somewhere in the middle: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

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Monday, August 12, 2013

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

I picked up Timmy Failure because I'm always looking for a like-Wimpy-Kid graphic novel with a great voice, and I thought this might be a good book for my 2nd grader. My 4th and 6th grader blasted through this in a day.

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis

Published in Feb 2013

Other books in the series:
Now Look What You've Done (coming Feb 2014)

The Hook: Timmy Failure has his own detective agency and unravels several mysteries around the neighborhood.

Why I loved it: Voice and humor. If you want something like Wimpy Kid, this is it. Although the audience is much younger. Still, Timmy is quite funny. He's a detective who misses the obvious clue and the results are hilarious. I would recommend this to both boys and girls, definitely for reluctant readers who liked Wimpy Kid but it is younger middle grade (7-9 yr olds). Although my 11 yr old did read it, but only because it was in the house and I was raving about how funny it was.

Want More? Check out this AMAZING author site. Seriously love!

Have you read any great graphic novels like Wimpy Kid? What are they? My 2nd and 4th graders want to know.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

Monday, July 15, 2013

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Nalamist Falls: Keeping the Peace + Author Interview

Nalamist Falls: Supernatural Prep School for Witches, Werewolves and Vampires -- Keeping the Peace by J. Curtis Mace

published 2012

Other Books in the Series:
Finding the Pack (#2)
Remembering the Way (#3)

The Hook: A young werewolf named Rusty, is trying to negotiate all the prides and pitfalls of life in the Fifth Grade. So, when the older group of vampire bullies is charged with stealing the witches’ most powerful book of spells, Rusty doesn’t worry too much about it. But when he and his warlock friend, Zeke, learn that the elder peace in Nalamist Falls actually hangs in the balance, he has no choice but to get involved.

A species war would destroy Rusty’s world and all the relationships he’s made with his supernatural friends, his only friends really.

Why I liked it: Characters and chaptering. The characters are a lot of fun. Rusty is a believeable 5th grader even though he is a werewolf and smells everything. Evie, the new girl and a vampire, was my favorite character and Zeke, the warlock, complimented the other two. The chaptering was brilliant in the story. Mace would end each chapter in a way that left no time for snacking...only reading. This is a short story and it reads fast. It would appeal to both boys and girls. It was a fun paranormal adventure that never got too dark, so I could let my 9 yr old read it.

Want More? Check out his spotlight on Lulu. Or Buy the book here.

Interview with J. Curtis Mace

Keeping the Peace, is a fun magical/paranormal story for kids, where did you get your inspiration for the story? What came to you first, your plot or the characters?

Where I got the inspiration for the story is a hard one. I don’t really remember. I know my wife and I were watching Trueblood on HBO, and I’ve always said my stories are like “Trueblood, for kids.” So I think that might have been the initial inspiration. But the characters definitely came first. One rule of writing is to write what you know, so I am constantly writing about my friends and I. All my characters are drawn from people I know (and from myself), and once they start “living” on their own they take the reins and go forward and basically write the stories for me.

The story is written in first person as Rusty, the 5th grade werewolf. Why did you decide to do first person vs. third? And why from Rusty's perspective?

This is the first story/series I’ve written in the first person, and I did it because it just felt right. Whenever I write these stories, I actually get in Rusty’s head (he’s the ME character), and I write from there. So again, it just felt right to write from the first person perspective. I feel like it makes the emotion of the story much more real for the reader that way too, like they’re feeling it/living it themselves. As for why Rusty’s perspective… like I said, he’s the ME character. Everybody wants to be the cool vampire or the magical witch/warlock. But I wanted to write from the very real position of just a kid, a very nervous/humble/fallible kid (I also like the “primal magic” of being a werewolf and the ideas of him drawing on that, as opposed to immortality or actual magic). I like that Rusty is always scared or nervous to do the right thing, but he does it because it IS the right thing or because he is standing up for his friends. I like how Rusty overcomes his fears and how he leans on his friends for help with doing that.

What was your favorite scene to write?

The first scene at the church was a lot of fun (the tension outside and then the scene inside, and the way Rusty almost blows the whole thing at the end). I like that one a lot, but I think my favorite is near the end, when they actually go into FreakyFingers’s house. That was such a reveal/“belly of the beast” type of chapter, it was a lot of fun to write. If you can imagine being in Rusty’s head, it was a lot of fun to explore the house and make all the gross discoveries. And it was quite intense when everything started going down too. Lots of fun and my favorite.

Evie is my favorite. Who is your favorite character?

Of course, this sounds like a complete cop out of an answer, but I love ALL my characters (even the newer ones from later books). They’re all so independent and individual; I love them all for their own reasons. Evie is so feisty and bold, and she cares very deeply for Rusty. Zeke is modeled after one of my best friends who passed away some years ago, so he has a special place with me. I even like my “bad guys” for being so bad and so good at it. But (again, it might sound like a cop out, but…) Rusty is my favorite. He’s so strong and vulnerable at the same time. He loves his friends and will do anything for them. He’s a good guy, and he’s funny. My favorite though is writing them all together, when their all hanging out as a group. They are all such strong personalities and strong characters, whenever they get together, the story and the jokes and all the plans for adventures basically write themselves.

You are great at chaptering. Everytime I could see the end of the chapter coming, I would think, oh good I'll go get a snack, but by the end of the chapter I would have to turn the page. I probably lost a pound---saving me from the snacks, so thank you. Could you give any advice to aspiring MG writers about how to end a chapter?

Thank you for the compliment. Chaptering is something I’ve worked on a lot (I actually made changes to most of my chapter endings right before publication – I didn’t change the narrative as much; I just changed the place in the narrative where the chapter ended). One piece of advice/criticism I got from a friend was that chapters shouldn’t end on scene changes; they should end on tension changes. That would be my advice to other writers. If the scene is over and everything is settled and the chapter ends, that’s a great place to put a book down (and go get a snack). But if a scene is progressing and drama is building and then something completely unexpected/scary/pivotal happens or is revealed and then the chapter ends, a reader’s natural instinct is to keep reading. I wanted most of my chapters (as many as I could) to end with a “Holy Crap!” moment, so the reader will start reading the next chapter just to see that everyone made it through alright. Having chapters end right in the middle of the climactic moment when all the questions in the reader’s head are just about to be answered is a good way to keep the pages turning. Again, thanks on that one. It means a lot to have you appreciate it so much.

What was your favorite book when you were a middle grader?

My favorite book as a middle grader would have to be Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. We read it as a class in the 4^th Grade, and I fell in love with it. It was the first book that made me feel and made me think beyond the story and think about the book when I wasn’t reading it. I bought my own copy and read it again. I watched the movie, and I even begged for a coonskin hat, which I got for Christmas. I never got the dog(s) I asked for, but one day the following summer, I was playing in my yard when a stray dog ran up to play with me. (Not making this up) It was a red bone coonhound, just like “Old Dan” and “Little Ann” in the books, and needless to say, it liked my hat very much. I think that is when I first started to believe in the magic of stories and writing.

Do you have a favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is at my desk (comfortable chair and keyboard and monitor/good desk space/great lighting and all that), but more importantly, is the time I like to write. I love to write in the late hours of the night. When the house is quiet and everyone else has gone to bed, I can immerse myself so deeply in the story and the characters and the adventure going on. All my characters come to life, and I get live in the world of Nalamist Falls. That is such a great time to hang out (and be a kid again) and have all kinds of adventures with my friends. There have been times when I was up so late writing I couldn’t really remember what I wrote the next day. Quite a fun/surreal experience to reread those pages and find out all the things we’d gotten into, like it happened all on its own.

This book is the first in a series, how many books will be in the series and when can we expect them?

I’ve never really planned a certain number of books. I’ve written them all with no real Voldemorte character at the end, no final battle they’re working towards. I’ve always written it as just separate adventures (almost like a serial novel series), which makes the final number of stories very indefinite, which I like (I can’t imaging Rusty’s stories just being over and done and no more; so terrible). That being said, there is a sense that something bad is coming, something big. Even as I write this, I don’t know what it is, but it’s out there, waiting. It’ll take shape one day and materialize out of the shadows of Nalamist Falls, but I hope to write many of Rusty’s adventures before (and after) that. We’ll see… As for other books, there are two others already published. Finding the Pack takes Rusty to camp and forces him to deal with the “pack” issue he’d rather not worry about, and Remembering the Way is all about Halloween (at a Supernatural Prep School, what could be better?!?!). New friends and new enemies, and all new adventures in Nalamist Falls. Those two books are out and available now (hopefully up for review here soon – wink wink), and I’ve plotted out the next two after that. Should be writing them in the not-to-distant future; I need these things.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

Monday, July 8, 2013

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Land of Stories The Wishing Spell

Lauren picked this book based on a friend recommendation. She blasted through it. She wanted to read more than hang with her friends at the pool (this is a HUGE deal). And then when I would pull her away and ask her about the story, she would talk my ear off about the characters and plot. This book is the first in a series, read her review below.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
published July 2012

Other books in this series:
The Enchantress Returns (#2) Aug 2013

The Hook: A brother and sister that are twins fall into their Grandmother's book. To get out, they must go on the most dangerous scavenger hunt (ever) to create The Wishing spell. But the Wishing Spell can only happen twice and has already happened once, and the Wicked Queen will do anything to stop them.

Why Lauren loved this book: I love the book because first off, I LOVE twisted fairytales. I also liked how Chris Colfer mixed up characters from classic fairy tales. One of my favorite characters is Goldilocks because she is a wanted fugitive. I liked Alex, the girl twin, because she loves to read and believes in fairy tales.

This is a fun adventure that both boys and girls will like. It is a great book for reluctant readers. This book is great for anyone 8 - 12 yr old...or older.

Want More? Check out Chris Colfer's website.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

Monday, June 24, 2013

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: What My Kids Are Reading

First things first, I need to announce the winner of the Chase Tinker and the House of Magic ebooks:

ZombiMom

Congrats, the stories are fast and fun.

Now for today's pick or rather my kid's picks. I challenged my kids to read a book a week this summer and then I wanted them to post a review for MMGM. Bryn just finished the second book in The Accidental Adventure, she blew through it in 3 days which is kind of a big deal. But she needed to get to bed tonight because we have swim team in the morning. So look for her review next week. This week I thought I would spotlight what they are actually reading because I have a huge stack of middle grade books in my book room. It is always interesting to me what they pick and why. So I thought I would post those for today.

Lauren's (11 yr old) pick this week:

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Goodreads Blurb: Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.

Why she picked it: Because she has literally read all my middle grade and this was the last book on the shelf. This is impressive because I have bookcases of MG and she even blew through my TBR pile. So why did she save this book for last? Because the print is small and the book is thick, it's a bit intimidating for a first book in a series. Also, she saw the movie many years ago and it sorta scared her, so she has been nervous to read it. She's 2/3 through and loving it. I have promised to go get the other two books in the series once she finishes.

Bryn's (9 yr old) pick this week:

The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton

Goodreads Blurb: Part of the spell has already been broken.

The first stones have begun to crumble.

In Artie Kingfisher’s world, wizards named Merlin, fire-breathing dragons, and swords called Excalibur exist only in legends and lore—until the day his video game Otherworld springs to life.

You are special, Arthur, Says the mysterious message in his game.

Why she picked it: The cover art. Mostly the dragon and the boy holding a sword which reminds her of Minecraft. Did I mention she's my tomboy? I love it. She just started it but I had to threaten lights out tonight---that's always a good sign of a good book.

Ava's (7 yr old) pick:

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Goodreads Blurb: Nine-year-old Beezus Quimby has her hands full with her little sister, Ramona. Sure, other people have little sisters that bother them sometimes, but is there anyone in the world like Ramona? Whether she's taking one bite out of every apple in a box or secretly inviting 15 other 4-year-olds to the house for a party, Ramona is always making trouble--and getting all the attention. Every big sister can relate to the trials and tribulations Beezus must endure. Old enough to be expected to take responsibility for her little sister, yet young enough to be mortified by every embarrassing plight the precocious preschooler gets them into, Beezus is constantly struggling with her mixed-up feelings about the exasperating Ramona.

Why she picked it: She loved the movie and wanted to read the book. It's a bit hard for her, but we plow through a chapter every night. This was my favorite series as a kid. Love these books.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Chase Tinker and the House of Magic + Interview & Giveaway

I'm so excited to be back in the MMGM and even more excited about the interview I got to do with the author Malia Ann Haberman. And she offered to give away the first 2 ebooks in the series. Woohoo! Her first book in the series is my pick today.

Chase Tinker and the House of Magic by Malia Ann Haberman
published in Aug 2012

Other Books in the Series:
2. Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets (2013)
3. Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny (2014)
4. Chase Tinker and the House of Mist

The Hook: After his dad goes missing, 13-yr-old Chase Tinker learns he has magical powers and a magical family. They must protect their house Relic from evil forces or their magic will be lost forever.

Why I liked it: Imagination and an easy page turner. The book is an easy recommend for anyone wanting more magic after reading Harry Potter. Chase and his brother go to live with their grandfather for the summer to learn about their magical abilities, but what they learn quickly is that the house itself is very magical and protects their family's house relic, the source of their magical power.

The house is a very fun and imaginative part of the story. Every room has its own abilities that the children can use like squirting root beer out your nose, teleporting to the beach, or being tormented by premonitions while they sleep.

This is a great adventure and great for reluctant readers. Definitely a boy book but girls will like it too.

My Interview with Malia Ann Haverman & Ebook Giveaway

The plot is very exciting, an easy and intriguing page turner. And I love Chase and Andy. I always like finding out which came to you first: the characters or the plot?
The magic house came to me first. I had a dream one night I was living in a gigantic house and every room was filled with magic. When I told my daughter about it, she thought it sounded like a great premise for a kids' lit book. So together we started throwing out ideas about characters, where the Tinkers' magic would come from, the bad guys, a missing parent and other stuff. We also had a great time thinking up all the different powers for the magical rooms.

My daughter is the one who picked the names Chase and Andy. When she first told me I said, "But I want to use the last name Tinker and when you say Chase Tinker fast, it comes out sounding like Chase Stinker." And she said, "So? Just figure out how to use that in the book." And so I did. Ha!

Which character did you enjoy writing the most and why?
Maxwell the ferret was a great character to write, but I think, of the humans, Chase Tinker would be my favorite. As the main character, I love making things happen to him. Good, bad, embarrassing, goofy, crazy; I just had a lot of fun with it.

What's your favorite scene in the story?
I have a few favorites, but one I really enjoyed writing is in the first chapter when Chase is in his room having problems with his power and then trying to figure out how to control it. I had fun thinking up crazy things that would happen if a person really was learning to control the telekinesis ability. I wanted it to be entertaining, yet have a serious tone as well, because he was also upset about his missing dad.

This book is the first in a series, how many books will there be and when can we expect their publication?
There are four books in my Chase Tinker series. Book one "Chase Tinker and the House of Magic" is now out in ebook, audiobook, hardcover and trade paperback.

The 2nd book "Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets" was just released as an ebook. The other formats will be out in the fall.

Book 3 is called "Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny" and that will be out the beginning of 2014. It's actually already written.

The 4th and last book is called "Chase Tinker and the House of Mist." I'm currently in the middle of writing that one.

Why do you write for middle graders?
I've actually been interested in writing for middle graders and tweens for quite a while now. So when I came up with the idea for my Chase Tinker series, I was really excited. I think kids are wonderful to write books for because they're open and engaging, and they happen to love fun, adventure and silliness as much as I do. :) They also have such amazing energy and enthusiasm and, of course, imaginations. I have such a good time coming up with ideas for my books that I hope they'll really get a kick out of.

As a writer, do you plot out your whole story before you start or do you write by the seat of your pants?
When I first started "Chase Tinker and the House of Magic," I had ideas, but no clear outline to follow. I would just let things come to me as I wrote, and it worked out really well. But then, my then-agent, wanted me to outline the rest of the series. I thought, What?! Write everything down? Now that's just crazy talk! But I put on my thinking cap and got to work, and it's a good thing I did or I would've forgotten and missed out on loads of great ideas. So now, I guess you can say I'm a bit of both. :)

You have a great upper middle grade voice. What advice can you give to aspiring writers about how to find a middle grade voice?
Thank you! That's so nice of you to say, Brooke. I've worked really hard to get just the right voice that sounds like my own, and yet sounds like something middle graders would really enjoy reading. I guess the best advice I can give is to read lots of books in the age group and genre you're interested in writing, and then take what you like the best and put your own spin on it. I would also advise aspiring writers to just keep writing and writing until you feel you have a great voice to your books that people will want to read.

Do you have a favorite place to write or snack to eat when you write?
I like to write sitting on my floor in my living room with my coffee table as my desk, my computer in front of me and my TV going as background noise. As for snacks, I'm not a big snacker, I just count the hours between meals so I can dig up something tasty in the kitchen. Most of all, I really look forward to dessert. :)

Want More? Author of "The Chase Tinker Series" Malia loves dancing, reading, writing, sunsets, ladybugs, playing video games on her iPod, watching TV, and chocolate. She also has terrible motion sickness and hates onions. She's always wanted to have the ability to teleport and the power to move things with her mind. She lives in the Seattle area with her four wild and crazy ferrets.

Website: http://maliaannhaberman.weebly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahaberman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/malia_ann

Amazon: buy it

To enter to win the first 2 ebooks in the Chase Tinker series, leave a comment below.
The winner will be chosen at random on Thursday night. I'll announce the winner on Friday. If you don't have a blogger profile, leave a contact email. cheers!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland And Led The Revels There

I picked up this series for two reasons: the titles and the artwork. Seriously, I'm in love with the covers of this book series. Also, my little Bryn loves dragons and the fantastical, so I thought this series would be her cup of tea.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M Valente

Published in Oct 2012

Other books in this series:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (#1)

The Hook: After returning to Fairyland, September discovers her shadow (lost in the first book) has become the Hallow Queen of Fairyland Below and has been stealing the shadows and magic of those who live in Fairyland. September must confront her shadow and rescue the stolen shadows before their magic is lost.

Why I loved it: The writing. It is like delicious butter, smooth and silky. The style is as whimsical as the story. The story is imaginative and reads like a twisted fairytale and I want my daughters to read it. But this is definitely a girl book and not for reluctant readers. While it is a fun adventure, the writing slows the pace of the story and may not move fast enough for a reluctant reader.

Want More? Go to Catherynne M Valente's website.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

Monday, April 16, 2012

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Goddess Girls: Medusa the Mean

I know, it's been awhile---life, right? But I have been reading. I found my MMGM pick from the constant nagging of my daughters. Medusa the Mean is the newest book in the Goddess Girls series.

Goddess Girls #8: Medusa the Mean by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Published in April 2012

Other books in the Series:

Athena the Brain #1

Persephone the Phony #2

Aphrodite the Beauty #3

Artemis the Brave #4

Athena the Wise #5

Aphrodite the Diva #6

Artemis the Loyal #7

The Hook: Medusa, the mean girl in all the other books, finally gets a chance to tell her side. She's tired of being the only mortal at Mount Olympus Academy, so when she discovers a necklace that will help her to be immortal, she jumps at the chance.

Why I love the Book/Series: Tone and Characters. This series is pitch perfect for middle grade voice and the characters are entertaining. It was really fun to read the side of Medusa in this book where she's been such a brat in the other books. Lauren loved this book as well. She read it first and gave me chapter by chapter summaries and highlights. She thought Medusa was a magnet for bad luck and was really funny. This series is perfect for girls.

My other daughter Bryn, 8 and the reluctant reader, just finished the first book in the series and jumped right into Persephone the Phony. This is a huge sign of a great series for reluctant readers. I've mentioned before how Bryn will put down a book if it doesn't hold her interest on each page. Up until Goddess Girls, Wimpy Kid was the only series she wanted to read. I've been recommending this series to a lot of parents who are looking for a good series for girls. The books are creative and fun as well as a blend greek mythology. My girls and I are continually discussing the different characters and how they compare to the original myths. There's also nothing too intense in this series, so they are great books for younger middle graders like Bryn.

What middle grade mythology books do you love?

Monday, February 6, 2012

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable

BUT first the winners of the MG Mash up Giveaway:

The Cabinet of Earths goes to:

Barbara Watson

The Invisible Tower goes to:

Charlotte

cheers ladies.

I found my MMGM pick on my last book binge. I needed to get Dan Gutman's chapter book series My Weird School and found The Genius Files. While I read it this week, my girls were constantly asking about the characters and wanted to know what was happening. I wouldn't answer directly because I want them to read it. Lore is loving The Invisible Tower but she wants to read this book next before

. I can understand why, the cover is intriguing and the book doesn't disappoint.

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

Published in 2011

Other books in this series:

Never Say Genius (#2) releases Jan 24 2012 (I must have just missed it during my binge)

Other books by this author:

My Weird School series (chapter books)

The Million Dollar series

A Baseball Card Adventure series

The Homework Machine

The Kid Who Ran for President

The Hook: Just before summer break, mysterious men attempt to kill the twins, Coke and Pepsi. Why? That's what Pep and Coke want to know. As their family travels across country the twins narrowly escape many attempts on their life and discover they are recruits for a top secret government agency TGF: The Genius Files.

Why I loved it: Adventure and characters. When the main characters are named Coke and Pepsi McDonald, do I really need to say anymore? Still, Gutman delievers relatable, lovable characters. My daughters could not get over the names, they thought it was so funny and would want me to tell them more about the kids. Plus the story is a rolling adventure and completely entertaining. Gutman also throws in lots of random facts about different places and things in America--educationally entertaining. I would recommend this to boys, girls and, more importantly, reluctant readers. The action and pacing will keep kids reading. And the best part is the second book in the series just released, so I guess I'll have to go by the bookstore this week.

Want More? Visit Dan Gutman's webpage. It has a fun Genius Files book trailer on the homepage.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

So here's a deep thought for you (since the kids are genius smart and my husband and I just watched Limitless on Netflix this weekend): if you could use 100% of your brain, essentially becoming a super genius, but would be crippled by some sort of physical deformity (think Stephen Hawking), would you still do it?

Do you like my term "super genius," clearly I fit into that category (wink). I'm not going to lie, ultimate brain power and knowledge is on my wish list, I think I would take it with the deformity. My husband thinks I'm crazy. But a little crazy is a good thing, right?

Monday, January 9, 2012

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Shadows (The Book of Elsewhere #1)

I bought this book because I heart the cover. Seriously, heart it. So I thought I would start the year with cover love and title love and story love too.

My MMGM pick:

The Book of Elsewhere (#1): The Shadows

by Jacqueline West

published 2010

Other Books by this author:

Spellbound (The Books of Elsewhere #2) 2011

The Hook: When 11 year old Olive moves into an old mansion she discovers the house is hiding secrets and that she can enter the paintings that are stuck to its walls. She uncovers a power that wants to destroy her and the house, and it is up to her to stop the dark shadows.

Why I loved it: Characters and imagination. The story is very clever and I love the fantastical element of the paintings, Elsewhere, and the plot. The story can be a bit scary at times but it is a fabulous adventure. I haven't got to book 2 yet but want to--it is definitely on my to-buy list. This is a great book for both boys and girls. I would also recommend this to reluctant readers; the story moves quickly and should hold their attention.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

So I'm trying to decide what books to pick for this month's middle grade mash up, what new middle grade new releases are you most excited to read?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Treasure Island

I hunger for adventure, maybe that's why I love middle grade fiction so much. For middle graders anything is possible. One of my favorite adventures as a child was Treasure Island and I just handed it to my daughter this week. She's an adventure girl as well. She's excited to start and that makes me smile. My once reluctant reader is reading Treasure Island.

Treasure Island by Robert L Stevenson

First published in 1881

The Hook: Jim Hawkins, a young teenager, finds himself on a ship overrun by mutinous pirates who go in search of treasure.

Why I love it: Characters and Adventure. This is the classic pirate story and who doesn't love Jim or Long John Silver? This peg-legged man haunted my dreams as a kid. While this story is great for boys it is not for reluctant readers. It takes a while before the ship sets sea and mutiny ensues.

What classic story did you love as a kid?

Other Fabulous MMGMers: