…to look at a picture of Jenna Bush’s smiling face, and to give you a lovely opportunity to read the first four chapters of her YA book.
Because you know you wanted to, anyway.
Chapters are via the ever awesome NPR Books.
Okay, Maybe I'm Late On This, but…
Ooh, ooh, ooh, have you heard about THIS?! A single YA/MG novel written in ten voices! Click.
The authors include the fabulous Eoin Colfer, as well as Linda Sue Park, Nick Hornby and others. The premise is apparently based on a box of seashells from all over the world — which makes openings for stories attached to each of them.
THIS is the type of stuff I love — what a fabulous project! What a great idea! Someday, maybe when I’m famous (hah) I will get invited to join these types of things. This is kind of what my writing group and I tried to begin a year and a half ago — we invented a town and tried to write ten short stories based in the town. Part slipstream fiction, part linked story cycles — and entirely fun. two chapters from the novel are included in NPR’s report. Go! Read! Enjoy!
Okay, Maybe I’m Late On This, but…
Ooh, ooh, ooh, have you heard about THIS?! A single YA/MG novel written in ten voices! Click.
The authors include the fabulous Eoin Colfer, as well as Linda Sue Park, Nick Hornby and others. The premise is apparently based on a box of seashells from all over the world — which makes openings for stories attached to each of them.
THIS is the type of stuff I love — what a fabulous project! What a great idea! Someday, maybe when I’m famous (hah) I will get invited to join these types of things. This is kind of what my writing group and I tried to begin a year and a half ago — we invented a town and tried to write ten short stories based in the town. Part slipstream fiction, part linked story cycles — and entirely fun. two chapters from the novel are included in NPR’s report. Go! Read! Enjoy!
And More from the Blog World
From squeetus blog:
Professor: Let me introduce you to Shannon Bryner [Shannon Hale’s maiden name]. She was one of my students.
Bookseller: Actually, we know Shannon. She’s kind of famous.
Professor: That’s right! I heard you wrote a couple of kids’ books?
Me: Yeah, that’s right.
I could’ve mentioned the Newbery Honor but I don’t think it would have meant anything to her. I could’ve mentioned the New York Times best seller list and published in 15 languages and that sort of thing, but that would have been a real neener-neener, wouldn’t it? I usually don’t offer information about my profession to people I meet. I’m a stay-at home mom and I’m happy for people to assume that’s all I do. And the awkwardness of the replies, “Oh! Children’s books. Hmm…” is something I like to avoid.
“A couple of kids’ books?!”
One wonders if with the advent of Austenland, that kindly professor’s opinion of Hale has risen, or — ? Anyway, read more of Shannon Hale’s three part conversation with author Megan Whalen Turner.
Oh, dear. We’ve many of us complained about the complete bewilderment that is the alleged cinematic version of The Dark is Rising. The fact that now Susan Cooper seems a bit confused by it makes me quite sad. “You do have to do violence to a book to make it into a screenplay — the two mediums are so different,” she says. Violence – a grievously apt word, methinks.
Meg Rosoff suggests writers get ready for that one question that always gets asked… And no, it’s not “where do you get your ideas?” That’s actually, in some ways, easier…!
Via Jen Robinson’s Book Page, a quiet phenomenon that started with former California journalist Jeff Rubin’s National Punctuation Day has sprouted wings and is fluttering across the hemisphere. After Jen initially reported on the event, she heard from an Aussie who was interested in making it a 
WORLD Punctuation Day event!
People, this is exciting! I already enjoy dropping by the amusing blog of unnecessary quotation marks — those are simply fun. But with a World Punctuation Day, my Most Egregious Misuse postings would fall into dust — And I would be thrilled! And to think we’ll be able to say we “knew her when!”
Jen Robinson: helping to change the world, one egregious punctuation misuse at a time…
Because it's Banned Books Week…
…I thought I’d let you know that Harlequin Books is, according to NPR’s Morning Edition, now online. eHarlequin – yet another way to pass the time at work…
More Wicked Cool Overlooked Books at Jenn Robinson’s, and of course over at Chasing Ray’s blog, where where the fun started.
Ysabeau Wilce reports that Flora, Redux IS FINISHED!!! YAY!
Meanwhile, I have a little frisson of excitement going on: The Cybils have begun! And the nominations in SciFi/Fantasy are already flying fast and fierce. Go forth! Nominate!
Because it’s Banned Books Week…
…I thought I’d let you know that Harlequin Books is, according to NPR’s Morning Edition, now online. eHarlequin – yet another way to pass the time at work…
More Wicked Cool Overlooked Books at Jenn Robinson’s, and of course over at Chasing Ray’s blog, where where the fun started.
Ysabeau Wilce reports that Flora, Redux IS FINISHED!!! YAY!
Meanwhile, I have a little frisson of excitement going on: The Cybils have begun! And the nominations in SciFi/Fantasy are already flying fast and fierce. Go forth! Nominate!
Wicked Cool Overlooked Books: Out Rocking Robin Hood
In “a distant time and far-off place,” Cynthia Voight created a dynamic and intense character in a complex society. Unlike her more well-known Tillerman series, where the young Dicey is acting as father and mother for a brood, Voight’s character, Gwyn, has parents – they’re innkeepers at the Ram’s Head, and for peasants, they are fairly prosperous. They have their place in the rigidly controlled medieval hierarchy. In that structure, a woman’s burden is solid and soul-destroying, and completely controlled by the men in the village. Men, whom Gwyn regards with a sort of hopeless and tired envy, have far more choices than women, but even their choices are constricted.
Into her narrow world, a young Lord comes. Separated from his father in a snowstorm, Gadrian, together with Gwyn, is stranded in an abandoned cabin. In the intervening days as they have no other company but their own, from Gadrian Gwyn learns of a whole world beyond the mountains. They learn from each other, at first in small snatches, then in the larger give and take of friendship, she teaches him to fight like a peasant; he teaches her the elegance of the swords. Gwyn teaches him woodcraft, Gadrian teaches Gwyn to read. Little by little they move toward each other as brothers-in-arms, instead of as Lord and peasant. But trusting yourself to another’s swords goes only so far – they are still not equals. Gwyn is reminded of this forcefully when racing back to the Inn. Getting there first — without the Lordling she was meant to protect — leaves Gadrian’s father in fear that his son is dead, and he puts his swords to her throat. From that day, Gwyn loses her trust of the way things work, and that her family can protect her. There needs to be, she sees, another way. People should be free.
There are stories in the village, and in the towns beyond. Stories of a one called Jackaroo, one who shoulders the burdens of the poor, who takes up for the weak, who does not let the Lords fatten upon the lives of the peasants. Such stories are the usual rumors that bring a brief and watery hope to the people, but when Jackaroo finds a gauntlet in the woods like the one worn by Jackaroo, she realizes that he is real… but not in her world. Her world needs a hero, and needs one now. Why can’t she just put on the mask…?
This is a story like Robin Hood, but better, since it’s without the icky Maid Marian, who stood around and did nothing but screw things up, and without the blithe mindless I-can-out-clever-you-all-naah-nah of Robin Hood.
It is hard for Gwyn to put on the mask, hard to set aside the ingrained feminine training where men are revered, the gentry are always right, and she does as she is told, panders for attention from eligible males and considers herself in terms of marriage and nothing else. Further, once she has started down that road, there are paradoxes and traps within doing good for others. Do they deserve it? Will they, in turn, do good to others, or will they simply expect more? Is good, in itself, enough? Why does she have to order people to do right? Why won’t they, as freed people, act in good conscience freely?
I relished the moral implications Voight explored. It’s not easy to ride in and be the hero, yet too often in fiction it is produced as a simple solution. Though the whole thing started as a lark, as a way to take on the Lords and be daring, Gwyn realizes before long that she is ill-prepared for what she has to do, and the people are completely unprepared to be assisted, to change their own lives. And what then?
There were too many like Am among the people, too many who gave up the fight. But what could you expect, when all of life was so hard and hopeless? How could someone fight and know he never would win? And who was the enemy? Could a man fight off a long winter or a dry summer? No more than he could fight against the Lords. Aye, the people could not manage without the Lords, they were children unable to take care of themselves…. Why should Jackaroo take such risks, for such people…. Aye, she had no choice in the matter any more. (p. 226)
The novel ends with several rapid twists of plot that may confuse the reader who isn’t following closely. Mistaken identities crop up, as suddenly Gwyn is not the only masked rider – there’s more than one Jackaroo, and they’re all riding for their own reasons. The Lords want someone to hang for it, though, and hang someone will. Will she be in time to save everyone? Does everyone need to be saved? Is there truly a purpose to wearing the mask?
Well, you’ve got to read the story to know for sure. One promise, though: it’s wicked cool.
'O' is for Obviously Otherworldly: October in the Kidlitosphere
Well, the kidlitosphere hoi polloi have posted their Conference schedule. Those of us sulking at home expect a full report next weekend, people, including all the juicy bits. All right? All RIGHT!?
It’s OCTOBER! So, so, SO much happens this month! (Okay: technically, I’m a day 
early. But I’m in the UK. And A LOT HAPPENS, okay? I had to start a day early!!) First, you MUST CHECK OUT the scoop on 31 Flavors — the readergirlz have done themselves quite proud on this one. The readergirlz will host NIGHTLY bookshats from 5 PM PST/8 PM EST (exception on Halloween, when it’s at midnight or 9 PM PST/12 AM EST — with Stephanie Meyers of vampiric fame… Lovely, YA books – and not a day of books, not a week of books, a month — and a LONG month at that. The readergirlz rock the stratosphere. Thirty-one flavors of awesome, ladies!
The Cybils nominations start TOMORROW!!!!! Please note the fabulous new addition of a Cybils link on the side of our blog (and if it’s still on that picture of Kelly from Big A little a, ignore the serious expression. She smiles. Lots. We’ve seen her.). Wonderland will become busy-busy as A.F. serves with graphics and both of us delve into Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. If you’re not involved this year as a panel nominator or a judge, don’t forget that there’s a place for you at regardless — we’d have no books to read and discuss if YOU didn’t nominate them. So, get out there and do your thing! One fantabulous book nominated per category, per person, and thank you for playing.
There is nothing like a month to name a mood. Autumn eases us into a thoughtful place with crisp mornings and woodsmoke-scented afternoons. Here in the UK, the light is dying, and now all of the university classes which begin at 11 a.m. are beginning to make sense, as the noise of the city begins later and later in the day. Keep your eyes open for October Country, this month’s kidlitosphere salute to all things dessicated and leathery, waning and ebbing, autumnal, dying, and dead. This is what autumn gives us: the 
opposite side of the coin that is the natural living world; a slowly, colorfully dying one. What books or stories put you in mind of October?
Last year I did a huge thing for Banned Books week. I won’t spend as much time highlighting it this year, but I wanted to be sure and point out a couple of reasons why people who talk about banning should keep talking, and not let censorship fade from their attention. First of all, because because narrow minded people still exist. Secondly because sometimes — sometimes, right wins. Drop by ASIF this week to see what other goodies are in store.
Each year, the Jimmy Fund of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a fundraiser to raise awareness and cash to cure cancer. This year, the kidlitosphere will be honoring the life of Robert Mercer and participating in Robert’s Snow, an auction of children’s book illustrator decorated snowflakes, by showing the artwork up for 
auction at our site. We’ll be talking a little about the artists, discussing their techniques, and how they got involved. Wonderland may not really do much with picture books, but we love them, and we have an Actual Illustrator Type on staff. This will be good, we promise!
At squeetus blog, Shannon Hale is interviewing Megan Whalen Turner, author of some fabulous books. I was amused to hear that she doesn’t introduce herself to the neighbors as a writer. Indeed, when on says ‘writer for children and young adults,’ people do tend to back away slowly… An interesting first part to a three part interview. Check it out.
Wicked Cool Overlooked Books comin’ at ya tomorrow. Have a lovely last Sunday in September, roll on October!
‘O’ is for Obviously Otherworldly: October in the Kidlitosphere
Well, the kidlitosphere hoi polloi have posted their Conference schedule. Those of us sulking at home expect a full report next weekend, people, including all the juicy bits. All right? All RIGHT!?
It’s OCTOBER! So, so, SO much happens this month! (Okay: technically, I’m a day 
early. But I’m in the UK. And A LOT HAPPENS, okay? I had to start a day early!!) First, you MUST CHECK OUT the scoop on 31 Flavors — the readergirlz have done themselves quite proud on this one. The readergirlz will host NIGHTLY bookshats from 5 PM PST/8 PM EST (exception on Halloween, when it’s at midnight or 9 PM PST/12 AM EST — with Stephanie Meyers of vampiric fame… Lovely, YA books – and not a day of books, not a week of books, a month — and a LONG month at that. The readergirlz rock the stratosphere. Thirty-one flavors of awesome, ladies!
The Cybils nominations start TOMORROW!!!!! Please note the fabulous new addition of a Cybils link on the side of our blog (and if it’s still on that picture of Kelly from Big A little a, ignore the serious expression. She smiles. Lots. We’ve seen her.). Wonderland will become busy-busy as A.F. serves with graphics and both of us delve into Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. If you’re not involved this year as a panel nominator or a judge, don’t forget that there’s a place for you at regardless — we’d have no books to read and discuss if YOU didn’t nominate them. So, get out there and do your thing! One fantabulous book nominated per category, per person, and thank you for playing.
There is nothing like a month to name a mood. Autumn eases us into a thoughtful place with crisp mornings and woodsmoke-scented afternoons. Here in the UK, the light is dying, and now all of the university classes which begin at 11 a.m. are beginning to make sense, as the noise of the city begins later and later in the day. Keep your eyes open for October Country, this month’s kidlitosphere salute to all things dessicated and leathery, waning and ebbing, autumnal, dying, and dead. This is what autumn gives us: the 
opposite side of the coin that is the natural living world; a slowly, colorfully dying one. What books or stories put you in mind of October?
Last year I did a huge thing for Banned Books week. I won’t spend as much time highlighting it this year, but I wanted to be sure and point out a couple of reasons why people who talk about banning should keep talking, and not let censorship fade from their attention. First of all, because because narrow minded people still exist. Secondly because sometimes — sometimes, right wins. Drop by ASIF this week to see what other goodies are in store.
Each year, the Jimmy Fund of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a fundraiser to raise awareness and cash to cure cancer. This year, the kidlitosphere will be honoring the life of Robert Mercer and participating in Robert’s Snow, an auction of children’s book illustrator decorated snowflakes, by showing the artwork up for 
auction at our site. We’ll be talking a little about the artists, discussing their techniques, and how they got involved. Wonderland may not really do much with picture books, but we love them, and we have an Actual Illustrator Type on staff. This will be good, we promise!
At squeetus blog, Shannon Hale is interviewing Megan Whalen Turner, author of some fabulous books. I was amused to hear that she doesn’t introduce herself to the neighbors as a writer. Indeed, when on says ‘writer for children and young adults,’ people do tend to back away slowly… An interesting first part to a three part interview. Check it out.
Wicked Cool Overlooked Books comin’ at ya tomorrow. Have a lovely last Sunday in September, roll on October!
A Weekend in Books
There was an article in the Guardian today about the unseasonably early snow in the Highlands, and Scottish ski resorts rejoicing.
!!!
I feel like I’ll need to stack in the books and prepare for an autumn spent dashing indoors and reading. (Well, actually even if it was a consistent seventy-five, I’d be doing that anyway…)
The Chronicle has a plethora of children’s autumn books, including the Mercy Watson series — as the review says, how can you go wrong with a pig in a pink tutu? Non-fiction gets a nod, as photographer’s biographies are highlighted. Chronicle staff writer Reyhan Harmanci does her usual thorough job of reviewing for YA, this time on taking Sherman Alexie‘s newest. Unlike most YA novels, she says that success in this one doesn’t equal a happy ending, and in Alexies’s usual m.o., he doesn’t hold back on the details.
More common here than in the States, Jasper Fforde’s books are a central part of the comic literary canon. Here’s a review of his sequel to The Eyre Affair, and a few more in the fantastic fiction genre that should interest.
PS – This is a rare plug for adult fiction – the title, One Drop piqued my interest, and the book was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air. Imaging being twenty-four and finding out that your father has an African American heritage that he never claimed. Would that make a difference? Does race really matter? It looks to be interesting reading.
And now back to my book!