Where do ideas come from?

It is possible that this entire adventure began when I read Erik Larson's In the Garden of Beasts.  My son and I were on a kick of reading narrative non-fiction, so I picked it up.  For what ever reason, I have always been fascinated by the 1920s, 30s and 40s.  I was doing a little research on my grandfather and his life in the late 20s.  I had written a few short stories, but was hitting a lot of brick walls when I looked for fact to balance the fiction.

In the meantime, my niece was diagnosed with asthma.  After a visit and seeing how tired her poor little nose was of the constant contact with paper tissue, I went looking for dainty hankies.  A dear friend offered me a few and I greedily took them.  There was just one problem, the monogram was an F, not a B.  So I decided to give the handkerchiefs a new life with a story.  As I sat down to write the story, deep in Larson's world of Germany, I began to write the story of an evacuee.  It was quite short and just explained how she would be in possession of a handkerchief with the wrong monogram, but Millie, my main character was born on those pages.

I tried to continue the work on the American Depression Era, but Millie wouldn't relent.  She is one of those needy children the Indigo Girls sing about.  And so, here I am writing her story.  This is it in a nut shell:

An unfeeling mother, Nazi bombs and youth conspire to expel Millie from her beloved London.  Remote country life brings only a string of tedious days until she discovers a British secret weapon and her own special gifts.  Combined, they bring Millie the family she never knew she needed and an end to the war.

On my trip to London, I found her house, the paths she would have walked and the city she adored.    What I found out while I was there was remarkable!  Now for the continued writing and research.

By the way, if any of you have every wondered about how Hitler rose to power or how we as Americans responded to that rise, you should check out this book.  If you have a kiddo who is interested in the topic, it is a curious look at that time, through the eyes of the newly appointed American Ambassador to Germany.  It is a hard truth, but any advanced reader 7th grade and up would be able to sort it out.

Back, but a bit changed

After reading fiction all of my life and making a living by leaning on my technical writing abilities, I have decided to try my hand at fiction.  I have been learning and practicing for the last year, and I have never done anything harder.  I am not sure if I will ever see my stories in print, but I am having a ball writing.  The shorts stories are growing up into a novel.  Characters I have grown to love and worry about are evolving and I am ready to share a bit of this experience.

So for now, I will be reading less and writing more.  Don't misunderstand, the reading is going to happen, but it will be more by my own design and less with my book club kids in mind.  My novel is a young adult (or maybe new adult, according to a fellow writer) historical fiction novel. I spent the last few month buried in pre-writing exercises.   This includes research and putting words on paper, or really a digital screen.  Meeting new characters has been the best part of the journey so far.  Working on the back stories so that I don't bore my reader, but can understand each person's motives has been energizing.  I often fall in love with the characters in my favorite novels.  I never imagined I would grow to know characters of my own creation so well.

But, place is kicking my _ _ _!  So I am on my way to London, to walk around Millie's home and get to know her better as I learn about her home.  I leave Saturday, facing floods of the quarter century, and I must admit I am excited.

In the mean time I would like to suggests you consider reading Elizabeth Wein's newest novel, Rose under fire.  I will warn you that it is a harsh look at humanity, but hope is always present, though at times only in whispers.  You will learn a lot about the German concentration camps.  But, you will also learn about heroism in unexpected places.  If you enjoyed Code Name Verity, you might be glad to see Maddie and Jamie again.  And, I am sure you will love Rose.

Harry Potter Anyone?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling

This week I opened a Harry Potter book for the first time in years. The last time I read Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone was about  6 years ago when my son was seven. I had put him off as long as I dared, and we read it together, in case Quirrel and his little friend might frighten him.  Before that, this was the book most often requested in the libraries in which I read books aloud.  The year it was published and for many years after, I read this book regularly.

I must say that once the movie came out, the requests began to diminish. I am not sure that many kids are taking the time to read the books at all.  They may read one or two, but the whole series is certainly reserved for the reading enthusiast.  That is why I am reading it know.  My 6th grade book club wanted to read and discuss the books.  Enough of the kids had read none of the books that we decided to go back to the beginning.  When going to get the cover art I was surprised to see it had changed.
I am looking forward to talking with the kids about the books. I am sure the other novels, if not movies, will come up in the discussion.  Harry is a terribly flawed hero and I love pointing that out to kids.  It seems to make them believe that they too might have a bit of hero inside.

As expected, the book was great.  I had forgotten how much I loved McGonagal, Hagrid and Snape.  They are lively characters even in the beginning.  It was nice to be reminded of how Hermione found her spot in the trio that would go on to change the wizarding world.  Mostly, it was nice to read through this horribly imaginative book.

If your reader hasn't read the series and is up for a bit of fantasy, you can't go wrong here.  I would remind you that with every book Harry is a year older and his problems age with him.  He begins as an 11 year old.  Let that be your guide.

By the way, do any of you find it odd that in three of my bookclub books the name Granger comes up? Mrs. Granger in Frindle, Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and Granger, Guy Montag's friend, in Fahrenheit 451.  Weird Huh?

Dork Diaries

Dork Diaries
by Rachel Renee Russell

I finally read one of the Dork Diary books.  My fourth grade book club chose #3, and I was compelled to comply.  I have to say the kids love the series! So, I was willing to give it a go.

I think it resembles a Disney sitcom.  The main character, Nikki, has two best friends and an enemy MacKinsey.  According to the group, and other kids I know, the books all start with Nikki doing something silly and MacKinsey finding out about it.  This enemy has quite a bit of dirt on Nikki, including that she only attends their lovely private school because her father exchanges bug extermination for her tuition.  MacKinsey spends a good bit of time working to keep Nikki down.

In #3, Nikki is captured singing karaoke with her sister on film my MacKinsey.  In order to avoid embarrassment, Nikki originally refrains from participating in the school wide talent show. The story unfolds from here and explores the common themes of friendship, determination, working to belong, and loyalty.  If you are a reader or fan of the basic sitcom, you can guess the rest.

So, would I suggest you get the book for your kid?  I would if you have a non-reading girl. It is a great starting place.  Once she is hooked on reading, you can push her toward some of the other great comedians on the page.  You could start with Clementine and Zoe, chic geek, and move toward Pippi Longstocking. Every child needs a path into reading.  If this format might appeal to your reader, definitely give it a try!

The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

I am currently enrolled in a class called The Historian's Craft.  Among other things, we have to read a scholarly text and write a book review.  In addition to reading the text, we had to find at least two other reviews of the book.  What I discovered in reading through the many reviews of the book I chose is that everyone finds something different in the text.  Every review differs in the way it identifies significant information, techniques and conclusions.

I was given the opportunity to reread The Book Thief this month, when my seventh grade book club chose it for the October read. I must say that it was as original as I remembered, but different characters touched me.  The first time I read the book, its protagonist Liesal demanded all of my attention.  She is the focus of the book and the narrator, so this is no surprise.  This time I fell in love with Max and Hans.

In Liesal's life there are four significant men:  her brother, Rudy, Max and Hans.  Max is the Jewish man who hides in her basement and Hans is her foster papa, who invites Max to stay.  The lessons of generosity and determination I learned from these men surprised me.  Death, the narrator, comments at one point that he expects them to meet him standing up.  Apparently, this happens when a person has regularly given of himself, making his soul light.

If you want more details about the story jump over to my last review on this touching text.  If you have read it before, give it another go, you will not be disappointed.

John Grisham for Young Adults?

The Firm

by John Grisham

 

 

Many "middle readers" have read the Theodore Boone books by John Grisham, but is his work suitable for the Young Adult reader?  I tested this theory this month with my 8th grade book club.  It is a small group.  So small, in fact, that I can't divide them by genre.  This fact forces us to get very clever with book selection.  As a group we face the conflict between fantasy, non-fiction and realistic fiction. 

 

This month, I suggested we give John Grisham a try.  My thinking was that the fantasy kids might like the adventure and suspense and those more interested in real life, true or not, might appreciate the plot.  The kids were agreeable to the author and chose The Firm for a starting place.  I was pleased with the choice because I had read it before and seen the movie years ago.  I must admit, I told them I was not ready to read A Time to Kill with them.  It is my own hiccup.  I am just not ready to face that kind of hate with a group of kids.

 

I downloaded the novel and listened, since it was technically a reread.  The narrator didn't sound like I imagined Mitch sounding like (or was my view affected by Tom Cruises portrayals?).  In any case, I was surprised by how much the book varied from the movie. 

 

For those of you who haven't read the book or seen the movie, it is a legal thriller.  Young Mitch, a recent law school graduate, is lured to Memphis by the money and promise of a secure future at a small law firm.  Before you know it, he finds his life invaded, not only by the firm, but by the mob and his past, as well.  There are many twists and turns, making the novel fast paced and fun to read.  If your young adult likes the book, they should try the other legal thrillers by John Grisham.  Some contain more adult themes, so you may want to supervise the selection.  There are many, and they are a bit formulaic, but they are worth the time.

Wonder

Wonder
by R.J.Palacia

I only pick the first book of the year for my book clubs.  I choose the books by reviewing a list of questions I put on the registration forms.  I ask the kids questions like, "what is your favorite movie? video game? book? and author?"  After I review the questions, I group the kids by interest and age.  I try to pick a book that I think will appeal to the genre of interest.

Now, I have group of 6th graders starting their fourth year with me in book club.  I have to say I would have told you I could pick a book for any of these kids.  They usually love fantasy and adventure books.  But, this month they took me by surprise.  I have to say they are growing up.

One of my most dedicated readers told the group that they just had to read Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  He had read it four times and cried at the ending every time.  He explained, " It is a book about a boy who is going to school for the first time in fifth grade.  He had been homeschooled up to now because his face is terribly deformed.  Going to school was hard for him, but it is a great story."  This young man is very respected by the group, so they agreed to take on the novel.  So, my fantasy kids are delving into realistic fiction with both feet.

I am proud of the group and glad to have read the book.  I have been tempted by the cover for the past year, but hadn't made the time to read the book until now.  My young friend was right.  This book is a must read.  It is a classic coming of age novel with a cast of flawed characters.  August, the main character, wears his flaws openly on his face.  The others hide them more effectively, but they are revealed little by little to the reader as the story unfolds.  If you have a middle school student, this book is a must read!