MMGM: Cracking Cases with The T.O.A.S.T. Series by James Ponti

I'm glad to be back to MMGM after a busy August! Unfortunately, I had a lot of do-not-finish books last month, so I've been waiting for a good one to share with you. Now that it's fall, my tastes tend toward mysteries. Nothing like curling it with a good whodunit, watching the leaves fall. Are you like that too?

I read the first of the Framed (or T.O.A.S.T.*) series way back in 2016. I love art history and that book became a quick favorite. Recently, I picked up two more books by James Ponti to complete the series, and although neither of these books have anything to do with art history, they touched on a couple of my other interests: classical music and Russian. Two more outstanding titles to share with you today!

*For those who haven't read the series, T.O.A.S.T. stands Theory of All Small Things. As Florian explains: "The idea is that if you look for little details, you can add them up to discover otherwise hidden pieces of information." (p.7 of Trapped  by James Ponti) 

  

Synopsis for Vanished (Book 2):

 

After helping the FBI solve an art theft at the National Gallery and uncovering a DC spy ring, Florian’s finding life at Alice Deal Middle School a little boring. Then his FBI handler, Marcus, finally has a job for him. Florian can’t wait! Is it a bank robbery? Counterfeit ring? International espionage? Not even close.

 

The mission is even more middle school. There’s been a series of pranks happening at a prestigious private school attended by the president’s daughter who may—or may not—be involved. So Florian and Margaret go undercover to see if they can use their TOAST skills to figure out what’s going on before the media gets hold of the story.

 

However, once the crime-solving pair arrive at the school, they discover that there’s a lot more than a few pranks going on, and the conspiracy of silence reaches all the way to the top. Then things take a sinister turn when a student vanishes in the middle of a concert at the Kennedy Center!

 

Can Florian and Margaret save the day? Or are they about to get toasted? 

 

 

 

Synopsis for Trapped (Book 3)

Florian Bates—the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists—must clear the name of a friend being framed for a crime he didn’t commit in this hilarious third novel in the Framed! series.

 

When Florian and Margaret’s FBI supervisor, Marcus Rivers, is accused of a crime, it’s up to the mystery solving duo to jump into action and clear his name. After all, Marcus is more than their boss—he’s family.

 

The case involves one of Marcus’s first investigations for the FBI and a Russian spy ring. But the spy they’re chasing learns what they’re up to and turns the tables. Now, Marcus is implicated in a variety of crimes, including theft, corruption, and espionage.

 

For Florian and Margaret, it just got personal. They’re going to catch the spy and clear Marcus’s name…even if they have to break into (and out of) the Library of Congress to do it.

 

What to love about this series:

 

1. Well-drawn and fun main characters: I love Florian. He’s like a 12-year-old Sherlock Holmes in the way he notices small things. It's so fun watching him best adults with his skills! Margaret is the perfect crime-solving partner with her ability to people instincts, musical knowledge, and killer soccer skills, which do come in handy throughout the series. 

 

2. A friendship that grows and deepens throughout the series: These are friends who aren’t afraid to be honest with each other and value each other’s differences instead of expecting a friend to be a clone of themselves. What a great model for this age group!

 

3. The adults are well-rounded and play a part in the story. Sometimes in the desire to let the kids solve the crime in most middle grade mysteries, adults are unrealistically absent or are cardboard characters. But in Trapped, Florian’s mom drives them around and uses her Italian background to benefit the team. Nic the Knife and Marcus had depth and their own stories, which is refreshing.

 

4. A bigger story arc beyond the individual books. Every successful series has a story arc that continues throughout the books, and Ponti develops the story of Margaret trying to find her birth parents and Florian keeping that a secret (for a good reason!) throughout all three books. It made for a very satisfying ending to book 3.

 

5. Fun topics! Just like with Framed,  I learned so much from each of these books. Vanished delved into music theory, prep schools, and secret societies. Trapped taught me a lot about the Library of Congress and as a Russophile, I enjoyed the Russian spy element. (Ponti got his Russian correct!)

 

Max’s Take (on a 5 bone scale): 

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

There should be a spy dog in these books! Couldn’t they have used someone like me to protect them from getting Trapped in the Library of Congress! I would’ve been able to sniff out the bad guy right away. 

🦴

Your Turn: 

What do you like to read in the fall? Have your read the T.O.A.S.T. series?  If you like mysteries, which are your favorites?

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

 

#ISWG: How Do You Tell the Difference Between Opportunity and Distraction?

 

Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash

Saying Yes

 

Many years ago, I read an article by an agent who advised you to say yes to every opportunity as a writer, especially if you were trying to build your audience.

I suppose that we might all agree it’s not wise to say yes to everything, but I see in the writing community the pressure to constantly say yes to things that can take away from creating:

Critique groups

Book reviews

Conferences

Speaking engagements (not that I get invited to do that yet!)

I do say yes to some things besides just writing. I keep this blog up, my favorite way to be social online. I enjoy writing reviews, and it helps me as a writer because I’m learning to analyze what works and doesn’t work in the books I love. When I can, I attend conferences, although I pour over the session descriptions to make sure I will learn something new. Although sometimes I’ve just attended to see writing friends, and that’s okay too.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

 

 

 

Saying No 

However, every time I say no, I feel like I’m sitting at the not-so-cool kids’ table. I worry about missed opportunities or that if I turn down something, I might be burning a bridge or not building a community.

But my writing time is so precious. I struggle to make time for my writing, and I struggle to concentrate and show up. It’s also important to me that my family isn’t the last in line for my time or attention. 

There is no local writing group in my town. I usually have to drive an hour to attend most local events. Sometimes I think maybe I should start a group here in my rural town. But I know the time commitment that would take, and I know that means saying no to something else. And that almost always means my own writing.

Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

 

 

 

Talking Instead of Writing 

I’ve been thinking recently about something my first writing teacher and mentor told me: “Be careful of writing groups. Sometimes it's easier to talk about writing than actually do it.”

And that can be true of other writing opportunities as well.

That’s why I’m so careful about letting my yes be a whole-hearted one when I give it.

As I was writing this post, I came across this article about saying no as a writer. What I loved about it was determining your top three goals and using that as a filter for how you filter what you say yes to.

My three goals:

1.  To finish editing this manuscript and start querying.

2.  To research and start my next project.

3.  To continue to grow my writing community through my blog, attending SCBWI events, and writing and encouraging other writers.

Your Turn:

How do you balance your own writing with other demands on your time? What are your three goals? How do you know when to say no?

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

MMGM: Vintage Children's Books for Modern Readers: Anna Rose Johnson

Do you like vintage children’s books? You know the books you or perhaps your grandmother grew up with (or were written about your great grandmother’s time) like Betsy-Tacy, The Secret Garden, or Anne of Green Gables. These were the books I lived in as a child, where the characters became as dear to me as real friends. I was so excited to discover a new-to-me author, Anna Rose Johnson, who shares this love and has written some beautiful modern books in this vintage style.

Today I’m featuring the two I’ve read, but Faith Hough, another MMGM blogger, recently featured an interview with Anna Rose about her latest book, The Blossoming Summer. 

If you like nostalgic reads like The Penderwicks or The Vanderbeekers series, but set in the early 1900s, you will love these books!

Synopsis for A Star That Always Stays:

 
Growing up on Beaver Island, Grand-père told Norvia stories—stories about her ancestor Migizi, about Biboonke-o-nini the Wintermaker, about the Crane Clan and the Reindeer Clan. He sang her songs in the old language, and her grandmothers taught her to make story quilts and maple candy. On the island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage. 

Things are different in the city. Here, Norvia’s mother forces her to pretend she’s not Native at all—even to Mr. Ward, Ma’s new husband, and to Vernon, Norvia’s irritating new stepbrother. In fact, there are a lot of changes in the city: ten-cent movies, gleaming soda shops, speedy automobiles, ninth grade. It’s dizzying for a girl who grew up on the forested shores of Lake Michigan.

Despite the move, the upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it... and upon her discretion. 

But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?

 

My Take:

 
The writing style and the focus on the everyday elements of life reminded me so much of Maud Lovelace’s high school Betsy books. Norvia was an interesting heroine, because she was so shy, but I loved that because that was me as a young teen as well. I also loved how her heritage was natural to the story and though she encountered prejudice, the story showed who Norvia's true friends were. Faith was woven in as a natural part of life. I really enjoyed the chapters about the two Ojibwe grandmothers and their steadfast encouragement in Norvia's life. And although I am from a small family myself, I love reading about big families, and Norvia’s drama-loving sister, Dicta, steals every scene she’s in. There were a few minor things, like how divorce was handled for that period that didn’t ring true for me, and I wished we could have seen more of her dad and hear his side of the story. But overall, a lovely read. And Mr. Bingley, the family dog, was a delight!

Synopsis for The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry:

Lucy, a spirited French-Ojibwe orphan, is sent to the stormy waters of Lake Superior to live with a mysterious family of lighthouse-keepers—and, she hopes, to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking…

Selena Lucy Landry (named for a ship, as every sailor’s child should be) has been frightened of the water ever since she lost her father at sea. But with no one else to care for her, she’s sent to foster with the Martins—a large Anishinaabe family living on a lighthouse in the middle of stormy Lake Superior. 

The Martin family is big, hard-working, and close, and Lucy—who has always been a dreamer—struggles to fit in. Can she go one day without ruining the laundry or forgetting the sweeping? Will she ever be less afraid of the lake?

My Take:

 
While A Star reminded me of Betsy-Tacy, The Luminous Life reminded me of Anne of Green Gables and The Little Princess. The set up is similar about a spirited, imaginative orphan girl who goes to live with a family, but what I loved is that Anna Rose brings her own spin on the story. Lucy is imaginative and gets into trouble because she’s daydreaming, but one of my favorite parts of the book was how she often imagines herself as a Princess or a waif depending on her mood. Unlike the Little Princess, imagining herself as a princess doesn’t make Lucy a better person, although sometimes it does. She’s proud of her heritage and her Papa who died in a shipwreck. I loved the beautiful large family dynamics. It is difficult to have a large cast and keep each character distinct. But Anna Rose does it well. I also enjoyed the mystery of the necklace and the shipwreck which added a lot of peril, especially toward the end.

This is a much shorter read than A Star and would be wonderful for advanced readers who are ready to move up to middle grade, but not ready for any dark themes. 

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

Max’s Take on a 5 bone scale: 

A Star: Mr. Bingley! I love a dog that’s named after a book character, especially if it’s from my mom’s favorite book (Pride and Prejudice).

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Lucy Landry had some gulls, but no dogs. And lots of water! I do not like boats or water. 🦴

Your turn:

Do you like vintage reads? What books did you love as a child?  

 

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

ISWG: How Do You Know You Are Done?

 

Photo by Kalei de Leon on Unsplash

How do you know you're finished with a manuscript?

I'm in what I think might be the final stretches of editing with my manuscript, so I’ve keep asking myself this question.

Last week I signed up for a webinar "How Do You Know You're Done?", but it ended up being about how do you know when to set your manuscript aside. 

That’s not what I’m talking about.

What I want to know is: When do you know your story is complete? When do you know it’s time to step away? Because we all know that we as writers can fiddle and tweak—and sometimes too much tweaking can just make things worse.

Here are the signs you might be getting close:

1.    You’re changing more minor things: word choice, syntax, and looking at sentence-level type changes.

2.    The story says what you want it to say. 

3.    The character arc works.

4.    The synopsis reads like a story, not a muddled mess.

5.    Your list of what to change has gotten shorter—and are not so many big picture issues.

Photo by alexey turenkov on Unsplash

 

When I draft, I feel like I’m writing in the dark with a flashlight that’s running low on batteries. Right now, it’s like I finally see the figure in the marble (to borrow Michelangelo’s metaphor). It might still have some rough edges, but there’s something there.

The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material. (attributed to Michelangelo)

 

Photo by Val Vesa on Unsplash

Even though I see these signs, I still waver. What if I’m wrong?

For many years, I didn’t query until I’d had the rubber stamp of approval from a critique partner. 

Now, although I still get critiques, I don’t depend on them as much to tell me when my work is ready.

I wait till I know it’s ready. Recently, I was talking about this with a friend, and she told me her brother says, “You just know.” And that sounds about right.

My hope is that my manuscript will be ready-ready in a few months. But it’s been at least seven years since I sent a book length manuscript into the world. 

Yes, I'm one of those. A slow writer.

What about you? How do you know your manuscript is ready to be seen by people outside your critique group/partners/family? How do you know you’re done?

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

MMGM: Wired for Fun: A Review of Hertz Gets Fused

 

My heart sings when I find middle grade books that capture the boy voice well. Like here and here. Last summer I discovered Hertz Gets Fused by Suzanne Purvis. Hertz reminds me of the characters in Gordon Korman books: a kid who loves being a kid and fun is his ultimate goal.

Unfortunately, having fun (in Hertz’s case, video gaming) gets him in a bit of trouble and turns his whole summer upside down.

Synopsis:

Tech-obsessed twelve-year-old Hertz Zindler gets into Godzilla-sized trouble when he accidentally starts an electrical fire in his bedroom. Bad enough, all his tech stuff is ruined, but worse—Avis, his mom’s guide dog, gets grazed by a fire truck leaving the scene and the poor dog is traumatized and unable to guide.

Hertz’s mom heads to Texas to train with a new guide dog, and Hertz and Avis head to Show Low, Arizona where an unconventional great-uncle has agreed to babysit Hertz. Not what Hertz planned for his summer. He’s stuck in an Airstream trailer park for retirees, struggling to squash his shame and hide his boredom.

Then a flicker of hope. The town-sponsored scavenger hunt provides the means—a cash prize! If Hertz wins, he can buy a used laptop at the local pawn shop and get reconnected.

But Hertz’s past, along with a string of dumpster fires, have him labeled as the sheriff’s number one arson suspect.

Now Hertz must build a team, win the scavenger hunt, avoid the sheriff, and expose the real fire starter or he could end up in juvie jail. (from Amazon)

Highlights of Hertz Gets Fused:

1.    A novel in verse. I don’t read many novels in verse, but this one worked on so many levels. It’s perfect for Hertz’s voice and is infused with humor and heart. Also, the sparse text will appeal to reluctant readers. One of my favorite lines (although it’s hard to pick) is when Hertz sees his house on fire and debates about telling his mom:  “I delay my launch/of the truth starship.” 

2.    A realistic boy protagonist, who happens to be a gamer: Reading about Hertz reminded me how many of former students love to game. Hertz’s voice was authentic, and kids will relate to his dilemma. My younger son didn’t like Hertz because he was so self-centered at first, but trust me, stick with him, and he grows on you.

3.    Memorable characters: Hertz, his mom, Pops, Hertz’s great uncle, and his scavenger hunt partners, Fey and Allen, leap off this page. This is in part to Suzanne’s memorable descriptions, like this one about Pops: “The rodent over his left eye twitches. / Might be a wink.”

4.    A fun plot: For a fairly short (207 page) novel with sparse text, Suzanne packed in a lot of plot. I really enjoyed reading about the Scavenger Hunt, the zany people of Show Low, and how Hertz always managed to get himself into the craziest situations.

5.    A perfect ending. The ending was filled with action (and peril for Avis the dog!), and Hertz proves in more than one way that he’s really truly changed.

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

Max’s Take ( on a five bone scale): 🦴🦴🦴🦴

Finally, a book with an interesting dog! Avis is a survivor and my hero. He’s not just a minor character either. Woof! Woof!

 

 

About the author:

I'm Suzanne Purvis, a writer and artist transplanted from Canada to the often unnoticed, and sometimes forgotten coast of the Florida Panhandle. Wedged up against Alabama and Georgia, the Deep South oozes into this corner of Florida, and once you visit you won't want to leave. That's what happened to me. Hard to resist the sweet tea, sweeter accents, the sugar white beaches, and turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 
I write poetry and fiction of the long, short, and flash variety for both children and adults, usually with a touch of humor. (from https://www.suzannepurvis.com/) 

 

*If you're a dog lover, check out her page all about her dogs! 

Suzanne has another book coming out next year: 

 

Your Turn:

Do you like novels in verse? What are your favorite reads this summer?

 

MMGM: Breaking the Fourth Wall: Richard Ayoade’s Hilarious Ode to Unloved Books

 

After reading The Fairy Tale Fan Club, I wanted to check out other books by Richard Ayoade. When I discovered he wrote a book with a very intriguing title, The Book That No One Wanted to Read, of course I had to check it out.

If you like whimsical books that break the fourth wall, are a little zany, and of course, don’t take themselves too seriously (as all books should), you will love this book!

Synopsis:

From actor-author-broadcaster-comedian-filmmaker Richard Ayoade comes a book narrated by . . . a book. Quirky, smart, and genre-busting, this is the saga of a book that nobody wants to read—until the day it meets YOU.

The life of a book isn’t easy, especially when people judge you by your cover (not every book can be adorned with sparkly unicorns!). And this narrator should know—it’s the book itself, and it has a lot of opinions. It gets irritated when readers bend its pages back, and it finds authors quite annoying. But it does have a story to tell. Through witty direct address and charming illustrations, readers meet a book that has never been read, with a cover the boring color of a school lunch table and pages so dry they give bookworms indigestion. But what happens when this book meets you, a curious reader.  (excerpted from Amazon)

Highlights of The Book That No One Wanted to Read:

 
1.    A book as the narrator/main character. I’ve seen a trend of more middle grade books being “written” by inanimate objects. And I even wrote a short story told from the point of view of a book. I think readers who enjoy the asides of omniscient narrators like Lemony Snicket or the narrator in Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place will enjoy Ayoade’s book narrator.

2.    You are a character in this book too! Second person is not often done in middle grade, but it really works here. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the book and you (the child)—and I think kids will too.

3.    Illustrations and diagrams. From "Invisibility Problems," to "How to Control a Camel," to comics entitled “Getting a Book to Admit It’s a Book”—there are delightful illustrations by Tor Freeman throughout. These, of course, add to the fun and whimsy of the book that no one wants to read—yet. 

p. 55 The Book That No One Wanted To Read

4.    An ending that is funny and touching. I wasn’t sure where the story was going through most of this book, but it ended on the right note—giving kids something to do and giving the book as a character an arc. Is that even possible for a book to grow? Maybe it is.

5.    Lots of learning about story in a humorous way: Ayoade touches on stock characters, plot structure, libraries, and other book elements in a fun way. Kids—and adults—always learn best with some laughter thrown in.

6.    And of course, tons of laugh out loud humor!

Max, the Reading Dog*

Max’s Take (on a five bone scale):🦴🦴

Lots of animals in this story: donkeys, worms, louses, alligators, chickens, but no dogs. Dogs like to read too! Instead of a book worm, why not a Reading Dog? Ugh!

 

 

 

Your Turn:

What is the funniest book you've read lately? Do you like unusual narrators or books that break the fourth wall?

 

MMGM: Travel to the Past on The Cargo of the Madalena

 

Don't be fooled by this cover. The book is more exciting. I promise!

When my boys were younger, we loved reading historical fiction together, especially if it was immersive with a lot of details of the time. Adam of the Road, The Birchback House, and The Door in the Wall were a few favorites that live on in family yore.

When Valinora Troy, another MMGM blogger, recommended Ring Out Bow Bells, I thought it might be a similar read. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on that title, but I discovered another by Cynthia Harnett: The Cargo of the Madalena (originally published as The Load of the Unicorn in 1959). 

If you like immersive reads with a lot of historical details and illustrations and maps galore, you will love this book!

Synopsis:

Bendy, whose family runs a scrivener's shop in fifteenth-century London, solves the mystery when the master printer, William Caxton, fails to receive the paper shipped to him aboard the cargo ship "Madalena." (from Goodreads)

Highlights of The Cargo of the Madalena:

1.    A relatable main character. I’m always excited to find middle grades, especially historical fiction, with a boy main character. I totally felt for Bendy, who’s caught between his half-brothers who are  running their father’s scrivener business and his father, who’s trying to stick up for Bendy, but being pushed out by his older sons. Not to mention that his brothers are anti-printing press and Bendy and his father and intrigued by this new invention.

2.    Authentic period detail. This is not a time (London in 1482) that I know a lot about, but I learned so much about the scrivener business, the early printing press, life at Westminster, and the English countryside. A lot of the characters, like William Caxton, the printer, are also real historical persons.

p.132, illustration by Cynthia Harnett

3.    Illustrations by the author. I have heard that illustrations in middle grade are making a comeback. Yay! I enjoyed Harnett's drawings  of buildings, important items in the story, characters, and actions. These and the map in the back of the book really helped me to understand difficult concepts and visualize all those unfamiliar parts of the story. 

 

4.    An interesting mystery surrounding Le Morte d’Arthur. While the mystery of the missing paper was intriguing—and an attempted kidnapping gripping, I especially enjoyed the part of the book that dealt with how the most famous English version of King Arthur legends came to print.  

5.    An interesting theme that relates to modern times. Throughout the novel, as I was reading how the scriveners didn’t want the printing press to take off and ruin their business, I thought of all the transitions I've seen of an invention taking over an industry. (Remember video stores?) Of course, I couldn’t help but see the parallels with current debates over AI.

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale): 

Max, the Reading Dog*

 
Other than Bendy’s horse, there are no animals in this story! If Bendy had had me with him on his journey, he never would’ve gotten kidnapped. But it was an exciting story!

🦴🦴

Your Turn:

Have you read The Cargo of the Madalena or Le Morte d'Arthur ? What are your favorite historical fiction books or Arthurian legends?

 

ISWG: What’s Really Stopping You from Writing in a New Genre?

 

Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash

What genre would I like to try but haven’t yet?

Does it count that I’ve dabbled a little in this genre? It’s not that I’ve never tried it. I’ve just stopped at one story: a picture book. But this summer I’ve had a few more picture book ideas fly into my brain.

My one picture book is a project I don’t quite know what to do with. My husband loves it. I’ve gotten some critiques and recently entered a SCBWI grant for it. 

But I keep thinking I’m a middle grade writer. What business do I have writing a picture book?

Yet, at one point middle grade was a great unknown. I had to learn about voice, the market, the genre, etc. I read and continue to read a ton of middle grades. Being a teacher and having to read 100 children’s books to get my degree did give me a good start.

Why don’t I do the same thing with picture books?

I tell myself the market is crowded, so I won’t be able to stand out. At our SCBWI events in Oregon, there’s always ten times as many picture book writers as middle grade and YA. I have heard that agents/editors are not interested in the type of picture book I’ve written. (And, no, it’s not rhyming.)

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

But all this is self-rejection. 

An unfortunate character trait I often display with my middle grade work too.

Why do we do this? We let ideas languish in notebooks and manuscripts waste away in our computer files.

But maybe after I finish this never-ending revision on my current middle grade manuscript, I’ll see if I can turn some of those ideas into picture books.

Maybe instead of self-rejecting or staying in the place where I’m a picture book newbie, I could take a class or read more picture books. I could do what I did to make middle grade come so easily to me now: 

Learn as much as I can.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

What about you? Is there a genre you haven’t tried yet? What is holding you back?

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

 

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.