Thought for the Day:
“I made a startling discovery. Time spent writing = output of work. Amazing.” ~Ann Patchett~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
It’s tempting to use flashbacks to solve writing problems, but you have to do them right. HERE is a great post from K. M. Allan with Flashbacks: Dos and Don’ts.
As writers, we have a duty to give our readers information, but how to do that and when to do that is the hard part. HERE is a terrific Narrative Nugget from Janice Hardy with ideas for that problem.
What do you do with colors in your stories? HERE is the last in a series of articles by Jan Sikes on how to use colors to enhance your stories. All of the previous Color articles are linked at the end. This one is on using white. They are all worth looking at.
Rain has finally arrived in Northern California. We had a big storm earlier this week and, according to the rain gauage in my back yard, we received 1.75 inches of rain in about 24 hours. That is a great start to the season. But it was a warm storm, so the Sierra Nevadas haven’t really started to be snow covered. I’m sure the skiers were hoping for a better result. This pretty much puts an end to the fire season, and that’s always great. I’m excited that the new Ken Burns’ epic starting tonight. I’ve heard a couple of interviews with Burns this week, and The American Revolution is sure to be one of his best. I think the timing is great. With the policitical climate being what it is, I think it’s important for us to be reminded how our great nation began and what is worth fighting for.
Last week, I offered a gently-read hardback of LOST EVANGELINE by Kate DiCamillo to one of you. This week’s winner is Pete Springer. Congratulations, Pete! I will get your book out to you soon. If you don’t know Pete, he is a former teacher and an author and a great blogger. Pete also reads to seniors. I’ll bet they will like this book too. You can see Pete’s blog HERE.
SCHOOLED by Jamie Sumner popped up on the review list for the Chicago Book Review. There are a lot of middle grade books about school, but the title SCHOOLED implied a different take. I was intrigued and took a chance and requested it. It is a fun take, and, even though I sometimes had to suspend my belief in reality, I really enjoyed the book. Here is the review I wrote for CBR.
Lenny and his dad, a professor, are moving from New Jersey to Arrington University. They will live in student housing. Lenny’s mother recently died from skin cancer, and Lenny and his dad don’t talk much. Lenny will be attending an experimental school at the university with four other kids. They will be taught by a group of professors and will have a lot of freedom to choose what they study while visiting college classes. Lenny becomes friends with an elderly professor, visits his class, and is entranced. When the professor stops coming to class, Lenny needs his dad’s help to find out what happened. It’s hard for them both. Can they find a way to work together?
Author Jamie Sumner has written an interesting story that has a premise that is quite hard to believe, although maybe young readers won’t be stopped by that. In fact, the brightest students will likely love this story. The characters are well-rounded and believable, and the problems they are presented with are challenging and interesting. The writing is very good, and the dialogue reads perfectly for the ages of the characters. This should find a good audience with mature middle-graders.
I have a gently-read ARC to give to one of you. All you need to do is be a follower (it’s free and easy — see the top, right corner of the post) with a US Address, and leave a comment. If you share the link to this post on social media, please let me know in your comment, and you will get an extra chance. And please don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
I’m thrilled to win this book since Kate is near the top of the list of my favorite MG writers. We’re in South Dakota right now avoiding some of those California storms, although we had five inches of snow one day here. Our grandson turns eighteen months tomorrow. He already will sit and listen to us read, which I’m thrilled about.
Thanks for the review of Jamie’s book. We need to keep our voracious readers challenged.
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Hope you enjoyed your trip and that you have a safe trip home. Kate’s book should be waiting for you. I think you will like SCHOOLED when you get to it. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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The book arrived right after we got back. Thanks so much, Rosi. I’m planning to blog about Kate and some of her books after I finish this one.
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Thank you, Rosi, for sharing my Story Empire post on colors!
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Thanks for writing such great content!
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Sounds like a good read. I bet the bright kids will be too busy being envious of this new sort of school to worry if it’s realistic!
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I think you are right about the bright kids. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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I’m watching the Ken Burns documentary too. This sounds like a good story, but I’ll let someone else who has time to read it win.
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I’m finding I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did about the American Revolution! It’s a great show. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This sounds like a fascinating story. Sometimes I find it easy to suspend my disbelief, but not always. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this! That Descartes cartoon is hilarious.
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I think you will like SCHOOLED. It’s a great concept. So glad you like the cartoon. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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I enjoy this author’s books to and have this one on my wish list, so thank you for sharing it with one of us. I shared this post on tumblr and X.
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Thanks for sharing my link. An extra chance for you. Good luck.
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I love all of Jamie Sumner’s books! I love reading these reviews and having these blog links sent to me.
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I’m so glad you enjoy the blog. Thanks for letting me know. Good luck in the drawing.
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I love your cartoon for today. 🙂 Schooled sounds really intrigued. I always like reading about experimental education models, especially since I homeschooled my own kids. I enjoyed Sumner’s Roll With It. I’m glad to hear she has a new one out!
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Glad you like the cartoon. It cracked me up. You are sure to like SCHOOLED. Thanks for the comment Good luck in the drawing.
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I’m interested!
I’m a subscriber.
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Okay then. You’re in. Good luck.
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I’m intrigued with the premise of this book. I would have loved being a middle grader taking college classes. I hope I win the free copy. I’m your newest subscriber. And we have the same initials! (My legal name is Alice Roseann.)
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Thanks for subscribing and for commenting. I appreciate it. Good luck in the drawing.
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Great set of links this week, especially from Janice Hardy and the first one on flashbacks. Thanks for finding these. SCHOOLED sounds like one I would enjoy. I’m always interested in stories where education is differentiated for learners. P.S. Send some rain my way. We haven’t had any here for over a month.
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So glad you like the links. I think you will like SCHOOLED. It’s interesting. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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Sounds like a terrific read! Following your blog via email, and shared!
Post by @melannb14.bsky.social — Bluesky
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Thanks for sharing my link! An extra chance for you.Good luck in the drawing.
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I enjoyed this one, too. So fun to hear your thoughts on it!
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Thanks for reading and commenting. Since you’ve read it, I presume you don’t want to be in the drawing. If I’m wrong, let me know.
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The American Revolution is excellent, though I tend to doze off (two hour blocks!) The timing is perfect…
SCHOOLED looks fun! And I’m thinking there’s a bunch of kids who will really love it (the “young Sheldons” of the world) and wonder why THEY can’t go to a school inside a college.
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I started watching The American Revolution. It’s going to take a few days! SCHOOLED really is a fun idea. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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