Middle Grade Monday – Free Love (Friday, May 4)

NOTE: THE GLITCH AT AMAZON has been fixed. The Ruins of Noe will be available for FREE on Friday, May 4.

I have no post for MGM this week about another author’s work.

Launching a book turns my regimented (har-har) schedule on its head. But below I have Shannon Messenger’s list of MGM topics for this week, so please explore!

This week I’m dealing with my own MG book, The Ruins of Noe, which is Book Two in the White Forest Faerie Tales series. It officially launches tomorrow (May 1)  and I’m feeling ready for a nap.

As some of you know, my publisher is offering the ebook version of TRoN for FREE on Amazon the day of the launch. I spoke about the Economy of Free in my last post and it will be interesting to see what happens. I’m sure many of you would like to know . . . do free ebooks actually generate sales?

I’m guessing there are a lot of factors around this. How many fans an author has already, the genre, the marketing campaign, and whether the book is good or not. I’m sure a few writers have thought to themselves, “How are we supposed to make any money if we are now expected to give our work away for free?” To which I reply – - you’re not going to make any money at all if nobody knows who you are!

For the next few weeks, to celebrate the launch, I’ll be doing a blog tour. Some stops are reviews, some are interviews, some are guest posts. You can find the Schedule HERE.

I promise to have a fresh MGM material for next week. In the meantime, please visit the growing list of MGMers (reposted from Shannon Messenger’s site):

- The Mundie Moms- Click HERE to see their newest recommendations.

- The lovely Shannon O’Donnell always has an MMGM ready for you! Click HERE to see what she’s featuring this week!

-  Karen Yingling also always has some awesome MMGM recommendations for you. Click HERE to which ones she picked this time!

- Gina Carey is wondering at WONDER. Click HERE to see why she thinks you’ll be moved too.

- Joanne Fritz has an exclusive interview with author Jerry Spinelli–with a GIVEAWAY. Click HERE to read more.

- Barbara Watson is highlighting GLORY BE, with an author interview–and a GIVEAWAY! Click HERE for all the details.

- Michelle Isenhoff is raving about one of her childhood favorites: THE BLACK STALLION. Click HERE to learn why she still loves this classic.

- Brennan and Meyrick Murphy are marveling at PERFECTLY PERILOUS MATH–with an interview. Click HERE for all the fun.

- Gabrielle Prendergast is gushing about OUT ON A LIMB.  Click HERE to see why she loved it.

- Andrea Mack is cheering for a slightly younger middle grade, CINDERELLA (AS IF YOU DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW THE STORY). Click HERE to learn why.

- Michael Gettel Gilmarten is highlighting AMAZON: AN ULTIMATE ADVENTURE NOVEL. Click HERE to see what he thought of it.

- Riv Re joins the MMGM fun with a feature on THE DRAGON’S TOOTH. Click HERE to welcome her to the group!

- Chelanne Green is celebrating 11 BIRTHDAYS. Click HERE to see why.

- Laurisa Reyes is swooning over SHADOWS IN FLIGHT. Click HERE to see why she loved it

- Rosi Hollinbeck also joins the MMGM fun with a feature on NO-NAME BABY–with a giveaway! Click HERE for all the details.

- Julie from “That’s Swell” is back with a feature on THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST. Click HERE to see what she thinks!

Middle Grade Mondays: The True Meaning of Smekday

Middle Grade Mondays works! I was inspired to read this book when fellow MGMer Michael G-G posted about it a few months ago. (at least I think it was Michael at the Mafioso, forgive me if I misremembered)

THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY By Adam Rex

from GoodReads:

When twelve-year-old Gratuity (“Tip”) Tucci is assigned to write five pages on “The True Meaning of Smekday” for the National Time Capsule contest, she’s not sure where to begin. When her mom started telling everyone about the messages aliens were sending through a mole on the back of her neck? Maybe on Christmas Eve, when huge, bizarre spaceships descended on the Earth and the aliens – called Boov – abducted her mother? Or when the Boov declared Earth a colony, renamed it “Smekland” (in honor of glorious Captain Smek), and forced all Americans to relocate to Florida via rocketpod?

… Gratuity’s story is much, much bigger than the assignment. It involves her unlikely friendship with a renegade Boov mechanic named J.Lo.; a futile journey south to find Gratuity’s mother at the Happy Mouse Kingdom; a cross-country road trip in a hovercar called Slushious; and an outrageous plan to save the Earth from yet another alien invasion.

Fully illustrated with “photos,” drawings, newspaper clippings, and comics sequences, this is a hilarious, perceptive, genre-bending novel by a remarkable new talent

I love this book.

I wasn’t sure I would at first. I’ve mentioned before that MG books that have a “cartoonish” feel to them usually don’t appeal to me. (Lightning Thief, Mysterious Benedict Society)

But this book is FUNNY. laugh-out-loud-fall-on-the-floor-hold-your-stomach funny. At least it was for me. Adam Rex and I apparently have the same sense of humour.

Once, while reading, I came to a page so funny I dropped the book and started laughing so hard I started crying. I was holding my stomach and my husband asked me what was up. Since we have the same sense of humour, I read (barely able to at one point) the page to him. He started laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe.

But intermixed with the funny are these wonderfully poignant moments between Gratuity and her new Boov travelmate J.Lo. You can see their friendship developing from a mile away, but it still feels warm, fuzzy, and genuine.  When Gratuity finally reunites with her mom, I had real tears in my eyes. And at the very very end, well, you’ll just have to read it. Let’s say that it was actually surprisingly moving.

In addition (yes, there’s more!) there is a lot of social commentary. Not in a preachy manner. Quite the opposite. It pokes fun at the foibles of the human race. I especially loved the history (drawn in comic book form) of the Boov and how it reflected our own planet’s history.

If you have trouble finding books for middle grade boys, this is a good choice. I think girls will love it, too. And adults. And Boov. (if a Gorg read it, he’d probably punch you in the face, though).

“What DID you send?”

“It was just a little song. I singed a little song to see if the antennas were able to be sending it back to my scooter.”

“What kind of a song?”

“A children’s play song.”

“How did it go?”

“Hm. It will not to rhyme in humanspeak.”

“That’s okay.”

J.Lo thought for a moment. “It goes . . . Gorg are dumb, dumb like soap, their wives are wider than they should be.”

“Uh-oh,” I said, looking ahead at the big purple ball.

“The funny part,” said J.Lo, “is that the Gorg do not even have wives.”

CLICK ME FOR MORE MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY POSTS TODAY

MG/YA Mondays

I’ve decided to make my Mondays alternate discussing MG and YA books, because I’ve been reading far more YA books lately and am writing an YA novel.

Plus, I’ve been inventorying my tastes.

Someone came up to me at the Lit Fest this weekend and said, I don’t really like fantasy. I’ve heard this said before and it doesn’t bother me. We have our tastes. (Although, I do suggest that no one dismiss and entire genre. Fantasy isn’t just wizards and dragons, just as romance novels aren’t all sap and cheese)

I was looking at some old GoodReads reviews of mine and thought I might have been overly critical. Obviously, book review’s are critical by nature is about, but really, almost all of it is personal opinion. And personal opinion is related to taste.

The more MG/YA books I read the more I understand what defines the levels of these demographics, and the more I appreciate the difference.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not generally fond of younger MG novel’s “cartoonish” quality (the Lightning Thief book for instance). Early on, I think I saw this kind of writing as a negative thing, but it’s not. It’s just my taste. (although I’m reading The True Meaning of Smekland right now, which is very cartoonish, but just too funny to put down).

by Gizem Vural (click for source)

I’ve come to realize that I’m drawn to upper middle grade work, sliding into YA. When it gets past the simple characters and the clear-cut nature of good/bad – right/wrong stories and moves into the coming-of-age realm. And now that I think of it. I’ve always loved coming-of-age stories. The kind of story where the kid is forced to grow up, deal with issues, go to a darkish place, and come out changed/individualized. They can’t go back, they know more now, and probably have the scars to prove it.

As one publisher said, MG stories are generally about fitting in and YA stories are about breaking out – becoming one’s own person. I guess I am drawn to what straddles those worlds.

by Gizem Vural (click for source)

Coming of Age is not a genre. It’s an archetypal story. Characters can come of age in any time in history, any place in the galaxy, no matter if they are humans, vampires, or aliens. They can come of age at different ages as well. When they are born, in what circumstances, and in what culture determines this.

Nation, Stand By Me, Harriet the Spy, How to Disappear Completely and Never be Found. These are all great examples of MG coming of age stories I have enjoyed.

So even though Percy Jackson doesn’t do it for me, he does it for many others. And I’ve learned to appreciate that.

What about your tastes? What are they? Do you always gravitate towards them, or do you venture out and try something new?

FOR A LIST OF MORE MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY BLOGGERS, CLICK HERE

Miggle Drade Nonedays!

I have no Middle Grade Monday for you today. I typed “Miggle” by accident and kept going because that’s about how I feel right now: miggly.

I’ve got a blog tour, six school visits, 2 launch parties, a literary festival, an industry conference all in the next month . . . and I’m working a few on set contract gigs while I prepare. No complaints, here, just a full life. I’m blessed by being able to do what I love to do and to have the support to do it!

But just because I’m an MGM delinquent, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an array of other MGM posts. Be sure to check out Shannon Messinger’s list of who is posting this week:

- The Mundie Moms: click HERE to see their newest recommendations.

-Shannon O’Donnell : Click HERE to see what she’s featuring this week.

- Michelle Isenhoff takes us back in time to MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. Click HERE to learn more about this classic

- Natalie Aguirre is interviewing Jennifer Nielson and GIVING AWAY a copy of THE FALSE PRINCE!  Click HERE for all the details.

- Temre Beltz joins the MMGM fun with a feature on LOVE, AUBREY.  Click HERE to see why she thinks you’ll love it.

- Brennan and Meyrick Murphy are in love with FAKE MUSTACHE. Click HERE to see why they enjoyed it.

- Chelane Green also joins the MMGM fun with a feature on ZOE THE FEARLESS. Click HERE to see her review!

- Barbara Watson is championing THREE TIMES LUCKY–with an ARC GIVEAWAY! Click HERE for details!

- Michael Gettel Gilmarten is highlighting TUA AND THE ELEPHANT. Click HERE to see what he thought of it.

Middle Grade Mondays: Nobody’s Family is Going to Change

Everyone knows Louise Fitzhugh as the author of HARRIET THE SPY. Some of you may have even read the lesser known sequel THE LONG SECRET. But a few months ago, a book I’d never heard of, her book NOBODY’S FAMILY IS GOING TO CHANGE, was mentioned during a show on NPR. Apparently, lots of people in Vancouver listen to NPR because the 38 year old book was suddenly on a waiting list at the library. It took a few months before I could check it out.

This is a very different book than HARRIET, and some of the content is dated of course, but the themes still apply. I guess families haaven’t changed much in 4 decades.

Emma is 11. She comes from an upper middle class black family living in NYC. She wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. But in 1974, women lawyers were not taken seriously. Her father is a lawyer and laughs at the idea of women in the courtroom. Emma’s mother says she’ll grow out of this phase and maybe she can marry a lawyer some day. But not if Emma doesn’t curb her appetite. She’s a chubby kid and has been convinced that she is ugly.

Emma’s 7 year old brother wants nothing more than to be a dancer like his uncle. Of course their father disapproves of this as well, claiming everything from dancers aren’t real men to they are lazy and poor and no son of his will have a lifestyle like that.

Emma’s father is a bully and her mother is weak. She has trouble standing up to him and has no other life outside the family.

This has none of the quirk of HARRIET. It is a serious book and the conclusion Emma comes to at the end is an interesting and surprising one, but it’s also a sad one. The title of the book should give you a clue. Don’t get me wrong, there is hope and Emma and her brother are strong. But Emma must rely on her independent mind in a family that is constantly belittling their children’s dreams.

One of the things I really liked about the book was that even though Emma is a precocious child, book smart and articulate, she is still eleven emotionally and constantly struggles with her feelings about her family. I also liked that nothing was sugar-coated or tied up in a pretty bow. Great book for classroom discussions on many topics. A good choice for mature middle graders.

Middle Grade Monday Guest Post from Deb Marshall

(Danika will be back soon, in the meantime, enjoy this guest post from fellow MGMer Deb Marshall @ Just Deb)

Last week, for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, Danika shared the wonderful that is The Enchanted Inkpot. This week I thought I would share a few other great spots to go visit for some middle grade love, starting with

The O.W.L.: Outrageoulsy  Wonderful Literature From the Middle Classes

Jill is a seventh grade teacher who runs the blog and uses it to recommend books to her students (and us!). And all this month she has been hosting daily interviews, guest posts and features on middle grade. There are some awesome giveaways going on until the end of the month, too. The latest guest post from Charlotte of Charlotte’s Library is well worth checking out. It’s all about Middle Grade Fantasy Classics.

Next up I’d like to share a blog I had the pleasure of blogging for, From the Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors.

From their website:

From the Mixed-Up Files is the group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. For anyone with a passion for children’s literature—teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals— we offer regularly updated book lists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a children’s book from writing to publishing to promoting.

This site is filled with resources, booklists and discussions related to middle grade. A treasure trove to say the least!

Finally, I’d like to share a meme that is similar to Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays. It’s called Tween Tuesdays and is hosted by The Green Bean Queen.

If, like me, you can always grow your knowledge and books to recommend to readers of middle grade, be sure to add this your Tuesday to read blog list.

Thanks for letting me hang out here, Danika. It was fun!

(Thanks, Deb! You’re a rock star.)

Middle Grade Monday – Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld

REMINDER that tonight at MIDNIGHT PST is the deadline
for the 2nd Round of the 50 First Lines Challenge

~     ~     ~

I wasn’t going to post another MGM until after I got back from Bologna, but I just finished Scott Westerfeld’s very satisfying Leviathan series and wanted to say something about it.

First of all, I’ve generally heard of middle grade literature for those ages 8 or 9 to 12 years old and YA being for those over 14. So what happened to the 13-year-olds and what are we doing for them?

The answer: LEVIATHAN!

According to Amazon, this series is for 7th grade readers and older, so it does just squeak into the top edge of MGM literature. But more importantly, it hits squarely in the “tween” demographic, which is sometimes hard to please.

As I’ve said before, I’m on a mission to find good literature for this age. Material that does not condescend to its readers, but also strays from graphic violence and romantic love triangles as main plot points.

This steampunk series takes place in an alternate history where the secrets of DNA were discovered much earlier, the result being that scientists can create new animals, some invented for the purpose of warfare. It takes place during an alternate WWI, where it’s the Darwinists vs. the Clankers (biological vs. mechanical).

After his parents are murdered, the prince to the Austrian throne (Clankers) runs away and ends up aboard a Darwinist airship. He befriends a brave young midshipman, who is secretly a girl in disguise as a boy. Told in alternating POV’s, the girl cannot reveal her true self, even to her new BF, else she would be kicked out of the British Royal Service. Since flying is her life, she won’t chance it … even when she starts having feelings for the prince.

I don’t think 12 and 13 year old boys are much interested in the dilemmas of romance yet, but 12 and 13 year old girls might be, so this series is completely satisfying for BOTH demographics. In addition, the “romance” is more about friendship, trust, and loyalty – not the “oh-my-god-his-eyes-are-so-dreamy-I-think-he’s-my-soulmate” variety.

As a matter of fact, there’s a lot in here about friendship, loyalty, and trust as well as sacrifice. I think there are great lessons inside this action-packed story. And yes, there’s a lot of action (it is WWI after all), but not graphic violence.

Westerfeld’s Darwinist and Clanker inventions are extremely imaginative. He has his own vocabulary, too, so never uses profanity (“barking” this and that for the “f-ing”). It’s also really fun that Westerfeld puts in the back of his book which parts of his story are historically accurate and which aren’t. That would make for great classroom discussion.

I really liked the journey of the trilogy and the ending. Everything I needed to get tied up did, but it wasn’t in a pretty little package. There was a bit of ambiguity, which I really like. War is messy and unpredictable, so I believe it’s appropriate to the story.

It’s been a little while since a trilogy left me feeling so satisfied. Yay!

Middle Grade (and YA) Mondays: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

I’ve been reading more YA than MG books these days, partially because I simply enjoy them, partially because I’m working on a YA sci fi, and partially because I’m always on the lookout for books that will work for advanced middle graders who tell me they aren’t interested in love triangles or sparkly vampires.

I mentioned several books in an earlier post as being a great books for advanced middle grade readers and got many more suggestions in the comments, so thanks to everyone for that. For those interested in a softer speculative fiction story that isn’t overly graphic or violent, I want to talk about The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson, which, to me, has great potential to spark some interesting discussion.

from GoodReads:

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn’t remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers? Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity.

I enjoy a good dystopian tale, but sometimes I get a little exhausted from the violence that pervades YA dystopians these days. I enjoyed Jenna Fox in the same way I enjoyed Gattaca, an under-rated film that takes place in a near-future where people’s genetic make-up is accessible and their lives are pre-determined by society’s prejudices of the genetically “inferior.” Both are slower, thought-provoking stories, more focused on theme than fast-paced plot.

Adoration slowly unravels the mystery of “what” Jenna has become since her accident. It is an extremely internal story. An extraordinary percentage of the book is made up of Jenna’s thoughts. But I enjoyed waking up from her coma with her, trying to figure out the world around her. Simple things that we don’t think about – the dual meanings and subtleties of words that she has to relearn. Facial expressions that she has to identify to understand if someone is happy, sad, or lying.

I thought the writing was strong, in many places poetic. The characters were 3-dimensional. People are not all good or bad. Good people can make bad decisions. And second guess those decisions. Do the wrong things for the right reason. And even then, there’s grey area between right and wrong.

The book looks at what it means to be human. If we could easily replace parts of humans, how much could we replace before the person is no longer human? What part of us makes us human? These are the ideas that the book addresses as well as what lengths one would go to as a parent to save their child.

Middle Grade Mondays: Does Anyone Read I, Trissy?

When I was growing up, Norma Fox Mazer sat right up there with Judy Blume. I don’t know who the contemporary version of these writers might be. Is there such an animal or are the shelves too overwhelming these days to have one or two writers who speak for a generation?

Do things change too fast in our world now for someone to speak for them?

Both writers managed to get us through our adolescence / pubescence in a truthful and authentic manner, making us feel like they understood us in a way other adults didn’t.

I’ve often wondered what happened to one of my favourite books when I was in elementary school: I, Trissy. I searched on GoodReads and the description merely says: “A sixth-grade girl types out all the frustrations she feels following the separation of her parents.” There is no description on Amazon and no copy in the entire Vancouver Public Library catalog. The cover is so dated even if it WERE in the library, I wonder if anyone would pick it up:

That cover looks like a lovesick girl rather than an angst-ridden pre-teen and does nothing to communicate what’s really inside. I, Trissy is about a girl who gets a typewriter (i.e. in the oldie times, kids, before we had computers!) as a “guilt” gift from her father when her parents separate. At least that’s how she sees it. The entire book is made up of her typewritten rants, ramblings, and frustrations as she deals with the impending divorce.

I, Trissy felt like a guilty pleasure when I was a kid. It was passed among my friends in class like illicit material. I’m not sure why, as I don’t think our teacher would have confiscated it.

Maybe it was because it felt like we were reading something private. Maybe divorce wasn’t such a household word. Maybe we were a bit more innocent or sheltered than our contemporary counterparts (12 year olds these days do have access to far more information – and to each other, for that matter).

I remember Trissy being brash and bold and free and full of emotion. Unapologetic and impolite. It was a book that gave permission for a young girl to have a voice. And even through my parents were still together, I got her. Heck, I wanted to BE her.

I definitely attribute some of my longing to be a writer to I, Trissy. Perhaps she just triggered something that was already there. I pulled out my Dad’s typewriter after I read that book 3 or 4 times and started pounding out my own thoughts on the page. I wish I still had those pages. I wish I still had a copy of the book.

Middle Grade Mondays: What to Recommend to 11-13 Yr Olds?

Again, my post today is motivated by comments from the lovely Ballard Mother-Daughter Book Club. One thing I heard from them was that it’s challenging to find good books for the age group and reading level. The daughters are about 11-13 years old and also, as you might expect, they are very good readers.

I can see how for this group many MG books out there may be too young in writing style and content. There’s also a glut of fantasy, so what’s out there for any non-fantasy types? These girls are leaning away from the cartoonish and more towards believability. They are more serious readers, but a lot of current YA and adult books might be too intense, too graphic, or too sexual for them.

So, what to do for a group of 11-13 year olds who aren’t interested in love triangles with sparkly vampires, want to avoid excessive gore, and like to read good literature?

I have to tell you, I had trouble limiting myself to the four books below. I have a long list, but want to hear from others out there. (I also want to save some books for further MGM posts.)

I chose the four books below because they are quite different from each other, get consistent high praise from others, span many years, and inspire discussion.

NATION by Terry Pratchett

from Goodreads:

Thirteen-year-old Mau has almost completed the initiation rite of his Pacific island culture. Only one part of the ritual remains, but Mau worries that he will never be able to complete it. A devastating tsunami has wiped out his entire island, leaving only Mau and the British governor’s daughters as survivors. Of course, what follows is far more poignant than any quiet South Pacific ceremony. A thoroughly engaging teen novel about identity, community, and resilience.

I just finished this book and really enjoyed it. It’s nothing like his Disc World series. Yes, it’s an alternative version of our world, but it’s not fantasy other than perhaps a bit of magical realism. There are a lot of deaths in the story (Mau’s entire village is destroyed by a Tsunami), but it’s never gruesome nor graphic. It deals very much with how one would face their anger at the universe (their gods) in the aftermath of such a tragedy . . . and yet, Pratchett manages to pepper it with his lovely sense of humour. Boys and girls will like this story and “Ghost Girl” (she renames herself Daphne) is a very strong female lead (as a matter-of-fact, it’s as much her story as it is Mau’s).

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

from GoodReads

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is not an uplifting book, it is narrated by Death, but there is so much beauty within it. The characters are marvelous, the tension palpable. A fabulous lead-in to a discussion about the Holocaust as well as literary style.

TUCK EVERYLASTING by Natalie Babbitt

From GoodReads:

Doomed to – or blessed with – eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing that it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.

I haven’t read this one in a very long time, but remember that I loved it when I was young. The protagonist is only 10, so it may be geared toward a slightly younger audience than these girls, but I know the language is beautiful and it is not condescending in the least. And also – what a great discussion! Would immortality be a curse or a blessing?

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (Adult book with 14-yr old protag)

from GoodReads:

Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily’s fierce-hearted “stand-in mother,” Rosaleen [their maid], insults three of the town’s fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina–a town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household.

I wish I had thought of this one while I was at the mother-daughter book club meeting because I think it’s a perfect choice for them. Great themes to discuss and told through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl. A fabulous heart-felt coming-of-age with great characters and a dash of suspense due to the abusive father.

And because I can’t help it . . . other books that came to mind: To Kill a Mockingbird, Island of the Blue Dolphins, A Separate Peace, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, The Book of Fred, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate . . . all right, I’ll stop now.

Let’s hear from you!