Thought for the Day:
“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
~ Pablo Picasso ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Character descriptions are important but too much can get in the way. David Safford has a great post HERE from The Write Practice that has good tips and excellent examples on character description.
Anne R. Allen has one of Kathy Steinemann’s redundancy quizzes on her blog HERE. This is a great mental exercise before you start editing.
Nicolas C. Rossis offers up Pixar’s Screenwriting Tips, which are not just for screenwriters, but for anyone writing stories. Check it out HERE.
It has been a quiet week for me. The weather hasn’t been too bad. It hasn’t even hit 100 degrees the whole week until today, but the temperatures are heading back up this week and it is supposed to hit 106 on Thursday and Friday. Good time to stay in and read! But then, one could say that about most of a Sacramento summer. My team, the San Francisco Giants are having a great summer, and it has been so much fun watching them play. I sure hope they can keep it up! Since I don’t have anything brilliant to say, I will give you a few more puns and get on to the book.
I lost my girlfriend’s audiobook, and now I’ll never hear the end of it.
Why is ‘dark’ spelled with a k and not c? Because you can’t see in the dark.
Why is it unwise to share your secrets with a clock? Well, time will tell.
When I told my contractor I didn’t want carpeted steps, he gave me a blank stare.
Bono and The Edge walk into a Dublin bar, and the bartender says, “Oh no, not U2 again.”
Prison is just one word to you, but for some people, it’s a whole sentence.
Scientists got together to study the effects of alcohol on a person’s walk, and the result was staggering.
Whenever I receive an email from the publicist at Candlewick Press, I open it right away. They publish so many great books for kids, and I am so pleased they offer me ARCs in exchange for honest reviews. As I scrolled through a recent email from her, I spotted the cover of a new Kate DiCamillo book, and the art captured my attention. It is such a beautiful cover, and the name of Kate DiCamillo sealed the deal. First I love books set in medieval times, and secondly, did I mention it is a new book by Kate DiCamillo? Anyway, I immediately asked for a review copy of The Beatryce Prophecy. I was not disappointed.
Brother Edik, a member of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing, spends much of his time illuminating manuscripts and writing prophecies. One morning, he finds a young girl, covered in dirt and blood, in the stable, feverish, asleep, and holding onto the ear of Answelica, the meanest goat Brother Edik has ever encountered. He takes the girl into the monastery, cleans her up, and nurses her back to health. The goat follows Brother Edik into the monastery and stands guard over the girl. All she knows is that her name is Beatryce and that she can read and write. This skill must be kept secret. Girls are not to read and write. The other monks are not happy about Brother Edik taking in this girl during a time of war, especially when they realize that she is the subject of a prophecy that said, “There will one day come a girl child who will unseat the king and bring about a great change.” The king will be sending his men to find her, and the monks could all be in terrible trouble if they are found to have protected and hidden her.
Meanwhile, in a village nearby, a soldier comes to the inn and asks Jack Dory, an orphan boy, to take a message to the monastery. The soldier says he needs a monk to write down his confession. An angel has told him if he does that, he will be forgiven. Jack goes to fetch a monk, and comes back with Beatryce. Her head is shaved and she is wearing monk’s robes. Answelica accompanies them. After the soldier dies, Jack, Answelica, and Beatryce begin a journey to see the king, which is difficult and has great danger.
DiCamillo is such an incredible writer. This sweet book reads like a fairy tale with some fantasy and magic woven in. The characters are all engaging and interesting, the places in which the story is set are fully realized, and the story is simply enchanting. The writing is gorgeous, and there is a lot of tension to carry readers through. And to keep readers in the moment, every chapter starts with a beautifully illustrated first letter that looks like those found in illuminated manuscripts from long ago, and every page has a decoration by the page number. It is divided into six “books,” and each has a full-page illustration. Other illustrations are scattered throughout. These lovely illustrations by Sophie Blackall will help young readers stay in the moment of the story. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. I read it straight through. The only disappointment for me was that it wasn’t a much longer book so I could have enjoyed it for a longer time.
It’s hard for me to give this one up, but on the other hand, I really want to share it, so I have a gently-read ARC 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. And don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
Another interesting blog! Love to hear about new books.
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Nice to see you here, Linda. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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Who doesn’t love Kate DiCamillo?! And Sophie Blackall! In one book! Keep cool Rosi ❤️
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Thanks, Donna. So far I’m staying cool, but my daughter, who lives nearby had her air conditioner go out! Yes, I think loving Kate DiCamillo is pretty universal. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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Many thanks for the kind mention, which had the bonus of leading me to this post. The Beatryce Prophecy sounds lovely! What ages would you say would enjoy it? My 5-year-old is probably too young for such a complex tale but I can’t wait to read it to her someday (or, even better, have her read it on her own, of course!)
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You’re welcome, Nicholas. Nice to see you here. It is a lovely book for kids 10-14. I really only review books for that age. That said, I really enjoyed it and think many adults would. Before you know it, your 5-year-old will be 10. I will put your name in the hat. Maybe you will be able to read it for yourself. By the way, Kate DiCamillo has lots of books for younger kids that are delightful.
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Thank you so much, Rosi 🙂
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I’m like you, Rosi—anything from the middle ages and everything from Kate DiCamillo makes me really excited! Can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for reviewing it and bringing it to our attention.
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You are welcome. I love to spread the word about good books. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Good luck in the drawing.
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My goodness, quite a story! I have added this exciting tale to my future read list. Such a different type of plot and one that should engage readers young and old. Thanks for featuring on MMGM. I enjoyed the links and they made me contemplate my next edit in a different way.
Two more for you: 1. I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me. 2. I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.
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Glad you like the links, Greg. Thanks for the puns. I’ve added them to my list. You will probably see them here one of these days. Thanks for always reading and commenting. Good luck in the drawing.
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It’s possible that I am unreasonably excited that Kate DiCamillo has a new book out—I had no idea! This book sounds like such an excellent story—it reminds me of The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli, and I’m also curious to see Sophie Blackall’s illustrations, since I’m always seeing praise for her picture books.
I would love to enter the giveaway today, and I shared your post at the top of my #IMWAYR post today for extra chances! If you need it, my email is notmyrealname226 [at] gmail [dot] com. Thanks for the generous giveaway!
Also, I love the quote, and the meme and jokes made me laugh, which I appreciated! I’m glad your team is doing well, and I’m glad the heat hasn’t been excruciating lately—I hope it doesn’t get too bad later this week! Thanks so much for the great post!
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Thanks for your kind words. I always look forward to seeing your comments. So glad you enjoyed the post. I hadn’t heard of The Door in the Wall, but it is now high on my TBR list. Extra chances for you. Thanks for sharing my link. Good luck in the drawing.
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I once heard this author talk at a local SCBWI event! She is one of my favorite authors, so thank you for the chance to win a copy of this gorgeous book. Candlewick does published excellent books, I agree. I shared this post on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and tumblr.
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Lucky you! I would love to hear her speak. Thanks for sharing my link. Extra chances for you. Good luck in the drawing.
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This reminded me of The Inquisitor’s Tale and a couple of other titles that my students just will not pick up. I enjoyed it, but I love historical fiction. Just not sure this would do well in my library. I’m sure someone will love winning the copy!
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I’ve never heard of The Inquisitor’s Tale. I will try to check it out. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It’s nice to see you here.
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Oh by goodness!!!! This sounds like a book I would LOVE to read and to share with my young friends to be read again!!! I’ll be sharing on Facebook & Twitter for extra chances!
Also, I loved the PUNishment. lololol
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I knew you would be interested in this book. It is just the kind you will like. Thanks for sharing my link. Extra chances for you. Good luck in the drawing.
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Whart a lovely book this sounds. I hve liked every Kate DiCamillo book I’ve read. She’s incredible. However, not throwing my name into the hat, as, if I won, you wouldn’t want the job of sending it to Portugal. Thanks for the links. And I enjoyed the puns, too.
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Yeah, I don’t think I’d like to try to ship a book to Portugal. It is a lovely book, though. I hope you get a chance to read it sometime. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It’s always so nice to hear from you.
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This sounds very interesting. Especially the fairy tale quality. The cover certainly gives that vibe. Thanks for sharing. I usually like DiCamillo’s books.
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I think you will like it when you get to it. It is a lovely book. Thanks for reading and commenting. Good luck in the drawing.
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I am so looking forward to reading this book. I have just about adored everything else Kate DiCamillo has written.
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You will not be disappointed when you read this. I think it’s one of the best I have read by her. Thanks for the comment. It looks like you are in the UK, so you won’t be eligible for the drawing. If that is incorrect, please let me know right away.
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Definitely on my list… along with every other Kate DiCamillo title. And Rosi – thanks for all the puns!
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You are welcome. I do love a good pun. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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I finished this book last weekend and felt like you — I wished it was longer as I wanted to know more. I love medieval fairytales and this is very different for DiCamillo. I agree, Candlewick has excellent books for kids. Lovely review!
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Thanks, Patricia. Very kind of you. I look forward to reading your review. Thanks for the comment.
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This looks like a lovely book!
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