Book Pages

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Colton Gentry's Third Act by Jeff Zentner

How I Heard About It
*I'm a huge fan of all things Jeff Zentner.  It was exciting to learn he was writing a novel published for adults.  He is EXPERT writer in young adult stories.  I tried everything I could to score an ARC, but had no luck.  Then I saw a post on social media by Jeff Zentner himself, stating NetGalley was offering an E-Galley of his upcoming novel.  It was downloaded as soon as I saw this post.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Colton Gentry has everything he ever wanted: a hit song, a rising career, and married to a mega-star.

*One night on stage after drinking too much, he lets lose on the country music audience about his personal feelings towards guns and the shooting death of his best friend.

*This incident brings an abrupt ending to his music career.  

*Colton finds himself moving back to his hometown and living with his mother.

*After running into his high school girlfriend, he begins a new path both personally and professionally.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*It was so wonderful to get back to a Jeff Zentner novel.  

*I found the reading to be enjoyable and satisfying as with his previous stories.

*As I was reading, I came to know and understand Colton; along with his past and present actions.  

*The plot was told in alternating time periods going back and forth between Colton's present life and his high-school years.  

*Jeff Zentner did a terrific job of letting the reader know how it would be for a human to go from the top of his game, to pretty much hitting rock bottom.


Who Should Read It:
*This novel is definitely for all Jeff Zentner fans.  It was such a pleasure to see how the author transitioned from writing young-adult to adult stories.  A solid work of fiction.  Happy Reading!


Rating:
  4 STARS out of 5 Stars



Thursday, December 28, 2023

Duck, Duck, Peach by Erin Soderberg Downing

How I Heard About It
*I love this series.  I use the first novel, When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie for our "Breakfast with Books" book club.  After my students read the first book, they can't wait to gobble up books #2 and #3.  This fourth installment will be released in April of 2024.  Thank you to Erin for sharing an ARC with me.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The Peach family is back and spending time in Duluth, MN.

*It is summer and the family is excited for the "Festival of Ships".

*Each member of the family has a special role to play in the festival.

*Everyone is extremely excited for the world's largest rubber duck.  

*When a storm moves through Duluth and Lake Superior, everyone is quite surprised when the rubber duck "disappears".  


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I was excited and a bit sad when I began the novel because I knew it was going to be the final "chapter" in the series.

*It was so fun to revisit the Peach family as I have come to know and love them.  

*I enjoyed the focus on Duluth, MN as the town is only about two hours from where I live.  It was so fun to read about all the places I've been.  

*The mystery of the missing DUCK was fun to read about and try to figure out what exactly happened.

*Erin did a wonderful job of continuing the Peach story and bringing it to a satisfying conclusion.


Who Should Read It:
*The entire Peach series if PERFECT for readers in grades three through six.  I'm so happy there are books/series like this one available for elementary children to read.  I also think middle-school readers would get a kick out of the adventures of the Peach family members.  Happy Reading!


Rating:
  4 STARS out of 5 Stars




Once Upon a Family by Amanda Rawson Hill

How I Heard About It
*I read The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill and enjoyed the story.  I was excited to see she had a new novel out.  I read this middle-grade novel during my Christmas vacation.  Once I started, I couldn't put it down.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Winnie isn't too thrilled when she and her mother have to move from Denver to a small Colorado town in order for her mother to marry the new man in her life.


*The move has created more anxiety and negative thoughts for Winnie than she usually has.  

*Her "inner" voice, which she has named, is sending more and more negative messages to Winnie and she isn't quite sure how to handle this new situation.  

*One evening, Winnie notices a glowing tree and finds herself climbing the tree where she discovers some magical eggs.

*The eggs seem to bring wishes, which at first Winnie thinks will solve all of her problems; but discovers there is more to a wish than what appears on the surface.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*My first take away was the integration of Winnie's story and the fairy tales she write about her own life.  I loved this connection.  

*I found her "alter-ego" interesting and quite accurate for young people struggling with anxiety and negative thoughts.  

*While reading, I enjoyed getting to know the members of Winnie's new family and the new friends she "tried" to establish new friendships with.

*The plot was strong, engaging, and quite thoughtful.  Lots of emotions sprinkled throughout the pages.

*Amanda Rawson Hill wrote with heart, authentic emotions/reactions, and characters that readers will come to know and care about.


Who Should Read It:
*The middle-grade novel is geared toward the upper elementary reader along with middle-school readers.  I also think most adult readers would enjoy Winnie's journey to self-discovery.  Happy Reading!


Rating:
  4 STARS out of 5 Stars


Monday, December 18, 2023

The Misfits A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee

How I Heard About It
*I was able to pick up an ARC of this middle-grade novel during #NCTE23 in Columbus, Ohio.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:

*Olive Cobin Zang hasn't always had it easy.  She has had to raise herself, and seems to find trouble at school.

*She is surprised when her mother picks her up from school and proceeds to drop her off at a new boarding school.

*Olive isn't sure what to think of the new school and is a bit confused when she learns about RASCH.

*It is in a special program, where Olive meets other "misfits" who are all determined to have special qualities.  

*The group of "misfits" learn they have been tasked with a special mission and Olive sets her sights on being successful along with her fellow "misfits".


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I thought the beginning of the story was awesome and grabbed my attention right away.

*Reading about Olive making the transition from her "regular" school to RASCH was intriguing.  

*As Olive became accustomed to the school and met her fellow misfits, I began to lose a bit of interest.

*I'm more of a realistic fiction reader so I think some of the adventures the kids experienced were lost on me.

*As I was reading, I did think that story would be perfect for young readers.  They will love the adventures and missions.


Who Should Read It:
*The novel will be released on January 2, 2024.  In my opinion I think children in grades three through five would be appropriate for the plot.  Middle-school students will also enjoy Olive's journey at the new school.  Young kids will find it a wild ride.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:
  4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

How I Heard About It
*The graphic novel came to me via the publisher (Scholastic).  I'm not normally a fan of graphic novels (for myself), but was intrigued by the cover and title.  I had not heard of "Parachute Kids".


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:

*Feng-Li is excited to visit California for the first time.  She believes it will be the trip of a lifetime.  

*Because of Visa issues, Feng-Li and her two older siblings are left alone in California, while their parents try to work things out in Taiwan.  

*Feng-Li tries to acclimate to elementary school while her two older siblings navigate their way through high-school.  

*As much as the three siblings want to make their parents proud, they find life on their own quite difficult with real-life issues around every corner.

*Feng-Li realizes both her older siblings, and parents, need her to step and help the family in ways most young people should not be expected to.  


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*As I mentioned, I'm not a fan of graphic novels for myself as a reader.  

*Once I began the book, I found myself engrossed in the story line and turning page after page.

*The plot was interesting, heart-breaking, and full of emotion.

*The graphics were top-notch and I enjoyed spending time with them.

*Reading the back matter was educational because I was not aware of children being labeled "Parachute Kids".


Who Should Read It:
*I think readers in grades four, five, and. six would be able to understand and enjoy the story.  The graphic novel would also appeal to middle-school students.  Happy Reading!


Rating:
  4 STARS out of 5 Stars




Wellness by Nathan Hill

How I Heard About It
*I don't normally read all of Oprah's book club selections, but I did read this recent book club pick.  The story line sounded intriguing and I had read The Nix by Nathan Hill which I thought was quite good.  I decided to listen to the story via Audible.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:

*Jack and Elizabeth are brought together by two apartment windows in downtown Chicago.

*Once they meet in person, they know there is something special between them.

*As their marriage progresses, they realize who they truly are and what they have brought into the marriage.

*Being from two different backgrounds effects the way they each interact within the marriage.

*Children, friends, jobs, and beliefs all impact the marriage of Jack and Elizabeth.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I'm glad I decided to listen to the audio version of the novel because I don't think I would have gotten through the printed version.

*This was a big and long novel and at times difficult to stay interested in.  

*There were parts of the plot I enjoyed, most the marital exchange between Jack and Elizabeth, but many of the subplots didn't hold my interest.

*The writing and descriptions were top-notch.  Nathan Hill is a talented writer.

*This wasn't the perfect novel for me, but many readers gave it top reviews.  


Who Should Read It:
*Even though the story wasn't what I look for in a novel, I know there are many readers out there who have raved about the novel and enjoyed everything about the story.  Readers should be ready for a long, detailed, and different type of story.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:
  3 STARS out of 5 Stars






Monday, December 4, 2023

An Inside Look #261(Author INTERVIEW)

 

An Inside Look with Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

(Authors of DogTown)


*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)

*Season #FOURTEEN (Fall 2022)

*Season #FIFTEEN (Winter/Spring 2023)



*I'm excited to present season #SIXTEEN 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 Ninth interview in which I'm calling Season #SIXTEEN. 

*Thank you to Katherine and Gennifer for being the Two Hundred Sixty-First authors I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  


s

DogTown

by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

(September 19, 2023)

How did you come to know Chance and Metal Head?

GC: Chance kind of popped up fully formed.  Metal Head took more work.  Trial and error.  No hes not like that. Hey Katherine, do you think hes like this?”

KA: With Chance, I think we inevitably channeled our own dogs. Maybe Metal Head was more challenging because we’re not acquainted with any robot dogs!



What do you think are their most admirable qualities?

 

GC: Chance is kind, despite herself.  Metal Head is trying valiantly to figure out who he is and how he works.

 

KA Chance is resilient. She’s been through a lot and keeps persevering. And there’s an odd sweetness to Metal Head that becomes apparent over time. (I’m very fond of him.)



Is there anything you wish they would have changed or done differently in their story?

 

GC: The best thing about getting to do a series is you can course correct in the next book.

 

KA I hate to admit it, but naming a female dog “Chance” seems to have confused lots of people. I wouldn’t change it, though!



What do you think they can offer to other children/dogs that are experiencing similar situations to what they went through?

 

GC: All of us are trying to figure out who we are.  It is a trial and error process.

 

KA:  I hope kids realize that unexpected friendships lie around every corner. It’s important to be open and welcoming.



How did you research the characters and the circumstances  they found themselves in?

 

GC: I volunteer at a shelter called Marin Humane.

 

KA I had a therapy dog named Goofy who visited schools in a program similar to “Reading Buddies.”



Do you and the dogs share any similarities?

 

GC I, for one, have a fraught relationship with hope.

 

KA:  Dogs are experts at living in the moment. I’m trying very hard to be more like that.



What was the hardest scene to write about them?

 

GC: (Spoiler alert!) It was painful to write the scene where James rejects Metal Head.  

 

The most challenging part was figuring out how to write the book together.  Initially we thought we would each write from the pov of one character.  But that kind of imploded on us, so we had to find our own way of working together.

 

KA: There were definitely some poignant moments where we both needed Kleenex on hand.




Who do you think were their biggest supporters and why?

 

GC: I think Mouse, Metal Head and Chance supported each other.

 

KA I agree. The dogs created their own network of support.



Why do you think dogs have such a personal and meaningful relationship with humans?

 

GC: Humans provide something to dogs that they cant get from each other: Belly Rubs. Dogs provide something to humans that we desperately need: Unconditional acceptance.

 

KA: Dogs are eternal optimists, and spending time around that endless joy is contagious.



What do you think they are doing at the present time?

 

GC: Stay tuned.  Next Dogtown launches September 2024.

 

KA:  Someone once said that “The dog is the god of frolic.” I’m pretty sure that whatever the dogs are doing, there’s some serious frolic going on.

 



SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)













SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)







SEASON #SEVEN (Fall 2019)




















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)




SEASON #NINE (Fall 2020)














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)

Interview #234 with Jasmine Warga (Author of A Rover's Story)


SEASON #FIFTEEN (Winter/Spring 2023)

Interview #235 with Varsha Bajaj (Author of Thirst)

Interview #236 with Torrey Maldonado (Author of Hands)

Interview #237 with C.C. Harrington (Author of Wildoak)

Interview #238 with Margi Preus (Author of Windswept)

Interview #239 with Dayna Lorentz (Author of Wayward Creatures)

Interview #240 with Katrina Nannestad (Author of We are Wolves)

Interview #241 with Anika Fajardo (Author of Meet Me Halfway)

Interview #242 with Chrystal D. Giles (Author of Not an Easy Win)

Interview #243 with Gregory Maquire (Author of Cress, Watercress)

Interview #244 with Will Taylor (Author of The Language of Seabirds)

Interview #245 with Gillian McDunn (Author of When Sea Becomes Sky)

Interview #246 with Ann Braden (Author of Opinions and Opossums)

Interview #247 with Jarrett Lerner (Author of A Work in Progress)

Interview #248 with John David Anderson (Author of The Greatest Kid in the Universe)

Interview #249 with Aubrey Hartman (Author of The Lion and Lark-Hayes Manor)

 

Interview #250 with Sally J. Pla (Author of The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn)

Interview #251 with Chris Baron (Author of The Gray)

Interview #252 with Dusti Bowling (Author of DUST)


SEASON #SIXTEEN (Fall 2023)

Interview #253 with Sarah Everett (Author of The Probability of Everything)

Interview #254 with Andrea Beatriz Arango (Author of Something Like Home)

Interview #255 with H.M. Bouwman (Author of Gossamer Summer)

Interview #256 with Kaija Langley (Author of The Order of Things) 

Interview #257 with Elaine Vickers (Author of Half Moon Summer)

Interview #258 with John Gaspard (Author of The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks)

Interview #259 with Dana Kramaroff (Author of The Do More Club)

Interview #260 with Jessica Vitalis (Author of Coyote Queen)