MMGM: The Unbreakable Code

This is a book I got from the library, but I can’t remember what inspired me to get it. I think it was probably the fun title and the promise of a mystery. But little did I know that this book had some parallels with a book I’m currently revising. So win, win for me. A book to enjoy, and to learn from!

If you like mysteries about codes with historical themes and treasure hunts, you’re in luck!

Here’s the synopsis (from Amazon):

A New York Times-Bestseller!

Could books hidden through Book Scavenger be linked to an arsonist's web of destruction? Find out in Book 2 of Jennifer Chambliss' The Book Scavenger series.

Mr. Quisling is definitely up to something mysterious, and Emily and James are on high alert. First, there’s the coded note he drops at a book event. Then they uncover a trail of encrypted messages in Mark Twain-penned books hidden through Book Scavenger. What’s most suspicious is that each hidden book triggers a fire.

As the sleuthing friends dig deeper, they discover Mr. Quisling has been hunting a legendary historical puzzle: the Unbreakable Code. This new mystery is irresistible, but Emily and James can’t ignore the signs that Mr. Quisling might be the arsonist. The clock is ticking as the fires multiply, and Emily and James race to crack the code of a lifetime.

This title has Common Core connections.

What I loved about Unbreakable Code:

1.  The mystery was tied to history: I loved how the mystery didn’t happen in a vacuum but was based on real, historical events. This historical background—Angel Island, the San Fransisco Gold Rush, and Mark Twain—gave the book a lot of depth.

2.  A boy-girl friendship where they are just friends: I love that there was no hint of romance between James and Emily. It was nice to see them drawn together by common interests—a shared love of reading and clues.

3.  Codes! I recommended this to my son, who loved the Winston Breen series. Kids who love to solve the codes along with the main characters will love this.

4. A fast-paced, intricate plot: As plotting is something I struggle with, I’m going to be studying this one. I found the chapters by the anonymous villain quite brilliant. And I loved how all the various elements in this book came together for a very satisfying climax—like who knew a dance committee could be important?

5. Interesting and reliable adults: The adults usually get a bad rap in kidlit, but I loved how most of the adult characters were honorable people who seemed to really get these kids (except for the antagonist, of course).

Caveat: While I loved a lot about this book, I have a few tiny nitpicks. There were some mixed metaphors that were a bit jarring. And the entire cast of characters, some of whom had similar names, was often hard to keep track of.

But, all in all, a fun read. Perfect for summer when you want to escape and use your brain! By the way, this is the sequel to the BOOK SCAVENGER, which I haven’t read yet. So, you don’t have to read the first in the series to enjoy the sequel.

This book has been compared to the WESTING GAME and MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY, both of which are apt comparisons. Puzzles and smart kids—what a great combination!

Have you read any interesting mysteries with codes lately?

 

ISWG: Should a Hero or Heroine be Heroic?

This month’s question is:  What is your pet peeve when writing/editing/reading?

I don’t know how many times I’ve been told that a character needed to change by the end of the story—the bigger the change, the better. If you ever read Anatomy of a Story (John Truby), one of my favorite books on writing, he says the key to a satisfying story is starting with a character with a deep moral flaw.

However, lately I’ve given some thought to this, and I’m not sure I agree. Every time I’ve tried to craft a character with a major change, I have to make that character really detestable at the beginning. And there’s the problem: the reader must put up with this nasty character for quite awhile before the “change.”

In one of my novels like this, a CP told me she hated that character, but I persevered, sure that if I could make the character arc big enough, I could make this character’s story satisfying. But then I put the book aside for awhile and upon rereading it, realized I hated this character too. It doesn’t matter how much she changes at the end—I still don’t like her. Needless to say, that novel is trunked.

I’ve put down two kidlit books recently where the main character made a bad choice that didn’t feel justified. (For the record: If the main character is like Jean Valjean and stealing bread to feed his sister’s children, that is one thing. But if a character is stealing to impress the mean girl clique, you've lost me as a reader.)

I’m currently writing and revising a novel where I thought the main character would be unlikeable. He has a lot of issues. He’s “rough around the edges.” He gets in fights. But the reason why he does these things (like Valjean’s bread) is morally upright. I think Prince Jaron in THE FALSE PRINCE is like this.

He’s tough and reckless, but he’d willingly lay down his life to save the girl he loves and his kingdom. Call me old-fashioned, but I think there needs to be at least a kernel of goodness (or a large kernel preferably) in our main characters.

Now I focus less on making sure my character changes in a big way. I’m not advocating perfect characters, but if there’s nothing heroic, nothing that makes me admire this character for being particularly kind or brave, I’m not going to keep reading.

That is why I no longer create characters that are unlikeable for most of the book. Now if there were more authors who did the same…

What is Insecure Writer's Group?

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

 

Check out our sign up and participating blogs here.

 

MMGM: Beautiful Blue World

I picked up this book at my library. I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and the fact that it was about two girl friends, but seeing it was by Suzanne LaFleur closed the deal. I'm convinced she can't write a bad book—and her ability to convey emotion is extraordinary.

If you like suspenseful books about war or the power of friendship, this book is for you.

The synopsis (from Amazon):

Beautiful Blue World is a thrilling and moving story of children who become the key to winning a war.

Sofarende is at war. For twelve-year-old Mathilde, it means food shortages, feuding neighbors, and bombings. Even so, as long as she and her best friend, Megs, are together, they’ll be all right.

But the army is recruiting children, and paying families well for their service. If Megs takes the test, Mathilde knows she will pass. Megs hopes the army is the way to save her family. Mathilde fears it might separate them forever.

This touching and suspenseful novel is a brilliant reimagining of war, where even kindness can be a weapon, and children have the power to see what adults cannot.

What to love about Beautiful Blue World:

1. An expertly drawn girl friendship: While boy-girl friendships are very common in kidlit (possibly to appeal to both kinds of readers), I find them less common in real life. The story of these two girls really resonated with me and reminded me of the close friends I have from childhood. We need more books like this that show girls sacrificing and looking out for one another (no more mean girls, please).

2. A close family relationship: You would think that because a family is willing to send their daughter off to work for the army, that they do not care for her. So the neighbors think. But Mathilde's close relationship with her sisters, her mother, and especially her father were so lovely. LaFleur’s use of memorable details makes this happen.

3. Mathilde’s gift is not your typical “talent”: Mathilde is not chosen not for her math or science or writing skills, but her gift with people. It made me think of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences; academic smarts are not the only kind of smarts. What a wonderful message for kids.

4. Children are important and insightful: I think what will appeal to a lot of kid readers is how the children in the book are integral to the war effort, though not in ways you might think. The emphasis in this book is how adults might from kids.

5. Suspense, emotion, and depth: This is a book I had a hard time putting down. When I analyze why, it wasn’t just that it was suspenseful and had high stakes; it’s that those stakes had meaning and emotional resonance. While you might speed read through this book to find out what happens, it’s not a book you’ll quickly forget.

I’m not sure what to compare this to, although the testing at the beginning reminded me of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY,  the high stakes and emotion of THE HUNGER GAMES,  and the war time setting (albeit a made-up country) of many fine MGs about life during World War II.

If you like Suzanne LaFleur’s other work, this is vastly different, but the strong emotional core that she excels at in LOVE, AUBREY  and EIGHT KEYS (reviewed here) is very much present.

And if you enjoyed BEAUTIFUL BLUE WORLD, its sequel, THREADS OF BLUE is out in September. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Mathilde!

Have you read any books set in war time that you enjoyed lately?

If you'd like to check out more Monday middle grade books, go to Shannon Messenger's blog.

MMGM: I Am David

I initially picked up this book for my son. He’d been studying modern history this year, and I wanted a book about what it was like behind the Iron Curtain. He didn’t read it, but I did. And what a book! Many of you know I have a place in my heart for anything Eastern European or Russian. Honestly, I think it goes back to my own teen years. Before the wall fell, I watched an interview of Russian teenagers on TV.

 “They’re just like me,” I thought. And that one show changed my life. I went on to study Russian in college and live there for a semester because I wanted to meet in person these teens who “were just like me.” I still feel fortunate to call these people, former Soviets, friends.

I think when you read I AM DAVID, you will be struck with the same sort of “ah hah” moment. Yes, he has suffered more than most. He’s never known joy or a loving family or even tasty food. But at its heart, I AM DAVID, is about the strength of the human spirit, about not giving in and rising above those people who’ve sinned egregiously against you. I dare you not to fall in love with his amazing boy.

David's entire twelve-year life has been spent in a grisly prison camp in Eastern Europe. He knows nothing of the outside world. But when he is given the chance to escape, he seizes it. With his vengeful enemies hot on his heels, David struggles to cope in this strange new world, where his only resources are a compass, a few crusts of bread, his two aching feet, and some vague advice to seek refuge in Denmark. Is that enough to survive?

David's extraordinary odyssey is dramatically chronicled in Anne Holm's classic about the meaning of freedom and the power of hope.

What to like:

1. An amazing main character: What I loved about David, more than anything, is despite his various mishaps and misunderstandings of the world outside, he never loses his desire to not be like his captors. “You must hate what is bad or else you grow just like them.”

2. An outsider’s view of the western world: One of the most interesting parts of the book for me is David’s innocence, which seems ironic, seems he's been exposed to so much. But his misunderstandings about babies, families, God, among other things, are quite realistic and endearing.

3. A book in translation. As I shared here, I think we have too few books in translation in the United States. While we are a large country with lots of talented writers, I love reading children’s books from writers from other countries. It expands your view of the world.
 
It's hard for me to come up with bullet points for this book. I loved it because this character touched my heart and gave me a glimpse of a completely different world. I was initially drawn in by David’s unusual experiences and reactions, but I walked away inspired to be like him.

Have you read any inspiring books lately? Or something set during the Cold War?

To check out more Marvelous Middle Grade suggestions, check out Shannon Messenger's blog.  

ISWG: Just Keep Writing

Last spring my son had two piano performances—a festival and a recital—on the same day. I watched as he struggled to continue playing after he made a few mistakes (he wanted to start over) and another student did the same. But the interesting thing to me, is that neither of these students were beginners. The beginners don’t struggle as much if they make mistakes. These two kids had high standards and their fingers couldn’t keep up with how they imagined the piece should sound.

I realize I do the same thing with my writing.

I am thankful that writing is not a performance art. Unlike when I played piano, no one sees the tears I cry at a harsh critique or a rejection from a much hoped for agent. I get to do that in private, which I am extremely grateful for.

But like the piano students, my fingers haven’t caught up with my imagination.

With other things in my life, I pick a sane, easy route. (While I love to bake, I will not be making anyone a wedding cake any time soon.) But with writing, I have the strange desire to pick the hardest thing ever.

I wonder now if some of my problems with my earlier books are that I made everything too complicated: several hundred subplots, anyone? Mashups of as many genres as possible?

See, with writing, I don’t hold back. I am not sane. And the fact that I still need to develop as a writer has never stopped me from tackling something beyond my reach.

And now here I am, having just finished a draft of a new book. I still have a lot of work to do. My rough drafts are usually more like filled-in outlines; the big work of revision is ahead. And this book is complicated in every way: a culture not my own, a theme so close to my heart it feels about to burst, a genre I’ve never tackled before.

I’m afraid that I’m going to fall on my face, or behave like I did at my piano recitals, run out of the room crying.

But I wouldn’t be writing if I didn’t stretch myself, tackle a piece that’s just beyond my reach.

I need to remember the advice the adjudicator told my son: Just keep playing.

The question this month is what is the one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing? I’ve learned many things, but the most important is perseverance, or in other words, Just keep writing.

What is the one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?


What is Insecure Writer's Group?

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

To see more ISWG posts or to sign up, go here. 

ISWG: Finding Your Way Back

This month's question: Did you ever say "I quit"? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?

I have many different times in my life when I wanted to quit. The longest stretch was about six years ago. I had a lot going on in my personal life (my younger son required two surgeries within the space of a few months), and I’d gotten some discouraging feedback on a new project. I’ve since learned never to let anyone see my first drafts, but I didn’t know that then. I was so discouraged I set that book aside.

That’s when the writer's block started. For a few months, I just wrote, “I can’t write anything,” in my journal. At least I was writing words, right?

How did I find my way back? I started asking myself what I really liked to read and what I really wanted to write if I didn’t have to worry about anyone else reading it. This led me to tackling a YA retelling, a book of my heart. Instead of writing for the market, I wrote just for me.

No, it’s not published, but that’s not the point. The important thing is that through writing that novel, I found my love of writing again. Because if I don’t enjoy writing, why am I doing this anyway?

I’ve since learned that I’m often most vulnerable to giving up when life presents me with a mix of writing obstacles and difficult life circumstances. But now that I’ve seen I can come back, dealing with those bad days or those days (or months) when writing comes hard is easier. I know they won’t last forever.

All I need to keep in mind is why I’m writing in the first place: What do I like to read? What do I like to write?

If that’s my focus, I won’t give up for long.

And that book I gave up on? It’s finished, and I’m now querying it. Setting something aside doesn’t mean forever.




What is Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

 To see more IWSG posts, go here. 

What I Learned About Dreams from La La Land

Summit Entertainment via redbox.com

Have you seen La La Land? I recently watched it, since it just came out on DVD.  As a fan of old movies, especially Singing in the Rain, it was my cup of tea: lovely score, costumes, and snappy dialogue. I was enthralled with this story of an aspiring actress and a jazz musician till the end.

But all that talk of following your dreams made me think of my own dreams—and how long I’ve wanted to be a writer (since fourth grade—but who’s counting?).

Here’s what I learned about dreams:

***Spoiler Alert—if you haven’t watched the movie, you might want to stop here.***

1.  Rejection can make you lose sight of your dreams. There’s one point in the movie, when Mia, the main character, is so discouraged she wants to give up. “It hurts,” she says. I don’t blame her. Auditions are harder than querying. I’d rather get a form letter. But no matter how it happens, rejection does hurt. The only thing that’s helped me is to remember—it’s not personal. It’s my work they don’t like, not me.

Summit Entertainment

2.  Support is essential for any dreamer. I loved how Sebastian pushes Mia when she’s at her lowest, finding her an audition and driving her all the way from Nevada to L.A. This made me thankful for the supportive people in my life—like my husband who always took my dream seriously, never doubting I’d see a book in my hands some day. I know it’s harder following your dreams without support, though not impossible.

3.  Being a dreamer means making tough choices. The only part about the movie I didn’t like was the ending. If you’ve seen it, you know it’s not typical Hollywood. But, at the same time, I agree with what the filmmakers are saying. Having a dream—a big dream, like acting or any of the arts—is consuming. It can be hard on your family. I know this, because there was a time when I was so consumed with my art that I had very little left over for my husband or kids. But unlike Mia, I don’t think that is a good thing. I love writing, but I hold it a lot more loosely than I once did. Of course, it’s still my dream to get published, but there is more to life than writing. And I don’t regret the fact that my writing dreams have sometimes moved at a snail's pace in order to put my family first.

Summit Entertainment via redbox.com

Have you seen La La Land? What do you think about what it said about choices and following your dreams?



* I won't be blogging for the next Mondays due to a family wedding and Memorial Day weekend. I'll be back on June 7th for Insecure Writer's Support Group.  I'll see you then!