ELEPHANT TOUCH — Review

Thought for the Day:

“A novel is a daily labor over a period of years. A novel is a job. But a story can be like a mad, lovely visitor, with whom you spend a rather exciting weekend.”
~ Lorrie Moore ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

Having conflict cannot be overstated in our writing. No conflict, no story. HERE is a great article from Writer’s Digest by Dean Monti called I Have a Conflict—And That’s a Good Thing. Don’t miss it.

S. E. Redfearn, writing for Writer’s Digest, discusses a topic HERE I’ve never seen addressed in a writing article — 5 Tips for Writing Stories About Good vs. Good. There aren’t many books out there that discuss good vs. good, but they exist, and her examples are interesting.

Another great post on titling HERE from Linda Skeers writing for Non-Fiction Ninjas with 8 Tips for Creating Tantalizing Titles.

I have a surprise visitor from out of town, and I don’t have time for my usual writing this week, so puns it is! Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to respond to comments. I did read them and appreciated them. Anyway, enjoy the puns!

My friends and I have named our band ‘Duvet’. It’s a cover band.
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, they 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.
I’m trying to organize a hide-and-seek tournament, but good players are really hard to find.
I got over my addiction to chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts. I won’t lie, it was a rocky road.
What do you say to comfort a friend who’s struggling with grammar? There, their, they’re.

Last week, I offered a gently-read ARC of DEER RUN HOME by Ann Clare LeZotte to one of you. This week’s winner, who always shares my link for extra chances, is Danielle Hammelef. Congratulations, Danielle! I will get your book out soon. Thanks for sharing my link and always reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

No giveaway this week because one of our little trick-or-treaters chose ELEPHANT TOUCH by Susan R. Greenway from the table of books on Halloween. I only had a very few kids come by, but I was glad to see how excited they were to be able to choose or book or two. When I saw the title ELEPHANT TOUCH on the review list, I was curious what it could be about. I looked at some information about it online and was intrigued. I’m glad I chose it. It is a really good book and I enjoyed reading it. Here is my review.

Quinn recently lost her mother, and she can’t seem to stop wallowing in her grief. Her mother’s sister, Aunt Lizzie, takes Quinn to Thailand to volunteer in an elephant sanctuary, hoping it will heal her. The elephants had been abused or abandoned, and every sad thing reminds Quinn of her lost mother. One day she runs to the river, crying. An elephant comforts Quinn, rubbing her with its trunk, and they make a connection. A baby elephant is brought in, and she will not eat or drink. Quinn wants to help. She needs to use all her courage and accept the help of friends she has made at the sanctuary as well as the help of her aunt, but will it be enough?

Susan R. Greenway has written a sweet story that will engage young readers, especially those who have some experience with loss. The characters are well-developed and fairly believable. The writing is nice, although the voice is a little uneven. The animals are absolutely charming, and the setting is one that will be fascinating to young readers. The story is a bit too predictable but still will satisfy young readers.

Please don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.