#IMWAYR March 27, 2017

Each week I try to join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers to share all of the reading I've done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. It's #IMWAYR.

Here's what I read this week:

Picture Book

This book was The Ugly Duckling with a wonderful twist. Kelp grows up a narwhal but he is really a unicorn. But unlike in The Ugly Duckling, Kelp, is accepted by both of his communities. It's a heartwarming story that would teach kids about accepting and embracing differences.

This book is simply hilarious. It emphasizes the point, "Be careful what you wish for." Kids will want it read again and again.

A fractured Cinderella tale where the Cinderella character plays baseball? What wouldn't I love about that? I can't wait to share this one with my class during our fractured tale unit.

Young Adult

When I read this book this week I hadn't heard the criticism and discussion about the representations in this book. Here are two different points of view by Justine Ireland and Sabaa Tahir.

_____________________________

If you like my reading choices, you can check out all the books I've read on Goodreads and please leave a comment below. It's Monday, what have you been reading?

It's A Book!

I still can't believe that I celebrated the book birthday of The Perfect Trip on Friday. Unlike the first book in the series, The Sweet Spot, The Perfect Trip was based on a real life experience, a camping trip I took with my family when I was eight. 

Here are some pictures from that trip and the book cover created by Lois Bradley. 

I did not find it easy to take my personal experience and turn it into a book. I wrote a blog post for Middle Grade Minded last week where I shared the steps I had to take. Turning real life into fiction led me to my main character Sam and her journey, so it was definitely worth the revision work. 

Celebrations for The Perfect Trip started on Thursday night with a virtual book launch party. You can still log onto the party to answer questions and see more pictures from my trip. The celebration will continue next weekend at the Cos Cob Library in Greenwich from 3-4. 

I have lots of other upcoming events. You can see them all on the appearance page of my website. 

Happy Reading!

The Sweet Spot Series: 13-year-old Samantha Barrette tackles obstacles in pursuit of her dream to be a baseball player. In The Perfect Trip, Sam thinks she has finally achieved her goal of making the boys’ travel baseball team. But a cross-country family camping trip filled with secrets and surprises challenges everything she thought she knew about what the future will hold.

Buy it now at Amazon, Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, or BAM.

Add it on Goodreads.

#IMWAYR March 20, 2017

Each week I try to join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers to share all of the reading I've done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. It's #IMWAYR.

This is a big week for me with my virtual launch on Thursday and The Perfect Trip releasing on Friday. You can also find me today over at Middle Grade Minded where I talked about how I used me real life to create this story. 

I didn't have much extra reading time, but when the notification came from Overdrive that I could download The Hate U Give, I had to read it immediately.

Young Adult

This powerful, heart breaking, eye opening novel should be required reading. It is the story of sixteen year old Starr Carter who is the only witness to the police shooting of one of her oldest friends. After the murder, Starr has to decide whether to allow the media and police to portray her friend as an armed drug dealer or to tell the truth, take a stand, and put her life and the lives of her friends and family in danger.

_____________________________

If you like my reading choices, you can check out all the books I've read on Goodreads and please leave a comment below. It's Monday, what have you been reading?

Join the Virtual Launch Party for The Perfect Trip, 3-23-17

THE PERFECT TRIP is releasing from Spellbound River Press on Friday! Join me on Facebook on Thursday, March 24, 2017 to celebrate the book’s release. 

Commonly Asked Questions:

What is a book launch?

It's a way for readers to join in celebrating the release of a book into the world. Many people refer the release of a book as a book birthday so I am throwing a party in the book's honor. I will be throwing an in person party at the Cos Cob Library on April 1.

What is a virtual launch?

A virtual book launch is a book party that takes place online on a Facebook event. Holding this type of launch allows people to join in from the comfort of their own home. All you have to do is log in between 7 - 9 pm ET to interact with me personally.

Can't make that time? You can also come to the event earlier or later and leave comments and post. A virtual launch never ends!

What happens at the party?

During the two hours I will be posting stories and funny pictures that relate to the book and guests will be able to participate by asking questions and commenting. I'll read a scene or two from the book. There will be prizes. Second, it will be a lot of fun. Kids are more than welcome. The book was written for 7 - 12 year olds. I hope some of them will come too. 

Do I have to buy the book to come?

Of course not. I would love you to be there to join in the fun whether you buy the book or not. There will be extra points towards prizes if you do purchase the book before or during the launch or if you preorder or buy the Kindle version. 

What else can I do to help the book with the launch?

Tell your friends and invite them to the party. Add the book on Goodreads (you can do that now). And if you have read the book, please review it on Amazon and Goodreads, or as soon as you get a chance. Book reviews help readers find books. If you have a blog, I'd love to be interviewed or you can post the virtual launch link.

Join the Party!

Hope to see you on Thursday!

#IMWAYR March 12, 2017

Each week I try to join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers to share all of the reading I've done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. It's #IMWAYR.

Here are the books I read this week:

Middle Grade

I'm actually not sure if the March series is middle grade or YA. What I do know is it is a powerfully written graphic novel about the civil rights movement written from the point of view of Congressman John Lewis. As soon as I finished it I handed it to my sixth grader.

Young Adult

Maddy has spent her whole life in a bubble because of a life threatening allergy, yet she never complained - until Olly moved next door. A well told story about discovering what it means to be alive.

_____________________________

If you like my reading choices, you can check out all the books I've read on Goodreads and please leave a comment below. It's Monday, what have you been reading?

#IMWAYR March 6, 2017

Each week I try to join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers to share all of the reading I've done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. It's #IMWAYR.

Here are the books I read this week:

Middle Grade

When Carol and her family spend the summer in the desert at their father's childhood home, no one wants to be there. But time spent with grandpa is not what Carol expects and his stories of bees and roots sink into her soul. An incredibly beautiful and magical book about the power of belief and family.

Audacity Jones was a fun, character driven spy-ish novel with historical fiction tie-ins. There were so many fantastic characters in this book, including the most remarkable cat. I can't wait to recommend this book to my third graders.

Living with a mother who often needs to be mothered, eleven year old Alex has learned to be extremely independent. When he finds out about a rocket launching competition he builds a rocket, buys himself a train ticket, and sets out on a journey. He brings along a golden iPad that he plans to send to outer space with his observations of earth. What he ends up observing and finding on planet earth ends up taking his mind out of outer space. A heartbreaking and heartwarming novel about family and friendship. Even though the main character is eleven, I would recommend this book for upper middle grade to adult.

_____________________________

If you like my reading choices, you can check out all the books I've read on Goodreads and please leave a comment below. It's Monday, what have you been reading?