Thought for the Day:
“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”
~ Paulo Coelho ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
I never found a post on query letters or synopses I didn’t learn something from. HERE is one from A Writer’s Path that is very good. It’s called Why Are Query Letters and Synopses So $#!%ing Hard to Write?! (And How To Get Through It). Yeah. I hear that!
I hope many of us will have a need to write a book blurb soon. K. M. Allan has a good post HERE that can help you to nail that book blurb.
If you love British murder mysteries, as do I, you will enjoy the post HERE from CrimeReads. This is just for fun — so much fun. And the comments are pretty priceless too!
Last week, I offered one of you a gently-read ARC of Trowbridge Road by Marcella Pixley. Our lucky winner this week is OFMARIAANTONIA. Congratulations, Maria! Maria is a photographer and writer. If you don’t know her, you can find out more at her blog HERE where she posts book reviews, poems, and inspiring photos. Maria, I will get your book out to you soon.
This week I want to talk about a book I meant to review here long ago, but sometimes when I give a hardbound book I’ve had for review to the school, it will fall off my radar. I’m afraid that’s what happened here. I read about The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles on Greg Pattridge’s blog, and it sounded like a lot of fun. After reading his review, I was able to get a review copy. And, as I often say, it’s never too late to review a good book. Here is the review I wrote for the Seattle Book Review.
Otto and Sheed are wishing the last day of summer could last a little longer. It seems to be racing by, and before they can blink, it will be gone, and they’ll be back in school. But the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for — you just might get it. They meet a strange man, someone who does not live in their small town of Fry, who takes a picture of the town and freezes time along with everyone in town. Otto and Sheed are famous for solving problems in town, but this problem is particularly difficult. The man, Mr. Flux, has an army of unusual beings to help him. The boys will have to find their own army and be very clever to fix this.
Author Lamar Giles has created a terrifically fun cast of characters, a great setting, and a bit of mystery for his co-protagonists to resolve with a little time travel thrown in for good measure. The writing is crisp, and the dialogue is snappy. This book is a real romp, and middle-grade readers, even very reluctant readers, will eat this one up. It’s an absolute winner. Don’t miss it.
No giveaway this week. I donated my hardbound copy to the school library. But check back next week. I expect to have a giveaway then. And don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
Thanks for including my blog post 😊.
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You are welcome. Thanks for the good info.
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The blog is always a fun read, and worth the time I spend here. Thank you.
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You’re welcome. Glad you enjoy it.
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I thought this was a fun book, though personally I’m not a big speculative fiction fan. Thanks for sharing you thoughts about it. I also pass my books on to schools especially those that are in need, which is why I don’t do giveaways on my blog.
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I don’t read much speculative fiction, but Greg Pattridge made this sound like so much fun, I had to try.
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Great review. And I love the idea of the mix of mystery, fantasy, time travel, etc.
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It’s a fun ride.
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I enjoyed your revue very much. It’s great that you take books to your local school! The school must really love it when they see you coming!
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Thanks. The school does appreciate the donations.
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Sounds like a fun book.
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Yes, it is.
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I’m glad I was able to steer you toward this one. A memorable story line that should have many fans. Looking forward to more from this author.
The links were timely and my time spent with each were beneficial. Query letters and the dreaded synopsis get me every time. This helped set me straight once more.
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So glad you like the links. Thanks for stopping by.
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I enjoyed the your book review for the Seattle Book Review. I like the diverse characters, the unusual plot that touches on magic. I may be wrong, but the story has a quirky – odd feel to it, which many teens would love. I have written reviews and the drafts have moved onto other pages. I’m always horrified when that happens and it’s not on my radar. But later reviews just keeps the book love out there!
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Thanks. I think quirky is the perfect word for this book.
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This sounds like a fun book and perfect for summer, which is.just around the corner, right? I’ll be also checking out your British crime link. I live British mysteries. I’m on a Sayers kick right now.
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Dorothy Sayers? Then that link is perfect for you. Enjoy!
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Sounds like a fun book. I remember reading about it on Greg’s blog. I bet the school is excited to have a hardcover copy of the book to share with the kids. 🙂
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It is a fun book. Yes, the school does appreciate getting the books.
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Thanks for another great selection for MMGM, Rosi. As always, I appreciate the links you give to us with each of your posts.
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You’re welcome. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Yay! I won! Thanks, Rosi 🙂 I can’t wait to read it!
The book for this week look good, too. I will have to see if I can find a copy somewhere.
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It’s a fun book. I hope you get a chance to read it. Thanks for stopping by.
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