Read this!

This year's Scott O'Dell winner for historical fiction is the charming and fresh Bo at Ballard Creek. Bo's mother, Mean Millie, wants to send her to an orphanage. But the nuns look so cross that miners Jack and Arvid take the little girl instead, raising her in the cold rough wonderful world of a small Alaska mining village. Her friends are of all ages -- from little Evaline to old Ollie -- and from everywhere. Some are good at morse code, some at making akutaq, some at baking cakes. At Ballard Creek, everyone is valued and respected. The village is small but Bo's world is large. 

I will confess to putting the book down for a day: it was a bit too sweet and too good-to-be-true in spots and I do wish there had been a way for the author to stay completely in Bo's point of view. But after that day, I picked the book up again because I missed Bo and her papas too much. And the illustrations by LeUyen Pham are utterly exuberant!

This book reminds me of some of my own favorites: Susan and Arabella, Pioneers (Rhoda Morris), Our Only May Amelia (Jennifer Holm), The Penderwicks (Jeanne Birdsall), with a dash of Anne of Green Gables (L.M.M. Montgomery) thrown in for good measure. It seems like the perfect choice for a mother-daughter book club, or for anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to be chased by a grizzly.

Friend Friday

Okay, it's been out for a little while BUT we are just getting back to school here in the great Pacific Northwest so I think it's okay to give a shout out to Jennifer Holm for her latest novel "in stuff," EIGHTH GRADE IS MAKING ME SICK.

True Confession #1: Jenni and I are "Silver Sisters," having both been Newbery honorees in 2007. (Okay, so she's had like 97 other Newbery honors since then)

True Confession #2: May Amelia is one of my favorite characters in children's literature of all time. Jenni kills historical fiction. Kills it!

True Confession #3: I have a small "cameo" in this new book. I answer a homework question posed by the main character. Sadly, my snarky answer arrives at a really terrible time for Ginny. I felt terrible about that. Didn't know that was part of the story. But I do get emails just like the ones Ginny sends me, asking for homework "help" the night before some big assignment is due. (teachers: please rethink such assignments)

True Confession #4: Jenni's book touches on a disease I HATE: Colitis. Too many young people are having their lives undone by this crappy illness, along with its ugly stepsister, Crohn's disease. Five of my immediate family members battle Colitis/Crohn's. Hate. It. Big. Time.

True Confession #5: Even if there weren't True Confessions 1-4, I would adore this book. It is real, smart and full of heart. And real. Did I mention that already?

You need to read it. And you need to buy it. From your local indie bookseller, of course.

Teacher Tuesday

I can't think of a better way to kick off my new blog feature, Teacher Tuesday, than with Colby Sharp. I met Colby at NCTE in Chicago last year where he kindly showed me how to post a photo to Twitter. Thanks to his patient tutoring, I was able to participate in the Nerdy Book Club Twitter chat about Hattie Big Sky recently. In addition to helping children's authors cross the street, technologically speaking, Colby is an evangelist for reading and books at Minges Brook Elementary, in Battle Creek, Michigan [the mitten state!], where he teaches fourth grade.

The very serious Colby Sharp

I first asked Colby if we could get a peek at his past:

• Favorite school lunch as a kid: Every single day of elementary school I packed the same lunch: two small bags of potato chips and a chocolate milk.
• Best friend in grade school: Cory P., I met him in first grade. We were great friends all the way through high school.
• Times you were the new kid in school: Middle school choir. I do not care to elaborate. It was not pretty. I have no idea what I was thinking.
• Teacher that inspired you to stretch: Mr. Bontrager. He was a student teacher while I was in fourth grade. He was the first guy teacher that I ever had. I remember thinking how cool he was. Everything he said and did was magical. I remember him playing sports with us at recess. It made me want to impress him in the classroom. I now play football at recess almost every single day at school with my fourth graders.
• The one thing you always wished you could do in grade school but never achieved: I really wish that I would have learned how to play a musical instrument. Not that I want to be a rock band or anything, I just think it would be cool to be able to rock out every once and a while. 

 Colby: I know FIG PUDDING is your favorite, first-of-the-year read aloud. Tell me how you came to know this book.

I was introduced to Fig Pudding through Ralph Fletcher’s resources for teachers. One of the mini-lessons that he included called for me to read the "Tackle Box" chapter from Fig Pudding. I was hooked from there.

What led you to choose it as a read aloud?

I read it aloud because I want my students to see my cry while I’m reading. Many of my 4th grade students have never allowed themselves to truly get lost in a story and put themselves out there. I think it sets the tone for reading in our classroom. 

Tell us a bit about the read-aloud methods you use. For example, do you stop at the end of a chapter or at the end of an exciting or interesting scene? Ask kids to predict outcomes? 

I do a lot of modeling of my own thinking as I read. I want my students to see what goes on in the head of an “expert reader.” I don’t sugar coat it either. I let them know what is really going on in my head. If I get distracted and start thinking about lunch I tell them that. I then go back and reread the parts that I missed because I was distracted. 

We of course stop often and discuss, predict, connect, but I think my favorite part about reading aloud is having that shared reading experience. After reading Fig Pudding we can connect something from that book to almost any other book out there. If a student is reading Our Only May Amelia, I can talk to them about May Amelia eating her “Steaming Bowl of Sadness." If a kid is reading Ivy + Bean, we can talk about how Cynthia and Bean both struggle to get along with their siblings.
 
What happens in your classroom when you read this book aloud?

The silliest thing that happens is my students beg their older siblings to tell them what a Yiddi-Yadda is. It is such a silly part of the story, but every student that comes back to visit in the fith grade asks if the class has figured out what a Yidda-Yadda is yet. 

During the reading of this book, kids laugh, cry, think, grow, and learn. It really is a perfect read aloud. I think it brings us closer together and helps to develop a safe learning community together. 
 
What else would you like to share about read alouds and/or reading FIG PUDDING aloud?

I think that every reading/English/language arts  teacher/librarian should read aloud to their students consistently. Doesn’t everyone love being read aloud to?

Great point, Colby! I know I love hearing a good story aloud. Thanks to your recommendation, I read FIG PUDDING last spring and now absolutely understand why you read it at the beginning of each school year.

Thank you for participating and thanks for being such a TERRIFIC TEACHER! Learn more about Colby by visiting him at SharpReads or join Colby and other Nerdy readers at the Nerdy Book Club.

Georgia is Peachy!

Yesterday, about 40 writers joined me at a pre-conference intensive for the Georgia Spring Mingle. Aside from the fact that I over-slept, waking up 45 minutes before the workshop, we had a great day. People said they got good stuff to use when they went back home and every single one of the attendees came up with a plan to keep up the momentum from the day. Woo-hoo!

This morning, the conference itself kicked off with me giving the keynote. I was a little stressed over some techno-glitches but thanks to the calm presence of assistant RA Heather Montgomery and the help of my angel Elizabeth Dulemba, all was well. I think I may have to move to Atlanta as everyone takes such good care of me here!

RA Claudia Pearson asked if I would post the titles I referenced in my talk and I am more than happy to do that here:

Books about writing:

Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland

Mystery and Manners, by Flannery O'Connor

Making the Literary Life, by Carolyn See

Gates of Excellence, by Katherine Paterson

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

Books to stimulate your thinking:

Principles of Uncertainty, by Maira Kalman

The Lost Art of Walking, by Geoff Nicholson

Fiction:

A Mouse and His Child, by Russell Hoban

Boxes for Katje, Candace Fleming

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda AND Horton Halfpott, by Tom Angleberger

Sold, by Patricia McCormick

Feed, by M.T. Anderson

Unwind, by Neal Schusterman

How to Steal a Dog, by Barbara O'Connor

anything by my hero Karen Cushman

Hound Dog True, by Linda Urban

The Trouble with May Amelia, Jennifer Holm

Now, you Georgia peaches have to do me a favor in return: keep me posted on your progress!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Announcing the Kirbery Awards

Let me start off by saying I can't even imagine the challenges facing a Newbery committee. Getting 15 book fanatics to agree on a few titles? Im. Possible. 

But if Mr. Newbery had given me a magic wand for this year, I would have waved it over a few titles the committee overlooked:

Amelia Lost, by Candace Fleming. Fleming and flyers: what could be better???

Horton Halfpott, by Tom Angleberger.  This story begins with a riff on a corset and ends well for the least-born of the manor. Classic.

Hound Dog True, by Linda Urban. Linda can do more with fewer words than anyone I know. And I am in therapy to get over my jealousy of her creating a guide to life based on a school custodian's methods. 

The Trouble with May Amelia, by Jennifer Holm. In my humble opinion, this is Jenni's best. BEST. And you don't have to be Finnish to appreciate May Amelia's ups and downs.

 What books are you passionate about that were overlooked? I will gladly pass my wand on to you!

Curse you, Jennifer Holm!

Do you think it's fair that an extraordinarily young woman with THREE Newbery honor awards should write another Newbery contender? I certainly don't. 

Sigh. 

But Jennifer Holm has done it again. Her Our Only May Amelia is one of those books that has stayed in my head and heart ever since I read it. And, while in Ohio, librarian Bill Prosser loaned me the sequel, The Trouble with May Amelia, which I ended up staying up all night to finish. It is that good. It may even be better than the first May Amelia book. I do think that in these books, Jennifer Holm most clearly shows the mastery of her craft: a faraway place and time come to life right under our eyes and we are drawn in so completely to the woes and worries and joys (there are a few!) of this Finnish community in southwestern Washington state that we expect to encounter its members right outside our very doors. Or at least, I did. 

The story is rich, complex, funny, poignant, horrifying and absolutely real. There is not one false note* in the entire book, from May Amelia's rough and seemingly unappreciative father, to the wounded cousin who comes to live with the family briefly, to the most satisfying resolution at the end.

Jenni, if I were you, I'd start shopping now for something to wear to a certain banquet in June of 2012.

(*actually, there is a false note: the cover, which portrays Ellie Mae Clampett, rather than May Amelia. Shame on the art director!)

Dublin Day Two

Bill Prosser and me with a cover of The Magic Kerchief

 Day Two in Dublin started out like Day One, only with rain. Once again, the obliging Bill Prosser stopped at Starbucks where he fueled up on a venti bold with room for cream and I got my usual nonfat latte plus some oatmeal for breakfast. I tried to hide it but I was pretty mad at Bill. I had seen that he had a copy of Jennifer Holm’s newest book,  the sequel to Our Only May Amelia, in his library so he lent it to me yesterday.

I cracked it open after the lovely dinner at Amy’s and next thing I knew, I was reluctantly turning the last page. . .way too late at night. So all those dark circles you see under my eyes in the pictures in this post are Bill’s fault! (And Jenni’s, too; more about her amazing book later).

me with wonderful hostess Amy Proctor in "The Pit" by my signature--it was really okay to write on the walls!

 On top of making me stay up far too late, Bill made me work soooo hard today. The first portion of the day was spent signing books for kids – what a challenging job that was! I mean, imagine talking, one-on-one, with a whole bunch of really smart, thoughtful and polite kids for about 2 hours. I barely survived. ;-) I do wish our Nubs editor, Nancy Conescu, could’ve been there to see kids’ faces light up when I told them that was Nubs’ real paw print on the cover of that book. By the time the signing was over, I was plotting a way to sneak 550 kids into my suitcase to bring home. Do you think Neil would notice? 

Just before my first presentation of the day, Bill’s partner in literary crimes and my new shopping bud, Joyce Christman, came in bearing gifts. 

 

She is an incredibly talented jewelry maker and she brought in four stunning necklaces for me to choose from! It was a very hard decision but thanks to some help from student Audrey who helped me narrow four irresistible choices down to two, 

I selected this one which I think will go with a lot of things. This thoughtful, lovely gesture I will wear on my heart even on days I don’t wear the necklace.

Today, I focused on talking about nonfiction. The kids loved learning more about how Mary and I researched and wrote Two Bobbies and Nubs. I can honestly say I wish we’d had their great minds when we were coming up with questions to ask to begin our research for each of those books. These Bailey kids had some insightful suggestions! Though I had never done a two day visit in a school before, I am so glad I had this opportunity. It gave me the chance to get to know the kids a little bit and really interact with them. I had a blast doing the presentations and I think the kids enjoyed them too.

Bailey's Newbery Club

Lunchtime was pizza with the crew just above – a group of dedicated readers that read books from Mock Newbery lists and lobbied for their favorites, articulately and passionately. They had strong feelings about endings and I sure learned a lot. Okay – so maybe I can’t fit 550 kids into my suitcase. I bet I could squeeze these 14 kids in .  . .do you think their parents would notice?

Okay, I promise. I won’t take any kids. But I will take with me a lovely silver shamrock paperweight and marble coaster – a gift from the PTO on behalf of the school—and even better, I take with me memories of smart, fun, kind and funny kids and their smart, fun, kind and funny teachers and parents.  My heart is full as I leave Dublin behind.

My next adventure is to visit Botkins Elementary in Botkins, Ohio. Wonder teacher, Michele Meyer, picked me up at Panterra in Dublin where we noshed on soup and salad and then drove 90 or so scenic miles to Sidney where I was forced to rough it at the Greatstone Castle. I do suffer so, don’t I?!

My Cinderella bed

Stay tuned for a report about my visit to Botkins and presentation at Wright State University. . .

Jennifer Holm!

Jennifer Holm

I know Jennifer Holm wears a SuperWoman costume under her clothes. She is not only a prolific writer, and total bundle of positive energy, she took time out while on book tour to participate in this blog interview! That is truly superhuman!

I've been a fan of Jenni's before we became Silver Sisters in 2007 -- Our Only May Amelia opened my eyes to what historical fiction could be like in the hands of an expert story teller. Drawing once again on bits of her own family history (I want to get into this family!), she has a new book, Turtle in Paradise, inspired by her great-grandmother's story. So, make yourself a cup of instant coffee, sit back and enjoy getting to know Jennifer Holm.

Were you a flashlight-under-the covers or a run-and-play-and-collect-bugs kind of kid?

Flashlight AND bugs (and frogs and turtles and salamanders)! I grew up with four brothers.

Who are the writers you read to be inspired?

Lately I have been re-reading the old Prince Valiant strips by Hal Foster which were a mainstay of my childhood.

Do you have any special writing talismans/tokens in your writing space? If so, what are they?

I tend to keep photos of the relatives who inspired the book on my desk when I am working on a new project. For TURTLE, I had a copy of my Nana (my great-grandmother) who grew up in Key West.
Jenni's great-grandfather, mother, great-grandmother (Nana) in Key West

I love the title concept explored by Carolyn See in her Making A Literary Life: What do you do that helps you sustain and nourish your literary life?

Uh, daycare and babysitters sustain and nourish me. A lot. I used to be able to write with kids running around, but now I need quiet.

What’s the worst writing advice you ever received?

Don’t write in a different genre.

What was the scariest thing you’ve done as a writer?

Ignoring the above advice.

What are you proudest of in your work?

That I finished the second book. That was much harder to write than the first one.

How do you know when you have a story just right?

I don’t think I ever know. I just hope.

How long was it between “I’ve got an idea” to “We’d like to publish your book”? And what happened in between those moments?

Babymouse took about four years, give or take, from being an idea to being published. The last two years were insane as we had to figure out how to produce and publish a graphic novel.

What, if anything, in the writer’s life has caught you by surprise?

The sheer amount of time I waste on Facebook.

A series of questions about work habits:

Computer or long-hand? Computer (Macbook)
Coffee or tea? Coffee (instant)
Quiet office or music going? Quiet
Desk: messy or tidy? Messy when I am deep in a project
Essential writing snack food: popcorn

About your new book: Turtle in Paradise

This is another great story coming out of your family history. Generally, Depression era stories seemed centered on Oklahoma, or the big cities; I loved that this book was set in Key West, Florida. I know the setting is factual, and that Turtle is based on your great-grandmother. Now I have to ask --is the “Diaper Gang” something of your own creation? It’s hard to imagine boys taking on such a job!

Ha! (Candy is a great motivator.) The Diaper Gang was actually inspired by kids in my old neighborhood. A whole pack of them—boys and girls— used to babysit my son for treats—usually pizza or ice cream.

Turtle is so appropriately named – hiding behind that shell of hers. Which came first – the name or the personality?

The name. Also, the turtle industry (catching and processing sea turtles) was once one of Key West’s main industries, so it is also a little nod to that.

Turtle has so little to call her own. I was surprised that her Aunt Minnie takes away her paper dolls when Turtle comes to live with them, claiming they were her own. Can you talk about that scene a bit?

That scene was really more about Aunt Minnie’s relationship with her sister (Turtle’s mother). How feuds and drama sometimes last forever when siblings are involved.

Despite all the tough things that happen to her, I finished the book confident that Turtle was going to make it, that things would eventually be okay for her, and for Mama. Can you talk about finding the balance between realistically re-creating those Depression times and yet still leaving the reader hope for Turtle?

It was tricky. I didn’t want a Shirley Temple “happy ending”, yet I wanted Turtle to be in a better place than she was in the beginning of the book. And I think she is.

As a fellow fan of historical fiction, I’m curious about your research processes. What captivated you the most about this time period? What great fact did you have to leave out? Can you share some of your favorite research tips?
aerial view of Key West

I think this is always the challenge when you’re writing historical fiction—to keep the story the priority. My favorite tidbit that didn’t make it into the book was about what happened when there was a fire in Key West. The houses were all wood and built close together, so fires were deadly and could potentially take down whole blocks. During one fire, all the inhabitants of a street evacuated their belongings from their houses and put them in the cemetery for safekeeping. (It was the nearest place with no wood.) I have this hilarious image in my head of beds, dressers, and pots and pans all stacked up next to tombstones!

About writing in general:
I’m dying to know how you work on both graphic chapter books (the wildly popular BabyMouse) AND a historical novel at the same time –how do you do it?

Well, let’s just say it is taking a lot longer to write my novels than it used to. Between Babymouse and Squish (our new graphic novel series debuting Summer 2011), I do sometimes have a hard time getting back into the historical fiction vibe.

Is there anything you wish I’d asked you? If so, what is it?

I really like salt. I collect unusual kinds—pink, black, yellow. Everybody gives me salt for presents.

Prior interviewees have shared secret talents with us (for example, Susan Patron shared her recipe for making a flaming dessert). What secret talent do you have that we might not know about?

I can twirl a baton.

Now I know who can lead the next Kid Lit float entry in the Macy's parade!

Thank you, Jenni, for carving out this time for us. I know Turtle will find an ocean of fans out there!

A Post Script

Because I was insane and hosted an in-depth blog discussion on boy/girl books at the same time I was trying to finish a 30,000 word manuscript by today (I made it! I hit send yesterday a.m.), I cannot for the life of me recall who suggested this title, but as a post-script, y'all might want to read Why Gender Matters, by Leonard Sax.

Last word on this topic from my very wise 10-year-old friend, Emma, with whom I had a day-before-5th-grade-tea an hour ago. I told her about this recent blog discussion and asked her if she thought there was such a thing as a boy book and a girl book. She nodded. Girl books are the Amelia Notebooks by Marissa Moss, or The American Girl books. I prodded. So, what are some boy books?

The look she gave me said it all. I mean, I could tell she still loves me but thinks I may be one cucumber sandwich short of a tea party: she doesn't know the answer to that question because. she's. not. a. boy.

And there you have it.