Thought for the Day:
“You sit down and you do it, and you do it, and you do it, until you have learned to do it.”
~ Ursula K. Le Guin ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Cliffhangers are a great way to keep those pages turning. Anne R. Allen’s partner Ruth Harris has a great post HERE that will help you use cliffhangers well.
Angela Ackerman has a very interesting guest post HERE at Mythcreants called Depicting Characters Held Back by Fear.
Titles are hard to come up with. It’s a real art to find a great title. Bookfox has a great post HERE to help you come up with the best title for your book.
It’s time for another not-so-new book from one of those long-forgotten piles of books sent to me by a publicist some time ago. But as I always say, it’s never to late to talk about a good book. This one is for younger middle-grade readers and will help reluctant readers to find the joys of reading independently. Cody and the Heart of a Champion by Tricia Springstubb and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler is the fourth in the Cody series. Like the three books before this one, it will engage young readers and keep them turning those pages.
Cody is tired of winter. She simply can’t wait for spring to finally arrive and push winter away for the year. But there are other changes happening that don’t make Cody very happy. Her good friend Spencer isn’t available much when they used to play together all the time. His mother is going to have a baby and their situation living with Grandma is getting difficult. Cody’s brother, Wyatt, has a girlfriend and he seems to be changing and not being as close as he used to. Cody’s good friend Pearl is suddenly obsessed with soccer and seems to be making new friends that take her time away from Cody. All of Cody’s favorite clothes are suddenly too small for her. What is a girl to do?
Tricia Springstubb has written another fun and complex story that is perfect for the youngest middle-grade readers and will keep them wanting more. The characters are fully developed and very believable, as are the situations. Cody’s problems are things young readers can easily relate to. The charming illustrations by Eliza Wheeler are a real bonus for the readers and will help keep them turning pages. This is a delightful book, as is the series, and should be quite popular with this particular group.
I have a gently-read ARC of this book for one of you. All you need do is be a follower or subscriber (it’s free!), have a U.S. address, and leave a comment below. If you would like extra chances, please share the link to this post on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media outlet and let me know you have done 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 
Sounds like a winner for reluctant readers. I’ll let someone else win. My TBR pile is too high right now.
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Thanks for stopping by, Natalie.
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This sounds like an engaging story for younger readers. I loved your comment about this book helping reluctant readers find the joys of reading independently! Thank you for bringing this gem to our attention for MMGM, Rosi. {No need to enter me in the giveaway. Thanks.}
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Reluctant readers are such a challenge. Books like this help. Thanks for the comment.
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I remember reading this one and share your positive reaction. I gave my copy to a very reluctant reader and she enjoyed the story. Thanks for featuring on MMGM. Please draw another name for the giveaway as I’m getting swamped again with review requests.
The link to the article about giving your story a great title was just what I needed. I’ve been bouncing around several titles for a manuscript I’ve finished and this helped. Have a great week!
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Titles are just so hard! I’m always interested when I see articles on that topic. Thanks for stopping by, Greg.
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I haven’t read this one in the Cody series- but did read another book in the series last year. Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe was up for my state award and my students were lucky enough to Skype with the author. She is so nice! 🙂
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I haven’t read the one you mentioned. Glad to hear the author is so nice. Her books are so lovely. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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Toss my name in the hat–sounds like a book for one of my grands. thanks
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Okay. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.
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I haven’t heard of these books before and I’d love a chance to read this one and use it as mentor text too. From your review, the characters are excellent and the issues relevant to the targeted age group. I shared on twitter, tumblr, facebook, and pinterest, so thank you for the chance!
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Very relevant. Thanks for sharing my link. I do appreciate it. Good luck in the drawing.
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I’m with Cody – I don’t like winter either. After Christmas it all goes downhill.
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Hahahaha. I actually like winter. It’s summer I don’t like, but in Sacramento, summer is pretty brutal. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.
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