Thought for the Day:
“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.”
~ Colin Powell ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Writer’s Digest has a good column HERE by Ann Garvin that will give you 10 Ways To Hook Your Reader (and Reel Them in for Good).
How much description should you include? Let Janice Hardy at Fiction University help you out HERE.
HERE is an interesting post from SmartBlogger that will give you 600+ Power Words That’ll Pack Your Writing With Emotion.
Last week I offered a gently-read ARC of The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and illustrated by Ryan Andrews. Our winner this week is Sue Heavenrich. Congratulations, Sue! I will get your book out to you soon. If you don’t know Sue, she is a writer from upstate New York who writes about environmental and science issues for both adults and children. She also runs two blogs — Sally’s Bookshelf (HERE) and Archimede’s Notebook (HERE). They are both great. Check them out.
This week I want to tell you about one of the very best middle-grade books I have read this year. It would make a great mentor text. The book is The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins by Gail Shepherd. Here is the review I wrote for the San Francisco Book Review.
Lyndie’s life has been mightily disrupted. Her father, a troubled Vietnam vet, lost his job, and her mother has been sick. They had to sell their house and move in with Lyndie’s grandparents. The good thing is she will be close to her best friend, Dawn. The bad things are she misses her home, she won’t be close to the library anymore, Grandmother is a fussbudget, and Dawn’s time will be occupied with a juvenile delinquent her family has taken in. But mostly there is a terrible tension between Lyndie’s parents, and she doesn’t understand what is causing it. But an assignment in English class sets Lyndie on a quest for truth that teaches her a great deal about the people in her life and even about herself.
Author Gail Shepherd has written a rich, complex novel that is filled with a wonderful cast of very believable characters with interesting backstories of their own. The writing is beautiful and the story is so compelling. This book deserves readership far beyond the intended middle-grade audience. It would be a great read-aloud in classrooms and will start the kinds of discussions teachers hope for. Do not miss this exceptional book.
I can’t give away every book I get. Sometimes I just can’t bear to. I said this would make a good mentor text, and I believe that. So I am going to hang onto this for myself. Selfish me. It is so worth your time to go get your own copy. Do that. If you are reading this in your email, please click HERE to get to my blog, then click on the title of the post, and leave a comment. And don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
Now I want to read this even more that you are using it as mentor text for yourself! I’m going to place a hold at my library. I checked out a copy of Dollar Kids Friday and hope to read it after my current book.
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I’m sure you will like it, Danielle. Thanks for stopping by.
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I so agree with suggesting books that have been slotted for a particular age of reader to other age groups. A good story is a good story. I love picture books, and I’m definitely not the reader they market to. Read widely. Read a lot. That’s my two cents.
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I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for the comment.
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I will have to try to get this from the library if you think this is one of the best books you’ve read. And you get to keep books instead of give them away or donate them if you want.
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Thanks, Natalie. Always nice to see you here.
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That’s a high recommendation, Rosi!
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And well deserved.
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Will have to check out this book as it does have a lot of big issues in the plot that kids will identify with! Veteran stories are always tough topics. You gave us just enough to wet our appetite. Thank you!
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You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
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This sounds like a wonderful book that deals with a number of important issues! It sounds even better after seeing how much you’ve enjoyed it. Thanks so much for the review!
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You’re welcome. Thanks for the comment.
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Exceptional set of links today. All very compelling and useful, especially the first one as the author detailed life with her brother and used it in the context of hooking readers.
I’ve heard about this book and your review has me already tracking down a copy. The characters and read-aloud potential won me over. Thanks for your thoughts.
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Glad you found the links useful. This would be a good book for reading aloud in class. I hope you can get a copy.
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Good review and strong recommendation. At present, I’m reading adult mysteries (for various reasons), but it’s a title I’ll keep in mind for when I get back to MG & YA reads.
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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I completely agree on this book. I’ve known Gail for years and anxiously awaited the release of this book. It’s excellent, and my 11-year-old enjoyed it too. So glad you’re spreading the word!
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It’s just such a good book! Lucky you to know this wonderful author.
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This book sounds terrific! I’m adding it to my wish list. Thanks for your review.
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You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
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