LOST IN THE SUN

I'm a fan of Lisa Graff's books. 
You can plug her name into my blog's search box and find several mentions. 
Check it out HERE.

I finished her newest novel right after we sat next to each other at our BOOKS OF WONDER panel. Really, you won't find a nicer, funnier person to share a table with than Lisa. We had some great questions that day from the audience. 
(One young book enthusiast asked what books had influenced or inspired us. Lisa answered HOLES, among others.)

Three Things I really like about LOST IN THE SUN:






1. Fallon Little. What a great character. Unusual girls are not easy to write, let me just say (from experience). 
Lisa has created a likeable, funny, smart, but not necessarily the expected sassy and spunky girl. 
I love Fallon.

2. The emotions in this book are so true to middle-graders, especially one who's angry at himself, at life, at his family. Writing kids' honest reactions to situations can be difficult. 

Check p. 138 to see what I mean. 

For example:

Fire in my chest.
Intestines boiling.
Fingertips twitching with heat.
Pull.
Smack
Kick and yell.

Trent is mad. And with a good reason. Lisa writes it so well.

3. A teacher who isn't perfect, isn't universally loved, but is exactly what Trent needs, even if he doesn't realize it. Love Ms. Emerson.

And now, of course, there has to be a follow-up to this book. I'm hoping Fallon's story is going to be told. 
Okay, Lisa? 
How long do I have to wait?

Books! Books! Books!

An abundance of riches.

I can't keep up. I adore middle-grade novels and want to read every single book anybody mentions to me.

One thing I really liked about Lisa Graff's latest book, ABSOLUTELY ALMOST, was the voice of Albie. So true to his stuggling/ average kid/ can't quite get it character.
And the setting, New York City. Yes and wow.
Lisa's love of the city came through with perfection. I was right there with Albie, eating, walking, checking out the museums. Or not.

Ice cream cones at Tasti D-Lite and Mr. Softee, instructions for hailing a cab and pulling the cord to get the bus to stop. Just what a real NYC kid would do.

Here's a little of Albie's voice, with his wonderfully-drawn babysitter, Calista.

"The walk signal came on, and after checking both ways twice, Calista let us cross. At least she didn't make me hold her hand like I was some kind of baby that had never crossed a street before."

If you're interested in reading a long review of the book, click here for Betsy Bird's take on it. 


I also read and reviewed DEATH BY TOILET PAPER by Donna Gephart, another favorite author whose books never ever disappoint. Check out my review, HERE.



And I departed from my usual middle-grade addiction to stay up way too late with Lisa Schroeder's THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU.
If I were my younger self, this would be the book my friends and I would pass around and love.
Even my older self couldn't put it down, obviously.
Having grown up in a Friday Night Lights kind of world (and being a huge fan of the TV show), I totally get this blogger, on the topic.
Since she says it better than I can, I'll quote her and link back to her post:

"The Bridge from Me to You is one you'll want to add to your list if you want to fill that FNL-shaped hole in your heart, remember the stickiness of growing up in a small town or read a book that is good."

I agree on all counts. 

Hanging with a bunch of famous people.

I love hanging out with kids' books authors.
Seriously. They are the best.
Today I got to meet some of my Facebook, email, Twitter friends IN PERSON!

Danette Haworth, for example. We meet on Facebook at all hours.
Little did she know, I'm a big fan of her books. I can prove it! Way back when, I followed her blog:
http://www.summerfriend.blogspot.com

I read her first book in 2008. I've read others. I love them.
See?
http://ascattergood.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-im-reading-now.html

Lisa Graff and I crossed actual paths in 2008 at the fabulous SCBWI Maryland event.  And I was delighted to actually meet Lynda Mulally Hunt today. The list goes on and on. I am honored to be hanging out with these fun, creative, smart folks.

If you happen to be hanging out near PALM BEACH FLORIDA tomorrow, please check out the APRIL IS FOR AUTHORS schedule and pop in to say hello to all of us.
http://www.aprilisforauthors.org

Here we are!

Coconut cake!

There, I got your attention. It's Easter weekend, and I'm remembering those lamb-shaped coconut cakes decorating long ago Easter Sunday dinner tables. Remember those? I love coconut. But I don't think I'll attempt the lamb shape.

Here's a recipe, or as she surely knew it, a receipt, from Emily Dickinson. Her favorite cake for birthday celebrating. Mine, too.

http://thehistorykitchen.com/2011/12/09/emily-dickinsons-coconut-cake/#

 Speaking of cakes. Have you read Lisa Graff's brand new middle grade novel? A novel filled with magic, multiple characters, mysteries and quests-And cake recipes. Such fun!

My review from the Christian Science Monitor. ⬅

A link to read more about TANGLE OF KNOTS, and order your own copy.


I'm also a fan of Red Velvet cake. It made its way into my novel, GLORY BE.
My friend Nancy McIntyre made this one from scratch for our gathering in June.

While I was writing, novelist Helen Hemphill shared a story about how her editor laughingly said every time he turned a page of her first book's manuscript, somebody was cooking or eating. With that in mind, a lot of fried chicken and pimento cheese got the ax from Glory's story early on. But many food references and events stayed in.

I made a Pinterest board about the Food in Glory Be. Check it out here. 
I'm not so great at Pinterest but sometimes something just strikes my fancy and up it goes.

In a story I'm noodling now, there's a character who cooks. Maybe I'll include a recipe or two. Hmmm. Good idea or not?

It certainly worked in Lisa Graff's new book. Then again, she's a baker. Me, not so much.
Maybe I'll stick to writing.

Happy Easter, everyone! 


Past Posts, possibly related:
Helen Hemphill interviews me
BOOK FOOD, pimento cheese
Home Food

Free Books!

In honor of a certain birthday, I'm going to spread some gifts around.
I have some of the BEST books of the year on my shelves.
Mysteriously, I have more than one copy of a couple of them.
And I'm willing to share.

Since I'm taking a forced break from blogging as I head to the land of pitiful internet where I'll read and reflect and stay off Facebook and blogs for a bit, this giveaway will last a week.

And here are the goodies I'm going to mail to one lucky winner.

1. DOUBLE DOG DARE. If you don't know Lisa Graff's books, this is the perfect back-to-school place to begin. And teachers? It's bound to be one of the most fun read-alouds. I'm particularly fond of the dare involving green hair. But there's a lot of depth to the story, the characters, the writing.

Here's a link to a really good interview with Lisa on Barbara O'Connor's blog.  Complete with pictures and videos.


2. Scholastic sent me two copies of Carole Geithner's IF ONLY.  I'll include one in your winning package. Click here for a link to the author's website, including an excerpt from the book. A serious topic, well-handled.

3. Last but far from least. My Baltimore connection, Natalie Standiford's newest: THE SECRET TREE. The bloggers at Waking Brain Cells called it the "ideal summer read."  I agree.
Check out their review right here.

All that's required of you is a comment. Feel free to share this.
The books will be whisked off anywhere in the USA.
Winners announced on August 15, when I re-enter the world of connectivity.

SCBWI MD

Last year I attended the SCBWI event at McDaniel College and loved every minute. This year I'm going back. So I've been reading a book or two by some of the presenters. How did I miss The Thing About Georgie when it first came out. Just absolutely the best depiction of a child with a special situation (OK, he's a dwarf in case you, like me, had been under a rock when the book was being reviewed and talked about) I've ever read.
The book has such kid appeal, is so funny, so readable. All good. Can't wait to hear what Lisa Graff and her band of Longstockings (that's a writing gang, in case you have't heard) have to say this weekend. Stay tuned for extensive blogging about the workshops.

Just Back from the Library

Is there a better place to be on a rainy afternoon? So, here's what I'm reading now. How about you?

Almost finished Kerry Madden's fantastic biography of Harper Lee. Harper Lee: Up Close is written for kids, middle grade and older, and it's the best thing I've ever read about the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

About to begin two books by Lisa Graff, The Thing About Georgie and The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower. There's a chance I'll get to the SCBWI event this July in western Maryland, and she's scheduled to speak. I need to be prepared. How have I missed Lisa Graff when everybody says she's so funny? I blogged about that conference after attending last year. One of the best of what usually are really good events for children's writers.

Also at the library, I picked up The Elegance of the Hedgehog and a book my friend Julie alerted me to:
Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French. Just in case my trip to Paris pans out, I'll be prepared.

The first photo in this funny book is captioned Nude petanque, a French game that gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "playing with your boules."

I'll leave that to your imagination.