The First Book Review Wednesday

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It has been one of those days. One of those unproductive Wednesdays when I just can’t seem to get over the hump. Lucky for me, today is also suppose to be my first day of book review. In the future, I will try to get these written in advance so I can post them in the early morning on Wednesdays, but that is another goal. The first is just to write and post one Middle Grade and one Picture Book review.

 

Many reviewers focus on books that are new and shiny, some might even have release days in the near future. Those are the books that everyone crowds around, bringing casseroles for the new author, asking if they can booksit to give the new author some time for a nap. I will certainly try to get my hands on some of those books. (Look for my upcoming Circus Ship review.) Then there are other books that have sat on bookshelves, growing past their crawling and walking stages until they are no longer cute and dimpled from shipping. I’ll be looking at these books too, hopefully adding some personal insight or observation. I tend to skip over longer blog posts so you can bet that I’ll keep these short and sweet. Any suggestions? Leave a comment. (Click on the book cover to link to Indiebound. Support your independent book stores!)


 

Law, Ingrid. Savvy. New York  ;Boston  Mass.: Dial Books for Young Readers;Walden Media, 2008.

 

            Mibs is turning thirteen, and in the Beaumont family, that means that her savvy is about to be revealed. Mibs’ family tree is filled with characters who create storms, sparkle with electricity, or jump back in time when they sneeze. When Mibs’ father is injured in a car accident, her mother and older brother travel to the hospital leaving Mibs and her two other brothers at home. Mibs will not sit around and wait. She embarks on a journey to the hospital, sure that her savvy will save her father.

 

            Mibs’ voice is so genuine in this middle grade novel that, at times, I felt she was telling the story right into my head. Descriptions such as “a small-fry hobbledehoy boy,” or “harum-scarum hurly-burly of a rising storm,” or “My insides went wishy-washy” makes Mibs an endearing and three-dimensional character even though her adventures border on the unbelievable.

 

            Readers will be eager to ride along with her on the pink bible bus to see if she gets what she wants. Most interesting to writers will be how her desires evolve and change throughout the story. Law leaves us with an ending that might not fulfill the original promise in the way the reader expects, but provides hope all the same. My son was especially drawn to the adventures that stem from the family’s super hero-like abilities. The more nuanced story is about finding what you do well, that special something that makes you uniquely you, whether you are a member of the Beaumont family or not. Newberry Honor Book, 2009

 

 

Hutchins, H and Herbert,G. Mattland. Toronto: Annick Press, 2008.

 

            In this interesting picture book, from Canada, the text is sparse. The illustrations by Dusan Petricic, are wonderful, and in my opinion, carry the book. The subject is the timeless story of moving to a new neighborhood and finding friends. Interestingly, the reader only sees the main character through shadow and reflection. This technique lets the reader identify with the main character who feels overlooked and invisible.

            The illustrations change from dull and muddy, to green, to lush and rainbow bright as children build an imaginary city from “scattered building scraps” and recycled materials. As the story continues, the illustrator uses white space to create room for text just as the children in the neighborhood make room for their new friend. The children build and rebuild the imaginary city while they build real friendships. Best for children 3-6, Mattland is an excellent read aloud choice for pre-school and kindergarten educators who want to address acceptance and welcoming attitudes in their new classroom communities. Just give plenty of time for the illustrations to sit before you turn the page.

 

Shop Indie Bookstores

Banned Books

I hope you’ll read this intelligent and eloquent posting by Laurie Halse-Anderson. I second her call for thoughtful and civil discourse on the matter.
My heart goes out to the authors who have to deal with book banning: Laurie, certainly, but also my friends Jo Knowles and Sarah Brannen. All of them have written (and illustrated) amazing books that have found and changed the lives of their target audiences. A huge thank you to the librarians and teachers who keep connecting children with meaningful literature.
Tomorrow: book reviews.

Spotty Blogging Citation

You may have noticed that my blog posts are few and far between. So much so, that perhaps I am probably writing this only for myself as any audience I may have garnered in the past has probably disappeared. 

There are a couple of reasons that I’ve been posting less:

  1. I am neck-deep in my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adult program with Vermont College of Fine Arts. The packets require a great deal of me in terms of time and emotion and reading and writing.
  2. I am illustrating a lovely picture book manuscript for an organization called the Telling Room in Portland. The manuscript was written by two high school authors and tells the story of a Sudanese child who moves into a neighborhood filled with silent, disconnected residents. He and his new friend create community through gardening. The book will be released in May of 2010.
  3. I am journaling for myself more in a paper and pen way. Most of my entries there are about my insecurities and my process as I go through the MFA program. Some of that will come up here too so don’t feel that you are missing out on anything.
  4. I’m also journaling for my main character in his own composition book. This helps me get to the voice and emotional core of my character in a messy, down and dirty way.
  5. I’m using all the in-the-cracks time to read books for children and young adults and yes old adults as well.

So I have the following thought:

Since tonight is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) and I need to make a resolution, and also to make this blog relevant to the wider world, I will review some of the wonderful books that I’ve been reading. I know, this is not a new or unique idea and there are plenty of other blogs out there for this but I’m going to give it a try. I will attempt to post reviews each Wednesday and will review at least one Middle Grade book, and one Picture Book. These could be fiction or nonfiction, audio or traditional. I’m not going to venture into the YA realm here, there are so many other wonderful blogs out there for that.

So what will you get here that you won’t get anywhere else? Me. I bring my experience as a writer but also as a parent of two boys, a teacher, a student of writing and an illustrator. I’m hoping that the reviews will help parents find books that their children will love. As my son’s teacher said last night, "If your child doesn’t like reading they just haven’t found the right book for them." If you have titles that you’d like me to review, leave a note in the comments. If you’d like a fresh start to your year, you can also leave your New Year’s Resolution in the comments. Happy Reading! See you on Wednesday.

Delaying the Happy Dance

I am back in the singles game anew, looking for that soul mate, that agent of my heart. Yesterday’s post by Editorial Anonymous, regarding the enthusiasm of new authors upon being offered representation, caught my eye. An Offer of Representation. The responses to Editorial Anonymous were filled with hysterical laughter and LOL’s. I can only hope they are laughing at themselves because they have experienced first-timers eagerness and not because they are laughing at those of us who have.

This business is about as personal as you can get.  We are not selling water bottles (as one agent pointed out to me) we are selling our creative property. And while creative property is not really a piece of our souls, it takes a lot of soul (and time and work and energy and sacrifice) to create property worth selling. So surely Editorial Anonymous can understand the relief that comes when someone from an industry filled with "no" says that they recognize our talent and our potential– when someone finally says, "yes."

One of the comments to the EA blog post asked, "What should I be asking?" I wondered the same thing before I had a talk with the agent who first offered me representation. At that time, I Googled the subject and jotted down a long list of questions, asked them (not really paying attention to the responses). What I knew then was that my "yes" at the end of the phone call meant that I had moved one step closer to my dream. One step farther on this long (getting longer) journey.

What I learned in the 18 months I spent with my agent is that we should be asking ourselves, "What do I need from this relationship?" What kind of communication do I need? Email, phone? Do I want to be left alone? Do I want someone to check in with me on my WIP? Should that person ask about my personal life or do I want the relationship and communication to be completely business? How often does the agent need to contact me about submissions? How about pulling manuscripts? How do I see my career progressing? What houses do I want to work with (if you know)? How much editorial help do I need? Why am I getting an agent in the first place?  What type of work do I do most often and do they represent that kind of work? If you have a clear picture of yourself you’ll be able to honestly say, "This is who I am, this is what I need, can you give this to me, and can we put it in the contract?"

Perhaps next time I’m offered representation or a contract (I have high hopes that this will happen) I will be self-assured enough to delay my happy dance, ask for the fine print and ask the right questions.  I can’t promise anything.

Hello. This is a friends locked message.
Just want to tell you that I’ve parted ways with my agent. Therefore, I’m looking for new representation. Here’s what I’m hoping for:

  • someone who will not think that I am over-bearing or pushy, (even though I am sometimes)
  • someone who will give editorial feedback on new work, which includes telling me if they think something is ready for submission or not
  • someone who has a communication style that includes giving you comprehensive information about to whom and when your work will be submitted and is good about checking back on those manuscripts regularly, and getting back to you.
  • someone who calls or emails you from time to time,and might even be interested in who you are as a person, your family, and the other works you have in progress
  • someone who is open to author-illustrators

If you are represented by someone like this and would like to refer me I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks all.

It has been a crazy couple of days here in Maine. In order to complete illustration sketches for a Tuesday meeting, I stayed up until 3 am Monday night. I had completed most of the sketches previously and had planned to scan and print them to create a draft dummy. However, when I found the moving box with  the scanner, I could not find the power cord. Very frustrating. I ended up re-sketching all the images.

Last night, a fire alarm woke my two kids and myself at 3:30 am. We high tailed it outside, called 911 and waited for the firefighters to show up. Luckily, it was a false alarm. Perhaps a faulty fire alarm device. We were back in the house by 4:30 but none of us could sleep. It’s hard to sleep when you are scared that maybe it wasn’t a false alarm. The two kids ended up in my bed. Then they fell asleep fine. I couldn’t get my heart to stop thumping through the blankets. I kept hugging and holding them. The alarm went off again tonight. I think it is faulty so I replaced it with another that we had. I hope that will be the end of that.

Of course our night time schedules have not changed the last-week-before-school-starts-day-time schedule. Days have included school shopping and a trip to Funtown Splashtown USA. (I hear you singing the theme song, Maine-ahs) 

On a writing note…um…well…
So kids are going back to school on Monday. Maybe that will help things out.

Packet number one deadline approacheth

Hello out there in LJ land. Just a quick posting (perhaps we will number it.)
1. I have one week left to complete two critical essays, 20-40 new pages of writing, a quickee autobiography and a sincere letter of progress to the awesome Sharron Darrow. Everything is started, nothing is finished. (I’m starting to grind my teeth at night again.)

2. My Maine homecoming has been absolutely awesome. I’ve managed to connect with so many people who are welcoming us home with open arms. I feel so thankful to be a part of this community (and I love being in MY house again.)

3. If you are close by, you are invited to our first once a month potluck. We all say we are too busy to make time for each other, but friendships are what life is all about. Email or comment if you need more info!

4. I’ve had the DVD "Penelope" on my counter for over a month from Netflix (even in Maryland) so I finally watched it tonight. LOVED IT. It has that weird super saturated art direction of Pushing Up Daisies.

5. So here’s the awful part. "Penelope" is rated PG, I thought my kids would love it. I’d never seen it before. So we’re watching and there is this one part. Takes about 3 seconds, when the smarmy rich guy (who saw Penelope once and got scared and thought she was a monster) re- imagines Penelope as a monster with fangs and scary eyes and a boarish face. He sees this monster in his imagination through a car window in the dark. OMG my boys (10 and 8) shriek and scream and start to sob like someone is coming after them with a chainsaw. They run to my chair and hug me and sob and shake (for what seems an eternity but was probably all of 10 minutes) and all I can do is apologize over and over and hold them and love them and validate their fear. Now they are in my bed and I’m stuck sleeping with kids who are each almost 5 feet tall.

Okay so that’s five on Wednesday. I’ll be back after my deadline is past.

No place like home

Perhaps you have been thinking that the Green mountains of Vermont had swallowed me up in their morning mist and starry nights. It is not so. When the VCFA residency ended I drove back to my parent’s home in south central Pennsylvania, packed my older son I. for his first sleep away camp experience and then drove him three and a half hours to northern Pennsylvania where the camp is located. On the way, largish-son, smallish-son and I met up with my hubby and camped. (For those of you who don’t know, Hubby is away with the Navy which is one reason I am at the parent’s place.It had been three weeks since we had seen one another.) Now smallish son and I are packing up as much of our belongings as will fit in the minivan, and I am snatching bits of time for reading and writing assignments. (Three books down and one critical essay started as well as some important character discovery work)

Come Thursday we will get back in the van and travel back to the sleep away camp, pick up largish-son and drive to Newport, RI where we will see hubby again. Twice in two weeks, not bad. When the renters move out of our Maine house and we can move back in… I will have a home. And my screen porch. And my kitchen.

Oh, how I miss my kitchen. This kitchen will be the site of many a potluck in my new and improved Maine life. You see it took leaving to realize how much I missed my Maine friends.

Just click your heels together and say, "There’s no place like home…"

I wish it was that easy. Instead, moving (on our own, piece by piece, storing stuff in my parent’s barn and basement that we will have to come pick up later in the fall) has been a big pain in the tuchas! Anyway,  I’ve resolved to have monthly potluck dinners and whoever can come is welcomed! Bring a dish to pass and if you want, bring a board game that your chidren like to play or we can herd them outside to play in the driveway. Save the date– Saturday, August 22nd. (I assume I’ll be home by then, you might have to unpack a box if you come though.) You are welcome to arrive anytime past 2 but dinner won’t start till between 4 and 6 when others arrive. If you think you can come and you’d like details, send me message through Live Journal or Facebook. Hope to see you then.

Good-bye grads

Big party night here in Montpelier, Vermont. The fourth semester students throw a themed party for the graduating students. The theme– Hawaii. I can’t imagine the end of the tunnel, as I have just started to travel this road but the community here is such that I am extremely happy for my new friends who are moving on in their journey. The alumni who visited this weekend have also been kind. I know quite a few people  from SCBWI-NE so it is nice connect without having to wait from next spring’s conference. Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Sally Reilly, Julie Berry, Martha Caldero, Sarah Aronson,   and Anindita  were here too. Anindita is busy already on plans for next year. (By the way the CFP is up on the website if you are interested in presenting in 2010, due date September 15)

My biggest epiphany this week is that I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I came to the program thinking that I knew how to write and read and this week has shown me how much I have to learn. The lectures were certainly helpful for me and I took something from each. The workshops, though, were crucial and most educational. Certainly it is important when someone gives me feedback but it was listening to co-workshopers critique another person’s work that was most helpful and accessible. They unveiled the psychic distance, POV issues, flat characterization, etc. in the writing we analyzed. I have a lot to work on this semester, that’s for sure.

Meme

Okay, I haven’t done one of these in a long time but since it is dark and my roommate is sleeping and I can’t read, I’m going to fill it out. Just for giggles. If you want to be tagged you are. If not, the world is not going to fall apart because you don’t fill this out. In fact, your day will probably be better if you just turn off your internet browser right now and go grab a good book, liike Grace Lin’s new book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

 Rule #1:
If you open this you take it. (copy and paste into your notes)

Rule #2:
You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages you and asks.

Rule #3:
Tag 15 people.

LAST PERSON.
1. You hung out with? Melanie
2. You texted? Chris
3. You were in a car with? Mark, Caroline, Sue, Melanie, Helen, Terry 
4. Went to the movies with?Mark, Caroline, Sue, Melanie, Helen, Terry, Sean, Lindsay, Katie, Sharry, Sam, Meg, Jess, Hannah, Laurie, Stacy, (I know I’m leaving someone off, sorry)
5. Person you went to shop with? Isaac and Ethan
6. You talked on the phone? Isaac and Ethan
8. You hugged? Lisa

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY…
1. Sun or moon? Moon
2. Winter or Fall? Fall
3. Left or Right? right
4. Sunny or rainy? sunny
5. Where do you live? I think Maine but I’m not sure anymore.
6. Club or pub? Club if that means dancing.
7. Are there 1 or 2 people who you can always trust and rely on? yes
8. Do you want to get married? not again, nope
9. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? twirl
10. What time is it? 7:16 am
11. Are you afraid of commitment? no
12. What is your greatest hope/wish? That I am happy in my work and feel that I grow intellectually.
13. When’s the last time you cooked? maybe Mon. July 6th, hard to say
14. Current mood? peaceful

IN THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE YOU…
1. Kissed someone? no
2. Sang? no
3. Listened to music? no
4. Danced Crazy? no, but I should
5. Cried? no
6. Liked someone you can’t have?yes

25 FIRSTS …..
1.Who was your first prom date? John 
2. Who was your first roommate? Brianna
3. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk the first time? warm beer
4. What was your first job? camp counselor
6. When did you go to your first funeral and viewing? middle school
7. Who was your first grade teacher? Mrs. Niedenfur
9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? Italy
10. When you snuck out of your house for the first time? never
11. Who was your first best friend? Nyani Colon
12. Who was your first Best Friend in high school? Roxanna Hopps
13. Where was your first sleepover? Mike Learmonth’s
14. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? Mom
15. Who’s wedding were you in the first time you were a Bridesmaid or groomsman? never been in wedding
16. What’s the first thing you did when you got up this morning? pee, check email
17. What was the first concert you went to? James Taylor, DAR Constitution Hall
18. What was the last concert you went to? Garrison Keillor, Wolf Trap (does that count?)
19. First tattoo or piercing? 1981 ears
20. First celebrity crush? Anson Williams (Potsie, Happy Days)
21. Current celebrity crush? Matt Damon
22. First crush? sailing counselor at camp
23. Current crush? a school principal
24. First date? Star Wars w/ Keir
25. First time you tied your shoe laces? Can’t remember

Five names you go by:
1. Anna
2. Mommy
3. Mama
4. Dear
5. Get me

Three things you are wearing right now:
1. U of R tank top
2. under pants
3. blanket

Three things you want very badly at the moment:
1. a job that gives me room to do my mfa
2. intimacy with my husband 
3. snuggles from my children

Three people who will probably fill this out:
1. Mona
2. Val
3. Joyce

Two things you did last night:
1. Saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
2. Tried to create a bibliography with zotero and failed. 

Two things you ate today:
1. nothing yet
2. I guess water

Two people you last talked to on the phone:
1. Isaac
2. Mom

Three things you are going to do tomorrow:
1. workshop someone else’s writing
2. listen to lectures
3. read my work at a student reading time

Two longest car rides
1. Maine to Florida
2. DC to Florida

Favorite vacations:
1. St. John, USVI
2.Bar Harbor, ME

Favorite beverages:
1. Tea
2. Orange Juice
3. Milk