tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67654631567862324332024-03-13T03:36:28.478-04:00Maria's MélangeAn eclectic mix of the things that intrigue me.maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.comBlogger699125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-51492419298136764162024-02-07T06:55:00.003-05:002024-02-07T06:55:26.702-05:00Harriet Tells the Truth by Elana K Arnold - Blog Tour<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-d398a28d-7fff-d029-b0cf-3df68fa21936"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Once again, I am pleased as punch to be able to share my thoughts - and highly recommend - a book about Harriet!</span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><b>ABOUT THE BOOK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbDjMG9k9nwFzj-YPxaW5zA3-LYE1hyphenhyphenZ0oIfxof9n972Gsf1gJhXhJah5oL4pfhT4vivIzkfar7w_sJ3jC13JB4y_rKNS5HPCMQ8zzWtoE3Ogq_tJCKzSqNN-o9WBqw1lGkRD2XuQ_XsL8bR5A16Vnfc0JgYCVPRgzVD4tp6reV13g_iVfnb-Qb5Zvgg/s2400/HarrietTTT_0530Final.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbDjMG9k9nwFzj-YPxaW5zA3-LYE1hyphenhyphenZ0oIfxof9n972Gsf1gJhXhJah5oL4pfhT4vivIzkfar7w_sJ3jC13JB4y_rKNS5HPCMQ8zzWtoE3Ogq_tJCKzSqNN-o9WBqw1lGkRD2XuQ_XsL8bR5A16Vnfc0JgYCVPRgzVD4tp6reV13g_iVfnb-Qb5Zvgg/s320/HarrietTTT_0530Final.jpg" width="225" /></a></div></b><br />HARRIET TELLS THE TRUTH marks the third and final title in the funny and heartwarming middle grade series by Elana K. Arnold that began with <a href="https://www.walden.com/books/just-harriet/">JUST HARRIET</a>, and continued with <a href="https://www.walden.com/books/harriet-spies/">HARRIET SPIES</a>. With this title, readers will return once more to world of Marble Island and its quirky cast of characters. <br /><br />There are some things you should know about Harriet Wermer:<br /><br />* She used to lie a lot, but not anymore.</span><br /></span><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">* Seriously, she only tells the truth now.<br />* Even though she hadn’t wanted to come to Marble Island in the first place, now she doesn’t want to leave.<br /><br />It’s the truth. With her mom and new baby brother home from the hospital, it’s almost time for Harriet to pack up and head home from Marble Island and all the friends she’s made. But Harriet doesn’t have time to think about that—not when she discovers that Moneypenny, her Nanu’s adorable basset hound, has been poisoned!<br /><br />Harriet suspects the culprit is one of the guests staying at Nanu’s bed-and-breakfast, and she and her best friend, Clarence, are once again on the case. But when someone else falls ill, Harriet’s going to have to sleuth harder, spy sneakier, and be willing to see that sometimes the truth is more complicated than it seems.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>My Thoughts: </b><br /><br />How hard is it to always tell the truth? Are there times when it really, truly, is better NOT to? How can you really miss home and also not want to leave where you are? Can a grownup be super annoying and also worth compassion? Being able to hold two opposite things in your hands and know they are both true can be incredibly challenging for children. Harriet is such a sweet example of the growth and maturity that develops in this age group as they wrestle with the lack of "always true" answers in their lives. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Beyond that - Harriet is just a delightful little bundle of nervous energy as she navigates friendship, change, and her desire to understand everything about the world around her. Young readers will delight in picking up on little clues for the mystery Harriet is trying to solve and cheer for Harriet as many of the problems she's facing come to positive conclusions in this final chapter of her journey.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Using Harriet in a classroom?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GiJh1LEPMoZjxEUE60i-T5xj3ydgSaJ4/view?usp=sharing">There is a teacher’s guide</a> for all three books that includes:<br />* A letter from the author<br />* Discussion questions for each chapter of each book<br />* Activities of many types (design, writing)<br />* Science connections<br /><br /><i>Here are a few other ideas!</i><br />*Research safe and unsafe foods for animals (especially around holiday meals) - create a pamphlet or infographic to share.<br />* Explore <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/new-homemade-ice-cream-flavors/" target="_blank">unusual ice cream flavors</a> - try some if you dare!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Before you dive into this final installment, be sure to check out the first two books! I shared my thoughts about </span><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2022/02/just-harriet-by-elana-k-arnold-blog-tour.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Just Harriet</span></a><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2023/02/harriet-spies-by-elana-k-arnold-blog.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harriet Spies</span></a><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> on the blog when they were released. </span><b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVoKnOvr60-Pgv-lN1nXHyZch54Krj9uY4yKjXe28aYbmwTIXJW1iFxn22Gcw3mkWatAsfr2TDYr3W_IeBCwwz9EvPzggqWY4pE4ApCRKOTmGhS9jTEgtKfcnEVurDJRNmfnTWMDIz4-WLTMQvwqKGwoXKrBAFqEp_RkbqGrlbC4MiOxr3IZzDkjUb0/s1365/Elana%20K%20Arnold%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1365" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVoKnOvr60-Pgv-lN1nXHyZch54Krj9uY4yKjXe28aYbmwTIXJW1iFxn22Gcw3mkWatAsfr2TDYr3W_IeBCwwz9EvPzggqWY4pE4ApCRKOTmGhS9jTEgtKfcnEVurDJRNmfnTWMDIz4-WLTMQvwqKGwoXKrBAFqEp_RkbqGrlbC4MiOxr3IZzDkjUb0/w200-h200/Elana%20K%20Arnold%20(2).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b><br /><br />Elana K. Arnold is the award-winning author of many books for children and teens including Just Harriet, Harriet Spies, The House that Wasn’t There, Sydney Taylor Book Award winner The Blood Years, Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls are Made Of, and the Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. She is a member of the faculty at Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program, and lives in Long Beach, CA, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at <a href="http://www.elanakarnold.com/" target="_blank">www.elanakarnold.com</a></span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><b>ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR</b><br /><br />Dung (pronounced Dzung) Ho was born and raised in Hue citadel, Vietnam, where she studied graphic design at the Arts University. She is the New York Times-bestselling illustrator of many books for children, including Joanna Ho’s Eyes That Kiss in the Corners and Laura Ruby’s Me and Ms. Too. She finds inspiration in nature: the beauty of plants, flowers, and leaves. She also loves to draw interesting characters with unique personalities. She now lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. When she’s not drawing, she loves spending time cooking (eating), watching movies, and tending her plants. Visit her at <a href="http://www.behance.net/hanhdungor" target="_blank">www.behance.net/hanhdungor</a> follow her on Instagram @dunghanhho.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><b>BLOG TOUR STOPS</b><br /><br />January 31 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2024/01/31/patterns-and-structure-and-surprises-by-elana-k-arnold/" target="_blank">Nerdy Book Club</a> "Patterns and Structure" - post by the author @nerdybookclub<br /><br />February 2 <a href="https://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/2024/02/walden-pond-press-presents-harriet.html" target="_blank">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a> @grgenius<br /><br />February 5 <a href="https://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/2024/02/harriet-tells-truth.html" target="_blank">Bluestocking Thinking</a> @bluesockgirl<br /><br />February 6 <a href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/2024/02/harriet-tells-truth-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Teachers Who Read</a> @teachers_read<br /><br />February 7 <a href="https://mariaselke.com/">Maria's Melange</a> @mariaselke</span></div></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-55897584041675842212023-08-12T10:39:00.003-04:002023-08-12T10:39:51.489-04:00No One Leaves The Castle by Christopher Healy - Blog Tour<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the latest book by Christopher Healy. I was so excited to get an early copy of this book so I could share my thoughts with you! </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi_M0lfxUhFGOMCdjXOR8DQAddNA11YbxY1vKwufRu_tVDu2efR-fhDefsdRz55TQFs8YRTzd92nQ8kTcC2Ca8T7DZ3HPNhP5xGcBDTge0L4Q5hJ4z4QqCKLqY9mmb0cEqqhWTS1uV8CluaDVeEHFMXQL6b6ZRz-tBFxbdT6VYAccHT4UR3ojWpy9qVc/s1870/image001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="1239" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi_M0lfxUhFGOMCdjXOR8DQAddNA11YbxY1vKwufRu_tVDu2efR-fhDefsdRz55TQFs8YRTzd92nQ8kTcC2Ca8T7DZ3HPNhP5xGcBDTge0L4Q5hJ4z4QqCKLqY9mmb0cEqqhWTS1uV8CluaDVeEHFMXQL6b6ZRz-tBFxbdT6VYAccHT4UR3ojWpy9qVc/w133-h200/image001.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out this summary from the publisher:</div><br />Agatha Christie meets the Brothers Grimm in an unexpected, hilarious, and wholly original new fantasy-mystery from the beloved author of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom.</div><br />The Lilac. The bard songs say that she’s the world’s most fearsome bounty hunter. That there’s no criminal she can’t catch, no mystery she can’t solve.<br /><br />None of that is true. Yet.<br /><br />In reality, the Lilac is just a kid, and the bard who wrote all that is her best friend, Dulcinetta. But when a priceless artifact goes missing from the home of famed monster hunter Baron Angbar, the Lilac and Netta see their chance to apprehend the thief and make a name for themselves.<br /><br />When they get to Castle Angbar, however, and meet the Angbar family and their servants and guests—an unsavory group of nobles, mages, and assorted creatures, each more shady than the last—the Lilac begins to wonder if the reward is worth the trouble.<br /><br />And that’s before the dead body is discovered.<br /><br />Now everyone is magically sealed inside the castle—and there is a murderer among then. If the Lilac wants to make it out with her reputation intact, it’s going to be up to her to figure out who the killer is. But everyone in the castle—even the Lilac herself—has secrets to hide, and as the walls literally start to close in around them, the Lilac worries that her first job as a bounty hunter may be her last….<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Thoughts:</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Okay, it’s true confessions time. When I was in middle and high school I devoured Agatha Christie novels. There was just something about having to pay such close attention to every little thing that MIGHT be an important clue that I found delicious and exciting. Did I ever figure out “who dun it?” Ummmm. Once. But the endings were so satisfying. So when I was asked if I wanted to share thoughts on a Christopher Healy murder mystery I didn’t have to stop and think before giving a resounding YES!<br /><br />No One Leaves the Castle gave me exactly what I was hoping for - a riotously funny murder mystery with magic!<br /><br /><b>Murder Mystery -</b><br />Healy gave me all the elements I need in a great mystery. Just like one of my fav Agatha Christie stories - And Then There Were None - we are introduced to a small cast of characters that are stranded together. The more we learn about each of them, the more we are convinced that ANYONE could be the culprit. I loved all the sly, yet funny clues we learned along the way. Any time I thought to myself "okay, that person absolutely could not be be responsible", along came another clue that made me second guess myself. Perfection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Humor and Magic -</b> <br />Agatha Christie has some light humor in her books, but she's got nothing on Christopher Healy. When I sit down with one of Healy's books, I know I'm going to snort, chuckle, and guffaw. I absolutely adored the occasional snarky side comments by the narrator. Each character gave me some funny moments. This lightheartedness in a murder mystery makes it a great way to introduce the genre to younger readers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another great feature that makes this a good starter mystery are the magic/fantasy elements. So if you have readers who devour fantasy but are reluctant to dive into mysteries, give this a try! <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Other Books</strong></h3></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">I've enjoyed every book of Healy's that I've read. The Hero's Guide books were so much fun! I got to post on my blog about the first book in <u>A Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem</u> series AND got a Q&A session with Christopher Healy. You can read those posts here. I've included some great nonfiction connections in the first post as well.</div><p><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/09/a-perilous-journey-of-danger-mayhem.html " target="_blank">http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/09/a-perilous-journey-of-danger-mayhem.html </a></p><p><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/10/perilous-journey-q-with-christopher.html" target="_blank">http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/10/perilous-journey-q-with-christopher.html</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgam6w1V2atDYoS8SgeAbhnxTe1Tvo0_vI4tmkFDFs54LUKKAZcm_ILisV6DCV0aKej3uBn0NjEVDJxo88ayai6d9Yr9W8EulMTHXy3mgv0mryr3Z_QisBLiwTI6QiN5pMm3jygmWllsvCPkCExGZlpCzzAZvVXViRmmx1YsA4Pcy1kbvd_wtW9FxoF2vk" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="574" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgam6w1V2atDYoS8SgeAbhnxTe1Tvo0_vI4tmkFDFs54LUKKAZcm_ILisV6DCV0aKej3uBn0NjEVDJxo88ayai6d9Yr9W8EulMTHXy3mgv0mryr3Z_QisBLiwTI6QiN5pMm3jygmWllsvCPkCExGZlpCzzAZvVXViRmmx1YsA4Pcy1kbvd_wtW9FxoF2vk" width="172" /></a></div><p></p>ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br /><br />Christopher Healy is the author of the New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom and its sequels, as well as the Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem series. Before becoming a writer, Chris worked as an actor, an ad copywriter, a toy-store display designer, a fact-checker, a dishwasher, a journalist, a costume shop clothing stitcher, a children’s entertainment reviewer, and a haunted house zombie. He lives with his family in New Jersey. You can visit him online at <a href="http://christopherhealy.com/">christopherhealy.com</a><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Visit other stops on the blog tour!<br /><br />August 2 <a href="http://bookclub.wordpress.com/">Nerdy Book Club</a> (@nerdybookclub)<br />August 7 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a> (@bluesockgirl)<br />August 8 <a href="http://teacherswhoread.com/">Teachers Who Read</a> (@teachers_read)<br />August 12 <a href="http://mariaselke.com/">Maria’s Mélange</a> (@mariaselke @mariaselke83 on Threads)<br />August 15 <a href="http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/">A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust</a> (@bethshaum)<br />August 18 <a href="http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a> (@grgenius)maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-33864716378971247012023-05-13T07:00:00.001-04:002023-05-13T07:00:00.135-04:00The Greatest Kid in the World by John David Anderson -- Blog Tour<p>This is the end of a very busy school year for me, but I'm always thrilled to make time to read and celebrate new releases by John David Anderson! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvqofa2gYR4lF82GA_ipODCPc_8wb3D9xEeZjo_LUpORiDQWwzyblcmp5hz1sZ_LvkTMQct8GsiFrh4dARzlqsnLWcJyKVMUBaJio9cjes-1DsBqI-5h-_NE_ilVR96ZCn2_ciOTrtl_wiYHrZKCflhHJV5u1u8EPQw1knr20-0YOSXhw_6uCrANk/s2550/GreatestKid_Color_V2%5B17%5D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvqofa2gYR4lF82GA_ipODCPc_8wb3D9xEeZjo_LUpORiDQWwzyblcmp5hz1sZ_LvkTMQct8GsiFrh4dARzlqsnLWcJyKVMUBaJio9cjes-1DsBqI-5h-_NE_ilVR96ZCn2_ciOTrtl_wiYHrZKCflhHJV5u1u8EPQw1knr20-0YOSXhw_6uCrANk/s320/GreatestKid_Color_V2%5B17%5D.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="DescListItem" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4f4f4d; display: table-row; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--color-text-subdued); display: table-cell; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><br /></dd></div><div class="DescListItem" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4f4f4d; display: table-row; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><dt style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--color-text-subdued); display: table-cell; padding: 0.4rem 1.6rem 0.4rem 0px; width: 12.5rem;"></dt><dd style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4rem 0px;"><br /></dd></div><b>From the beloved author of Posted comes the story of Zeke Stahls—a thoroughly average twelve-year-old who somehow finds himself in a competition to be named the World's Greatest Kid.<br /></b><br />Zeke Stahls is not the best kid in the world. Some days he struggles just to be good. He'd rather be pulling pranks than doing extra credit, and he's too busy performing experiments on his little brother, Nate, or tormenting his older sister, Jackie, to volunteer for charity.<br /><br /> Which is why Zeke and his entire family are shocked when they receive word that he has been selected as a contestant in an online competition to find the World's Greatest Kid.<br /><br /> Zeke has no idea how he was chosen for this, and he knows that measuring up to the other nominees--a saintly lineup of selfless, charming and talented do-gooders with photogenic smiles and hearts of gold--is hopeless. Still, with a $10,000 cash prize on the line, and Zeke's mom struggling to hold the family together on her single-parent salary, he decides to give it his best shot.<br /><br /> As Zeke concocts various plots to show the world just how “great” he is, however, he finds himself wondering what that word even means, and who gets to decide. And what kind of kid he wants--and needs--to be.<p><br /></p><p><b>My Thoughts:</b></p><p>As I always eagerly anticipate, this is a book filled with humor and heartstring pulling. Anderson is so good at creating characters that my nurturing teacher heart wants to have in my classrooms, even though Zeke would clearly be a handful. </p><p>I have had many students in my career who could have this same thing said about them -- "incredibly smart. Very creative. But he has a mischievous mind. He <i>schemes</i>." (pg 15). If you take the time to look deeply into these children, there is so often a tenderness inside. A desire to lead. I've had countless conversations with parents where I talk about helping that child learn to harness that creativity and leadership power for good!</p><p>Zeke is no exception. Over the course of the story, we gradually learn a little bit more about his life and family. We see his big sister Jackie (the character I identify with the most) taking on responsibility for family duties. We see his loving but overworked mother hanging in there as she tries her best to support her family. We see his adorable little brother Nate gaze adoringly at Zeke - which is a major motivation for Zeke's tender side. Zeke is creative. He's a risk-taker. He has a soft heart, too. My favorite scenes included the ones where he was doing crazy stunts AND the ones where he thought the camera was off and he showed incredible gentleness and kindness. </p><p>One thing I think kids will really identify with in the story is the theme of being that "always judged, always online" generation. Zeke feels that pressure even before the contest puts him into the social media spotlight. There is a huge expectation for kids to perform for "likes" and they always know someone is watching. It makes things very different for kids from my own Gen X childhood!</p><p>Overall, this is a great middle grade read. It has a beautiful mix of fun and depth. Definitely put it on your list for your students and classrooms!<br /><br /></p><p>There is a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eZf6pATzE9Jq7wAiV_cTvrciKlr696bh/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">teacher's guide for Greatest Kid I've linked here</a>. It includes pre-reading, chapter by chapter, and post reading ideas for discussion. It also highlights some of the great vocabulary he uses in the book and gives a few fun extension ideas. </p><p><b>Check out other books by John David Anderson that I've posted about on my blog:</b><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2022/09/homebound-by-john-david-anderson-blog.html" target="_blank">Homebound</a> (sequel to Stowaway)<br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2021/08/stowaway-by-john-david-anderson-blog.html" target="_blank">Stowaway </a><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2020/05/blog-tour-for-one-last-shot-by-john.html">One Last Shot</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2019/05/as-always-i-was-thrilled-to-receive.html">Finding Orion</a></p><p><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/granted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Granted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/04/posted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Posted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/the-dungeoneers-happy-book-birthday.html">Dungeoneers (Q&A)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/dungeoneers-by-john-david-anderson-tour.html">Dungeoneers (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/review-of-sidekicked.html">Sidekicked (review)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/sidekicked-blog-tour-top-ten-bystanders.html">Sidekicked (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2014/06/blog-tour-minion-by-john-david-anderson.html">Minion</a></p><p><b>About the Author:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TEeh9a8VPDktw3aCT7whqBiqz28ucR354zCH8Ov6nEMi80pIz20aohg6n8g1m8qxoXaAYGf-27z_fj-G1tVgNarAImPjVH_HNxEsqL9mHmFfWYJrSkMgZpdy-AsUj2ZDLix6KPO2hDrlHsqiF3jEo91KZlRLwMMioJ1aortaYBOXg6x2TZfY8gLR/s807/john-david-anderson-headshot.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TEeh9a8VPDktw3aCT7whqBiqz28ucR354zCH8Ov6nEMi80pIz20aohg6n8g1m8qxoXaAYGf-27z_fj-G1tVgNarAImPjVH_HNxEsqL9mHmFfWYJrSkMgZpdy-AsUj2ZDLix6KPO2hDrlHsqiF3jEo91KZlRLwMMioJ1aortaYBOXg6x2TZfY8gLR/s320/john-david-anderson-headshot.png" width="240" /></a></div>John David Anderson is the author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, One Last Shot, and Stowaway. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and clumsy cat, Smudge, in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.johndavidanderson.org/">www.johndavidanderson.org</a>.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Other blogs participating in the tour:</p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" summary="" title=""><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 9<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw1m2Qnc14Bv0TbxG-IUxUVo" href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Nerdy Book Club</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 88pt;" valign="top" width="117"><p style="margin: 0in;">@nerdybookclub<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 9<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.unleashingreaders.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw3c01dOkqnpTakc7iObaZML" href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Unleashing Readers</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 88.65pt;" valign="top" width="118"><p style="margin: 0in;">@unleashreaders<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 10<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.teacherswhoread.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw3Q3n2qrhhA7277Y0t424FR" href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Teachers Who Read</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 85.3pt;" valign="top" width="114"><p style="margin: 0in;">@teachers_read<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 11<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw1gXNjmxFNDpc7f9zmkx4bt" href="https://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 81.15pt;" valign="top" width="108"><p style="margin: 0in;">@grgenius<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 13<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.mariaselke.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw2GcOXQ_oHe2UlPQHKAxrci" href="http://www.mariaselke.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Maria's Melange</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 81.15pt;" valign="top" width="108"><p style="margin: 0in;">@mariaselke<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 15<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://storymamas.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw2Ncj41DDqaKSwflkRZrj-5" href="http://storymamas.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">StoryMamas</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 81.15pt;" valign="top" width="108"><p style="margin: 0in;">@storymamas<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 15<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://litcoachlou.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw2TC4irMTRJsaZ4z3lNxhTx" href="http://litcoachlou.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">LitCoachLou</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 81.15pt;" valign="top" width="108"><p style="margin: 0in;">@litcoachlou<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 16<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 169pt;" valign="top" width="225"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://alibrarymama.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw2IXXlDHajAl872elCXHZyv" href="https://alibrarymama.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">A Library Mama</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 81.15pt;" valign="top" width="108"><p style="margin: 0in;">@librarymama<u></u><u></u></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 55.5pt;" valign="top" width="74"><p align="right" style="margin: 0in; text-align: right;">May 30<u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 170.35pt;" valign="top" width="227"><p style="margin: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683742623275000&usg=AOvVaw1hVF24BkpAS8PUVUqGXlMZ" href="http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust</a><u></u><u></u></p></td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid rgb(163, 163, 163); border-top: none; margin: 0px; padding: 4pt; width: 81.15pt;" valign="top" width="108"><p style="margin: 0in;">@bethshaum<u></u><u></u></p><div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-51649243281571251452023-02-10T07:00:00.001-05:002023-02-10T07:00:00.189-05:00Harriet Spies by Elana K Arnold Blog Tour<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I'm so excited to be part of the Blog Tour for the second book in the Harriet series by Elana K. Arnold. Having rich, relatively easy to read books for elementary school readers is so important! I work with strong readers, and this book would be appropriate and accessible for strong early elementary readers. It would be equally enjoyable for older elementary students, too! <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrAD2aWuty00Cv8gIzt01fXaYXIEFCnu7T7stAzlnIHlHTxqbqSCRrMB1DBebFRIfuF4LNlFZGuSlLWI63_Q3tuTGrXrCQa80D4RpH55tRTL07zJ2_Bua1r-5rJMC4LBLe5T7jcR-TCfScO_guLqd90NGPQtCpHU8AZW_lro8PLkivq8Mq4UkVPYD/s2325/HarrietSpies%20hc%20c.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2325" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrAD2aWuty00Cv8gIzt01fXaYXIEFCnu7T7stAzlnIHlHTxqbqSCRrMB1DBebFRIfuF4LNlFZGuSlLWI63_Q3tuTGrXrCQa80D4RpH55tRTL07zJ2_Bua1r-5rJMC4LBLe5T7jcR-TCfScO_guLqd90NGPQtCpHU8AZW_lro8PLkivq8Mq4UkVPYD/s320/HarrietSpies%20hc%20c.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>ABOUT HARRIET SPIES<br /><i>(from the publisher)</i><div><br />There are a few more things you should know about Harriet Wermer: </div><div>* She always tells the truth.<br />* She’s loving spending her summer on Marble Island, where she is an A+ mystery-solver.<br />* Okay, maybe she doesn’t always tell the truth.<br />* Actually...she has a tendency to lie quite a bit.<br /><br />Which is why, when one of the guests at her grandmother’s bed-and- breakfast finds that their treasured pair of binoculars has gone missing, no one believes Harriet when she said she had nothing to do with it.<br /><br />But this is one time Harriet isn’t lying—and she knows that if she can find the binoculars and figure out who really took them, she can prove it.<br /><br />With her cat, Matzo Ball, her grandmother’s basset hound, Moneypenny, and Harriet’s new friend, Clarence, helping her out, Harriet knows she can crack the case. But when the culprit isn’t who Harriet expects, it’s up to her to decide how important the truth really is.<br /><br />JUST HARRIET and HARRIET SPIES are published by Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.<p></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Harriet doesn't always make great choices. That reminds me of pretty much every child I've ever met, taught, or parented. She is so relatable. Kids will love her explanations of why she lies and learn along with her about the consequences when those around her feel they can't believe her anymore. They'll also feel a deep connection with her impulsivity, which is frequently the reason for her spontaneous lies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Harriet also learns great lessons about friendship and making amends when you misstep. This has been a HUGE theme with the kids in my own professional life over the last two school years. Reading Harriet Spies with elementary school students would be a wonderful way to open up conversations about conflict resolution, the idea of how the impact of our actions is just as important as our intentions, and learning how to stand up for yourself in a socially appropriate way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I highly recommend both books in this series for a read aloud, for small group conversations, and for motivating readers who are looking for a funny story with an endearingly energetic and stubborn main character.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fun connections with this text:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>* Ornithology is a big element in Harriet's life on Marble Island. Pair the Harriet books with some nonfiction books about birds -- Check out this post from the <a href="https://www.nypl.org/blog/2021/05/06/nonfiction-bird-books-kids" target="_blank">New York Public Library</a> for ideas.</div><div><br /></div><div>* Making dollhouse miniatures. Grab some materials and let your little reader create miniatures for a dollhouse. They can build with recyclables, balsa wood, or any spare items you have around the house or classroom. If you need inspiration, <a href="https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/miniatures-projects-and-tutorials-4162839" target="_blank">this site</a> has a lot of ideas and tutorials. </div><div><br /></div><div>* Magnifying glass time! Harriet acquires a magnifying glass and is thrilled with the small discoveries she makes about the tiny things around her. Set up a station with lots of items to explore with a few magnifying glasses and let your readers make their own discoveries. </div><div><br /></div><div>* Olallieberry Jam. I'm going to admit - I thought this was a made up word. When I took a minute to do a littler research, though, I learned that it is a hybrid that is part blackberry and part raspberry. I even bought my own little container of olallieberry jam to try. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXKe5_BgCnF1uOuI7XahnXdxQNVeNGknRlOpCHvf1yM1-rszMHQcDmvtnqMgkfws88Ym0o59viwGVKUCP0QXsQprJaTV7NEQYs0ZLmNpLO6zJEwOt8TiC3XLNg9SdAfMSd88LkU79SuoRGUOxuwvhRE55UPexuDKZhmrH3vd-pYm3nYmZNk3qRdD_/s1854/IMG-4681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="1854" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXKe5_BgCnF1uOuI7XahnXdxQNVeNGknRlOpCHvf1yM1-rszMHQcDmvtnqMgkfws88Ym0o59viwGVKUCP0QXsQprJaTV7NEQYs0ZLmNpLO6zJEwOt8TiC3XLNg9SdAfMSd88LkU79SuoRGUOxuwvhRE55UPexuDKZhmrH3vd-pYm3nYmZNk3qRdD_/w200-h200/IMG-4681.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>(I love trying or making foods referenced in books I've read! Check out a <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/top-ten-bookish-treats-by-maria-selke-and-crystal-brunelle/" target="_blank">joint post I wrote on Nerdybookclub</a> about this topic)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Want some ideas to help you teach this text? Check out the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nWUxz_ev_vwjbW7QvnC8XORCi1_C97Ka/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Discussion Guide</a> here. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSosxGKf8dmESO5XVyYQtUyGzxzIHDWjg9Snd1f8zCHbQ2XMBvZVnPBL0YZ4Q0tPadbHPSrOZLAJP5fsH_xHUum0KVHNgx3zXEwFee1mzk3fI2QEaPxo4Etu0Jk7rjO1OeD33Lvny5RcHM42iVES_xyqpFpxkLwY0DC-IifTXZIzUlMZIIOqVTRMt/s1365/Elana%20K%20Arnold%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1365" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSosxGKf8dmESO5XVyYQtUyGzxzIHDWjg9Snd1f8zCHbQ2XMBvZVnPBL0YZ4Q0tPadbHPSrOZLAJP5fsH_xHUum0KVHNgx3zXEwFee1mzk3fI2QEaPxo4Etu0Jk7rjO1OeD33Lvny5RcHM42iVES_xyqpFpxkLwY0DC-IifTXZIzUlMZIIOqVTRMt/w200-h200/Elana%20K%20Arnold%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b></div><div>Elana K. Arnold is the award-winning author of many books for children and teens, including Just Harriet, Harriet Spies, The House that Wasn’t There, the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls are Made Of, and the Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat. She is a member of the faculty at Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program, and lives<br />in Huntington Beach, CA, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at <a href="http://www.elanakarnold.com/">www.elanakarnold.com</a><br /><br /><b>ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR</b><br />Dung (pronounced Dzung) Ho was born and raised in Hue citadel, Vietnam, where she studied graphic design at the Arts University. She is the New York Times–bestselling illustrator of many books for children, including Joanna Ho’s Eyes That Kiss in the Corners and Laura Ruby’s Me and Ms. Too. She finds inspiration in nature: the beauty of plants, flowers, and leaves. She also loves to draw interesting characters with unique personalities. She now lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. When she’s not drawing, she loves spending time cooking (eating), watching movies,<br />and tending her plants. Visit her at <a href="http://www.behance.net/hanhdung">www.behance.net/hanhdung</a><br />or follow her on Instagram @dunghanhho.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Read my post about the first book in this series -- <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2022/02/just-harriet-by-elana-k-arnold-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Just Harriet</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpsNC0ZIM-7yqSjMeBZ-AgxCUFQDHuYtJk7GzqAo543jXnk8yND5B2fw_8IfdI-kD7a5TqNi_nxEKabKq9OmN-tEiBQY3skO-DaBnEDaYTThSgMzvYOV2YHE7WuvCTyraa0x2JPqPF6qmeyxAgsBhjkk4N-BCXD2OrmVE5Dxne6w1Z5iW10nc0QeZ/s2400/JustHarriet%20hc%20c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpsNC0ZIM-7yqSjMeBZ-AgxCUFQDHuYtJk7GzqAo543jXnk8yND5B2fw_8IfdI-kD7a5TqNi_nxEKabKq9OmN-tEiBQY3skO-DaBnEDaYTThSgMzvYOV2YHE7WuvCTyraa0x2JPqPF6qmeyxAgsBhjkk4N-BCXD2OrmVE5Dxne6w1Z5iW10nc0QeZ/s320/JustHarriet%20hc%20c.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>I was given early access to a digital version of the book. </i></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-10502307334047615992022-09-09T12:41:00.010-04:002022-09-12T08:00:33.119-04:00Glass Fusing at the ACE Family MakerspACE<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s fun learning new things. Sometimes I forget just HOW much fun it can be! My school, <a href="https://austingifted.org/" target="_blank">ACE Academy,</a> has a wonderful Makerspace, and I had the opportunity to experience a beginner glass fusing class there a few weeks ago. Kristine Shafer, from </span><a href="https://heliosglass.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Helios Fused Glass Studio</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, came to share her expertise and teach us how to use our new glass kiln. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c025bfdf-7fff-479a-8067-bbb30431c722"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m a quick study, but it was still amazing how many details I absorbed while digging into this new experience! Kristine said that she normally does a beginner class over a few weeks, so I got a real crash course to just get the overall experience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right from the start, it was clear I would need a beginner’s mindset. It’s easy to forget how much specialized vocabulary there is in any field when you’ve been in the same one (education for me) for almost thirty years. I learned the names for new tools, the names for different levels of fusing of glass, and even the acronym for the measure of how quickly glass types expand (</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">COE: coefficient of expansion</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ll walk through the steps of what I did that afternoon, and “show off” my gloriously simple fused glass M, but the real lesson I learned was that</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> learning itself </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; clear: right; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 299px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 346px;"><img height="347.2258064516129" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X9UqabbmRozGXxa8eZ70Hx21bYzNNdCzuNzAaK7qGfutLDukDyXO2SdHo9kb6_tUoKa3T2onDnu_Q4nbK_0nfVYkGv6a3S-JVTQC8x-xBHIgLrH9B5RLpNGl1ednshN9A1X6Xm95Fpe3txXu2H-QNeGIp1nLnPutnZPzAy7E9T1MidQzA9XwArEMaw" style="margin-left: -98.2194px; margin-top: -48.2258px;" width="464.3096774193549" /></span>is ENERGIZING. Jotting down notes and diagrams gave me an adrenaline rush. Flipping through Kristine’s catalogs and remembering connections between colors and chemicals I learned long ago in high school chemistry class was a hoot! Getting excited about how to share this energy with teachers and students is the reason I went into education in the first place.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: none; clear: left; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 364px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 311px;"><img height="453.36526946107784" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NbfeJB9FaszK2lDp6kTuRvnhJ62AIC2F1S-YCyVem4a1z8xN_mi1IDhCHHP5vGO_iOYabF-V08o2fQdwQvgnsNdgcb6Comq6SXfhzk61yxjKvqwhGZUQJPiBj19LEostTeGxXLGFygnVD44MajVKXakaSaUymLpbtH3DsV4Tm_q4nUNtmZw0FyTUrg" style="margin-left: 3.09603e-14px; margin-top: -63.7545px;" width="339.8669001751313" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kristine started me with the basics. We looked at the kilns, decided on how to set up the shelves inside, and reviewed the need for air circulation under the kiln shelves to make sure pieces heat up evenly. She reminded me several times that glass will stick to the ceramic, so it’s vitally important to have a “glass separator” between your project and the ceramic tile. We used “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kiln wash</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”, but there is also something called “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fiber paper</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next we talked about some types of glass. She recommended we begin with “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">float glass</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”, which is not </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tempered</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and is easy to obtain and up-cycle. Lots of small glass frames have this type of glass in them, so we can grab that from thrift stores inexpensively. She said we can also try using bottle glass, another great up-cycling option. The drawback is that different types of bottles have different COEs, so it will take some experimentation to figure out which ones can fuse together. There are lots of types of art glass we could buy - with GLORIOUS colors - but each brand has a different COE! Kristine’s recommendation was to keep all glasses of the same type grouped and labeled together. If you buy art glass at a craft store - you have to keep “like with like” as well. Different brands have different COEs and they will not fuse together well if they aren’t the same COE! You can also get glass powder, called </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">frit</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which comes in different consistencies. I’m betting we’ll stick with float glass at first. She let me know that we can paint it with Thompson’s enamel so we aren’t just stuck with plain clear glass, even as beginners. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s no art without tools - so Kristine had me practice using some of the tools she uses to break glass into the shapes and sizes we want. Always be sure to protect your eyes! We wore safety glasses.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wtfhwC6_JInXkPsT_JzjafZGEEUBQd5RjYNiAVrg0cnd0jFDBvJe59ewCrbgs5114EyJH_-AxyyBoewXdxKbzz7ijKM0UndYW6sTUl8ubKTbRDrqL592EZSzGJbGsI0RmSoFj7lfcdDrotw5Zfu7Ly1YKPqEtDu5F13vPDiywyEueyC3W6_Yiz7d/s2324/IMG-4180%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="2324" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wtfhwC6_JInXkPsT_JzjafZGEEUBQd5RjYNiAVrg0cnd0jFDBvJe59ewCrbgs5114EyJH_-AxyyBoewXdxKbzz7ijKM0UndYW6sTUl8ubKTbRDrqL592EZSzGJbGsI0RmSoFj7lfcdDrotw5Zfu7Ly1YKPqEtDu5F13vPDiywyEueyC3W6_Yiz7d/w239-h202/IMG-4180%20(1).jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">running pliers - used to break the<br />glass along the score made by the<br />hand cutter.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXoaSajgaE6F21rxCoVju4AXsGgG78TAU3mTDX_2qxdoaf7sKtx3m1CVfnrxEsuUOA0_ijvMPNyfzjaXKt9iWT6_erX1m26sxb6ZZNr1apfRGLlC9KYCSuH6dQ2uwg2nb6wsU53ZwujX0nUU7zbNsOiZBLx067N_WMi8Itr9XSFrCZ7ylT5T8tK8U/s3015/IMG-4177%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="3015" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXoaSajgaE6F21rxCoVju4AXsGgG78TAU3mTDX_2qxdoaf7sKtx3m1CVfnrxEsuUOA0_ijvMPNyfzjaXKt9iWT6_erX1m26sxb6ZZNr1apfRGLlC9KYCSuH6dQ2uwg2nb6wsU53ZwujX0nUU7zbNsOiZBLx067N_WMi8Itr9XSFrCZ7ylT5T8tK8U/w238-h203/IMG-4177%20(2).jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">hand cutter - used to score the glass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kristine then walked me through the different types of fuses - based on how hot you get the glass and how long you leave it at various temperatures along the way. The types of fuses are always the same, but the actual temperatures will vary depending on the COE of the glass you use.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 267px; overflow: hidden; width: 585px;"><img height="515" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/AARrWpZlBUlkE7LZd9yo91HKeA9fVkuHNO9HgpPo3gmuRODSInnZ_sRZ-dzQ5bXxd5N573d3y2iYvApDr_lpq61oO8Ezrk9z1B8xPb_Q0ssf2tnKdvqKA8cOd39xuhzoO1H0agxTobTSnNEfGUFq2WJTuj6LxX1XO5G432ecaEFY9VWcpSGnvLDHxg" style="margin-left: -39px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><br /><br />Slump -- just hot enough that the glass will "slump" into a shape or "drape" over a shape.</span><div><span>Tack -- a little hotter, so the pieces just stick together (left above)</span></div><div><span>Soft -- gives more contoured edges (middle above)</span></div><div><span>Full -- hotter -- all the pieces melt together (right above)</span></div><div><span>Casting -- even hotter - glass totally flows<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCRAcZ7DRmegS5sdZ3zkvaYEnIaxW_2se-Y5VAQrsx0eVqj0RjPvEcb6LvLPow84jufPDVqrab7yEJPDoTi6wtbvH6JQ-RFwrOaXmrk6d7D1essh_SjbIkGmA6BveHNbpbGuKOW2v870BW5uapNvAbtgrMUz0TY3Rvq_fafftTiIi5GToFr3S1OW3/s2658/IMG-4181%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="2658" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCRAcZ7DRmegS5sdZ3zkvaYEnIaxW_2se-Y5VAQrsx0eVqj0RjPvEcb6LvLPow84jufPDVqrab7yEJPDoTi6wtbvH6JQ-RFwrOaXmrk6d7D1essh_SjbIkGmA6BveHNbpbGuKOW2v870BW5uapNvAbtgrMUz0TY3Rvq_fafftTiIi5GToFr3S1OW3/s320/IMG-4181%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This bit was my absolute FAVORITE thing I learned in the whole afternoon about glass. Glass wants to be 6mm thick! So if you get it hot enough that it becomes fluid and will really move, it will move its way to being that thickness. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are the steps I followed:</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Set up your kiln in a safe location (have air circulation around it, someplace where no one will bump into it). Our kiln is as safe as an oven, so no special safety equipment is needed.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be sure your kiln shelf is set up. You can use cracked up pieces of ceramic tile under the shelf to let air circulate for even heating. We used single ceramic tiles as our individual shelves for our pieces. This is a GREAT idea for students - as each student can put their piece onto their own tile. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure your kiln shelf (or individual tiles) has glass separator on it. That can be fiber paper or kiln wash. We had a powder kiln wash that gets mixed in a 5:1 (water to wash) ratio. Great math connection here!</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now it’s time to create your piece. So many options - but be SURE all the glass you use in one piece has the same COE. Use your tools to break and snip and shape. Keep in mind all the things you’ve learned about how glass fuses and what you want yours to look like. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Place your pieces in the way you want them on your kiln tile (again remembering the kiln wash!)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use glue to make sure it all sticks together as you move it to the kiln. The glue melts off at much lower temps, but it will make sure your piece survives the move.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decide on your fusing type you want for your piece.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look up a fusing schedule for your TYPE of glass and the level of fuse you are looking for. Kristine recommends </span><a href="https://glasswithapast.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://glasswithapast.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for schedules and lots of project ideas. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Set the fusing schedule into your kiln – be careful and accurate. There are a lot of steps and having each one set right is important!</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 308px; overflow: hidden; width: 452px;"><img height="468" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rvB5DcD_7fN9dQi5ESWumL-Od7vUWkIrwPXLHR-U8GduQJy7GxROTu3Z2ynSNoPfbHWakGF2ihKojf6LbVTb0JA8US0tzFFqV_uNQWevpM5ShVai699-Nv3gVQjHIGqc_fWGSqQ_WWoRuqRnyf3_Iy08pGHHbY8NJBukf7XywYYThlTVRmC8wDUwdg" style="margin-left: -58px; margin-top: -57px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/o-N1lISH6AzBl78jIl1mchdAWhsM6EMU-fex0t0uvZ8jNU0yizIaHScclfgTxa-EKic9bomcIyYvowcodlVqBWuibdV8WmmP6FwGDu09iQMmVcl4GmpdmMcpRYlBpLy8_Rdl3Mc4ufv-Fbmo5QWRNGJVT4HCCUpnfEjKWeX1nd771wws_RKpgguXoA=w240-h320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before firing</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="295" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YEg5lnIjFdS0coWhJGA7ZFxBHPl1Z8Ue3_5wI5Da0hoBT3BzdfawmtCm4XWgNrElH2jCrpJNOUXZgqZDLfYAJixS4uTiNnIwa0IsNhcO7oi-vtnPKYbGSH1N4RKMD4NrYg4NNPl7MMKhBD_ersdTrIN66gNW_oB5yapTpQpVXqtBLEK0ARxsn61x0w=w320-h295" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After firing</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="border: none; clear: right; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 832px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-2d1382bb-7fff-4696-ecde-db91181f0dd2"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-84848519890419496822022-09-03T07:00:00.001-04:002022-09-03T07:00:00.172-04:00Homebound by John David Anderson Blog Tour<div style="text-align: left;"> Once again, I am over the moon to be able to participate in a blog tour for the latest John David Anderson book. This one is the second book in a science fiction duology. Science Fiction is one of my absolute favorite genres, and I am so excited to see another amazing addition to middle grade sci-fi hit the shelves.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5Dg0urMDpS6I2SgikYlE7V2eLjJa2zap-SPpCdN4zycexa6sIiESH2NqM4XPAuDEa5ERc5O09qXrw7RZvoBPmeNuX_1lgfBAFa3e7En3tm1Br2Z9K4yifuN1d8wYJvKO8OWIiFAvQ_6zBpp4EjsyL9WDxSfmGX3y6OJV0nI2PA3sC8GO_klQdwXi/s2440/IMG-4193.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="2440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5Dg0urMDpS6I2SgikYlE7V2eLjJa2zap-SPpCdN4zycexa6sIiESH2NqM4XPAuDEa5ERc5O09qXrw7RZvoBPmeNuX_1lgfBAFa3e7En3tm1Br2Z9K4yifuN1d8wYJvKO8OWIiFAvQ_6zBpp4EjsyL9WDxSfmGX3y6OJV0nI2PA3sC8GO_klQdwXi/s320/IMG-4193.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, those are Star Wars mini posters, a Yoda comic,<br /> and a book about Sally Ride behind me.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Here is the publisher's summary:</b><br /><br />Leo Fender is no stranger to catastrophe, whether it’s the intergalactic war that took his mother’s life or the ongoing fight for his own. He’s seen his planet plundered, his ship attacked, his father kidnapped, and his brother go missing—and found himself stranded on a ship with a bunch of mercenary space pirates. Still, nothing could have prepared him for the moment he and the crew tried to save his father—and discovered a dark plot that could destroy hundreds of worlds in the blink of an eye.<br /><br />Now, Leo is adrift. His father has sent him on a mission with nothing but a data chip and a name of someone who could help, and Captain Bastian Black and the crew of the Icarus are determined to see this through to the end with Leo, to fulfill his father’s wish and prevent further conflict. But as Leo searches for answers, he can’t help but wonder what it would take to end the war, to track down his father and brother and return to whatever home they have left—and if the cost of doing so is one he would be able to pay.<br /><br />John David Anderson returns with the conclusion to the epic coming-of-age adventure that began in Stowaway—a riveting and heartfelt search for hope and home, family and future, in a galaxy ravaged by war.<div><br /></div><div><b>My Thoughts:</b></div><div><u>Homebound</u> is a wonderful conclusion to the story that begins in <u>Stowaway</u>. Throughout the entire book I enjoyed seeing Leo grow, learning more about the crew of the Icarus, and experiencing Leo's childhood through the deftly woven flashbacks. It is also the perfect blend of adventure, humor, and all the things I <b>love most about science fiction.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>-- <i>Exploration of Family</i>. All of my favorite science fiction books, movies, and television shows lean heavily into the idea of what it means to be a family. Leo is desperate to reunite with his father and brother, but he also acquires a new "found family" in the pirates of the Icarus. Seeing those relationships blossom was pure delight.</div><div><br /></div><div>-- <i>Fun References</i>. One of the best parts of science fiction books - which are almost invariably set in the future - is the delightful inclusion of references to the past; and how some of those references are actually still "future" events to today. I love to read cheeky references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and other scifi staples of today. Anderson's call back to Ewok's being "Threepio-ed" really made me chuckle. So many of the kids who are his target audience (middle grade readers) have parents who have been steeping them in "classic" Star Wars that I know it will make the kids chuckle too!</div><div><br /></div><div>-- <i>Aliens</i>. Okay, I'm going to make a slightly embarrassing confession here. When I was a kid I spent endless hours drawing aliens (not terribly well - but not everyone can be a talented artist). Every time we were treated to a visual description of a new alien species, I flashed back to those early drawings and smiled. I mean - who wouldn't want to draw THIS? </div><div><blockquote> "it's squished figure composed of two squat legs, two short arms, and an almost nonexistent neck supporting a triangular head that reminded Leo a ltitle of a praying mantis's, with two antennae and a pair of bulbous red eyes sticking out of either side like oversize Christmas ornaments" (pg. 30)</blockquote></div><div>-- <i>Ethical Quandaries</i>. In a more serious vein - one of the deeply important benefits of science fiction is that we can explore intense ethical questions in a way that is not as threatening as looking at current people and events. Anderson's duology of <u>Stowaway</u> and <u>Homebound</u> are excellent examples. In this future, Earth's resources are being plundered by an alien species. In return, we receive advanced technology that allows us to cure cancer and travel the stars. Leo asks himself, <i>"Everything comes at a cost. How do you balance the one against the other? How do you choose? And why should you have to?"</i> (pg 97). Readers can wrestle with these questions alongside Leo and also clearly see the parallel to today's biggest environmental and scientific ethical dilemmas. Challenge the readers in your life to find more of these quandaries in Homebound -- and then take some time to talk to and encourage them to struggle with their answers. There ARE no easy answers, but this generation of readers will need to help us all find a better way. </div><div><br /></div>ICYMI - I posted about the <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2012/04/why-sci-fi-power-of-what-if.html">power of "what if" and science fiction</a> on my blog waaaaaay back in 2012. All of that is true today - especially as we are on the edge of heading back to the Moon and moving on to Mars!<div><br /></div>Check out other books by John David Anderson that I've posted about on my blog: <br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2021/08/stowaway-by-john-david-anderson-blog.html" target="_blank">Homebound </a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2020/05/blog-tour-for-one-last-shot-by-john.html">One Last Shot</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2019/05/as-always-i-was-thrilled-to-receive.html">Finding Orion</a> <br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/granted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Granted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/04/posted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Posted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/the-dungeoneers-happy-book-birthday.html">Dungeoneers (Q&A)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/dungeoneers-by-john-david-anderson-tour.html">Dungeoneers (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/review-of-sidekicked.html">Sidekicked (review)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/sidekicked-blog-tour-top-ten-bystanders.html">Sidekicked (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2014/06/blog-tour-minion-by-john-david-anderson.html">Minion</a><br /><br /><br /><div>ABOUT THE AUTHOR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7aC8PGnOv23JGBS7D--ORlRk6YJY2CyP2B5Be3iUOeCDF61VAUWULEL3XKRHlWLkYfmyeR-vDqThKhlGYFGeEz1laM0BO7hb1I6SNDB9nqA5nM876qHfgmLN7PiIz8t-PfqAfJmKEcm0QBNWuQ-G1UqWzdQib4NT-r16J_Z8-M-ssTRt0CD0GBt1b" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7aC8PGnOv23JGBS7D--ORlRk6YJY2CyP2B5Be3iUOeCDF61VAUWULEL3XKRHlWLkYfmyeR-vDqThKhlGYFGeEz1laM0BO7hb1I6SNDB9nqA5nM876qHfgmLN7PiIz8t-PfqAfJmKEcm0QBNWuQ-G1UqWzdQib4NT-r16J_Z8-M-ssTRt0CD0GBt1b" width="160" /></a></div></div><div>John David Anderson is the author of some of the most beloved and highly acclaimed books for kids in recent memory, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Stowaway, Granted, Sidekicked, and The Dungeoneers. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife and two frawsome kids in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>HOMEWARD BLOG TOUR AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 3, 2022</div><div>August 23 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2022/08/23/the-allure-of-the-tbc-by-john-david-anderson/" target="_blank">Nerdy Book Club</a> @nerdybookclub</div><div>August 26 <a href="https://alibrarymama.com/2022/08/26/blog-tour-homebound-by-john-david-anderson/" target="_blank">A Library Mama</a> @alibrarymama</div><div>August 30 <a href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/2022/08/homebound-john-david-anderson.html" target="_blank">Teachers Who Read </a>@teachers_read</div><div>September 1 <a href="http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/2022/09/walden-pond-press-presents-homebound-by.html" target="_blank">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a> @grgenius</div><div>September 3 Maria's Mélange @mariaselke</div><br /><i>Disclaimer: I received free access from the publisher to a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts about the novel. I purchased a hard copy to take in and share with the students in my school.</i></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-57750428924336310632022-05-13T06:30:00.001-04:002022-05-13T06:30:00.218-04:00Drifters by Kevin Emerson Blog Tour<p> </p><p>Happy Friday the 13th! Yes, I did pick today for my blog tour post. While <u>Drifters</u> isn't horror, it's got enough creepy mojo to make this the perfect day for my post. </p><p>I am so excited to highlight Drifters by Kevin Emerson on my blog today! I'm in education, and it's the very end of my school year... so I ended up having to be more "short and sweet" than I would like. But rest assured that I DOVE into this novel with gusto - no drifting for me. More below.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu6zdMR8n2YaFqhAg1W7esnGIJKjKibiCn9t-2ejuRXmDM0x3aiEWZxVr3YlKe9kLrtLfeDOOy9nMDuHXXtJlZnwmkmr3JeKbjLs3hmSm8f6KKv_9fQSGdRnCoCSSm4vNa8PUi8JcdYfB7F89690zZehoDkNHA0TEd00P4FERQmGWh-SifB8Qgyxf/s655/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-12%20at%207.21.29%20AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="434" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu6zdMR8n2YaFqhAg1W7esnGIJKjKibiCn9t-2ejuRXmDM0x3aiEWZxVr3YlKe9kLrtLfeDOOy9nMDuHXXtJlZnwmkmr3JeKbjLs3hmSm8f6KKv_9fQSGdRnCoCSSm4vNa8PUi8JcdYfB7F89690zZehoDkNHA0TEd00P4FERQmGWh-SifB8Qgyxf/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-12%20at%207.21.29%20AM.png" width="212" /></a></div><p></p><b>About the Book (from the publisher)</b><div><i>From the acclaimed author of the Chronicle of the Dark Star comes a riveting mystery, perfect for fans of Stranger Things, about a girl who sets out to find her missing best friend—and discovers her small town is hiding a dark, centuries-old secret.<br /><br />Jovie is adrift. She’d been feeling alone ever since her best friend, Micah, left her behind for a new group of friends—but when Micah went missing last fall, Jovie felt truly lost.<br /><br />Now, months later, the search parties have been called off, and the news alerts have dried up. There’s only Jovie, biking around Far Haven, Washington, putting up posters with Micah’s face on them, feeling like she’s the only one who remembers her friend at all.<br /><br />This feeling may be far closer to the truth than Jovie knows. As strange storms beset Far Haven, she is shocked to discover that Micah isn’t just missing—she’s been forgotten completely by everyone in town. And Micah isn’t the only one: there are others, roaming the beaches, camped in the old bunkers, who have somehow been lost from the world.<br /><br />When Jovie and her new friend Sylvan dig deeper, they learn that the town’s history is far stranger and more deadly than anyone knows. Something disastrous is heading for Far Haven, and Jovie and Sylvan soon realize that it is up to them to save not only Micah, but everyone else who has been lost to the world and set adrift—now, in the past, and in the future.</i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #535353; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></p><b>MY THOUGHTS<br /><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I'm a huge fan of Stranger Things - so the tag line that told me I'd love this book certainly drew me in. Whoever made that connection wasn't wrong. <u>Drifters</u> has that same creepy, mysterious vibe that we get from the series. It also has the deep age-crossing friendships that make Stranger Things more than just a sci-fi creepy masterpiece. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><u>Drifters</u> has the perfect level of time-wimey twistedness. Readers are sent back and forth through multiple time periods, experiencing the storms of the past and present that are setting people adrift. I love books that make me pause, flip back a few pages, and grin as I confirm the connections I thought were occurring. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This is also the first book I've read that includes some pandemic references. It's not too much - but it's nice to see our recent reality reflected in some of the experiences the characters face. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Is it sci-fi? Is it mystery? Is it a story of growing up and learning about mistakes you've made in your friendships so you can make amends? Yes... it is all of that and more. Come along on the adventure with Jovie and Sylvan. You won't regret making this trip. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b>Who Will Like It?</b><br />Readers who enjoy complex, time busting plot lines.<br />Readers who enjoy a slow, mysterious build - a nice hearty length book so it's not "over too quickly". <br />Readers who love science and thinking about connections between time and space.<br />Readers who enjoy deep friendships and seeing relationships rebuilt and strengthened.</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #535353; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Science Concepts:</b>
Energy
Interdimensional Connections
Aliens (Or are they? No spoilers here)
</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check out my post about another of his books - <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/02/sci-friday-fellowship-for-alien.html" target="_blank">Fellowship for Alien Detection</a> - which came out in 2013!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #535353; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: none; clear: right; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 175px;"><img alt="A picture containing person, person, outdoor, suit
Description automatically generated" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4dNPgFGz1rjkRKAeIIa8tTjnwIboozC-KYeHyCpiR47VQ4CwuhGY4I7YYVBgv9hH8gOyidIp2TIhzzfAIUAQVN7mvffoQc5Zeh6grsJM_iOG4V0zmWiKl8Xd64Nxgb2FYIFkmkd8MSNuYT7n0w" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="175" /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #535353; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-83185bb7-7fff-bf05-3a92-c5f25590d0e7"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></p><b>About the Author:</b></div><div>Kevin Emerson is the author of Last Day on Mars and The Oceans Between Stars, as well as The Fellowship for Alien Detection, the Exile series, the Atlanteans series, the Oliver Nocturne series, and Carlos Is Gonna Get It. Kevin lives with his family in Seattle. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.kevinemerson.net/">www.kevinemerson.net</a>.</div><div><br /></div>DRIFTERS Blog Tour <div>5/9/22 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2022/05/09/drifters-holding-onto-friendships-in-the-time-of-isolation-by-kevin-emerson/" target="_blank">Nerdy Book Club</a> @nerdybookclub (definitely read this post - Kevin Emerson wrote it and it's full of insight)</div><div>5/10/22 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a> @bluesockgirl </div><div>5/11/22 <a href="https://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/">Charlotte's Library</a> @charlotteslibrary </div><div>5/13/22 <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/">Maria's Mélange</a> @mariaselke </div><div>5/16/22 <a href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/">Teachers Who Read</a> @teachers_read </div><div>5/23/22 <a href="http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a> @grgenius </div><div>5/27/22 <a href="https://alibrarymama.com/">A Library Mama</a> @alibrarymama </div><div>5/31/22 <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers </a>@unleashreaders</div><div><br /></div><div><i>** Note -- I won an advanced copy from the author on Twitter by random chance. This didn't impact my review at all **</i></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-55191464108981712672022-02-13T02:30:00.006-05:002022-02-13T02:30:00.195-05:00Just Harriet by Elana K Arnold -- Blog Tour<p><br /></p><p>I'm so excited to be part of the blog tour for Just Harriet - by Elana K. Arnold!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA9-YbpMpua1bMk8nkjhVV_K2L3JdXZ_hC7hLdi8EvTemT64-b8kVW7vOJhJR2ZYVcbtiOPt9NgOc52ZABfxvvtFNlf_iwgkAS7KzCDIjRUvW3KkoqZoaTBeIbnHnRhmLDyu3RL0wORvMnV6oUCyi2Fj9gQurntUiqxU9cS1-BR1u4rTbYi44tVBwA=s2400" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA9-YbpMpua1bMk8nkjhVV_K2L3JdXZ_hC7hLdi8EvTemT64-b8kVW7vOJhJR2ZYVcbtiOPt9NgOc52ZABfxvvtFNlf_iwgkAS7KzCDIjRUvW3KkoqZoaTBeIbnHnRhmLDyu3RL0wORvMnV6oUCyi2Fj9gQurntUiqxU9cS1-BR1u4rTbYi44tVBwA=s320" width="225" /></a><b>ABOUT THE BOOK</b> (From the publisher)<br /><br />From the award-winning author of A Boy Called Bat comes a new young middle grade series in the tradition of Ramona and Clementine, starring an unforgettable girl named Harriet.<br /><br />There are a few things you should know about Harriet Wermer:<br />She just finished third grade.<br />She has a perfect cat named Matzo Ball.<br />She doesn’t always tell the truth.<br />She is very happy to be spending summer vacation away from home and her mom and dad and all the wonderful things she had been planning all year.<br /><br />Okay, maybe that last one isn’t entirely the truth.<br /><br />Of course, there’s nothing Harriet doesn’t like about Marble Island, the small island off the coast of California where her Nanu runs a cozy little bed and breakfast. And nobody doesn’t love Moneypenny, Nanu’s old basset hound. But Harriet doesn’t like the fact that Dad made this decision without even asking her.<br /><br />When Harriet arrives on Marble Island, however, she discovers that it’s full of surprises, and even a mystery. One that seems to involve her Dad, back when he was a young boy living on Marble Island. One that Harriet is absolutely going to solve. And that’s the truth.</div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have nothing but massive respect for Elana K. Arnold, at least partly because she clearly has respect for her readers. Harriet experiences a lot frustration and even anger as she gets send to visit her Nanu for the summer, and we never see her feelings "talked down to" or diminished in any way. Harriet may find herself lying a lot to protect her inner self, but she never lies to her readers about how she is feeling. Kids will find reflections of themselves in her energy and growth over the course of this story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The story itself is a fun adventure. We get to follow her as she explores the island, figures out mysteries, learns more about her father as a child, and learns about herself. Readers will love her cat, the sleep basset hound Moneypenny, and her sweet Nanu. I found myself wishing I could visit the bed and breakfast and check out the little ice cream shop myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't wait to share this gem with the teachers at my school. I know that their students will find everything to love about Harriet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Who will love this book:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mean - who won't? Okay, that's not a helpful answer... This book is ideal for elementary school readers who are ready for chapter books. It would also make a lovely read aloud!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-- Readers who like to follow along and solve mysteries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-- Readers who understand what it's like to feel upset and angry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-- Readers who don't always tell the truth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-- Readers who like to keep some things secret.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Teachers -- check out the great <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYjbHuoSAE28A7uO73-VkP0-SshItOUW/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">discussion guide</a> you can use with this book in your classroom!<br /><p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /><br /></b></div><b>About the Author:</b><p></p>Elana K. Arnold is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel and the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets. You can visit her online at <a href="http://www.elanakarnold.com/">www.elanakarnold.com</a>.<br /><p> </p><p>Other Elana K. Arnold books I've written about on my blog...<br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/03/blog-tour-boy-called-bat-by-elana-k.html" target="_blank">A Boy Called Bat</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/bat-and-waiting-game-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Bat and the Waiting Game</a></p><p>Other Elana K Arnold books I've read and love...</p><p>YA (these two are VERY intense and absolutely amazing)<br />Damsel<br />Red Hood</p><p><br /></p><p>Visit the other stops on the Blog Tour!</p>January 31 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2022/01/31/a-place-a-name-a-story-by-elana-k-arnold/" target="_blank">Nerdy Book Club</a> @nerdybookclub<br />February 3 <a href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/2022/02/just-harriet-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Teachers Who Read</a> @teachers_read<br />February 13 <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/">Maria's Mélange</a> @mariaselke<br />February 14 <a href="http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a> @grgenius<br />February 21<a href="https://storymamas.com/"> StoryMamas</a> @storymamas<br />February 22 <a href="http://unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers</a> @unleashreadersmaria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-43719595127499414152022-01-15T08:05:00.147-05:002022-01-15T08:05:00.180-05:00Riley's Ghost by John David Anderson - BLOG TOUR<div class="separator"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29Z-H7lZLX0PSxeWsxlJ9dKopl845nsjUDBZBNeoWJx2_1GAjCSvUD0hG-3YPADh6O77cw-O1LYaB1apAgNPXnjdsChyphenhyphenJPQyXlCw9e0Q8aTJSIOerBKeFKilpPHFwLDpM6I2wETOsL9I/w212-h320/RileysGhost+hc+c.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>I'm not afraid of ghosts.... I don't believe in ghosts... I'm not afraid of ghosts...<br /><br />Okay, I'm lying ... a little. <br /><br />I don't believe in ghosts, but the IDEA of ghosts always freaks me right out. I'm a fully grown adult, and I'll admit I couldn't read this book right before bed. In spite of a hearty case of pandemic foggy brain, I had trouble putting this book down (as long as I didn't try to read it in the dark).<br /><br />I'm so excited to share this newest book by John David Anderson with you!<br /><br />Here's a little blurb about the book itself, and then we'll dive into some of my thoughts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><b>ABOUT THE BOOK </b>(from the publisher)<br /><br /><i>From the author of Posted comes a ghost story pulled from the darkest shadows of middle school—and a tale of one girl’s attempt to survive them.<br /><br />Riley Flynn is alone.<br /><br />It feels like she’s been on her own since sixth grade, when her best friend, Emily, ditched her for the cool girls. Girls who don’t like Riley. Girls who, on this particular day, decide to lock her in the science closet after hours, after everyone else has gone home.<br /><br />When Riley is finally able to escape, however, she finds that her horror story is only just beginning. All the school doors are locked, the windows won’t budge, the phones are dead, and the lights aren’t working. Through halls lit only by the narrow beam of her flashlight, Riley roams the building, seeking a way out, an answer, an explanation. And as she does, she starts to suspect she isn’t alone after all.<br /><br />While she’s always liked a good scary story, Riley knows there is no such thing as ghosts. But what else could explain the things happening in the school, the haunting force that seems to lurk in every shadow, around every corner? As she tries to find answers, she starts reliving moments that brought her to this night.</i><br /><br /><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /><br />The promotional material for Riley's Ghost talks about the ghostly chill factor. But anyone who has been in middle school knows that kids that age are endlessly looking for ways to laugh and groan over marginally off-color things, right? The beginning of this novel definitely grabbed my funny bone before it darted off into the spooky shadows. <br /><br />Once we get into the meat of the tale, we dive right into other facets of life that are true for middle school kids -- struggles over friendship, independence, and wrangling powerful emotions. Anderson deftly weaves the storyline of Riley's challenges with those of the haunts she encounters that night. I found myself tempted to peek ahead in the book for reassurance as I developed a deepening connection with Riley and the ghosts of the past. <br /><br />I can't wait to share this book with the literacy classes at my school!<br /><br /><br /><b>Favorite Quotes:</b><br /><br />"sometimes things slip out no matter how tightly you hold them."<br /><br />"Ghost stories are all about loss. About getting left behind. Which is pretty scary if you think about it." <br /><br />"Ghost stories are usually about making amends"<br /><br /><br /><b>Who will like this book?</b><br /><br />Kids who like scary (but not TOO scary) stories. This one has a nice, slow burn. As the quotes above show, sometimes ghost scary is deeper than a horror jump scare.<br /><br />Kids who are struggling with fitting in or having challenging friendships. Especially those who have struggled with managing their own big emotions related to these challenges. <br /><br /><br /><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR </b><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6xxSQzlzbfU2UwToD4et7Upr2PIKmW11wyD423I9h9MZo0529oFj7K6C3UieHGZk9S4W9Ypc0E_P9N3avyFQO6Wn9Iyf-uiqkJmUgXO2sdEYzpV4Ym6VF5WoxPUf-_P8zeSMGGXcmZM/w213-h320/JOHN+DAVID+ANDERSON.jpg" width="213" /></a><br /><br />John David Anderson is the author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, One Last Shot, and Stowaway. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and clumsy cat, Smudge, in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">www.johndavidanderson.org</a>.<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c4c4e; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">Check out other books by John David Anderson that I've posted about on my blog -- yes, this is how much I enjoy everything he's written! </b></span></p><div><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2021/08/stowaway-by-john-david-anderson-blog.html" target="_blank">Stowaway </a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2020/05/blog-tour-for-one-last-shot-by-john.html" target="_blank">One Last Shot</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2019/05/as-always-i-was-thrilled-to-receive.html" target="_blank">Finding Orion</a> <br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/granted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Granted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/04/posted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Posted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/the-dungeoneers-happy-book-birthday.html">Dungeoneers (Q&A)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/dungeoneers-by-john-david-anderson-tour.html">Dungeoneers (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/review-of-sidekicked.html">Sidekicked (review)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/sidekicked-blog-tour-top-ten-bystanders.html">Sidekicked (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2014/06/blog-tour-minion-by-john-david-anderson.html">Minion</a></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c4c4e; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div><i>Disclaimer: I received free access from the publisher to a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts about the novel.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><b>Tour Stops</b></div><div>January 10 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">Nerdy Book Club</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">@Nerdy Book Club</a><br />January 12 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">A Nerdy Bibliophile in Wanderlust</a> @bethshaum<br />January 13 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">Teachers Who Read</a> @teachers_read<br />January 14 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">A Library Mama</a> @alibrarymama<br />January 15 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">Maria's Mélange</a> @mariaselke<br />January 18 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/#">Lit Coach Lou</a> @litcoachlou<div><u><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></u></div></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-43236663470402938912021-10-16T07:58:00.000-04:002021-10-16T07:58:23.846-04:00The Troubled Girls Of Dragomir Academy BLOG TOUR<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbnp6wE_RQtmUlWsh8CujqjairMKT1buoKZpFKHxWSnYVe0cw3vsm3HKId_Vi8vgqw118ob-SMqpUhbWUxTvInxzJfEP25TEfvo0iCFFDZ4oxkJmxHn-mt4p88HIKdfigPNHbHl781Jk/s1576/Screen+Shot+2021-10-16+at+6.28.23+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1576" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbnp6wE_RQtmUlWsh8CujqjairMKT1buoKZpFKHxWSnYVe0cw3vsm3HKId_Vi8vgqw118ob-SMqpUhbWUxTvInxzJfEP25TEfvo0iCFFDZ4oxkJmxHn-mt4p88HIKdfigPNHbHl781Jk/w400-h173/Screen+Shot+2021-10-16+at+6.28.23+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Welcome to the Melange - and my stop on the blog tour to celebrate Anne Ursu's latest amazing novel. </b><p></p><p>When I was offered the chance to read a digital advanced copy of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy, I jumped on it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has struggled to focus on books during the pandemic, right? </p><p>Diving into this novel swept me away. I was captivated by the world building and the characters, so I am thrilled to join the blog tour to help promote this powerful story. I also purchased my own physical copy of the book to share with the students in my school. </p><br /><b>About the Book (from the Publisher):</b><br /><i>If no one notices Marya Lupu, it’s likely because of her brother, Luka. And that’s because of what everyone knows: Luka is destined to become a sorcerer.<br /><br />The Lupus might be from a small village far from the capital city, but that doesn’t matter. Every young boy born in Illyria may possess the rare ability to wield magic, to protect the country from the terrifying force known only as the Dread. For all the hopes the family has for Luka, no one has any for Marya, who can never seem to do anything right. But even so, no one is prepared for the day that the sorcerers finally arrive to test Luka for magical ability, and Marya makes a terrible mistake. Nor the day after, when the Lupus receive a letter from a place called Dragomir Academy — a mysterious school for wayward young girls. Girls like Marya.<br /><br />Soon she is a hundred miles from home, in a strange and unfamiliar place, surrounded by girls she’s never met. Dragomir Academy promises Marya and her classmates a chance to make something of themselves in service to one of the country’s powerful sorcerers. But as they learn how to fit into a world with no place for them, they begin to discover things about the magic the men of their country wield, as well as the Dread itself — things that threaten the precarious balance upon which their country is built.</i><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /><br />I have so many thoughts about this book! As I've come to expect from Ursu - the characters, world building, and powerful plot combined with a hearty dash of humor to create a tale that sucked me in and tugged me along the whole way.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Who will love this book? </b></div><div>-- Kids who are trying to find their own voice. Marya doesn't really know who she is or where she fits in the world. Isn't that true of so many upper elementary and middle school kids? They are trying to decide if they will follow the path their parents see for them. They are looking for guides and mentors (and I wish for them all that they find someone in their lives who can be their Madame Bandu). They are trying to stretch their wings and figure out how many risks they are willing to take. They will feel seen as they watch Marya on her own path.</div><div><br /></div><div>-- Kids who love adventure and mystery. I often say this about the books I review here - and I think that is because these are the kinds of stories that draw me in as a reader. I want stuff to happen, but I also want to see little hints along the way that I have to piece together. I know so many readers who also enjoy this, and who love to feel that sense of vindication and/or surprise as the story comes to a conclusion.</div><div><br /></div><div>-- Kids who are trying to figure out where they fit with their world's expectations. Ursu explores some of the gender roles and expectations in this world, but kids of any gender could relate to this sense of pushing against what is expected of them. I especially love how Ursu shows "feminine" as both things of beauty and respect (with the master weaver and the hidden language of needlework symbols) and things that can be rejected if they don't fit us. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have SO much more I could say, but I'm going to end with a bit of "life advice" in the story that Marya gives her brother about Anton in chapter 8. It may seem small, because Anton is a goat, but it really struck me as I was rereading it this week. Here's her advice... <b>"Don't treat him like he's bad." "If you treat him like he's bad, then he'll act bad. But if you say nice things to him like he's worth taking care of, well ... then he'll be good." </b>I've worked with ZERO goats in my life... but an awful lot of small humans. This tidbit of wisdom is the key to everything, friends. As a teacher. As a parent... as a human being. I'd love it if everyone who reads this book could take even just this one thing deep into their heart and remember it always. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>If this book sounds amazing (and it is!) check out my thoughts on some of Ursu's other novels. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/09/blog-tour-review-of-real-boy-by-anne.html" target="_blank">The Real Boy</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2019/02/the-lost-girl-by-anne-ursu-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">The Lost Girl</a></div><div><br /><br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiugWGn69e2UYWjmpo7nQF0p0bsoVUVCWWjhA6p_Gg27Wpsz7X29lZGAPOt402t5ALG-Z7qU2C-5cxSAL55SI97j5D2lTxyF3UQGKMlrNOdPqNo5uPG3Ld0N2sxhCE6OEeLyRMk_A3qE/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="457" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiugWGn69e2UYWjmpo7nQF0p0bsoVUVCWWjhA6p_Gg27Wpsz7X29lZGAPOt402t5ALG-Z7qU2C-5cxSAL55SI97j5D2lTxyF3UQGKMlrNOdPqNo5uPG3Ld0N2sxhCE6OEeLyRMk_A3qE/" width="171" /></a></div>About the Author:</b><br />Anne Ursu is the author of the acclaimed novels The Lost Girl, Breadcrumbs, and The Real Boy, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. The recipient of a McKnight Fellowship Award in Children’s Literature, Anne is also a member of the faculty at Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She lives in Minneapolis with her family and an ever-growing number of cats. You can visit her online at <a href="http://www.anneursu.com/">www.anneursu.com</a>.<br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0in;"> </p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></b></p><br /><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Don't Miss Out!<br /></b><br />October 26 at 6 pm CT Anne will be in conversation with Kelly Barnhill, hosted by <a href="https://www.wildrumpusbooks.com/">WILD RUMPUS BOOKS</a> in Minneapolis. Please click <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furld">here</a> for more information.<br /><br /><b>The Full Blog Tour:</b><div>October 12 <a href="http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/">A Nerdy Bibliophile in Wanderlust</a><br /> <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers</a><br />October 13 <a href="http://readwonder.blogspot.com/">Read Wonder</a><br />October 14 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/">Nerdy Book Club</a><br />October 15 <a href="https://alibrarymama.com/">A Library Mama</a><br />October 16 <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/">Maria’s Mélange</a><br />October 17 <a href="https://bysinginglight.wordpress.com/">By Singing Light</a><br />October 18 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a><br />October 20 <a href="http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/">Insatiable Readers</a></div></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-29632352144515388552021-08-28T04:00:00.001-04:002021-08-28T04:00:00.242-04:00Stowaway by John David Anderson Blog Tour<p><br /></p><p>Science fiction is a powerful genre. It allows our minds to travel into the unknown - exploring the things we think or believe may one day be possible through science. While we are there, we can contemplate philosophical and moral issues from our own day, but from the safety of a future "what if" scenario. Back in my very early blogging days (2012 seems like a lifetime ago, right?), I posted about the <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2012/04/why-sci-fi-power-of-what-if.html" target="_blank">power of "what if" and science fiction</a>. There are not nearly as many science fiction books published for middle grade readers as there should be!</p><p></p>I've loved every book I've read by John David Anderson, so when I heard that he was putting out the first book in a science fiction duology for middle grade readers, I jumped at the chance to read an ARC and share my thoughts about the book. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Here is the publisher's summary:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-g2tRHQSXAVCUMawAXI9piSjU_BaTPc41_sxLyslngAqfpyPWh72BM5JGfqhLSuCYe01FBplCIt9e8_V1kCzvGGCh09cP3s7kIPveL8a1nQGqbtvfU2PA3p5Vaiur9jmdA6iwrJFQstE/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="766" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-g2tRHQSXAVCUMawAXI9piSjU_BaTPc41_sxLyslngAqfpyPWh72BM5JGfqhLSuCYe01FBplCIt9e8_V1kCzvGGCh09cP3s7kIPveL8a1nQGqbtvfU2PA3p5Vaiur9jmdA6iwrJFQstE/" width="159" /></a></div><p></p><b>About the Book:</b><br /><br />The beloved author of Posted and Ms. Bixby's Last Day returns with the first book in a coming-of-age sci-fi duology about Leo, a kid trying to navigate the galaxy in order to save his family—and, possibly, the planet Earth.<br /><br />When scientists discover a rare and mysterious mineral buried in the Earth’s crust, they have no idea that it just happens to be the most valuable substance in the entire universe. It’s not long before aliens show up to our little corner of the galaxy offering a promise of protection, some fabulous new technology, and entry into their intergalactic coalition—all in exchange for this precious resource. A material so precious that other alien forces are willing to start a war over it. A war that soon makes its way to Earth.<br /><br />Leo knows this all too well. His mother was killed in one such attack, and soon after, his father, a Coalition scientist, decides it would be best for them to leave Earth behind. It’s on this expedition that their ship is attacked, Leo’s father is kidnapped, and Leo and his brother are stranded in the middle of space. The only chance they have is for Leo to stow away on a strange ship of mercenary space pirates bound for who knows where and beg the captain to help him find his father.<br /><br />But the road is dangerous, and pirates, of course, only look out for themselves. Leo must decide who to trust as he tries to stay alive and save his family, even as he comes to understand that there aren’t many people—human or alien—that he can count on in this brave new universe.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Thoughts:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I was the kid who made up and drew aliens in elementary school. I was the kid who brought home so many books about astronomy- and got my first paycheck for writing a review of one for a children's magazine. I was the kid who claimed to be "from Saturn" when my friends pointed out my weirdness. My inner child was delighted by this book. I haven't drawn anything in *coughs* quite a few years... but I was itching to pull out a set of colored pencils so I could draw some of the aliens I met along the way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Middle grade readers looking for an adventurous romp through the galaxy will love the energy and pacing of this tale. Readers who enjoy witty interactions between the cast of characters will find rewarding repartee in every chapter. Do they love figuring out little mysteries? <u>Stowaway</u>'s story gives them the chance to piece together what happened on Earth through flashbacks. It also builds in a little surprise that some of those readers may not have anticipated, but will give others that satisfying "I KNEW it!" moment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some students will be drawn to the tech and science in <u>Stowaway</u>. Maybe they'll decide to investigate more about the possibility of faster than light travel. Maybe the idea of new elements that could power our future will catch their eyes. Conservation minded kids will notice themes that weave throughout the tale - on Earth and on many other planets described and visited. </div><div><br /></div><div>Are you a teacher thinking of adding in a science fiction read-aloud in your elementary classroom this year? <u>Stowaway</u> would be a wonderful choice to introduce the genre, but will also engage and satisfy students who already love science fiction! You'll also find many "old Earth references" to entertain you and your class along the way. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>About the Author:</b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvznRBcy74SCGgPrf2diZO7Q9CLLiD8ntfYeUhAElmFH4wqon78ybjGvLlvhsqtX12xCVstRsMlZozRNLM5pUpmkI8KPnAfdarjVYwgoFqnlLD7ia-4tk9713dnmPAxU6DzYsOEa6D-w/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="360" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvznRBcy74SCGgPrf2diZO7Q9CLLiD8ntfYeUhAElmFH4wqon78ybjGvLlvhsqtX12xCVstRsMlZozRNLM5pUpmkI8KPnAfdarjVYwgoFqnlLD7ia-4tk9713dnmPAxU6DzYsOEa6D-w/" width="160" /></a></div></div>John David Anderson is the author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, One Last Shot, and Stowaway. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and clumsy cat, Smudge, in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.johndavidanderson.org/">www.johndavidanderson.org</a>.<div><br /><br /></div><div>My personal side note "about the author". This is one seriously geeky guy. In ALL the best ways - and I mean that. He's taken time to connect with my students. He cracks me up. And I think he shares about 90% of my childhood and adolescent SciFi Fandoms. If you want to see what I mean, check out <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2021/08/15/how-to-write-a-science-fiction-novel-minus-the-actual-writing-part-by-john-david-anderson/" target="_blank">this post he wrote for Nerdy Book Club</a> about the seeds of fandoms that helped him grow into writing <u>Stowaway</u>. Star Wars -- check. Wrinkle in Time -- check. Douglas Adams -- check.... Last Starfighter..... Okay, you get the idea. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>Check out other books by John David Anderson that I've posted about on my blog: </b><div><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2020/05/blog-tour-for-one-last-shot-by-john.html" target="_blank">One Last Shot</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2019/05/as-always-i-was-thrilled-to-receive.html" target="_blank">Finding Orion</a> <br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/granted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Granted</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/04/posted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html">Posted </a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/the-dungeoneers-happy-book-birthday.html">Dungeoneers (Q&A)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/dungeoneers-by-john-david-anderson-tour.html">Dungeoneers (fun author post)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/review-of-sidekicked.html">Sidekicked (review)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/sidekicked-blog-tour-top-ten-bystanders.html">Sidekicked (fun author post) </a><br /><a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2014/06/blog-tour-minion-by-john-david-anderson.html">Minion</a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Disclaimer: I received free access from the publisher to a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts about the novel.</i></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-6654827682768486892021-04-02T07:00:00.008-04:002021-04-02T07:34:15.266-04:00The House That Wasn't There -- Blog Tour<h4 style="text-align: left;"> Welcome to the next stop of the blog tour for The House that Wasn't There, by Elana K. Arnold!</h4><p>I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you about this amazing new book!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RP9Fpcs0c1LCzj1YvL6BLDk3hQ0qa3iwsh_jMj3ue5fIBB7XvaWooIjumIk4DnF-vUdLHlPTB7VrimDZr0Zer0IGeCRlGOIQ6_x2AIG1wdAaSrJjogSSfTmEf-SFQBado1Co5XOAnC8/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RP9Fpcs0c1LCzj1YvL6BLDk3hQ0qa3iwsh_jMj3ue5fIBB7XvaWooIjumIk4DnF-vUdLHlPTB7VrimDZr0Zer0IGeCRlGOIQ6_x2AIG1wdAaSrJjogSSfTmEf-SFQBado1Co5XOAnC8/w265-h400/HouseWasntThere_HC_C.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><i>About the Book (from the publisher)</i><p></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Alder has always lived in his cozy little house in Southern California.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">And for as long as he can remember, the old, reliable, comforting walnut tree has stood<u> </u></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt;">between his house and the one next door.</span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">That is, until a new family—with a particularly annoying girl his age—moves<u> </u></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt;">into the neighboring house and, without warning, cuts the tree down.</span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Oak doesn’t understand why her family had to move to Southern California. She has to attend a new school, find new friends, and live in a new house that isn’t even ready—her mother had to cut down a tree on their property line in order to make room for a second floor. And now a strange boy next door won’t stop staring at her, like she did something wrong moving here in the first place.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">As Oak and Alder start school together, they can’t imagine ever becoming friends. But the two of them soon discover a series of connections between them—mysterious, possibly even magical puzzles they can’t put together.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">At least not without each other’s help.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Award-winning author <span class="il">Elana</span> K. Arnold returns with an unforgettable story of the strange, wondrous threads that run between all of us, whether we know they’re there or not.</span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">This last year of quarantining has been really hard on my ability to focus on books, but I devoured this one. It was filled with the absolute realities of life as a sixth grader, with all of the awkwardness and self-discovery that I remember being so painful that year. </span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">The counterpoint, which my current and former weird self adored, was a story of teleporting kittens. Yes, you read that correctly. Teleporting kittens! I mean... what could be better? </span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">A mysterious house that both exists and doesn't exist? We have that. </span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">A taxidermied opossum named Mort purchased from the Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop? Umm..... yeah. We have that too. (And now I have a new spot on my bucket list, since <a href="https://ballyhooseattle.com/">that shop actually exists</a>.)</span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">In addition to all of the wonderfully quirky items mentioned above, this novel is packed with so much heart. Alder is sweet, sensitive, and loving. His knitting earns bonus points from this yarn lover, and I adore how his hobby becomes a sweet part of his personal journey in friend making. Oak's struggles to settle into her new home </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt;">and learn to stand up for her needs with her mo</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">ther resonate. So many kids at this age just want their parents to listen, right? </span></p><p></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">The mysterious and the ordinary intertwine in ways that just feel right. In the end, the truths that are uncovered about friendship, family, and growing up lead to a fun and satisfying ending.</span></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiwUecu82F-I_kqaWqdMlyLv2yFbyEE4vFUTSNYKG-xljfApcdErdTBpQDfFOC1sAJlB5PzUYBV36GGW6edSs7gGVpze_bXseDYBT0897vxDzwoZsPZIIRGFv9qSjYA7FeZZKmQTuTSM/s2048/FF1C6401-229F-487E-9FB1-1E3615C3A813.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiwUecu82F-I_kqaWqdMlyLv2yFbyEE4vFUTSNYKG-xljfApcdErdTBpQDfFOC1sAJlB5PzUYBV36GGW6edSs7gGVpze_bXseDYBT0897vxDzwoZsPZIIRGFv9qSjYA7FeZZKmQTuTSM/s320/FF1C6401-229F-487E-9FB1-1E3615C3A813.JPG" /></a></p><p></p><p class="m_-8981466988755848039Default" style="background-color: white; font-family: "ITCCentury Ultra"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers, and will be book talking it with my own middle grade students.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>*****</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcqj4i3cwMY6DpcXgp-3lkpeoLAorMNreBflkPs3lEm0eQucU7yxuoi8WclvBZQeFVZ-e3IfbkUrr4xebtvgmxfsIB6zACPzQyQG_5YYqHRdLfiCC6UjV104uIHLlfoHEJ2FDrkUBgqk/s1200/IMG_2565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcqj4i3cwMY6DpcXgp-3lkpeoLAorMNreBflkPs3lEm0eQucU7yxuoi8WclvBZQeFVZ-e3IfbkUrr4xebtvgmxfsIB6zACPzQyQG_5YYqHRdLfiCC6UjV104uIHLlfoHEJ2FDrkUBgqk/s320/IMG_2565.jpg" /></a></div><br />Want to hear about another great series by Elana K. Arnold? Check out my blog posts about <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/03/blog-tour-boy-called-bat-by-elana-k.html">A Boy Called Bat</a> and <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/bat-and-waiting-game-blog-tour.html">Bat and the Waiting Game</a>. This series features a sweet main character named Bat - who loves animals a lot! Great for younger readers. I didn't blog about it, but <i>Damsel </i>was also amazing (best for older readers). Apparently I had a photo of my cat with this book from when I read it!<p></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: right;"><b>About the Author:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_JlFnoLZsPIPnLxgu2a0uyYe3UoPCbLkzFDXrw3zs-f-fmjJ8c66TmQtkuRBpO7JCAaPX42Bk38uUDgxijxObRsFIQaoaSIE_mpFZxHe2nkvtHJP78PKH7fW9OHZiYUTyGZtWDa4P7c/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1365" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_JlFnoLZsPIPnLxgu2a0uyYe3UoPCbLkzFDXrw3zs-f-fmjJ8c66TmQtkuRBpO7JCAaPX42Bk38uUDgxijxObRsFIQaoaSIE_mpFZxHe2nkvtHJP78PKH7fW9OHZiYUTyGZtWDa4P7c/" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span class="il" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">Elana</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;"> K. Arnold is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">Damsel</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">, the National Book Award finalist </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">What Girls Are Made Of</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">, and Global Read Aloud selection </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">A Boy Called Bat</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;"> and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">Elana</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;"> teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets.</span><p></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 16px;">Be sure to visit the other stops on the Blog Tour!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">March 28 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1616943458055000&usg=AFQjCNFi6Ud8Pb4OT8EO-dWSVyzXb-vtzg" href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Nerdy Book Club</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @nerdybookclub</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">March 29 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.yayomg.com/&source=gmail&ust=1616943458055000&usg=AFQjCNElD_hoI0QwWjH-NlXJ51mSnDemIg" href="https://www.yayomg.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">YAYOMG</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @yayomgofficial</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">March 30 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.unleashingreaders.com/&source=gmail&ust=1616943458056000&usg=AFQjCNGo_kQoc7FBGrtTQ6t-HVRy9douZw" href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Unleashing Readers</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @UnleashReaders</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">March 31 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.teacherswhoread.com/&source=gmail&ust=1616943458056000&usg=AFQjCNGlQ0nbSWvQ8VLK07PTvRG20y_D0A" href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Teachers Who Read</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @teachers_read</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">April 2 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://mariaselke.com&source=gmail&ust=1616943458056000&usg=AFQjCNFzGPMM-e9Xc-ezziPWNhQ5Ulc8hQ" href="http://mariaselke.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Maria's Mélange</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @mariaselke</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">April 7 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1616943458056000&usg=AFQjCNEj46tPIR9xlVVWrzAJnnfiFboSiQ" href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Bluestocking Thinking</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @BlueSockGirl</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">April 10 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://alibrarymama.com/&source=gmail&ust=1616943458056000&usg=AFQjCNHBJB-njY_CYu011Ftc5owScBkQfg" href="https://alibrarymama.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">A Library Mama</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @librarymama</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">April 12 </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://storymamas.com&source=gmail&ust=1616943458056000&usg=AFQjCNFAlR-rzv9dUTuroc2_p4h8vjTJZA" href="http://storymamas.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Storymamas</span></a><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"> @storymamas</span></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0in;"><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span class="m_-8981466988755848039MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received a free early copy of this book from the publisher, but it did not influence my opinions about the novel.</span></i></span></p></span></div>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-63072786689167806742021-01-30T07:00:00.014-05:002021-01-30T09:49:44.908-05:00Blog Tour for The In-Between by Rebecca KS Ansari<p> Welcome to this stop of the Blog Tour for The In-Between by Rebecca K. S. Ansari!</p><p><br /></p><p>First, let's take a look at the book synopsis from the publisher:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDeugwVemwYI9bT8nCGHkKsCK6wAbj4gorz9gUYa_Ygynq_UDeSamkz3CNngwaxGoi3zWw-DbFPnnXIMQKI_nRkoFYxlbJB05H2vqIZYPUeg95HSr_OJV-cp6eHiySXAld50PXKlZEJo/s491/book+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDeugwVemwYI9bT8nCGHkKsCK6wAbj4gorz9gUYa_Ygynq_UDeSamkz3CNngwaxGoi3zWw-DbFPnnXIMQKI_nRkoFYxlbJB05H2vqIZYPUeg95HSr_OJV-cp6eHiySXAld50PXKlZEJo/s320/book+cover.jpg" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><strong>A dark, twisty adventure about the forgotten among us and what it means to be seen, from the acclaimed author of </strong><b>The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly</b><strong>.</strong></i></p><i>Cooper is lost. Ever since his father left their family three years ago, he has become distant from his friends, constantly annoyed by his little sister, Jess, and completely fed up with the pale, creepy rich girl who moved in next door and won’t stop staring at him. So when Cooper learns of an unsolved mystery his sister has discovered online, he welcomes the distraction.<br /><br />It’s the tale of a deadly train crash that occurred a hundred years ago, in which one young boy among the dead was never identified. The only distinguishing mark on him was a strange insignia on his suit coat, a symbol no one had seen before or since. Jess is fascinated by the mystery of the unknown child— because she’s seen the insignia. It’s the symbol of the jacket of the girl next door.<br /><br />As they uncover more information— and mounting evidence of the girl’s seemingly impossible connection to the tragedy—Cooper and Jess begin to wonder if a similar disaster could be heading to their hometown.</i><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>My Thoughts: </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I mean - is it any wonder that I jumped on the opportunity to snag an advance copy of this book and share my thoughts with you? </div><div><br /></div><div>I've discovered that one of my favorite types of novels, for any age group, are those that weave a realistic setting with something "otherworldly". <u>The In-Between</u> definitely fits that bill. </div><div><br /></div><div>The realistic part of the story is filled with heart and empathy. Cooper's anger and detachment from his old friends feels deeply true. When you go through something as challenging as he has, with his complete loss of his father to his "new family", it can be almost impossible to face the people who knew you before. Ansari does a good job showing that this disconnect wasn't really anyone's fault. His old best friend keeps reaching out gently, but Cooper just isn't ready yet. When a new student, Gus, shows up on the bus, I felt so happy for Cooper to have that opportunity to make a new connection. In this way, the emotional heart of the story reminded me a lot of My Jasper June, by Laurel Snyder. (<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2019/09/my-jasper-june-by-laurel-snyder-blog.html">Which I also loved!</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Cooper's mother and sister are deftly written and understandable. The normal sibling conflict between Cooper and his sister, Jess, is made more challenging by their parents' divorce and Jess' recent diabetes diagnosis. While we don't really learn what happened to make their father abandon them, it was refreshing to see the message reinforced that sometimes the best thing for our own mental health can be to let people go. Cooper's mom is hard-working and needs to rely on Cooper to help support his sister. I loved how all of those things are just part of the fabric of their lives. Jess and Cooper's bond strengthens as they work to uncover more information about the mysterious deaths that Jess discovered. Sometimes an "annoying little sister" can become a valued friend. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4eOQ4r76SftxAmjLyPPZFMr_595CD-sTTWeuIuT4h1UEKjQP7VO7Uq76D9Q3puSv-hilmXEX8nLs13Q3K7SCOMM-TAdwMn57gsKEnhURPIzXXir9GXIKgsGjf8Ot1othRS4M6JYwfOM/s448/Praise+Quotes.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4eOQ4r76SftxAmjLyPPZFMr_595CD-sTTWeuIuT4h1UEKjQP7VO7Uq76D9Q3puSv-hilmXEX8nLs13Q3K7SCOMM-TAdwMn57gsKEnhURPIzXXir9GXIKgsGjf8Ot1othRS4M6JYwfOM/s320/Praise+Quotes.png" /></a></div>I'd love to share more about what I enjoyed about the mysterious and otherworldly elements, but I don't want to spoil anything for you! The girl next door is tied to the title of the novel, and the concept of the "In-Between" was deliciously spooky and intriguing. I was emotionally connected to Jess, Cooper, and Gus enough to feel genuine anxiety as they faced their final challenges. The ending felt satisfying, hopeful, and true. Those things, to me, are the true measure whether or not I've connected with the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't just take my word for it! The quotes of praise you see here definitely reflect my feelings about <u>The In-Between.</u> </div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMnjBaD2dN5KNb5rCEZZD0flJgO3QH7cypL6QO0DOvOeb2RxZhQ8mb0VJO_FnR6n2S9pWDUxf17fjfof266HXiCX5hT32ha0FvuNocBDEbg7FdTkkaJXW9VX8O87gD-AfPmTVtQiHS_0/s300/Author.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMnjBaD2dN5KNb5rCEZZD0flJgO3QH7cypL6QO0DOvOeb2RxZhQ8mb0VJO_FnR6n2S9pWDUxf17fjfof266HXiCX5hT32ha0FvuNocBDEbg7FdTkkaJXW9VX8O87gD-AfPmTVtQiHS_0/s0/Author.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">PHOTO CREDIT: PIXEL DUST</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>About the Author:</div><br />Rebecca lives in a very loud house in Minneapolis with her husband, four boys, and her seriously massive pets. After twelve years as an ER doctor, she shed her scrubs to write magical and mysterious worlds for middle-grade readers. She is drawn to any story that evokes, "Please, Mom! Just one more chapter!" and she strives to craft the same. Rebecca was the winner of the Minnesota SCBWI Mentorship for 2015. When she isn't writing, you can find her biking, cooking or escaping "up north" with family, friends, and a stack of good books.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br />Blog Tour 1/27-2/2<br /><br />January 27 <a href="http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/">Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers</a> @grgenius<br />January 28 <a href="http://mrsknottsbooknook.blogspot.com/">Michele Knott</a> @knott_michele<br />January 29 <a href="https://writersrumpus.com/">Writer's Rumpus</a> @writersrumpus<br />January 30 <a href="http://mariaselke.com/">Maria's Melange</a> @mariaselke<br />February 1 <a href="http://storymamas.com/">StoryMamas</a> @storymamas<br /> <a href="http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/">Charlotte's Library </a>@charlotteslibrary<br />February 2 <a href="https://alibrarymama.com/">A Library Mama</a> @alibrarymama<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iowaamberreads/">Iowa Amber Reads</a> @iowaamberreads<div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br /></span></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of the book for free from the publisher. This did not influence my thoughts about the book.</span></i>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-35810671413780321662020-07-15T14:00:00.000-04:002020-07-15T14:00:03.944-04:00THE AMBASSADOR OF NOWHERE TEXAS Cover Reveal!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekRXpWzA9br2qmOjfkV_NVVNh9ZGLvwf3rd6et7v2YGzl6mSbgAMDfZQPBTlZGLnVLy1GmXzoRQ-9jleKeG2IfeMpCGosYiL9n1Ov6wpvT37iOwnOwrnB3a8RrhAbnggDASICPqowW4s/s1600/IMG-1747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekRXpWzA9br2qmOjfkV_NVVNh9ZGLvwf3rd6et7v2YGzl6mSbgAMDfZQPBTlZGLnVLy1GmXzoRQ-9jleKeG2IfeMpCGosYiL9n1Ov6wpvT37iOwnOwrnB3a8RrhAbnggDASICPqowW4s/s320/IMG-1747.jpg" width="240" /></a>I'm so excited to be able to show you this cover, y'all. Am I using that term correctly? I'm a relatively new transplant to Texas, and I'm still getting the hang of the terminology....<br />
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The photo to the right isn't the cover, of course. It's just the fun stuff I'm acquiring to decorate my house now that I'm a Texan....<br />
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Keep Scrolling down for the cover of the upcoming middle grade novel, <u>The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas,</u> by Kimberly Willis Holt....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRLS2-QpX4mKJ-wDg3DuKbjLFEjCjKKZUVGTGzWEQTE_gz3jrBa0I6T9p4Yp5D3_as_KSrsOKQCrpI7ZSByMm9IHUVqVvwbuOqxN6dJsast8cEio2wvS4jR8qgLxD20suxH8hc_aANBE/s1600/THE+AMBASSADOR+OF+NOWHERE+TEXAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRLS2-QpX4mKJ-wDg3DuKbjLFEjCjKKZUVGTGzWEQTE_gz3jrBa0I6T9p4Yp5D3_as_KSrsOKQCrpI7ZSByMm9IHUVqVvwbuOqxN6dJsast8cEio2wvS4jR8qgLxD20suxH8hc_aANBE/s640/THE+AMBASSADOR+OF+NOWHERE+TEXAS.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bit.ly/NowhereTX&source=gmail&ust=1594910077967000&usg=AFQjCNH0s5tiOAYqZ4cxXJ_Rz4ijdijfTg" href="https://bit.ly/NowhereTX" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://bit.<wbr></wbr>ly/NowhereTX</a> <-- Check out more information about the book here!maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-67639078686255590582020-05-13T00:30:00.000-04:002020-05-13T00:30:00.299-04:00Blog Tour for One Last Shot by John David Anderson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa47hiKbdBRNJS7-5fzMWdatTgg_J5BncctImkaL19NQmCZkfre2FNL2SdzWIJT739nhOJ3vfRo8RWd1zvmL_SKwKN0ZeyfTi1nKTg4LtxFuQs7vavm6KitgtqDUvznnNJSoA3ijrfWA/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="624" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa47hiKbdBRNJS7-5fzMWdatTgg_J5BncctImkaL19NQmCZkfre2FNL2SdzWIJT739nhOJ3vfRo8RWd1zvmL_SKwKN0ZeyfTi1nKTg4LtxFuQs7vavm6KitgtqDUvznnNJSoA3ijrfWA/s400/image001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm so excited to join the blog tour for John David Anderson's latest middle grade novel! Be sure to check out the giveaway toward the bottom of the post. Enter your information before May 21st to win a copy (sent from the publisher). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDD-ipjgYktOkrwPUS13lvjxc8tctW67N6m1O-EfTCfgm13Mot-8r5heXYGikODBfwqp_DV-FQ0L4ghhwZGTXWdFEcJAu-Lu45I3UfEU3IH-OW9WCgFlMWQMm1PAFETCzRE-V9o6e-SpA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-05-10+at+5.55.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDD-ipjgYktOkrwPUS13lvjxc8tctW67N6m1O-EfTCfgm13Mot-8r5heXYGikODBfwqp_DV-FQ0L4ghhwZGTXWdFEcJAu-Lu45I3UfEU3IH-OW9WCgFlMWQMm1PAFETCzRE-V9o6e-SpA/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-05-10+at+5.55.58+PM.png" width="215" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span class="il">ONE</span> <span class="il">LAST</span> <span class="il">SHOT</span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">by John David Anderson, published by Walden Pond Press, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 978-0062643926</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">About the book: </b>(summary from publisher)<br />
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The beloved author of Ms. Bixby’s Last Day and Posted returns with a humorous, heartwarming story of family, friendship, and miniature golf.<br />
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For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like he was good enough. Not for his parents, who have always seemed at odds with each other, with Malcolm caught in between. And especially not for his dad, whose competitive drive and love for sports Malcolm has never shared.<br />
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That is, until Malcolm discovers miniature golf, the one sport he actually enjoys. Maybe it’s the way in which every hole is a puzzle to be solved. Or the whimsy of the windmills and waterfalls that decorate the course. Or maybe it’s the slushies at the snack bar. But whatever the reason, something about mini golf just clicks for Malcolm. And best of all, it’s a sport his dad can’t possibly obsess over.<br />
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Or so Malcolm thinks.<br />
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Soon he is signed up for lessons and entered in tournaments. And yet, even as he becomes a better golfer and finds unexpected friends at the local course, be wonders if he might not always be a disappointment. But as the final match of the year draws closer, the tension between Malcolm’s parents reaches a breaking point, and it’s up to him to put the puzzle of his family back together again.<br />
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<b>My Thoughts: </b><br />
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Quarantine was supposed to be a time for me to get so much reading done, right? Apparently my brain hasn't gotten that message. There have been a lot of books I've started but struggled to really fully immerse into. I'm happy to report that <u>One Last Shot </u>had a story that blasted right through that fuzziness in my brain. I loved it from start to finish.<br />
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<i><b>The characters: </b></i>I absolutely loved Malcolm. Anderson has a knack for creating main characters who are delightfully quirky. Malcolm is the kind of kid I would have enjoyed hanging out with as a kid (yeah, I was also kinda quirky). He's also the kind of kid I would adore having in my classroom now. He's kind, but doesn't always fit in well. He doesn't enjoy the things his father loves, but he struggles with admitting that because he doesn't want to hurt his dad's feelings. Of course, Malcolm isn't the only character I adored. He becomes friends with Lex, and it's the sweetest meeting and friendship ever. She's another odd duck that I'd love to have in class. I mean, I had a ton of cool pins when I was her age, too. I wonder if she'd trade pins with me? <i>(Fun side fact - my favorite pin *I* owned as a tween was one that said "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person)</i><br />
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<i><b>The structure: </b></i>I'm a sucker for books that dive back and forth a bit in time. We experience the story with Malcolm as he's in a mini-golf competition, and we see all the things that led to this day along the way. I find that a structure like that keeps my interest high. I'll see a clue, and then later see how it all fits together. I think will also enjoy the structure.<br />
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Overall, this is a wonderful read. I highly recommend picking this book up for the middle grade readers in your life! (John David Anderson consistently puts out great novels. Scroll down to see links for reviews I've written for many of his other titles)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2bJp5jvtvZ43xSATiwCcS7-T57Ove8-PvNbuArRlSTuve-0eivLgm8LdXakb0z_kkfTPldHlxEglzbTysGLV09n6NQbYHhoFaSV5cOzEdvbLxoULwbT5zQ22n9iQjclDnwFy9miczpA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-05-10+at+5.56.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="482" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2bJp5jvtvZ43xSATiwCcS7-T57Ove8-PvNbuArRlSTuve-0eivLgm8LdXakb0z_kkfTPldHlxEglzbTysGLV09n6NQbYHhoFaSV5cOzEdvbLxoULwbT5zQ22n9iQjclDnwFy9miczpA/s200/Screen+Shot+2020-05-10+at+5.56.17+PM.png" width="133" /></a><br />
<b>About the Author</b><br />
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John David Anderson is the author of some of the most beloved and highly acclaimed books for kids in recent memory, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, Sidekicked, and The Dungeoneers. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife and two frawsome kids in Indianapolis, Indiana. He’s never eaten seven scoops of ice cream in a single sitting, but he thinks it sounds like a terrific idea. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.johndavidanderson.org/">www.johndavidanderson.org</a>.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="710" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8ITrZ3kBtbor1UXRV5SbYav4IlX-Zx8SoaWZOcH5xKZlYgw/viewform?embedded=true" width="640">Loading…</iframe>
Check out the other stops on the blog tour!<br />
May 4 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/">Nerdy Book Club</a><br />
May 7 <a href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/2020/">Teachers Who Read</a><br />
May 8 <a href="https://alibrarymama.com/">A Library Mama</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kirsticall.com/">Kirsti Call</a><br />
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May 10 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a><br />
May 12 <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers</a><br />
May 13 <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/">Maria’s Mélange</a><br />
May 14 <a href="https://thebookmonsters.com/">The Book Monsters</a><br />
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**I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher. This did not impact my review of the book**<br />
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My posts for his other titles...<br />
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<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/granted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Granted</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/04/posted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Posted </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/the-dungeoneers-happy-book-birthday.html" target="_blank">Dungeoneers (Q&A)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/dungeoneers-by-john-david-anderson-tour.html" target="_blank">Dungeoneers (fun author post)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/review-of-sidekicked.html" target="_blank">Sidekicked (review)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/sidekicked-blog-tour-top-ten-bystanders.html" target="_blank">Sidekicked (fun author post) </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2014/06/blog-tour-minion-by-john-david-anderson.html" target="_blank">Minion</a><br />
<br />maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-34947365262252609462019-12-06T00:30:00.000-05:002019-12-06T00:30:05.793-05:00The Treacherous Seas by Christopher Healy Blog Tour<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome back to my blog - I'm so excited to tell you about Christopher Healy's latest release!</span><br />
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Remember this classic 80s commercial? If you aren't quite as old as me - take a quick peek. I'll wait...<br />
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Instead of "you got chocolate in my peanut butter".... I like to think of Healy's latest series as<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"You got humor in my historical fiction! You got historical fiction in my humor!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you- it's a delicious combination. </span></div>
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Don't get me wrong - I do love regular historical fiction. I've read stories from so many time periods. Take me back to the middle ages to travel with a troubadour. Let me feel the fear of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. Bring me the thrill of the early space program or the agony of watching the Berlin Wall go up. I'll read it all. But one thing that hasn't been a common factor of any of that powerful historical fiction is humor.<br />
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Healy has proven himself a master of the crack-me-up. His Hero's Guide series proved his ability to craft characters and plot that make me giggle. So when I picked up his first Danger and Mayhem book, I knew I was in for a treat. (<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/09/a-perilous-journey-of-danger-mayhem.html" target="_blank">My thoughts on book one (with nonfiction connections) </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/10/perilous-journey-q-with-christopher.html" target="_blank">Q&A with Healy after book one (Perilous Journey) </a>) </div>
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The Treacherous Seas is the same kind of rip-roaring adventure tale. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves the age of inventors, adventure stories, learning about amazing women from the past, or even just kids who want to laugh. You'll get your dose of history in a spoonful of sugar... and that makes it go down easy! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">About the Book (text from the publisher) </span><br />
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<b>A <span class="il">Perilous</span> Journey of Danger & Mayhem #2: The Treacherous Seas<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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<b>by Christopher Healy</b></div>
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It is 1883—only a few months after Molly Pepper, her mother, Cassandra, and her friend Emmett, saved New York from an attack by the megalomaniacal Ambrose Rector while managing to preserve the reputations of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, whose technology was manipulated in Rector’s scheme. Their selfless heroism will finally earn them a place in the Inventors’ Guild, alongside the greatest minds of their generation.<br />
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Unless, of course, no one knows that they did any of that. Left with nothing but empty promises and a struggling pickle shop after the government chooses to cover up the crisis, Molly, Cassandra, and Emmett have no idea where to turn—until they learn of a daring expedition to the South Pole, where an meteorite of mysterious power is embedded, and where Emmett’s father, explorer and ship captain Wendell Lee, disappeared years ago.<br />
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With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, our heroes commandeer an experimental seacraft to make their play on the pole. But the trip is more treacherous than they realize, and there’s no guarantee that they will return successful—if they even return at all.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span><br />
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Christopher Healy is the author of the novels A Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem #1: A Dastardly Plot, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, its two sequels, The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle and The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw and the picture book This Is Not That Kind Of Book. Before becoming a writer, he worked as an actor, an ad copywriter, a toy store display designer, a fact-checker, a dishwasher, a journalist, a costume shop clothing stitcher, a children’s entertainment reviewer, and a haunted house zombie. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Duncan. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.christopherhealy.com/">www.christopherhealy.com</a><br />
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Check out other Melange posts that feature Christopher Healy's work...</div>
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<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/09/a-perilous-journey-of-danger-mayhem.html" target="_blank">My thoughts on book one (with nonfiction connections) </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/10/perilous-journey-q-with-christopher.html" target="_blank">Q&A with Healy after book one (Perilous Journey) </a></div>
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Be sure to visit the other stops on the BLOG TOUR!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">@bluesockgirl<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">December 3<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">December 5<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">@mariaselke<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">December 17<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-40927387059468916932019-10-28T16:14:00.001-04:002019-10-28T16:14:20.360-04:00If Elephants Disappeared -- Q&A with Lily Williams<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRxqhr1vfn9ZsI3eO5K7PCCRAJC_0pnguoWiP205zyUBHRkklSLPYeKid5UcSHQcU2EHP4yxa6YmekWQ1b5KQx8igmVv1484JCUi48ruUa8ABPhenANBjctaugIn-8DAefiVQoMEf66k/s1600/IMG-0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRxqhr1vfn9ZsI3eO5K7PCCRAJC_0pnguoWiP205zyUBHRkklSLPYeKid5UcSHQcU2EHP4yxa6YmekWQ1b5KQx8igmVv1484JCUi48ruUa8ABPhenANBjctaugIn-8DAefiVQoMEf66k/s320/IMG-0086.jpg" width="320" /></a>I was so excited to be able to ask Lily Williams some questions for this blog post. It was even better because I was able to set aside some time to have my fifth grade students at ACE Academy (in Austin, TX) create the questions. We read Lily's first two books - <u>If Polar Bears Disappeared</u> and <u>If Sharks Disappeared</u>. Then we looked at some of the information on her author site to give us better ideas for questions. My students were fascinated. A few made the connection to some of the current activities going on around the world to call attention to climate change, and we had a good discussion about that.<br />
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I highly recommend all three of these picture book titles. The information is shared in a way that captivates kids and gets them excited about learning. The illustrations are amazing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPYyMpK83GTqrYYG1Z91ye52R3BlePWxzopq8VWw50LR28A-bysETobBWVWRWKG1y_DhRr-hJPkVb66eMWBSieXOxHdQ6tdUYEU7-uqxf6VSMv7NXjl9RTpPkzAGIGzoL_fLG9jMPgSA/s1600/LilyWilliamsHeadshot_HQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPYyMpK83GTqrYYG1Z91ye52R3BlePWxzopq8VWw50LR28A-bysETobBWVWRWKG1y_DhRr-hJPkVb66eMWBSieXOxHdQ6tdUYEU7-uqxf6VSMv7NXjl9RTpPkzAGIGzoL_fLG9jMPgSA/s200/LilyWilliamsHeadshot_HQ.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
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<br /><br />Here are the questions my students created, along with Lily's answers...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Do you use reference photos for illustrating?</b><br /><br />A. I always do for my If Animals Disappeared series. Even though my style is "cartoony", it is crucial that the plants, animals, and ecosystems be accurate just like the words are scientifically accurate.<br /><br /><br /><b>Do you have favorite snacks while working?</b><br />A. Fruit, probably. I love all fruit.<br /><br /><br /><b>Have you always cared about environmental issues? What got you started?</b><br /><br />A. I absolutely loved sharks my whole life and this series started with a set of infographics I made to help people understand why sharks are important. I wrote and illustrated it in a way where someone like myself (a person who has often struggled with traditional teaching methods) could understand. Then my editor saw them online and loved them and asked me to write a book, which turned into a series. So it all started with a desire to explain something to myself, out of a love for a favorite animal.<br /><br /><br /><b>How do you plan out your illustrations?</b><br /><br />A. I start with thumbnails which are very small, then I go to sketches, and then finals. I often collect my reference images when I am in the sketch phase so that when I go to final illustration, I have all of the reference images I need ready.<br /><br /><br /><b>What do you hope students will do with this information after reading?</b><br />A. I hope it first sparks some thinking and discussion about our planet. Talking about issues is a great way to spread the word and maybe even educate those around you! I always include a list of things that kids can do in the back of the books so that they feel empowered by their own voice and ability to make a change after reading.<br /><br /><br /><b>What do you plan for your next book? Have you already started?</b><br /><br />A. I am almost finished with If Bees Disappeared!<br /><br /><br /><b>How do you draft? (type, hand write)</b><br /><br />A. A combination of both.<br /><br /><br /><b>Who was your favorite author as a child?</b><br /><br />A. Kevin Henkes, JK Rowling, and so many more... I have tons of favorites!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>Check out <a href="https://lilywilliamsart.com/bio/">Lily Williams' website</a> for more information about her books, her art, and what she hopes we will all do with this information! <br /><br /><br />Since we created these questions, I received a copy of her newest book - <u>If Elephants Disappeared</u>. I can't wait to share that one with my students as well!</i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I purchased my own copies of her first two books and received a copy of the third from the publisher.)</span>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-47164700060958532062019-09-16T00:30:00.000-04:002019-09-16T00:30:04.155-04:00My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for <u>My Jasper June</u>, by Laurel Snyder. I was so excited to be asked to join this tour, as I read my advance copy of the book this past June. I was in the middle of my own life changes (a huge move across the country), and the beauty of the writing and the friendship within were just what I needed along the way. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom and enter for a chance to win a copy of this book - which will be sent to the winner by the publisher. </i><br />
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
When your life has changed drastically, as Leah's life has when we first meet her, you can feel like you've been left behind by everyone to whom you had been deeply connected. Leah is clearly walking around in a daze. In her numbness, she's narrating her life inside her head, instead of really feeling anything. Snyder does a wonderful job of showing that to us, and I immediately felt the ache of her loss of normalcy. Leah glides through neighborhood and friendship traditions, but she knows she just doesn't fit anymore. "I had been a part of something, a puzzle piece, and now it was like a bit of me had broken off and I didn't fit the puzzle anymore."<br />
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I love how deeply we feel this loss with her. We see her acknowledge the changes, and we see her decide to let go of old friendships and connections that just aren't working anymore.<br />
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The best part for me, though, was seeing the power of the hope she feels once she meets Jasper. The magical friendship that hadn't been part of her old life gave her the chance to begin to make new choices. When Leah takes the tiny step of sharing her name with Jasper, I knew she was on the path to a new beginning.<br />
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Another thing I appreciated about this book was how no one was the "bad guy". Leah's parents were loving and human. The way they coped with their family's loss was unhelpful for Leah, but didn't come from a place of trying to harm her. They were hurting too, and it took the outside influence of Jasper's own situation to snap them out of it. Leah's friends and neighbors were also just trying their best. The truth is that no one really knows how to help someone who is grieving, and so a lot of us get it wrong. I was thankful for those portrayals in the story and I hope that it will help me - and all of those who read the book - as we attempt to be there for those we love in times of loss.<br />
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Losses separate us. Secrets separate us. Numbness separates us. Yet there will come a time when something will crack and let the light in. <u>My Jasper June</u> shows us that we can be the light that slips into those cracks, as long as we are looking for them.<br />
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<i>Who will love this book?</i><br />
Honestly, I think there is something in this book that is so desperately needed for all of the upper elementary and early middle school students I've ever taught. Currently, I can think of a few students I would like to immediately give it to. Those are my students who hunger for what they call "real stories". They really want stories about regular kids working through real life situations. Hand it to them first.<br />
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If you are giving this book to a child who loves to write, be sure to have them read Laurel Snyder's blog post about this book. It is called <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2019/09/06/failure-if-you-let-it-a-tale-of-extreme-revision-by-laurel-snyder/" target="_blank">"FAILURE IF YOU LET IT: A TALE OF EXTREME REVISION"</a>.<br />
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<i>How can I use this book in the classroom?</i><br />
I'm so glad you asked! My Jasper June would make a wonderful read-aloud that showcases the power of beautiful writing as well as empathy and friendship. It would also be fabulous for small book groups. Walden Pond Press has a <a href="https://www.walden.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/My-Jasper-June-Ed-Guide-Final.pdf" target="_blank">teacher's guide available</a> that has some excellent discussion questions and activities you can use as a starting point.<br />
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>About the Book</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 12pt;">Laurel Snyder, author of </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Orphan Island, </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">returns with another unforgettable story of the moments in which we find out who we are, and the life-altering friendships that show us what we can be.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">The school year is over, and it is summer in Atlanta. The sky is blue, the sun is blazing, and the days brim with possibility. But Leah feels. . . lost. She has been this way since one terrible afternoon a year ago, when everything changed. Since that day, her parents have become distant, her friends have fallen away, and Leah’s been adrift and alone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">Then she meets <span class="il">Jasper</span>, a girl unlike anyone she has ever known. There’s something mysterious about <span class="il">Jasper</span>, almost magical. And <span class="il">Jasper</span>, Leah discovers, is also lost.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">Together, the two girls carve out a place for themselves, a hideaway in the overgrown spaces of Atlanta, away from their parents and their hardships, somewhere only they can find.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">But as the days of this magical <span class="il">June</span> start to draw to a close, and the darker realities of their lives intrude once more, Leah and <span class="il">Jasper</span> have to decide how real their friendship is, </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">and whether it can be enough to save them both.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><i>R.J. Palacio, author of </i>Wonder,<i> had this to say</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>:</i> </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">"This book is a treasure -- a touching story of friendship, loss, and finding beauty in the everyday, with characters who stay with you long after you've turned the final page. I absolutely loved it." </i></span></div>
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<b><b style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Century;">About the Author</b></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">Laurel Snyder is the author of picture books and novels for children, including National Book Award nominee </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Orphan Island </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Charlie & Mouse</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "century"; font-size: 11pt;">. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she currently teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. She lives in Atlanta with her family and can be found online at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.laurelsnyder.com&source=gmail&ust=1568671138210000&usg=AFQjCNEjLpWLy2Ivafk0xZfXFGKVyIJB5w" href="http://www.laurelsnyder.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.laurelsnyder.com</a>.</span></div>
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Visit other stops on the Blog Tour...<br />
September 4 <a href="https://www.openbookreviews.org/">Open Book Reviews</a> <br />
September 5 <a href="https://www.teacherswhoread.com/">Teachers Who Read</a> <br />
September 6 <a href="http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/">Nerdy Book Club</a><br />
September 9 <a href="http://readwonder.blogspot.com/">Read Wonder</a> <br />
September 10 <a href="http://abouttomock.blogspot.com/">About to Mock</a> <br />
September 11 <a href="https://novelnovice.com/">Novel Novice</a> <br />
September 12 <a href="http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/">Create Explore Read</a> <br />
September 13 <a href="https://thebookmonsters.com/">Book Monsters</a> <br />
September 16 <a href="http://mariaselke.com/">Maria's Melange</a> <br />
September 17 <a href="https://writersrumpus.com/">Writer's Rumpus</a> <br />
September 18 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a> <br />
September 19 <a href="http://storymamas.com/">Storymamas</a> <br />
September 20 <a href="http://iowaamberreads/">Amber Kuehler</a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher, Walden Pond Press. The thoughts in this post are my own opinions. </i></span>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-8856676484091780332019-05-27T08:44:00.003-04:002019-05-27T08:44:27.640-04:00The Library of Ever - Author Q&A<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I read this fun adventure while on the plane heading toward my OWN adventure. You see, I'm a lifelong Pennsylvania gal who is moving to Austin, TX this summer. I'm sure I'll need to hit up my new local library to learn more about my new home, and I also had some questions for the author. Read his fun responses below!</div>
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Who longs for all the knowledge of the universe at their fingertips? Who KNOWS they would make an excellent Librarian, even if they need to start as "Fourth Assistant Apprentice"? Who loves maps and penguins and tardigrades and ... well, you get the idea.<br />
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Is that you? Is that a child you adore or a student in your classroom? If so, then <u>The Library of Ever</u> by Zeno Alexander is the perfect book for you!<br />
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AUTHOR Q & A</div>
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<br /><i>1) Do you have a special library memory? I'll share some of mine below, but I'd love to hear about yours!</i><br /><br />I have many, as I was fortunate to live near a wonderful library when I was a young child. One of them is a memory of seeing Halley’s Comet at an evening viewing arranged by the librarians. This has nothing to do with books, or even being inside the library, but a simple memory of an experience the library provided outdoors at night, and likely another step on the road toward my lifelong love of astronomy. We become whoever we are because of moments like these. Telescopes make an appearance in The Library of Ever as a result. Most everything in the background of the story comes from one of my personal library experiences. <br /><br /><br /><i>2) What is your favorite "world library"? Are there any you'd love to visit but haven't been to yet?</i><br />There are an infinite number I’d like to visit (as they keep making new ones, fortunately). That is impossible, but I’ll do my best. One of my favorite library visits was to the Haus Potsdamer Straße library in Berlin, which was such a memorable setting in Wim Wender’s film The Wings of Desire, with angels reading over the shoulders of patrons and listening to their thoughts. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjQ8yZDQyEw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjQ8yZDQyEw</a> for a clip)<br /><br /><br /><i>3) I love how maps figure prominently in the book as well. Do you have any favorite maps? Are they real world or from books?</i><br />I have many books of maps, of both real and imaginary places. Some of the books have imaginary maps of real places, because we have very little to go on as to what those places actually looked like. Many of these maps can be found on the walls of the Cartography section through which Lenora adventures in the Library. <br /><br /><br /><i>4) What were some of your sources of inspiration for this book?</i><br /><br />The dreamworld logic of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and the fantastic cityscapes found in Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland. <br /><br /><br /><i>5) What snacks do you like while reading and/or writing?</i><br />Coffee, coffee, coffee. Coffee makes an appearance in Book Two of The Library of Ever series — Rebel in the Library of Ever, launching in April 2020. I never eat until after my morning’s writing is finished!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Kaylee knows SHE would make a fabulous Librarian!</td></tr>
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<i>As promised - here are some of my own favorite library moments..</i><br />
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1) Walking to my local library on weekends and many days over the summer. It wasn't a close walk - a bit over a mile - but it was worth it.<br />
2) Summer library programs. We even did plays each year - and one year I got to be the ring leader for a Three Ring Circus themed production.<br />
3) Visiting the Trinity College Library in Dublin. Seeing the Book of Kells wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped, due to big crowds, but walking through the rest of the library was an almost religious experience.<br />
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Check out more information, as well as some excellent quotes and reviews, on the <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250169174" target="_blank">Macmillan site</a>..<br />
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<i>(I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher, but it did not influence my review)</i>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-26118862147960745452019-05-09T00:30:00.000-04:002019-05-09T06:17:36.120-04:00Blog Tour for Finding Orion by John David Anderson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtuFgUJx5Ri2j7kSXxdRgB1fh1dQFLuqArLc5_YQvCnmHMjnOWIXIyer58AF1IXy2nZ9Dx2pE6bhuYGq2E8QKDdzMYaw7rVyKUGDPIxZd5BAaYlmZypfjN7N9W5E8hdbRtY8kNXSnjtk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-07+at+5.17.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="801" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtuFgUJx5Ri2j7kSXxdRgB1fh1dQFLuqArLc5_YQvCnmHMjnOWIXIyer58AF1IXy2nZ9Dx2pE6bhuYGq2E8QKDdzMYaw7rVyKUGDPIxZd5BAaYlmZypfjN7N9W5E8hdbRtY8kNXSnjtk/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-05-07+at+5.17.34+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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As always, I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of John David Anderson's latest book. I've enjoyed everything he's written - and I've participated in blog tours to celebrate almost all of them! Take a look at the synopsis of the book, then check out my thoughts about this latest release.<br />
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<b>FINDING ORION</b> by John David Anderson<br />
Publishing on May 7, 2019 by Walden Pond Press, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers<br />
ISBN: 978-0-06-26489-6<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkAP8hU3le2Q3vDUOEE3HqzuMrwrOHrcMBAiPAzu74aV0QLQc_wcLjo39hEhZX9wa1e2ygdUJy1uvm-AEU2EYH-8V_JBIOzA8kCvdfGGHsOgChfs7Ve0FFxks0IV1QmAy7HBI_IitJA/s1600/findingorion+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkAP8hU3le2Q3vDUOEE3HqzuMrwrOHrcMBAiPAzu74aV0QLQc_wcLjo39hEhZX9wa1e2ygdUJy1uvm-AEU2EYH-8V_JBIOzA8kCvdfGGHsOgChfs7Ve0FFxks0IV1QmAy7HBI_IitJA/s320/findingorion+jacket.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
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<i>(Overview from publisher)</i><br />
Sometimes you need to lose something in order to find yourself.<br />
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Beloved author John David Anderson returns with a heartwarming, heartbreaking and unforgettable story of the true power and limits of family.<br />
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Ron Kwirk comes from a rather odd family. His mother named him and his sisters after her favorite constellations, and his father makes funky-flavored jelly beans for a living. One sister acts as if she’s always onstage, and the other is a walking dictionary. But no one in the family is more odd than Rion’s grandfather, Papa Kwirk.<br />
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He’s the kind of guy who shows up on his motorcycle only on holidays, handing out crossbows and stuffed squirrels as presents. Rion has always been fascinated by Papa Kwirk, especially since his son—Rion’s father—is the complete opposite. Where Dad is predictable, nerdy, and reassuringly boring, Papa Kwirk is mysterious, dangerous, and cool.<br />
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Which is why, when Rion and his family learn of Papa Kwirk’s death and pile into the car to attend his funeral and pay their respects, Rion can’t help but fell that that’s not the end of the story. That there’s so much more to Papa Kwirk to discover.<br />
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He doesn’t know how right he is.<br />
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My Thoughts...</h4>
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I'm a sucker for quirky kids, and this family really earns the name Kwirk. I also love the kids who want to NOT be seen as quite as unusual -- and the kids who sometimes straddle that line. I loved how we slowly learned more about Rion's grandfather, and I think my students will also love the slightly mysterious path the family takes on that journey. </div>
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Personally - I adored Rion's mother. I think it's great to be able to share a book with students where we all can find deep connections. Rion's mother's love for space brought me back to my childhood passion for NASA. (Yes, I have a favorite constellation and it is ORION. I also idolized Sally Ride.) </div>
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Anderson nails both the humor and the tender emotions in this story. This is a loving family that has some normal and not-so-normal challenges. This is a story about how we may not really know what we think we know about our families. Maybe Rion's story will help us learn to open our eyes and hearts to those around us. To really SEE them for all of their complexities and foibles. To assume less and accept more. To seek and find the good hearted reasons behind behaviors we may not like or understand. After all, aren't more acceptance and understanding some of the best outcomes from a good book?</div>
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This would be a WONDERFUL title for a small group read, for a read-aloud, or to hand off to any child who is looking for a realistic fiction title with humor and heart. </div>
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<b>About the Author</b><br />
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John David Anderson is the author of some of the most beloved and highly acclaimed books for kids in recent memory, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, Sidekicked, and The Dungeoneers. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife and two frawsome kids in Indianapolis, Indiana. He’s never eaten seven scoops of ice cream in a single sitting, but he thinks it sounds like a terrific idea. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.johndavidanderson.org/">www.johndavidanderson.org</a><br />
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Check out the other stops on the blog tour!<br />
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Blog Tour May 6-14 2019<br />
May 6 <a href="http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/">Nerdy Book Club</a><br />
May 7 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a><br />
May 8 <a href="http://thebookmonsters.com/">The Book Monsters</a><br />
May 9 <a href="http://mariaselke.com/">Maria’s Melange</a><br />
May 13 <a href="https://thiskidreviewsbooks.com/">This Kid Reviews Books</a><br />
May 14 <a href="http://kirsticall.com/">Kirsti Call</a><br />
<a href="http://unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers</a><br />
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**I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher. This did not impact my review of the book**<br />
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My posts for his other titles...<br />
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<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/03/granted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Granted</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2017/04/posted-by-john-david-anderson-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Posted </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/the-dungeoneers-happy-book-birthday.html" target="_blank">Dungeoneers (Q&A)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2015/06/dungeoneers-by-john-david-anderson-tour.html" target="_blank">Dungeoneers (fun author post)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/review-of-sidekicked.html" target="_blank">Sidekicked (review)</a> . <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/07/sidekicked-blog-tour-top-ten-bystanders.html" target="_blank">Sidekicked (fun author post) </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2014/06/blog-tour-minion-by-john-david-anderson.html" target="_blank">Minion</a><br />
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maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-43396038190688749442019-03-14T00:30:00.000-04:002019-03-14T06:01:26.816-04:00The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly - Blog Tour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOK6Lus5o0CTmlWlVyNvXOzgRgC1ANN-jTJTG7ljjWsVSfvVEybv-myZwDB-SEoq-kURdcUo8SxVlfwhfu_edeD5EkQz24kyHrRU_vNTRqUzqMgHD72qu-pewD4N4qg9spfPRFBNIkR8/s1600/TheMIssingP+hc+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOK6Lus5o0CTmlWlVyNvXOzgRgC1ANN-jTJTG7ljjWsVSfvVEybv-myZwDB-SEoq-kURdcUo8SxVlfwhfu_edeD5EkQz24kyHrRU_vNTRqUzqMgHD72qu-pewD4N4qg9spfPRFBNIkR8/s320/TheMIssingP+hc+c.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to the latest stop on the blog tour for </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly!</u></span><br />
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<b>ABOUT THE BOOK</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(from publisher)</span><br />
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Charlie O’Reilly is an only child. Which is why it makes everyone uncomfortable when he talks about his brother.<br />
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Liam. His eight-year-old kid brother, who, up until a year ago, slept in the bunk above Charlie, took pride in being as annoying as possible, and was the only person who could make Charlie laugh until it hurt.<br />
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Then came the morning when the bunk, and Liam, disappeared forever. No one even remembers him—not Charlie’s mother, who has been lost in her own troubles; and not Charlie’s father, who is gone frequently on business trips. The only person who believes Charlie is his best friend, Ana—even if she has no memory of Liam, she is as determined as Charlie is to figure out what happened to him.<br />
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The search seems hopeless—until Charlie receives a mysterious note, written in Liam’s handwriting. The note leads Charlie and Ana to make some profound discoveries about a magic they didn’t know existed, and they soon realize that if they’re going to save Liam, they may need to risk being forgotten themselves, forever.<br />
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
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I know so many people have started out their review of this book by pointing to the opening - but I'm going to jump on that as well. I mean - the first page of a story is SO IMPORTANT. It sets the tone. It dumps us into the world the author has created. It hooks a reader. Ansari does all of that from the very first page. </div>
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After reading just one page ...</div>
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-- We know</div>
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There is a weirdly mysterious event in Charlie's life.</div>
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Charlie's relationship with his little brother sounds like one almost any sibling could recognize.</div>
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Charlie is organized, stubborn, and sure of what he knows to be true.</div>
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-- We wonder</div>
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If Liam really exists. Did Charlie make him up, or is everyone else missing this piece?</div>
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I loved how the story explored themes of guilt, regret, trust, and forgiveness in both children and adults. I loved the friendship between the main character and his best friend Ana. I love how she supports him even though she also doesn't remember his brother Liam. </div>
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My one caution to adults is to make sure students also have other stories or information that talk about depression. Charlie's mother's depression in this story feels very real in many ways, but the resolution (without giving too much away) is often not how things end for those with depression. It works for this story, absolutely, but I'd want to make sure kids understand that depression in the real world has many causes and many long paths to recovery or remission. </div>
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The story itself is filled with places I stopped and wondered about what, exactly, was happening. As little tidbits become clearer, it was fun to think back on the clues Ansari left for us along the way. I love stories like that. Stories where I can also help students really dig back to see the kind of craft authors use to set us up for a surprise that also "clicks" as it happens. </div>
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Overall, <u>The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly</u> is a book I can't wait to get into my classroom. It's filled with mystery, suspense, creepy vibes, and friendship. I look forward to seeing how my students react to this novel! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXzJ7xExPe9OQ6XMqeUbyPVVNmCeQafkdPaq9TNBoFnpsji28JmmTXDmgcj0Z3W_MP_PmMjcOl7f5pLolTD2AkxWC2r0xt0omkD_V4vws1BMoJxJyfIFOKTzGWEM1HRi7iFeuqKA6y8o/s1600/rksa3+credit+Pixel+Dust+PhotographyAmber+Rishavy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXzJ7xExPe9OQ6XMqeUbyPVVNmCeQafkdPaq9TNBoFnpsji28JmmTXDmgcj0Z3W_MP_PmMjcOl7f5pLolTD2AkxWC2r0xt0omkD_V4vws1BMoJxJyfIFOKTzGWEM1HRi7iFeuqKA6y8o/s320/rksa3+credit+Pixel+Dust+PhotographyAmber+Rishavy.jpg" width="213" /></a>ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
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Rebecca K.S. Ansari is a former ER doctor. The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly is her first book. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, four sons, and some seriously massive pets.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zjk9nvpbd7oxk1p/190215-MissingPiece-edguide-4.pdf?dl=0">Teacher's Guide</a><br />
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Don't miss any pieces of the blog tour!!<br />
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<b>THE MISSING PIECE OF CHARILE O’REILLY BLOG TOUR</b><br />
March 8 <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2019/03/08/those-jeans-by-rebecca-k-s-ansari/" target="_blank">Nerdy Book Club</a> @nerdybookclub<br />
March 9 <a href="https://thebookmonsters.com/">The Book Monsters</a> @TheBookMonsters<br />
March 11 <a href="https://litcoachlou.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-missing-piece-of-charlie-oreilly-by.html">LitCoach Lou</a> @litcoachlou<br />
March 12 <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-missing-piece-of-charlie-oreilly.html">Bluestocking Thinking</a> @BlueSockGirl<br />
March 13 <a href="http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/">A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust</a> @bethshaum<br />
March 14 <a href="http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/">Maria’s Mélange</a> @mariaselke<br />
March 15 <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers</a> @unleashreaders<br />
March 18 <a href="http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/">March Middle Grade Madness at Word Spelunking</a> @wordspelunker<br />
March 29 <a href="https://writersrumpus.com/">Writers’ Rumpus</a> @kirsticall<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer - I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to publish this review, and receiving the copy did not alter my thoughts on the book!</span></i></div>
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maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-9861018900262121952019-02-04T00:30:00.000-05:002019-03-14T06:02:03.225-04:00The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu Blog Tour<br />
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As I was beginning to mentally process what I wanted to share about this amazing book, there was a flurry of social media activity about it. Anne Ursu posted a lovely photo of a stack of author copies of Lost Girl and received a response of “Excellent. But how do we keep boys reading?”. That response was from a man - but I have seen similar thoughts expressed by women. This exchange prompted a storm of responses, and I think it is important to remember one vital thing…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m74r5fzEtNwVbm1Ft2Gt7mrIRGTjVtYJaPd_Uievsh3hquEm4iANbmadxKWkJqrH0YWWmI-Gvw-FySVe7BPJQSKRB4amTc0xvvJVQgOCQPwfzI2iz2D9_LxZ7RESbWWyzl9ECIa_5gE/s1600/LostGirl+HC+C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m74r5fzEtNwVbm1Ft2Gt7mrIRGTjVtYJaPd_Uievsh3hquEm4iANbmadxKWkJqrH0YWWmI-Gvw-FySVe7BPJQSKRB4amTc0xvvJVQgOCQPwfzI2iz2D9_LxZ7RESbWWyzl9ECIa_5gE/s320/LostGirl+HC+C.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
BOYS CAN AND SHOULD READ BOOKS THAT CENTER GIRLS.<br />
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Oh, I’m sorry --- was I shouting? Yes…. yes…. I was shouting. <br />
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Will boys read books about girls? Yes… yes they will. As long as WE don’t make it an issue. How do we book talk a book? Do we say “This is a book girls will like?” If so… we need to knock that crap off. <br />
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So - how could you book talk Lost Girl in a way that will interest your readers?<br />
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<i>“The Lost Girl is about a set identical twins. Twins who support each other. Twins who are identical only in appearance. Twins who know they have “better outcomes when they are together”. Then comes the year when the adults in their lives decide they need to learn to be apart. It’s a challenging start to the first school year with different teachers, different after school activities, and strange events. This is a story with a giant crow, an opinionated cat, an ogre for a teacher, and a hint of magic. This is a story about finding yourself, finding your voice, and finding your friends. This is a story for everyone.”</i><br />
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See? How hard is that? I didn’t even mention gender in that book blurb. <br />
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Now - it IS TRUE that this is also a book about girl power. It’s about girls who find their power, and about girls who knew they had power all along. But we expect girls to read books about boys finding their power all the time (*cough* Hero’s Journey *cough*). Why don’t we have the same expectations for boys?<br />
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When you have a moment, go ahead and read this blog post that Anne Ursu wrote in 2013 about this topic. <a href="http://anneursu.tumblr.com/post/66944716733/on-gender-and-boys-read-panels">On Gender and Boys Read Panels</a> (Gah…. maybe someday we’ll stop having to talk about this!!)<br />
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<b>I was going to blather on and on about all the things I loved about this book… but I think I can keep it simple…</b><br />
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-- Do your readers like a hint of magic in a real world setting? They’ll like this book. <br />
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-- Do they like stories about how sometimes adults mess things up because they don’t really understand a kid’s perspective? They’ll like this book. <br />
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-- Do they like stories with intriguing narrators, odd animals, and mystery? They’ll like this book. <br />
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-- Do they like books with creative kids, smart kids, and kids who sometimes make mistakes and need to make amends? They'll like this book.<br />
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-- Do they care if the word “boy” or “girl” is in the title? It’s your job to help them shed that misconception. They’ll like this book. (Oh, and P.S. -- I also loved her book called The Real Boy… and I recommended it to ALL my readers - not just boys. Read <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/09/blog-tour-review-of-real-boy-by-anne.html">my review of that one as well</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JIRBtu3C7OK9icw8ytjtGvf3N4bJ32xpSBLTcXedtvKw2SWVFTnZe52njmzNe2Ec2v79gYzw0qsY3Az7_yCx63ipMBiTmBwrqkwS5JBw1zc_pefMYrJDLtwlc0Hb_-xXokNFT1CF4wY/s1600/The+Lost+Girl+Blog+Tour+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JIRBtu3C7OK9icw8ytjtGvf3N4bJ32xpSBLTcXedtvKw2SWVFTnZe52njmzNe2Ec2v79gYzw0qsY3Az7_yCx63ipMBiTmBwrqkwS5JBw1zc_pefMYrJDLtwlc0Hb_-xXokNFT1CF4wY/s400/The+Lost+Girl+Blog+Tour+Banner.jpg" width="130" /></a><i>ABOUT THE BOOK</i><br />
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Once upon a time, there were two sisters, alike in every way, except for all the ways that they were different.<br />
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When you’re an identical twin, your story always starts with someone else. For Iris, that means her story starts with Lark. Iris has always been the grounded, capable, and rational one; Lark has been inventive, dreamy, and brilliant—and from their first moments in the world together, they’ve never left each other’s side. Everyone around them realized early on what the two sisters already knew: they had better outcomes when they were together.<br />
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When fifth grade arrives, however, it’s decided that Iris and Lark should be split into different classrooms, and something breaks in them both. Iris is no longer so confident; Lark retreats into herself as she deals with challenges at school. And at the same time, something strange is happening in the city around them: things both great and small going missing without a trace. As Iris begins to understand that anything can be lost in the blink of an eye, she decides it’s up to her to find a way to keep her sister safe.<br />
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<i>ABOUT THE AUTHOR </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5XtEcsXb_oeq9bl-N45zGfzWYDweLO0S2FmuDasr60UxYibjAmux6iAKKEYp7FlWR0OOxwIf89oehD55Dj68Hmuf21TfQB_o_o9X0XL6yS2vhOkI9ADC_pUP24vYmiE4BudCW_liJRk/s1600/Anne+Ursu+-+Author+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5XtEcsXb_oeq9bl-N45zGfzWYDweLO0S2FmuDasr60UxYibjAmux6iAKKEYp7FlWR0OOxwIf89oehD55Dj68Hmuf21TfQB_o_o9X0XL6yS2vhOkI9ADC_pUP24vYmiE4BudCW_liJRk/s200/Anne+Ursu+-+Author+Photo.jpg" width="196" /></a><br />
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Anne Ursu is the author of Breadcrumbs, named one of the best books of 2011 by Publishers Weekly and the Chicago Public Library, and The Real Boy, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. She is also a member of the faculty at Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Anne lives in Minneapolis with her family and an ever-growing number of cats. You can visit her online at <a href="http://www.anneursu.com/">www.anneursu.com</a><br />
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<i>PRAISE FOR THE LOST GIRL</i><br />
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“The Lost Girl is a jewel of a book—hard, bright, sharp, and precious. It reminds us of the boundless and subversive power of sisterhood and the inherent magic of girls.”—Kelly Barnhill, Newbery-Medal winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon<br />
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“I raced through The Lost Girl, breathless. And when I was finished, I found myself full of hope. It’s a beautiful, riveting, important book.”—Laurel Snyder, award-winning author of Orphan Island<br />
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“When the world makes no sense, I read books by Anne Ursu. When the world makes all the wrong kinds of sense, I read books by Anne Ursu. If you crave a story with the wit, wisdom, and magic to unriddle the world, then you need to read The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu.”—William Alexander, award-winning author of A Festival of Ghosts<br />
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“A beautiful, timeless tale of love conquering darkness in the midst of mystery and the angst of change. A must-have for any middle grade collection.” School Library Journal (starred review)<br />
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“This suspenseful mystery offers a story of empowerment, showing how one girl with the help of others can triumph.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)<br />
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“National Book Award nominee Ursu laces her story with fairy-tale elements and real-life monsters, while taking great care to cast girls in an empowering light and as authors (and heroes) of their own stories.” Booklist (starred review)<br />
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BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE<br />
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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1: <a href="http://www.teachmentortexts.com/">Teach Mentor Texts</a><br />
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2: <a href="http://abouttomock.blogspot.com/">About to Mock</a><br />
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3: <a href="https://novelnovice.com/">Novel Novice</a><br />
MONDAY FEBRUARY 4: <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/">Maria’s Melange</a><br />
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5: <a href="http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/">A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust</a><br />
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6: <a href="http://bluestockingthinking.blogspot.com/">Bluestocking Thinking</a><br />
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7: <a href="http://www.kirsticall.com/">Kirsticall.com</a><br />
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8: <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/">Unleashing Readers</a><br />
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9: <a href="https://thebookmonsters.com/">Book Monsters</a><br />
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10: <a href="https://fatgirlreading.wordpress.com/">Fat Girl Reading</a><br />
MONDAY FEBRUARY 11: <a href="http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/">Word Spelunker</a><br />
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12: <a href="https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/">Nerdy Book Club</a><br />
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<i>Disclosure - I received a copy of the ARC from the publisher. This did not impact my review of the book. </i></div>
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maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-46890866964563746822018-10-06T00:00:00.000-04:002018-10-06T00:00:02.664-04:00Perilous Journey Q&A with Christopher Healy -- Bonus Post!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vQWxV_TjZlRer1MlA6oGPIZ88MQy7ejiGiJPZuQTGSnrmrOwR0fByY3gMIAwfZQkNMncm24UfD30Xo-6EM6Z62T5_qBRMxpouF-b2omGFgKgK7ho9oKa9zXBoKf8Mu0PhW2bpvc_Va0/s1600/BlogTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="900" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vQWxV_TjZlRer1MlA6oGPIZ88MQy7ejiGiJPZuQTGSnrmrOwR0fByY3gMIAwfZQkNMncm24UfD30Xo-6EM6Z62T5_qBRMxpouF-b2omGFgKgK7ho9oKa9zXBoKf8Mu0PhW2bpvc_Va0/s640/BlogTour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm so excited to share a Q&A with Christopher Healy! I loved this book so much that I just got three copies so I can use it with a small group. I plan to pull in nonfiction about women in science as we read the story. You can see some of my suggestions, along with a description of the book, at my <a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/2018/09/a-perilous-journey-of-danger-mayhem.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>....<br />
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<b>Questions and Answers....</b><br />
<br />1) <i>Which inventors or ground-breaking scientists inspired you the most? Was there any fun information you learned while researching for your book that you'd like to share with my blog readers?</i><br /><br />Honestly, I find the women in the book most inspirational. Take Margaret Knight, for instance. She had over 80 US patents. The woman must have been inventing nonstop! And all different kinds of creations too—from lid-removing pliers to combustion engines. All of which is even more impressive when you consider all the obstacles that were facing her as a woman in the 1880s. She almost didn’t get credit for her most famous invention—the flat-bottomed paper bag, which we still use today—because a man stole her designs and tried to patent them for himself. Thankfully, Knight fought him for rights to the invention and won. <br /><br />Hmm, that’s not exactly a fun fact, though. Okay, here’s a fun one: In Thomas Edison’s laboratory, he kept jars of stuff that made it sound like he was mixing magic potions. He had cocoons, deer horns, tortoise shells, various kinds of hooves, and hair of humans, horses, hogs, cows, rabbits, goats, minx, camels, and more. That’s fun, right? Or maybe just weird.<br /><br /><br /><br />2) <i>Do you have any pressing problems you think we need an invention to help us solve? What ideas would you have to solve them?</i><br /><br />Backpacks are a problem! They’re so heavy. They make our backs hurt. So how about a backpack with built in massager to relieve the pain the backpack itself is causing? I’d buy that! <br /><br /><br /><br />3) <i>I love the humor in your books.... so can you give us the real scoop.... how do you nail the funny lines? Do they come as you write or do you need a bunch of revisions to really refine them?</i><br /><br />Believe it or not, I think that the faster I write, the funnier the stuff I come up with. Other people may beg to differ, depending on their sense of humor, but I find that the lines that make me laugh the most (and yes, I do laugh—audibly— while writing), tend to come when I’m in a real groove, fingers pounding rapidly at the keyboard, and the words are flowing freely without a lot of thought. The majority of what I write when I write fast like that will probably end up needing to be revised—but the laugh lines will shine. The really good jokes don’t tend to materialize for me when I’m sitting silently, working my brain hard to come up with exactly the right words. That’s when the good plot twists come. <br /><br /> <br /><br />4) <i>Can you give us a glimpse into your writing process? My students love to hear about how authors work!</i><br /><br />I tend to write in layers. I start with a very basic outline—just bullet points, not even full sentences. I might outline a single chapter this way or an entire novel. Then I go back and add some connective tissue so that those basic points I want to hit have some way of fitting together. Then I go back another time and add in some necessary details, maybe a few key bits of dialogue. It’s still pretty sketchy at this point, but it’s a decent quick synopsis of what I want to happen. Then I go back to the beginning again and do all dialogue, almost like I’m writing a script (that’s usually the fast writing when the funny comes). Then I layer that dialogue into my sketchy plot, and fix everything into full sentences with functioning grammar and good stuff like that. Then I go back again and add even more details. Then I add another layer. And another. This continues until I have a finished piece of writing worthy of being read by another human being. <br /><br />
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-- I love audiobooks. Reading with my ears makes all my drives more entertaining. Check out a clip from the audiobook here! <a href="https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us/a-perilous-journey-of-danger-and-mayhem-a-dastardly-plot-by-christopher-healy?in=harperaudio_us/sets/harperchildrens-middle-grade" target="_blank">Audiobook Clip</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj8WlcmuxogW3VbxgCOVQQZbALlAJKv79xzhCgNKjqmo9rHBopSzwQVKqm6jBTtY5k4ouCH06TDVEuknavNxFHK3xusuu11GhcL2zkJIJmyfosgZCHeAarC7UKnXbNp1FrDt3WWjgVjs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-28+at+8.42.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="289" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj8WlcmuxogW3VbxgCOVQQZbALlAJKv79xzhCgNKjqmo9rHBopSzwQVKqm6jBTtY5k4ouCH06TDVEuknavNxFHK3xusuu11GhcL2zkJIJmyfosgZCHeAarC7UKnXbNp1FrDt3WWjgVjs/s200/Screen+Shot+2018-09-28+at+8.42.07+PM.png" width="132" /></a><br />
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Christopher Healy is the author of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, as well as its two sequels, The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle and The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw. Before becoming a writer, he worked as an actor, an ad copywriter, a toy store display designer, a fact-checker, a dishwasher, a journalist, a costume shop clothing stitcher, a children’s entertainment reviewer, and a haunted house zombie. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Duncan. You can visit him online at <a href="http://www.christopherhealy.com/">www.christopherhealy.com</a>maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-7332252816946036902018-09-28T21:23:00.000-04:002018-09-28T21:23:46.699-04:00A PERILOUS JOURNEY OF DANGER & MAYHEM - nonfiction connections and educator guide sneak peek<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyn0gr9kx4FGRViPSGC8ZSVllA_JNS8AY2b4bZ6hbidB5ReuxfrR-L0LV0_vl5vf5TWTunrfaJPYk4ijrEtmZbQIxQ-2R3YZYBaFmCGN2PphGBLuaUQBv62o2NiWCFfT5gReG0IKIU9Fw/s1600/180817-Perilous-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyn0gr9kx4FGRViPSGC8ZSVllA_JNS8AY2b4bZ6hbidB5ReuxfrR-L0LV0_vl5vf5TWTunrfaJPYk4ijrEtmZbQIxQ-2R3YZYBaFmCGN2PphGBLuaUQBv62o2NiWCFfT5gReG0IKIU9Fw/s640/180817-Perilous-blog.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A PERILOUS JOURNEY OF DANGER & MAYHEM</span></b></span></div>
BOOK 1: ‘A DASTARDLY PLOT’<br />
By Christopher Healy<br />
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Publication Date September 25 2018<br />
ISBN: 978-06-234197<br />
It is 1883—the Age of Invention! A time when great men like Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Nicola Tesla, and George Eastman work to turn the country into a mechanical-electrical-industrial marvel: a land of limitless opportunity. And it all happens at the world famous Inventors Guild headquarters in New York City—a place where a great idea, a lot of hard work, and a little bit of luck can find you rubbing elbows with these gods of industry who will usher humanity into the bright promise of the future.<br />
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Unless, of course, you’re a woman.<br />
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Molly Pepper, daughter of brilliant but unknown inventor Cassandra Pepper, lives with her mother in New York. By day, they make ends meet running a small pickle shop; but by night, they toil and dream of Cassandra shattering the glass ceiling of the Inventors Guild and taking her place among the most famous inventors in America. In an attempt to find a way to exhibit Cassandra’s work at the 1883 World’s Fair, they break into the Inventors Guild—and discover a mysterious and dastardly plot to destroy New York. The evidence points to the involvement of one of the world’s most famous inventors, and now it’s up to Molly, Cassandra, and a shop hand named Emmett Lee to uncover the truth—even if no one will ever know it was they who did it.<br />
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Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed Hero’s Guide series, returns with the first book in a rip-roaring adventure about the inventors history remembers—and more than a few that it’s forgotten.<br />
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
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The missing contributions from women through the ages has been on my mind quite a lot over the past few years. I read <u>Almost Astronauts</u> by Tanya Lee Stone a few years ago and almost lost my mind. I was OBSESSED with the space program as a young girl in the 80s, and I had NEVER been told about the women who tried to join the space program in its earliest stages. Then <u>Hidden Figures</u> hit the big screen and I lost it again! Thankfully, it seems like we are entering an age of finally getting off our butts to acknowledge many of the women who have helped shape our world. I know my head will continue to explode as I learn about and share the lives of so many of these women with my students.<br />
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So this fictional tale of women inventors was right up my alley. It is filled with the kind of snarky humor I've come to love from Healy. My students and I adored that about his Hero's Guide series. The story is fun, adventurous, and clearly makes its point about how the competence of women has been ignored. Healy also manages to toss in a TON of references to real people and places from the time period. I think this will be a wonderful way to guide kids to some of that nonfiction! </div>
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On that note, here is a photo of some of those books - these are the ones I was able to easily grab off of my classroom library shelf at work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCz_CeqyhvFgOS1JrN7_dbwDowqbvgaavYhOi_cg1rmleSGMKPgpW59Dkt_RUJ0Mk03ggTHPwQhyMuEv8xQABeCrpcZMNiKTdk6kzPT35n88AXM2yqGnGHzOuBuAkfen4qgLZNhU5V5Q/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCz_CeqyhvFgOS1JrN7_dbwDowqbvgaavYhOi_cg1rmleSGMKPgpW59Dkt_RUJ0Mk03ggTHPwQhyMuEv8xQABeCrpcZMNiKTdk6kzPT35n88AXM2yqGnGHzOuBuAkfen4qgLZNhU5V5Q/s400/IMG_2227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>I also wanted to add a book about Nellie Bly. I was so excited to see her mentioned in A Dastardly Plot! I don't own a book about her - yet - but I tapped my favorite Lois Lane author (<a href="http://www.gwendabond.com/" target="_blank">Gwenda Bond</a>) to get a recommendation. She recommends this one if you want to learn more about Nellie. It is listed as being for middle grade readers, and I know I plan to snag a copy for myself!<br />
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There will also be an educator's guide to go along with Dastardly Plot. It is awaiting final approval to be uploaded to the Walden Pond site, but I got a sneak peek of it for this blog post. I'm sure you'd also love a glimpse, right?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96PeQEOw-o_t2oF0N8dPFjaYdiVofty_yeOujBDrKx05R8LQ1JVYA9B206BRpAbeYd6lSQZ795iFSH1h1GE3cIVS-w44QI3u6CeFoxk5oNF6fvkb85o_fiTWujqg-SOk4KJXpu44QXcI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-28+at+9.19.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96PeQEOw-o_t2oF0N8dPFjaYdiVofty_yeOujBDrKx05R8LQ1JVYA9B206BRpAbeYd6lSQZ795iFSH1h1GE3cIVS-w44QI3u6CeFoxk5oNF6fvkb85o_fiTWujqg-SOk4KJXpu44QXcI/s200/Screen+Shot+2018-09-28+at+9.19.18+PM.png" width="165" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLzBfoqapVnRUZ4Nu34S4kIvotARPWktEz2XE4xVt0sLdqwJ5ipr0Vl8iYzu2icIrL7N-usMJbWzE0Hp19cLnbzPz6KSmphTEYBXsNOv7n1RSnI-HzdFExRX2ZPJk5lamrxfLhXFcEIk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-28+at+9.16.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLzBfoqapVnRUZ4Nu34S4kIvotARPWktEz2XE4xVt0sLdqwJ5ipr0Vl8iYzu2icIrL7N-usMJbWzE0Hp19cLnbzPz6KSmphTEYBXsNOv7n1RSnI-HzdFExRX2ZPJk5lamrxfLhXFcEIk/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-09-28+at+9.16.59+PM.png" width="174" /></a>There are discussion questions that range from exploration of character traits to relationships between the characters to helping students understand the history of women's struggles to gain equal status in America. I love how the questions include rich language from the text, and how many of them also include specific quotes to help students dig back into the story for evidence to help them in their discussion.</div>
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There are also extension activities, including this one that has a link to a video about the Brooklyn Bridge! </div>
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Definitely check out the full educator guide once it goes live! </div>
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Meet the author... <br />
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Christopher Healy is the author of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, as well as its two sequels, The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle and The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw. Before becoming a writer, he worked as an actor, an ad copywriter, a toy store display designer, a fact-checker, a dishwasher, a journalist, a costume shop clothing stitcher, a children’s entertainment reviewer, and a haunted house zombie. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Duncan. You can visit him online at <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.christopherhealy.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.christopherhealy.com</a></span></span></div>
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maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6765463156786232433.post-39291896520107810032018-09-19T00:30:00.000-04:002018-09-19T08:25:21.975-04:00The Train To Impossible Places Blog Tour - Author Guest Post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcok5V1gdXG1ZMLr4SL_PtqHG0GpNtRtBqHUj7J0J8ssCeSUFsbPf9RiKTg6E1T1KGkZE4lhmmzD9XrOUCHYh6YSrh0KIRf1Kc-oWWMqI6FfLVNWo3bBmL8jAUk7QwCiXPPbcXoBze1ck/s1600/Train+to+Impossible+Places+Header+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcok5V1gdXG1ZMLr4SL_PtqHG0GpNtRtBqHUj7J0J8ssCeSUFsbPf9RiKTg6E1T1KGkZE4lhmmzD9XrOUCHYh6YSrh0KIRf1Kc-oWWMqI6FfLVNWo3bBmL8jAUk7QwCiXPPbcXoBze1ck/s640/Train+to+Impossible+Places+Header+Image.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Train to Impossible Places: A Cursed Delivery</span></b><br />
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3441091.P_G_Bell">P.G. Bell</a> (Goodreads Author)<br />
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(Book description from Goodreads)<br />
<i>A train that travels through impossible places. A boy trapped in a snow globe. And a girl who’s about to go on the adventure of a lifetime.<br /><br />The Impossible Postal Express is no ordinary train. It’s a troll-operated delivery service that runs </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">My book loving kitties loved this<br />
special delivery!</td></tr>
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<i>everywhere from ocean-bottom shipwrecks, to Trollville, to space.<br /><br />But when this impossible train comes roaring through Suzy’s living room, her world turns upside down. After sneaking on board, Suzy suddenly finds herself Deputy Post Master aboard the train, and faced with her first delivery―to the evil Lady Crepuscula.<br /><br />Then, the package itself begs Suzy not to deliver him. A talking snow globe, Frederick has information Crepuscula could use to take over the entire Union of Impossible Places. But when protecting Frederick means putting her friends in danger, Suzy has to make a difficult choice―with the fate of the entire Union at stake.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Post by P.G. Bell</b></span></span></div>
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The things I love probably influence me in more ways than I realise, but there are a few things I drew on very deliberately when writing The Train To Impossible Places. If I've done my job properly, there's a healthy dose of Terry Pratchett's Discworld in the trolls and their weird, half magical, half industrial city of Trollville. I also did my best to echo bits of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams in the book's general tone. And my favourite TV show, Doctor Who, gets a few passing references as well!<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Post Master (Conductor)</span></div>
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<a href="http://nerdybookclub.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Nerdy Book Club</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mariaselke.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Maria’s Melange</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://librarianincuteshoes.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Librarian in Cute Shoes</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Antique Goods Coach</span></div>
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<a href="https://mrslussier.weebly.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Read – Wonder – Innovate!</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">9/24</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Review</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Caboose</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Kid Lit Frenzy</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">9/27</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Guest Post</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received an ARC of this book, but was under no obligation to post or review. I got no compensation for joining this blog tour. </span></i></div>
maria.selkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052847577940056985noreply@blogger.com0