Hidden by Helen Frost

Okay, I guess I saved the best for last.  Officially my favorite, 10/10 due to its writer's craft!

This novel is written as a poem.  It comes in two forms and two voices!  The actually forces you to read the book twice.  To find out how she does this, you must read the "Diving Deeper: Notes on Form."  I am not giving away that last bit of info!!!!  Don't cheat!!!  

How can I tell this book is written in poetry form?  What are the two forms?  What is the point of view of this book?  How can a book be a poem and a novel at the same time?!  Incredible, easy to read and inspiring.  It is a great storyline also.  It does follow the lines of moving to a new place and making relationships just like every other Mark Twain Nominee this year.

Helen Frost Website

 

Can you write a story that is also a poem?

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

9 out of 10! and one more book to go...


Cupcake Recipes from the Story!  

Another book I thought I would just have to make it through that I was thrilled to have read!  It just goes to show you, don't judge a book by its cover!!!!  

This book takes the beloved cupcake and weaves it throughout the storyline in a delicious way!  (yeah, yeah, see how I did that!)  We should look for more writers who take a simple object and center a story around it.  This might also be something that you try with your own craft.  

This story, just like every Mark Twain Nominee I have read this summer involves a character moving and adapting to a new situation and making friendships.  So I started thinking about books that aren't Mark Twain Nominees that I have read and...There are a lot of chapter books that base their story lines on moving into new situations and the people befriended as a result.  Can you take one of your stories that you are working on and drop one of the characters into a new situation and see what happens!!

The Unwanted by Lisa McMann

8/10  Very good dystopia novel for young readers.  The author uses a lot of new plot twists in her novel combined with popular fiction plot lines from this age group's market.  The familiarity of the content helps the reader become drawn in to find what will happen under this writer's quill.  The magical elements are creative and fun to turn over in your mind.  This writer shows how combining two different plot lines and your own new ideas is a great way to create a new story.

Workshop writers should try taking to tales they have read and combining their plots with a story idea that they have been working on!

The Unwanted Site

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck  9/10

Mr. Selznick has so many great examples of writer's craft.  The way he weaves two stories together on a journey is incredible.  He uses his illustrations to tell the "unheard" story.  He weaves in inspiration from his favorite books and authors.  He creates a tale out of what he knows and researches.  Writers write about what they know.  You have to read it to understand how masterful he is at his craft.  Can you weave two stories together?

Barn Boot Blues by Catherine Friend

Okay, this was a hilarious book a 9 out of 10!  Catherine Friend


Ms. Friend has used her own memories to create this wonderful tale of a girl's "strife" after moving from a hip and hopping city to the smallness of a rural farm.  This is a quick read and 


I think every Mark Twain Nominee I have read so far has been about making new friends and the best out of negative situations often times moving and being part of a non-traditional family situation.

Missing on Superstition Mountain Book 1 by Elise Broach

7 out of 10.  I enjoyed her book Shakespeare's Secret better than this one.  It is fast paced.  There are many examples of figurative language in this book.  I really enjoyed the author Q & A at the back.  I also like the vocabulary building she provides via her character, Henry.  This third person story follows his point of view.  There is a lot you can learn about developing character in this story.  The ending is a cliff hanger and sends you out looking for the next book in this series.  

P.S.  Superstition Mountain and many of the things in this book are real.......

Elise Broach Website 

Will at the Battle of Gettysburg 1863

How cool is it that I was reading this on the 150th anniversary of the actual days of the Battle of Gettysburg!!  I was actually dreading reading this book. I do bot like battle stories.  This book took me by surprise.  Ms. Cakhoven does an incredible job of showing war as it is...two sides, both thinking they are in the right and fighting for what is worthwhile in their point of view.  Both sides with soldiers who are people, not just enemies.  They both feel justified, they both suffer losses, they both want the best for "their country," they are both compassionate and human.  It was a 9/10 for me.  :-)

As a writer, it is clear that Ms. Cakhoven knows what she is writing about and researched it well.  She has great and equitable voice, she emphasizes the characters emotions and points of view.  She included a lot of text features:  Timelines, glossaries, historical notes,etc.  She also wrote to tell us what inspired her to write this book.

THe Underdogs by Mike Lupica

A very popular boys author:-)  I enjoyed this book.  As a writer, it had a pretty predictable plot with a few surprises thrown in.  I don't want to ruin for anyone so I won't even hint to them.  There was a lot of foreshadowing through out the book and the ending was easy to see.  You can tell the author knows about football.  (writers write about what they know)  I had to take his word on it of course!  It had typical writing elements... bully, problems, solutions, inspirational actions by hero character, small town makes good, etc.  I rate this book a 6/10 because boys will probably enjoy.

Read about this book and author at: Mike Lupica The Underdogs

Now, you think like a writer...  Would this be a different story in a different setting? genre? voice?  What makes this story unique, though the format is familiar?

Sparrow Road

http://www.sheilaoconnor.com/sparrowroad.html

This book was a nice book.  It had great character development and an air of mystery.  It goes into a lot of the thinking that goes behind creating writing and art.  The what is, what was, and what could be...  I have never heard it put that way, but what a good way to find your ideas.  It shows are main character using these ideas to become a great writer.  There were connections to the other Mark Twain Nominees--Missouri is mentioned hear and in In Front of God and Everybody.  I was not fond of the ending of the book.  It left me feeling flat.  I give this book a 7 out of 10.

Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

In Front of God and Everybody

  by K.D. McCrite     K. D.'s site   

Youtube Trailer for book

I loved the chapter titles and the watermarks behind the text in this book.  It also has a great lesson for everyone no matter what their background.  Can you find the author's message in this story?  It had me laughing a lot in disbelief. Sarcasm does have it's place in some books.

I rate this book a 8/10.  

How did K.D use foreshadowing in this book and why do you think she used it?

Could you use foreshadowing in the piece you are working on? What does it add to

 or take away from the appeal of a story?

PIE by Sarah Weeks  Sarah Weeks' PIE site

If you like baking pies, this book is for you!  Each chapter starts with a pie recipe that reflects a character in the story.  Loved it!

I rate it 7/10.

How does this effect how you read this story?

Can you see any other elements the author has used to draw you in?

13 Gifts by Wendy Mass

Wow, I am now a fan.  I love the way this book is written as realistic fiction with a hint of sci-fi.  You feel there is something magical and yet, it never really goes out of bounds...it could all be coincidence.  Wendy Mass makes me want to go back and read the previous sequels to this book.  I hadn't read those and now I will, because she seems to have intertwined these stories in an incredible manner.  I will get back to you on that!

 Check out Wendy's site!

I rate it 8/10.

Why do you think this author intertwines her characters in her sequels the way she does?