Review / Now You Say Yes

Book: Now You Say Yes (2021)
Authors: Bill Harley
Publisher: ‎ Peachtree
Genre: MG, Historical/Contemporary

Opening lines from the book …
“The barbecue ones,” Conor says.
“I know,” Mari says for the fourth time.
“I don’t like the other ones. Especially not the vinegar ones. They’re bad.”
Conor is standing sideways to the rows of snacks, facing the aisle that leads away from the meat section. His head is down—he’s not looking at her. He never looks at her…

What makes this book stand out …

This book is about a brother and sister. Mari’s adopted while Conor is the surprise baby in her adopted family. But now Mom dies and their world is immediately turned upside down. Dad (Kevin) is no longer around, and Mom’s boyfriend isn’t exactly keen on the kids. Mari herself has trouble with Conor due to his autism. But she’s his sister and she isn’t about to abandon him like his dad did. So, Mari decides to take Conor on a cross-country trip from California (basically “stealing” her mom’s car; Mari’s 15, by the way!) to their grandmother’s house in Boston.

The only way to get Conor to go is the promise of going to Missouri to see the Solar Eclipse of 2017. They meet a lot of people along the way and stop off at some interesting places, like the Grand Canyon. Of course, there’s the eclipse (I really like the cover, by the way). But the best part is the end, which I won’t spoil!

P.S. A few weeks ago, I posted about space-themed books. I was looking for an eclipse book but realized I hadn’t read one. Found this one! It’s a few weeks late, but I did very much enjoy this book!

P.S. #2 One more thing: Middle-grade books don’t tend to have colorful language. This book has some. It wasn’t too much, but do keep this in mind if this is something you look out for.

 

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YOUR TURN…

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…

PB Review / The Little Green Envelope

Book: The Little Green Envelope (2023)
Author: Gillian Sze
Illustrator: Claudine Crangle
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Genre: Picture Book

Opening Lines of the Book…
It was her usual Sunday with Grandpa, but Olive was not her usual self.

She did not touch a single one of the chocolates. She didn’t tickety-tat-tat on the old typewriter. Instead, Olive flopped onto the armchair and sighed.

MY THOUGHTS…

How wonderful is this book! I really enjoyed that this story starts from the POV of the human (especially the girl) but goes into the POV of the green envelope. As somebody who used to have lots of penpals, I loved seeing how mail moves. And how much joy letters bring to people.

I love how the art is made out of paper cutouts. Perfect for the subject matter of the book! And what’s so neat at the end… it shows you how to make/fold your own little green envelope!

 

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12 CHALLENGE

12 months to feature 12 picture books…

This picture book review is part of a monthly challenge I’ve set for myself. Have a recommendation for me? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.  I may just feature your pick one of these months!

Review / Slugfest

Book: Slugfest (2024)
Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: ‎ Balzer + Bray
Genre: MG, Contemporary/Sports

Opening lines from the book …
Too bad Yash only has four letters. Having your name spelled out by a squad of cheerleaders feels pretty great—and it’s over practically before it starts. Mom and Dad should have named me Maximiliano or Demetrius.

What makes this book stand out …

Yash is a star football player who ends up in summer school PE class because he needs the credit to graduate into high school. And because of summer school, his spot as quarterback is in danger … because there’s a new QB in town! I don’t always like characters like Yash—and as you can see from the opening lines—he comes across as conceited. But he’s not really. Or at least, he quickly grows out of that. He’s a very likable character, and I was definitely rooting for him and his band of misfits. Love the “misfit” teacher, “Coach,” who loves to bake and doesn’t let a PE session go without some form of sweet treat (hence the big cake on the front cover).

Lots of classic Korman humor in this book. To give you a sense of this, the summer school “Physical Education Equivalency” is known as PEE. Yash calls it “Slugfest” and the story begins when he’s about to become their top slug!

 

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YOUR TURN…

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…

Peeking at a Solar Eclipse

It was pretty cloudy! But we got to peek at the sun from time to time. And at the moment of totality, it went dark. It wasn’t pitch-dark, but it was noticeably dark. (You can see it in the one photo.) That was pretty neat. The birds stopped singing because they thought it was nighttime. The streetlights came on!

It was the day #thesunwentdark …

#2024solareclipse #solareclipse

Space-Themed Books for a Solar Eclipse

It’s Solar Eclipse Day here. And I live in the Solar Eclipse band. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book ABOUT an eclipse, have you? Anyway, I’m shining the spotlight on some of my favorite celestial or space-themed middle-grade books.

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We Dream of Space (2020)
By Erin Entrada Kelly
Genre: MG, Historical

This book is about the Challenger disaster in the 1980s. It follows the story of three siblings as they navigate school and all the hype surrounding the shuttle launch (putting the first teacher into Space!). One of my favorite scenes (early on in the book) is when the teacher, Ms. Salonga, has the class imagine they are going through the steps of a shuttle launch; that they are the astronauts taking a last-minute simulation. Read my full review here.

Another good historical book (about the Moon landing): I Love You, Michael Collins

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Connect the Stars (2015)
By Marisa de los Santos & David Teague
Genre: MG, Survival

This is a wilderness survival book. And when you’re lost in the middle of nowhere, you use the stars! In the story, Audrey and Aaron have special abilities (superpowers, if you will). I love how these prove to be their downfall at the beginning of the story, and that they have to “learn” how to use them. And I love the juxtaposition of the “abilities” of the others in their group (Kate and Louis). While their abilities aren’t quite as spectacular, the four of them make a good team! This book also has a little mystery thrown in. Read my full review here.

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The Last Cuentista (2021)
Author: Donna Barba Higuera
Genre: MG, Sci-fi

You can’t have a list of Space-themed books without some sci-fi titles! And this book is such a wonderful mix of sci-fi and … folklore. (Not your typical mixture, that’s for sure.) Lita’s stories (that Petra later makes her own) filter through the futuristic spaceship and exploration setting. I love how Petra’s audience (the other children) are drawn to her cuentos (stories), especially the one boy Voxy who has never known life outside of the spaceship. Read my full review here.

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Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth
By Frank Cottrell Boyce
Genre: MG, Contemporary/Alien

Prez meets an alien/dog named Sputnik (he’s really an alien, but everybody thinks he’s a dog). Sputnik’s goal is to save Earth from annihilation. The plot connects realism with complete fantasy very well. There are some crazy, memorable moments, including the light sabre and Hadrian’s Wall (not in any way connected, by the way, but I won’t spoil it here). The space history buff in me got quite excited when Laika (the first dog in Space) came into the story. The best parts are Prez and the Grandad. I would definitely spend an afternoon with them, as long as they promised Sputnik wasn’t going to show up! Read my full review here.

Another good book by the same author (about a kid who goes into Space!): Cosmic

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YOUR TURN…

Have you read any of these books? Do you have other books about space that you love? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

And let me know if you saw the solar eclipse today!

I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…

Photo Challenge #3 / Just Right

“Crossing the Bridge” / Theme: Just Right

A little about this photo…

This is our local lighthouse, and I’ve taken countless shots of it. So, I’m always looking for a new angle. As we crested this footbridge, I found my opportunity. It was just right!

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THIS 2024 MONTHLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – This year is YEAR SEVEN of doing a photography challenge! (I began in 2018.) For more information about the list of prompts for this year, click on this link. And join me in posting your own photos on the last Saturday of each month with #2024picofthemonth

Review / Harriet Spies

Book: Harriet Spies (2023)
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Publisher: ‎ Walden Pond
Genre: Lower MG, Mystery
Sequel to: Just Harriet

Opening lines from the book …
If you’re not a people person, you probably wouldn’t like living at a bed-and-breakfast. (Even if you really like beds, and you really like breakfasts.) Lucky for me, I am a people person … most of the time. I think people are interesting.

What makes this book stand out …

This is another cute mystery for the younger MG audience. Harriet’s still living at her grandmother’s B&B. (Note: She arrives in the first book because her mom’s having a baby and is on bed rest.) This time, Harriet’s on a mission to find the Captain’s binoculars (the Captain is a regular guest at the B&B). Harriet’s got her suspects … including a family who’s on the island for a destination wedding.

Of course, Harriet has a little problem with always telling the truth which gets her into trouble. For this book, she teams up with a new friend, Clarence.

 

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YOUR TURN…

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…

Published! / Marvin’s Mix-Up

Meet Mix-Up Marvin! He comes to you in a brand new story published in Clubhouse Jr. magazine in the March 2024 issue. My story once again is the cover story! (Although it’s not actually Marvin on the cover. If you want to find out who it is, you’ll just have to wait for my newsletter to come out.)

GIVEAWAY … YAY! To celebrate Marvin’s debut, I’m hosting a giveaway. The winner gets to choose either a copy of the magazine (with Marvin’s story) or a manuscript critique (by moi).

To enter the giveaway, sign up here for my newsletter

Already signed up for the newsletter? The newsletter goes out later this week, and you will find a link in there.

And now for …

The Story Behind the Story

The idea for this story came out of Storystorm, a challenge for writers each January to help them come up with story ideas. I originally titled it “Get Better Soon.” I thought:

What if someone sent a get-well card by mistake to a person who wasn’t actually sick?

And that’s how Mix-up Marvin was born. I always pictured him as a forest creature, which is a little odd since I usually write stories with human protagonists. My original draft included a whole cast of animal neighbors. However, the editors at Clubhouse Jr. asked me to focus the story exclusively on Marvin and the tuba-playing neighbor.

 

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MARVIN’S MIX-UP was published in Clubhouse Jr. magazine in their March 2024 issue. Story by me, Maria Antonia. The wonderful art is by Andy Elkerton.

When you sign up for my newsletter, you will gain access to these free activity sheets. (The newsletter goes out later this week.)

AND when you sign up, you will automatically be put in the running to win my “Marvin” giveaway! (Your choice: A copy of the magazine mailed to your door OR a manuscript critique.)

 

Review / Super Puzzletastic Mysteries

Book: Super Puzzletastic Mysteries (2020)
Author: Chris Grabenstein, et al.
Publisher: ‎ HarperCollins
Genre: Lower MG, Mystery Short Stories

Opening lines from the book …
For me, a lot of the fun of reading mysteries comes from trying to solve the story’s puzzle before the characters in it do. I think this fun started Christmas when Santa brought me a book: Donald Sobol’s Two-Minutes Mysteries (Sobol was also the creator of Encyclopedia Brown).

There would be some sort of crime, the clue would be presented, and the story would end without a solution. I had to rack my ten-year-old brain and try to figure out the whodunit or what happened. (From the Introduction)

What makes this book stand out …

This is a collection of short stories from different MG mystery writers. There’s a Riley Mack story by Chris Grabenstein and a FunJungle story from Stuart Gibbs. Be prepared for perfect alibis, and 57 cats, surprises, and math puzzles. I think my favorite title is: The Case of the Mysterious Mystery Writer (by Tyler Whitesides). 

Each story has the solution at the back of the book. This book is perfect for the middle-grade reader who wants to dip a toe into the wonderful world of mysteries!

 

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YOUR TURN…

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…

PB Review + Interview / La Mala Suerte is Following Me

Book: La Mala Suerte is Following Me (2024)
Author: Ana Siqueira
Illustrator: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Genre: Picture Book

Opening Lines of the Book…
My life is perfecta.
Good grades at school.
Best goalie on the team.
Super lucky all the time.
Until …

MY THOUGHTS…

This is a fun book that deals with a boy and superstitions. Meet Miguel, the luckiest boy in town, and he can’t wait to play in the soccer tournament at the end of the week. But suddenly, he encounters all sorts of bad luck, personified by the La Mala Suerte (a black puddle/cloud) … He’s not sure what to believe … until he decides to try to make his own luck.

I love the additional notes usually found at the back of the book. And this one has a page that talks about various superstitions from around the world!

BONUS INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR…

Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A:  In my house, I am the positive one and my husband is the negative one. I noticed that my positive attitude towards life makes me also a go-getter. So, for example, you might get a pass from an editor and feel defeated. But I would allow this sad feeling to percolate for one day, after that… I’ll work on making this manuscript better. I’ll talk to my agent about resubmitting it. Let me join six critique groups so I can get help and help others.

My husband is a wonderful person and a fighter, but sometimes he lets this defeated feeling take over his life and dreams. And he used to have a Cuban saying (not Kidlit-appropriate) about the bad luck following him. Hahaha. So I guess we both inspired this book.

Q: What is your scene from the book? (without giving away spoilers) 
A: I love the way the illustrator Carlos Velez Aguillera drew La Mala Suerte.  And also, when Miguel tries his tia’s “existential” oils. But I can’t choose a favorite. I think this is a book filled with humor, both through words and art.

Q: Authors often put themselves into the story. Which character is most like YOU and why?
A: When I was a little girl I used to think the world was so unfair. My parents were unfair. My life was unfair. So the little me relates to the negative Miguel. But he’s also a go-getter. He let the bad luck feeling percolate for a few days, but then he decided to make his own luck. I relate to his new attitude toward life now that I discovered life can be unfair sometimes, but most of the time life is pretty great.

Q: Are you, or have you ever been, superstitious?
A: Not really. Even though, when I was little, the world was so unfair to me. Hahaha. I did imagine it was because I was born on July 13th. Spooky.

Q: What is your favorite superstition? (Or one you love to hate!)
A: I don’t have that many superstitions—only the ones created by ourselves. For example, if my soccer team wins while I am wearing a blue jersey, then I will try using it every time my team plays.

Q: What is your writing method?  How do you go about making up the stories?
A: Normally, when I get an idea, I open a doc for it. And there I write anything related to the idea. I also research and read many picture books with similar topics. While researching and reading, I keep writing ideas. And the ideas start to mix, match, swing, and swirl in my brain. Then I outline it- spread by spread. That way I know what will happen in each spread as a scene. For example, in spread 1, Miguel opens the umbrella and Abuela says now the bad luck will follow him.

Depending on the idea, the brain-marinating can take from days to months. As I’ve mentioned, the idea of bad luck following someone has been part of my ideas for a long time. It was a whole year’s process until I found out how I wanted to tell this story.

Then, of course, I share my story with my amazing critique partners and work on revising, choosing the right words, and adding humor and heart.

Q: What draws you to write for children?
A: I love children. I love being a teacher, a mother, and a grandmother. I also always loved creating stories, since I was a child. So what’s better than joining two of your passions: children + stories and creating stories that kids will enjoy and get inspired by?

Q: What is your favorite advice to give someone who wants to write or publish a book?
A: When things get tough, don’t assume that bad luck is following you or that you don’t have talent. This publishing world is tough. And you can’t control if an agent or publisher likes your story. But you can control your attitude. Keep on reading, learning, and writing.

Q: What upcoming projects are you most excited about right now?
A: I am excited about my other books coming out. In 2025 – If Your Abuelo is an Astronauta (Simon & Schuster), Sticky Hermana (Charlesbridge), Vera, la Valiente, is Scared (Beaming Books). And in 2026 – Mami’s Heart (HarperCollins) and two other ones to be announced (a PB and a chapter book).

My graphic novel Luka, the Superhero Inventor is on submission. And I hope to sell it because the story is funny and sweet, and my niece’s art is incredible.

Q: Where can people find out more about you and your books?
A: Check my website: https://anafiction.com/
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SraSiqueira1307
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

If you’re able to make the book launch for La Mala Suerte is Following Me, it’s on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 8 pm EST. I would love to see you there. Register here.

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12 CHALLENGE

12 months to feature 12 picture books…

This picture book review is part of a monthly challenge I’ve set for myself. Have a recommendation for me? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. I may just feature your pick one of these months!