The Adventures and Misadventures Middle Grade Spotlights Jennifer Mann and Melanie Crowder

For the next several days, I will be highlighting the amazing authors on The Adventures and Misadventures Middle Grade Tour.  Today I feature - Jennifer Mann....


My question for all the authors:
A fictionalized character of you (as a middle grader) will be the main character in a book.  What author would write the book and what would it be about?

Jennifer answered: I would have Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking) write my story and it would be an adventure in space! I would like to be saving several worlds, ours and a couple of others. I don't need a love interest but would really want an alien best friend.

Check out Jennifer's debut book:



For more information about Jennifer Mann: website | blog | facebook | twitter

Next up is Melanie Crowder....


My question for all the authors:
A fictionalized character of you (as a middle grader) will be the main character in a book.  What author would write the book and what would it be about?

Melanie answered: Beverly Cleary would write about middle grade me. It would be a heartwarming story about a girl trying to step out of the shadow of her brilliant older sister, and making a hilarious mess of it along the way.

Check out Melanie's debut book:


For more information about Melanie Crowder: website | facebook | twitter

Don't forget that there is a giveaway happening too:

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 17


How bad would it be if I shared that I was thankful for Holiday Movies on Hallmark? HaHa! Yep, I am.  Today, while I worked on the computer, I probably watched four of them.

Other things that I was thankful for today...

...hanging out with a group of fifth graders that meet monthly to talk about ARC's (Advanced Readers Copies).  We meet at a local bookstore and the kids read the books and give us their thoughts on what is coming out.  It is fun to hear what they think and see what they like. They are better than professional reviewers, and they really know what they like and don't like.

...leftovers and good friends.  As you can imagine, we had leftovers from yesterday's birthday party. Lots and lots of leftovers.  A few of us joined together tonight to hang out in front of an outside fire (yes, I live in Southern California and we can do this in November), talk, laugh, and eat a lot of leftovers.

....and since this is also picture book month, here is my daily picture book recommendation:


by Oliver Jeffers
Philomel (2005)

The Adventures and Misadventures Middle Grade Tour Spotlights Kit Grindstaff

For the next several days, I will be highlighting the amazing authors on The Adventures and Misadventures Middle Grade Tour.  Today I feature - Kit Grindstaff.


My question for all the authors:
A fictionalized character of you (as a middle grader) will be the main character in a book.  What author would write the book and what would it be about?

Kit answered: A girl (11), tomboy, self-conscious bookworm, in weird family with departed (but not dead) dad, escapes into adventure/mystery books, and then gets kidnapped by the characters! I’d have Claire Legrand (The Year of Shadows) write it because she’d make it appropriately whacky but with a lot of heart (which I needed as a kid). I think she’d come up with a great ending to get the main character (me) out of that book and back into the real world, having learned the confidence and courage to deal with it.

Check out Kit's debut book:



For more information about Kit Grindstaff: website | blog | facebook | twitter

Don't forget that there is a giveaway happening too:

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 16 (a morning late)

I have been doing my Thanksgiving posts at night.  Well last night, I was so tired I couldn't even finish the last 30 minutes on an audiobook.  So, I am doing last night's post this morning.

Yesterday, I was thankful for a number of things...

...for my presentation, at the Association of Mexican American Educators Conference, which went well.  It was a great trial run for my NCTE presentation.

...for the birthday party for my dear friend who was in serious condition in the hospital a month ago.  He has come so far and his family and friends were excited to celebrate with him.


...for Matt de la Peña writing books that resonate with teens.  My godson, Jay, has not been convinced that books have meaning.  After looking at Jay's choices for school required reading this summer, I suggested he read Matt's book Mexican White Boy.  I thought if any of the books would resonate with Jay, then this one would.  Yesterday, I asked Jay what he wanted me to tell Matt about the book.  I don't have exact quotes but I was excited to hear him praise Matt for writing in a way that sounds like teens would talk.  As a biracial teen, Jay also resonated with this aspect of the story.  And for all of this, I am super thankful.

....and since this is also picture book month, here is my daily picture book recommendation in honor of books that deal with being a biracial child:


by Monica Brown; Illustrated by Sara Palacios
Lee & Low Books (September 2011)
 
 

The Adventures & Misadventures Middle Grade Tour Spotlights Kristen Kittscher

For the next several days, I will be highlighting the amazing authors on The Adventures and Misadventures Middle Grade Tour.  Today I feature - Kristen Kittscher.


My question for all the authors:
A fictionalized character of you (as a middle grader) will be the main character in a book.  What author would write the book and what would it be about?

Kristen answered: Lizzie K. Foley (REMARKABLE, Penguin, 2012) would write my story. Not unlike Foley’s remarkable (and remarkably funny) debut novel, it’d be about a seemingly normal girl who frequently finds herself amidst absurd situations and mysteries, which she solves with the help of her magical yet overenthusiastic dog.

Check out Kristen's debut book:



For more information about Kristen: website | facebook | twitter

Don't forget that there is a giveaway happening too: