March Limerick Time!

March just seems like the perfect time for a limerick. Probably because of St.Patrick's Day, even though that was a couple of weeks ago. I know. What's fun about these poems is that they can be on any topic. As you'll see below, mine is about a cat with a Hollywood dream. No, I don't know where that came from and why. 😄 Just happens. You can do them on sports, animals, places, vegetables, cookies, fro-yo. Anything. The first, second and fifth lines must have 7-10 syllables and have the same verbal rhyme. The third and fourth have 5-7 syllables and have the same rhythm and rhyme together. No problem! What makes it even more fun, is to write one with another person or group. Hysterical! There's even a poem generator for limericks.
Coming up on the blog are a bunch of book reviews/blurbs as soon as I type them up.
Enjoy and start writing. 😎😻🎬

A Texas cat came to L.A.
And had to decide if she'd stay.
After makeup and hair
She debuted on the air.
A truckload of fish was her pay.

Awesome Book Review: The Poet X

Looking at the title of the post, is it the book review that's awesome or the book? In this case, it's the book. Okay, in all cases, it's always the book!
National Book Award for Young People's Literature and Printz Award Winner

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

From the publisher:

A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

It’s perfect.

Listening to the author read it is pure pleasure. I’m guessing the impact is stronger than reading it – although, it won the Printz – so it won’t matter how you devour the story. It’s so real and raw and nails all the emotions as if she’s mining my life for her book. It’s just that good.

I almost want to call them lyrics, but the poems are strong and beautiful and mesmerizing. Not once was I pulled out of the story, and the whole time I was enthralled.

Just before the climax, I had to stop because I knew what was going to happen and I couldn’t face it. So I asked my friend who had already read it, and she confirmed my fears, and once I accepted and processed the inevitable, I was able to continue on. (I don’t want to say what it is in case you haven’t read it yet. And if you haven’t read it yet, run, don’t walk, and let it fill you up, like a good story does.)

I think Elizabeth Acevedo should take this show on the road. It would be such a privilege to see her perform this like a one-woman play. Listening to it feels like I’m watching a performance; alive and inspiring. 

It would be great to quote some passages, but where to begin, which ones to choose, it's impossible. Enjoy the ride, the language, the characters, the truth.

Writing Exercise

I can't even pretend I have spooky Halloween words! Just regular words, although I should have thought of something more creepy to write. Anyway, my random word generator chose four words for today's prompt. Have fun and don't scare me! ♖😳😃

Words: slim, sprout, far-flung, number

Digging holes in the earth is not what I was created for. Singing and dancing is way better than dirt under my fingernails.

The number of vegetables I’ve planted for Mama is nearing 30. May not sound like a high number, but it is. Trust me, and my broken, dirty nails.

Mama thinks there’s no better job than working mother earth. Which means, slim chance to none I’ll get out of doing this. And it’s not just the soil, it’s the bugs, the watering, the fertilizing (don’t get me started on the smell), pulling weeds, harvesting, turning soil, cleaning, canning, selling. You get the picture.

Daniella, Mama says, you’re a natural green thumb. Can I just say how happy I am my thumb is NOT really green? You want to know my secret to all the growing? Singing. I sing to my plants, sing while I water, then just watch those seeds sprout.

My dream of singing in the town musical has always been a dream. A far-flung dream at that. But if I could just have the chance to try. 

Hmmm. I may just have an idea growing, and I know I won't need a green thumb for that.

Two Middle Grade Book Blurbs

A WITCH ALONE by James Nicol

I’m glad the publisher nagged James Nicol to write A WITCH ALONE, which is the sequel to THE APPRENTICE WITCH. It’s a fun ride in a fun world, if you don’t mind the snotlings. The story continues with Arianwyn in her post as the town witch.

There are so many twists and turns that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen and to whom. I had my suspicions but I never totally knew.

A void was opened in the first book, and it is letting in dark spirits and an evil and uncommon hex that is spreading in the Great Wood.

With a moon hare named Bob as a sidekick and a workspace called the Spellorium, how could you not enjoy it?!

    

MAC B, KID SPY by Mac Barnett

This is a tongue-in-cheek humorous book. A quick read with lots of illustrations.

Mac takes us on an international spy case for the Queen of England. A Crown Jewel is stolen and Mac travels far and wide in his perfectly faded jeans, accompanied by a Corgi, named Freddie, on loan from the Queen.

History is nicely placed in a fun way. Set in the 1980’s, the story shows us the world then and now with an adventurous kid who has his own home and school issues.

Definitely entertaining and accessible.

First Responders Haiku - Thank You

I was planning on doing a writing exercise this month and thinking of all the disasters and accidents and how much we rely on the incredible people who put their lives on the line, work tirelessly and care so much, I thought of a haiku this morning. I'd like to write about twenty to express all I want. But, for now, here is my thank you haiku. I'd love to hear your own if you'd like to join me.


Help in fire or flood
Courage, care for crash victims
In our hearts - thank you

Book Review: The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin

I loved this book. That’s the first thought I had when I read the last word. How complete and satisfying.

First of all, where have I been? This book was published in 2016. How could I have missed it? Of course, we all have those giant TBR piles and that’s the only explanation I can come up with. Well, and 2016 was a difficult year, so there ya go.

There are really great reviews printed in the first few pages of this book and I’d love to post them all here since they did a great job. But, I will do it myself – sigh – and hopefully encourage you to pick it up.

Here is what the publisher says:

A long undisturbed bedroom. A startling likeness. A mysterious friend.

When twelve-year-old Prince Lev Lvov goes to live with his aunt at Falcon House, he takes his rightful place as heir to the Lvov family estate. Prince Lev dreams of becoming a hero of Russia like his great ancestors. But he'll discover that dark secrets haunt this house. Prince Lev is the only one who can set them free―will he be the hero his family needs?

From Eugene Yelchin, the author and illustrator of Arcady's Goal and the Newbery Award-winning Breaking Stalin's Nose, comes The Haunting of Falcon House, an illustrated middle grade story that'll both haunt readers and leave them knowing a little bit more about Russian history.

This title has Common Core connections.

This story is engaging in every way – the setting, characters, action, plot. I was taken on a ride of mystery, friendship, Russian history and the pain of facing the truth. The illustrations are disturbing, adding to the creepiness and intrigue.

What I treasure about this book is that it is different and unique, which isn’t always easy to find. Everything Prince Lev felt and saw, I did too. It was like I was transported right into Falcon House. Definitely worth the trip.

Book Review and Writing Exercise - a Twofer!

I thought it was time to do a writing exercise as well as a book review. I've been doing a lot of rewriting, to then turn into submissions, and then get back to my WIP. So first up, the book review. Originally published in Shelf Awareness and reviewed by Lynn Becker and available on her blog as well, link below. 

It took me a little bit to get into this book (I think I say that with all books!) but then enjoyed the ride of witches in training. Loved the characters. 

The Apprentice Witch--Shelf Awareness

MG Review: The Apprentice Witch

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol (Chicken House/Scholastic, $16.99 hardcover, 336p., ages 8-12, 9781338118582, July 25, 2017)

Arianwyn Gribble is mortified when her magical assessment by the Civil Witchcraft Authority goes horribly wrong. Instead of focusing on the four cardinal glyphs, her mind is taken over by a larger, bolder symbol, an impossible one that "didn't really exist except in her imagination." The evaluation gauge undergoes a power surge and fails to pick up the required level of magical energy. Arianwyn's humiliating result is officially classified as "ungraded." Instead of the bright silver star of a fully trained witch, a "dull bronze disc" is pinned to her coat. The moon brooch identifies her as an apprentice who "has not yet reached the maturity of her powers."

Nevertheless, her service is needed (it helps that Grandmother, on the Council of Elders, has some say in the matter). Arianwyn takes a position in the small town of Lull, near the Great Wood. Rich in natural magic, "a quiet and pleasant town to live in," Lull has been without a witch for many years and is willing to welcome an apprentice. Provided, as the mayor puts it, she can "fulfill her role without incident." But Lull is not as idyllic as Mayor Belcher advertises. En route to the town, Arianwyn finds herself fighting off a dangerous dark spirit creature. When she begins a spell to banish it, the mysterious glyph flashes before her eyes and her mind goes blank. Arianwyn and her fellow passengers scramble to escape, leaving the dark spirit stunned but not banished. Worse, she may have created a dangerous rift, an opening into the world "anything could get through from the void." Arianwyn is sure that her performance could not have been more pathetic.

Settling into her new home, a musty charm shop named the Spellorium, Arianwyn manages to make charms and deal with the less dangerous beasts that plague the neighborhood. Gradually, she grows more confident and the townsfolk come to accept her. She enjoys the staunch support of best friend Salle (who was involved in the initial melee with the dark creature), and a strange kinship with the other spirit creatures she encounters. Even her district supervisor, while initially skeptical, begins to understand that some great power lurks within the awkward apprentice. All seems to be going well until the mayor's niece arrives, none other than sneaky, cruel Gimma Alverston who taunted Arianwyn mercilessly in school. Something huge, dark and twisted is haunting the Great Wood, and dangerous patches of hex mold are spreading about the area. And why does Arianwyn keep seeing visions of that strange, "tempting and terrifying" glyph?

Feeling at once fresh and familiar, James Nicol's enchanting debut will charm fans of Jennifer Nielsen, J.K. Rowling and Eva Ibbotson. The world of The Apprentice Witch is comfortable, funny and well-imagined. Underneath all the magic, fey creatures and monsters, Arianwyn's struggles with self-doubt will ring true with readers. A few loose plot points hint at a sequel, but this one stands strongly on its own. --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Lynn Becker

Now for the writing exercise!

Words: clock, trouble, bed, coin

I rolled over, still awake. The clock hadn't moved. The digital numbers froze at 11:11. How was that possible?

I shifted again, away from the annoying red glow, pulling my night shirt out from under me. My bed sagged like a war-torn army cot. If you tried to bounce a coin off it, I'm certain it would roll down into the valley and never be seen again.

How could sleeping be this much trouble? I sighed. I flopped. I flopped. I sighed. 

Sitting up to read the clock again, it read 11:11. Now I was starting to freak out. Flapping noises began that were not there before. Giant winged shadows crossed in front of the light outside my window.

The very very scared part of me wanted so badly to pull the covers up forever. The other part that made incredibly brave and bad decisions sneaked over to the window for a peek.