Wish You Weren't -- Review and Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

“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

Sherrie Petersen

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. 

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. 

 

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer -- Review and Giveaway

Thought for the Day: 

"All writing problems are psychological problems. Blocks usually stem from the fear of being judged. If you imagine the world listening, you'll never write a line. That's why privacy is so important. You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone." 

~ Erica Jong ~  

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

Having a little case of writer’s block? Check out 10 Amazing Simple Tips to Get You Back on the Writing Track HERE.

Are your characters in love? Make sure you show that. The Editor’s Blog HERE has a great post on just that topic.

Click HERE to read an absolutely brilliant post on what it is to be an artist. 

That last one is special to this family. We have our share of artists and a new one starting on that road. Our 8-year-old granddaughter, Gracie, was just accepted to a fine- and performing-arts charter school. It's the perfect place for her to hone her crafts (she has many talents). Her older brother, 12-year-old Gehrig (note the name!) played his last ever Little League game. The coach asked the kids who are aging out what they'd like in their last game. Gehrig said he wanted to play every position. No easy task during a mere six innings, but the coach moved him around, and Gehrig, indeed, spent some time in every position. While he was pitching, he struck out three in a row looking. During his five at-bats, he spent one batting left-handed (and hit into a double play), but then in the other four at-bats, he hit for the cycle! It was a memorable game.

Okay, enough bragging. On to business. Last week, I offered one of my lucky readers copies of Under the Egg and Between the Scenes. Our winner this week is Nancy! WooHoo, Nancy! I will get the books out to you this week. For the rest of you, I have another great giveaway this week, so please keep reading.

I was contacted a while ago by William Fourth (or William Summerhouse, as he is listed on Amazon) who asked if I might be interested in reviewing his book Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer. The book sounded fun, so I agreed. I'm glad I did. It really is a fun book. Heck, even the dedication is fun. "In memory of my grampa, Patrick, who took me hunting in the woods of Maine when I was just three years old, and let me drive his pickup truck across a bridge." You can tell from this you are in for a romp.

Orion Poe, eleven, lives with his grandfather along the coast of Maine where they run a lighthouse. During a terrible storm in a flash of lightning, Orion sees a boat with a man in it headed straight for the rocks below. His grandfather won't wake up, so Orion runs to the beach by himself. He finds an injured man and drags him up to the house. Though badly injured, he insisted on finding a knapsack he'd brought. When a tall, white sailing ship shows up a few days later, the men on the ship kill the injured guest to try to get their hands on the knapsack. These acts start Orion on a journey to the top of the world in order to solve the mystery of the man and what he has in his knapsack.

This is a fun and exciting adventure kids (and adults) will really enjoy. Orion is a smart, clever, and imaginative character and tells a great story in this first-person point of view book. At first I was reminded of Treasure Island, one of my favorite kids books. There were parts that reminded me of Oliver Twist (the Flimps) and  even Gulliver's Travels (there is a bit of fantasy). Clearly William Fourth is a big reader as well as an excellent writer. This is a real page turner and well worth your time. It would also be a great gift for any young people in your lives. 

I have a signed copy of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer for one of you. If you have a US address and are a follower or subscriber (please tell me in your comment), leave a comment and your name will go into a drawing to be announced the next time I post. If you share the link on your blog, through Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media, let me know and I will put your name in an extra time for doing so. If you are not yet a subscriber or follower, it's free and easy. Check the top of the right hand column to sign up. 

Don't forget to check out other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday book reviews through Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog. You will find it by clicking HERE.