Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
9/10
Really great book. Quick pace and historical references. The author uses idioms and quotes as a connecting feature in writer's craft. There is also a lot of interwoven connection between all of the characters, who have never met until now. Their descriptions are vivid and have a lot of personality. They learn a lot from each other even though they come from very diverse backgrounds.
Think about how you make connections between the characters in your writing pieces. What idea could you use that brings them all together, even if they have never met before?
Really great book. Quick pace and historical references. The author uses idioms and quotes as a connecting feature in writer's craft. There is also a lot of interwoven connection between all of the characters, who have never met until now. Their descriptions are vivid and have a lot of personality. They learn a lot from each other even though they come from very diverse backgrounds.
Think about how you make connections between the characters in your writing pieces. What idea could you use that brings them all together, even if they have never met before?
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook by Joanne Rocklin
10/10
http://www.joannerocklin.com
Thoughts while I am reading as a writer...Wow! Incredible writer's craft!!! Foreshadowing, vocabulary ( Indian and Yiddish words) Main character tells parables(look it up!), Lead character writes rebus (another one to look up!), A lot of objects and stories connecting to what is going on in her life. She also makes a lot of lists about procedures.
Okay, with all of the writer's craft in this story, as a writer, I have to give it a 10/10. How could I not! It has so many! There is a recipe for zucchini blossoms in the back. The author interview tells you about how she got the ideas for this story. Information about the history of the rebus is included. Not to mention that this is a story about telling stories and their connection to our everyday lives. This book has it on so many levels it is crazy. It is almost a roadmap for creating a story.
This is a must read if you are a young writer looking for ideas, inspiration, and organization. After you have read this book, try writing a piece that reflects what is happening or has happened in your life, but in a different context. I believe this type of story is an allegory. (look it up!)
http://www.joannerocklin.com
Thoughts while I am reading as a writer...Wow! Incredible writer's craft!!! Foreshadowing, vocabulary ( Indian and Yiddish words) Main character tells parables(look it up!), Lead character writes rebus (another one to look up!), A lot of objects and stories connecting to what is going on in her life. She also makes a lot of lists about procedures.
Okay, with all of the writer's craft in this story, as a writer, I have to give it a 10/10. How could I not! It has so many! There is a recipe for zucchini blossoms in the back. The author interview tells you about how she got the ideas for this story. Information about the history of the rebus is included. Not to mention that this is a story about telling stories and their connection to our everyday lives. This book has it on so many levels it is crazy. It is almost a roadmap for creating a story.
This is a must read if you are a young writer looking for ideas, inspiration, and organization. After you have read this book, try writing a piece that reflects what is happening or has happened in your life, but in a different context. I believe this type of story is an allegory. (look it up!)
Liars and Spies by Rebecca Stead
Ms. Stead's Website
9/10
The painting is used in almost every chapter of this book to define things, make them clearer, and connect events. Ms Stead used writer's craft to intertwine so many connections in this book...She is an expert at it for sure. I didn't actually get what the title was until towards the very end of the book. "Light bulb!" It is incredible to use an inanimate object as the mentor in this story. Could you try that in your piece? All of her characters names had very important stories behind them. That can be important to a plot.
9/10
I really did end up enjoying this book! It started slow for me. Then it really pulled me in. I wanted more at the end. The mentor in this story was actually a painting, Study for A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884. Georges Seurat:
The painting is used in almost every chapter of this book to define things, make them clearer, and connect events. Ms Stead used writer's craft to intertwine so many connections in this book...She is an expert at it for sure. I didn't actually get what the title was until towards the very end of the book. "Light bulb!" It is incredible to use an inanimate object as the mentor in this story. Could you try that in your piece? All of her characters names had very important stories behind them. That can be important to a plot. Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Clifton
10/10!! I can't believe this is a first book by Ms. Clifton!
I loved it. You become so connected to the main character. He has so many obstacles and yet he has such grace. It is an incredible story line, filled with genuine characters and emotions.
This is a story that could help you on your journey to bring believable, genuine characters to your stories that readers can make connections with. Ms. Clifton did an expert job incorporating color details throughout this story to bring together the visual description both in comparing and contrasting the settings around Frankie. Can you use the same types of color descriptions in your piece?
Mentor theme? I feel the community is mentoring Frankie in this book. They are guiding his already 5-star personality to realize how he can live the life he deserves.
She has a second book out that I cannot wait to read called Immortal Max.
I loved it. You become so connected to the main character. He has so many obstacles and yet he has such grace. It is an incredible story line, filled with genuine characters and emotions.
This is a story that could help you on your journey to bring believable, genuine characters to your stories that readers can make connections with. Ms. Clifton did an expert job incorporating color details throughout this story to bring together the visual description both in comparing and contrasting the settings around Frankie. Can you use the same types of color descriptions in your piece?
Mentor theme? I feel the community is mentoring Frankie in this book. They are guiding his already 5-star personality to realize how he can live the life he deserves.
She has a second book out that I cannot wait to read called Immortal Max.
Pinch Hit by Tim Green
9/10
This is a real hit out of the park if you like baseball. I have always used Matt Christpher as a go to sports fiction writer for baseball lovers. I now have another author to add to that genre!! Not only was it "sportsy," it had a great plot and followed the prince and the pauper, trading places storyline.I really enjoyed the quick pace of the author and all the different relationships between fathers, sons, family, friends, teammates and co-workers. Apprentice themes??? Yup! both boys mentored each other in their areas of expertise to pull off this stretch for their dreams. In the end, everyone was a winner!!!
Can you piggy back your story on a reoccurring storyline like Mr. Green has? What would be your twist?
Tim Green Website--Yes, he was an NFL player for the Atlanta Falcons for 8 years!!
Monday, July 14, 2014
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
10/10
10/10---Awesome Read!
Carl Hiaasen, another incredible example of writer's craft!!
I was entertained through the entire book. He has some incredible characters and they all have a back story...but they don't all have all of their appendages!! This book is full of rising actions and climaxes! This is a great example of keeping your readers on the edge of their seats and yet, it is realistic and not unimaginable!
Author's write about what they know or they research it... another great example of taking information and using it in a story. He uses his knowledge and passion of the environment and draws us into his world. What could you research to make your fiction story more authentic?
Thursday, July 10, 2014
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
10/10
What can I say, I only had to get through the first page of this book to be swept away by the beauty in Mr. Curtis' author's craft! He is truly gifted with the written pen. The level of writing in this Mark Twain Nominee shines like a beacon above those that I have previously read. I don't know if it would have mattered what the story was about because of how well it was written. However, the story was great also. Mr. Curtis gives you his author's purpose in the afterward, so make sure you read it also if you are not clear. I was right there with Deza Malone and felt what she felt, saw what she saw, heard what she heard. Incredible. Mr. Curtis then goes the extra mile in the afterward and brings this historical fiction right to our own time, our own front porch.
WOW!
Sunday, July 6, 2014
The Young Healer by Frank N. McMillan III
7/10
I like the originality of the plot. Going on a quest is a lost right of passage. There are a lot of metaphors and similes and other figurative writer's craft in this chapter book. It is keeping with the apprentice/mentor theme of the other 3 Mark Twain's read previously. It is about the Native American Culture and spirituality. The entire events of the book take place in one day's time. Many creative characters are introduced and descriptions are taken to the next level in this book.
You decide, do you think this is realistic fiction, historical fiction, or science fiction. It crosses a few of these lines, defend your choice.
I like the originality of the plot. Going on a quest is a lost right of passage. There are a lot of metaphors and similes and other figurative writer's craft in this chapter book. It is keeping with the apprentice/mentor theme of the other 3 Mark Twain's read previously. It is about the Native American Culture and spirituality. The entire events of the book take place in one day's time. Many creative characters are introduced and descriptions are taken to the next level in this book.
You decide, do you think this is realistic fiction, historical fiction, or science fiction. It crosses a few of these lines, defend your choice.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Privateer's Apprentice by Susan Verrico
8.5/10
I don't want to be to generous with my ratings this early in the game! Ha ha! But, I really did enjoy this book. I always say I am not in to historical fiction...Then I like it! I have actually not read a pirate historical fiction before. The characters are engaging and Ms. Verrico has away of making you feel what she wants you to feel about them, almost passionately. (even when it is just a goat!) I am beginning to see a trend in the Mark Twain's I have read thus far...Students learning about how to survive this world by being mentored by the ones the respect.
What makes this book historical fiction? How is it different from from other pirate books you have read? Could you write a historical fiction piece? What time would it be from? What would you need to research to create that believable and historically accurate feel?
Interview with Susan Verrico
I don't want to be to generous with my ratings this early in the game! Ha ha! But, I really did enjoy this book. I always say I am not in to historical fiction...Then I like it! I have actually not read a pirate historical fiction before. The characters are engaging and Ms. Verrico has away of making you feel what she wants you to feel about them, almost passionately. (even when it is just a goat!) I am beginning to see a trend in the Mark Twain's I have read thus far...Students learning about how to survive this world by being mentored by the ones the respect.
What makes this book historical fiction? How is it different from from other pirate books you have read? Could you write a historical fiction piece? What time would it be from? What would you need to research to create that believable and historically accurate feel?
Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
This Mark Twain has a great plot twist. I am not a fan of the voice and pace of the writing, but the idea of "ordinary" young lady is sooooo intriguing. It is like a reverse discrimination! You will have to read it to figure out what I am talking about.
Again I ask you is this science fiction or fantasy and why do you think that way? Do you have any topics that you are writing about that you could change the point of view and take it from a different characters perspective? What unexpected twists can you put in your stories? How does this author use details to describe the world that
The Shadow Collector's Apprentice by Amy Gordon
8/10
Very cool plot. The
author had a knack for keeping the suspense going throughout the entire
book. She had a lot of very interesting
details to keep the reader engaged. I love new plot twists.
There were not too many characters in this book so it is easy to keep them straight while you read.
Is this science fiction or fantasy? Why did you make that choice? How does the author keep this story believable even though it has unrealistic elements?? What part of this story do you find the most predictable and what part is most surprising?
What elements of this author's craft could you use in your own writing?
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