Books in the Wild: Dog Edition
Books and Dogs, they definitely go together. At Random House we have our share of dog-themed books—fiction and non-fiction, picture books and novels. Today our latest edition of Books in the Wild is an assortment of pictures featuring dogs and books, and this post wouldn’t be complete without a sneak peek at a new book featuring dogs and poetry DOG-GONE SCHOOL, from the talented team of Amy Schmidt and Ron Schmidt.
DOG-GONE SCHOOL will be in bookstores and libraries in July 2013.While you’re waiting for it you can check out Amy and Ron’s earlier picture book LOOSE LEASHES, and here for your viewing pleasure, are some irresistible dogs and books sure to make you smile.
Reading or napping? You decide.
Even dogs love to be read to.
A relaxing read on the sofa.
Some books keep even the dogs up reading late into the night.
Just resting my eyes.
But I feel so comfortable here.
Trixie loves books too!
Thanks for joining us today at RAoR, we hope you enjoyed our look at dogs and books!
Please share your thoughts in our comments section, and share pictures of your dogs with us too. Email them to us at RandomActsofReading@gmail.com they just might appear in a future Books in the Wild post.
Q & A with Mystic City Author Theo Lawrence
Today we welcome author Theo Lawrence to Random Acts of Reading. He joins us to talk about Mystic City, the first book in the trilogy set in a future New York in which much of the city is underwater, politics is a dangerous business, a rebellion may be on the horizon and star-crossed lovers must find each other. He’ll also share some thoughts about writing, music, snacks, and dachshunds.
What book made the strongest impression on you as a child?
I loved S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and Lois Lowry’s The Giver. I also remember thinking everything by Roald Dahl was both hysterical and frightening.
What is one thing about you that would surprise your readers?
Probably that I trained for many years as an opera singer! I also have a mild obsession with dachshunds.
Dachshund coasters resting on one of my bookshelves
Do you use social media? If yes, how do you feel about the role social media plays in your writing life?
I do! You can find me on Facebook and I tweet as @tlawrencebooks. You can also visit me online at www.theolawrencebooks.com. I love being able to interact with readers and other authors, and being able to share about upcoming book events or other things I’m excited about.
What has your favorite event experience been so far?
I had a fabulous time in Princeton, New Jersey recently with Elizabeth LaBan. It was a small event, but most of my family was there—including my grandmother—which made it very special.
My grandmother, Eileen Honigman, at the Barnes & Noble in Princeton, New Jersey
What was your favorite genre to read as a teenager?
Probably adult murder mysteries. I loved to read inappropriately gory books under the covers with a flashlight. I remember reading Caleb Carr’s The Alienist and being scared for weeks afterwards. In fact, I’m still scared just thinking about it.
What’s your favorite snack food when you’re writing?
Swedish Fish. The red ones!
Do you have a favorite place to write?
I do, though sadly it’s not anywhere exotic. It’s just at my desk, which is in my bedroom. But it’s a very nice desk!
Do you have favorite music to listen to when you write?
I usually listen to music right before I write, or while I’m revising. I actually have a Mystic City playlist—and here are a few selections from it:
“Cold War” by Janelle Monáe
I love the cool tones of Janelle’s voice, plus the funky beat of this song. The line “Do you know what you’re fighting for?” was something I thought about a lot as I wrote Mystic City.
“Love Is a Losing Game” by Amy Winehouse
For me, this is Davida’s song. The dark, sultry tone of Amy Winehouse’s voice never grows old. She is able to capture such heartbreak, and this is what Davida feels regarding Hunter, who loves Aria—not her.
“Us Against the World” by Coldplay
Toward the end of the novel, this is 100% how Aria and Hunter feel. Sometimes it really does come down how much you’re willing to fight for what you want when the odds are stacked against you.
“New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra
Although this standard was originally performed by Liza Minnelli in the Scorsese film of the same name, the Frank Sinatra version is my favorite. It celebrates the city of Manhattan . . . so it’s the perfect song to encapsulate Mystic City!
Do you plan to continue writing for teens, or do you think you might write for adults at some point?
I hope I always have the opportunity to write for teens. I am currently working on the sequel to Mystic City—titled Renegade Heart—and there will be a third book in the series after that. And then, who knows?
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring authors?
My advice would be … plot! The more you think about what your book is going to be about, and what events are going to occur, the easier it will be to sit down and write.
What inspired you to write Mystic City?
Mystic City was inspired by a trip to Venice. I remember thinking how beautiful the city was, and wondering what Manhattan would look like if it had canals instead of streets …
Can you give us a preview of Book Two, Renegade Heart?
Renegade Heart picks up a few weeks after the end of Mystic City. Even though Aria’s struggle to reclaim her lost memories is over, and she now remembers Hunter and their romance, Manhattan is basically going up in flames … a revolution has broken out and everyone is taking sides. Aria has to determine what—and who—she is fighting for.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thanks to everyone who has picked up a copy of Mystic City and enjoyed it. I can’t wait to share the next part of Aria and Hunter’s story with you soon!
In addition to the Q&A, we have a bonus from our author today—below you will find Theo’s “Walking Tour” of the New York of Mystic City.
Theo Lawrence: My New York
In my debut novel, Mystic City, the city of Manhattan is a character itself: this Manhattan is a magical, technological marvel. The rich and powerful live in the upper reaches of buildings—known as the Aeries—moving via bridges and magical “lightrails.” The poor live in the Depths, traveling the flooded roadways and tunnels—a result of global warming—via motorized gondolas, fearing and hating the ruling class.
Although much of the landscape in Mystic City is fictional, parts of Manhattan do make special appearances throughout the novel. I’m a native New Yorker, and some of my favorite spots in the city inspired certain locations in the book.
I’m delighted to take you on a little “walking tour” of my top ten Manhattan highlights:
1. Central Park
In a city with so much brick and glass, it’s a comfort to find a serene place full of greenery. I love to go to Central Park and sit out on the lawn or take a walk or run around the reservoir. In Mystic City, Central Park has been renamed the Magnificent Block, and it’s not exactly a place of grandeur: it’s where the registered mystics are forced to live in a ghettoized community. Check out Central Park when you visit New York and enjoy some relaxing time at the zoo or outside in the Delacorte Theater for a show.
2. Time Warner Center
In Mystic City, the Time Warner Center has been reimagined as the Circle, a shopping hub of several buildings enclosed by a glass dome to ward off the heat and connected by tiny bridges with mystic slidewalks that move beneath your feet. Although the actual TWC isn’t that high-tech, it is a great place to shop and have a few fantastic meals with your friends.
3. South Street Seaport
A historic part of Manhattan, South Street Seaport is near the lower tip of the island, where Fulton Street meets the East River. In Mystic City, Aria follows her servant Davida down to the Seaport and discovers a secret entrance to the rebel mystics’ underground hideout. While you might not find that if you visit the Seaport yourself, you certainly will discover lots of fantastic places, like the South Street Seaport Museum and the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse. During the summer the Seaport Music Festival attracts thousands of people.
4. The Upper West Side
Aria Rose’s family dominates this side of Manhattan. If you visit the Upper West Side, you’ll be able to take a serene walk along the Hudson River, stroll through the quad of Columbia University, stop off for a cool beverage at the West 79th Street Boat Basin Café, or even attend a concert at Symphony Space.
5. The Upper East Side
Aria’s fiancé, Thomas Foster, lives on the Upper East Side, along with his family and their supporters. If you were to walk these streets, you might attend a lecture at the 92nd Street Y, stop in to examine some art in an intimate setting at the Frick Collection, absorb some history at the Museum of the City of New York, or even rest your feet at the famous Pierre Hotel.
6. Lincoln Center
One of my favorite spots in Manhattan, Lincoln Center comprises several magnificent theaters, including the Metropolitan Opera House, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, which seats almost four thousand people; Alice Tully Hall, a fantastic concert spot; and the Walter Reade Theater, a movie theater used by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Other theaters present Broadway shows, ballets, and more. If Lincoln Center existed in Mystic City, I bet Aria Rose would have loved it.
7. Chelsea Market
Although Chelsea Market doesn’t exist in Mystic City, I draw on it for inspiration in Renegade Heart, the second book in the series (coming soon!). Chelsea Market is a food court, shopping center, office building, and TV production facility housed in what used to be the factory where Oreo cookies were first made! Go figure. I love going down to Chelsea Market on the weekends and taking a walk through the halls, visiting bookstores and card shops and tiny bakeries with delicious pastries.
8. The 86th Street Subway Stop
In Mystic City, the underground subway system has been abandoned, and this is where the rebel mystics who have refused to have their powers drained hide out from the government. In real life, the subways in Manhattan work properly. This stop is my favorite because it’s the closest one to where I live, but if you visit New York, any subway stop will do—go through the metal turnstiles, take a ride, and see where this silver bullet full of passengers will take you!
9. Grant’s Tomb
In my version of Manhattan, this historic place has been destroyed. But you can still visit it! One of my first apartments in Manhattan was right near the General Grant National Memorial, a stunning mausoleum containing the bodies of Ulysses S. Grant (eighteenth president of the United States) and his wife, Julia. For inspiration, I would visit the site and spend time in Riverside Park, sitting on a bench and watching passersby. The Hudson River is nearby, providing a beautiful landscape for daydreaming.
10. The Empire State Building
To get an idea of what some of the skyscrapers in Mystic City might look like, why not end your tour at the Empire State Building, certainly one of the most famous spots in all of Manhattan. Built in 1930, this 102-story skyscraper is located in Midtown and is an American cultural icon. It was designed in the Art Deco style and has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The beautiful floodlights that illuminate the building at night partially inspired the lightposts in Mystic City, where drained mystic energy is stored.
I hope you enjoyed this tour as much I did! And don’t forget to check out Mystic City
Many Thanks to Theo Lawrence for joining us today, I’m already looking forward to Renegade Heart!
Please share your thoughts in our comments section.
Celebrating Our President and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today, we celebrate President Obama’s Inauguration and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. We thought it would be nice to share a few of our favorite picturebooks that celebrate these leaders, as well as others that help educate children on the Civil Rights movement, slavery and African-American history. Since February is almost here, you should be able to find many of these titles in bookstores as part of Black History Month displays.
I Have a Dream by Kadir Nelson
2013 marks the 50 year anniversary of Dr. King’s most memorable speech, and this stunningly illustrated book by Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson is the perfect way to introduce the speech to children. Dr. King’s inspirational, hopeful words are just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago, and the rich paintings and CD of Dr. King giving the speech make this a package families and educators will treasure.
Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama and Loren Long
This touching book is both a tribute to 13 groundbreaking Americans and a father’s letter to his daughters. President Obama shares traits that he finds inspirational in these heroes, as well as the ways he sees those traits exemplified in his children, and children across the country. Loren Long captures the playfulness and innocence of youth in his illustrations. This is a wonderful book for families to read together, an ode to pursuing your dreams and celebrating your own unique strengths.
Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton and Raul Colon
This is a fascinating look at the Civil Rights movement and the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, written by the daughter of a Civil Rights activist. Paula Young Shelton grew up deep within the movement, even calling Dr. King “Uncle Martin,” and this thoughtful book shares not only her intimate perspective, but the views of a child growing up in such turbulent times. Raul Colon’s vibrant, colorful art pairs perfectly with the text in this highly-acclaimed picturebook, named Best Children’s Book of the Year by Bank Street College of Education.
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton and Leo and Diane Dillon
This classic story was taken from Virginia Hamilton’s Coretta Scott King Award-winning collection of folktales with the same name. It’s the story of slaves who used magic words to fly away to freedom, as well as the story of those who were less fortunate, and had only the dream of freedom to imagine as they told and retold this story. Illustrated by her long-time collaborators, The Dillons, this is a full-color, beautiful edition of a powerful tale.
Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renee Watson and Christian Robinson
Full of interesting, dynamic art, this biography of a lesser-known member of the Harlem Renaissance, singer Florence Mills, will inspire and educate children. Born to former slaves and gifted with an amazing voice, Florence made it to Broadway but turned down a coveted Ziegfeld role in order to support all-black musicals. Check out a behind-the-scenes conversation about the making of the book with its editor here.
Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack and Leo and Diane Dillon
This gorgeous Coretta Scott King Honor award winner tells the story of a young black boy sold into slavery in Africa and shipped to America, and his devoted father who is left behind to mourn him. Written in verse, it is sad, moving and lushly illustrated by the Dillons.
Do you have a favorite book you like to read for Black History month? We’d love to hear your recommendations!
The independent bookstores that we work with on a daily basis are full of incredibly talented and creative folks who put together amazing programs in and for their communities all the time. This is the start of a new feature on Random Acts of Reading that will highlight some of these events.
One shining example is a children’s bookstore in Decatur, Georgia called Little Shop of Stories where, for the last two years the fabulous staff has planned a community-wide, months-long, reading initiative called On the Same Page. The goal of the program is to “foster a community of readers by bringing families together around the same book” and this past fall, HOLES by Louis Sachar was the focus book. They want everyone to “Get On The Same Page”, so they encourage participants across the city to read together and find common ground through literature and the love of reading. They partner with schools throughout the community to incorporate the book selection into teachers’ lesson plans, and they work with various non-profits and local businesses to raise money for kids who can’t afford to buy a book.
The scope of this project is huge! They kicked off the program by announcing Holes as their 2012 book selection during the Decatur Book Festival, the largest independent book festival in the country. Then they hosted a series of events over the next three months: book club trainings and discussions; a Holes movie screening; a Habitat For Humanity Work Day where kids could dig their own holes and plant azalea bushes donated by Ace Hardware; a shoe drive and shoe auction – they got the Atlanta Braves to sign shoes that were auctioned off to raise money for the program and for homeless shelters in Atlanta; and the grand finale, a visit from Louis Sachar himself – a great way to end the program with a bang!
I am happy to welcome Krista Gilliam, one of the program coordinators and the children’s book buyer at Little Shop of Stories, to share the touching stories of the two days that Louis Sachar spent with some of the kids who had been living and breathing Holes throughout the fall.
Krista:
We took Louis Sachar to four different schools, so he probably saw over 700 kids at the schools. Each school welcomed him in a different way and showed how they embraced the program: One school made a video, one school had the kids dress up as characters in the book (and the media specialist was in a full-body orange jump suit) so we saw lots of Stanleys, Kissin’ Kates, and even Mr. Sir. All of the schools displayed art work they had made based on the book (posters, giant painted lizards, cardboard dioramas of Camp Green Lake, etc.) One school welcomed him with a drum circle and had kids perform a song they had made using the lyrics from the “If Only” poem in the book. We were so moved by their performance that we had they perform again on Friday night at our grand finale event.
The biggest thing at each of the schools was just their enthusiasm about meeting him. He was treated like a rock star at every school….the kids were bursting with excitement and overjoyed to get the chance to meet him. I can’t stress how much the schools appreciated his visit, and how many kids were thrilled to get to ask him questions about the book that they’ve spent so much time with this fall. It was awesome to see their enthusiasm over a book.
The event Friday night probably had around 300 people, and they were also all thrilled to meet him. We started the event by telling some of the stories from the past few months (kids who met for book club in a tree house and then dug a 5 foot hole in their back yard, a dad who skyped in with his family while out of town so he wouldn’t miss the nightly reading, the school who created care packages for homeless kids and took them to shelters around Atlanta, the fact that over 200 shoes were donated to a local homeless center, etc.) Then we had performances from the singers, and also from our dancers, who were dressed up like convicts and did a choreographed dance with shovels to a song from Holes. We had arranged an interview with him and a local middle schooler the day before, so we had her introduce him. After his talk, kids rushed to the microphones so they could ask him questions…so many, in fact, that we ran out of time, and had to tell the rest of them to ask their question in the signing line.
All in all, he saw around 1,000 people in two days, and we sold over 1,000 books this fall, 600 of which were given to 18 different schools to distribute to at-risk students. We had around 25 schools participate in some capacity, and had a great response from the community about the program. I’d say it was a huge success!
A HUGE thank you to Little Shop of Stories for the amazing job you are doing in your community to promote reading! And a special thanks to Krista for agreeing to share your story with our readers!
“Celebrate a Dragon Day” is January 16th! We <3 Dragons!
Today is January 16th, and things are about to get very ferocious, very fantastical, and very, very fun because today is “National Celebrate a Dragon Day”!!!
Dragons add another dimension to stories, often an other-worldly element. They add heart-wrenching excitement, bravery, and what we’ve come to see as a whole lot of heart. So it’s no wonder that these creatures attract readers of all types, from young boys and girls to adult fantasy-lovers. But to really explain it best, we’ve invited the great Kate Klimo, author of the much-loved Dragon Keepers series to explain the origins of her dragon-love and a hypothesis as to why these creatures have reached the hearts of countless others. -Bobbie
Ever since I can remember, dragons have held a special place in my heart. It was C.S. Lewis who made me first fall in love with dragons when I was in the fourth grade. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, on the second island the children visit, the disagreeable Cousin Eustace finds his way into a dragon’s abandoned lair. He hoards the dragon’s gold, puts on a golden armband, and falls asleep, only to wake with the band pinching an arm that has turned green and scaly and huge. He has turned into a dragon! Oh, the misery! I still remember the illustration of Eustace-as-dragon standing by a pool, head raised to the heavens, weeping his heart out. It is as a dragon that Eustace realizes the error of his ways and sets out to make amends for his past despicable behavior. The other dragon-of-my-heart is Kenneth Grahame’s Reluctant Dragon, star of one of the stories in his wonderful collection, Dream Days. In it a boy makes friends with a sweet and very literate dragon. When the townsfolk send St. George to slay the dragon, the boy intervenes and introduces the two arch enemies. St. George and the dragon become fast friends. Townsfolk and dragon live in peace and harmony ever after. I have always embraced the idea that dragons, while perhaps physically intimidating, are basically good-hearted beings.In my Dragon Keeper books, I hope I have created in Emerald a dragon not only wise to the dangers of the St George’s of this world, but also thoroughly lovable. — Kate Klimo
We agree, Kate! Let’s celebrate. Check out some of the many Dragon books that Random House Children’s Books has to offer!
There’s No Such Thing As a Dragon! by Jack Kent (Golden Books)
For the little ones:
When Billy Bixbee finds a tiny dragon in his bedroom, his mom tells him, “There’s no such thing as a dragon!” This only makes the dragon get bigger. He grows, and grows, and grows, until he’s bigger than Billy’s house—and that’s just the beginning!
A Poor Excuse for a Dragon by Geoffrey Hayes (Random House BFYR)
“Part-slapstick, part-fairy tale, the gently humorous plot has enough twists and turns to keep newly independent readers engaged.”—School Library Journal
Fred the dragon has a list of tasks he must complete in order to be a successful dragon—none of which comes naturally. But he’s determined to make #5—eat people—work. Before you can say “pass the salt” he’s gobbled up three people even though he doesn’t have the stomach for it. Luckily a local shepherd, with the help of a giant and a witch, knows how to cure what ails him and get those pesky people out of his belly. It’s happily-ever-after for everyone in ways you’d never expect.
Dragon Keepers #1: The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo (Random House BFYR)
“Dragon in the Sock Drawer is funny and wonderfully written–a tall tale adventure that will surely grab young readers.” –Mary Pope Osborne
Look out for the paper edition of The Dragon in the Sea (#5) this May, and the next in the series, The Dragon at the North Pole (#6) goes on sale this fall!
Ten-year-old cousins Jesse and Daisy have always wanted something magical to happen to them. So it’s a wish come true when Jesse’s newly found thunder egg hatches and a helpless, tiny, but very loud, baby dragon pops out. Soon the two kids are at the dragon’s beck and call, trying to figure out what to feed her. An Internet search leads them to the library, which leads them back to the Internet, where they find a very strange Web site called foundadragon.org. Here the cousins discover that the dragon’s hatching has designated them “Dragon Keepers.” Not only do they have to feed the dragon, whom they named Emmy, but they also have to keep her safe from the villainous Saint George, who has kept himself alive over centuries by drinking dragons’ blood!
Magicalamity by Kate Saunders (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
A Fun Fantasy for Middle Grade readers!
Tom is in shock. He’s just discovered that his dad is an escaped fairy on the run. And that he must trust his life to three dangerous fairy godmothers he’s never met. Two of them are hardened criminals, and one falls out of the window when she tries to fly . . .
Will their mad magic be enough to help Tom rescue his dad from the clutches of some killer fairies?
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Knopf BFYR)
2013 Is the tenth anniversary of this modern classic—the first book in Christopher Paolini’s beloved Inheritance series!
Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Rachel Hartman’s debut was acknowledged with 8 starred reviews; a spot on the New York Times bestseller list, Indie Bestseller list, and countless Best of 2012 lists; and received accolades from writers such as Tamora Pierce and Christopher Paolini. This isn’t any ordinary dragon book.
In Seraphina, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, “Some of the most interesting dragons I’ve read in fantasy.”
For a more complete list of Dragon titles from Random House Children’s Books, check out www.randomhouse.com/teachers and search by keyword Dragons
Thanks for joining us today at Random Acts of Reading! Please share your favorite dragon titles in our comments section
The View From Monday: New Titles Available in January
This is so exciting! Today we are sharing some of the first new titles of 2013 with you! They will be available in your favorite bookstore or library in January. Get ready to venture out into the new year and bring some of these books home to your most comfy chair!
Picture Books
A SPLASH OF RED: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Horace Pippin was a self-taught African-American artist who was born in the late 19th century and did not achieve fame for his work until later in his life. In fact, although he was drawing from the time he could walk, he did not submit his first work, an oil painting, until he was forty. The main reason: Horace suffered a serious injury to his right arm while serving his country during WWI. After he returned home from the war to Philadelphia, his injury hampered his ability to find work and to do what he loved most: create beautiful art. It was only after years of perseverance building up strength in his arm that he was able to create works for which he is best known. Horace’s masterworks, a mix of folk and primitive styles based on everyday objects, family memories, biblical stories etc. now hang in museums throughout America.
Horace’s inspirational life story needs a wider audience and I’m confident that Jen Bryant’s stirring narrative–combined with Melissa Sweet’s brilliant and vibrant re-creation of his artwork—will draw children, parents and teachers to this magnificent biographical picture book. –Tim
The Passover Lamb by Linda Elovita Marshall, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
This delightful story celebrates family, Passover and Spring on the farm. When the birth of newborn triplet lambs takes Miriam’s family by surprise, it looks like they may have to miss out on the Passover Seder. Young Miriam comes up with a clever solution and the celebration is saved. –Kate
You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Terry Widener
Many die-hard baseball fans believe Willie Mays is the greatest baseball player of all time. Second only to Baby Ruth on The Sporting News‘s list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players”, there are still players today aspiring to break his records (he hit 660 home runs (fourth best of all time), had a lifetime batting average of .302), all while the professional baseball leagues were in the early days of integration. Complete with sidebars filled with stats, here is a book for all baseball lovers, young and old. –Kate
Middle Grade & Young Adult
Babymouse # 17: Extreme Babymouse by Jenni Holm, illustrated by Matt Holm
Our favorite sassy mouse is back, and as if she isn’t always a little extreme…extremely FUN, that is! Now she’s trying out the extreme sport of snowboarding. The slopes will never be the same. –Kate
The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne
John Boyne is a versatile author of children’s and adult novels, best known for the international bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. His most recent novels for young readers are modern parables about identity and fitting in a complicated world. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brockett is a worthy successor to his other works suitable for middle grade readers. Barnaby, our story’s hero, was plagued at birth by being born into a completely “normal” family in every way. Barnaby is normal according to the standards of society except he “floats” (gravity having little or no effect on him). His parents, Alistair and Eleanor, cannot accept this embarrassing fact about their son and do everything they can to change him or else. A stint at the Graveling Academy of Unwanted Children doesn’t do the trick so Barnaby is banished and forced to reconcile being different in a conformist world.
Barnaby is a prolific reader and identifies appropriately with the fictional heroes of Dickens, Dumas and Jules Verne, among others, all of them too in search of finding out who they are and their place in the world. Barnaby embarks on a quest journey taking him via hot air balloon and other means from his home in Sydney Australia to Brazil, Canada, Ireland and other outposts far from home. He meets up with all sorts of diverse characters, many of them worse off, and realizes being different is the real “normal”.
This story works on so many levels and, despite the grim circumstances of Barnaby’s life, is often very funny and touching. Kids will appreciate the adventure story itself, but I also think teachers can pull out valuable content pertaining to many of the contemporary social issues reeling communities today. –Tim
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
Clare Vanderpool follows up her Newbery Award-Winning Moon Over Manifest with a wonderful stand alone book about two boys on an epic quest on the Appalachian Trail to find a bear, the number pi and maybe even find themselves. –Dandy
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
When news of her sister’s death reaches Georgie, she refuses to accept it. When no one believes that the body brought home could not be her sister, she sets out on her own to prove it. Filled with fascinating facts about passenger pigeons and the real dangers of the road, this engaging historical fiction is an exciting read and great classroom tie-in. –Deanna
Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli
The world of Hokey Pokey is every kid’s dream, where they can just be kids, play and have fun all day, every day. For Jack it seems like this blissful life will last forever, until one day his bike is stolen. And now everything is changing, he hears, sees and feels things he’s never experienced before. Is this what growing up feels like? Hokey Pokey is a poignant tale of growing up and leaving the innocence of childhood behind. In many ways as eye-opening for young readers as it is for some of us who aren’t quite so young anymore. –Kate
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan
This novel quickly became a favorite of many of us. A contemporary story set at a private school, romance (and un-, or partially-requited love), intrigue, a mean-spirited teacher who assigns a challenging senior paper, and secrets, so many secrets! Think Thirteen Reasons Why meets Looking for Alaska, with a nod to the classic Ethan Fromm. Whether you’re 14 or 40 you’ll find this one hard to resist. Make sure you check our recent Q&A with Elizabeth LaBan here. –Kate
Thanks for joining us today at Random Acts of Reading. Happy New Reading Year!
Please share your thoughts in our comments section.
We Ask a Book Blogger: What Are Your ALA Award Predictions?
Each month, we present a panel of book bloggers with a question relating to children’s books and we share their views here on the blog. If you missed last month’s post on the books our bloggers most wanted to give and receive for the holidays, you can check it out here.
This month, I asked our bloggers what books they hoped or thought might win the upcoming ALA Youth Media Awards, specifically the Caldecott, Newbery and Printz awards. There were a few favorites on the lists, but some surprises as well. Stay tuned for the announcements on January 28th to see if they were correct!
For the Caldecott: Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead; Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Erin Stead’s illustrations in Bear Has a Story to Tell are beautiful. The illustrations alone tell the story and compliment the text. One of my favorite books of the year.
For the Newbery: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Well, this one is a personal favorite and may be more of a hope and a wish for a book to be recognized, but Applegate’s story of Ivan begs to be read aloud and shared. For that reason alone, I would love to see it win.
For the Printz: Every Day by David Levithan
Levithan is an amazing writer and I believe that Every Day is his best book yet. In lesser hands, the concept of this book would not have come together, but Levithan’s skill with words makes this a powerful and enjoyable read.
For the Coretta Scott King: Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington by Jabari Asim; Illustrated by Bryan Collier
This biographical picture book works both on the level of a wonderful story and awesome illustrations. I can see this winning for writing or illustrations.
For the Sibert: We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson
Informative and engaging, Levinson tells the story of the children of Birmingham and the fight for Civil Rights. A must read.
– Alyson, Kid Lit Frenzy @alybee930
The Caldecott Award always flummoxes me. It’s hard for me to separate the illustration from the story, it’s all tied up together. I have never been able to choose the Caldecott. So, here goes:
Unspoken by Henry Cole: A beautifully rendered tale of the Underground Railroad. Sepia tones, pencil drawings, the story doesn’t need words to convey the emotion and danger involved in being the runaway or the helper.
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen: This is also a story that could be told without words. A fish steals a bigger fish’s hat and the big fish gets his hat back. The art in this book is not bright and happy, it’s filled with dun browns and grayed greens, the shades of underwater, but Mr. Klassen’s ability to tell a story merely with changes in eye shape is pretty amazing.
Newbery:
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage: Great characters, big drama, family issues and a murder mystery, Three Times Lucky has it all. This was a book that feels old-fashioned in a number of ways, yet is firmly planted in the present. The emotional depth of the characters was impressive.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio: An underdog to cheer for! Well-drawn characters, great story, something for everyone who reads it.
Printz:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Stunning book. I don’t know if there is anything else to say. Love, friendship, loss. It’s a book that crosses age and gender.
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: One of the most surprising books I’ve read. See above: Love, friendship, loss. I can’t get this one out of my head. Absolutely brilliantly developed.
– Rene, Notes from the Bedside Table
I honestly don’t know that I’ve read anything this year that I think will actually get the Printz. I mean, I’ve loved a number of books but they just don’t seem to fit the Printz “profile” so to speak. Of the ones I’ve read I think The Diviners by Libba Bray and The Fault in our Stars by John Green have the best chance. I’m really interested in seeing what the committee has for us!
– Heidi, YA Bibliophile @hmz1505
For the Caldecott, I’d love to see Unspoken by Henry Cole win. This gorgeous wordless book about the underground railroad works on so many levels.
For the Newbery, I hope The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate gets the medal. It’s such a lovely, entertaining, and thought-provoking book, full of creativity and tenderness. I predict Wonder by R. J. Palacio will be at least a Newbery Honor book because it’s an “issue” book with plenty of teacher and librarian enthusiasm.
For the Printz, I want The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman to win. It’s such a page-turner, readers may not pause to take a breath, never mind stop to realize just how well-crafted it is, but I’m astonished by the history behind the mystery.
– Tegan, TSquared Blog, @ttigani
For Caldecott, I’d love to see a medal on Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead (the 2011 Caldecott-winning creators of A Sick Day for Amos McGee). But I’d be just as happy if the award goes to Oh No! by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, or Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.
Newbery winners are tough for me to predict this year, only because there are so many I wish could win at least an honor. Wonder by R.J. Palacio, of course (though I’m more sure that it will win the Schneider Family Award than a Newbery), The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Keeping Safe the Stars by Sheila O’Connor, What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt, and True Colors by Natalie Kinsey Warnock. And it would be really cool if May B. by Caroline Starr Rose won an honor. (Go, Caroline!)
For Printz, there’s little doubt in my mind that John Green’s touching masterpiece The Fault in Our Stars will win. Hands down. Other books that deserve a mention: Small Damages by Beth Kephart, Ask the Passengers by A.S. King, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick, a harrowing look at the Killing Fields of Cambodia through the eyes of one young boy.
It was a great year for reading!
– Joanne, My Brain on Books @booksnbrains
Do you have any wishes or predictions for the upcoming awards? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Choose Kind
After the shocking tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, I was thrilled to see a new kindness movement rapidly take hold across the country. Spurred on by Ann Curry’s 26 Acts of Kindness campaign, people all over started making their own pledges to do 26 kind acts for others in memorial for the victims of the shooting. It’s been a pleasure to follow these stories and to see how even small kindnesses can have a large impact. In a hopeful sign, this movement continues on post-holiday, and it seems like many are choosing to continue their own kindness pledges as part of their 2013 resolutions.
We’ve raved about the book Wonder by RJ Palacio many times before on this blog (here), but almost a year after I first read the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of Auggie Pullman, I find myself wanting to read it again. My children are too young for the book, but I look forward to the day when I can share it with them, and we can discuss its messages of kindness and tolerance. There are so many beautiful books written each year, but it’s a special book that helps promote such a terrific message. So often when I visit a bookstore account, a staff member will mention sharing Wonder with a teacher or librarian they know who went on to insist the entire school read and discuss the book. We all have a responsibility, as parents, educators and members of a larger community, to teach our children to treat themselves and each other with gentle kindness.
I wanted to share this note that just came in to our New York office about Wonder. It was written by a grandparent and epitomizes what I also feel:
I sent the email below to RJ. Thought you might want to know as well. While I’m only one person…
RJ —
I just finished your incredible book, WONDER, and wanted to thank you so much for writing it. It truly is a celebration of kindness.
I am a 69-year-old grandpa and even though the story is aimed at middle-grade/YA, I would recommend this book to anyone. I know the kids of the world are loving Wonder, and I can only hope and pray that adults will embrace it as fervently. Our entire world needs this story so very much right now.
All the best.
Peter
There is a tumblr associated with the book, and on it is a form where adults and kids can pledge to “Choose Kind” this year. It’s kind of amazing to look at the names and locations of the people who have already made the pledge; I loved seeing so many school names as well as people who simply wrote things like “inspired mama.”
When you work in the world of children’s books, you want to do your best for every single book that will eventually become beloved and important to some child, that will help lay the foundation for a life full of learning and literacy. But something about this book has always felt more like a mission to me, a drive to get it into the hands of kids who are being bullied, or who are themselves unkind to others. I hope that you feel inspired this year to choose kindness in your own lives, and to share it however you can.
If you have suggestions for other books that deal with this topic sensitively for kids of any age, we’d love to hear them in our comment section. One older post we wrote for National Bullying Prevention Month lists a few of our favorites to recommend.
Q&A with Elizabeth LaBan Author of The Tragedy Paper
One of the best parts of being a publisher’s rep is that we get to “discover” authors and their books. A breakout favorite from the Spring list for us is The Tragedy Paper, a contemporary story set at a private school, with romance (and un-, or partially-requited love), intrigue, a teacher who assigns a challenging senior paper, and secrets, so many secrets! Think Thirteen Reasons Why meets Looking for Alaska, with a nod to the classic Ethan Frome.
Today we are joined by author Elizabeth LaBan who answers our questions about her novel, the inspiration for this story, advice for young authors and what she’s working on now.
What inspired you to write The Tragedy Paper?
I loved young adult books when I was a teenager. In fact, I wrote in my acknowledgments that reading S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and That Was Then, This Is Now truly changed my life and made me want to be a writer. For thirty years I thought about creating a world in the same way she did. And then a number of things came together at once: my agent encouraged me to try my hand at a young adult book; I read, also at my agent’s suggestion, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther; and I started to think about how that famous tale could be modernized. It was about that time that the world of the Irving School started to spring to life in my head. Before I knew it, Tim was traveling to New York during that snowstorm, and Duncan was beginning his senior year.
Did you have a “tragedy paper” as a high school senior? How did this help shape your story?
I did write a tragedy paper when I was a senior in high school, and it had a huge impact on me. If my memory is correct, it was really the first time I truly enjoyed and embraced a school assignment. I actually (and I found this to be surprising) looked forward to working on the paper. For years after, I believed it set me up for my career as a journalist because I realized that I loved researching information and then attempting to make sense of it. When I started writing the book, the idea of that tragedy paper – or a similar one – seemed like a great backdrop for the story that was coming together in my imagination. I still have the paper I wrote (it was typed on a typewriter!), and I referred to it many times while I was writing the book.
When you read The Tragedy Paper you can see the “love for the literary” on each page. Are there any specific classics that helped inform or inspire this story?
Thank you for saying that. The classic that most inspired the book is not mentioned at all and that is The Sorrows of Young Werther. I read a translation of it just before I started piecing together the book, and I had the structure of that story in my mind the whole time I was writing. The characters are much younger in my book, of course, and the story is not exactly the same, but I kept going back to that original text if I had a question of how one thing or another should go. I also love so many Shakespeare plays, and had them in mind while I was writing. There is also one scene when Daisy is at a bookstore reading Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres. That is one of my favorite books of all time and I love the connection between that and Shakespeare’s King Lear. And if you look really closely you will find a few very intentional nods to S. E. Hinton’s books.
How did deciding to write Tim as an albino character help shape his character and the story? Do you think any other “difference” would have been as affective?
I wanted Tim to have an affliction of some sort that he dealt with every day, but not something that made it hard for him to live his daily life. I also liked the idea that his issue was something you could see the minute you were face to face with him. I think most teenagers feel so exposed, even if they don’t have something that necessarily makes them stand out, and Tim’s being an albino just highlights that feeling even more. I’m sure I could have come up with another “difference,” but as Tim came to life in my head, this one really stuck. I didn’t want to make him disfigured or have a big scar, because that wasn’t what this is about for me. Even though Tim struggles with how he looks, who is to say he isn’t very handsome in his own way?
What book made the strongest impression on you as a child?
If I had to choose one I would have to say S.E. Hinton’s That Was Then, This Is Now. I read it when I was in 7th or 8th grade, and I remember just being blown away by the connections the characters had. I loved to read ever since I was much younger than that, but it was the first book that when I finished it I actually missed the people in it. That was a crazy feeling to have for the first time.
What is one thing about you that would surprise your readers?
I am married to a restaurant critic.
Do you use social media? If yes, how do you feel about the role social media plays in your writing life?
I do use social media. I have been on Facebook for years, and now I am really growing to love Twitter. There is no question that it connects me to other authors as well as potential readers. In addition, sometimes I come across something that gives me a good idea for a next scene!
Do you have a favorite place to write?
I always write on my laptop at my dining room table in my rowhome in Center City Philadelphia. I feel very connected to everything going on in the house, and I can look out the front window and see the tops of people’s heads as they walk by and hear people out on the block. In fact, that is where I am sitting right now!
Do you have favorite music to listen to when you write?
I don’t listen to music when I write, I prefer quiet. Though I do listen to music when I do the dishes or cook – I love to listen to musicals like Rent, In the Heights and Wicked.
Do you plan to continue writing for children, or do you think you might write for adults at some point?
The next book I’m planning to write is another young adult novel. Interestingly enough, The Tragedy Paper is not my first novel, though it is my first young adult novel. I have written three women’s fiction novels and, the truth is, I do have another one brewing in the back of my mind. Someday I’ll get to that, but for right now I love this genre, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring authors?
I have said this before and I really mean it – don’t ever give up. You might be lucky enough to hit it with your first novel, or maybe your second or, as in my case, your fourth. If I had given up after my first, I never would have gotten to this amazing point. If you want to write, just keep going. Enjoy the process – there really is nothing like writing a scene that just comes together – and put yourself out there when you’re ready.
What was your favorite chapter, or part, to write and why?
If I had to choose, and it is a hard one, I would say I most loved writing the chapters when Tim and Vanessa meet at the airport and then go to the hotel room together. I immediately liked their connection, and the way they talked to each other. And then when I went back to edit the book at different times, and I knew the characters better, it was so much fun to just “know” what they would do and say. It is a small part, but I really like how Tim tells Vanessa to be careful about warming up her feet and his use of the word “tepid.”
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a second young adult novel. This time the main character is a girl, which is nice, though I have to say I loved writing from boys’ points of view. I am well into the next book and it is really starting to take shape. I don’t want to give too much away but this one also has a school assignment that is key to the plot.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
The book isn’t quite out yet, but there are people who have gotten the book through NetGalley and other sources and it has been a thrill to know people are taking the time to read the book, and often saying very positive things about it. I guess I would just like to say thank you. I’ve been writing books for so long with the dream that they will be read by more people than my family, my agent and the editors who said thanks but no thanks. And now I’ll have that chance with this book! I will be so grateful to anyone who picks up this book and spends time in the world of The Tragedy Paper.
Many Thanks to Elizabeth LaBan for joining us on RAoReading today! The Tragedy Paper will be available at your favorite bookstore or library tomorrow, January 8th, don’t miss it.
Please share your thoughts in our comments section.
What’s On My Bookshelf With Author Caroline B. Cooney
In 1990 THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON was first published and went on to become a very popular bestselling series. I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I discovered the book (and the movie) but I do remember absolutely loving the story of 15 year old Janie who sees her face on the “Missing Child” photo on the back of a milk carton and with her boyfriend begins to unravel the secrets of her past.
Now 23 years later, author Caroline Cooney, who has written many young adult books since, concludes the Janie series with JANIE FACE TO FACE, on sale next Tuesday, January 8th.
Today we are very excited to welcome Ms. Cooney to Random Acts of Reading to share with us what’s on her bookshelves.
In Connecticut I had bookshelves built into every room, including the halls. I had thousands of books and loved every one. Even with all those bookcases, I had books stacked on the stairs ready to go up or down and library books sprawling on the counter. When I moved to a smaller house in South Carolina, I cut back by half. It was painful to part with books I’d known and loved – or else bought, and never read, and meant to get around to loving – for years.
Now in South Carolina I have only nine bookcases.
Three are solid with history books. I love New England history, ancient Rome, ancient Greece, and British history.
Two bookcases are solid with books in Latin and Greek – I went back to school to relearn my high school Latin and start ancient Greek. Julius Caesar and the Letters of Cicero are my favorites and I have many translations of them, plus my own translations which I wrote out in notebooks.
Another bookcase is for my hobby of reading the Bible in Latin (the Vulgate) and Greek (the Septuagint and the New Testament.) I’m not very good, even after years of struggle, so this bookcase has dozens of reference books to help me with Biblical Latin and Greek.
Another bookcase is all knitting books, embroidery and quilting. I don’t do much needlework any more and the day may come when all those are passed on. Then I will have all those beautiful empty shelves to fill.
Then there are the music bookcases. I have sung in concert choirs that perform great sacred works, so I have dozens of masses, requiems and cantatas. I have the scores of Broadway musicals for which I was pianist (not on Broadway, though! Usually at high schools). I have stacks and stacks of organ and piano music.
The ninth bookcase has fiction. I used to save all the fiction I bought, but now I pass it on unless it’s such a treasure I know I’ll reread it. I have a lot of historical fiction set in ancient Rome and Greece. My first several books were historical fiction in ancient Rome. Nobody ever wanted to publish them, and I think I’m lucky that happened, because I fell into writing suspense for Young Adults, the best place anybody could ever be.
I love to buy books. It’s always my special treat. If I finish a really difficult chapter or a really annoying chore – or if I just finish dinner – it’s time to go to the bookstore. I love to buy on line too; I get a lot of mysteries from a bookstore I access on line. But it’s so much more rewarding to touch the books, and leaf through them, and have the heady experience of staring at all those titles and yearning to read every one, and having to settle for only a few.
Of course I’m at the library constantly. So often I find a book at the library and decide that whether or not I read the library edition, I have to own this book, too. That happened last year with a book called Making Haste from Babylon, by Nick Bunker, a history of the Pilgrims so riveting it started me on my next book – the amazing incomparable adventures of the children who will eventually sail on the Mayflower.
If you’re like me and you love the Janie series, click here to read a post the author wrote for us last spring about the history of the books. And if you leave a comment below we’ll enter your name into a raffle to win a complete set of the series. Thanks to Caroline Cooney for joining us today!
Random Acts of Reading 