Spellbinder Series Blog Tour Information

Blue Slip Media has arranged for a Blog Tour for author Helen Stringer's The Midnight Gate release.  If you are interested in checking out all of the blog posts and interviews, click on the links below.


May 23, 2011 - Mundie Kids:
http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-tour-guest-post-by-author-helen.html

May 24, 2011 - Poisoned Rationality:
http://www.prationality.com/2011/05/pr-special-edition-37-helen-stringer.html

May 25, 2011 - Cracking The Cover:
https://www.crackingthecover.com/2148/author-helen-stringers-books-born-from-childhood-love-of-storytelling/

May 26, 2011 - Bookworming In The 21st Century:
http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentury.com/2011/05/guest-post-with-helen-stringer-giveaway.html

May 27, 2011 - The OWL for YA:
http://owlforya.blogspot.com/2011/05/author-interview-helen-stringer.html

May 30, 2011 - Wicked Awesome Books
http://www.wickedawesomebooks.com/2011/05/guest-post-helen-stringer-giveaway.html

May 31, 2011 - TeenReads:
http://blog.teenreads.com/

June 1, 2011 - Kid Lit Frenzy (that's me):
http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

June 2, 2011 - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books:
http://mrripleysenchantedbooks.blogspot.com/

June 3, 2011 - The Joys of Reading
http://thejoysofreading.com/

June 6, 2011 - The Bluestocking Guide:
http://web.me.com/Bluestocking_bb/The_Bluestocking_Guide/Welcome.html

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - Spellbinder

Author: Helen Stringer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (Hardcover: September 29, 2009; Paperback: April 12, 2011)
Source: Personal Copy
Audience: Ages 9 to 12 years
Fiction * Middle Grades * Fantasy

Description from GoodReads:
Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts. It’s a trait she’s inherited from her mother’s side of the family, like blue eyes or straight hair. And it’s a trait she could do without, because what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible?

It is convenient, though, after Belladonna’s parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always, watching the same old TV shows in their same old house. Nothing has changed . . . until
everything changes.

One night, with no warning, they vanish into thin air—along with every other ghost in the world. It’s what some people think ghosts are supposed to do, but Belladonna knows it’s all wrong. They may not be living, but they’re not supposed to be gone.

With the help of her classmate Steve, a master of sneaking and spying, Belladonna is left to uncover what’s become of the spirits and to navigate a whole world her parents have kept well-hidden. If she can’t find her way, she’ll lose them again—this time for good.



"Some parts you don't want to put this book (Spellbinder) down and then in other parts you don't know if you should keep reading (because it is a bit scary)." - Jackie, age 10

Writing for children in what is considered the Middle Grades (Ages 9 to 12) can be a definite challenge.  Reading levels, life experiences, and maturation vary so much.  And just like the variety of children in this age group, books for this audience seem to also vary significantly.  However, I always love finding smart writing that holds the reader's attention, has a cast of solidly developed characters, and doesn't seem to be too old or too young for it's audience.


Helen Stringer's debut novel Spellbinder is really an amazing book.  Several times I stopped as I was reading just to admire, Stringer's use of language.  Maybe I am a little partial to British mysteries and fantasy stories, but when they are well done there is nothing better to read.


In Spellbinder, readers are introduced to Belladonna Johnson.  A 12 year old girl who can see ghosts, including her parents.  Of course, seeing ghosts isn't the unusual thing about Belladonna, at least not in her family.  However, what is unusual is when the ghosts start disappearing.  Belladonna sets out to find out what has happened to all the ghosts.  With her parents' disappearance, and her aunt and grandmother's unwillingness to include her in discovering what is happening, she must rely on the support of a classmate, Steve, and a 100 hundred year old ghost named Elsie, who died as a student and haunts the school.

Stringer works to tie in the present with a bit of Greek Mythology, and some bits and pieces of various ghost stories to provide just the right mix of creepy scary with action adventure.  As Belladonna searches for her parents and what is happening to the world, she must find the Spellbinder for the answers.  Some say she is the Spellbinder and that her friend Steve - her Paladin.  But if she is the Spellbinder, how come she doesn't feel like she has any answers?  Steve adds a bit of humor with his quick comebacks and ability to sneak into places he technically shouldn't be in, but he certainly proves himself a faithful friend.  Elsie, despite being annoying at times, proves to be quite the guide and mentor when adults don't seem willing to answer any questions.


Though the story ties up nicely, there were enough questions left unanswered for readers to yearn for future books.  At this point, if you are just discovering this series, you don't have to wait to pick up book 2 -
The Midnight Gate - which was released in the middle of May.  More action and adventure await Belladonna and Steve.  To find out a little more about the book, stop by the blog on June 1st, for a guest interview with author Helen Stringer.


When Feiwel & Friends released
Spellbinder, the original cover was of Belladonna having a meal with her ghostly parents (see cover above).  I guess they must have felt the cover wasn't exciting enough.  With the release of the paperback version, Spellbinder received an exciting update that matches the cover for The Midnight Gate.




I can see where the new covers may be much more attractive to middle grade readers.  What do you think?

If you haven't discovered Helen's website, she has quite a few things on it for children interested in her books.  You can click on the link to check out the information and games about her books: 
http://www.helenstringer.net/site.html

You can follow Helen Stringer on Twitter: @hcstringer
She can be found on Facebook by clicking
here.

Hot Off The Press! New Picture Books (12)

This is a feature that I try to do weekly called Hot Off The Press! based on my visits to Vroman's Bookstore and checking out their wall of new picture books.  Here are the 5 new releases that stood out from the pile this week:

Blackout
Author/Illustrator: John Rocco
Publisher: Hyperion (May 24, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7 (and the adults who will read it to them)

As soon as I saw the book trailer, I knew I had to see this book.  I was so excited to find it on the display shelf this week and immediately sat down to look at it.  Based on a 2003 New York neighborhood blackout, Rocco tells the story how one community learned something new about family and friends and neighbors from an unexpected event.  I have included the book trailer below for readers to check out.



Are You Awake?
Author/Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR (May 10, 2011)
Audience:  Ages 3 to 6 years

Though I indicated that the audience was for children ages 3 to 6 years, I want to say that this one may more likely be for every parent who has been awaken in the middle of the night or way to early in the morning by a small child who is all too eager to chat.  The dialogue was so real and I had to chuckle to myself as I read this one.  I love Blackall's illustrations as well.  My only complaint - Why did the publisher not release this one a few weeks earlier?  This would have been a lovely picture book to gift to a mother of a toddler for Mother's Day.

Here is a link to a blogpost that Sophie Blackall wrote about how she came up with the concept for the book, click here to read.

Here is a video of Sophie Blackall talking about her illustrations:


Earth to Clunk
Author: Pam Smallcomb
Illustrator: Joe Berger
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (May 12, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7 (and the adults who will be reading it)

I looked all over the place for a book trailer or some inside peeks or other information on this book and I found so little which is a shame since this book deserves at least a fun book trailer.  I have to admit that when I looked at the cover I didn't have the highest expectations (Yes, I know - shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Shame on me!).  But by the time I got to the part where the main character mails his older sister to his alien pen pal, I was giggling aloud.  This book takes the concept of pen pals to a whole new place and I found myself loving the quirky illustrations and how they worked perfectly with the text which completely changed my attitude about the cover by the end of the book.

Hopper and Wilson
Author/Illustrator: Maria Van Lieshout
Publisher: Philomel (June 9, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7 years old

There are some friendship books that are charming and delightful, and Van Lieshout's Hopper and Wilson fit that description.  I hunted for a book trailer for this one as well and was disappointed not to find one.  I can truly imagine these two friends in their paper sailboat bobbing along with just the right musical accompaniment.  One blue elephant in search of a staircase to the moon, and a yellow mouse in search of an endless supply of lemonade set out in a paper sailboat.  Yet, as typical in life, the two friends find something more important.  If you are a fan of Oliver Jeffer's books, then I would strongly encourage you to check this one out.

Tweak, Tweak
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Sergio Ruzzier
Publisher: Clarion Books (May 23, 2011)
Audience: Ages 2 to 6 years old

I adore Eve Bunting.  She has created so many wonderful picture books that I have used over and over again in my years as a teacher.  So, I am always excited to see what new book she has released.  After reading this one, I was bummed that Clarion hadn't chosen to release it earlier in the year.  It falls in that perfect "mommy & toddler" book category but with a release nearly two weeks after Mother's Day, there was a lost marketing/gift-giving opportunity.

I will say that I loved how this Mother and Baby Elephant's excursion is well told.  When Baby Elephant wants to fly like the birds, or hop like a frog, Mother Elephant has just the right response. The illustrations are whimsical and gentle and compliment the text.

Reading Rockets did an interview with author, Eve Bunting.

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and to Pixie @ Page Turners.

The Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop runs from Wednesday, May 25th to Tuesday, May 31st.  There are over 200 blogs signed up to host a giveaway so have fun checking out all the giveaways.

The Giveaway:
I love adding books to my To-Read pile for the summer when I have more time to read.  And I imagine that if you are participating in this Hop, you do too.  I would love to know what is on your To-Read pile for the summer.  In the entry form below, tell me about one book on your list ($15 or less - on Amazon or Book Depository) and why you are interested in reading it.  If you win the giveaway, I will have the book sent to you from either Amazon (US participants) or Book Depository (Canadian, International participants).

Good-luck everyone!

Rules for the Contest:

1. Please do not enter any personal information in the comments section,you must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.  Any comments with personal information will be deleted.
2.  The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 to 11:59 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, May 31st.
3.  You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
4.  If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
5.  International participants are welcome to enter the contest.



Interview with Anita Silvey, Children's Book A Day Almanac

Today on Kid Lit Frenzy, I am welcoming Anita Silvey whose Children's Book-A-Day Almanac is the one blog that I check out daily no matter what.  I love the book reviews, fun facts, and events in children's literature.  One day I hope to meet this amazing woman in real life, share a meal, and talk books for hours.  Until then, I will have to settle for a virtual chats and interviews.


For people who might not be familiar with Children's Book-A-Day Almanac, can you tell us a little bit about how and why you created it?

The idea for the Children’s Book-A-Day Almanac was proposed to me by my Editor at Roaring Brook, Simon Boughton. He thought it would be a creative way for me to recommend the best books to teachers, parents, librarians, booksellers, and those who love children’s books. Like a regular Almanac, it is organized around the calendar. For each day of the year, I talk about a book and what makes it special and sometimes tell the story behind its creation. Essentially each essay is a love letter to a book or person. Readers can and, thankfully, do comment – often discussing their own experiences with the book. On a side bar I note other events of the day -- authors’ birthdays or historic events--and link them to other books people might want to use.

You have been reading and writing about Children's Books/Children's Literature for many years. Are there trends that you see being repeated or new ones that you are excited about?

I always say that trends don’t matter but individual books and authors do. Our great works almost never appeared as part of a trend and were often rejected by editors because they were so different from the prevailing publishing norm. One of my mentors used to say that trends in publishing are like sun spots – they come and go for no earthly reason. But great books endure.

If you could hang out for the day with your favorite book characters, who would they be and what would you do together?

After reading Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart, I’m skeptical about the idea of actually befriending my favorite character in the real world! But as a child, I desperately wanted to have Anne of Green Gables as my best friend. And I still do.

As a child, did you have a book that you would identify as "the book" that got you hooked on reading?

I don’t have a single book. I loved books from my earliest memory. My grandmother trained to be a teacher at the turn of the 1900s, and I was her last, and I hope, her best pupil. My father, an engineer, pioneered all the commercial electronic devices of the 1950s and 1960s. We had the first black-and-white television and the first color television in the area. I would humor him, pay attention to each new invention to please him, and then go back to reading books. I really think there must be a genetic component for me. I even organized my stuffed animals, putting them in groups, and helped them develop reading skills.

Knowing that you have read literally 1,000's of books, do you have a favorite author or illustrator that rises to the top for you? Maybe someone who no matter what type of book they release you know you will pick it up?

I could never choose a favorite author or illustrator – there are too many. On the Almanac you will see one favorite each day! But I have often said that if I had only one book to take to a desert island, it would have to be Natalie Babbit’s Tuck Everlasting. Every time I read it, I am moved in a different way.

What advice might you give to teachers who think they are too busy to keep on top of current book releases or those who might have gotten stuck in a rut and continue to assign or recommend the same books?

They should just spend five minutes every day on the Almanac to learn about the best of the new books and to be reminded of the classics they may not have used recently in the classroom. If they want to scroll through the archives, quite easy to do, they can read about more books and often find testimonies from teachers in the comment section. The Almanac, in fact, was invented for a teacher or a parent who wants to spend a little time catching up with books --but doesn’t have hours each day.

Do you have a guilty pleasure type of book that you love to read?

I always say that all reading is good reading. To relax at night I love picking up murder mysteries – who knows why? Currently I’m working my way through Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander Mysteries, classic detective stories set in Sweden.

Thank you Anita for stopping by to tell us a little more about yourself and your love of books!  

For more information about Anita Silvey, check out her website: http://www.anitasilvey.com/
To follow her on twitter: @anitasilvey
To find her on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anita.silvey