Two MG GN - short for Middle Grade Graphic Novel

These two graphic novels are fun reads.

Batcat by Meggie Ramm

Imprint of Abrams / Amulet Books, March 2023

From the Publisher:

A new graphic novel series for emerging readers about accepting yourself and others from up-and-coming author-illustrator Meggie Ramm

Batcat loves being all alone in their home on Spooky Island. Up in their tree house, they pass the time playing video games and watching TV. But when Batcat suddenly finds themself haunted by an annoying, ice cream–stealing ghost, they visit the local Island Witch for a spell to remove their ghastly guest permanently! 

With their Ghost-B-Gone spell in hand, Batcat travels across Spooky Island to gather ingredients—to the Cavernous Caves where the bats tell them they’re too round to be a bat, and to the Whispering Cemetery where the cats will help only if they commit to being a true cat. But Batcat is neither and that's what makes them special, right?  

From up-and-coming author Meggie Ramm comes a sweet and fun story about accepting yourself when you're perfectly in-between here and there.

This graphic novel is a quick read – as most are – but it carries a message everyone needs to hear no matter what age you are. A bit like the Wizard of Oz. It’s got adventure, an unexpected friendship and heart. If you give someone a chance, they might surprise you.

Mighty Bite by Nathan Hale

Harry N. Abrams, April 2023

From the Publisher:

What happens when a couple of prehistoric creatures want to become internet stars? Trilobite and Amber (a walking whale) dream of fame and fortune. They don’t realize that most of the world thinks that they’re extinct. When a wandering paleo-newscaster introduces them to the world of internet videos, they hop at the chance to get behind the camera. The competition for internet fame will be fierce—Trilobite and Amber will face off against ancient sea creatures, talking cacti, floating cat heads, and more! Friendships will be tested, allies will be made, and cameras will be smashed! Our heroes will have to use all of their newfound skills when they find themselves competing in an all out video-making battle royale!

With laugh-out-loud gags and outrageous, elaborate artwork, fans of Dog Man and InvestiGators have never seen anything like Nathan Hale’s The Mighty Bite!

This graphic novel is exactly what it says on the back cover – wacky, funny and unique. It’s a tremendous adventure that will take you just about everywhere. Mostly places you’d never expect. The quirky cast of characters grows as the adventure continues. Will trilobite get what he’s questing for or something better? Start reading and find out!

BLOG TOUR! Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

I am so fortunate to be on this blog tour for an incredible author and book. Not only is there a book blurb, but there’s an author interview AND a giveaway.

This book should be in every classroom. We all need to learn about people different from ourselves: understanding what they go through, why they do what they do and need the things that help them function in the world.

All the way through it, I was in awe of the incredible scenes, language and feelings that struck me. It’s a memorable novel in verse and I love the characters. I know everyone can relate to something in this story. And it’s also helpful to know that what we experience and maybe feel is isolating, is probably more common than we think or know. From excellent teachers to annoying teachers, friends and bullies, family and neighbors, I think there is something that will resonate with everyone in the story. Really, is anyone normal? We’re all individuals and what’s normal to one is not to another.

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

From the publisher: Scholastic Press, April 2023

An extraordinary novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference.

Selah knows her rules for being normal.

She always, always sticks to them. This means keeping her feelings locked tightly inside, despite the way they build up inside her as each school day goes on, so that she has to run to the bathroom and hide in the stall until she can calm down. So that she has to tear off her normal-person mask the second she gets home from school, and listen to her favorite pop song on repeat, trying to recharge. Selah feels like a dragon stuck in a world of humans, but she knows how to hide it.

Until the day she explodes and hits a fellow student.

Selah's friends pull away from her, her school threatens expulsion, and her comfortable, familiar world starts to crumble.

But as Selah starts to figure out more about who she is, she comes to understand that different doesn’t mean damaged. Can she get her school to understand that, too, before it’s too late?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: 

Angela Russell: Do you work/teach full time? Do your students inspire you?

Meg Eden Kuyatt: At the moment, I have lots of little jobs—which I think is how I work best. I tend to burn out when I do any one thing too much or for too long, and especially for teaching, I really want to be present for my students and able to give them my best feedback. My students absolutely inspire me! I love how I can teach the same lesson or give the same prompt and they always see new things. I especially love giving prompts like asking them to write what’s inside them, and the things they discover are so incredible. I’m also blown away by my students’ humility and willingness to learn. Especially my students at the community college where I work—they never give any excuses. They have such incredible attitudes and often are juggling so many different things in life that I’m just blown away that they are taking the time to be in my class in the first place. 

 

AR: What is your writing process and how do you make / find time to write.

MEK: I find that typically I work best every other day, or at least, only making myself write every other day. If I try to force it every day I can stress myself out, and stress is the enemy of creative writing. But really, I’m always playing and thinking. I’m always scribbling down notes and ideas. We make time for the things we love, even if it’s in little bits, and even if there are seasons where we need to refill and step away. I’m learning that I have certain phases with new projects, where I’m so uncertain and asking so many questions, and that scares me, but I’m comforted knowing this will pass and with time, I’ll become more confident!

 

AR: Do you have any heroes? Yes, though I don’t know where to even start!

MEK: I have lots of heroes but the first that comes to mind is my old pastor, Pastor Ed. Whenever he came up to preach, he made clear that he was actively not there to call out specific people or shame; he was just this guy coming up to tell us what God had been teaching him recently. He was always honest and real about what he was struggling with and learning, so it never felt like this guy talking down to you but with you—and as a kid especially, that was very compelling.

 

I realize now that as a writer, he has been my biggest influence. When I write stories, I think about his approach to sermons. I ask myself: what am I struggling with right now? What do I need to hear and learn? And that’s the engine for my stories.

 

I was recently speaking at a conference, and I had this moment where I was absolutely chuffed inside because I heard Pastor Ed’s mannerisms in how I was talking. When he preached, another great thing he did was he had a very clear structure and order. His messages were easy to remember because he organized them in a very logical, practical way. As a speaker, I always really try to emulate this so my audience will remember the points I’m trying to make.

 

Pastor Ed is a very humble dude, and I think this is part of what makes it easy for me to listen to and respect him (I’m still learning the humility thing). I really love that Pastor Ed always stressed that we should never just take his word for something. We should never believe something’s true because he said it; we should always examine the Bible for what it says is true. This instilled in me a great value for critical, independent thinking (and I want to add here that this included me wanting to decide for myself if the Bible is true and trustworthy), and also makes me as a writer and instructor desire to instill this in my students and readers. I rarely want to be didactic on the page, and I never want to preach to my audience (because unlike Pastor Ed, I am not a preacher!). I want to give my readers questions to think about and wrestle with themselves. I want to give a sense of my stance, where I’m coming from and what I believe, but all I can do is pose an argument. Kids are smart. They are going to decide what they believe for themselves.

 

AR: There is a definite need in the market for this book and I think it should be in the middle school curriculum.  (not a question – just an opinion 😊)

MEK: Thank you so much! That makes me so happy to hear!

 

AR: What were your favorite books growing up and do you have any now?

MEK: Anne of Green Gables was a huge one. As I got older, Screwtape Letters was another—I love how it plays with point of view and a story many of us have heard but seeing it from the opposite side. 

 

I have so many favorite books now, but a few are Elle McNicoll’s A Kind of Spark, anything by Corey Ann Haydu (though my favorite is probably Lawless Spaces or One Jar of Magic) and John Perkin’s Let Justice Roll Down.

 

AR: Is much of this story based on your experiences? What that where the idea for the book came from?

MEK: Yes and no. Little bits are from my experience and perception, like being at a small private school, or a girl braiding my hair in the recess line and how that came as such a shock to me. Everything I write has some element of my experience—little surface details but even more so, the emotions I’ve felt. This book came from the emotion, from feeling overwhelmed in the middle of COVID and feeling so small and like I had no control. There’s an emotional truth to the story, which is what matters most to me, that even if Selah’s story isn’t literally autobiographical, it captures my feelings of trying to figure out how to navigate living in a neurotypical world. 

 

AR: Did this come all as one story or did you piece things together?

MEK: This one had a long “incubation period” and many false starts but once I figured out the right starting point and started really drafting, it came together all at once. But really, I’m not sure that’s fair to say. The first draft happened in a very short period of time, but there were years of gathering experiences and ideas that ended up in that final draft. So it’s really both. 

 

AR: What did you learn/discover while writing it?

MEK: I think the main thing is that I discovered I am actually autistic, and that I have so many ways to fly—that autism has difficulties, but it also has beautiful strengths. I think if it weren’t for this book, I might’ve never sought a formal diagnosis for my autism, so for that I am so incredibly grateful. 

 

AR: What are you working on next / future projects readers can look forward to? 

MEK: I am in the middle of a few projects. I’m waiting for feedback on a possible middle grade project and am taking a little bit of a breather to play with new ideas until I hear more. I’m also editing a YA manuscript that has taken me at least 20 drafts at this point, but I think (hope) we’re starting to go in the right direction… 

 

I’m really interested in protagonists with all sorts of different autistic experiences, generational neurodivergence or how people dealt (often maladaptively) with being autistic in previous generations, and I’m really interested in the magic in the everyday. 

Here's a link to all of Meg's book tour events. CLICK HERE  

Here is the rafflecopter link to enter to win an arc of Good Different!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df05f79b2/.

You can find links to Meg’s books and social media info below:

 

Twitter: @ConfusedNarwhal

Instagram: @meden_author

Facebook: Meg Eden Writes Poems

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buwBXX

www.megedenbooks.com

 

Twofer this month: First up, picture books about the sun

This month there are two posts! This first one is about STEM books for kids. The second post on April 15, is an author interview, book blurb, with a chance to win a copy! I'm excited to be on this blog tour. You don't want to miss all these incredible books.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star (Skytime) Board Book by Elizabeth Everett (Author), Beatriz Castro (Illustrator)

From the publisher: Science, Naturally! An Imprint of Platypus Media, LLC, Feb 2023

How I wonder what you are… the Sun, our most important star!

We see the Sun every day. When we wake up, it rises with us. During the day, it gives us light and keeps us warm. But the Sun is just a star and there are billions of others. So why is this one so important?

A science lesson wrapped in a familiar rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star introduces children to the many ways the Sun affects our world, from small things we experience every day on planet Earth, to the way our entire solar system functions.

Readers discover how this one special star affects Earth's orbit and rotation, day and night, the changing seasons, the length of a year, the lives of plants and animals, and the production of energy and radiation, light and shadows, and even vitamins.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star is a must-have for any child who is curious about the world around them. With glowing illustrations and a well-known beginning, this charming story is a cozy way to learn about the one-of-a-kind star that makes everything possible. In this book, the Sun truly shines!

This is a fun take on the Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star song. A great introduction to the only star in our solar system and how it affects people, animals, and plants on earth. It shows the passage of time, seasons and how long a calendar year is. The rhyme coupled with the kid-centric illustrations make this colorful and accessible for all. And you can get it in a bilingual English/Spanish edition.

This is the Sun by Elizabeth Everett (Author), Evelline Andrya (Illustrator)

From the publisher: Science, Naturally! An Imprint of Platypus Media, LLC, Nov 2022

This is the Sun that makes the world go round!

From the tiniest animal to the tallest tree, everything on Earth is connected through the circle of life. But at the center of it all is a different kind of circle—the Sun!

Through a charming story with rhythmic repetition, young children are introduced to the bright Sun that provides energy for life on Earth.

Follow along as a young tree uses light from the Sun to make its own food, then passes its energy along the food chain… until it circles all the way back to a brand-new sprout growing toward the Sun. Readers see how each living thing in the food web provides energy to the next, over and over again.

The vibrant collage art grows along with the increasingly multilevel story. As you read, look for the bug, spider, lizard, fox, and more as they move through each of the pages and build a full ecosystem.

This is the Sun gives readers a glimpse into how all the living things are connected through the circle of life—and the role the Sun plays in making it all possible.

This is another fun take on the song, There Was an Old Woman. Beautiful collage artwork builds and incorporates all the plants, animals, the tree and the sun. This is a circle of life book, as well, but completely different than the one above. We follow the sunlight and the tree, all the way through the bugs, reptiles, animals, and seeds that grow again from the sun.

Both of these books are beautiful and colorful with repetition that kids love.

 

Ghosts, ghosts, and more ghosts!

I recently read two middle grade ghost stories and watched a Netflix show adapted from a middle grade ghost series. Although, they upped the age a bit, so they’re teenagers. And it’s not even October! Ghost stories are good any time of year. Plus, it was my birthday month, so, busy busy time. 😀

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur T. Bradley

From the publisher, Viking (Penguin Random House): published August 2020

When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.

Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.

This story begins by introducing us to the characters. It started a bit slow and threw me off but did not deter. It’s a mystery, ghost story, friendship and family story. All great ingredients for a fun book (IMO). AND there’s are twists I did not see coming. Which makes it even more fun! That’s a real feat to be able to do that. Each character is unique and interesting and the story flows from there. With excellent writing and illustrations, you just can’t go wrong.

I learned that this book is good for reluctant readers, too. It feels lower middle grade and easy to digest. Not sure why I’m using food references, lol. I’m glad my friend told me about this title. And when I got it from the library, the library gave me another suggestion, which is the next ghost story. Win, win.

Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie

From the publisher, Sourcebooks Young Readers: published September 2020

A ghost story about a malevolent spirit, an unlucky girl, and a haunting mystery that will tie the two together.

Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone.

Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her.

Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.

Loved this story. It was spooky, haunting but not too scary, included really interesting Chicago history, and was quite gripping to read. Also had friendship issues, family issues and young love interest. That’s pretty darn cool. I’m also hoping this is the beginning of a series with these characters. That would be so fun. These characters are engaging and heartfelt and care about each other so much. It also shows that everyone has problems, no matter how perfect or put together they may seem.

This one felt more upper middle grade, was more serious and a bit scarier than the first book above. Both are worth reading and pretty awesome they came out one month apart in 2020.

The Netflix series I watched is Lockwood & Co. I LOVED these books by Jonathan Stroud. There are five in the series, and they are all fantastic. I was very excited to see it was coming to a screen near me. The first half hour, they talked so fast that I could hardly understand anything they said. Having subtitles on for that part would be helpful. After that, it was a normal speed of speaking. I’m not sure if knowing the books made it easier for me or not. I’d be curious what someone else thought who didn’t read the books. Unfortunately, I watched the series too fast and now it’s done. 😩 They could have done 10 or 20 episodes and that would be fine with me. I’m hoping they do a season for each book – at least! – and get them filming quickly. Need that Lockwood fix. This show is definitely scarier than the two stories above, but I believe it matches the books pretty well. The skull in the glass though, is super funny in the novels. At least, I thought so.  

If you enjoy ghost stories, you will like ALL of these. Boo!

New Year - New Book - New Adult

I was so happy to be reading again and this was a good entry back in. I’ve seen this story called YA, but with the characters being a bit older, I thought it was New Adult. Unless that genre has gone away and it’s just Young Adult again. Either way, enjoyed it.

Begin Again by Emma Lord

From the publisher, St. Martins/Wednesday Books: available January 2023

As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together.

But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time.

But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones.

I liked this book: the characters, friendships, and the twist. It drew me in every time I picked it up. I was with them in everything they did and saw. I especially liked when the friends became family. That always speaks to me. And being a planner, I could relate. It was a really fun book.

One thing that drove me nuts was how often the word “wince” was repeated. There were others, but that was the biggest offender.

I haven’t read this author before and would easily pick up her previous works. Feel free to jump right in, the story is fine.

Holiday Haikus

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, happy holidays, and Happy New Year! That's a lotta happy. LOL

I really miss books. I will be happy to become engrossed again soon. In the meantime, I wish you all health, joy and love; whatever that means to you.

I have two haikus, because, why not? 💝 I encourage everyone to write a haiku now and then. It's fun.

Christmas Haiku

Anticipation

Tree lots, cider and cocoa

Frozen toes, warm smiles.

 

New Year’s Haiku

Reminiscing time

Happy, heartbreak, breakthrough growth

Future begins now.

Thanksgiving Haiku

Sorry I've been MIA. Seems this time of year there's always something going on. I remember saying in January that this year was going to be a year of big life events. DO NOT SAY THIS OUT LOUD. The universe will hear you and deliver! And it has, in spades. I have a laundry list of big life events that have happened, and it hasn't stopped yet. The most recent was my husband had surgery and was in the hospital for two weeks. Then a friend passed away, and that was a very tough funeral. The end of the year is just around the corner so it'll be a good time to say what next year will be about. Like, easy peasy skate through life stuff. One can hope - and then say it out loud. 

But I do have fabulous books to review and an incredible 2023 book release and author interview ahead.

So how about a Thanksgiving Haiku:

Cooking smells delight
Wafting over TV din
Filling heart and home

I know this isn't everyone's thanksgiving experience and the holiday means something different to everyone. Especially if you're Chandler from Friends.

Whatever it means to you, I wish you peace.