story. I can only hope I will grow as a writer with every project.
Ten years, huh. Then maybe my breakthrough is just around the corner. So I guess I'd better stay on the path. :)
Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring story, Jo.
Very inspirational! Thanks so much for sharing your story and encouragement, Jo!
Leigh, that's a great attitude!
Linda, YES! :-)
SP, you're welcome! Best of luck!!
Jo
Thanks once again, Jo. There are days I just want to pull off at a rest stop and stay there. The road less traveled is often the most enjoyable and interesting one! Sheila D.
Great post, Jo!! Thank you!!
Jo rocks!
Thanks for sharing your story, Jo. It's more encouraging than you know, because although I like hearing the amazing success stories as much as the next writer, I know that most writers end up taking the scenic route, and it's nice to know that it leads somewhere.
I read so many books on writing that I can't recall where this information came from, but I did read once that the writers who don't make it right away tend to be the ones who produce more books in the end. The character and skills they developed over the long haul stood with them when the book deals finally came through, keeping them going throughout the ups and downs that came later.
Here's to the scenic route. I'm glad you took it and that you're seeing the success that comes from staying on the road.
: )
Brava, Jo! So glad you stuck to your path! Love your books and can't wait for your next! xoxoox
Paul, You're welcome!
Sheila, so true!
Slatts, <3
Beth, so well said! I love your reply. And I think it's a great reminder that to every writer you reach out to on your path, the bigger the party when you reach your destination.
Debbi, love you!
Jo
I really liked what you had to say about there being a parade of people alongside you as you journeyed on, all of whom were cheering for you the day you got The Call. If I count the time when I wrote the first page of my first novel, I've been at this for six years; this March, it will have been four years since I sent out my first queries. I'm still writing, and enjoying the friends I've made along the way. And I don't dare give up hope.
Thanks Jeni!
Count me as one of the fans in your parade! I've witnessed you make friends by reaching out and I know it'll be a big party when you reach your goal!
Love,
Jo
Wonderful post! Thank you.
This is great! Yes, it takes a long time sometimes!! I'm on year 10 too, although I started out in the 1990s when I wrote almost in a vacuum--no helpful internet or blogs. Congrats to you for making it on your long journey. And is there really a female FACE in that pearl on the cover?? I'm seeing one!! A face and a little hand...
Thanks for this encouraging post, Jo! As I travel my own winding road, I try to enjoy every stage -- like, no deadlines! Enjoy it while I can, right? Heh.
Just what I needed to hear today. Thanks!
Patesden, Thanks!
Carol, isn't it great that there's such a supportive online community now? What a difference. And yes, there is a face in the pearl. :)
Shari, no deadline is a great one! :-)
Janine, I'm so glad. Thank you!
This is a very inspiring speech. I always prefer to hear writers who struggled before getting published than the one who didn't. There's a quality, a depth about them that I found truer, more compelling because i guess they found themselves along the way.
Something brought me to this page today. Yesterday was the worst day ever. One of those, "this sucks and I'm giving up," days. I'm at that part where it's really hard and it does look like everyone is doing better than me. But then I stumble into words like yours that remind me to keep going. Thanks for that. I hope my long and winding path ends as well as yours.
Great interview!!
Thank you, Jo. Just hit the ten-year mark myself (okay--it was six months ago). Appreciate the encouraging post! : )
Yes, thank you. I feel much better now and more determined never to give up :)