Heart, Humor, and (Sometimes) Boogers

Anita Laydon Miller has a new blog, all about middle grade books. I like this for several reasons. Here they are in no particular order (and definitely not alphabetical order, because I forgot how to do that). 

Reasons I like Anita Laydon Miller's New Middle Grade Blog:

• It's all about middle grade.
• The original title.
• YA paranormal romance will not be discussed.
• Twilight will not be discussed.
• The absence of vampires, werewolves, and zombified classics.
• Heart.
• Humor.
• Harry Potter will be discussed and referenced more than once. I'm no diviner, but I have a feeling.
• Heroes.
• Holding hands and feeling tingly about it.
• Boogers (sometimes).

So there you have it. Those are the reasons I like Anita Laydon Miller's New Middle Grade Blog. 

Have you clicked a link yet?

Speaking of tingly, spring break starts in less than 24 hours.

Freedom!

Green Pinchers

• it's raining... again.
• spring break needs to get here fast.
• my classes are researching birds, my favorite being the golden eagle.
• I miss getting pinched on St. Patrick's Day.
• two ideas for next novel.
• idea #2 is winning.
• it's still raining.
• I'm cold. Not cold-blooded, but just cold.
• would someone turn on the heat?
• so many books to read, so little time.
• in my next life, I want to be Percy Jackson.
• if you haven't read The Fourth Stall, you should.
• stranded on an island. One book. The Phantom Tollbooth. No question. It's not even close. That book would keep me entertained until I withered away from lack of... internet connection.
• guess what... the sun is out... but it's still raining... 

Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool

Having never heard of this book before it won the Newbery Award, I walked into Manifest a little more skeptical than most years. It's historical fiction. It's set in 1936. And a girl arrives in Manifest, Kansas, to uncover her father's past. I knew there had to be more to the book than that. And there is. 

The story opens as a pretty straightforward first person narrative, but soon things change. Abilene Tucker (the girl) finds a cigar box full of notes and knick knacks. She also happens by a diviner, who begins weaving stories about the notes and items in the cigar box. Abilene takes great interest in Miss Sadie's stories, which, unbeknownst to Abilene, reveal more than meets the ear.

While historical fiction can be as dry as the dirt in Kansas, this book is a finely woven tapestry, with layers of subtle mystery and historical accuracies.

In the end, Abilene uncovers a story within her own story, and it all ties together to form a cohesive narrative full of mischievous characters and a missing piece from Abilene's life.

I hope kids can find the value in Abilene's story while appreciating the intricate storytelling abilities of Ms. Vanderpool.

**Highly recommended**