MMGM - Keeper of the Lost Cities

It has been quite a while since I have posted but I thought it was only fair that I pop in for MMGM with a short review on Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger! While I have not read the book myself, both my kids (ages 11 and 9) have read and LOVED it. My son read it in two and a half days (during the school week) and my daughter read for about three hours each day until she was done. To say they are excited for October and the release of the next book in this series is an understatement. They want it NOW!

Book Description - Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. And Sophie has a secret—she’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and almost instantly she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

     

But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.

In my daughter's words - This book is about Sophie Foster, a 12-year-old girl who discovers she is an elf from another world. She also finds out she is a special elf. I liked Sophie because she risks her neck to save her family. Another character I liked was Fitz. He is the elf who finds Sophie on Earth and helps Sophie multiple times. I also liked Keefe who is another friend to Sophie. Keefe was daring and ditched school when he could.

I liked this book because it has danger and it’s another thing to keep me away from my chores. I had to read for hours so the book could answer my questions. I loved it so much that I read three hours a day. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes adventure and danger.

I can’t wait until the next book comes out in October. I’m going to download it on my Nook.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM) was created by Shannon Messenger. To find other bloggers participating in MMGM go to her blog for a list of links.

Wordless Wednesday: My Big Helper

MMGM: Ungifted and Pickle

Is is still Monday? Gosh, I hope not. How did your first Monday of the New Year go? Mine started with discovering the 5th grader forgot about some homework over the weekend, couldn't find a protractor for him to finish it, telling me he hates me b/c I took his iPOD away for the day, him slipping on ice in the driveway so he had to change clothes and then missing the bus at his home school and having to drive him to his actual school. The day improved slightly when my friend came over and we exchanged holiday gifts, but then reverted when my 2-year-old screamed his head off because he doesn't understand the concept of sharing with his little friend. He is fine at public places and other kids' houses, but apparently HIS toys are sacred. Anyway, onto the books!

If I had gotten this done yesterday then I was going to call it Wonderful Middle Grade Wednesday but it just didn't have the same ring as MMGM. And I'm drawing a blank for a "marvelous" word that starts with a T. So even though it is Thursday, here is my MMGM.

Since starting to read and participate in MMGM posts I have to admit, a lot of the books I read are recommendations from other MMGMers (just finished Liar and Spy) and sometimes I feel like I am just talking about what has already been talked about. So I chose two books for today. Ungifted by Gordon Korman, which I think I first heard about on Joanne Fritz's blog and Pickle by Kim Baker, which I don't think I have seen on MMGM and is written by the Co-Regional Advisor of the Western WA SCBWI.

Book Description from Amazon - The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix up by one of the administrators, instead of getting into trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students.

It wasn't exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn't be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harder and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed.

Book Description from Amazon -

 

This is the story of the LEAGUE OF PICKLEMAKERS.

 

Ben: who began it all by sneaking in one night and filling his homeroom with ball pit balls.

 

Frank: who figured out that an official club, say a pickle-making club, could receive funding from the PTA.

Oliver: who once convinced half the class that his real parents had found him and he was going to live in a submarine.

Bean: who wasn't exactly invited, but her parents own a costume shop, which comes in handy if you want to dress up like a giant squirrel and try to scare people at the zoo.

TOGETHER they are an unstoppable prank-pulling force, and Fountain Point Middle School will never be the same.


Why they are Marvelous: Both of these books have a humorous slant to them which I enjoy. But what I think is key to middle grade literature are the ups and downs and bonds of friendship. In both of these stories the main character has trouble with his best friend/s as the events in his life start a series of changes. Will their friendships be able to endure these changes and come out stronger in the end, or will their differences become too much for them to handle? I thought both authors dealt with this aspect of the story well and that is what I remembered most from each book.

Happy Monday... I mean Thursday!

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM) was created by Shannon Messenger. To find other bloggers participating in MMGM go to her blog for a list of links.

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(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday: Finished!

I finished the hat I posted and in-progress picture of last week and decided it fit my daughter better! If only writing went so quickly. LOL!







Just Deleted Over 300 (unread) E-mails!

What a fun way to spend two hours of my evening. The sad thing is I still have 390 (unread) e-mails waiting for me to figure out what to do with them. There was one with the subject line "You have a new bill from ______ Credit Card" dating back to October 2011. Hopefully that was paid otherwise we will have a big surprise interest payment coming up. LOL! So much junk mail from so many on-line companies... obviously there was a big jump in these since the middle of November. As much as I hate having them clog up my inbox I do appreciate grabbing a coupon here or there or being "reminded" that I "need" to buy something.

How do you tackle the never-ending stream of e-mails? If you have a tip (besides using the delete button more often) please leave it in the comments.

And so, there is no MMGM today, again.

But I am reading Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker and have enjoyed it so far. She is the Co-Coordinator for the Western WA region of the SCBWI and I enjoyed her fun sense-of-humor as she announced things at the conference this past April. Cool to be reading a debt from a local author!

Daughter (8 years old) is still loving the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. We went to the used bookstore yesterday and her picks were The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (which I read to her earlier this year but she wanted her own copy), A Little Princess also by Frances Hodgson Burnett (which I have a feeling I will be reading to her as well in the near future!) Little Men by Louisa May Alcott (because Little Women wasn't available) and Matilda by Ronald Dahl (which she scanned through and pointed out the word "ass" to me and then wanted to know why people use bad words. Uhhh...)

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM) was created by Shannon Messenger. To find other bloggers participating in MMGM go to her blog for a list of links.

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday - Progress

Progress. Not in the writing sence, but in the wise words of my friend Amy "at least you are creating something." And soon my head will be nice and cozy!

Baby Faces Blogfest

This blogfest is hosted by Trisha. Go visit her blog for all the details... there is still time to join in the fun!

What are the requirements?

1. Between December 2nd and 3rd, post a pic of yourself as a baby, and/or;

2. Tell us a story about when you were a baby (no doubt you can't quite remember it yourself, but you've probably heard some stories from other members of your family).

How could I not join in this blogfest after finding this beauty of a picture! Baby Julie at seven months old. Unfortunately I don't have any fun stories to share at this time; I'll have to hit up my mom for a few when she is here next.

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