Looking for a fun book to read as summer winds to a close? Here's a recommendation for our younger readergirlz:
Too Cool for This School by Kristen Tracy!Lane's sixth grade year isn't quite going how she planned it. When her same-age cousin Angelina unexpectedly comes to stay with Lane and her parents for a month, she totally disrupts everything at home and at school. Within days of her arrival, Angelina destroys one of Lane's favorite shirts, clashes with Lane's friends, and clicks with Lane's crush and sort-of boyfriend. Angelina decides to go by her middle name, Mint. Lane tries to give her cousin advice on how to blend in, but Mint doesn't take it. Soon, pretty much everything Mint does or says rubs Lane the wrong way.
Anyone who is or has been 11 to 13 years old can tell you a horror story or two about their social life during middle school. Some kids stress out about fitting in, while others stand out for any number of reasons, whether they want to or not. While Lane thinks Mint is eccentric, other classmates embrace Mint's exuberance. Likewise, some readers will probably think Mint's outfits are zany while others will applaud her daring-do. As in her previous middle grade stories
The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter and
Bessica Lefter Bites Back, author Kristen Tracy reminds us of our best and worst moments in middle school, handling both the triumphs and the mortifying moments with just the right mix of surprise and worry.
Click here to read the rest of my review!
If you're writing teen fiction and you live in the Bay Area, you ought to check out the Write Teen classes. Seriously. Then come back here and tell me all about the classes, since I can't be there in person and need to live vicariously through you. Here's the inside scoop:
In a brand-new series of Bay Area writing classes, Kristen Tracy and Nina LaCour will teach you how to craft and publish a marketable teen novel. Together they have sold eleven novels to Simon & Schuster, Random House, Disney-Hyperion, and Penguin. They'll share their own strategies for writing and revision, and help you analyze critically and commercially successful teen novels. Nina and Kristen are both experienced teachers who have lectured and led workshops about writing throughout the country.
Learn more and register for classes at http://www.writeteen.com
Click here to see the full-page flyer.
I just learned about the
unREQUIRED READING Book Tour from one of my wonderful website clients,
Kristen Tracy, who is one of six authors participating in this nationwide tour. I hope some of you are able to attend the events.
unREQUIRED READING Book Tourfeaturing six authors: Kristen Tracy, Brent Crawford, Stacey Kade, Daniel Waters, Elizabeth Rudnick, Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin. Please note which authors are scheduled to appear at each of the following events:
- June 18th: Davis Kidd, Memphis, TN (Waters, Rudnick, Franklin, and Halpin)
- June 18th: Keplers, Menlo Park, CA (Tracy, Kade, and Crawford)
- June 19th: Books & Books, Coral Gabels, FL (Waters, Rudnick, Franklin, and Halpin)
- June 21st: Pudd'nHead Books, Webster Groves, MO (Tracy, Kade, and Crawford)
- June 21st: Little Shop of Stories, Atlanta, GA (Waters, Rudnick, Franklin, and Halpin)
- June 22nd: Anderson's, Chicago, IL (all authors)
- June 23rd: Watermark Books, Wichita, KS (all authors)
- June 24th: Books of Wonder, New York, NY (all authors)
- June 25th: Reception at American Libraries Association Convention, Washington, DC (all authors)
- June 26th: Politics & Prose, Washington, DC (all authors)
Learn more about Kristen Tracy's brand-new YA novel, A Field Guide for Heartbreakers.
Author: Kristen Tracy (on JOMB)
Published: 2009 Random House (on JOMB)
ISBN: 9780385736879
A big thanks to guest host Lucy (10) for joining Andrea today to discuss this book.
Life can be challenging and fair’s got nothing to do with it. Parents are people. Friendship’s a worthwhile risk. There’s a lot to think about when you’re ten in the real world. Which is why I’m so glad Lucy (10) and I read this fun and fabulously thought provoking book.
Mentioned in this chat:
More books including less-than-perfect families on JOMB:
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
.jpg?picon=590)
.jpg?picon=380)
This sounds great! I wish I could go!