Thought for the Day:
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
~ Arthur Ashe ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Bethany Henry wrote a guest post HERE on Fiction University called 5 Reasons Our Characters Need to Fail. It’s a good one.
Proofreading is both important and hard to do. Why not learn from the best? Louise Harnby has a great post HERE that will give you 10 Ways to Proof Your Own Writing.
Author bios are a necessary evil for writers. Writing a good one, though, can make all the difference. The Happy Self-Publisher has a really good post HERE with excellent examples that will help make the job easier.
I am not going to be in isolation alone much longer. My daughter Maggie, like every other actor in America right now, is an out-of-work actor. She found a long-term renter for her home in upstate New York and flew, gloved, scarfed, masked and goggled, to Sacramento on Friday. She is quarantining for two weeks at a friend’s empty apartment and then will be 
here with me until things change. Best Mother’s Day present ever. I’m very excited! I am feeling a little less frozen, doing more reading, and even dipping my toe into my writing a tiny bit. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe.
Last week I offered a gently-read ARC of Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz. Our winner this week is Janet Smart. Congratulations, Janet! I will get your book out to you as soon as I can get someone to go to the post office. It might be a while. If you don’t know Janet, she is an author from West Virginia. Check out her blog, Writing in the Blackberry Patch HERE, and find out more about her and her writing.
I regularly read a blog by a woman named Afoma Umesi. She posts wonderful book reviews and lists of good books. Most are middle-grade, but sometimes she posts about YA. I saw a list on her blog of the 25 Best Middle-Grade Books about Homelessness and Poverty. I had read some of the books and was intrigued by others. I got a copy of My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder after reading about it on that list and after seeing that cover. How could you pass that cover by? Here are my thoughts.
Leah has had a difficult year. Everything has changed. Her friends have distanced themselves and seem to be going in different directions. Her parents almost seem like ghosts in the house — her father lost in his phone and his job, her mother just lost. And Leah is burdened with immense sadness. When she is out walking one day at an old farm, she runs across a girl her own age sitting on a rock in the creek. Leah is instantly engaged by this free-spirited girl with an interesting name, Jasper, and they become fast friends. If Leah weren’t in such a fog of sadness, she might pick up on some of the cues Jasper puts out there about her situation. Jasper washes her clothes in the creek, she doesn’t keep herself clean, she is staying in an abandoned house, she is always hungry. But when each girl reveals her deepest secrets, that fog lifts. How to help is a real dilemma.
Laurel Snyder is a terrific writer, painting beautiful pictures with her words and absolutely nailing the uniqueness of the 12-year-old mind. Her characters are well-rounded and completely credible and engaging. The dual storylines of the two girls make for a wonderfully complex and rich book. My only small complaint is that I felt the ending was a bit predictable and perhaps too tidy. That doesn’t take away from the fact that I enjoyed this book immensely and think it will open the eyes of readers to a world too many of our young people already understand. I really recommend this book.
No giveaway this week. I am donating my hardbound copy to the school library. But check back next week. I may 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 
Glad you have your daughter coming to stay. I’m lucky to share property with my daughter, so I get to see her & family regularly. Twice we’ve had campfires in the evening which was fun. Great review!!
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Your campfires sounds great. That will make for a happy Mother’s Day for you. Thanks for stopping by.
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Great news for you for Mother’s Day! My husband has broken our quarantine to give 24/7 care for his dying dad this past week. Tomorrow, however, Dad goes to hospice because the care is now too much. Be safe and well!
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I’m sorry your husband has such difficult duty. Hospice was a real blessing for my husband at the end. Thanks for the comment.
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I loved the panda meme–adorable. ANd so glad for you that Maggie is joining you. Hooray!! I don’t know that I’m brave enough to board a plane though.
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She was pretty well protected on the plane and we were lucky to get her a direct flight. Thanks for stopping by. Glad you like the meme.
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Oh Rosie, I am so happy for you that Maggie will soon be with you! I can tell your spirit is lifted!
I enjoyed your review of My Jasper June. It reminds me of a MG book I read and loved a few years ago. Love that cover. Thank you for introducing me to Laurel Snyder.
And, congratulations to Janet Smart!
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You’re welcome. I’m always happy to introduce a good book. Thanks for the comment.
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Another good find. I’m glad the kids at your granddaughter’s school will be able to read this.
Such a brave and loving gift that Maggie would fly to spend time with you until this ends. Have a great time together.
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It is a good find. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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Jasper June is indeed a good one. Be well. Stay well. And have a wonderful time together ❤
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Thanks, Donna. Always nice to see you here.
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Thrilled for you about your daughter coming, Rosi! And thank you for such a kind shoutout. Happy to hear that you enjoyed MY JASPER JUNE 🙂
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You’re welcome. I appreciate finding good books on your blog. Thanks for the comment.
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So glad your daughter will be living with you. That will be so good for you to have her company. So glad you enjoyed this book. It sounds awesome. I’ll see if Libby has it. Thanks.
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It’s going to be so good to have her here. She’s still in quarantine, but will come in a couple days. Thanks for visiting.
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That’s great your daughter is coming to be with you! Thanks for sharing this book. It sounds like a great read.
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It is a great read, Michelle. I think you will like it. Thanks for the comment.
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Glad to learn you will be able to spend some quiet time at home with your daughter, Rosi. Thanks for sharing this spotlight and review of this book. I already had it on my TBR list from another blogger’s recommendation, but it now has a star by it because YOU also recommended it. :0} Thanks for the informative and positive post for this MMGM.
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What a nice thing to say. Thanks for such a lovely comment, June.
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This sounds like a wonderful book! Both Leah and Jasper sound like intriguing characters. I’m glad you’ll be with your daughter for a while, and I love the weekly meme as always! Thanks for the great post!
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You’re welcome. Thanks for such a nice comment and for visiting.
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So glad your daughter will be joining you this weekend. Yes, it will be the best Mother’s Day gift ever. I sure have needed the writer links every week. There’s more time to read them and I find myself going back to reread. Great tips on proofreading today.
Loved the connection with these two characters in My Jasper June. The story is one that I will have to read as I have added it to my summer reading list. Thanks for featuring on MMGM.
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The connection between the girls is terrific in My Jasper June. You will enjoy it. Glad you found useful links. Thanks for coming by and commenting. It’s always nice to see you here.
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Thank you for reminding me of this book. It’s a story that makes you think. I also love stories about two friends and their relationship.
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Yes, it does make you think, and it is a great relationship book. Thanks for visiting.
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Definitely going on my TBR! Now, if only the libraries will open…
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Yeah, if only… Thanks for the comment.
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So glad you daughter is joining you. This sounds like a very good book and I do love the cover. And thanks for picking my name last week! I look forward to getting the book.
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You’re welcome. I hope I can get it in the mail soon. Thanks for stopping by.
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Congrats on your daughter coming to stay with you. That sounds like a wonderful Mother’s Day gift.
I love the cover of this book. All the fireflies lighting up the front of it makes it feel like I’m receiving a warm hug of summer.
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Thanks. It is a great gift. I like your description of the cover. Thanks for the comment.
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