Thought for the Day:
“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.”
~ Octavia Butler ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Looking for an agent? NY Book Editors has a very helpful post HERE on how to land an agent.
Dialogue can make or break a story. Becca Puglisi at Writers Helping Writers has a great post HERE that can help you learn to write really excellent dialogue.
Anne R. Allen has a great post HERE with 10 tips for writing a good first chapter.
Maybe it’s just me, but the world seems to be getting calmer by the moment. It’s nice to have leadership that wants to solve problems instead of make them and help people out who need it rather than making the world richer for the already very rich. But we still have the much-deserved impeachment trial coming up, and that will probably stir a lot up. Interesting that Trump’s entire legal term has resigned. It’s going to get more and more interesting, I think, and probably not in a good way. With gun-toting conspiracy theorists in congress, who knows what will happen. I will just keep hoping that sanity will prevail.
Last week, I offered a gently read paperback copy of Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk to one of you. This week’s winner is Ofmariaantonia. Congratulations, Maria! If you don’t know her, she is a writer and photographer who lives in Canada. If you visit her blog HERE you will find book reviews, photo prompts, and more. Check it out! Maria, I will get your book out as soon as I can get to the post office.
The book I’m featuring this week is another of the four books I won on Greg Pattridge’s blog, One Last Shot by John David Anderson. I have to admit, I probably never would have chosen this book if I had been out shopping. I mean, miniature golf is fun to play once in a while, but to read a whole book about mini golf? Nah, not my cup of tea, except … this really was my cup of tea! I love this book. Let me tell you about it.
Malcolm is a pretty normal middle-school kid. He has a lot of voices in his head, he does okay in school, he plays baseball because it’s really important to his dad, and he doesn’t have a whole lot of self confidence. His gets along fine with his mom, and she is always there for him, but she doesn’t really stand up to his dad. Malcolm would like to like sports, because that would really make his father happy. He tries to like sports, but he just doesn’t. He sits and watches games on TV with his dad, but that’s mostly because he wants to spend time with his dad, and that’s what his dad does. He plays baseball for three years, because that’s important to his dad, but he isn’t good at it and doesn’t enjoy it. So one day, when his dad asks if he would like to quit, he does. He knows his dad didn’t really say it to give him an out, but it’s an out and he takes it. When his dad takes him to play a game of mini golf, Malcolm beats his dad handily. Thus starts a new chapter to his life.
The next thing Malcolm knows, his dad has signed him up for a mini golf tournament and hired him a coach. A coach! It’s an old high school buddy of his dad’s, Frank, who, according to Malcolm’s dad, was a pro-golfer. It turns out that Frank is a pretty good guy and actually helps Malcolm to improve his game. One time when they are practicing, a girl shoots her ball into the area where Malcolm is working on his game. They get started talking, and she (Lex) is pretty nice. Frank gives her Malcolm’s dad’s phone number, and the next thing you know, she calls for Malcolm. She is pretty chatty and Malcolm is a good listener, and they become friends, something Malcolm hasn’t had a lot of in his life. And it’s a good thing he has a good friend, because things between Malcolm’s parents start to go south in a hurry. I know I haven’t represented Malcolm’s mother much in all this, but she is very present in his life, and a really good mom, but the book is more about the problems than the calmness. Lex and Frank both become really important to Malcolm in this turbulent time, and the stakes become pretty high for Malcolm as the story goes on. Don’t miss it. This is a really exceptional story.
John David Anderson seems to be very in touch with his middle-school self. The first-person point-of-view in Malcolm’s voice is pitch perfect. The characters are terrific, well-rounded and very real. The writing is great and there is a high level of tension through the story. Readers will cheer for Malcolm as he walks through a the field of land mines that families and school seem to lay for kids this age. This is a super book, and I hope you get a chance to read it. It has a lot of humor and a lot of heart.
I have no giveaway this week since I will donate the nice hardback copy I got to the school. Don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
Thank you, Rosi. Another book I would enjoy reading before passing it along to friends with right-age kids. I’m glad a whole school of young people will have an opportunity to read and enjoy it.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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I didn’t enjoy this book as much as you did, Rosie. The format confused me. I will be interested.to see if other reviewers like it and maybe their readers. I always take note of your writing links. Thank you!
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I did enjoy it. It was an interesting format. Thanks for the comment.
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Loved the Octavia Butler quote. And I so relate to your post election take. I, too, find it so refreshing to have grown ups in DC once again – you can even feel the lightness of spirit in the atmosphere. And, like you, I am still concerned about the fact that people are still out there who believe in conspiracies and violence and – let’s face it – are committed racists. We do live in “interesting times,” that old curse/blessing that seems appropriate to the day.
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So glad you like the quote. I often wonder if people read them. Thanks for stopping by.
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I have this book on my wish list and hope to get it soon.
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It is worth your time. Thanks for the comment.
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This sounds like a book so many boys and girls need to read. Thanks for the post.
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You’re welcome. Thanks for reading.
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This is probably not a book that would come to my attention, but your enthusiasm for the story sold me. I like how Malcom’s father senses his son may not like baseball, and introduces him to another sport! And, he finds he’s got some talent. Great MG story!
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Sports is a great way to connect with readers, especially boys. Thanks for the comment.
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The first book I read by this author was Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. Ever since I have not missed grabbing his new releases. ONE LAST SHOT had such an appealing story line, the competition could have been marbles or ping pong and it still would have held up. Appealing characters and honest problems is what I loved.
Great links today. I took notes on all three sites.
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Thanks for introducing me to this book, Greg. I loved it.
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I loved Ms Bixby’s Last Day – so I will definitely look for this.
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In some ways, I liked this better than Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. They are both very good.
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I’m a golf wannabe so sign me up!! Thanks
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No giveaway this time, but thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve seen a lot of praise for this book, and it’s awesome that you enjoyed it so much! I definitely get the sense that a lot of kids do sports because their parents push them to for some reason and not because they actually want to, which is concerning. I love the meme and quote, and it has been nice to have a relatively calmer news cycle (besides Marjorie Taylor Greene, obviously). Thanks for the great post!
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Thanks for all your kind words. Kids often get pushed into sports, and it can ruin it for them. This book tells a great story.
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Glad to hear you enjoyed this one so much. It is fun when a book surprises us and we enjoy it more than we think we will. 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation.
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You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
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Glad you enjoyed this so much. My daughter and her friends used to love mini golf. They probably would have loved it.
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Yeah, mini-golf is fun, and so is this book.
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What an interesting concept, Minigolf as a sport. My stress level the playing would have been a lot higher if I realized that anyone took it seriously. The story sounds interesting. I’m glad you’ve donated it where many kids can read it!
I agree with all your comments about adults in Washington! Let’s hope 2021 will be “our year!”
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Let’s hope. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Yay! Can’t wait to read the book I won. And as for this book, I have a hold on it at the library. Can’t wait to read this one too!
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The book is on its way and should arrive this week. Thanks for the comment.
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This sounds so good! I thought it sounded intriguing when Greg reviewed it, but I like your take too. I love miniature golf, and this sounds like it has strong middle schooler appeal!
I also enjoyed your quote by Octavia Butler!
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So glad you like the quote. It’s fun to find good ones. Octavia Butler is one of my favorite authors. Thanks for stopping by.
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