BEA 2013 Editor Buzz Books: Get Excited For Fall!

What do pirates, oddballs, record-breakers, scientists, and time gobblers all have in common? The makings of great middle grade stories, of course.

Last weekend at BEA, five editors gushed over the middle grade books chosen by this year's buzz panel. Here's a summary of what they had to say about each book, as well as some photos I snapped during the conference.


1.) A Very Nearly Honorable League Of Pirates #1: Magic Marks The Spot
By: Caroline Carlson
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub Date: September 2013
Based on the title alone, Toni Markiet knew this story would have a sense of humor. She soon found out it was also sassy and irreverent, right from page 1. Described as a "rollicking pirates yarn that grabs you and doesn't let you go," it follows the adventure of Hillary Westfield, who wants to join a band of pirates rather than go to finishing school. I mean really, can you blame her?

2.) The Fantastic Family Whipple

The Fantastic Family Whipple

By: Matthew Ward
Publisher: Razorbill
Pub Date: August 2013
Gillian Levinson fell hard for this book about a colorful family of record-breakers because of its classic message -- that "caring for people is the most special thing of all." Arther Whipple's twelve siblings have broken 49,521 world records. Only he hasn't broken a single one. Though he is the unlikely hero in a family overachievers, Arthur discovers he might be the only Whipple who can save his family when mysterious catastrophes begin to follow them.

3.) Nick And Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab
By: Science Bob Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith
Publisher: Quirk Books
Pub Date: November 2013
Jason Rekulak gave a nod to MacGyver ("the best show of all time") when introducing this book, with one caveat -- Nick and Tesla's inventions and contraptions actually work in real life. In this adventure story, Nick and Tesla use real fundamentals of science to get them out of jams (courtesy of co-author Science Bob, who is also an elementary school teacher). "It shows kids how to solve problems," said Rekulak. The book contains instructions on how to construct the contraptions in the story, such as a bottle rocket, using items found around the house.

4.) The Time Fetch
By: Amy Herrick
Publisher: Algonquin
Pub Date: August 2013
The smooth pacing and lyricism of this science fiction adventure made Elise Howard fall "head over heels in love." Set primarily in modern-day Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the story weaves classical mythology with an imaginative glitch in the time/space continuum, leaving eight grader Edward with a tricky problem. Along with two classmates, he needs to stop foragers from gobbling up time before it runs out for everyone.

5.) Counting By 7s

Counting By 7s

By: Holly Goldberg Sloan
Publisher: Dial
Pub Date: August 2013
"It touches you to the core," Lauri Hornik said of this contemporary story filled with deep familial themes. "It makes you love people more than you already do." Willow Chance, an "oddball" twelve-year-old genius who finds comfort in counting by 7s, finds her life thrown into upheaval when both her parents suddenly die. Taken on by a surrogate family, Willow shows readers that "everyone as the potential to be loved."

2013 Editors' Buzz Panel

Authors Carlson, Goldberg Sloan, Ward, Science Bob, & Herrick

Will preview some more middle grade books from BEA later this week. Check out more middle grade recommendations from the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday crew.

Tiger Eyes! Tiger Eyes!

It's not very often that my work life and my writing life intersect. But how fun when it does!

Today on HuffPost Live, we're having Judy Blume on at 3:30 PM EST to talk about the new 'Tiger Eyes' film with her son/director, Lawrence. Yes, Judy-freaking-Blume! Are you there god, because I might have a heart attack.

Come join the conversation, ask questions, or leave video comments for Judy before the interview begins and while she is live on the show. HuffPost Live is an interactive, community-centric livestreaming web and television show -- so we want Judy's fans to participate!

My lovely writing pal Ghenet and I are heading to the premiere tonight. Exciting to see another YA story on the big screen, right?  Will be back soon to post about BEA (and all the great kidlit coming our way), but wanted to drop this news first!

BEA 2013 Is Here!

The Super Bowl of books has arrived in New York! I picked up my press pass to BEA this morning and took a quick spin around the conference hall, but didn't stay too long.

I'll be attending tomorrow's children's book breakfast as well as other middle grade events Friday and Saturday. Will keep you posted on what's new and exciting in the booths!

Until then, here are a couple shots I snapped.

John Bemelmans Marciano signs his latest book in the Madeline series.

Cynthia Voigt poses with the first book in her new Mister Max series.

Marvelous MG Monday: Inside Out & Back Again

To find out more about Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, click here.  

 Title:  Inside Out & Back Again
Author: Thanhha Lai (link)
Genre:  Historical (Verse)
Pub Date: February 2011

Goodreads Synopsis:  For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by, and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.  

But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape,  and the strength of her very own family.  

First Line: Today is Tet, the first day of the lunar calendar.

Inside Out & Back Again is the second middle grade verse book I read this year (May B being numero uno), and man do I wish these stories were around when I was in elementary school! Thanhha Lai's poetry captures the sadness, sacrifice, frustration, and humor of Hà's story in a compact punch. Lai wrote that it took her fifteen years to get Hà's voice right. After exhaustively trying different methods, one day she jotted down the emotions that Hà would be feeling in short, clipped sentences. The quick phrases read like poetry, which she realized sounded more like Vietnamese, and the rest of the story unfolded quickly after that.

Why You'll Love Hà:  Lai doesn't sugarcoat Hà's anger at being forced to leave behind the things she loves in her homeland, as well as what she honestly hates about Alabama. Hà is full of spunk and fight, and the way she takes on her struggles with English and the strange customs of her American school gives a fresh and fabulous perspective to the proverbial 'new kid.'

Inside Out And Back Again Themes: family, identity, cultural identity, war, immigration, survival, loss, change, religion, bullying, new schools, ESL, kindness, hope.
 
Want to find more marvelous middle grade books? Check out my past picks, as well as these MMGM bloggers who have more recommendations every Monday!  

 

Marvelous Middle Grade May Reading Challenge

Read me, Seymour!

Does your to-be-read pile look like this ----------------------------------->

Then check out the May reading challenge hosted by Deb Marshall.

I took that photo over the summer when I was overwhelmed by the unread books piling up on my shelves. Kinda like Gremlins, only they didn't need to be splashed with water to multiply.

Though I've made quite a dent in that monstrous heap, there are still so many stories waiting to be read. Good problem to have, yes. But how to prioritize?

This May, it will be all middle grade, all month for me and the rest of the people taking up this challenge. There's a hashtag (#middlegrademay). There are prizes. And there will be many pages devoured.

Are you in? Then get to tackling that reading list and sign up! My goals is to read ten fantastic middle grade books this month. How about you?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Liar & Spy

To find out more about Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, click here. 

Title:  Liar & Spy
Author: Rebecca Stead (link)
Genre:  Contemporary
Pub Date: August 2012

Goodreads Synopsis: When seventh grader Georges (the S is silent) moves into a Brooklyn apartment building, he meets Safer, a twelve-year-old coffee-drinking loner and self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: how far is too far to go for your only friend?

First Line: There's this totally false map of the human tongue.

After reading When You Reach Me last year, I couldn't wait to dive into Rebecca Stead's next novel. Set in contemporary New York, it follows Georges, a 12-year-old who's moving into an apartment building after his dad loses his job and the family is forced to sell their home. Georges' adjusts to a new life where his mother picks up so many shifts at work, she's never home, and a kid his age challenges his wits (and sometimes his moral compass) after initiating him into a spy club. The story is an easy, pleasurable read with many threads that tie up nicely in the end, after a stunning twist that readers of Stead know will be pulled off wonderfully.

Why You'll Love Georges: Though he's in the middle of much change, readers will appreciate Georges as a steady narrator. The manner in which he calmly processes and accepts the storm around him is brave and as un-whiny as you can get, with just the right touch of humor.

Liar & Spy Themes: friendship, parental unemployment, bullying, fear, moving, life changes, peer pressure.
 
Want to find more marvelous middle grade books? Check out my past picks, as well as these MMGM bloggers who have more recommendations every Monday!

 

Rocking The Drop!

Did you know April 18 is Celebrate Teen Literature Day? I tuned in late to a fun meme going on that aims to get stories into the hands of young readers - definitely worth checking out if you could use a smile.

 

You can learn about Operation Teen Book Drop here. And look out for #rockthedrop on Twitter, where people all over the country are sharing their random acts of giving by snapping photos of books they've left for a lucky someone to find and keep.

I'm a big fan of giving out free books, so this is especially neat to see. Will definitely be dropping my favorites all over Manhattan next year! Happy reading.

BEA Announces 2013's Editor Buzz Books

What will be the buzziest books of Fall 2013? Each year, industry professionals selects groups of books to spotlight in different genres at Book Expo America. The full list of those lucky, lucky titles was announced today.

I got the chance to see the editors of last year's picks discuss what it was like working on those manuscripts, as well as what made them stand out during acquisition. This year's panel for middle grade picks will be on May 31st.

For the middle grade category, we have:


The Fantastic Family Whipple by Matthew Ward
Pub Date: August 2013
Goodreads link

The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick
Pub Date: August 2013
Goodreads link

A Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1 by Caroline Carlson
Pub Date: September 2013
Goodreads link

Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Pub Date: September 2013
Goodreads link

Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
Pub Date: November 2013
Amazon link

Which ones are you looking forward to picking up?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: May B

To find out more about Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, click here. 

Title:  May B
Author: Caroline Starr Rose  (link)
Genre:  Historical
Pub Date: January 2012

GoodReads Synopsis:  May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead - just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter.

First line: I won't go.

From page one, readers will be struck by the originality of this novel written in verse. May B's simple, gorgeous language captures so much in so few words. As main character May prepares to leave her family, her emotional confusion and feelings of betrayal are beautifully conveyed. And as the story moves forward, May grows stronger with each challenge. Her journey makes Home Alone look like total kid stuff, and Kansas snow way more scary than a couple bumbling robbers.

Welcome to the Sod House: One of the most compelling elements in May B was the setting. Both the time and place were very much characters. Kids will easily compare their modern lives with May's - from the chores and schoolwork she does, to her homes in different seasons - making the historical aspect especially interesting.
 
Why You'll Love May: I've said it before - I'm a total sucker for kids who take on adult responsibilities. But May's familial sacrifice and her eventual abandonment are not the only challenges she faces heroically. May dreams she'll be a teacher one day, but struggles with reading. The determination and good old fashioned stubbornness that May uses to tackle her reading primer will inspire.

May B Themes: sacrifice, family, dealing with learning disabilities, abandonment, survival, strength, hope, growing up.

Want to find more marvelous middle grade books? Here's a list of MMGM bloggers with more recommendations every Monday!

Zombie In Love

Hey pals! Happy Valentine's Day to you. In lieu of heart-shaped chocolates and sweet little valentine cards, I'm going to slip this book recommendation into your desk.

Zombie In Love by Kelly DiPucchio and Scott Campbell is sweet and creepy at the same time. I love this book so much, I basically want to eat it. The illustrations are clever (you'll appreciate new, tiny details with each read), and the zombie wordplay is nerdtastic.

I'll say no more and leave you with a few illustrations of Mortimer, the zombie hero. Who can resist that smile??