Stone Soup

When you write a book-- for what seems like ages!-- it goes out into the world with a wing and a prayer. Writers hope their words will be read, but you have no assurance.

The reviews come in- some great, some so-so, some even disheartening. But nobody loves every single book, so we authors develop a thick skin.

Then you get word that the perfect young reader has loved yours. And she shared what she thought about it. That makes every single moment of research, writing, re-writing, hand-wringing and re-writing some more totally worth every minute.

This review is copyrighted by the magazine. It will appear in the March issue of STONE SOUP.

When I was a school librarian, this was a magazine my students read, enjoyed, and even contributed to a few times. Soon, you'll be able to read the content online. It's a terrific place for budding young authors. It's a great place for all authors.

(If you click on the page images below, it's easier to read.) 

I was going to include a few of Lena's sentences, but I couldn't choose. They are all so heartfelt, wonderfully written and descriptive. Thank you for possibly the best review anybody has every written of my book.

A fun week ahead- 

 

I'm off to the FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA EDUCATORS annual conference. 

AND this wonderful review of THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY.

 

Mondays aren't so bad after all.

:)

 

 

SCHOOL LIBRARY CONNECTION – OCTOBER 2015

Scattergood, Augusta

The Way to Stay in Destiny

2015. 192pp. $16.99 hc. Scholastic, Inc. 978-0-545-53824-4. Grades 4-7

It’s 1974 and Theo Thomas is starting a new life. His Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam vet, has moved

him to Destiny, Florida. When they move into Miss Sister's Rest Easy Boarding House and

Dance School, Theo discovers a piano and a new friend, Anabel, who shares his interest in

baseball. Neither uncle nor nephew are happy about their new situation, especially when Uncle

Raymond forbids Theo from doing the one of the few things that make him happy—playing the

piano. This quiet, gentle story does many things, including introducing young readers to the

dissent that Vietnam veterans encountered when returning home. Valerie Jankowski, Library

Media Specialist, Washington (Missouri) Middle School [Editor’s Note: Available in e-book

format.]

Recommended

Book Reviewing 101

It's hard to write about Book Reviewing. 

Yes, it's subjective. You can't love everything!

Yes, it's difficult deciding which books to review. Should we review books written by people we know (using know in the broadest sense)? 
Writing about reviewing books is a tricky topic.

Hats off to Virginia McGee Butler for this objective and thoughtful blogpost, her personal take on book reviews.

I've written often about the subject. Click HERE to read what I said about a terrible review of a Eudora Welty short story. Shame on you, most-likely-a-student reviewer!

Note: I wrote that in 2011. 
When it was still a bit of a novelty for students to trash books.

Writers work very hard, getting the words just right. 
If they're not right for me, they could be perfect for somebody else. 

As I said, it's tricky.

 From Library Way, near the New York Public Library, 

photographed on a sunny summer day.

(And thank you very much, Virginia, 

for my very first blog review of THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY. )

So proud! Thank you, International Reading Association.

I can't resist sharing a tiny line or two.

(I love how well they actually understood what I was trying to say. Wow.)


"While Theo and his baseball-loving friend, Anabel, might seem to have separate journeys, they are linked by their need to find their own destiny rather than doing what others want. As they both come to realize, sometimes our destiny simply finds us, even in a remote town in the South called Destiny." 

Here's the link to read the rest, as well as their reviews of several other brand new 2015 books. 
http://www.reading.org/reading-today/literature/post/books/2015/01/12/book-reviews-hot-off-the-presses 

Made my day. Happy weekend, everybody! 

While Theo and his baseball-loving friend, Anabel, might seem to have separate journeys, they are linked by their need to find their own destiny rather than doing what others want. As they both come to realize, sometimes our destiny simply finds us, even in a remote town in the South called Destiny. - See more at: http://www.reading.org/reading-today/literature/post/books/2015/01/12/book-reviews-hot-off-the-presses#sthash.mbzxSpf7.dpuf

While Theo and his baseball-loving friend, Anabel, might seem to have separate journeys, they are linked by their need to find their own destiny rather than doing what others want. As they both come to realize, sometimes our destiny simply finds us, even in a remote town in the South called Destiny. - See more at: http://www.reading.org/reading-today/literature/post/books/2015/01/12/book-reviews-hot-off-the-presses#sthash.mbzxSpf7.dpuf

While Theo and his baseball-loving friend, Anabel, might seem to have separate journeys, they are linked by their need to find their own destiny rather than doing what others want. As they both come to realize, sometimes our destiny simply finds us, even in a remote town in the South called Destiny. - See more at: http://www.reading.org/reading-today/literature/post/books/2015/01/12/book-reviews-hot-off-the-presses#sthash.mbzxSpf7.dpuf

While Theo and his baseball-loving friend, Anabel, might seem to have separate journeys, they are linked by their need to find their own destiny rather than doing what others want. As they both come to realize, sometimes our destiny simply finds us, even in a remote town in the South called Destiny. - See more at: http://www.reading.org/reading-today/literature/post/books/2015/01/12/book-reviews-hot-off-the-presses#sthash.mbzxSpf7.dpuf