this. You'll love it." She was so right!
We have two published author/teachers at WV--- Mr. Haderlie and Mrs. Black!
Mr. Haderlie made a goal to write a book and, bingo, two years later A Boy with a Red Parcel was in bookstores. The main character, Jeremy Chase, was loosely patterned after a 6th grader he
used to teach. Mrs. Haderlie thinks kids will love this book because it’s packed with adventure and
death-defying action. What does Mr. Haderlie like to read? “I love everything by Rick Riordan. I just finished The Maze Runner, by Dashner, and really enjoyed it. I almost never reread books, but I made an exception for the Harry Potter series.”
Mrs. Black got rejection letters for her first four books, but determination kept her writing. At age sixteen she got the idea for The Moas about large extinct birds. She did tons of research and drew all the illustrations in the book. Near the end of her senior year in high school, her book was accepted and published. While promoting the book in schools, she decided to become a teacher. Lucky us!
She is almost finished with a science fiction novel for young adults set in 13th century England. She said, “It’s a much bigger job than writing a picture book. My students are some of my greatest sources of motivation because of their enthusiastic feedback and suggestions.
The Boy With a Red Parcel and The Moas are both available in the media center.
Keep “turning pages.”
Matched, by Ally Condie. I hated to miss Condie’s presentation along with Shannon Hale, Brandon Mull, and James Dashner in Logan last week—a Utah author extravaganza! Easter weekend found me out of town doing the egg thing with my grandkids. Were any of you able to go? Tell us about it! Anyway—back to Matched.
It’s considered a dystopian novel meaning it centers on a futuristic controlled society -- utopia gone wrong. If you look up “utopia” you’ll find it means “an ideally perfect society.” Well, anyway, Matched is part of that genre. I’m not a huge fan, but I found myself liking this novel. Seventeen year olds in the society attend a special ceremony to have their lifetime mate revealed to them. Think of arranged marriages. Anyway, Cassia and Xander are matched and then Ky enters the picturel A three way mix doesn’t fit the society rules. It’s a page turner!
I love John Grisham’s books and was anxious to read Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer, his first young adult novel. Theo is thirteen with the mind of a lawyer which he eventually wants to be. He finds himself dragged into a murder trial. What he knows could mean the difference between prison and freedom for the accused. If you like a mystery and courtroom drama, you’ll like this. I hope Theo becomes a regular in a Grisham series.
Out of My Mind by Susan Draper took me in a whole different direction. Tender and terrific! Eleven year old Melody is one smart cookie but nobody knows it---she can’t talk, can’t walk and can’t write. This is a book full of hope and love as Melody finally finds a way to speak You’ll never forget what and how she finally speaks and you’ll find yourself changed---in a good way!
So there’s the beginning of our book blog. I love to read, and I want to post often, but let’s hear what you are reading. Jot a short note about a favorite book you’ve read recently. I’ll get it posted and you’ll be “published”---in a techie sort of way.
Check back often for book tips and keep “turning pages.”
