An Inside Look #234 (Author INTERVIEW)

     

An Inside Look with Jasmine Warga

(Author of A Rover's Story)

*Season #ONE (June of 2016 to March of 2017)

*Season #TWO (Summer of 2017)

*Season #THREE (School Year 2017/2018)

*Season #FOUR (Summer/fall of 2018)

*Season #FIVE (School Year 2018/2019)

*Season #SIX (Summer 2019) 

*Season #SEVEN (Fall 2019) 

*Season #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

*Season #NINE (Fall 2020)

*Season #TEN (Winter/Spring 2021)

*Season #ELEVEN (Fall 2021)

*Season #TWELVE (Winter/Spring 2022)

*Season #THIRTEEN (Summer 2022)

*I'm excited to present season #FOURTEEN with brand new interviews/authors.  

*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the EIGHTH interview in which I'm calling Season #FOURTEEN. 

*Thank you to Jasmine for being the Two Hundred Thirty-Fourth author I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  

A Rover's Story

by Jasmine Warga

(October 4, 2022)

 

How did you come to know Resilience?
I came to know Resilience the way I come to understand all of the characters I write--by meditating deeply on the question of what do they want? I think what Res wants most is to do a good job on his mission. But then I started to think about, what does it mean to do a good job? And why does he want to do a good job? And is he worried about how difficult it might be to do a good job? And then--I hit upon the question that really informed his whole character--is he worried that he's worried? For me, getting to know my characters is an exercise in asking questions. Both questions about them, but more importantly, trying to understand the questions my characters have about the world. That helps me to build out their specific personality and write from their specific angle.


What do you think is Res’ most admirable quality?
His big heart. Yes, I know he's a rover, but I still believe he is capable of huge and ferocious love. And that love informs everything about his actions, and is the source of his bravery.


Is there anything you wish he would have changed or done differently in his story?
You know, I think Res does make mistakes in the book. But that's the point of many stories, right? To show that we can make flawed decisions and still end up okay.


What do you think Res can offer to other children or “robots” that are experiencing similar situations to what he went through?
I want children to know that it's okay to be afraid. That bravery is not the absence of fear, but rather, action in spite of fear. And also, I hope from Res's story they are reminded of how important friendship is, and how we should all really cherish the people in our life that support us.


How did you research Res and the circumstances he found himself in?
NASA's wonderful website is a treasure trove of fantastic resources. That was my main research tool. I also read the memoir of one of the chief engineers who worked on Curiosity, and that really helped to inform the book, too.


Do you and Resilience share any similarities?
So many! I often joke that even though Resilience is a robot, he is my most autobiographical character I've ever written. We both worry a lot. We both feel things deeply. And we both worry sometimes about feeling things deeply.


What was the hardest scene to write about him?
Ack, this is a hard question to answer without having spoilers. So I'll just say it's a scene near the end where he is processing the loss of a dear friend. If you've read the book, you'll know which scene I mean.


Who do you think was his biggest supporter and why?
Fly! Fly really believes in Res, and that belief, makes Res believe in himself.


Why do you think humans and inanimate objects (such as Res) can have such a special connection?
I think it's because of the power of human beings' ability to have an empathetic imagination. Imagination is truly our greatest superpower.


What do you think Resilience is doing at the present time?
Another question I can't answer without a major spoiler. But I'll just say I think he's still sorting through the definition of home.

*Here are links to the Two Hundred Thirty-Three interviews...

SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

Interview #1 with Elly Swartz (Author of Finding Perfect)

Interview #2 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Serpent King)

Interview #3 with Nora Raleigh Baskin (Author of Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story)

Interview #4 with Cammie McGovern (Author of Just My Luck)

Interview #5 with Kate Messner (Author of The Seventh Wish)

Interview #6 with Paul Griffin (Author of When Friendship Followed Me Home)

Interview #7 with K.A. Holt (Author of House Arrest)

Interview #8 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #9 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Counting Thyme)

Interview #10 with Claire Legrand (Author of Some Kind of Happiness)

Interview #11 with Lynn Plourde (Author of Maxi's Secrets)

Interview #12 with Shaun David Hutchinson (Author of The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley)

Interview #13 with Gae Polisner (Author of The Memory of Things)

Interview #14 with Mike Grosso (Author of I Am Drums)

Interview #15 (Towers Fallings by  Jewell Parker Rhodes)

Interview #16 (My Seventh Grade Life in Tights by Brooks Benjamin)

Interview #17 with Donna Gephart (Author of Lily and Dunkin) 

Interview #18 with Ally Condie (Author of Summerlost)

Interview #19 with Phil Bildner (Author of Rip and Red Series)

Interview #20 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Wish)

Interview #21 with Monika Schroder (Author of Be Light Like a Bird)

Interview #22 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Goodbye Days)

SEASON #TWO (Summer 2017)

Interview #23 with Elena K. Arnold (Author of A Boy Named Bat)

Interview #24 with Dusti Bowling (Author of The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus)

Interview #25 with Melissa Savage (Author of Lemons)

Interview #26 with Elaine Vickers (Author of Paper Chains)

Interview #27 with Kate Messner (Author of The Exact Location of Home)

Interview #28 with Paul Griffin (Author of Saving Marty)

Interview #29 with Elly Swartz (Author of Smart Cookie)

Interview #30 with Ellie Terry (Author of Forget Me Not)

Interview #31 with Katherine Paterson (Author of wishtree)

Interview #32 with Jordan Sonnenblick (Author of The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade)

Interview #33 with Alan Gratz (Author Refugee)

SEASON #THREE (2017/2018)

Interview #34 with Corey Ann Haydu (Author of The Someday Suitcase)

Interview #35 with Amy Sarig King (Author of Me and Marvin Gardens)

Interview #36 with Jared Reck (Author of The Short History of the Girl Next Door)

Interview #37 with Shelley Johannes (Author of Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker)

Interview#38 with Terri Libenson (Author of Invisible Emmie)

Interview#39 with Tony Abbott (Author of The Summer of Owen Todd)

Interview #40 with Rob Buyea (Author of The Perfect Score)

Interview #41 with Alan Gratz (Author of Ban This Book)

Interview #42 with Sally J Pla (Author of Stanley Will Probably Be Fine)

Interview #43 with Jake Burt (Author of Greetings from Witness Protection)

Interview #44 with John David Anderson (Author of Granted)

Interview #45 with Jarrett Lerner (Author of Enginerds)

Interview #46 with Leslie Connor (Author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle)

Interview #47 with Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison (Every Shining Thing)

Interview #48 with Jacqueline Resnick (Author of Raffie on the Run)

Interview #49 with Sarah Weeks (Author of Soof) 

Interview #50 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Good Dog)

Interview #51 with Gae Polisner (Author of In Sight of Stars)

SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)

Interview #52 with Tony Abbott (Author of Denis Ever After)

Interview #53 with Preston Norton (Author of Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe)

Interview #54 with Jonathan Auxier (Author of Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster)

Interview #55 with Sharon Creech (Author of Saving Winslow)

Interview #56 with Stacy McAnulty (Author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl)

Interview #57 with Kelly Yang (Author of Front Desk)

Interview #58 with Jennifer A. Nielsen (Author of Resistance)

Interview 59 with Christina Collins (Author of After Zero)

Interview #60 with Eric Walters (Author of Elephant Secrets)

Interview #61 with Phil Bildner (Author of The Rip and Red Series)

Interview #62 with Erin Soderberg (Author of Milla in Charge)

Interview #63 with Laura Shovan (Author of Take Down)

Interview #64 with Donna Gephart (Author of In Your Shoes)

Interview #65 with Alan Gratz (Author of Grenade)

Interview #66 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Wonderland)

Interview #67 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Just Like Jackie)

Interview #68 with Katherine Marsh (Author of Nowhere Boy)

Interview #69 with Dusti Bowling (Author of 24 Hours in Nowhere)

Interview #70 with Christina Uss (Author of The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle)

Interview #71 with Adam P. Schmitt (Author of Speechless)

SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)

Interview #72 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise)

Interview #73 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #74 with Abby Cooper (Author of Bubbles)

Interview #75 with Abby Cooper (Author of Friend or Fiction)

Interview #76 with Padma Venkatraman (Author of The Bridge Home)

Interview #77 with Anne Ursu (Author of The Lost Girl)

Interview #78 with Corey Ann Haydu (Author of Eventown)

Interview #79 with Jeff Zentner (Author of Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee)

Interview #80 with Allison Varnes (Author of The Property of the Rebel Librarian)

Interview #81 with Tony Abbott (Author of The Great Jeff)

Interview #82 with Susan Ross (Author of Searching for Lottie)

Interview #83 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Caterpillar Summer)

Interview #84 with Rebecca Ansari (Author of The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly)

Interview #85 with Ali Standish (Author of August Isle)

Interview #86 with Shaun David Hutchinson (Author of The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried)

Interview #87 with Greg Howard (Author of The Whispers)

Interview #88 with Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author of Shouting at the Rain)

Interview #89 with Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author of One for the Murphys)

Interview #90 with Laurie Morrison (Author of Up for Air)

Interview #91 with Jody J. Little (Author of Mostly the Honest Truth)

SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)

Interview #92 with John David Anderson (Author of Finding Orion)

Interview #93 with Lisa Thompson (Author of The Light Jar)

Interview #94 with Keith Calabrese (Author of A Drop of Hope)

Interview #95 with Alicia D. Williams (Author of Genesis Begins Again)

Interview #96 with Kim Ventrella (Author of Bone Hollow)

Interview #97 with Natalie Lloyd (Author of Over the Moon)

Interview #98 with Cynthia Lord (Author of Because of the Rabbit)

Interview #99 with Tina Athaide (Author of Orange for the Sunsets)

Interview #100 with Elly Swartz (Author of Give and Take)

Interview #101 with Amy Rebecca Tan (Author of A Kind of Paradise)

Interview #102 with Varsha Bajaj (Author of Count Me In)

Interview #103 with Laura Resau (Author of Tree of Dreams)

SEASON #SEVEN (Fall 2019)

Interview #104 with Laurel Snyder (Author of My Jasper June)

Interview #105 with Lisa Bunker (Author of Zenobia July)

Interview #106 with Jasmine Warga (Author of Other Words for Home)

Interview #107 with Barbara Dee (Author of Maybe He Just Likes You)

Interview #108 with Graham Salisbury (Author of Banjo)

Interview #109 with Donna Gephart (Author of The Paris Project)

Interview #110 with Jake Burt (Author of The Tornado)

Interview #111 with Jess Redman (Author of The Miraculous)

Interview #112 with Karen Strong (Author of Just South of Home)

Interview #113 with Nicole Melleby (Author of Hurricane Season)

Interview #114 with J.J. and Chris Grabenstein (Authors of Shine)

Interview #115 with Susan Vaught (Author of Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalyse)

Interview #116 with Chris Baron (Author of All of Me)

Interview #117 with Meredith Russo (Author of Birthday)

Interview #118 with Abdi Nazemian (Author of Like a Love Story)

Interview #119 with Sarah Baughman (Author of The Light in the Lake)

Interview #120 with Stacy McAnulty (Author of The Words Ends in April)

SEASON #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

Interview #121 with Melissa Savage (Author of Nessie Quest)

Interview #122 with Tamara Bundy (Author of Pixie Pushes On)

Interview #123 with Lindsay Lackey (Author of All the Impossible Things)

Interview #124 with Tae Keller (Author of When You Trap a Tiger)

Interview #125 with Jamie Sumner (Author of Roll With It)

Interview #126 with Hena Khan (Author of More to the Story)

Interview #127 with Phil Bildner (Author of A High-Five for Glenn Burke)

Interview #128 with Leslie Connor (Author of A Home for Goddesses and Dogs)

Interview#129 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Queen Bee and Me)

Interview #130 with Jody J. Little (Author of Worse Than Weird)

Interview #131 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Things You Can't Say)

Interview #132 with Kaela Noel (Author of Coo)

Interview #133 with Rebecca Stead (Author of The List of Things That Will Not Change)

Interview #134 with Gae Polisner (Author of Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me)

Interview #135 with Emily Blejwas (Author of Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened)

Interview #136 with Joy McCullough (Author of A Field Guide to Getting Lost)

Interview #137 with Kim Baker (Author of the Water Bears)

Interview #138 with Erin Entrada Kelly (Author of We Dream of Space)

Interview #139 with Jess Redman (Author of Quintessence)

Interview #140 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Every Missing Piece)

Interview #141 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Brave Like That)

Interview #142 with Gae Polisner and Nora Raleigh Baskin (Authors of Seven Clues to Home)

SEASON #NINE (Fall 2020)

Interview #143 with Jacqueline Woodson (Author of Before the Ever After)

Interview #144 with Sharon Creech (Author of One Time)

Interview #145 with Barbara Dee (Author of My Life in the Fish Tank)

Interview #146 with Kim Ventrella (Author of The Secret Life of Sam)

Interview #147 with Ellen Hopkins (Author of Closer to NoWhere)

Interview #148 with Alyssa Hollingsworth (Author of The Invisible Boy) 

Interview #149 with Rob Harrell (Author of WINK)

Interview #150 with Shelley Pearsall (Author of Things Seen From Above)

Interview #151 with Anna Staniszewski (Author of The Wonder of Wildflowers)

Interview #152 with Lorelei Savaryn (Author of The Circus of Stolen Dreams)

Interview #153 with Linda Sue Park (Author of Prairie Lotus)

Interview #154 with Lauren Wolk (Author of Echo Mountain) 

Interview #155 with Mae Respicio (Author of Any Day with You)

Interview #156 with Audrey Vernick (Author of After the Worst Thing Happens)

Interview #157 with Ernesto Cisneros (Author of Efren Divided)

SEASON #TEN (Winter/Spring 2021)

Interview #158 with Rebecca Ansari (Author of The In-Between)

Interview #159 with John David Anderson (Author of One Last Shot) 

Interview #160 with Tracy Holczer (Author of Brave in the Woods)

Interview #161 with James Bird (Author of The Brave) 

Interview #162 with Marcella Pixley (Author of Trowbridge Road)

Interview #163 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Halfway to Harmony)

Interview #164 with Alan Gratz (Author of Ground Zero) 

Interview #165 with Lisa Fipps (Author of Starfish)

Interview #166 with Ann Braden (Author of Flight of the Puffin)

Interview #167 with Kimberly Willis Holt (Author of The Ambassador of NoWhere Texas) 

Interview #168 with Elana K. Arnold (Author of The House That Wasn't There) 

Interview #169 with Erin Soderberg (Author of The Great Peach Experiment)

Interview #170 with Donna Gephart (Author of Abby, Tried, and True)

Interview #171 with M. Evan Wolkenstein (Author of Turtle Boy)

Interview #172 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Bea is for Blended)

Interview #173 with Jess Redman (Author of The Adventure is Now)

Interview #174 with David Levithan (Author of The Mysterious Disappearance of Aiden)

Interview #175 with Chris Grabenstein (Author of The Smartest Kid in the Universe)

Interview #176 with Ali Standish (Author of The Mending Summer)

Interview #177 with Holly Goldberg Sloan (Author of The Elephant in the Room)

Interview #178 with Jeff Zentner (Author of In the Wild Light)

SEASON #ELEVEN (Fall/Winter 2021)

Interview #179 with Katherine Applegate (Author of Willow) 

Interview #180 with Padma Venkatraman (Author of Born Behind Bars)

Interview #181 with R.J. Palacio (Author of Pony)

Interview #182 with Kyle Lukoff (Author of Too Bright to See)

Interview #183 with Barbara Dee (Author of Violets are Blue)

Interview #184 with Anne Ursu (Author of The Troubled Girls of Dragonmir Academy) 

Interview #185 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of We Could Be Heroes)

Interview #186 with Jasmine Warga (Author of Shape of Thunder)

Interview #187 with Joseph Bruchac (Author of Rez Dogs)

Interview #188 with Kathryn Erskine (Author of Lily's Promise)

Interview #189 with Elly Swartz (Author of Dear Student)

Interview #190 with Heather Clark (Author of Lemon Drop Falls)

Interview #191 with Veera Hiranandani (Author of How to Find What You're Not Looking For)

Interview #192 with Elizabeth Eulberg (Author of The Best Worst Summer)

Interview #193 with Cathy Carr (Author of 365 Days to Alaska)

Interview #194 with Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard (Authors of REAL)

Interview #195 with Gillian McDunn (Author of These Lucky Stars)

Interview #196 with Alyssa Colman (Author of The Gilded Girl) 

Interview #197 with E.L. Chen (Author of The Comeback)

Interview #198 with J.M.M. Nuanez (Author of Birdie and Me) 

SEASON #TWELVE (Winter/Spring 2022)

Interview #199 with Jamie Sumner (Author of One Kid's Trash)

Interview #200 with Chad Lucas (Author of Thanks a Lot, Universe) 

Interview #201 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Where We Used to Roam)

Interview #202 with Rebecca Caprara (Author of Worst-Case Collin) 

Interview #203 with Leslie Connor (Author of Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?)

Interview #204 with Caroline Gertler (Author of Many Points of Me)

Interview #205 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of Susie B. Won't Back Down) 

Interview #206 with Shawn Peters (Author of The Unforgettable Logan Foster)

Interview #207 with Aisha Saeed (Author of Omar Rising)

Interview #208 with Adrianna Cuevas (Author of Cuba in my Pocket)

Interview #209 with Jennifer Swender (Author of Stuck)

Interview #210 with Brenda Woods (Author of When Winter Robeson Came)

Interview #211 with Danya Lorentz (Author of the Book Of a Feather)

Interview #212 with Saadia Faruqi (Author of Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero)

Interview #213 with Ellen Hopkins (Author of What About Will) 

SEASON #THIRTEEN (Summer 2022)

Interview #214 with Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner (Authors of What About the Octopus)

Interview #215 with Lauren Wolk (Author of My Own Lightning)

Interview #216 with Rebekah Lowell (Author of the Road to After)

Interview #217 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Honestly Elliott) 

Interview #218 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Midnight Children)

Interview #219 with Melanie Conklin (Author of A Perfect Mistake) 

Interview #220 with Kyle Lukoff (Author of Different Kinds of Fruit)

Interview #221 with Tracy Edward Wymer (Author of The Great and Mighty Benjamin Teller)

Interview #222 with Louise Hawes (Author of Big Rig)

Interview #223 with Paul Acampora (Author of In Honor of Broken Things)

Interview #224 with Shannon Doleski (Author of Gabe in the After)

Interview #225 with Jennifer Ziegler (Author of Worser)

Interview #226 with Natalie Lloyd (Author of Hummingbird)

SEASON #FOURTEEN (Fall 2022)

Interview #227 with Celia C. Perez (Author of Tumble

Interview #228 with Greg Howard (Author of The Visitors)

Interview #229 with Rob Buyea (Author of The Daredevils)

Interview #230 with Sashi Kaufman (Author of Sardines)

Interview #231 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of The Real Deal)

Interview #232 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of New Kids and Underdogs)

Interterview #233 with Amanda Rawson Hill (Author of The Hope of Elephants)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (12/5/22)

                                                                                      

Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...

                

 http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week... 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

*My Novel Published for Adults 

Solito by Javieer Zamora 

*My memoir published for adults and young-adults

Books I Read this Past Week...

Wayward Creatures by Dayna Lorentz

*Middle-Grade Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Wildoak by C.C. Harrington

*Middle-Grade Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Wayward Creatures by Dayna Lorentz

How I Heard About It:
*While attending the "Children's Book Awards" luncheon at #NCTE22, I learned this middle-grade novel was chosen as the winner for the Charlotte Huck Book Award.  Upon arriving home, I got myself a copy and was quite excited to read the story of a boy and a coyote.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Gabe, our central character, is twelve years old and feeling a bit lost both at home and in school.

*In order to impress his two friends, and a new boy, Gabe finds himself in a situation where he makes a poor decision which is not only a risk to himself, but others as well.

*At the same time, a young coyote finds himself out in the wild by himself searching for something "better".

*In order to make amends with the situation he created, Gabe must perform community service.

*During this time of service, Gabe and the coyote cross paths and each learns more about themselves and the world around them.  

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I had read Of a Feather, which I thought was fantastic, so I was excited to read Dayna Lorentz's newest work of fiction.

*The writing was beautiful, descriptive, and quite telling.

*The story was told in alternating points of view between Gabe and Rill, the coyote; and brought the two together in a suspenseful and engaging way.

*Even though it was preachy and/or "in your face", I enjoyed the life-lesson of making amends after mistakes have been made.

*I know young readers will be able to relate to Gabe and fascinated by the coyote.


Who Should Read It:
*Readers in upper elementary and/or middle-school would be the ideal audience for the novel.  After finishing the story, I think it would make for a strong, engaging, and thought-provoking novel to share with a class.  Happy Reading!


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Wildoak by C.C. Harrington

How I Heard About It:
*While attending #NCTE22 in California, I had many conversations about books.  This title was mentioned during a session I attended and I also heard about it from a friend during a book conversation.  I downloaded the title via Audible and have been listening over the last week or so.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Maggie has a difficult time at school due to her pronounced stutter.  

*Her parents approach the stutter quite differently.  So instead of having to go to a "special" school at her father's request, she agrees to spend time with her grandfather out in Wildoak Forest.

*Maggie has always had a unique relationship with animals which allows her to speak freely to them without the stutter.  

*When she comes upon a snow leopard that has escaped its own type of "capture", she finds herself more free and herself than ever before.  

*After the snow leopard is discovered by the townspeople, Maggie must find the strength to not only stand up for herself, but the animal as well.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:

*After heading the presenter at #NCTE "book talk" this title, I was quite intrigued.

*I enjoyed the alternating chapters with the viewpoints of both the snow leopard and Maggie.

*The writing was beautiful, crisp, and the images flew off the page.

*I enjoyed reading about how Maggie was able to reach her full potential while spending time with her grandfather; who was such an endearing character.  

*The theme of not only standing up for yourself, but others as well, was presented with grace, an authentic voice, and compassion.  

Who Should Read It:
*The novel would be ideal for the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classroom.  Maggie's story would lend itself to either a class read aloud and/or put in the individual hands of a reader.  Middle-school readers will also find great enjoyment with the adventures of Maggie and her snow leopard.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (11/28/22)

                                                                                     

Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...

                

 http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week... 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

*My Novel Published for Adults 

Solito by Javieer Zamora 

*My memoir published for adults and young-adults

Wayward Creatures by Dayna Lorentz

*My Middle-Grade Novel

Wildoak by C.C. Harrington

*My Middle-Grade Novel (Audio)

Books I Read this Past Week...

Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden

*Middle-Grade Novel (5 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Morning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Chang Compestine

How I Heard About It:
*This novel was sent to me via the publisher, Clarion Books.  I was curious about reading a story set in Wuhan during the outbreak of Covid-19.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Mei, who is thirteen years old, lives with her father in Wuhan, China.

*Mei lives for cooking and like all young children, video games.  

*As she goes along with her daily life, everything around Mei begins to change.

*Mei's father is a doctor and shares the news that there is a virus outbreak in the city of Wuhan.

*She isn't sure what to do, but when Mei finds herself in a "lockdown", she turns to cooking to not only help herself, but those around her.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*Being that I don't know how to cook a thing, I was fascinated by the recipes and descriptions of the food Mei and others prepared.  

*Reading about the initial outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan was quite interesting and thought-provoking.  

*There were a few spots where the "food" aspect of the story overtook the main plot, but I would just skim these sections.  

*Being that we all experienced Covid-19 in different ways, it was thought-provoking to read about a community that came together to keep everyone safe.

*This is a timely and strong story for the young reader. They will definitely be able to relate to the plot.


Who Should Read It:
* I definitely think the story is geared toward the upper elementary reader; as in fourth, fifth, or sixth.  Of course any middle-school reader would be perfect.  I also think it could make for an interesting class read aloud because of the connections a listener could make.  Happy Reading!


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden

How I Heard About It:
*While attending #NCTE22 in California, I stopped by the Penguin Random House booth.  After chatting with some of my favorite representatives, I walked away with an ARC of Ann Braden's upcoming middle-grade novel.  The book will be out in the world in May of 2023.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Agnes has some questions.  Actually, she has a lot of questions.  

*Agnes lives with her mother, who encourages her daughter to follow the rules and not question authority.

*After a "run-in" with an opossum on the open road, Agnes begins to question the world around her.

*While attending confirmation classes, with other girls from school, Agnes takes a step out of her comfort zone and pushes the boundaries that are being put upon her.  

*With the help of her writing, about an opossum of course, Agnes comes to see the "big picture" with clarity and satisfaction.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I was thrilled to get my hands on the ARC at the Penguin Random House booth.  I had begun to see advance praise for the story and didn't know if I could wait until May.

*The title had me quite curious about the plot and I tried to figure out how opinions and opossums would be tied together.

*Well, author Ann Braden did a fantastic job of writing a story about a young girl who has legitimate questions about her world, faith, and position in society.  

*I loved how the "opossum" stories were intertwined with the events in Agnes' actual life.

*The story gives the reader a lot to think about and shows how young people can have a voice in this ever-complicated world.


Who Should Read It:
*In my "OPINION", I think everyone should read this upcoming middle-grade novel.  The story will resonate with middle-grade, middle-school, high-school, and even adult readers.  There is so much to be gained from experiencing Agnes' journey.  Happy Reading!


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars