A Special Book

Quite a few books for kids have been reviewed on this blog in the past and there will probably be many more in the future. Now here's some information about a book that means a lot to me.

In a few weeks my first middle-grade novel will be released. I don't want to give away too much information before it's actually published but couldn't resist sharing my excitement now and will tell you more closer to the publication date. I've been writing professionally for years, mostly articles in newspapers and other periodicals, but have always wanted to be the author of fiction books for children. At last my dream is about to come true.

Gregor the Overlander

     No, Suzanne Collins, the author of Gregor the Overlander, is not related to me (At least not as far as I know) so when I evaluate her book my opinion is unbiased. 

     The book is a good one.

    This sci-fi fantasy for middle grade kids is about an exciting and believable world, dark and scary enough to keep the pages turning. The characters, human and otherwise, are realistic and I cared what happened to them. I especially liked "Boots," the little sister who acted like many two-year-olds I've met but wasn't just there to be cute. Her behavior caused some important incidents in the plot. 

     Gregor the Overlander is the first in a series. Unlike some series books I've read, the plot comes to a satisfying conclusion but it still leaves possibilities open for future books. Kids who like excitement will probably enjoy reading it.

Way Down Deep

Ruth White's book, Way Down Deep, is charming historical fiction that took place in the mid-1940s. It's a bit slow starting and the sort-of-magic climax is a little difficult to believe, but otherwise the book is excellent. The heroine, Ruby, was found as a small child and raised by the woman who ran a boardinghouse in a cozy, small town. Ruby has a happy life, but there are clues that may help her find out who her parents were. The author does a magnificent job of showing the loving, safe community where Ruby lives, and the dangers of the things she discovers are very believable. It's a great read for girls who want to relax and travel to the world the way it ideally used to be.

Invisible Detective

I recently read several books in the Invisible Detective series by Justin Richards, and was amazed that I hadn't heard about them before. The stories take place partly in modern England and partly in the same locale near the beginning of WWII. Combining history, mystery, and a touch of fantasy with unique but believable characters and some scary settings, these exciting books are just the sort to appeal to kids. If I knew any reluctant readers, especially boys, I'd certainly recommend this series to them. Kids of either sex who like to read will probably enjoy them a lot too.

Another Oldie But Goodie

One advantage to staying home with a cold was the necessity of reading books from my own library since I couldn't go out to get other books and didn't have the energy to do much else but read. Last week I re-read Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. It had been my favorite book when I was about 13 years old and I had read and re-read it many times back then. It had just enough romance to appeal to a girl of that age while, at the same time, it was full of adventure and carried me into a new world, that of ancient Egypt.  To my surprise, last week I enjoyed re-reading it as much as I had as a kid. It's not exactly a classic, but certainly has all the qualities required to become one. The characters are interesting and believable, the setting is fascinating and real, and the plot is full of action and surprises. That book and a box of tissues were all I needed to turn a crummy day into a pretty good one.

The Green Glass Sea

Okay, here's yet another book review. I keep reading such interesting ones I can't resist sharing about them.

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages is about a young girl who goes to live at Los Alamos New Mexico where her father is working on developing the atomic bomb.

 Klages does a great job of making the time and setting seem realistic, but there's more to the book than that. It isn't just another historical fiction novel with a story that's sort of an excuse to teach about history. The believable  characters would have made entirely different choices and had different concerns if the setting were not the same. No wonder the book won the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction. 

Klages never mentions the problems Los Alamos families experienced because of the radiation, but perhaps she goes into that in the sequel.