MMGM: The Thrilling Ride of The Jules Verne Prophecy

 

Like with epistolary novels, I've been on a hunt (no pun intended) for middle grades about treasure hunts lately. When I saw The Jules Verne Prophecy (Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer) was set in Paris and involved Jules Verne, I knew I had to read it! 

Jules Verne has always been a favorite at my house. We watched all the classic movies about his novels and devoured his books as my sons were growing up.

What drew me in was the Paris setting. It brought back so many memories of my trip there in my twenties. A friend and I walked over the whole city, determined to try to experience Paris on $0/day. (We were broke college students.)

Luxembourg Gardens is in the Jules Verne Prophecy and it's free! *

 If you love Paris and Jules Verne, then you are in for a treat.

Synopsis:

Owen Godfrey is spending his summer in Paris studying science fiction writer Jules Verne, the brilliant mind behind Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. When Owen and his new friends find what appears to be a dusty copy of Verne’s collected works in an old bookshop, they’re intrigued by the hidden codes written inside. As one clue leads to another, the trio gets swept up in an epic treasure hunt spanning the city—from the depths of the catacombs to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and by way of skateboard, boat, car, and even a hot air balloon!  But they quickly realize they’re not the only ones searching for the hidden riches, and that there are others who will stop at nothing to get to them first.

This fast-paced larger-than-life adventure is filled with action, high stakes, and three friends who are dead set on cracking the Jules Verne mystery.

Highlights of The Jules Verne Prophecy:

1.    A fun, engaging main character. Like last week’s post with a fun male protagonist, Owen is all over the place sometimes in his thoughts. He also loves skateboarding, which will appeal to many readers. Crazy adventures and mishaps just seem to cling to him, which is a lot of fun to read about.

2.    Cool puzzles based on a fictional Jules Verne manuscript. I thought the whole idea of Jules Verne setting up a puzzle for his fans to solve was a lot of fun. There were a ton of nods to his works which true fans will enjoy. It certainly made me want to check out more of his work!

3.    Three distinct characters that work as a team. Owen, Nas, and Rose were different and memorable in their personalities and their backgrounds. They each had strengths that helped solve the mystery. And learning not to make assumptions about a person was a key theme.

4.    Action! Action! Action! Boy, this novel though not short (346 pages), it kept me on the edge of my seat. Although I figured a few things out, there were a lot of twists I didn’t see coming but totally worked. Kids who love adventure (or movies like the Goonies) will love this.

 

5.    A perfect ending. It looks like this book is set up to be a series, but I couldn’t find any information about when or if a sequel will be released. But the ending tied things up for now in the most perfect way.

Max, the Reading Dog*

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale): 

Other than a brief mention of Laika, my hero, there are no dogs in this book. This book would’ve been so much better, if Owen had a dog. I would’ve sniffed out the clues and the villain right away. Aw, people! 🦴🦴

 

*Photo credit: photo of Max and Luxembourg Gardens by Jenni Enzor 

Your Turn:

Have you read The Jules Verne Prophecy? What are your favorite treasure hunting movies or books? 

 

MMGM: Time Traveling with a Hamster

 

When a fellow MMGM blogger highlighted this book a couple months ago, I knew I had to read it. Time travel and hamsters!

This book is one wild ride, but what I loved even more is that it has so much heart. Often people talk about plot-driven vs character-driven books as if they are mutually exclusive. But a standout middle grade has both aspects.

And this one has it in spades! In addition, I think this book, despite its length, would really appeal to boys and reluctant readers. And as a mom of two young men and a former special education teacher, I know how hard it is to find books that boys find engaging. We need more books like this!

SYNOPSIS

“My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty nine and again four years later when he was twelve.

The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did, but I would never even have been there if it hadn’t been for his ‘time machine’…”

When Al Chaudhury discovers his late dad’s time machine, he finds that going back to the 1980s requires daring and imagination. It also requires lies, theft, burglary, and setting his school on fire. All without losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer…(from Goodreads)

My Take

 

1.    Al is boy that is relatable. He isn’t into sports, and he doesn’t have many friends, but he has a strong relationship with his grandfather and just wants to see his dad again. He has depth, and even when he’s making some crazy decisions, I still felt for him.

2.    An incredible voice and an interesting way of telling the story. I loved how Al sometimes spoke directly to the reader. He often jumps back and forth in time in telling his story—but that totally worked, since it is a time travel novel. Yet he always sounds like a 12-year-old boy.

3.    A very twisty and complex plot (a lesson on how to be cruel to your characters) Sometimes I notice that writers set up scenes where something really bad could happen, but the main character narrowly escapes. I always see that as a wasted opportunity. That never happens in this book. If something bad could happen, it usually does, and this made for a read that was very hard to put down.

4.    Family, culture, and characters. I learned so much from this book about the culture of Geodie and Punjabi culture. I loved that Grandpa Byron, who is equal parts both, considers himself first of all British. He and Al’s relationship was a highlight of the book, but all the characters, even the not-so-likable ones, were richly drawn.

5.    An amazing ending. The ending was surprising, but well-earned. It had lots of action but tons of heart. It was exactly what I was hoping for, but didn't think was possible.

If you like time travel fiction with a ton of heart and well-developed characters, you will love this book!

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale):

Max, the Reading Dog*

Well, there was that hamster who went everywhere with Al. But why couldn’t he have been a dog? Laika was the first dog in space. We need a book about a dog time traveler. 🦴🦴🦴

Your turn

Do you like books or films about time travel? What are your favorites? 

 

ISWG: What I've Learned from My Favorite Childhood Authors

Often, I get asked by other writers why I write for kids. My standard answer is that deep down I still feel twelve (or sixteen if the YA mood strikes me). Seriously, my best ideas are often based on my own or my sons’ childhood experiences. 

As Flannery O’Connor said, “Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.”

This month’s question was relatively easy for me. These are books that not only impacted me as a person, but as a writer. When I think about what kind of writer I want to be, I think of a long list of authors who wrote so well for children that I still feel like these characters are my best friends. These are just some highlights.

What I learned from my childhood friends books:

 

Description/Characters

Description has always been a challenge for me. My drafts are usually very sparse, just dialogue, action, and inner thoughts. I usually add description as layers in later drafts. But maybe because it doesn’t come naturally to me, I love reading authors who do lush description well. And many older books do. 

What I learned from Wilder and Mongomery and Lovelace:

• People will stay with a well-rounded interesting character, even if there’s not a lot of action.

• Everyday life is beautiful and full of drama and joy.

• To capture characters and description well, pay attention to the people around you.

• Women from the past wanted to be writers too!

Humor

 

I went through a serious Roald Dahl kick as a child. I loved his smarter-than-the-adults characters, and I delighted in how the awful adults always got their comeuppance. Recently, I got to see Willy Wonka the musical, and it brought back so many fond memories. Writing humorously is something I’ve had to work on, but it comes more naturally as I learn to take myself less seriously.

 

 

What I learned from Roald Dahl:

• Humor points out the truth but in a subtle way.

• It appeals to kids.

• It is good for the soul. (And there is a lot of research that it is good for our health, too.)

 

Imagination/Fantasy:

 

 

I loved the Narnia series as a kid, but I thought I didn't like other fantasy until I started writing it. My biggest struggle with fantasy is world-building and internal logic. My first attempt at a novel was a portal fantasy, and although it is littered with issues, I still want to go back and revise it. And then because of Gail Carson Levine, I have a soft spot for fairy tale re-imaginings. Someday!

 

 What I learned from C.S. Lewis and Gail Carson Levine (whom I discovered as adult):

• I like fantasy grounded in reality.

• Fantasy can be a portal (pun intended!) for teaching truth about the real world/life.

• The best fantasies have incredible characters, world-building, and all the other elements of a good novel.

What about you? What books inspired you as a child or a teen? 

If you'd like to read more ISWG posts or sign up, please go HERE. You won't be disappointed.

 

MMGM: Dog-Loving Adventures: Wish and Wonderland

I’m a bit late to the party on Wish. I probably heard about it first on MMGM, but then a dear friend put a copy in my hands last summer. “You have to read this.” And she was right.

At first Charlie was a little hard to warm up to, but my the end of the novel, I was moved to tears. Of course, I had to find other books by Barbara O’Connor, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she’s a dog person like me. Read on for more about Wish, and one of my other favorites by O’Connor, Wonderland.

Synopsis of Wish

Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all. (from Amazon)

My take:

I loved this warm and loving portrayal of a child in foster care. I have a few friends who are foster parents, so I’m always excited to see more books about this topic. Charlie's aunt and uncle are just as well developed as the kid characters. Although this book could be heavy with all that Charlie has gone through, the project of the saving the stray dog really lightens the mood. Charlie has the most kind friend in Howard, but I also like that he's not a pushover. At times, Charlie needs a reminder that although her life has been tough, she can't take her anger on others. I also loved how Charlie went from wanting the family that she could never have to appreciating the people who truly loved her. I thought the way faith was handled was sensitive and realistic. If you love dogs, heartfelt stories, and well-earned endings, you will love this book!

 

Synopsis of Wonderland

Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent―which means finding herself a best friend.


Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy―and find someone who really understands her.


Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort―and doesn’t know where to look for them.

When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect―and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.

My take:

This story centered around a friendship between two girls who couldn’t be more different. O’Connor showed how Mavis, full of energy and spunk, and Rose, shy and timid, could bring out the best in each other. I ached for Mavis because her mom never stayed in one place or one job for long, but Mavis handles her mom with humor and her life circumstances never quell her joy for life. I'd love a friend like her! I didn't think that three POVs (one is Henry, the dog) would work, but it really makes for an interesting read and lets us get to know all the characters well. This book had such a satisfying ending. I couldn't imagine it any other way. And we're left with hope, absolutely necessary for middle grade. Another one for dog lovers who like books with friendship and a lot of heart!  

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale):

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴Best MMGM ever! I would read any book by O’Connor. Dogs who get rescued make the best characters!

Your turn

Have you read Wish? What are your favorite books with dog or animal characters? Yay or nay on books from animal's point of view?

 

MMGM: Once Upon a Review: The Fairy Tale Fan Club

 

A few weeks ago, I spotlighted my favorite epistolary reads—or MG novels in alternate formats. After I published that post, I saw this book still sitting on my dresser. I just read it, and how could I have forgotten it?

It has all the things I love: nods to fairy tales, humor, and of course, a different format.
If you like fairy tales and love to laugh (or know someone who does), you will love this book!

Synopsis

What if you could send fan mail to your fairy tale idols? And what if they wrote back? 

“Happily ever after” takes on a new meaning in this book from actor-comedian-author Richard Ayoade and best-selling illustrator David Roberts.

It’s once upon a time . . . as only the irreverently witty Richard Ayoade can tell it. In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious—and opinionated—fans. So if you’ve ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away. Multihyphenate Richard Ayoade, author of The Book That No One Wanted to Read, hilariously imagines what questions modern children would have for characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, and Little Red Riding Hood—and what they might have to say in return. Complete with clever, spoof-gothic illustrations from David Roberts, this wry storybook may have even the Brothers Grimm cackling in their graves. (from Amazon)

My Take

1.    This book has voice in spades and a narrator with his own story. The frame of the story is that C. C. Cecily (ha!) has been collecting these letters as Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club. He also provides intros to each of the letters.

2.    It's fun to revisit all your favorite characters.  Whether you’ve been dying to learn more about Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, or the Emperor (as in the Emperor’s New Clothes), it’s all here. 

3.   Fairy tales don't always make logical sense, so getting an insider's view was intriguing. Some of my favorite letters were from the prince (who had the princess and pea to stay), Pinocchio’s Puppet Pros and Cons list, and Cinderella’s letter in which she thinks an i-pad is a type of sponge.

4.    The letters often compare the written version to the movie version. This adds a lot of humor, but my teacher mind could see how this could be useful for compare and contrast lessons in the classroom and would appeal to kids who have watched movie adaptions.

5.    Just because a book doesn’t have a traditional plot doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable. The letters are episodic, although they don’t necessarily tell a contained story. I found this delightfully refreshing.

6.    This book is just plain fun! In my experience, kids are looking for books that make them laugh.

 

Max, the Reading Dog*

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale):

The only dog mentioned was in the letter to Cinderella. Zora complains about her sisters watching dog videos. But if they're watching videos of dogs, they can't be all bad. Don't get me started on the Big Bad Wolf, even though we are distantly related. I'd never eat Little Red or her grandmother.

🦴🦴🦴

Your turn

Do you like fairy tales? What books make you laugh? What do you think about episodic books?

 

ISWG: Are you Afraid of Success or Failure?

 

Photo by Alysha Rosly on Unsplash

Years ago, I remember reading a post by Veronica Roth (The Divergent Series) about planning for success rather than failure. Try as I might, I couldn’t find the original post, but this quote by her captures the same idea:

One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn’t rely on it, because it’s not guaranteed and it’s not permanent and it’s not sufficient. So work hard, fall in love with the writing — the characters, the story, the words, the themes — and make sure that you are who you are regardless of your life circumstances. That way, when the good things come, they don’t warp you, and when the bad things hit you, you don’t fall apart. –Veronica Roth, 

I’ve often wondered if I’m afraid of success. 

1.    I have a tendency to never think my work is “ready” or done.

2.    If I am successful, will the people I know in real life be offended in some way by what I write? (This actually happened in a hilarious novel I read recently, Miss Buncle’s Book.) 

3.    Will I get invited on worldwide book tours and never have time for my family or what really counts? (Ha! Ha! Probably not going to happen.)

Yet at the same time, I’m afraid of failure.

1.    I have a tendency to never think my work is “ready” or done.

2.    I hate getting rejections. Try as I might, I’ve never been able to completely toughen my thin skin.

3.    And then there’s always the nagging question: What if my work is really bad or worse than I thought?
 

Recently I found out that my manuscript DEAR DIANA is a finalist for the Cascade Award with Cascade Christian Writers. Last summer this same manuscript was a finalist in ACFW.
 

I hadn't entered a writing contest for a novel length work in over a decade.
 

When I told my sister that I was a finalist last summer and that I hardly ever enter contests, she said, “Maybe you’d win more contests if you entered more.” Ah, the wisdom of sisters.

Right now, I am forcing myself to follow her advice. I have entered three different contests/awards this year. I plan to enter at least one more this summer. I’m letting my manuscript rest right now, but I will soon do a last pass so I can start submitting it. And I will make myself press send.

Entering contests has taught me something. It’s taught me to work to a deadline AND to accept that my work may never be perfect.

My husband, who’s an artist, likes to remind me that a piece of art is never done. You just decide when to walk away, which I have also learned as I've dabbled in watercolor.

A Christmas card I painted

 

If you'd like to read more ISWG posts or sign up, please go HERE. You won't be disappointed.

 

What about you? Are you more afraid of success or failure? Or both?

 

MMGM: From Letters to Lists: Middle Grade Novels in Unique Formats

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been reading a lot of epistolary novels lately. Part of this is for research as I was writing my epistolary novel WIP, which was just announced as a finalist for the Cascade Award. Part of it is that I'm a long-time journal and letter writer myself. I've had many pen pals over the years and still keep in touch over snail mail with my "bosom friend" from age six.

The interesting thing about unique formats is that they are often character-driven or quiet stories, but the unique format brings an extra element of fun that engages young reader.

In all my reading of unique formats (not all of these are in letters), these are my favorites. 

Annie’s Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney

 

Annie likes to make lists! This whole book is told in lists with a few breaks of narration where it makes sense for the story. I loved reading about Annie, who is both quiet and a noticer, something I haven’t seen before in middle grade fiction. As a couple people in my own family are noticers, I could relate to how she catches all the details of people’s appearance and mannerisms and never forgets them. And then her family has to move--and she blames herself. What I loved most about this story is how Annie navigates the ups and downs of new and old friendships, how she learns not to be embarrassed of being a noticer, and how she finally trusts her own voice.

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy Cavanaugh

 

This “journal” is really Ratchet’s language arts notebook. She’s homeschooled, but mostly left to her own devices as her father is busy as a mechanic. She wants to find out what happened to her mom, who left the family, but is now dead, and to make new friends. But her dad, who’s a bit of a character and an activist, makes things a challenge. I thought O’Connor did an amazing job of using an interesting format (language arts assignments) to tell a story. As a former homeschooler, I always love seeing homeschoolers in books. But I’d really love to about a kid who likes homeschooling—something I have yet to find. This novel is heartfelt and very memorable.

Dear Max by D.J. Lucas (a.k.a.  Sally Grindley)

This book is a novel in letters in which a boy writes letters to an author. Throughout the novel, Max and D.J. discuss the book Max is writing for class, the author’s books and writing process, and many other things. It's definitely a book that would appeal to writers, and my fourth grade self would have loved this book. This is illustrated with an on-pitch middle grade boy voice. It’s always lovely to find books with boy characters. I was always on the hunt for them when my boys were elementary age, and they seem to be getting harder to find. If you’re looking for a fun, character-driven read for boys, this would be perfect.

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale):

Max, the Reading Dog*

Annie’s Life in Lists: No dogs!  But there is a racoon family that lives in their basement for awhile. I’d probably have fun chasing them if I lived nearby. Annie probably wouldn’t like that. 🦴🦴

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet: They call Ratchet's Dad Racoon Dog “because anyone who can fix your car is man’s best friend,” but that doesn’t count as a real dog. 🦴

Dear Max:  It's got a great title! And D.J. (the author) has a dog named Ambush (and a cat, unfortunately). And Max knows you need to include animals. His story is about a bear, Grizzle.  🦴🦴🦴🦴

Your Turn:

Do you like novels in unique formats? What is your favorite?

 

If you'd like to read more middle grade reviews or join in the MMGM fun, go to Greg Pattridge's Always in the Middle blog.