An Inside Look #7 (Interview with K.A. Holt)

An Inside Look - With K.A. Holt
Author of House Arrest


*Another summer Monday, means another "inside look" with an author.

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

*I have had such fun connecting with authors and "picking" their brains.



*Here are the links to my first six interviews...

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)


*I remember reading a "tweet" from Donalyn Miller about this novel.

*It took me awhile to get to it, but once I did, I was overjoyed with how great this story was.

*After finishing it, I reached out to K.A. Holt and asked if she would be willing to be interviewed.

*Even with a busy schedule, she was more than happy to say yes to these questions.

House Arrest by K.A. Holt (Released October 6, 2015) 

How did you come to “know” Timothy?  

I came to know Timothy, because Timothy is kind of my ID.  He represents everything I wish I could have done, and wanted to do, when my youngest son was very sick.  Obviously, I couldn't steal money or punch a wall, but I wondered what would happen if someone did.  Timothy was my outlet.

What do you think is Timothy's most admirable quality?

Timothy is just full of love.  It's hard to see that in the beginning, but everything he does comes from a place of love and kindness, even if he gets things messed up sometimes.  

Is there anything you wish Timothy would have changed or done differently in his story?

Hmm.  I don't really think so.  I really like the arc of Timothy's character, and while there are things I wish he didn't have to go through, going through them is what makes him the person he is.

What do you think Timothy can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what he went through?

I think he is a great outlet.  He does the things you wish you could do, but can't.  He gives you a way to see consequences without having to experience them yourself.  And he lets readers know that they aren't alone in their feelings, or in the situations they're in. 

How did you “research” Timothy and the circumstances he found himself in?

As far as nitty-gritty details go, I researched the Texas State Juvenile Detention program, and I spoke with law enforcement about how arrest and trial, etc, would go.  As far as Timothy's home life, and Levi's illness, I was able to tap into personal experiences of my own, having dealt with a child who was born with subglottic stenosis and was trached for nearly two years.

Do you and Timothy share any similarities?  

Timothy is more impetuous than I am.  He does the things I think about doing, but would never do.  Though he has a sarcastic wit like I do, and sometimes he says things a little too sharply than he means to.  I can relate to that! 

What was the hardest scene to write about Timothy?

The hardest scene for me to write was the one where Timothy watches his mother run barefoot through the hospital, chasing after the gurney that Levi is on.  This is something based on real life, and it was very difficult for me to go back to that dark place, even when writing it from the perspective of someone else. 

Who do you think was Timothy's biggest supporter and why?

Timothy has so many supporters in this book.  At first he doesn't realize it, but then he begins to figure it out.  Mrs. B really is one of Timothy's biggest fans, and she goes above and beyond to help him.  But then so does James.  And so does Jose's mother.  It's impossible for me to choose!

Why do you think people will go the the end of the Earth or commit wrong doings in order to help our loved ones?  

Well, precisely that, right?  They are our loved ones.  They are a part of our hearts, and of course we want to make their lives easier.  Despite evidence to the contrary these days, I truly believe that is instinctual human behavior to be kind and to look out for others.  We might have crazy ways of doing that, but ultimately we all want to love and be loved. 

What do you think Timothy is doing as this present time?  

Right now I hope that Timothy is able to be a happy teenager.  I hope the world's worries have been lifted from his shoulders and that he's able to relax and enjoy just being a kid. 

K.A. Holt Website

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (7/25/16)

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

                

 http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Books I Read this Past Week… 

Gus by Kim Holden

*Young-Adult Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars!)

My Book Review

Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper

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

My Book Review

The Memory of Things by Gae Polisher

*Young-Adult Novel (5 STARS out of 5 Stars!)

My Book Review

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week…    

Kids Deserve It by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome

*My professional resource book

The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan

*My Middle-Grade Novel

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

*My Adult Novel (Audio)

Friend Friday #149 (What in the What by Dave Eggers)

Hi!  I'm Jackie and I read the book called What in the What (Boys of Sudan) written by Dave Eggers.


I think this book is great, informative, difficult, and long because it is a great discussion on what one would do if they were forced to leave their country at age of seven years old.  


My favorite part in the story is when our book club talked about the boys of Sudan and how the U.N. could work with these countries instead of rooting them from their country because it was such a great talk and I always like hearing what other readers thought.  


The character that I liked best was Valentino Achak because he was realistic and relatable even though he had almost everything possible dealt to him for him to fail.  He had such strong will to keep going and not give up.  


I think the author wrote this book because it gives an understanding of the politics and consequences of oppression.  It also shows how frustrating our countries are with leaders and governments that are corrupt.  


I would recommend this book to my friends because it is a type of book that makes one think about the life they have today and how it can change in an instant.  


Reading to me is an adventure because every book I read gives me additional insight into the world around me.


*This was a great memoir of strength and endurance and struggles.  It was also such a tragedy what this character had to endure.  


-Jackie is another colleague that I have now worked with for several years.
-When I found out she was a "reader" I liked her even more.  
-The last couple of years we shared the same lunch period and many of our conversations revolved around books and what we were reading.
-She is great because she challenges me and stretches me to try different things when selecting books to read.  
-I had not heard of this memoir, but do know the author and will check it out!  

The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner

How I Heard About It:  If you haven't heard of this upcoming novel, then you must be "living under a rock" as they say.  I think I've been hearing about this novel for at least a year.  I began some "online' conversations with Gae when I was sharing thoughts about Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin.  While attending NerdCampMI I had the honor of meeting both Gae and Nora.  They are everything you would hope authors would be.  Lucky for me I left camp with an ARC of this novel.  I couldn't wait to get started.    

What It Is About:  Just like everyone, Kyle's life changes dramatically on September 11, 2001.  He is in a high school class when the first plane flies into the Twin Towers.  As he is making his way home to "safety" he comes across a girl that is covered in ash, wearing angel wings, and not communicating.  Kyle makes a quick decision and brings her home to the comforts of his family's apartment in Brooklyn.  When they arrive, Kyle realizes his dad is down at the "site" because he is one of the first responders.  His mother and sister are stranded in California because there is no air travel.  Kyle needs to become an immediate adult and care for the "stranger" girl, his injured uncle who is staying with them, and himself.  The next couple of days Kyle tries to figure out who this girl is, prays for his father's safety at Ground Zero, and hoping his mother and sister can get home safely.  

What I Thought Of It:  It is so awesome when a story measures up to all the pre-release hype.  This was one novel that was at the top of my list for books that I wanted to read.  It was an even more special reading experience after having the opportunity to meet and chat with Gae during NerdCampMI.  I had attended a session that she presented at during camp so there were several times during the reading that I reflected back to that session because she had talked about certain aspects of writing of the book, research she had to do, and elements of the fiction story.  This made for an engaging reading experience.  The character of Kyle and the "girl" were fascinating to me and I loved their interactions.  Gae told the story from two points of view; one being Kyle's and the other being the girl he was trying to figure out what happened to.  Everything about this novel was top-notch and I'm so thankful I was able to get an ARC.  Thank you Gae for a special story about 9/11.  

Who Should Read It:  Everyone!  This is an important novel for people to read.  I think enough time has gone by that readers will be able to "take in" the events of 9/11.  Gae handled the day with grace, sensitivity, and thought.  The audience for the novel would be high school and/or adult readers.  I will be telling all of my adult friends to be sure to get a copy of this book when it comes out in September.  I do think that some middle-school readers would be appropriate for the story with some support from a teacher and/or parent.  I look forward to when this story is released into the reading world.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Trailer Thursday #149 (Student Trailer #7)

The Quirks and the Quirkalicious Birthday (#3) by Erin Soderberg

Book Trailer Created by Erin (Fourth Grade Student)

*Erin's Soderberg's series was quite popular with my fourth graders this past year.

*Each student in my class created book trailers (using iTrailer).

*They could pick a book they read, I read to class, or a "Breakfast with Books" selection.

*This was their first attempt at creating book trailers.

**Here are some other trailers we found to promote this book…

Gus by Kim Holden

How I Heard About It:  I first heard about Bright Side by Kim Holden and then learned there was a sequel to that story.  I so enjoyed the first story of Bright Side and Gus.  I was quite curious to continue their story with this second installment.  I will try to summarize without giving too much away from either book.  

What It Is About:  This story continues right where the first one left off.  Gus is trying to deal with his life after what happened with Bright Side.  He is scheduled to go on tour with the band and he isn't sure he can handle it.  While on tour he deals with "life" by using drugs, using alcohol, and using women.  Gus believes this will help him deal with Bright Side, but soon finds out none of these are the answer.  He is assigned a personal assistant named Scout.  She is a no nonsense type of woman and she and Gus don't hit it off.  Both of them just want to make it until the end of the tour without killing each other.  Once the tour is over, Gus heads home to rest in San Diego with his mother.  Through a series of strange events, Scout ends up working for Gus' mom and moving into their home.  She eventually brings a younger relative to stay with them also.  While living together, Gus and Scout try to start over and build a friendship.  They begin to each share their past stories, their past relationships, and past issues.  The two of them help each other heal.  Gus introduces Scout to Bright Sides friends from Minnesota and she realizes how much Bright Side meant to all these people.  She wonders if she will be able to find a spot in Gus' life.  

What I Thought Of It:  After finishing Bright Side, I was emotionally spent.  I wasn't sure I could handle continuing the story of Bright Side and Gus.  I gave myself a bit of time before heading back into their world.  I was disappointed in Gus' choices at the beginning of the novel, but I think that was the whole point.  He went through a really tough time and the author did a tremendous job of describing this time in his life.  The whole story was great, but overall not as intense as the first book.  The continuation of friendships that Gus had were heart-warming and touching.  There were so many characters that I was thrilled returned to this story.  Some elements of the story were a bit much and the author spent too much time on the "romance" scenes for my taste.  I'm glad I read this second book, but it wasn't quite the same caliber as the first novel.  

Who Should Read It:  Obviously if you have read Bright Side, then you certainly should read this novel.  If you haven't read the first part, then I recommend that you read both books.  The audience should be a high school reader and/or adult reader.  This second book was much more graphic in nature than Bright Side.  I do have to say that Kim Holden did a phenomenal job of drawing the reader into the lives of these very interesting characters.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Wonder Wednesday #149 (#NerdCampMI - Part Two)

Wonder Wednesday - My FIRST NerdCamp

*After three years of trying to get myself to #NerdCampMI, I finally did it!!!

*I returned last week from two of the most amazing days I've ever spent for my own personal and professional PD.

*I will be doing a more in-depth blog post about my experience, but I wanted to share some more images from my SECOND day at camp.

*Hopefully the blog post will be coming soon...