I'm taking a blogging break.
And during this time I'm going to read every diverse MG book I can get my hands on, that I haven't yet read. Because now, more than ever, We Need Diverse Books!*
Reviews when I return.
*I also donated to them today. If you're frustrated or upset about things, please consider doing something positive. Donate to a charity. Volunteer. Hug someone. Read.
Happy Halloween!
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I am registered non-partisan and this photo in no way reflects my opinion on either candidate |
Are you ready? No, I'm not talking about Halloween so much as next week (although I think I still have some candy left around here). I don't know about you, but I'm soooo ready for this most bizarre of all US Presidential elections to be over.
Why can't we handle our elections the way Great Britain does and have it all finished within a few months? Better yet, the way Australia does -- in six weeks. Both countries also limit campaign spending. Isn't it high time we did the same?
And speaking of six weeks or a few months, I'm taking a blogging break. Probably for all of November and December. So sorry to miss reading your blogs but I need some time off. I'm way behind on my writing and reading, and something has to give. I also want to start querying my novel in verse and I need to get cracking on
stalking researching agents.
See you on the other side!
I'm pleased to announce that according to randomizer the winner of the SIGNED hardcover copy of UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung is
Congratulations, Rosi! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
* * *
Please note: I'm taking a blogging break for a few weeks so I can focus on revising my verse novel. I received some fantastic feedback on it at the
Highlights Foundation workshop on Novels in Verse in late May. Those five days were a magical experience, filled with learning, sharing, and making new friends. Really, we felt more like a family by the end. The food was heavenly, we took walks without seeing a single vehicle (!), and there was plenty of built-in time for writing. I'll be back in July with a more-detailed recap of my adventures.
I'll leave you with some photos from Highlights. My cabin was the second from the left. Rustic and cozy and very conducive to writing.
First, some interesting news for fans of T.A. Barron's Young Merlin saga. They're making a movie! Woo hoo! And the script is being written by the co-writer of The Lord of the Rings movies, so there are high expectations for this film (and its possible sequels). That's excellent news for T.A. Barron fans.
Now on to today's MMGM. For other marvelous middle grade posts, see Shannon Messenger's blog.
The Trilogy of Two written and illustrated by Juman Malouf (Putnam's, November 10, 2015, for ages 10 and up, 416 pages)
Synopsis (from the publisher): Twelve-year-old identical twins Sonja and Charlotte are musical prodigies with extraordinary powers. Born on All-Hallows-Eve, the girls could play music before they could walk. They were found one night by Tatty, the Tattooed Lady of the circus, in a pail on her doorstep with only a note and a heart-shaped locket. They’ve been with Tatty ever since, roaming the Outskirts in the circus caravans, moving from place to place.
But lately, curious things happen when they play their instruments. During one of their performances, the girls accidentally levitate their entire audience, drawing too much unwanted attention. Soon, ominous Enforcers come after them, and Charlotte and Sonja must embark on a perilous journey through enchanted lands in hopes of unlocking the secrets of their mysterious past.
Why I recommend it: Wow! This is a highly imaginative fantasy, with impressive world building by Malouf. It's set in a world that could be Earth in a far future (or an alternate past) when million-mile-high cities have overrun the planet. The author herself described it as a "post-apocalyptic, Dickensian world" in
this article from The Daily Beast.The twins are forced to travel to the Seven Edens, worlds they previously knew only as stories represented by the tattoos completely covering Tatty's skin. Luckily, they're accompanied by an intrepid band of new friends. So it's a classic journey story, a la
Lord of the Rings or
The Wizard of Oz, but with quite a few dark and startling twists. There is some violence, so I would not recommend this for younger middle grade readers. It's also quite lengthy, so give this to kids who love the longer Harry Potter books, or T
he Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Favorite line: Charlotte ran through the gate and zigzagged among the broken-down railcars. She tried to remember pieces of music she used to play, but they all blended together in a tangle of notes. (from p. 71)
Bonus: Fantastically-detailed drawings by the author are the perfect accompaniment to this unusual story. Before she turned to writing and illustrating children's books, Juman Malouf was the
set designer and costume designer for the film
The Grand Budapest Hotel.
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Readers, please note: After today, I'm taking a blogging break to catch up on my reading and writing, and also get ready for the holidays. I wish you all the happiest of holidays, no matter which holiday(s) you celebrate. Here's a photo of my TBR pile, all spread out. Hoping to get to these (and possibly more) before January. Wish me luck!
School's out here in Colorado, and the weather is nice--I hope it is in your part of the world also. And Summer means I take a little blogging break, to catch up on some reading, writing, and playtime with the kids.
I hope to see you back here in August, with fresh pencils and notebooks!
By: Joanne R. Fritz,
on 11/11/2016
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By: Fleur Bradley,
on 6/4/2015
