“Follow your inner
moonlight; don't hide the madness.”
~ Allen Ginsberg, poet ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Martina
Boone from Adventures in YA Publishing wrote a GREAT post on getting an agent.
This is a must read. Find it by clicking HERE.
Having
trouble with your opening? Click HERE to see what M. Blount Christian has to
say about openings.
The
ladies at Writers Helping Writers have a great post HERE entitled 4 Reasons Why
Your Hero Needs a Special Talent or Skill.
When last we met here, I promised a signed ARC of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer to one of my readers. This week's winner is Sue Heavenrich. Congratulations, Sue! WooHoo for you! I will get your book in the mail this week. For those of you who might not know Sue, she is a science and environmental writer and manages three blogs. You can find her wonderful blogs by clicking on the titles: Archimedes Notebook, The Marcellus Effect, and Sally's Bookshelf. I don't know how she does it. I have another wonderful giveaway this week, so please read on to the end.
I have often said on this blog that I really don't read fantasy. And that's true, until I find a good fantasy, then I find the time. Over the last several weeks, I have been reading about a new middle-grade book, Wish You Weren't by Sherrie Petersen. I really, really wanted to read it. It sounded so good. Well, I got a copy on Thursday and read it right through.
Marten is eleven. His family is moving from California, where they have always lived, to Texas. He will be leaving all his friends behind. His family -- Mom, Dad, and annoying little brother, Aldrin, six annoying years old -- take a trip to Texas before the move, and they take Marten's best friend, Paul, along. One night while on that trip, Marten's mom takes all the kids out really late at night to lay on the lawn and watch the Perseids meteor shower. Aldrin pulls out one of Marten's very collectible Star Wars action figures. Marten is livid and tries to get it back, but Aldrin doesn't give it to him and the head comes off in the struggle. Mom tries to calm things down, When a huge meteor streaks across the sky, Marten wishes a terrible wish -- that his brother weren't here.
Of course, nothing happens. Nothing, that is, until the next day when they are at a
museum. Marten's parents are going to meet with some of the museum staff and ask Marten to watch his brother for just a little while. Aldrin is as annoying and bothersome as he can be, but then he suddenly disappears -- right before Marten's and Paul's eyes. While they are searching for Aldrin, a really strange guy shows up in the bathroom. Everyone in the museum is frozen in time, and the man, Tör, whisks the two boys away with him. He explains there might be a way to overcome the wish Marten had made, but time was of the essence. The adventure begins. Marten has a particularly steep learning curve. And let me say, it does not all go smoothly.
 |
| Sherrie Petersen |
This book is absolutely pure fun, with a few scary moments and a lot of uh-oh happenings. One of my all-time favorite movies is Back to the Future. This book has some similarities to some of the best of its moments. I loved every word of Wish You Weren't. Middle-graders will surely love it, but I think the rest of us who might like a quick read to escape from real life, this is a good one.
I kind of hate to give this one up, but I think someone else would should enjoy it, and I honestly will probably not get around to reading it again. So, I have a signed copy to offer for my giveaway. If you have a US address and are a subscriber or follower (if you aren't yet, look near the top of the right hand column -- it's free and easy to become one), leave a comment. Your name will go into a drawing. If you want more than one chance (and who wouldn't?), Tweet about the giveaway, post the link on Facebook or your blog, or some other such thing, and let me know in your comment. I will give you extra chances.
Don't forget to check the original Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday blog for more such reviews. You will find it at Shannon Messenger's Ramblings of a Wanna Be Scribe blog by clicking HERE.
