Please Don't Read This Book

So many books, so little time!

Marirosa Mia: There are thousands of books published each year, which makes me both incredibly happy and incredibly sad, because there’s simply not enough time to read every single one of them! 2012 was another great year for books in all genres and for all ages. Though I can say that I probably read close to 60 books in 2012 (half of which aren’t coming out until THIS year!), there are still many 2012 books I need to get to. Like:

LIAR & SPY – Rebecca Stead:  WHEN YOU REACH ME was the first book Julie and I reviewed on this blog and one of the reasons I wanted to start a blog in the first place, so I can’t wait to read Stead's new novel!

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS – John Green:  Please don’t yell at me because I haven’t read it yet. YES, I know, I know, but I guess I’m waiting for when I want to die in a puddle of my own tears to read it, OK?

TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME – Carol Rifka Brunt:  An amazing title. Gorgeous cover. Gut-wrenching plotline: 1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

Julie:  I also need to read LIAR & SPY, but I've beat you to THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME.  I loved TELL THE WOVLES I'M HOME, and I'm apparently the only reader on the planet who found THE FAULT IN OUR STARS ultimately tiresome.  I suspect if I'd loved it, then you would've read it too by now, for a possible blog review.  Sorry about that!

I'm intrigued by BUILDING STORIES, by Chris Ware, in which stories are presented in a host of different formats.  I've never seen a better reviewed book. Check out these review excerpts: http://www.amazon.com/Building-Stories-Chris-Ware/dp/product-description/0375424334/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books.   It's certainly not a book for younger kids, though. Maybe young adults. 

I recently read and enjoyed Louise Erdich's THE PLAGUE OF DOVES (written for adults) and liked it enough to order CHICKADEE, her 2012 middle-grade novel about twin brothers who somehow become separated.  (Erdich's THE ROUND HOUSE, a sister book to THE PLAGUE OF DOVES, won the National Book Award this year.)

And I became fascinated by Lisa O'Donnell's THE DEATH OF BEES after hearing an interview with her on NPR this weekend.  I'm cheating a little with this one, since it's technically a 2013 release.  But it fascinates me because the synopsis of the plot is so similar to that of THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS, a 2012 middle-grade novel by Sara Pennypacker.  Both books involve two girls trying to hide the death of the grownups in their household.  Pennypacker also wrote the CLEMENTINE books, which I wholeheartedly love; but I was disappointed by THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS.  I have a hunch that THE DEATH OF BEES will compare favorably--and that comparing the two will yield interesting writing tips.  We'll see!    

M: Those all sounds great! How about our readers out there? Any 2012 books you haven't gotten to? What 2013 reads are you dying to sink your teeth into? As for us, Julie, we better start reading.

Author You Should be Reading: ROBIN MCKINLEY

Marirosa Mia: Hello, everyone.  For a while I've been tossing around the idea of a new segment called "An Author You Should be Reading."  But thanks to life, the holidays, and NaNoWriMo, my first post got a bit delayed. Here it is, FINALLY. 

My first author you should be reading?  The one and only Robin McKinley.  Let me give a general overview of what I love about her; Julie and I have already reviewed two of her pieces, SUNSHINE and THE HERO AND THE CROWN, in more detail. 

I first discovered McKinley when my lovely friend, Annie, handed me a copy of SUNSHINE, confident that I would fall as deeply in love with McKinley's writing as she had. After reading SUNSHINE, I immediately purchased every McKinley book I could find in my local bookstore:  BEAUTY, SPINDLE'S END and DEERSKIN.  Reading each felt easy, like visiting an old friend. With just a sentence or two McKinley builds a world. She chooses her structure carefully and guides her readers expertly along the way. Of all her novels (I've read even more after that bookstore run), my favorites are DEERSKIN, SUNSHINE, and THE HERO AND THE CROWN. Like most of McKinley's work, those novels feature a strong female character - a survivor - who plows on, regardless of the obstacles she faces. 

I also admire the way McKinley handles love. It isn't flowery or ornate; it simply is.  There are no mistaken identities or accidental kissings of the wrong person--nothing messy or scandalous.  But the love portrayed is still intense, and very real.

McKinley is a writer who will always have a home on my bookshelf. If you get a chance, pick up one of her books, like Newbery Honor winner THE BLUE SWORD or Newbery medalist THE HERO AND THE CROWN. Or maybe SUNSHINE is the book for you--Neil Gaiman called it "perfect." McKinley's many fairy tale retellings, like SPINDLE'S END or DEERSKIN, are also well worth trying.  Reading any of these, you might find yourself a new friend.

Classically Challenged: Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Marirosa Mia: Once again the lovely Sylvie Larsen joins us for another edition of Classically Challenged, in which Sylvie dives into classic children’s books that she’s never read before!

Sylvie: This month, I read Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery.  I got to know the story of Anne from a mini-series that aired on the Disney Channel in the early 90s, but I had never read the book until now.  I was not surprised by how much I enjoyed it, as I was an overly dramatic youth.  So Anne remains a character close to my heart.   

The story takes place in about 1910 or so, when the book was written.  Anne Shirley is a red-headed orphan who is adopted accidentally (they ordered a boy from the orphanage) by an elderly brother and sister, the Cuthberts.  She goes to live with them on their farm in rural Prince Edward Island, on the east coast of Canada.  The Cuthberts are pretty run-of-the-mill folks, but Anne is a dreamer.  She doesn’t really understand the social norms of her new life because she had always lived inside her own head.  One of the sadder things about reading this book as an adult was realizing that Anne is such a dreamer because of her pretty terrible childhood.  She moved around to several different foster homes before ending up in the orphanage, and she describes a few of her situations rather bleakly in the book.  But once she gets to Green Gables (which is the name of the house she lives in with the Cuthberts), Anne proves to be a light in the lives of her elderly caretakers.  Mischief ensues and old hearts are opened to the young.  

The narrative moves quickly, sometimes skipping months at a time without much mention of what occurred.  Also, the chapters seem a bit like episodes, each covering one or two of Anne’s misadventures.  She’s always finding trouble when she just wants to do good!  Like any true heroine in a children’s book, however, Anne learns from her mistakes; and the reader watches her grow as a person by the end of the book.  One of my favorite quotes appears early in the book:  “You’d find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair. ... People who haven’t red hair don’t know what trouble is.”  Although my hair is only auburn, I concur.  
If you know any little girls who wander around the woods talking to fairies or reciting poetry, or if you were one yourself, this is the book for you!  Plus, it’s only the first in a series of Anne books that follow her life through adulthood, so if you love Anne as much as I do you don’t have to leave her after only one book.

Related articles

Classically Challenged: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Gift of Nothing

The Gift of Nothing – Patrick McDonell

 Julie:  I have committed a cardinal sin for a children's book writer.  I have, in my lifetime, read picture books like THE GIFT OF NOTHING and thought, So simple!  So few words!  How hard can it be?  Several years and one master's degree later, let me tell you:  To write a truly good picture book?  Very, very hard.  But Patrick McDonnell has done it.  THE GIFT OF NOTHING is playful, timeless, meaningful, linguistically interesting, and full of heart.  I wish I’d written it.  Mia, did you like it as much as I did?

M: Julie, THE GIFT OF NOTHING caught me by surprise.  I was reading along, thinking, OK, this is cute.  The humor reminds me a bit of I’M BORED in the way it handles the tediousness of everyday life (for instance, pointing out that there's nothing to watch on 200 channels of TV).  But then I got to the end and was tearing up. THE GIFT OF NOTHING is sweet and simple, accomplishing so much with so little.  The same could be said for the art, with its attention to the white space on the page.  The words deepen what we see on the page.  Julie?  

J:  Yes, the style of the art perfectly suits the style of the text. And I love that there's humor and depth. I splurged for the special gift edition, which comes complete with lovely packaging.  Perfect for those upcoming holidays.  I might need to get another, because I have twin nephews. 

M: Woohoo for getting some holiday shopping off your plate, Julie. And off we go to find more books to recommend!

Blog Hop!

Hey Everyone! Today Julie and I are part of a Blog Hop called “The Next Big Thing,” a way for writers to speak about their works-in-progress and spread the word about their fellow writers. Julie and I were tagged a couple of weeks ago by the lovely Jackie Resnick (you can read her post here) and were going to place our post up on Halloween, but Hurricane Sandy put a bit of a damper on our blogging. But now we are BACK and ready to answer questions.

Here we go:

What is the working title of your book?



Marirosa Mia: STONE GIRL is my working title at the moment, but I am TERRIBLE at thinking up titles. I thought of doing a little poetry/song research for some inspiration but have yet to find anything.

Julie:  LIKE BUG JUICE ON A BURGER, the sequel to my first book, LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE, is due out in April. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?



 M: Oh gosh. I started writing the piece about 3 years ago and put it away to continue working on another novel for my thesis, then a few months ago it found its way to me again. The idea first came to me like all my others:  A scene plays in my head over and over again like a movie. For this particular novel it was a house, decaying, and the lost girl inside it. I simply couldn’t get her and the house out of my head. 

J:  My first book, LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE, tells the story of a girl, Eleanor, whose longtime, beloved babysitter moves away.  For the first time, Eleanor is left by someone she loves.  For the sequel, I thought I’d write about Eleanor herself leaving loved ones (temporarily) for the first time.  LIKE BUG JUICE ON A BURGER thus tells the story of Eleanor’s first experience at sleepaway camp.

    

What genre does your book fall under?



M: Fantasy

J:  Realistic Fiction, for young middle-grade readers

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

 M: Uh. Ada is a strong, athletic, 20-something woman. She’s a bit like an owl, watching patterns and behavior; she trusts few but loyal to those she loves. She’s a bit like Jennifer Garner when she played Sidney Bristow in ALIAS. So maybe an unknown who shares that same strength.

J:  Bailee Madison might make a great Eleanor.  Should I confess that I’m most familiar with her work as a guest star on Wizards of Waverly Place?  (I have daughters!  Disney shows are unavoidable!)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?



 M: Cursed by a witch, a young girl is unable to step outside the confines of her home without turning to stone; her relationships, her loves exists through the bars of her confinement.

J:  Nine-year-old Eleanor attends sleepaway camp for the first time and is not a happy camper.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?



 M: Once it’s finished I hope to send out query letters to agents.

J:  I’m represented by Rosemary Stimola of the Stimola Literary Studio; Abrams Books will publish BUG JUICE.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?


 M: Still writing it. And I just joined NaNoWriMo (friend me if you are doing it as well) so I’m hoping it will help me finished a good full rough draft of it.

J:  The first draft took about three months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

 M: It definitely has a fairytale vibe. A bit of Robin McKinley perhaps. Clearly I’m terrible at this.

J: IVY AND BEAN, by Annie Barrows; CLEMENTINE, by Sara Pennypacker

Who or what inspired you to write this book?



 M: You know how it is, when characters simply won’t leave your head until they are written down.

J:  My younger daughter suffered from intense homesickness during her first summer at sleepaway camp.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

M: There’s a bit of a tortured romance in there. John who has just came back from the war (World War I) and he can’t seem to connect with anything from his old life finds a flame of hope in Ada.

J:  The illustrator for PICKLE JUICE, Matthew Cordell, is also working on BUG JUICE and is doing a terrific job.  His sketches make me laugh every time I flip through them. 

 

Thank you so much for reading about our work! 

 

Classically Challenged: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Marirosa Mia: In a new segment I’m going to call “Classically Challenged,” I’ve brought along my lovely librarian friend Sylvie Larsen, who each month will talk about a classic children’s book she’s never read—until now. This month it’s THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, by L. Frank Baum.

But before we get started, I asked Sylvie to write a little bio for herself so you could get to know her a bit. Here’s what she sent me: “Sylvie grew up running wild in the woods of New England, reading books whilst sitting in trees.  Now a New Yorker, she earned her Master's in Library and Information Science and has yet to find the perfect climbing tree in the city.”

And now, Sylvie:

Sylvie Larsen: This post is as good a place as any to admit that I was never all that into THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ as a child. Sure, I watched the movie, but it’s not something that was a big part of my life, as it was for some people.  That being said, you can’t really UNSEE the movie, so it is pretty impossible to read the book without some sort of comparison to the iconic film.  While it’s interesting to see what parts they chose to put in the movie and where the songs would go, it’s far more interesting to discover what didn’t make it into the film.  I found the book to be a better story than the movie.     

First, let me put this book into some historical perspective.  To say that this was a time of great change in America is an understatement.  Phones, cars, moving pictures and early aviation were all becoming parts of regular life.  Every day, more and more immigrants were coming to America.  So, the idea that a little girl was suddenly picked up and dropped into a new land is not too far from what some new Americans were experiencing.  It was an exciting time to be a child, and I think this book captures that well.

The story is as fast paced as you’d expect a bedtime story to be. Dorothy leads a dull life before she is whisked away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz.  She picks up a few travel companions on her way to ask the wise Wizard to help her get back to Kansas.  Quite a lot happens to our heroes on their travels and some of it is pretty dark.  I recently read the following synopsis of the movie: “Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first person she meets and then teams up with three strangers to kill again.” Sure, Dorothy arrives safely in Oz, but she inadvertently murders someone upon landing.  Even though everyone tells her she’s done a great thing, Dorothy is obviously upset about the whole thing...well, as upset as one can be and still steal the corpse’s shoes from her feet (which are silver and not ruby, interestingly enough).  

In general, I wanted to know a little more about what was going on in the characters’ heads.  There is no backstory or character development, just a girl and a dog right from the get-go.  It is really just like her trip down the road of yellow bricks, a succession of things that happen.  Even when things get pretty scary for Dorothy on her travels through Oz, she keeps an impressively level head throughout...or her emotions are not really covered in the story. The moral of the story, if there really is one, comes from the purpose of the mission.  The characters are on their way to visit the Wizard to get what they believe they need to be better, but while they are being placed in these impossible situations along the way, the Cowardly Lion acts pretty darn brave, the Scarecrow comes up with some pretty cunning plans for someone who doesn’t have a brain, and the Tin Man is a total sweetie for someone who doesn’t have a heart.  I guess they had what they needed all along, they just needed Dorothy to come along and give them the chance to prove themselves.

I wish I could have read this before seeing the movie.  Fortunately, there are 13 more books in the series that haven’t been turned into movies, so I can discover more of Oz without always having to imagine Judy Garland.  

 

I'm bored

I'm bored.

 Written by Michael Ian Black and Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Marirosa Mia: Yay, picture book time! I love it when Julie and I find a picture book we both enjoy. This time around we have I'M BORED, written by comedian Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Our story starts with a little girl - a very bored little girl.  There's simply nothing for her to do except lament how boring everything is. I dread the day my niece enters this age. Soon the little girl meets a talking potato who is equally bored. (I really want to make some sort of potato pun here but I can't think of any yet! It will come to me.) One would think the two would become fast friends, bonded by their lack of entertainment. But NO, not so at all. Not only is the potato still bored, but he also thinks children are soooo boring, unlike flamingos, who are super-exciting. (FACT: Flamingos are actually awesome.) Unwilling to stand for this, the little girl sets off to prove that children aren't boring at all by showing the potato all the amazing, imagination-filled things they can do! But is it enough to entertain one very bored potato?  I'm not going to say, but - spoiler alert - a flamingo does make an appearance. 

J:  This book cries out, "Read me to a bunch of kids!  I'm perfect for it, you'll see!"  It's fun and funny and fast and clever.  I'm terrible at creating different voices when I read aloud, but even I feel inspired to give a very dramatic reading.  How often does one get to give voice to a potato?  I love the art, too.  It's bold but also spare, and colorful, and full of life and movement.  What do you think about the art, Mia?  And do you have any quibbles with the book?   

M: I want a Part Two! With the flamingo and the potato. Does that count as a quibble? I thought the art worked perfectly with the text of the book. It was simple yet kinetic - if that makes sense. There was always a sense of movement to the art, even from the beginning. I can't wait to read it to my niece, who's already in love with CREEPY CARROTS. 

J:  Um, that's not exactly what I had in mind as a quibble.  But it's a great idea!  As for a quibble of my own, I think a few variations on the potato's "boring" refrain might have been fun.  A "yawn" or a "snooze," perhaps; a "been there, done that."  Having a zillion "boring"s became a little (can you guess?) (you got it!) boring.  But it's such a trivial complaint.  I still love the book.  I'm tempted to gather my far-too-old children around me now and try a little story time.  Because we've all been cooped up in this apartment for the past 48 hours.  We could certainly use a potato and a flamingo. 

 

Creepy Carrots

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by Peter Brown

Marirosa Mia: Jasper Rabbit LOVES carrots. He loves them like I love Nutella, which is a lot, people. He plucks them from Crackenhopper Field on the way to school, a game, or back home. Then one day Jasper is sure that his favorite treat is following him. He sees creepy carrots in his bedroom! Creepy carrots following him to school! It's driving him mad. Is Jasper's favorite snack actually following him around, or has he had one (something or other) too many? Written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by the talented Peter Brown (author and illustrator of THE CURIOUS GARDEN), CREEPY CARROTS is a fun tale of paranoia and a possible Vitamin A overdose resulting in visual hallucinations. Kidding! I found CREEPY CARROTS to be a zany trip to the twilight zone, cleverly illustrated with a funny (and slightly morbid) twist ending. Julie?

Julie:  I love the combination of humor and horror in this book. The art is simultaneously ominous--almost exclusively black and white with splashes of orange (primarily the carrots); plenty of shadows; a Hitchcock-ian shower scene; sinister sightings in the tool shed--and hilarious. We're talking, after all, about carrots! With crossed eyes and occasionally severed heads (why severed?  I don't know!) and gaps in their teeth. The overall effect is both unusual and riveting. I predict kids will love it. Do you agree, Mia?

M: Yes! Huge fan of the art. I think this was a great pairing of minds, and the nod to Hitchcock and that era is spot on. I can't wait to read it to my niece, who loves carrots (by which I mean she eats them without complaint). Our readers should also check out this lovely video of Peter Brown talking about why he chose this particular style for CREEPY CARROTS.

J:  Is there something you didn't love about the book? I have to confess that although I credit the cleverness of the ending, I don't love it. I don't want to give anything away--I'll just say that it felt very concrete and confining to me, in a way that seems at odds with the free-wheeling imagination of the story. Does that make any sense at all?

M: Do you mean you saw the ending coming? I'm not sure I understand.

J:  No, that's not what I mean.  I've been trying fruitlessly to think of a way to explain that doesn't ruin the ending. So, SPOILER ALERT!!! Do Not Read Further If You Want to Keep the Ending a Surprise! Last chance to look away. Okay, here goes: I guess I love the notion that these wacky carrots are roaming around out there, popping up in surprising places, making funny faces. Having them all hemmed in at the end--even though they're happy in their confinement--brought an abrupt halt to my carrots-on-the-loose imaginings. I frankly felt a little irritated!  

M: Ah, I see. You weren't fond of the gated community and you like your carrots free-range.

J:  Exactly!  Is that so wrong?

M: Not at all, Julie, not at all.

Kid Lit Con 2012

Marirosa Mia: This past weekend Julie and I had the honor of attending KidLitCon 2012! Julie attended the Pre-Conference on Friday, September 27th and I attended the Saturday events. And though I grumbled through my subway ride over (waking at 8 AM on a Saturday should not be allowed) to the New York Public Library (what a beaut!), once I was there I was in full swing. Particularly since I couldn't attend the full day's events due to prior commitments, I was determined to acquire all the information I could. Strangely enough the two panels I was slotted into discussed reader participation; what I learned most from those panels was that comments don't always signify participation. Meaning, just because only three people leave comments doesn't mean your readers aren't engaged. I'm afraid I'm guilty of this: I follow dozens of blogs and don't post a single comment! But that doesn't mean I'm not engaged by the content. What about you, Julie? What pearls of wisdom did you glean from the Con?

Julie:  I attended fabulous sessions at both Holiday House and Penguin Young Readers Group.  At Holiday House, among many other treats, we saw spreads from picture books coming out in the spring.  What terrifically talented illustrators they've lined up!  

The upcoming Holiday House picture book I'm most excited to read is THE FRAZZLE FAMILY FINDS A WAY, by Ann Bonwill, with illustrations by Stephen Gammell.  Here are my notes (please keep in mind that there was quite a lot of information flying at us, fast):  "Story of crazy family.  Mom forgets to comb her hair; Dad forgets to put on pants.  Energetic, very fun art."  A mom who neglects to comb her hair!  Can I ever relate!  Fortunately, I haven't yet forgotten to put on pants.  But I do fear it's within the realm of possibility.  Anyway, I'm keeping an eye out for that book.  We also heard from the lovely Betsy and Ted Lewin about their upcoming, beautiful and simply worded I Like to Read books. 

We had a guest author at Penguin as well:  the vivacious Gayle Forman, bestselling author of the young adult hits IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT.  It was immensely helpful to hear her tales of books she has written and then stored permanently away in a drawer.  It's easier to think about my drawered books, now knowing about hers.  She also has a new book on Penguin's list:  JUST ONE DAY.  Ruta Sepetys, author of BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY, which Mia reviewed for us, does as well:  OUT OF THE EASY.  I'm excited to read both.  

Penguin in fact has a slew of exciting books, much like Holiday House.  Mia, have you worked on any?  Would you like to put in a good word?  

M: I'm currently working on OUT OF THE EASY, which I hope you like, Julie! It's very different from BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY but still a fantastic read. Haven't read JUST ONE DAY yet, but I'm a big Gayle Forman fan so I can't wait to read it. Now a question to our lovely readers out there. Did any of you attend KidLitCon? What new books are you excited to finally get your hands on? 

Congrats! Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Laura Hartness who won a copy of FIRE and GRACELING by Kristin Cashore. Laura we will be emailing you soon to get your address!

Thanks to everyone who entered and look out for more reviews and giveaways.