The first round of our October First Five Pages Workshop is up. You can find the five entries directly below this post. Our mentor this month is the wonderful P.J. Hoover, who writes both middle grade and young adult. Please give her a warm welcome, and please join in and comment on the entries. Tell us how you like them, what you like, what could stand improvement, and whether you would keep reading if this was a book you picked up at the bookstore or in your library.
As a very special treat, we have great twelve middle grade books to give away today. Just scroll down to see the rules and the book blurbs and covers.
Happy reading!
Martina and Lisa
ABOUT P.J. Hoover
P. J. Hoover
first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book
Mythology by Edith Hamilton.
After a fifteen year bout as an
electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take
her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. When not
writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing
kung fu, solving Rubik’s cubes, and watching Star Trek.
For
more information about P. J. (Tricia) Hoover, please visit her website www.pjhoover.com. P. J. is also
a member of THE TEXAS
SWEETHEARTS AND SCOUNDRELS and THE ENCHANTED
INKPOT.
Her first novel for teens, Solstice, takes place in a
global warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our
own and will be published by Tor Children’s in June 2013.
Her next
middle grade novel, Tut, which tells the story of a young immortal King
Tut, who’s been stuck in middle school for over 3,000 years and must defeat an
ancient enemy with the help of a dorky kid from school, a mysterious Egyptian
princess, and a one-eyed cat, will be published by Tor Children’s in Winter
2014.
Her published middle grade fantasy novels, The Emerald
Tablet, The Navel of the World, and The Necropolis, chronicle
the adventures of a boy who discovers he’s part of two feuding worlds hidden
beneath the sea.
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SPECIAL MIDDELGRADE GIVEAWAY
Thanks to the generosity of the wonderful folks at Random House, we have a great bunch of middle grade books to giveaway today. I’m going to go ahead and split them up into prize packs. Prize Pack 1 will go to the person, other than workshop participants, who offers the most comments on this weeks First Five Pages Workshop entries. (U.S. and Canadian entries only, please!) The remaining two prize packs will be selected at random from anyone who completes the form at the bottom of this post.)
PRIZE PACK ONE
Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
It’s picture day at Thompson Brook, but the students are plagued by a freak acne epidemic. While the Breakfast Bunch scrambles to put their best faces forward, their hifalutin photographer raises Lunch Lady’s eyebrows. She suspects the photographer may have an underhanded plan to break into the world of high fashion that puts the students in danger! Will Lunch Lady be able to storm the runway and stop the vogue rogue without blowing her cover?
Order Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril on Amazon
View Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril on Goodreads
The City of Ember – The Graphic Novel
by Jeanne DuPrau and Dallas Middaugh
In the spring 2003, kids, parents, teachers, librarians—whole communities—discovered and fell in love with Jeanne DuPrau’s story about a doomed city, and the two children who found a way out. Nearly 10 years later, that story, The City of Ember, is a bona fide classic, with over 1.7 million copies sold. Now experience Jeanne DuPrau’s vision anew as artist Niklas Asker faithfully brings to life the glare of the lamps, the dinginess of the streets, and the brilliance of the first sunrise.
Order The City of Ember – The Graphic Novel on Amazon
View The City of Ember – The Graphic Novel on Goodreads
Squish! #4 – Captain Disaster
by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
It’s soccer season! But the Waterfleas (hey, it could be worse–Okay, maybe it couldn’t) are getting pummelled game after game. Squish knows winning isn’t everything, but it’s something right? Can Squish turn the losing streak around when he becomes team captain? Will Pod figure out how to harness the power of lightning? And how can amoebas play soccer when they don’t have any feet? Find out in the fourth electrifyingly hilarious, action packed Squish graphic novel adventure: Captain Disaster! Just right for fans of Babymouse, Lunch Lady, Sidekicks, and Captain Underpants.
Order Squish! #4 – Captain Disaster on Amazon
View Squish! #4 – Captain Disaster on Goodreads
Joshua Dread
by Lee Bacon
When your parents are supervillains, it’s hard to have a normal life. Joshua Dread tries to keep a low profile. Not even his best friend, Milton, knows his secret. Luckily Joshua’s not on anyone’s radar–not like Sophie, a new girl with a mysterious past who’s got everyone talking. But weird stuff is happening. Pencils explode in his hand. He leaves scorched butt marks on the carpet. And he can send bullies crashing into lockers. Turns out Joshua has a superpower. But he doesn’t have to use it for evil, right? His parents give him a book to explain things… but nothing can prepare him for when smoke creatures start kidnapping bad guys. Is Joshua’s family next?
“Joshua Dread is funny, action-packed, and a total page-turner. You’ll want to read to the bitter end–unless Joshua’s parents destroy the world first. Which is a distinct possibility.”–Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark & Grimm
“Villainy! Mayhem! Family! From supervillains to killer houseplants, Joshua Dread has it all. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t dare, not until I’d devoured every last page!” -C. Alexander London, author of the Accidental Adventure series
View Joshua Dread on Goodreads
PRIZE PACK TWO
Melonhead and the Vegalicious Disaster
by Katy Kelly
It’s not fair! Not only is Melonhead’s new fifth-grade teacher notoriously strict and mean, his mother is making him eat more and more vegetables. So Melonhead and his pals come up with a genius idea to get out of eating his mom’s vegalicious meals, all the while convincing her that they actually love them. But the genius idea leads to totally unexpected and stinky results!
Order Melonhead and the Vegalicious Disaster on Amazon
View Melonhead and the Vegalicious Disaster on Goodreads
Pie in the Sky
by Jane Smiley
Abby Lovitt doesn’t realize how unprepared she is when she takes her beloved horse, True Blue, to a clinic led by the most famous equestrian anyone knows. The biggest surprise, though, is that Sophia, the girl who never makes a mistake, suddenly makes so many that she stops riding. Who will ride her horse? Abby’s dad seems to think it will be Abby. Pie in the Sky is the most expensive horse Abby has ever ridden. But he is proud and irritable, and he takes Abby’s attention away from the continuing mystery that is True Blue.
And then there’s high school—Abby finds new friends, but also new challenges, and a larger world that sometimes seems strange and intimidating. She begins to wonder if there is another way to look at horses, people, and life itself.
Accompanied by the beautiful imagery of 1960s Northern California, Abby’s charming mix of innocence and wisdom guide us through Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley’s latest middle-grade horse novel.
Order Pie in the Sky on Amazon
View Pie in the Sky on Goodreads
One Year in Coal Harbor
by Polly Horvath
Readers rejoice–Primrose Squarp is back! The wise and curious heroine of the Newbery Honor Book Everything on a Waffle is facing another adventure-filled year in Coal Harbor. Even though her parents, once lost at sea, are home, there’s a whole slew of problems and mysteries to keep Primrose–and eager fans–busy. There’s Uncle Jack and Kate Bowzer, who may (or may not) be in love. There’s Ked, a foster child who becomes Primrose’s friend. And there’s the new development on the outskirts of town that threatens the Coal Harbor Primrose knows and treasures. Prolific and brilliant Horvath has delivered a masterful sequel to a beloved novel, sure to please old fans and gain new ones.
Order One Year in Coal Harbor on Amazon
View One Year in Coal Harbor on Goodreads
Calvin Coconut – Rocket Ride
by Graham Salisbury
Calvin’s dad is a famous pop singer, and he’s going to be in a concert on the island! Everyone wants to go. Dad gave Calvin’s mom 10 tickets, and Calvin has to decide who gets the last ticket: teacher’s pet Shayla, who has a crush on him (ick!) or Tito the bully? But much more important: Calvin hasn’t seen his dad in four years. And he’s never met Dad’s new wife. Will Dad still like Calvin now?
Order Calvin Coconut – Rocket Ride on Amazon
View Calvin Coconut – Rocket Ride on Goodreads
PRIZE PACK THREE
Phoenix
by Jeff Stone
It is 350 years after the events of The Five Ancestors. Phoenix Collns lives in Indiana with his grandfather who is teaching him kung fu. But Phoenix’s real love is mountain bike racing. When unsettling events reveal that his grandfather is not only one of the legendary five Cangzhen monks, but also almost 400 years old, Phoenix must race the clock if he is going to keep his beloved ancestor alive. Traveling to China, he meets an intriguing young woman who is a talented biker and a terrific mechanic. She offers to help him, but can she be trusted?
Outcasts United
by Warren St. John
This young people’s version of the adult bestseller, Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference, is a complex and inspirational story about the Fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach, Luma Mufleh. Clarkston, Georgia, was a typical southern town until it became a refugee resettlement center. The author explores how the community changed with the influx of refugees and how the dedication of Lumah Mufleh and the entire Fugees soccer team inspired an entire community.
Order Outcasts United on Amazon
View Outcasts United on Goodreads
Dragon of Seas (Century #4)
by P.D. Baccalario
In the fourth installment of the Century Quartet, Italian author P. D. Baccalario concludes the mystery that took four cities and four extraordinary kids to solve.
SHANGHAI, SEPTEMBER 19.
As the equinox approaches, Sheng, Elettra, Harvey, and Mistral know they must come together one last time. Armed with only a map and a top that seem to be broken, a collection of old coins, and a tile with four knives painted on it, the four kids meet in Shanghai to try to make sense of clues that their predecessors couldn’t decipher. Meanwhile Sheng is haunted by a dream and by visions of a young boy who seems to understand their quest. The visions send the kids all over Shanghai, through abandoned water ducts and ancient tea houses, in search of the Pearl of the Sea Dragon, an ancient stone that they’re sure is the last piece of the puzzle. But a germophobic supercriminal who never leaves his sterile Shanghai skyscraper will do anything to learn their secrets. . . .
Fans of Blue Balliet, Trenton Lee Stewart, and Michael Scott will be drawn to this Da Vinci Code-like adventure for kids.
Order Dragon of Seas (Century #4) on Amazon
View Dragon of Seas (Century #4) on Goodreads
Super
by Matthew Cody
Daniel Corrigan is as regular as can be, especially when compared to the Supers: kids in his new hometown with actual powers like flight and super strength. But Daniel’s not powerless. Only he was able to stop the Shroud, a supervillian bent on stealing his newfound friends’ powers. And thanks to him, his friends got to keep those powers.
Now Daniel himself is starting to display powers, while at the same time, his friends are losing theirs. His friend Eric thinks Daniel is just becoming a Super himself, a late-blooming one. But Daniel worries there may be something more sinister at work, since his power-stealing ability is uncomfortably like the Shroud’s. Of course, the Shroud is gone now . . . or is he? And could Daniel himself be his new vessel?
