MMGM: Dance Into the Holidays with Nutcracked by Susan Adrian

One highlight of Christmastime as a child was dancing in my local Nutcracker. Although our tree grew with green tinsel attached to the ceiling, it was magical to dress up as a snowflake and play a part in a beautiful story. 

Me (second from right) as a snowflake in The Nutcracker. Photo by Bill Wheeler

Although it’s been a while since I’ve put on ballet slippers, which is a good thing for all involved, I still love The Nutcracker. I’ve attended  productions in Portland, Seattle, and Odessa while I was studying in the Crimea. One year, my sons were kind enough to accompany to a performance. Although they were sure they wouldn’t like it, they liked the part when the snowflakes (not the dancers, but the fake snow) fell on stage.

So I was super excited to find a middle grade that not only was about a dancer in the Nutcracker but had magical realism elements!

Synopsis: 

Georgie has waited for this moment her whole life—to dance the part of Clara in The Nutcracker ballet. And when she finally gets the part, it's like a dream come true. . . Literally.

Every time Georgie dances with the Nutcracker doll, she leaves the ballet studio and enters a world where everything around her-the old wooden furniture, the Christmas tree, the carefully wrapped presents-is larger than life. It's so magical, Georgie can't wait to return again and again.

Then the Nutcracker's magic seeps into the real world, putting Georgie's friend in danger. Everything is falling apart, and it's almost Christmas! Can Georgie save her friend, the Nutcracker, and most of all, herself?

(from Amazon)

 

My Take 

 1.    I loved getting an insider's view of what auditions and practices are like for high-level dancers. Aside from Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield and The Turning by Gloria Whelan, I haven’t encountered a book about ballet for this audience.

  
2.    The magic: Georgie slipping into the actual Nutcracker story while dancing was super intriguing. I also liked its ties to her ballet teacher and possibly the Russian dancer who plays the prince.

 
3.    Friendship dynamics: The rivalry and up and down nature of the friendship between Georgie and Kaitlyn were realistic and relatable for girls this age. My best friend was in ballet with me, but thankfully, we did not go through this kind of drama. I also enjoyed her “just friends” relationship with Noah, who really had her back through her adventures.

 
4.    Writing style: Adrian used clear, concise sentences throughout and yet still conveyed so much of Georgie’s feelings. This made it a fast read for me, and I think that will appeal to MG readers as well.

 
5.    Large family dynamics! I loved how the mom and dad were loving and present, but realistically portrayed as a little frazzled juggling their lives and their kids. This allowed Georgie to solve a lot of the problems on her own.

One minor thing: I would've liked to know the mystery of what the Russian words on the nutcracker said! 

 

 

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴

Unfortunately, there were no dogs. But there were a lot of mice! Now, if I’d been in the story, there would be no mice, right? Problem solved.

Your Turn: 

 

Do you like books about the performing arts? 

What is your favorite holiday read? 

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

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#ISWG: Best Gifts for Writers

What is the best gift for a writer?

Made with a template from Canva by J.Enzor

I can’t just choose one, so I'm featuring my top writing gifts. The intention behind these gifts meant so much. They represent my cheering section from friends and family. So if you’re looking to give something to your favorite writer or to yourself, remember that the thought does count.

Reference books or craft books

• When I was in high school, my parents gave me an unabridged dictionary. Oh, what a word nerd I was even at sixteen. I poured over that thing, which is almost like a mini-encyclopedia with foreign language dictionaries, an atlas, and important dates. Although I don’t use it as much anymore, it was a gift that said,  “You are a writer.”

  

  My dictionary from high school, well loved and well worn. Photo by Jenni Enzor

  
  
• Also in the books category are various writing books my aunt gave me over the years. She is also a writer and has a hilarious blog,  Random Thoughts and Silliness. My favorite: The Careful Writer, which is full of grammar tips with a smile. What did her gift say? “I love passing on the spark of writing."
  
  
   
• Finally, another book that actually I purchased myself but a writer friend loaned me initially. I’ve talked about it before on the blog, and it was life-changing for learning how to create a character arc that ties in with your plot. (Plotting is my nemesis!) The Story Genius What did this gift mean? “Keep learning and growing as a writer!”
  
  
  

Author Accessories

Photo by Jenni Enzor

Another gift from my mom was this burgundy leather bag that I tote with me everywhere. It’s perfect for sticking in a few pages to bring to a writer’s conference or get-together. When she gave it, she wrote a note that it was for all those writer conferences I’ll be going to. I still use it frequently. Thanks, Mom.

Journals

As a writer, I’m often gifted a lot of journals, but my favorite ones are from my husband. In one, he wrote a quote: 

Almost anything is possible with time. --Jane Austen

Memberships

One of my favorite gifts was the year my hubby got me membership to SCBWI. I’d let it lapse for a while and was so glad to be back. I’ve never let it lapse since, and the craft workshops, the conferences, and all the wonderful information and friends I’ve gained from this organization was so worth it.

 

For Young Writers

I started pursuing writing at age nine, and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing many of my young friends and some family members pursue this dream, so I need to plug one of my favorites for budding authors, Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic.

 

What is your favorite writing gift or gift you have given? How is your writing going this month? 

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

 

If you'd like to read more ISWG posts or sign up, please go HERE. You won't be disappointed.  

 

 

MMGM: How to Celebrate an Author’s Birthday: Ideas Inspired by L.M. Montgomery

Have you ever celebrated your favorite author’s birthday? On Sunday, November 30th, it’s L.M. Montgomery's  (author of Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, Pat of Silver Bush, and many others) birthday. I thought it’d be fun to share some ideas on how to celebrate if you’re an Anne fan (like me)!

Party Food

For any party, you must have food. For Anne, I would use recipes from the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Maud’s granddaughter, Kate McDonald. Complete with quotes and explanations from the books and photos from Prince Edward Island, The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook’s recipes are simple to prepare. A middle grade reader could make most of the recipes with a little help if using the stove or oven is required.

Raspberry cordial (photo by Jenni Enzor)

Here are a few recipes I’ve tried that would be perfect for a birthday party:

Diana Barry’s Raspberry Cordial
Tantalizing Raspberry Tarts
Coconut Macaroons

If you’d like birthday cake, Anne’s Liniment Cake (no actual liniment included) would be perfect, and Poetical Egg salad sandwiches would be great to balance out all the sweet.

Imagine how you could adapt this to your favorite author:

Homemade butter and pig skins for Little House in the Big Woods
Willy Wonka chocolates and blueberries for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Turkish Delights for The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 
Lush Berry Juice for Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (MMGM's founder!)

Crafts/Activities

 

Now, every party must have some kind of entertainment. The Anne of Green Gables Treasury, published in 1991, is a wealth of information about what life was during the time period of the books. I heard one of the authors, Carolyn Strom Collins, speak at the LMM Days. (Yes, I’m such a fangirl I attended the virtual version of this conference all about Montgomery!) The authors initially wrote it for their daughters to explain the backgrounds of the books. I enjoyed seeing maps of Avonlea (Anne’s made-up village), actual maps of Prince Edward Island, a timeline of world events and their correspondence to the Anne books, recipes, and ideas for crafts.

For example, one fun craft was making a straw hat like Anne’s. I got the supplies from my craft store so I could make a mini one and use it as an ornament on my tree this year.

Anne of Green Gables Treasury, p. 97 (photo by Jenni Enzor)

 

Books and Films

For entertainment, you could watch the Anne of Green Gables miniseries or films. My favorite is the one by Sullivan Entertainment with Megan Follows, but then, you are always partial to the adaption you watched first.

 

Recently, I also reread Rilla of Ingleside, the last of the Anne books, about her youngest daughter. Fourteen-year-old Rilla isn’t ambitious, doesn't want to go to college, and only cares about dressing up and going to parties. But when World War I is announced at her first party, her world changes. She ends up adopting a war baby and must endure her brothers’ enlistment in the war. 

 

As an American, I really enjoyed reading about World War I from the Canadian perspective. There is so much that I don’t know about this period that I spent a lot of time looking up famous people and events as I read. If you want to learn more about this time period, start with this book. Although it is fictional, the author lived during this time period.

Although Rilla starts out at fourteen, the book covers four years, so it definitely leans more YA in parts. I don’t think it would be inaccessible to a middle grade reader if perhaps used as a read aloud. 

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Dog Monday (from Rilla) is my favorite literary hero! After Rilla’s oldest brother, Jem, leaves for the front, he spends the  war at the railway station waiting for him to return. He is fiercely loyal like me.  

Your Turn: 

 

Have you ever celebrated a favorite’s author’s birthday? How would you celebrate?

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

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MMGM: Art, Letters, and Life Lessons: The Boy Who Painted the World and From the Desk of Lizzie Lazowski

Back in February. Kasey Giard of The Story Sanctuary recommended From the Desk of Lizzie Lazowski by Melody J. Bremen since I mentioned I enjoyed epistolary novels. I enjoyed it last spring, but recently that I discovered another title by Melody Bremen, The Boy Who Painted the World. I was so excited when Lizzie showed up in The Boy Who Painted the World.

You know how much I love heartfelt middle grade, especially with compelling main characters. If you also love middle grade contemporaries with MCs with gumption and grit, you will love these books.

 

Synopsis

 

The Boy Who Painted the World:

 
Indigo is a boy with a dream. He wants to be a famous artist when he grows up, but he's never had a real family or a home. He spends his nights in a shelter and his days working odd jobs to buy new art supplies. Jade is his best friend who has helped feed him and keep him safe. When she is arrested for shoplifting, Indigo sets off on a journey where he finds new people, and the courage to pursue his dreams. Follow Indigo on a journey that teaches him the meaning of friendship, family... and shows him that dreams really do come true. A novel for children ages 9-12.

 

From the Desk of Lizzie Lazowski:

When 8th grader Lizzie Lazowski receives a pen pal assignment, she puts her letter into a bottle and throws it into the ocean. A few days later, she receives an anonymous response in her mailbox. She continues to write to her mystery pen pal, answering prompts like what’s your favorite food (milkshakes), and who is your best friend (she doesn’t have one at the moment).

Through her letters, she tells about her biggest dream: to secure a spot at Northcrest High School for the Arts. If she submits a creative project—a true story about one person—she can win a scholarship. And Chloe, the new girl at school, just might be the one to help her complete the project (and maybe even fill the best friend role).

As the deadline for the scholarship draws near, her project flops and her budding friendship goes horribly wrong. All she has is the help of a mystery pen pal to put her life back on track.

(from Amazon)

 

My Take 

Both these novels have resilient characters. Indigo (The Boy Who Painted the World) is homeless, having been left on the street by his mother when he was five years old. She’d promised to “come back in a minute” and never returned. He’s taken in by Jade, a homeless teen, who looks after him till she gets arrested for stealing hand cream for his chapped hands. By then Indigo is ten, but it’s up to him to survive and find his way. Even though this sounds like a dismal start, Indigo has a gift for drawing that truly makes this story. He also has a truly unique way of seeing the world. Along the way, he encounters many people, and despite his own hardships, he always has a positive impact on others. This was such a powerful story, and so refreshing to see a difficult theme handled realistically, but also infused with so much hope.

Lizzie is also a fun character, and I felt for her right away. She is a cancer survivor, and her dad died in Iraq when she was three. I could relate to so much of what Lizzie went through, especially not wanting to be the person everyone feels sorry for. But there was so much else to love about this novel. I really enjoyed the epistolary format, and her correspondent was a mystery till the end. (I kept guessing, but never guessed correctly.) Her struggles with mom dating again was handled well. I loved how so much of the novel was set at her mom’s work—a retirement home. Then Lizzie’s goal of trying to get into a theater high school was pretty cool. There was ton of humor throughout. This was a little lighter than Indigo's story, but equally heartfelt. If you want to read them in order, I’d suggest The Boy Who Painted the World first, since that’s where Lizzie makes her first appearance. But they can be read in either order or as a stand alone.

What I loved about both these books: Although both these main characters have gone through a lot, they never let their past define them.

My favorite line is something Indigo says to Lizzie in book 2: 
“Some people will pity you,” he said finally. “But only until you prove to them that you’re more than just one thing.”

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴🦴

Just one dog was mentioned in passing in The Boy Who Painted the World, but in From the Desk of Lizzie Lazowski, there was Ranger, a German Shepherd, who tried to attack Kira’s cat and had a mishap with some cake. I just happen to be part German Shepherd. Now I thinking I’m a dog who likes cake too (Hint. Hint). 😊 

Your Turn: 

Do you like series or stand alones? 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

 

MMGM: Rebecca Stead’s The Experiment — A Story That Stays With You

 

When I saw Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me) had a new book, I grabbed it right away from my local library. Although I'm not a big sci-fi fan, I do like "light sci fi," think Ray Bradbury or the Twilight Zone. If sci fi is set on Earth, I'm all in. 

If you like twists and turns, intriguing premises, and strong family and friendships, you will love The Experiment!

 

Synopsis

 

Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are...

Nathan never understood what was "fun" about secrets, probably because he’s always had to keep a very big one. 

Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader (with parents, homework and a best friend, Victor), Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end. 

Nathan, his parents and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he’s been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.

The Experiment is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change. (from Amazon)

 

 What I liked about The Experiment:

1.    A close boy friendship. It’s rare in kidlit to see boys who have each other’s backs. Victor was an astounding friend to Nathan, sacrificing to help him discover the truth. I’d love to see more MG books with friendships like this!

2.    Lots of twists and turns. Each time I thought I had the mystery of Nathan or other characters' identities solved, I would be surprised by another twist. Stead really played with expectations in this genre, which made for a fun read.

 
3.    Cats! Max is going to hate me for this one, but I loved the role that cats played in this story. I can’t say much more without ruining a few surprises, but if you love cats, you’ll enjoy this.

 
4.    Fantastic world building. Although the action takes place in a world like our own, Stead's aliens are the most unusual and interesting I've ever encountered.

  
5.    Calvin and Hobbes! My sons poured over those books growing up. Fans of those books will love all the tie-ins with the comic through The Experiment.

 

 Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴

Too many cats! But at least it had animals. I liked all the twists and turns. 

Your Turn: 

Do you like light or heavy sci fi? Have you read any Rebecca Stead? Are you a cat or dog person?

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

 

ISWG: Writing Expectations vs. Reality: What I Know Now as a Writer

 

Back when I started writing, it was typewriters or pencils.

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Perhaps the spark ignited with my first story at age six, or my fourth-grade teacher saying she knew she'd see my books on a shelf someday. Thank you, Mrs. Pemberton! But I always knew that writing would be part of my life. 

However, when I started writing in earnest in my late 20s, I had some interesting thoughts and expectations.

 
1. It would be easy to be a writer and a mom at the same time. I had visions of having my own office, and kids slipping in and out to talk to me throughout the day, and still somehow getting my writing time in. 

 
2.  I would be different than the millions of writers who get a ton of rejection slips and take a long road to publishing. 

 
3.  I would make a lot of money at writing. Although I’ve never been able to stop other people from making this assumption.

 
4.  I would be instantly famous.

 

Let’s see how it really turned out.

 

How I write now--or at least edit. Oh, the joys of modern life!

 
1.  Being a mom and a writer or having a full-time job on top of writing is really hard. I try to make sure my family is a priority, so that often means writing at odd times like nights when they were young and early mornings before work when I was still teaching.

 

2.  The road to publication has been long, but I've enjoyed the journey more than I expected. It was about five years before I got my first nonfiction acceptance, and nearly twenty years before I saw my fiction in print. Learning to write takes time. I continue to improve, there is always be something new to learn.

As Hemmingway said, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” 

3.  Very few people get rich off writing. I know there are some who do. But my experience is similar to something I read this week in a comment or blog post (I can't find the exact source!). My paraphrase: “Little Women isn’t sad because Beth dies, but because Jo made $100 off her first story and writing wages haven’t increased since then.” *

 
4.  Well, as I am still not famous, I think we can rule that one out.

 
How about you? What did you think writing would be like vs. what it really is like?

Writing News:

 

My first nonfiction article is now on Barnes and Noble as an audio-read! 

Photo of typewriter by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

Photo of laptop by Christin Hume on Unsplash  

 

If you'd like to read more ISWG posts or sign up, please go HERE. You won't be disappointed.  

 

MMGM: Crack the Code! Puzzletastic Mysteries and Creating Your Own Language

Do you like stories with codes or deciphering ciphers? One of my favorite things about the middle grade mystery genre is that there’s rarely a dead body, since I tend to be a bit squeamish. The focus in middle grade mysteries is usually solving a theft or finding a treasure. 

And that almost always that involves a code.

Today I’m featuring two middle grade books, one is fiction, a collection of short stories, and the other is nonfiction. 

If you like your middle grade mysteries in short doses, check out Chris Grabenstein Presents Super Puzzletastic Mysterties: Short Stories for Young Sleuths from Mystery Writers of America! (Whew, that’s quite a title!) If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to write your own secret codes, you’ll love Create Your Own Secret Language: Invent Codes, Ciphers, Hidden Message, and More: A Beginner’s Guide by David J. Peterson with Illustrations by Ryan Goldsberry. (Another long title!)

 

Synopsis of Puzzletastic Mysteries:

From tales of hapless superheroes and stolen squirrel monkeys to murderous triplets and haunted basements, these thrilling, puzzling, and hilarious cases have one thing in common—YOU get a chance to be the detective before the author reveals the solution.

With twenty-never-before-published mystery stories, this collection will leave young detectives sleuthing for more!

Featuring stories by Chris Grabenstein, Sheela Chari, Stuart Gibbs, Lamar Giles, Bruce Hale, Peter Lerangis, Lauren Magaziner, Kate Milford, James Ponti, Tyler Whitesides, and ten other incredible authors. (from Grabenstein's website)

My Take 

I picked this book up initially because I wanted to read another tale solved by Julian and Margaret from the Framed series by James Ponti. But I ended up enjoying so many more of the stories. I loved the humor (especially in Grabenstein’s story about solving who wrote the word FART in the snow). I loved the history and mystery of the story about the cats of Hemingway house by Sheela Chari. (Chari is of my favorite writers--check out her wonderful musical mystery Vanished, if you haven't already). Many of these stories include codes, which are well laid out, so you can solve it along with the kid sleuth. The stories are certainly short enough to use for a read aloud at home or at school. As a bonus, the ending of each story is in the back, which gives kids a chance to solve it on their own, before checking. 

 

Synopsis of Create Your Own Secret Language:

Protect your diary from snooping siblings. Share your secrets with a BFF. Guard your texts from unwanted eyes. Create the lingua franca for your own fantastical secret world!

Expert language creator David J. Peterson (inventor of languages for Game of Thrones, the Marvel Universe, and more) guides you as you create your own secret languages, codes, ciphers, and hidden messages. 

From simple cyphers to entirely new alphabets, CREATE YOUR OWN SECRET LANGUAGE will help you master the skills of secret communication, whether it’s written, drawn, or spoken. By the time your finished reading, you’ll be able to share messages memora vosak laz vos otihoe vosecchi! (“that no one will be able to understand!")

 (from Amazon)

 

My Take 

 

I initially picked up this book because I wanted some inspiration for a story idea that might involve a code or cipher. (They are different, as I’ve now learned). The book is written as a workbook, so kids can practice writing and deciphering the ciphers right in the book. Also, at the end, Peterson walks kids through creating their own language! I had fun creating a cipher for my older son, who just graduated with a math minor. That gave me some insight into how my own characters might solve their cipher. It’s a fun read and very hands-on and interactive. My only caveat is that I felt like the sentences given for coding were a little snarky for my taste. So, I would change those or clarify that if I was using this as a teacher or in a homeschool setting. 

This is exactly the kind of book my math-loving son would have loved as a preteen.

 

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴

Both books had cats, but no dogs. The code and cipher book was a little too complicated for me. But I’d love to see more mysteries with dogs. Don’t they know how good I’d be at sniffing out a thief?
 

Your Turn: 

Do you like solving codes or ciphers? Do you like reading or writing short stories? Any book recs for me or Max?

 

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!