2010 | 160 pages | Middle Grade
*I received an e-ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley.
In this 8th volume in the Camp Club Girls series, Bailey visits Sydney at her grandmother's house in North Carolina's Outer Banks. Almost immediately, the girls begin to see strange lights over the beach at night, and they discover footprints in the sand. Bailey, the youngest and most naive Camp Club Girl, suspects that these weird happenings are the work of space aliens, and her concerns about the supernatural are only intensified when they encounter the mysterious Captain Swain, who seems to appear and disappear at will.
Sydney is more level-headed, however, and she encourages Bailey to keep looking for the logical explanation underneath every seemingly odd occurrence. With the help of the rest of the Camp Club Girls scattered around the country, Sydney and Bailey eventually do just that, uncovering a significant secret from a shy member of their local community.
In terms of plot, this book didn't feel as strong as the first two that I reviewed. While the speculation about aliens and ghosts was interesting, the reality revealed at the end of the mystery was a let-down in comparison. I'm also just not crazy about Bailey as a character. I think a lot of her behavior is meant to convey her immaturity as the youngest member of the group, but she really annoyed me in this book, especially when she continually referred to Elizabeth as Betty Boo, despite the fact that everyone else knows she hates it.
One thing I did really like was the fact that this time, the religious elements of the story came from an outside force, not just from the girls and their families. Captain Swain continually quoted Bible passages as words of encouragement for the people around him, and he did so without being preachy or obnoxious. I haven't read many books written expressly for Christian kids, but I like that these books simply present the Christian themes as part of the world the characters live in, without making those themes central to the story. The book sets a good Christian example, but that good example is embedded in a realistic and engaging story.
I will conclude this review series next weekend with
Alexis and the Arizona Escapade. Read my previous Camp Club Girls reviews below:
Alexis and the Lake Tahoe Tumult
Elizabeth's Amarillo Adventure
by Renae Brumbaugh
2010 | 160 pages | Middle Grade
In this 7th book in the Camp Club Girls series, Elizabeth's next door neighbor, Megan, learns that her grandmother was given some very expensive marbles as a young woman, which have since gone missing. Lately, a mysterious gentleman has been inquiring after the marbles, and even though Megan's mother thinks this is all a hoax, Megan knows the family needs the money and wants to pursue these valuable family heirlooms. Megan asks Elizabeth to help her solve the mystery, and with the help of another Camp Club Girl, McKenzie, who is visiting Texas, she begins piecing the clues together.
This book is filled with suspense, and these girls, though conscientious and level-headed most of the time, still manage to disobey their parents, sneak out of the house, and land in some seriously dangerous situations. Elizabeth is the Camp Club Girl known for her knowledge of Biblical scripture, and her father is a Bible instructor, so this book has some more religious references in it than the book I reviewed last week, but the morality of these books is never preachy or pushy. The girls' lives are informed by their beliefs, but they are well-rounded, flawed individuals, and sometimes they make snap judgments or poor decisions. The supporting cast of characters is also really great in this book - Jean Louise, the head waitress at the restaurant whee Megan works, is particularly colorful and spunky, and the parents in this book are much more present and well-developed than a lot of other fictional moms and dads.
This book reminded me a lot of Nancy Drew, but seemed better written than the Nancy Drew books being published these days. I was also reminded of
The Boxcar Children, and I think this series is a nice step up for readers who have aged out of those but still want a good, clean story without violence or foul language. Non-Christian readers may not relate to the religious themes presented here, but certainly the mystery is appealing to everyone.
This is my second post in my series of reviews about the Camp Club Girls series. Next week, I will review
Sydney'
s Outer Banks Blast.
Clementine and the Family Meeting
by Sara Pennypacker; pictures by Marla Frazee
2011 | 176 pages | Ages 7-10
When Clementine sees the family meeting sign hanging in the kitchen, she's sure she's done something wrong, and immediately starts to have a nervous breakdown. It turns out, though, after pestering her parents and worrying all day long, that the meeting has nothing to do with Clementine's behavior at all. Rather, it is her parents who have big news - they want to have another baby. Clementine is immediately displeased. Four is the perfect number, she says, and there's no reason to mess with perfection. Margaret, Clementine's older friend, piles on as well, saying that if this was happening in her family, she'd never allow it. Throughout the book, Clementine struggles to accept the idea of a second sibling, while also dealing with Margaret's new grown-up interest in wearing make-up and trying to convince her father to allow her to wear his tool belt.
I was somewhat wary of this plot line at first, since so many children's books already deal with the same subject matter, but I quickly got past that sticking point when I realized I really wanted to see how Clementine would react in this situation. And she did not disappoint. Clementine's thoughts about the new baby are completely unique, and very funny. I also enjoyed seeing her interact with her brother, whose name, alas, we still do not know, and there are some especially sweet moments between Clementine and her dad as well. I also really enjoyed Clementine's latest school predicament - Waylon, her science partner, wants to demonstrate walking through a wall, and Clementine is quite convinced he doesn't actually have superpowers.
Clementine is such a relatable and real character, and I love her stable, loving, and warm family. Her parents know just how to deal with her sometimes tricky personality, and they love her unconditionally in spite of her flaws. I like that Clementine has definite difficulties, but that none of them are truly traumatic or insurmountable.
Another hit, as far as I'm concerned. Can't wait for the next book already!
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Clementine and the Family Meeting from a digital Advanced Reading Copy I received from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.
2003 (hardcover); 2011 (paperback) | 112 pages | Grades 3-4
*I received an e-ARC from Albert Whitman & Company via NetGalley.
Thanksgiving is coming, and Katie Jordan is worried. Her neighbor, Claire, whose mother passed away, has informed Katie, whose own mother is a traveling country singer, that girls without mothers are pitied when they don't have "normal" holiday celebrations. Claire's dad is having 40 people over and decorating the house and the porch will all kinds of fancy things. Katie's dad, on the other hand, has a work deadline on the day before the holiday, and he wants to stay in pajamas and eat pizza for dinner. Claire says this will never do, and encourages Katie to change her dad's mind. Mr. Jordan won't budge, however, and the only thing Katie is allowed to do is make a few traditional side dishes and some homemade decorations. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when Katie accidentally invites her teacher for dinner, and she accepts! Side plots include her father's interactions with his boss, and three-year-old Tyler's fear and fascination regarding a giant turkey on display across the street at Claire's house.
I really enjoyed this book because it dealt with a familiar subject in a new way. We have seen a lot of children's books characters dealing with an absent parent, and many kids can relate to competition with friends and neighbors to be the best at something. But the different approaches that Claire and Katie take to their mothers' absence, and the differences between their two loving single-dad families made this book stand out from others. I liked that both dads are perfectly competent, but in their own ways, and I enjoyed watching Katie come to understand that her family is every bit as good as anyone else's, even if it doesn't have the perfect Thanksgiving. Definitely a great holiday story, but also an excellent lesson in accepting yourself and your family, no matter what the neighbors say.
This book was originally published in hardcover in 2003, and is currently available from Amazon.com. It was nominated for a 2006 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award. A new paperback edition, with an updated cover, will be released on August 1, 2011. A sequel, called
Tails of Spring Break was published in 2005, and
the author's website says that a third book,
Bittersweet Summer, is in the works.
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme where bloggers share books they can’t wait to read. I reviewed
Turkey Monster Thanksgiving from a digital Advanced Reading Copy I received from Albert Whitman & Company via NetGalley.
2011 | 112 pages | Young Adult
*I received an e-ARC of this book from Graphia via NetGalley.
This fast-paced YA read for young teens is the story of how fourteen-year-old Alex went from a self conscious nobody to a talented bass guitar player. The book is divided into chapters or "stories", each telling of a step Alex takes on the road to stardom. We see her humble beginnings as her brother teaches her to play bass, her heartbreaking relationships with a couple of two-timing musicians, the excitement of playing her first show, and the thrill of finding a close female friend who shares her passion for music. We also see the way a dream can come crashing down when her parents eventually pull the plug on her growing celebrity.
The emotional turbulence of any teen novel is clearly present here, but it's channeled into the unique world of music, skating, and straight-edge culture. Alex's self-deprecating sense of humor, and her different brand of femininity made me really interested in her story, even if the subject matter was foreign to me. Some of the supporting characters felt somewhat cartoonish, but Alex was very real, and her story, though unlikely for most teens, felt plausible.
Author Joyce Raskin is herself a musician who writes songs and performs with a band called Scarce, and this book was inspired by many of her own experiences. The book includes some really wonderful author's notes in the back that level with aspiring girl guitarists and explain what's required to learn guitar, and to begin writing and performing songs. Though I don't know much about playing guitar myself, the information seems really useful, and it's presented in a clear but conversational tone that will definitely appeal to its audience.
This book is a great alternative for girls who don't want to read about the same old themes, or who want to read about them from a different perspective. Its quick pace and short chapters will make it a great pick for reluctant readers, but I think kids who love to read will love it just as well.
Joyce Raskin is on Twitter at
@scarcerocks. She was also interviewed
here and you can listen to music by Scarce
here on MySpace.
My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star will be published on June 13, 2011.
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme where bloggers share books they can’t wait to read. I reviewed
My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star from a digital Advanced Reading Copy I received from Graphia via NetGalley.
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 4/27/2011
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Beyonce releases (a new video single — no, not “Girls.” “Move Your Body” is a remake of “Get Me Bodied” — with lyrics like “a little sweat never hurt nobody” — for Michelle Obama’s... Read the rest of this post
By:
Katie,
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Mission (Un)popular
by Anna Humphrey
2011 | 416 pages | Disney- Hyperion | Young Adult (Ages 10-14)
*Reviewed from an e-ARC received from NetGalley.
Mission (Un)popular by Anna Humphrey is the story of Margot Button, a twelve-year-old Canadian-Indian seventh grader living with her tarot-card reading mother, her stepfather Bald Boring Bryan, and identical triplet half-sisters who are two years old. At the start of the book, Margot's best friend, Erika, learns that she is being sent to Catholic school, and Margot is forced to face the first day of seventh grade alone. Desperate for friendship, she links up with a new girl named Em, who is from New York City and the daughter of a soap opera actress. She also claims to be a model, and makes it her personal mission to make Margot popular. At first, it seems like no big deal. Em teaches Margot how to dress, and encourages her to talk to her crush, Gorgeous George. But as time goes on, Em becomes more and more daring, and Margot gets pulled into schemes that include ignoring Erika, torturing Sarah J., the ringleader of the popular group, sneaking out of the house, and eventually getting seriously injured. Then Margot starts to wonder whether Em has been completely truthful about who she is, and whether she can even be trusted.
This book has everything a tween reader could want - a mysterious, slightly dangerous friend, comeuppance for a nasty bully, romance with cute boys, and honest commentary on family conflicts. The book starts off a bit slow, and gives us a ton of backstory, but once it gets into the main action, the pacing is perfect, and the reader is kept in a steady sense of suspense as the truth about Em slowly and deliciously unfolds. Margot's Indian culture, which she inherits from her dad, isn't really the central focus of the book, but there are still enough references to her race to strongly establish her identity as a character. A few weeks ago, one of the list-servs I follow mentioned a need for more books featuring characters of color that are not explicitly about racial issues, and
Mission (Un)popular definitely fits that bill.
There are a lot of books about middle school out there, but this is one of the few I've read that so perfectly bridges the gap between middle grade and YA. The book isn't as explicit as some of the YA books being written for older teens, but it's also more sophisticated than a lot of school stories and friendship stories written for third through sixth graders. Fans of Lisi Harrison's
Clique series, and Lauren Myracle's
Eleven,
Twelve,
Thirteen, and
Thirteen Plus One, will also enjoy Margot's tumultuous seventh grade year. The events of
Mission (Un)popular are far more dramatic than the lives of most seventh-graders I have known, but I think the drama is exactly what will appeal to that age group.
I was surprised by how much I truly enjoyed this book, and I hope to read more from Anna Humphrey in the future. Visit the author's website and blog at
www.annahumphrey.com.
Mission (Un)popular will be published on June 14, 2011.
By: Laura,
on 4/26/2011
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We love our Kindles. We love our company-issued Sony Readers. And of course we love our iPads.
But lately we’re particularly smitten with the Nook Color and their Read and Play interactive e-books (which you can buy in the…wait for it…eBooktique!).
Kids can read in the traditional way with “page turns” and either they can read to themselves or be read aloud to by a parent or caregiver. There’s also a “read to me” feature with a pre-recorded voice. And now, with the new interactive ability, there’s some animation and activities – while still staying true and respectful to the book’s original art and intent, we think (yes, we were skeptical at first too). But LITTLE WHITE RABBIT is darling when he hops. SPLAT THE CAT hides under his bedsheets, peeking out periodically, making us giggle. FANCY NANCY allows the reader to create and draw and interact. It’s pretty darn cool.
Well done, Nook.
What he said. And by "It" I mean The House Eaters and by "Alive" I mean back in print.
Available through Createspace now for $6.99.
(Amazon and other retailers will take a few days to update).
Of course, you can still pick up a $0.99 ebook for Kindle, at Smashwords, or through Barnes & Noble for the Nook.
Kids get all sorts of hand-me-downs. Clothes, shoes, and even e-readers, as Mom and Dad upgrade to newer, more powerful devices. With a growing number of tweens, teens, and collegians toting these devices with them in their backpacks, it’s no... Read the rest of this post
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson is the sequel to her 2006 novel,
13 Little Blue Envelopes. If you have not read the first book and do not want to be spoiled, read no further! I can't properly set up the second book without spoiling the ending of the first.
Still here?
Okay, on with the review!
In
13 Little Blue Envelopes, Ginny Blackstone received a set of blue envelopes, a gift from her deceased aunt who was an eccentric artist. The letters sent her on a tour/scavenger hunt around Europe, wherein she got to know her aunt, and herself, a whole lot better. At the end of the book, Ginny lost the backpack that contained her aunt's final letter, and was forced to return home without ever knowing what became of it.
The Last Little Blue Envelope, which will be published on April 26th, tells us the fate of this envelope.
It's December, and Ginny is struggling with her college admissions essay, wondering what she should say and how she should say it. In the midst of this, she receives a mysterious email from someone named Oliver Davies, whose message includes an image of part of a letter. Ginny immediately recognizes the handwriting as Aunt Peg's and decides, instantly, that she must return to England and finish the quest she began over the summer. When she arrives, though, some unexpected things happen. For one, Oliver won't hand over Ginny's letter. It contains instructions for finding Aunt Peg's final piece of art, and Oliver wants a cut of the profits that will come from selling it. And on top of that, when Ginny drops in on Keith, he seems distant, and though he introduces a girl named Ellis as his roommate's girlfriend, Ginny suspects there may be something he's not telling her.
Things become more awkward when Keith and Ellis insist on accompanying Ginny and Oliver on their quest to track down the three pieces of Aunt Peg's artwork. The four characters embark on a European road trip, and follow Aunt Peg's final instructions to her niece.
Maureen Johnson has a fantastic sense of humor, as evidenced by her
daily activity on Twitter, and that comes through so strongly in this book. She has a really unique writer's voice, and so many of the lines in this book are thoroughly quotable. She also has a great talent for creating intriguing characters. So many of Oliver's quirks - that he can do card tricks and recite the entire first chapter of Harry Potter - were just so interesting, and they made me want to like him, even when I knew I wasn't really supposed to. I was also really impressed by how well Johnson writes in the third person limited perspective. I felt so close to Ginny's thoughts, I constantly forgot I was in the third person, and felt like I was experiencing every little twist and turn on the trip firsthand.
The ending did feel just a bit too easy for me, after everything we have to go through to get there, but though it felt neat, I wouldn't call it predictable. I was always one step behind Ginny throughout the book, and didn't guess at the decisions she would make in the end until they had been made. So while the ending may have been slightly too perfect, it was very fitting, somehow, anyway.
This was a really enjoyable read, and very well written. It reminded me a lot of Ally Carter's books, with the suspense, and the suspicious nature of Oliver's character. It also compares well to John Green's
Paper Towns and
An Abundance of Katherines, which both feature road trips, as well as
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, which is about an American girl's adventures in France. I'm a fan of everything Maureen Johnson writes, and
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By:
Terry Lee Wilde,
on 3/11/2011
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Wilde Teen Books
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Coming soon to Kindle, but available now at B & N :
Like with my wolf series, I wanted to show a world where some demons were the good guys, fighting evil to ensure the human population would survive. Instead of focusing on adults, though, I wrote about teens and their struggle to make a difference in their world. But Alana Fainot isn't just a lesser half demon pitted against the stronger demons slipping into the world. She's also a witch, if she can just learn some spells in time to help her newly found demon friends. But it has adult themes.
The Trouble with Demons
Ebook By
Terry Spear $2.99 Published: Mar. 10, 2011
Category:
Fiction » Young adult or teen » Romance Words: 65352 (approximate)
Witches and warlocks hide their true identities from the rest of the human population, while three teens with demon heritage living with human families, become unlikely companions in a race against time to deal with a demon threat to humankind in their own quirky way. Alana Fainot, a witch and half Kubiteron demon, witnesses a Matusa murder his summoner, and she knows he’ll target her next. Raised by her mother, she has no idea who her demon father is. But when she’s pulled to a demon portal, she meets Hunter Ross, half Matusa, half human, who returns demons to their world, but who’s been poisoned by a Matusa and is more dead than alive. His human mother gave him up for adoption, and he doesn’t know who either of his birth parents are. His friend Jared Kensington, full blooded Elantus demon, less powerful than the Kubiteron, is a whiz at electronics and helps Hunter track demons in the city, but was abandoned by his parents on Earth world for reasons unknown. He’s determined to find help to save Hunter. Alana knows aiding any Matusa is a mistake, but when she learns Hunter is half human, she makes a deal—he protects her against the Matusa who will come for her, and she helps find his dad in the demon world to save Hunter’s life.... (Read more) Alana Fainot, a witch and half Kubiteron demon, witnesses a Matusa murder his summoner, and she knows he’ll target her next. Raised by her mother, she has no idea who her demon father is. But when she’s pulled to a demon portal, she meets Hunter Ross, half Matusa, half human, who returns demons to their world, but who’s been poisoned by a Matusa and is more dead than alive. His human mother gave him up for adoption, and he doesn’t know
Barnes & Noble began seeking buyers in August, but has yet to seal the deal. According to Reuters, the company stock price hit a two-and-a-half year low at the beginning of this week.
Chairman Leonard Riggio has said in the past that he would consider assembling an investment team to buy the company. In the article, retail analyst Mike Souers speculated that this kind of private takeover might be the only buying option.
Earlier this year, the bookseller suspended its quarterly dividend payments and made staff lay-offs. Last September, the company survived a courtroom board battle.
continued…
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By:
Chris Singer,
on 2/8/2011
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Different Families Make the Universe Go Round by Casey Berna, Matt McNamara, Billy McNamara & Mike McNamara
Reviewed by: Chris Singer
About KidsLikeIke.com:
Casey Berna and her crew at KidsLikeIke.com are committed to providing thoughtful, fun, meaningful books and videos for preschool age children. Their site navigations include subjects like, “The Earth”, “Peace and Helping Others”, and “Fun” just to name a few. They wish to inspire the best in children by introducing them to thoughts about taking care of the earth and being of service to others. They hope to reach out to preschoolers with fun, positive, thoughtful content which will inspire them to be future compassionate citizens.
About the book:
Different Families Make the Universe Go Round is the latest release from KidsLikeIke.com. A wonderful book for exposing preschoolers to different types of families in a fun and educational way to foster love and acceptance for all different types of families. This book also teaches counting, colors and opposites.
My take on the book:
I’ve been meaning to feature Casey and the KidsLikeIke.com crew on Book Dads for some time now, and the announcement of their latest e-book sparked me to finally take action.
First off, I love the Ike crew’s mission of developing content for preschool-aged children and younger with the purpose of introducing them to ideas which can help teach them to be compassionate and empathetic towards others. The latest e-book takes a look at families and is a fun, colorful introduction to the idea that families come in all sorts of different sizes, numbers and colors.
I read this book on my Nook COLOR and it looked terrific! My daughter loved the cartoonish illustrations, which are very bright and colorful. Right now my daughter is really into trying to count so this was also a great e-book for that as well. We counted the number of family members in each of the illus
As I’ve gathered information on what motivates people towards printed books instead of ebooks, I’ve found that many of the motivators are intangible or emotional in nature that will probably make it difficult for ebooks to completely overcome print books. I’ve summarized below the different responses that I have received on my blog as well as on the different social networks I participate in.
Here you go:
- Some people love the feel, texture, weight and smell of printed books
- Some people like being able to see the attractive cover of a book while it’s on their nightstand, table, or bookshelf
- Some people have an emotional, nostalgic feeling toward printed books
- Printed books do not require batteries
- Printed books can be read on an airplane during the entire flight, and don’t need to be turned off like ebook readers during take-off and landings
- ebooks are yet one more electronic appliance that requires a charger that people don’t want to have to deal with.
- Printed books are more convenient than ebooks for some people
- More printed books are available from more libraries than ebooks
- Printed books are easier on the eyes than some ebook readers for some people, especially for long periods of time
- Printed books are easier to read outside in bright daylight than some ebook readers
- Some printed books are less expensive than ebooks
- Some people don’t like having to learn how to use a new gadget just to read a book
- Printed books can easily be loaned to or from friends
- Used printed books can often be bought for less than ebooks
- The probability of malfunction, breakage, or loss of an ebook reader can make them much more expensive than print books
- It’s more enjoyable to curl up with a good book on a cushy chair or sofa, an experience that would not be as emotionally satisfying with an ebook reader
- Physically turning or flipping through the pages of a printed book is more satisfying than scrolling the screen of an ebook reader
- Being able to see the physical representation of pages read is more satisfying
- Printed books promote shared reading and the close, emotional bond that can be created between parent and child sitting together to read a book
- Printed books are more accessible and easier to make available to small children
- Ebooks cannot replicate the emotional feeling and entertainment value that comes from turning the pages of a printed picture book or early reader that is being read aloud to a child
- With printed books you don’t have the worry that you have with the potential for your ebook reader to crash, causing your entire library to disappear until you can buy a new reader and hopefully recover all your lost ebooks
- With printed books you don’t have the worry that your ebook vendor might accidentally (or even purposefully) remove from your reader ebooks that you have purchased
- Some people don’t want to trust their entire library of books to a digital network or storage
- Some people simply love being surrounded by lots of real books or looking at bookshelves full of past books they’ve enjoyed reading
- It’s easier for some people to make notes in, mark, or underline text in printed books
- Ebooks cannot adequately measure up to a beautifully illustrated printed children's book
- Referring back to previous pages of text with illustrations in printed books is easier for some people
- People using large fon
By: Maryann Yin,
on 1/28/2011
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The New York Times has released an eBook covering the WikiLeaks scandal entitled Open Secrets: WikiLeaks, War and American Diplomacy. The newspaper cut an exclusive deal with Barnes & Noble, and the title will only be available on the Nook.
eBookNewser reports: “The book chronicles important documents from WikiLeaks story and the controversy that came about as the stories were leaked to the press. The eBook comes out later this week for $5.99.”
Maureen Dowd and Frank Rich will both have opinion pieces included in the book. Senior editor Alexander Star edited the book.
continued…
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Happy New Year!
It’s a new year, and, now that I’m finally starting to settle down after my monster move, I’m back on Day By Day Writer. I’m excited and pledge that I’ll be with you at least three times a week.
So, with the new year comes good news and bad in the publishing industry: Borders is still in financial trouble and delaying payments to vendors in a short-term effort to fix things. But on the upside, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble reported strong sales of their ebook readers, the Kindle and Nook, respectively. Amazon says 2010 Kindle sales were at more than 8 million units, with B&N claiming “millions” of Nooks were sold.
I can attest to this, as I had a hard time finding one this Christmas.
Although a paper-book lover, I definitely see the benefits of going digital. Aside from the obvious benefit to trees, e-readers are great for avid readers who travel a lot. My father is one of those. He makes long trips a few times a year, and on those trips, he carries a good four or five, maybe more books. And I’m not talking about little thin books. When he left my house a couple days ago after the Christmas and New Year holidays, he left with me the James Bond Union Trilogy — a three-book pack — because it couldn’t fit in his suitcase. He had another three books already in there!
For people like my dad, an e-reader, at a little more than 8 pounds for the Kindle, is a great idea. And although we had had conversations about how we both preferred the feel of paper, I took a leap and bought an e-reader for my dad for Christmas. After much research, I chose the Kindle, but both Best Buy and Target — all my local stores — were completely sold out of the devices when I was shopping, proving their popularity. Amazon happily sent one my way, however, and my dad was surprised and pleased. A gadget lover, he quickly loaded it up with his favorite books, and I caught him reading his Kindle on the couch a few times before he left. Next time he flies across the world, his suitcase will be a lot lighter, but he’ll be able to carry with him many, many more books to enjoy.
The popularity of e-readers is great news for publishers and us writers. Book sales have been waning the last few years. But, if people like their e-readers, they’ll want books to read on them.
And good books are good stories no matter whether they’re printed on paper or e-ink.
So, this year, keep up the writing. E-reader lovers need more stories.
Write On!
New Life as an E-Book?
The Wayfinder by Darcy Pattison
When a novel goes out of print, it’s sad. There are many what-ifs: What if the publisher had done thus and so? A different cover? A different promotion? What if I had done thus and so? More promotion?
In the end, novels run their course. Or do they? In today’s digital world, is it possible for a novel to “find its audience” in a different way? Maybe. Maybe this time, you’ll actually DO the thus and so that will make a difference?
I’m going to find out. The Wayfinder went OP, but is now available as an ebook!
Preload The Wayfinder
Buying a Kindle, Nook, iPad or other eBook reader for Christmas? Why not pre-load The Wayfinder?
Read a sample. The Wayfinder will be the featured book this weekend and next week on the Kindle Nation Daily Blog.
Great gift for a kid, a teacher, a librarian, or really–any reader.
Review it. If you’ve read The Wayfinder, please consider writing a review for it on the Amazon Kindle page.
Order the Kindle version now. Only $2.99
Order the Nook version now.
Also available on iTunes and most ebook stores.
Now an EBook
In the teen fantasy novel,
The Wayfinder, Eleven-year-old Win, an apprentice Finder, must go into the mysterious Great Rift to find the Well of Life, the only hope of healing the Heartland of plague and freeing himself from grief.
Why I Love This Book
Setting. This fantasy creates a world set on the edge of a Great Rift. I asked myself questions: given this setting, what stories would parents tell their children? what dangers are specific to this setting? what could NOT take place in this setting?
Theme. The story is written as a hero’s quest, but is overlaid with the stages of grief. I was afraid that this “skeleton” would be too overt, but kids tell me they didn’t notice it. Instead, it’s a great adventure with the danger of climbing cliffs, facing a blazing grass fire, escaping a wolf pack and more. The theme is still there, but the adventure reigns.
My First. The Wayfinder was my first novel to be published and for that reason alone, I love it.
Reviews of The Wayfinder
Booklist Review
Winchal Eldras is an apprentice Wayfinder, a member of an elite group of people who can locate anything or anyone. When Win’s little sister slips out of the house one foggy night, he tracks her to the edge of the Great Rift, where his fear of heights causes him to freeze, and she falls to her death. Bereft, Win retreats into himself. Then a prince of the Heartland arrives with news of a rapidly spreading plague and taps Wi
James Preller has an idea. An awesome idea. We’ve all heard that boys are reading far less than girls these days. To combat this lack of laddie reading, folks have come up with booklists or websites or what have you to inspire the male masses to pick up a book. Preller, however, has taken a rather practical approach. As he explains on his blog, “I’ve reached the conclusion that one of the most powerful, positive factors to encourage and inspire boys to read is, very simply, to see their fathers read. Look, there’s dad sitting down with a book. Any book. Fathers don’t just chop down trees, fix door jambs, and watch football. We read, too. It’s a valid male activity, like burping. Think of the power of that simple image. There’s Dad with a book in his lap.” As a result he’s calling upon the menfolk to contribute photos to the cause. Show us some dudes with books. I know of one website that does something similar, but the results are pretty different. In any case, help James out. See more here.
- Okay folks! It has happened. They’re trying out eReaders for small fry. I thought we had another year to go before any of this finalized, but as of right now Barnes & Noble is advertising their color NOOK for kids on their website. There’s nothing particularly new about it (plenty of apps do similar things for kids) except potentially the size. After some digging I found that the new NOOKcolor is going to be about 7-inches. Something to ponder. One wonders what the Christmas sales (and post-Christmas sales) will be looking like this year . . . and if they’ll meet expectations. Thanks to Nina Crews for the link.
- The Brown Bookshelf has offered a challenge unto you masses out there. Here’s the skinny: Each February (Black History Month) they make a point to highlight the accomplishments of twenty-eight African-American authors and illustrators who work in the field of child and YA books. Right now they want the best “new and unnoticed works by African-American authors” for 2010. And they need them very soon too! So if you’ve a chance, submit your too little known and appreciated favorites by October 31st to The Brown Bookshelf and shed a little light on some unsung gems that caught your eye.
- I’m still bummed that I didn’t get to go to the KidLitCon this year. I find solace in reading the recaps instead. In fact, you can find a nice, big, beautiful recap encapsulation (or ReEnCap if you want to be cute) here. A hearty tip of the hat to Tea Cozy for the link.
Ebooks aren’t just electronic books. They are a combination of certain file types, certain readers and certain software designed to keep people from migrating away from the approved file type and reader combinations. Confused? Jason Griffey explains.
Recently, I have been thinking about e-readers and wondering what they bring to the table. I know I am late to this new trend, but since I am a gadget person, I started thinking maybe I was wrong to diss them without really trying one.
Of course, no one wants to put out and couple hundred dollars in this economy, unless you are sure you are going to be happy with your purchase. So I thought some of you may have tried out the Kindle or the Nook and would be able to give me your thoughts.
I do like books and really don’t want to give them up, but I think you can make notes and highlight on the readers, which sounds like a good thing.
I find myself wanting to make notes, but not wanting to mess up my hardcover, autographed copy. Then when I want to point out something in the book, I have a hard time finding the sentence that makes my point. I would think an e-reader would help.
Hope some of you will weigh in to help.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
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are available in real-hold-in-your-hand paperback from Comfort Publishing. The short story takes its inspiration from my epic.
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I love angry birds