Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Monday, May 13, 2019

An Inside Look #89 (Author INTERVIEW)


Inside Look with Lynda Mullaly Hunt
(Author of One for the Murphys)

*During the summer of 2016, I added this feature to the blog which was called "Season #ONE".  This first season ran from June of 2016 to March of 2017.  

*I started up the interviews again in June of 2017.  It was great to get back to Season #TWO.  This season ran throughout the summer.  

*Season #THREE ran during the school year of 2017/2018.  


*The next season (season #FOUR) of interviews took place during the summer and fall of 2018.  With each interview I became more and more impressed with the authors I was having interactions with.  


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

*This is the Eighteenth interview of what I'm calling Season #FIVE.

*Thank you to Lynda Mullaly Hunt for being the Eighty-Ninth author that I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  


*Here are links to the first Eighty-EIGHT interviews…


SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)












*Lynda Mullaly Hunt was kind, gracious, and giving with her answers to the questions.  It is an honor to post her responses here on the blog.  

*Thank you Lynda for writing this incredible and thought-provoking book.



One for the Murphys

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (May 16, 2013)



 How did you come to know Carley?
I have always known Carley. In my younger days, I knew the self-protected, angry Carley who played with letters to keep calm. And later, I know the Carley who has learned that letting people in is a good gamble to take. Sure, you’ll be hurt sometimes but we can handle disappointments; they are way better than a life without connections.


What do you think is Carley's most admirable quality?
Carley is resilient.  Sometimes readers will ask me if her mother changes when they got back to Vegas. They are usually surprised when I tell them that Carley’s mom is exactly the same. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that Carley is different. She’s learned enough from the Murphys to make a happy life for herself – regardless of the situation that she is in.


Is there anything you wish Carley would have changed or done differently in her story?
Ha! Well, I guess she could have lightened up a bit earlier.  No, Carley’s story is written as it should be, I think. Sometimes, I’ll feel sad about what she’s been through but then I remember…she doesn’t actually exist. Nor do the Murphys nor Toni. Which also makes me sad… (Writers. *eye roll* )


What do you think Carley can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?  
My hope in writing One for the Murphys was always that kids who met her would see that they can make any life for themselves as adults that they want. I think sometimes kids who are dealt difficult hands feel like they must stay in that life forever. That it’s their lot in life. But that isn’t so. And, although starting off with difficult things to endure is tough, slaying these challenges can often lead to very strong adults – if we look at these hurdles through the right lens.
How did you research Carley and the circumstances she found himself in?
Well, I did not have to research Carley’s emotional journey. I was a hard kid to reach. I had formidable walls. So, in terms of that, there wasn’t anything to do but sit with Lynda at 12 and 13 and 15…
The only part of the book I had to research was the piece with Mrs. MacAvoy, the social worker. I knew that it was unlikely that a foster child could be in a home for that long without visits from a social worker. Wearing my teacher and mom “hats,” this absence was a concern. But my author hat knew that introducing a social worker who would make regular visits would interfere with her bonding with Julie Murphy. To get around this concern, I could have made Mrs. MacAvoy adversarial, but I didn’t want to do that. 
So, I took a social worker in CT (where the book takes place) out to dinner (after he read the manuscript) and asked if the social worker’s absence was plausible. Not desired, necessarily. But was it plausible? He told me that every day presents social workers with unexpected challenges – fires to put out. And if he had to skip any home visit he’d skip the Murphy home because he would know that Carley would be okay there. So, yes. It was plausible.
Do you and Carley share any similarities?  
Well…I do love Converse. In terms of other stuff, I think I’ve covered it.
What was the hardest scene to write about Carley?
SPOILER: Definitely the last chapter. I was so sad afterward that I didn’t write for a few weeks. And when I went back to it, I wrote the opposite scene. The scene I wanted and the scene so many readers wanted. But it wasn’t authentic. It just didn’t ring true and being honest in storytelling is always my top priority.
Who do you think was Carley's biggest supporter and why?
Well, the story has several people who support Carley and her journey in learning to accept that support. If I had to choose, though, it would have to be Julie Murphy who shows Carley that she can claim any life for herself that she chooses. She also changes Carley’s perspective of herself. That is quite an achievement indeed. 
Why do you think some families are meant to be foster families and LOVE foster children just as much as their natural born children?
I think there are some people who have bigger hearts than most of us. Teachers, nurses, and foster parents all fall into this category.
What do you think Carley is doing as the present time? 
I think Carley is a young fifth grade teacher. She fiercely loves her students. And they love her. And later today, she will text Toni in New York and tell her a great story about a kid in her class. And Toni will respond, “Wow, Connors. Do those kids know actually what a sap you are?”


And Carley will smile.
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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (5/13/19)



Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...
                
Books I Read this Past Week…

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

*Novel Published for Adults (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)
Lights All Night Long by Lydia Fitzpatrick

*Novel Published for Adults (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)




Star Shepherd by Dan Haring & Marcy Kate Connolly

*Middle-Grade Novel (3 STARS out of 5 Stars)






Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week…


the beautiful land by alan averill

*My Novel Published for Adults (A friend of mine wrote this book)









Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

*My Novel Published for Adults









Internment by  Samira Ahmed

*My Young-Adult Novel (Audio)









Spark by Sarah Beth Durst

*My Middle-Grade Novel




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Saturday, May 11, 2019

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

How I Heard About It:  A teacher friend of mine from school told me about this novel.  She said it was one of her favorite stories of the year.  I decided to listen to it via Audible.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  
1.  *Maddy seemed to have it all.  A wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, and a life that appeared to be perfect.  

 2.  *That is why it doesn't make sense when she jumps off a building on the local college campus falling to her death.  

3.  *She leaves Brady and Eve behind.  Brady has spent most of his life working and not spending much time with Maddy and/or their daughter Eve.  Not they must get to "know" each other and find a way to move forward.  

 4.  *As Maddy looks on from "above", she tried to make sure Brady and Eve both are happy and moving on with their lives as best as they can.  

 5.  *Life without Maddy is a struggle and both Brady and Eve spend time thinking of all the mistakes they made while Maddy was still with them.  They also navigate new waters of father and daughter.  
What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1.  *The narration of the story was fantastic.  I enjoyed that the characters of Maddy, Eve, and Brady each had their own narrator.  It was almost like listening to a play instead of a story.

 2.  *Through most of the story, I was quite confused and concerned as to why Maddy decided to end her life.  It broke my heart that she left Eve to fend for herself and live with a father she really didn't know.

 3.  *I enjoyed the character of Brady.  In my opinion, he learned the most about himself and grew as a human being.  He saw his faults and set out to fix them.  

 4.  *Eve was also a major draw to the story and I thought the relationship between her and Rory was special and heart-warming.  They both lost a lot and needed each other.  

 5.  *I recently lost a family friend, to cancer - not suicide, but much of this story reminded me of how the living MUST find a way to go on after a loved one passes on to the next world.  There were moments listening when I could feel myself holding back the tears.  


Who Should Read It:   This is the perfect novel for any adult reader.  I certainly enjoyed the audio version, but my friend at work said she loved reading the printed format.  As much as the subject matter was difficult, the story will still leave the reader full of hope and love.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars!




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Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Wonder Wednesday #265 (Shouting at the Rain)

Wonder Wednesday - The Wait is Over...

 *I'm always excited when a new middle-grade novel enters the world.

*It is even more exciting when that particular book is from one of your favorite middle-grade authors.

*Two of my favorite stories come from Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  Her first novel One for the Murphys told the heart-warming story of Carly.  The second novel, Fish in a Tree, introduced Allie who become one of my most memorable characters.



*When I learned that Lynda was working on a third novel, I was absolutely giddy with happiness.

*It was an honor to receive an ARC.  I remember reading it on my flight to Houston last November for NCTE.  That flight was one of the most enjoyable I've ever had.

*Yesterday (5/7/19) was the book birthday for Shouting at the Rain.  To celebrate we started the story as our last read aloud of the year.  I even wore my t-shirt to school to celebrate the day.

*Here are some links and videos to honor this release and celebrate the incredible writing of LMH...







Book Trailers/Books Talks...





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Monday, May 6, 2019

An Inside Look #88 (Author INTERVIEW)

Inside Look with Lynda Mullaly Hunt
(Author of Shouting at the Rain)

*During the summer of 2016, I added this feature to the blog which was called "Season #ONE".  This first season ran from June of 2016 to March of 2017.  

*I started up the interviews again in June of 2017.  It was great to get back to Season #TWO.  This season ran throughout the summer.  

*Season #THREE ran during the school year of 2017/2018.  


*The next season (season #FOUR) of interviews took place during the summer and fall of 2018.  With each interview I became more and more impressed with the authors I was having interactions with.  


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

*This is the Seventeenth interview of what I'm calling Season #FIVE.

*Thank you to Lynda Mullaly Hunt for being the Eighty-EIGHTH author that I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  


*Here are links to the first Eighty-SEVEN interviews…


SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)












*Lynda Mullaly Hunt was kind, gracious, and giving with her answers to the questions.  It is an honor to post her responses here on the blog.  

*Thank you Lynda for writing this incredible and thought-provoking book.

*Here are my thoughts about Lynda's newest novel...

My Book Review


Shouting at the Rain

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt(May 7, 2019)



How did you come to know Delsie?
I have always known Delsie. And I have always known Ronan, the boy who becomes her close friend.

These two characters are the two sides of me at 13 years old. Delsie is naïve and kind. She tries to keep her chin up but she drags a heavy emotional block behind her that she tries to ignore.

Ronan is outwardly angry about the circumstances of his life. He uses his fists to express himself. In fact, he ends up in the back of a police car because he is unable to control his temper. But he is a good kid. He has a good heart. He’s just hurting. Hurting badly. And he doesn’t yet understand the nature of anger – that anger is a bunch of emotions we’d rather not feel such as sadness, loneliness, confusion, and betrayal – all thrown into an emotional blender. All mixed up and too hard to process. And what do we get then? Anger. Also, Ronan hasn’t yet learned that anger does not justify hurting others. “But I was mad,” is not a pass to behave any way you wish. This exploration of emotions is a journey that Delsie and Ronan will take together.

What do you think is Delsie's most admirable quality?
Delsie’s most admirable quality is that she is loyal. Well, she is loyal to others but learns to be loyal to herself as well.

She is also tenacious. And bright. And loving and sensitive. Oh, is that more than one?

Is there anything you wish Delsie would have changed or done differently in her story?
No. I don’t think so since she came around to seeing what was in front of her the whole time and was able to learn that, “It’s not what we look at that counts but what we see.”

What do you think Delsie can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?  
I think Delsie can offer another point of view. I think she can offer kids the opportunity to empathize with her and then hopefully apply her journey to their own lives.

Friends in threes is very difficult and Delsie’s journey of having a best friend outgrow her is a common one with humans of a great span of ages. As a reader standing outside of the experience many will wonder why she hangs on the way she does. Keeps coming back for more no matter how unkind Tressa becomes. But that is very human. The thought of being alone is a scary one (especially for kids) so we hang on to situations that aren’t optimal because it feels better than taking the risk of being alone. Delsie comes to the realization, “I realize that friendship is like boogie boarding. You have to know when to hang on and when to let go.”

Also, I know there are kids out there who have family structures that aren’t traditional and they see that as “less than.” (I know they are out there because I have met them.) I wanted kids to know that they have not been abandoned if someone stepped in to love them.

How did you research Delsie and the circumstances she found herself in?

I’ve lived over a half of a century with these feelings. That’s a LOT of research!

Do you and Delsie share any similarities?  
Yes! You will find them between pages 1 and 288. J

So, seriously, I do. I know what it means to be left behind as a kid. I know what it means to be outgrown by friends. I know what it means to have parents who are unavailable to me. I know what it means and how it feels to be mistreated. To be treated in ways that children should never be treated and to feel so much sadness and anger that I couldn’t process it. I know what it means to have every ounce of hope seep out of you.

But I also know great love; I am blessed in that respect. And I know what it is like to find family outside your blood lines and family name. In fact, One for the Murphys (my first novel) came out of one of those experiences. I am blessed but it hasn’t been easy. Although, I don’t know anyone who’s had it easy. Everyone has a story to tell. Hardships can be gifts, though, if you look at them through the right lens.

What was the hardest scene to write about Delsie?

I think the hardest scene to write was Ronan and the horseshoe crab scene. Not because it was difficult but because I felt SO much of what Ronan felt. It broke my heart. I want to wrap that kid up in my arms some days. Actually, a lot of days.

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

Well, I have to go with Grammy, I guess. Although Delsie is a blessed girl. She has many who love her.

And if I look long into her future, I see Ronan. He is always there.

Why do you think some young people, like Delsie and Ronan, can stand on their own two feet and truly believe in themselves, while other children struggle to be their own person and succumb to peer pressure; which leads to people they are not?    
Certainly, when it comes to standing against peer pressure, self esteem is vital. However, I don’t think that “believing in yourself” comes around like magic. True self esteem is made by impressing ourselves. Authentically impressing ourselves rather than merely reminding ourselves that we are unique and different than others, etc. Being different is not what makes one great. (I mean, malaria is different.)

I do think the confidence embers are fed by external sources as well, though. Part of being resilient is latching onto/listening to people who buoy us rather than tear us down. Choosing who we listen to. And becoming our own voice when called for. Out in the world there are always people ready to offer either perspective. Yet, when fed negative messages, some of us soak it all in like a sponge plunged into freezing water. We take on the negative opinions of others as a truth. Whereas, others get squinty inside. Angry. And cast off those messages with an “I’ll show you. You don’t know me” kind of attitude. What creates the difference? I really wish I knew.

A concern that has been developing as I travel around speaking with kids is that somehow kids have come to believe that when someone speaks something out loud it’s the truth. I think we need to tell kids that they are ALLOWED to weigh the opinions of others differently. The person on the bus or the cafeteria is not someone they love; they should be able to let words from those people bounce off. And, yet, so many struggle to do so.
And what is also essential for self-esteem and confidence? I think human connections make us feel like we have the ground underneath our feet. They make self esteem possible. They help us stand taller. Trust ourselves more. And therefore make us better able to stand up to peer pressure. 
I love my iphone and my computer but I do worry that technology holds too important of a place in the lives of children these days. True human connections are not made online; I wonder sometimes if it doesn't feel like a house of mirrors to kids. How kids are told to "connect" online yet it doesn't feel like connecting. Not really.  Kids socializing with each other via fortnight is a myriad of red flags. It’s interesting that tech executives allow their own children very little technology at home because they understand the repercussions of allowing kids too much screen time. They understand how very addictive technology is and its effects on the child’s brain.
The levels of depression and anxiety in kids is higher than ever. I think it’s time we adults start asking why. Personally, I have wondered if there are just a lot more lonely, unconnected kids out there. And, adults, for that matter. And, yet, we are falling over ourselves to provide each kindergartener with ipads. Perhaps we should buy them books instead. *Steps off stack of soapboxes*

In addition, authentic self esteem that is made by making one truly proud of self will help kids stand up against peer pressure. Self esteem will also help kids make connections to others which is another component of standing strong and trusting one's self. Humans of all ages strive to connect. To feel like they belong. Completely understandable, of course. This is a very basic need of humans. But, as adults, we should be paying attention. Paying attention to who our kids are listening to.   

We must ensure they have authentic self-esteem, connections, and confidence. I believe these are essential to stand against peer pressure.

What do you think Delsie is doing as the present time? 
Delsie is playing a long game on Monopoly with Ronan (Because neither will agree to sell property to the other) and dreaming of summer which is right around the corner. Making plans for cookouts and fishing for stripers off the coast of Chatham. Looking forward to spending time with Henry and Esme and Ruby. Even Olive. Delsie is thinking of Brandy hoping she is happy yet wishing it all could have worked out differently. 
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