Book Review: HARMONIC FEEDBACK, by Tara Kelly

I don't normally post book reviews. I don't have a degree in literature or journalism, and I usually don't dissect what I read. There's a list of "Books I've Read in 2010" on the sidebar of my blog. If a book is listed, I finished it. If I finished it, I liked it.  I read for interest, escape, or pleasure. Period.

When I ordered Harmonic Feedback, I didn't read the synopsis. Instead, I read the praise from Stephanie Keuhnert, "An impossible-to-put-down, must-read book. Brilliantly written and filled with music, but even more so with emotional truth." And I read the short bio: "Tara Kelly is a one-girl band, writer, filmmaker, video editor, and digital photographer. Harmonic Feedback is her first published book."

I liked that Tara had multiple creative outlets, and I do my best to support debut authors, especially those who frequent VerlaKay's Blueboards. So I purchased the book and began to read. I made it half-way through the first chapter and set it down. The main character had Asperger's Syndrome. I don't read about AS. I live with it, and it's been beyond difficult. Did I mention I read to escape?

I carried Tara's book in my purse for three weeks before pulling it out again. When I did, it was because I was stuck someplace with nothing to do, not because I made a conscious decision to finish the book.  I began reading, read for two hours, came home, and continued reading into the night until it was finished. It was beautiful, it was heartbreaking, and it wasn't about AS. It was about yearning to belong, the pain and joy of relationships with family and friends, and first love. It was Drea trying to understand the gray areas of life when her world was black and white.

Tara Kelly is an incredible talent who writes with an authentic voice. Harmonic Feedback IS brilliantly written and emotionally true. I highly recommend it, and I hope she publishes again soon.

Congratulations, Tara, on a fabulous debut!

Antagonistic Synopsis!

My synopsis is out to get me.

Chautauqua has given me an assignment: Write a one page synopsis to send with the first 2500 words of my novel. Due June 1st. Okay, I can do this. I know what my novel is about. I've written the premise and turned it into a logline. I've prepared a picture file to help me visualize my settings. I've done character studies and I know my protagonist well. I've written the first six chapters. I thought it was all very clear in my head... until I tried to put it down as a synopsis. That's when I realized there were major issues.

First, my ending is fuzzy. How can I write my story if I don't know where I'm going? Second, I discovered I didn't know my antagonist. So I pulled out the big guns - Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, by Donald Maass.

I don't know if you've ever used this workbook, but it's a fabulous tool. Hard to do, but that's because he makes you dig deep to get to know your characters, their motivations, and plot development. He makes you think about your darlings thoroughly, and the results are well-rounded, believable characters that (hopefully) your readers will love, and a plot that satisfies. Did I mention this was hard?

I spent over two hours this afternoon with my antagonist -getting to know her, defining her desires and goals, working on the world of my novel and how she wants to change it. It was liberating! The ending fell into place - the last piece of the puzzle. I hope, anyway. I've listed the major plot points, and I'm confident I can write the synopsis. Now, if I can only get it down to one page...

ALA Awards announced this Morning

FYI: ALA Awards were announced this morning. Here's the link: ALA AWARDS

Congrats to all the winners!

Speak

I just finished reading SPEAK, by Laurie Halse Anderson.

One word: FABULOUS!

Finally... Gymnastics, Resolutions, and Good Reads

Gymnastics competitions are finished! My weekends are mine again. My daughter and I have been in a different city every other week for the last couple of months. This past week, we were in Columbus, Ohio, for The Champion's Cup. Over 2000 girls competed in levels 3-10. Daughter and I watched the level 10s compete Saturday night. Wow! I was amazed at what they could do, but with spectacular tumbling comes spectacular crashes. My goodness! I thought one gymnast had broken her nose. She under-rotated a final back flip in a tumbling run and landed on her face - hard enough that her head bounced up from the mat. She stood right up, finished the routine, saluted the judges, and walked with her head held high to the sidelines. Never lost her game face. Impressive! Another gymnast finished her vault, walked to the sidelines, held up her foot and mouthed to her mother, "I broke my toe." She then proceeded to do her floor routine. Soccer is starting to look pretty good...

I've broken my first New Year's Resolution - to write six days a week, no excuses. It didn't quite work out this past week. I tried to write in the hotel Friday night. My daughter was in the bed and I was in a (comfy) chair with my laptop. The next thing I knew, it was 2:30 a.m. I'd fallen asleep writing. I managed a whole paragraph before nodding off. I'm back on the wagon this week.

I just finished reading The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. What a good read! I'd had it on my list for awhile, but when it won the Newbery, I moved it to the front of the line. Definitely one I recommend!

I'm getting ready to teach a Medieval unit in my TAG class. I've chosen four books: Adam of the Road, by Elizabeth Janet Gray; Catherine Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman; The Midwife's Apprentice, by Karen Cushman; Good Master! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village, by Laura Amy Schlitz. I plan on putting students into different novel groups. I've had a blast teaching this in the past. Students build models of a village, an abby, and a castle - depending on their group assignment. They research weaponry, knights, games, etc., and we end it all with a medieval faire and feast. We invite the 4th, 5th and 6th grades to our faire, which is held in the gym. The feast is just for us. I've served turkey legs (KFC chicken legs), wine (grape juice), cheese, crusty bread, and fruit. The novel unit will last through mid-April. The research, model building, and preparations for the faire will be in May - after state testing. It's a great way to end the year!

Okay... I must write. I'm back on the wagon, after all.

Booklist 2008

There's never enough time in the day to read as much as I would like. Work, children, home and church keep me quite busy. I tend to marathon read in scheduled spurts - spring break, summer, Christmas holidays, but I always have a book in my bag. These are the books I managed to squeeze in this past year:

2008
Babbit, Natalie, Tuck Everlasting
Bell, James Scott, Plot and Structure
Bray, Libba, A Great and Terrible Beauty
Bray, Libba, Rebel Angels
Bray, Libba, A Sweet Far Thing
Bunce, Elizabeth C., A Curse Dark as Gold
Collins, Suzanne, The Hunger Games
Collins, Suzanne, Gregor the Overlander
Collins, Suzanne, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Collins, Suzanne, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Collins, Suzanne, Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Donnelly, Jennifer, A Northern Light
Gaiman, Neil, Coraline
Gordon, Roderick; Williams, Brian, Tunnels
Haddix, Margaret Peterson, FOUND
Juster, Norton, The Phantom Tollbooth
Le Guin, Ursula K., A Wizard of Earthsea
Lord, Cynthia, RULES
Maar, Melissa, Wicked Lovely
Maar, Melissa, Ink Exchange
Maas, Donald, Writing the Breakout Novel
McMann, Lisa, WAKE
Meyer, Stephanie, Breaking Dawn
Meyer, Stephanie, The Host
Mull, Brandon, Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague
Prineas, Sarah, The Magic Thief
Riordan, Rick, The Battle of the Labyrinth
Shan, Darren, Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare...
Schmidt, Gary, Wednesday Wars
Weisner, Karen, First Draft in 30 Days
Williams Chima, Cinda, The Dragon Heir

I usually find an author I like and devour everything they've written. If I really like them I reread them immediately. Many of the books on this list have already been read twice - A Curse Dark as Gold, The Phantom Tollbooth, Melissa Marr's books, Rick Riordan and Brandon Mull's books. Cinda Williams Chima's Warrior Heir series is fabulous. I read all but one of the Suzanne Collins' Underland series in the last two weeks. I'm anxiously waiting for the last book to come. I've got it on order. It should be here today or tomorrow!

Any recommendations? I'm always looking for a good book!

Odds-n-Ends

The Christmas rush is over (for me at least), and I now have no excuse for not keeping up with my blog. The Christmas Cantata I directed is over. They did great! The holiday break at school has begun - whew. My Christmas shopping is complete, except for my husband's gift. I know what I'm getting him though, and that's half the battle. So now I get to relax, get caught up on housework, read, finish my WIP, and enjoy my family and friends (not necessarily in that order).

I did finish reading a few books since my last post. I read CORALINE, by Neil Gaiman. I enjoyed it very much, although it was rather creepy. CORALINE is coming out soon as a movie. The film's website is a blast. You can check it out here. Neil has been blogging about CORALINE in his journal.. It's quite interesting and worth the visit.

I also read FOUND, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the author of the Shadow Children series. The School library Journal blog sums it up best... "Thirteen years ago an airline attendant saw something impossible. When the plane appeared on the tarmac it somehow appeared without anyone realizing it had landed. Stranger still, it contained no pilot, no crew, no adults at all. Just thirty-six babies strapped in their seats. Fast forward to present day when new friends Jonah and Chip check the former’s mailbox. There, resting inside is an unsigned note that simply reads, “You are one of the missing.” A cruel prank? It certainly seems that way until Chip gets the same letter. Then they both get a follow-up that reads “Beware! They’re coming back to get you.” They? They who? There doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to the notes until Chip discovers that he and Jonah have something in common. They were both adopted. And with the help of Jonah’s sister Katherine there’s more to discover. Why does an FBI agent have information about the boys’ birth parents? Why did Katherine see a man appear and disappear in an office one day? Who’s been sneaking around Jonah’s room, looking through his things? And what’s the real story behind that plane? The answers lead the kids to discover their connection to seemingly impossible events." My thoughts? It's a really great read!

And last but not least, Brenda informed me she has tagged me for the Honest Scrap Award (Thanks, Brenda!).
"Scrap means left over, fragments, discarded material. Many times truth and honesty are discarded material, considered fragments and left over. People like us need to tell it like it is, and let the scraps fall where they will. There are 2 guidelines for receiving this award. One, you are to list 10 honest things about yourself. Make them interesting, even if you have to dig deep. Two, present the award to 7 other bloggers."

So here goes:

1. I started writing my novel on a dare from a group of 10, 11 and 12-year-old students. Their point? They said they have to show me their writing so I should have to show them mine. I discovered I really like to write for an audience.

2. I have less than 5 pages to go and the first draft of my first novel will be complete. I'm not sure I want to finish it. What happens if it sells? Can I keep up with the responsibilities? And if it doesn't sell? The disappointment could be huge.

3. I'm pretty blunt sometimes. I don't mean to be. I just am.

4. I have a healthy dose of the bossy gene. It runs heavily on the Taylor side of my family!

5. I work with gifted kids and love it!

6. When I went to college after high school I couldn't decide between graphic design, music or dance. I chose music performance and was doing quite well, but when my son was born I decided I needed to be home - not traveling. It was a good choice.

7. I still think about taking art classes. Maybe Santa will sign me up for one?

8. I usually keep a private stash of chocolate, and I don't share.

9. I hate having my picture taken - even for the school yearbook.

10. I would live in sweats and tennis shoes if the world would let me. Appearance is overrated. Let comfort reign!

CJ, Angie, Chocolateer, Kim, Linda

The Magic Thief: Book Review

Lately, my pleasure reading time has been somewhat sparse. So when I picked up The Magic Thief, by Sarah Prineas, the plan was to have it read by Thanksgiving. I read the first chapter and was hooked. My to-do list was no longer important. Chores, schoolwork, family (sorry guys); everything took a back seat to a fabulous tale!

The story takes place in Wellmet, a city-state that runs on a dwindling supply of magic. Conn, a lock-pick and thief who lives in the dangerous streets of Twilight, should have died when he picked a locus magicalicus stone from the pocket of the wizard, Nevery Flinglas. Surprised that Conn lived; Nevery takes him on at first as a servant, and then as a wizard’s apprentice - if Conn can find a locus magicalicus of his own. But between wizarding lessons held at the Academicos and helping Nevery solve the mystery of Wellmet’s disappearing magic, there isn’t much time to find his stone. Conn must convince Nevery that a fellow wizard is consorting with the city’s cruel Underlord before the magic completely fades away, and the city dies.

Sarah Prineas’ characters jumped off the page and into my heart. Conn is a quiet observer. He’s intelligent and honorable. His voice rings true, and I was sympathetic to him from the beginning. My favorite secondary character is Benet – a hired thug and bodyguard who likes to knit and cooks a good biscuit.

The Magic Thief is the first in a planned trilogy. I am already impatiently awaiting the second book!

Publisher: HarperCollins 6/2008

Nano update: 7704 words

RULES: Book Review

RULES, by Cynthia Lord, is a book about the impact of living with a child with disabilities. It's told from the perspective of 12-year-old Catherine, a budding artist who just wants a "normal" life. Her brother, David, has autism, and family life centers around his needs. David's behaviors embarrass Catherine and make it difficult for her to fit in. She teaches him "rules" in hopes that one day life can be normal. Rules such as,"Keep your pants on in public," and "It's fine to hug Mom, but not the clerk at the video store." When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes they will be come friends, but she worries that David's behaviors will drive Kristi away. One day while accompanying David on his occupational therapy visit, Catherine meets Jason. Jason is wheelchair bound and unable to speak. Through Catherine's art and Jason's communication board, they develop a friendship. Catherine's conflicting feelings of what is right and wanting to fit in result in shocking behavior on her part. She is left to consider, "What is normal?" 

It isn't often I choose to read books that tackle the topic of disabilities. My reading tends to be somewhat escapist. Borders Bookstore was handing out complimentary teacher's editions of a book with a rubber duck on the cover. I took it, along with posters, pencils, and bookmarks because it was free. I was not prepared for how deeply this book would dig into my heart. As a mother of a (grown) child with a disability, it was not always an easy read for me emotionally. Cynthia Lord realistically describes the emotional stress and relational eggshells family members of those with disabilities sometimes walk upon. 

I highly recommend this book. It's good, authentic storytelling with believable characters.  

Kudos to Cynthia Lord!

Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature

Are you ready for something new to read but don't know what to pick? Maybe you're interested in a fiction novel aimed at ages 10-12, set in China, that features a male protagonist.  Or maybe you prefer a YA fantasy and want a female protagonist. The Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature (DAWCL) can help you find that perfect book.

Lisa Bartle, a reference librarian at California State University in San Bernardino, came up with the idea for DAWCL while attending UCLA. Her website states, "The purpose of this database is to create a tailored reading list of quality children's literature or to find out if a book has won one of the indexed awards." 

DAWCL has over 7,000 records from 79 awards across six English-speaking countries (United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Ireland). 

To find a book click "Search DAWCL" at the top of the page. A menu to help narrow your search will appear with the choices: Age of Reader, Setting, Historical Period, Ethnicity/Nationality of Protagonist or Tale, Language, Keyword or phrase, Awards, Format, Genre, Multicultural, Gender of Protagonist, Publication Year, and Author/Illustrator/Translator. 

Once you've made your choices, click on "Search," and wait for your list to appear!  

Happy Reading!

Bartle, Lisa R. The Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature.   <http://www.dawcl.com>. 
          20 Apr. 2002. (08 May 2008).

The Hunger Games: Book Review

Suzanne Collins, author of The Underland Chronicles, has a new book on the market. The Hunger Games tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old girl who lives in the 12^th district of Panem, the remains of what used to be known as North America. Life is difficult in District 12. Katniss spends her days hunting illegally in the forest to bring food and supplies home to her mother and younger sister, Prim. Long ago the districts rose up against the Capitol and were defeated. As a reminder to the districts that the Capitol is in control, they must now participate in a nationally televised competition called “The Hunger Games.” The tributes (contestants) are chosen by lottery – one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district. The games are a fight to the death. The last contestant breathing wins. When 12-year old Prim’s name is called as a tribute, Katniss immediately volunteers to take her sister’s place.

Mix The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, Survivor, and the Roman gladiatorial games in a bowl and season liberally with political and romantic tension. The result is a riveting read that is difficult to put down. The Hunger Games is at times harsh and violent, occasionally funny, and always intriguing. It is the first book of what promises to be a fantastic trilogy.