new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: juvenile fiction, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 26 - 43 of 43
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: juvenile fiction 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.
Callie For President (Candy Apple)
This wasn't my favorite book in the series, but it was fun. It was well written but 
the characters weren't quite as like able as in other books. They were kind of mean. When Callie finds herself running for student counsel president against Brianna the most popular girl in school, things get ugly. Between secrets, turning herself into someone she's not, and mudslinging, Callie almost loses not one but both of her best friends. Can she find the real Callie Singer before things go to far, and she actually wins the election?
The Social Experiments of Dorie Dilts: Dumped by Popular Demand (The Social Experiments of Dorie Dilts)
This book was pretty entertaining. It was about a kind of nerdy girl named Dorie who moved to a new town and tried doing a scientific experiment to learn how to become popular. The book is full of the scientific method and nerdiness which I could appreciate. being somewhat of a nerd 
myself. Using the scientific method Dorie discovered that to become popular she must first date, and then get dumped by a boy named Grant. But when Dorie's plans backfired she has to decide what is more important, friends or popularity. The only thing to be aware of with the content, is that the gword is used in normal conversation and they do kiss once.
Tunnels (Book 1)
by Roderick Gordon
Rating:
(My husband and I have an agreement, whoever reads the book first has to write the review. This is his review to write, but because he is so behind, I decided to be nice and write it for him.)
We had a really hard time deciding what rating to give this book. The story and the characters were both extremely well written, and there was always something going on. But for some reason we both had a hard time reading the book. I really enjoyed it, and I look forward to the next books in the series, but I probably couldn't read it again. However, I understand why people love the book, because the story was completely original and fun. It was a great book, but I think it will make an even better movie. With the content rating - the book was kind of scary sometimes and it took the Lord's name in vain a few times.
Description:
Will's favorite thing to do is to dig tunnels. When his father goes missing, Will and his friend 
Chester dig the ultimate tunnel, and discover a whole new world under ground. Will finds out that the family he had known his whole life isn't his real family and his father and brother actually belong to the under ground world. With the evil Styx watching his every move, Will must find a way to rescue Chester and escape from his underground prison.
Ever
by Gail Carson Levine
Rating:
Ever is yet another brilliant story by Gail Carson Levine. In the book, Levine weaves classic fairy tale elements with basic mythology, immersing the reader in a whole new world. The story and language isn't quite as simple as it is in some of her other books, and would be easier understood by older children. The book is a must read for Gail Carson Levine fans.
Description:
Kezi's life has been pledged to the one god, and unless she can find a way to thwart her fate, she has only one month to live. Olus, the god of the winds, falls in love with Kezi, and is unwilling to let her die. With the help of Olus, Kezi embarks on a perilous journey to become an immortal god. Can Kezi past the test, or is she doomed to die without love?
I got my advanced readers edition from the publisher - book is released on May 6, 2008
Looking for reviews of children's books? Look no further than the Children's Book Review wiki. It was created by the indefatigable Kelly Herold of Big A little a, who may be one of the most busy and productive people I've ever met. The wiki contains a wonderful and rich variety of blog reviews from all over the kidlitosphere.
I just put up all the reviews I've ever posted on Wizards Wireless on the wiki. There aren't that many... because I tend to make lists and general comments about books instead of writing formal reviews. But, I was surprised to see that I've written 15 reviews so far... I thought it was far fewer than that.
One of the most rewarding parts of reviewing for me has been connecting with authors. If the book has been published relatively recently and I can find an e-mail address, I will frequently send authors links to my blog reviews. And, every one of them has written back, which I find amazing. I have to admit, I felt like a rock star when I got return e-mails from Susan Patron and Mordecai Gerstein only a few weeks after I started blogging.
I'm in awe of bloggers who write reviews regularly (and sometimes even every day!), such as Betsy at A Fuse #8 Production, Jen at Jen Robinson's Book Page, Tasha at Kids Lit, Jules and Eisha at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Abby at Abby (the) Librarian, Laura at Library & Literary Miscellany... and, ummm... everybody but me.
I've rounded up all the reviews I've written thus far (see the list below). Looking at the list, I notice that I seem to favor titles that contain exclamation points!
Books for Babies and Toddlers
Picture BooksJuvenile FictionWant to contribute your reviews to the
Children's Book Review wiki? Take a look at
this post on
Big A Little a to see how to do it.
Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of my favorite authors. If the name sounds familiar, it's probably because you know her most famous book: Anne of Green Gables.
Oddly enough, that isn't the book I like best. Oh sure, it's the first one I discovered and I think it's great, but she wrote other books that I fell in love with even more.
Although most people only know the first book in the series, L.M. Montgomery actually wrote eight novels about Anne. Here are my favorite Anne books:
- Anne of the Island. Anne goes to college and rejects suitors right and left. I think this book may be the one I like the best in the whole series. It has a lovely timeless quality to it.
- Anne's House of Dreams. This book chronicles the first few years of Anne's marriage. There's heartbreak and love in it and it's wonderful to see Anne grow up and her relationships develop. I have to say, though, that I recently re-read this book, and found it contained far more sexist attitudes towards women than I remembered.
- Rilla of Ingleside. This book contains the story of Anne's daughter growing up during World War One. I learned a lot from this book when I first read it, and the images of war it presents have always stayed with me.
I also love the series of books about
Emily of New Moon. My favorite book in that series is:
- Emily's Quest. This is the third book in the Emily series and is quite haunting in parts. It moves me every time I read it. Also, this is the series that I've always considered to be the most autobiographical of L.M. Montgomery, so I think the occasional sadness and despair in it affect me more.
And, I can't forget the two books about
Pat of Silver Bush.
- Mistress Pat, the second book in the series, is the one I like the best. There's something intriguing about Pat's devotion to her house. Also, aspects of Pat's story are similar to Emily's, which I've always found interesting. I think it contains my least favorite male name, though. The hero's name is Jingle. That's never really worked for me.
Another book I like (but it isn't part of a series) is:
- A Tangled Web. This book brings all of L.M. Montgomery's major stories together in one book. It's like reading short versions of all her other books.
I've read every book that L.M. Montgomery wrote. What's my favorite book of all? Hands down, it's:
- The Blue Castle. It's not very well known at all, and it's the only book she wrote that is not set on Prince Edward Island. It's about a woman, Valancy Stirling, who is told she only has a year to live. She completely reinvents herself in a wonderful way. I think this is the most romantic of all of L.M. Montgomery's books.
Why am I mentioning this author now? 2008 is the one hundredth anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables, which was originally published in 1908. There are
lots of celebrations going on in honor of this famous red-haired orphan.
Interested in more about L.M. Montgomery? The best and most comprehensive book I've ever found on the subject (and I found it when I was visiting the site of the author's childhood home on Prince Edward Island) is called
The Lucy Maud Montgomery Album. This five hundred page book is an absolute masterpiece, complete with rich essays and photographs from both family members and scholars that chronicle and honor the life of this wonderful author. It's being
re-released in March 2008.
There's also a new
Anne of Green Gables book about to be published called
Before Green Gables. It's a prequel to the first book, and is written by Budge Wilson. See
this post by Cheryl Rainfeld for more details.
Do you have a favorite book by L.M. Montgomery? Let me know in the comments, or vote in the new poll on the sidebar.
By:
Mayra Calvani,
on 1/16/2008
Blog:
Mayra's Secret Bookcase
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
beverly mcclure,
secrets i have kept,
rebel in blue jeans,
beverly mcclure,
secrets i have kept,
juvenile fiction,
young adult novel,
kids books,
kids books,
young adult novel,
rebel in blue jeans,
juvenile fiction,
Add a tag
.jpg)
Beverly Mcclure talks about her latest young adult novel, Secrets I Have Kept. She also talks about inspiration, writer's block, and finding a publisher. Hello, Beverly. Why don’t you start by telling us a bit about your book, and what inspired you to write such a story?
Secrets I Have Kept is a young adult mystery about Jennifer, a girl whose father, a molecular biologist, is kidnapped. Armed with nothing more than her own courage, a phone number on a candy wrapper, and her loyal Australian cattle dog, Chopin, she begins a desperate attempt to rescue him and to discover the reason for his abduction. In her search, she meets Casey, a runaway on a quest of his own: to find his father who deserted Casey and his mother when Casey was three. As they follow a trail of unusual clues, a chilling secret is revealed.
The idea for this story came to me one day when I was reading a magazine about the amazing drugs scientists are making with plants from the ocean. This story revolves around one such plant.
How would you describe your creative process while writing this novel? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline? How long did it take you to write it?
.jpg)
I started with the idea of a plant that could fulfill man’s wildest dreams or be man’s greatest nightmare. Then my characters introduced themselves to me, and I made character sheets to help me remember what they liked, hated, looked like, etc. They just led me along. Sometimes I had to back up and follow a different path, but I seldom outline. I prefer to see where the story takes me. From idea to finished story was around a year, maybe a little longer. I am a slow writer.
Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?
Not really writer’s block. Sometimes I get stumped, but I play around with the scene, jot down possibilities, or go on to another scene with a reminder to go back and redo or finish the previous one. Long walks help to clear my head and an occasional solution will present itself. I think getting away from the story helps me focus on what it needs. It may take several days, but there is an answer.
How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?
I queried probably every large publisher in New York and those in between, with no success. Then I discovered small online publishers, and my book is now published. My advice would be to join messages boards such as Verla Kay’s Blue Boards, where writers, editors, and agents discuss the business of writing. Study the markets. Know what each house is looking for. Join a critique group. When your story is the best you can make it, send it out, again and again. If an editor makes comments, pay attention. Your story might improve with a few tweaks here and there. The markets are tough. Don’t get discouraged.
What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you?
Networking on the Internet has been my most productive promotion, especially the Muse Online Writers Conference where I was a presenter. I’ve had small successes at local bookstore signings, but that readership is limited, where the Internet reaches almost the whole world.
What is your favorite book of all time? Why?
My favorite book is Gone With the Wind. I love Scarlet who is not perfect and sometimes I want to shake her and say “Wake up, girl, Look at him,” meaning Rhett Butler of course. Why would she like wimpy Ashley with a hunk like Rhett after her? Also, the Civil War era is one of my favorite time periods.
Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?
http://beverlystowemcclure.com/ (though this may soon change)
http://www.myspace.com/beverlywriter
http://beverlyjean.livejournal.com
http://memawriter.gather.co
http://rebelinbluejeans.wordpress.com (for my forthcoming novel that’s under construction)
Please friend me, if you’d like.
Do you have another novel on the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects.
Yes, I have two young adult novels scheduled for release in 2008. Rebel in Blue Jeans is a contemporary story about a girl whose mother runs away with the drummer in a rock band and what she does to try to bring her parents together again.
Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, is a historical fiction story about one family’s struggle to survive a changing way of life during the Civil War.
I’m also working on a young adult contemporary novel and a middle grade ghost story.
Thanks for stopping by! It was a pleasure to have you here!
My pleasure, Mayra. I enjoyed chatting with you.
By: Jennie,
on 3/20/2007
Blog:
Biblio File
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Fiction,
Classics,
fantasy,
mystery,
holocaust,
Juvenile,
Jane Yolen,
Edward Eager,
E. L. Konigsburg,
Madeleine L'Engle,
Add a tag
Now Reading: An Abundance of Katherines
This summer, I reread some of the books I remember most fondly from my elementary school days. Luckily, most of them lived up to memories of their greatness.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine
L'Engle The classic adventure of what happens when three witches appear and tell Meg that they can help her find her missing father. Her younger brother Charles Wallace, and new friend Calvin come along as they travel through time on wrinkles in the space-time
continuum. Still weird. Still brilliant. And still giving me hope that even unpopular, dorky girls like Meg can end up with someone like Calvin. When a literary crush lasts this long, you know it's forever.
Half Magic by Edward Eager In which we have four children during a boring summer who discover a magic coin that grants them wishes. Kinda. The coin's a little faulty, so it only grants half of your wish. The
siblings each get to make a wish a day and go off on many adventures. It's a little dated in a way I didn't notice when I was young-- it seems very quaint. I now also know that it's heavily based on E.
Nesbit's Five Children and It (to be fair, Eager gives
Nesbit full credit and even makes her the favorite author of the children). That ruined it for me a little, but I still highly
recommend to anyone who hasn't read it, especially if they're under 12.
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane
Yolen I have yet to see the Kirsten
Dunst film version of this because I love this book so much that I would hate to see it differently than it is in my mind's eye. Hannah can't understand why her older relatives are so upset about a war that happened long ago. She's not keen on spending Passover with them. But, when she opens to the door to look for Elijah during
Seder, she's transported back in time to a Polish
shetl that's about to be deported to Hitler's death camps. Even though she knows what's coming, she can't make it stop and she can't make anyone listen to her. Even when I knew the ending and the
surprise twist, even when I have since read and learned a lot more about the Holocaust, I found this book to be just as gripping and heart-breaking as it was in seventh grade.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweilerby E. L.
Konigsburg I love art-based mystery thriller novels such as
The Da Vinci Code The Girl With Boticelli Eyes. (Seriously-- this is a bit of a super-
niched genre, but if you have any other titles, let me know.) I fully blame this book for starting it in me. Anyway, in this lovely little book, Claudia decides that she's not really loved and her family would not miss her if she ran away. She takes her little brother with her (because he's good at saving his allowance, and she needs someone to bankroll this operation) and they head off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (because Claudia wants to live somewhere nice. While at the Met, they get caught up in a mystery taking the art world by storm when the Met
acquires a new statue that may or may not have been a
Michelangelo.
My only complaints are that the story no longer seems
plausible (shut up-- when I was in 5
th grade, I totally believed this could happen). But in such an age of high tech security, can one really spend the night in an antique bed without setting off some laser alarm? *sigh* I wish. Also,
Chasing Vermeer, which owes A LOT to Mrs. Basil, is more gripping and a smarter read all around for today. Still, a classic, but one I probably will not pick up again until I can read it to my own children (who, at this point, are totally hypothetical-- don't get your hopes up Mom).
the characters weren't quite as like able as in other books. They were kind of mean. When Callie finds herself running for student counsel president against Brianna the most popular girl in school, things get ugly. Between secrets, turning herself into someone she's not, and mudslinging, Callie almost loses not one but both of her best friends. Can she find the real Callie Singer before things go to far, and she actually wins the election?
- Ella's family wants to keep her from attending princess school and its royal ball.
- Snow's stepmother tries to kill her at the Princess School Maiden Games.
- Madame Gothel discovers that Rapunzel has been sneaking out of her tower.
- Rose is sick of everyone fawning over her and she is determined to do something about it.
- Rapunzel disguises herself as a prince so she can compete in the Charm School Jousting Tournament.
- Snow's father has physically returned from sea, but he doesn't remember who he is.
- Rose gets the part of Princess Perfecta in the school play and must act with someone who really does want to kill her.
- I can't find this book anywhere. Does anyone know where you can get it?
- Eleanor and Eddie Hall embark on a mission to rescue their missing aunt and uncle from a magical dream world.
-
-When Eddie receives a magical stereoscope in the mail, Eleanor and Eddie enter the magical world of self discovery. (The book also deals with the question of religion)
-
-
-
-
- I have an ARE of this book and will read it shortly.
by 
by 
by 
by Joseph Delaney
by 
- Emily is worried that her overprotective parents will think she is to young to attend a sleepover.
- The girls decide to have a sleepover outside at Emily's house. There is only one problem, Taylor is afraid of bugs.
- It's Kara's turn to host the sleepover, but will the girls' fun be ruined by Kara's older brothers?
-
-
-
-
by 
by 
.jpg)
.jpg)
I don't write a lot of formal reviews, either (probably far fewer than 15 since I started blogging in November). I do love to read them, but I also love to read more personal comments about books. And I love lists!