WINNERS of Clarissa & Benji Video Contest!

After months of not-so-patiently waiting, I am thrilled to announce the winners of the video contest and share their wonderful creation, inspired by my book Words That Start With B, here! From River Oaks PS in Oakville: Jessica, Albert, Ashley, Devon and Elijah:

Congratulations to everyone for such clever, imaginative, and faithful imaginings of Words That Start With B. Film editing is a complex and collaborative business and I am impressed with the amazing quality of your results! I can’t wait to meet you!

More contest news!

Toronto fans, you could win a Benji and Clarissa inspired sleep-over party at Mabel’s Fables! Think trivia, movies, popcorn, friendship bracelets, and yours truly! Yes, I will be rolling out my sleeping bag and joining the fun. Visit the store and pick up a copy of Days That End in Y for more information!

Out of This World: Maggot Moon Review

The always fabulous Sally Gardner has outdone herself with a chilling speculative vision of a fascist 1950s regime in her Costa award-winning novel, Maggot Moon.

Standish lives in Zone 7, a forgotten slum of The Motherland where every day is bleak and violent. Without Gramps and his friend Hector, life would be unbearable. But when Hector and his family disappear in the dead of night and the day of the much-anticipated first moon landing draws nearer, Standish decides that something must be done. Despite his challenges (Standish has difficulty reading), he could be the person who throws the rock that takes down the giant.

The novel takes place in what feels like 1950s England, should the Nazi’s have won WWII. The Motherland is racing towards the first moon landing to prove their supremacy to the rest of the world. The author has been a bit mum on the exact setting but gives an eloquent explanation of it here.   In this lovely piece Gardner also talks about dyslexia, something her character Standish (and she herself) struggles with. Standish’s narration is full of unique observations, something the author contributes to his dyslexia, which allows him to see the world differently. This makes for some memorable and fresh descriptions.

The narrative is steeped in metaphor and told in jagged, non-sequential sections. There is a lot left to the imagination in terms of the setting, the details of The Motherland’s rise to power and regime, and what exists in the outside world. Despite some graphically depicted scenes, there are moments of tenderness and hope, such as Standish’s dreams of a world in technicolour, with ice-cream coloured Cadillacs and Croca-colas, his friendship with Hector, and his loving, supportive Gramps, an ex-scene painter who is part of the resistance (if you can call it that). One of my favourite moments is when a relentless bully sides with Standish and sticks up for a child who is brutally beaten by a cruel teacher.

This is a powerful book with scenes of graphic violence and horrifying abuses of power. It reminded me in parts of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Janne Teller’s Nothing, a book that chilled me to the bone. Though it may be too strong for some readers, it provides an excellent basis for discussion on power, rebellion, hope, humanity, and change. Sometimes a piece of well-written speculative fiction is the perfect mirror in which to reflect what’s happening in the world today. The central metaphor of David taking down Goliath is well drawn and moving. There is just enough distance that readers can disassociate from the truly terrifying situations, but there are lots of opportunities for them to make comparisons to our own world. Very powerful stuff.

Maggot Moon is available now in hard cover from Penguin Canada.

October Kid Lit Events Round-up

October is my favourite month. It’s pumpkin pie, salted-caramel hot chocolate, and boots season. The air smells like woodsmoke and apples and everywhere you look the leaves are shirking their uniform greenness and letting their colours show. Plus their are two fantastic holidays, Thanksgiving and Halloween! Feasts and costumes! Who doesn’t love October?!

So it figures October would have some pretty rocking events to look forward to:

1. My Book Trailer Contest!

If you’re a follower of this blog you will know that I am holding a book trailer contest to celebrate the release of DAYS THAT END IN Y (February 2013). The contest is open to students in grades 4+ , so if you’re a teacher, librarian or parent who knows some kids who are good with a camera, check out the rules here or email me for more info!

      

Contest closes on January 15th, which gives you plenty of time to get those cameras rolling!

2. Girls Without Hats Benefit Concert + Jon Klassen Book Launch

This event is going to literally rock. It is a benefit concert for one of my fave organizations Girls Rock Camp Toronto, featuring local female musicians and Girls Rock Camp alum; Jon Klassen, one of my fave illustrators* who just so happens to be launching his new book THIS IS NOT MY HAT, and me, as a seriously starstruck host.

In addition to all of those awesome guests, there will be a silent auction with wicked prizes! AND it’s being held at The Gladstone! Throw in cupcakes and this is seriously all of my favourite things in one snazzy event. Whatever am I going to wear?

Such a cool event can only be organized by Small Print Toronto. Check out the website for more info and come join us on Wednesday, October 24th, 7pm, Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St West)  

1.  Another Story Workshop!

Another Story is a wonderfully eclectic and curated bookshop in Toronto that specializes in socially conscious literature. Now that I am a Junctionite, Another Story is practically in my neighbourhood.

I was thrilled to be invited to host a Saturday morning kid’s book club. I will be talking about the writing process and why it’s important to be honest, even when it makes you (or other people) uncomfortable. If you are under 14 and want to drop by (or if you know any young budding writers) please come on down Saturday, October 27th, 9-10am, Another Story Bookshop, 315 Roncesvalles Avenue.

*Remember when my she-roommate made me a custom mug with Jon Klassen’s swing dancing cats on them? Click here to refresh your memory

Lois Lowry Keeps On Giving: Son Review

Warning- this review contains spoilers, not just for Son, but also for The Giver. If you have not read The Giver, get thee to a bookstore or library NOW!

The Giver lives in my permanent top ten. It is a little slice of literary perfection. The ending, which may be too ambigious or open-ended for some, is an excellent example of how the end of a book should blow the world open for the characters, not tie everything together neatly. So I wasn’t craving a sequel (or ‘conclusion’ according to the book copy*). That being said, I think Lois Lowry is a master at her craft and will read anything she writes.

Son opens with a captivating scene of a girl, referred to by her watchers as a Vessel, being blindfolded before ‘the process’ begins. The process is birth and the girl is Claire, a first-time Birthmother. She has been told little about ‘the process,’ but becomes even more confused as things get complicated and ‘the product’ (the baby) has to be surgically removed. After the process Claire is reassigned, but she can’t stop thinking about her baby. She finds a way into the Nurturing Centre, where all the babies are kept until ready to be assigned to family units. Claire finds her child and from that moment forward her live changes.

Her child, of course, is Gabe, the baby who comes to live with Jonas’ family in The Giver.

The book is divided into three distinct parts. Part one happens simultaneously as The Giver, only we are experiencing the story through the very limited and unaware perspective of Gabe’s mother, Claire. Part two takes place in another community, where Claire struggles to regain both memory and strength before she is able to continue to search for her son. Part three takes place some years later in a third community that has achieved relative peace, with the exception of a dark force known as The Tradesman who stands between Claire and her son.

Each section felt like a complete novella. The middle section reminded me of classic historical fiction that takes place in fishing villages or small hunter-gather communities. It is here we meet my favourite character, Einar. He is the strong, silent type, crippled from a meeting with The Tradesman (a truly horrific and frightening creature). Einar is a gentle soul who trains Claire for her dangerous climb out of the village. Their love story is unusual and unrequited and beautifully rendered.

Like many other final books in series, Son dips into philosophical waters and Lowry makes eloquent statements about desire versus love, service versus sacrifice, and destiny. This often divides readers. Some people get caught up in the concept, story, and world-building of the first book in a series and are unsettled when the final book rocks the boat in terms of spirituality or social commentary. (Think of The Amber Spyglass, Mockingjay, and to some extent, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows). Fortunately, Lowry’s great strength is her subtlety. The book is simultaneously sophisticated and accessible. Like a well-written fable, it appeals to all readers, regardless of age, though I do think some of the themes will resonate more deeply with readers who have read the previous books in the series and are in that 11+ range. The whole book is a great display of craftsmanship, but some paragraphs (the final one in particular) moved me to tears. Her language is full-bodied: rounded, sharp, salty. I would love to have this book read aloud to me.

Son will be available in hard cover from Thomas Allen publishers in Canada on October 2nd 2012.

*Though it is not necessary to read these books in order (The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger, Son), I do strongly recommend it. When characters like Kira and Matty pop up, knowing their histories add so much more depth to the novel. Those moments are little gifts to the reader, something you don’t want to miss out on.

Knocked Out (Again) by Nielsen: Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen Review

If you follow this blog you know that I love Susin Nielsen like Garfield loves Lasagna. You can read evidence of the love here and here. After reading Nielsen’s latest offering, I am happy to say my love is as deep as ever.

Henry and his father have moved into a sketchy apartment in Vancouver, leaving his mother in an institution in Ontario following a horrific event that claimed the life of his older brother and another student. In a new city, in a new school, Henry attempts to start fresh, leaving the nightmare of his brother’s actions behind him. His therapist has suggested he keep a journal. In it, Henry records his membership in the Reach for the Top team, burgeoning friendship with Farley, the King of Dorks, and his crush on the fearsome (but beautiful) Alberta (a person, not the province). As the events of that fateful event are revealed, we see glimpses of the pain, inner strength, and hope at the core of Henry K. Larsen.

Henry is my favourite protagonist yet. He manages to be sweet and vulnerable without being cloying or un-relatable. Sometimes I worry that male readers don’t gravitate towards sensitive male narrators, but that won’t be an issue here. Henry is too specific to be an “everykid” (thank goodness), but Nielsen has given him lots of traits and worries and interests that will endear him to a wide range of readers.

His grieving process is handled carefully. Henry has moments of anger, fear, regret, and deep sadness. This is not a book about grief, though it permeates every page. There are some harsh revelations, and I love how Nielsen never beats around the bush or alludes to things- she just goes for it.  This applies to “rude” jokes, violent bullying, or “unsavoury” language. There is no sugar-coating or avoidance. I appreciate this honesty and so will her young readers.

All this being said, this is one of the funniest middle grade books I’ve read all year. I don’t think Nielsen could NOT be funny if she tried (this is a compliment). In this country literary merit is not associated with humourous writing, at least not in children’s fiction. A quick look at the GG winners and finalists over the past decade demonstrates a preference for historical fiction and/0r gritty subject matter. These books may have moments of humour, but they are by no means funny books.Humour is exceedingly difficult to pull off, especially for children. When done right, it speaks to them in a way that no other style does. Kids need funny, they crave it. Shouldn’t we recognize those skilled authors who can pull it off?

Nielsen is by no means stranger to awards, as her previous work has scooped up numerous nominations (and a few wins), mostly in children’s choice award categories. Again, here is the discrepancy between child friendly and awards- friendly. A few authors manage to bridge this gap but most end up being one or the other. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen may be about the aftermath of a murder-suicide, but it is a deeply funny book. I hope that this year awards committees give Nielsen the literary cred she deserves.

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen is out now in hardcover from Tundra Books.

Vancouverites! Kidsbooks is throwing a launch party for Susin tonight, Thursday, Sept 20th, at 7pm. I am sad that I can’t be there, but am happy to live vicariously through all of you!

There’s a New John in YA: Where Things Come Back Review

John Corey Whaley has a touch of John Green about him: hugely talented (and handsome) young male author who has incredible insight into modern teenagehood. His debut novel was one of the most highly touted and decorated books of 2011, winning both the Printz and The William C. Morris, in addition to gracing many other shortlists. It has been on my list for a long time and I finally  picked it up at the lovely Woozles Bookstore when I was in Halifax a few weeks back.

Cullen Witter is in the middle of a boring summer in his boring town until two incredible things happen: his beloved brother Gabriel vanishes without a trace, and the long-time love of his life takes interest in him. Both of these things are way more important to him than the ridiculous and out of control woodpecker fever that has taken over his town after someone claims to have spotted a supposedly extinct breed flying around the local woods.

Interspersed with this narrative are chapters about a young missionary, his college roommate, and Alma, the girl Cullen’s well-meaning friends set him up with to shake him out of his doldrums. These seemingly unrelated chapters start to build up a complex and shattering backstory that fills the reader will a sense of impending doom. This narrative strain is what made the novel for me. It should have been too farfetched to work, but somehow Whaley makes it happen.

I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary literary YA lately and the truth is they are starting to feel just as formulaic as genre YA, only with different tropes and cadences. I haven’t decided if this is a bad thing. On one hand, it is the promise of these elements that make me pick up a book. But when the novels start to blend together in my head or the story feels vaguely familiar I wonder, am I reading too many similar novels, or is contemporary literary YA just becoming too similar?

The elements in question are all here: first person narration; short-ish chapters that tend to end with a zinger of a one-liner; small town setting; smart kid who wants out of said small town; hot dusty summer; first love (and usually, first sexual experience);  tragedy; quirky side character. All of this aside, Whaley takes this formula and creates an excellent novel. He handles what could be an unwieldy story with aplomb; the narrative is succinct and impactful. I love Cullen’s restraint and silent disdain for his hometown. He is a smart narrator with moments of exquisite vulnerability.

Upon discussion with YA connoisseur and good friend Liza (who first recommended the book to me), I discovered that people have been interpreting the ending totally differently from me. This made me like the book even more. I won’t spoil it here, but if you’ve read it, let’s talk about it in the comments below. I’m dying to know if anyone else had the same interpretation as I did.  Fans of Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and John Green’s entire backlist will enjoy this truly accomplished novel.

Where Things Come Back is available now in paperback from Simon and Schuster Canada.

Worth the Wait: Waiting for Normal Review

This is a book I should have read ages ago and never got around to until a friend of mine insisted I drop everything else and read it THIS INSTANT. I started on the ferry, read in the car, and finished it before bed and am sorry I didn’t savour it more, now that it’s done.

Mommers is an all or nothing kind of woman. This makes life difficult for twelve year old Addie, who is forced to move into a tiny little trailer with her, away from her beloved half sisters and stepfather Dwight, when her mother’s marriage falls apart. But Addie refuses to wallow in what is by all accounts an unfortunate situation. She joins the stage orchestra, makes friends, and looks forward to visits from Dwight and the Littles (as she refers to her younger half sisters). But when her mother becomes involved in a suspicious business scheme with an even more suspicious partner named Pete, things go from okay to bad to worse. The last time Addie spoke up, her family was separated. Now that Dwight has moved in with Hannah, Mommers is all Addie has left. But is she enough?

There is a whole subcategory of contemporary American middle grade fiction about spunky heroines in lower income situations with at least one negligent/absent parent. Think Higher Power of Lucky, The Great Gilly Hopkins,  How to Steal a Dog, Sunny Holiday. There are a number of similarities between these books, but my favourite is the strength of voice. Addie’s voice rings on every page. Sensitive but tough, lonely but optimistic, she is the very image of a plucky American heroine.* I especially enjoyed how author Leslie Connor handled Addie’s struggles with a learning disability, which was honest and funny and spot-on. Something about the tone and voice made me think of Walk Two Moons, which is about as perfect as a middle grade novel gets and is the highest of praise in my opinion.

There is a lot of love in this book, which mitigates Addie’s sometimes horrifying living situation. There are all sorts of gifts and gestures that demonstrate the presence of love in Addie’s life. Elliot and Soula at the local store look out for her, her Grandio stops by from time to time, and Dwight phones regularly.  This is not a story about abandonment, though it could have been. It is clear that Addie’s mother loves her, but she is an unstable woman who makes bad choices, such as leaving her children at home alone with no food for days on end or chasing shady business opportunities. She exhibits other behaviour that hints at manic depression. Though I felt for Addie, I never truly worried about her because I knew how resourceful she was and that people had their eye on her and that eventually SOMETHING must happen.

Sometimes when bad situations are righted in children’s fiction it feels too clean and unbelievable, suffering from Happy Ever After syndrome. Connor manages to avoid this yet also creates a reunion scene so beautiful it brought a tear to my tired eye at 1am when I finished reading it. There are gritty bits, but ultimately this is a well-paced, warm read about a girl in a bad situation who sees her dream come true. It’s a great discussion book for literacy circles and book clubs.

Waiting for Normal is available now in paperback from Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.

*Oh, pluck! Pluck in British children’s books tends to refer to a precocious child with a smart mouth. Pluck in American children’s books refers to unfailing optimism despite terrible circumstances.

Crazy Good: One Crazy Summer

You can barely see the cover of this book underneath all of those award stickers. One Crazy Summer has won or been given the honour book status for almost every award it was eligible for, and with good reason. Rita Williams-Garcia has blended a unique history lesson with a family story and delivered it all in the pitch-perfect voice of her eleven year old narrator, Delphine.

1968. Delphine lives with her Daddy and Grandmother, Big Ma, in New York. Ever since her mother Cecile took off to be a poet, she has taken care of her sisters, Vonetta (all show and crow) and Fern (always accompnaied by her doll, Miss Patty Cake). She is none to pleased to be spending the summer with crazy Cecile in Oakland, especially when it is clear that Cecile can’t be bothered speaking to her own children, let alone feeding or entertaining them. Instead, the girls spend their days at a community centre run by members of the Black Panthers, learning about their rights. But even after weeks of self sufficiency and good behaviour, Cecile, who goes by Nzila now, does not seem to be warming to her daughters. Why are the girls not allowed in her kitchen? Who are the people coming and going at all hours of the day?

I love Delphine- responsible, no-nonsense, lovable Delphine. Her voice is so real to me that days after finishing the novel I can still hear it in my head. Part of what makes her so memorable is her cadence and diction, which is child-like but also artfully crafted. It reminded me a bit of Salamanca in Walk Two Moons, who remains one of my all-time favourite narrators in children’s lit. Both Delphine and Salamanca are quintessential middle grade characters, teetering at the edge of childish naivete and yet also wise-beyond-their-years.

Williams-Garcia manages to address hard, emotional material (absentee mother, racism, the volatile civil rights movement in the late 1960s) in a way that is neither threatening nor heavy-handed. Her message is not political, though there are lots of things to be learned about the politics of the day. Readers will be fascinated to learn about the civil rights movement and the Black Panthers, and skeptical Delphine is the perfect guide for this territory, which is probably unfamiliar to many Canadian children.

One Crazy Summer is available now in hardcover from Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Summer Fun in Key West: Turtle in Paradise

A pretty cover that captures the summer aspect of the book, but not its rascally spirit

Ah, summer reading! The things I want to get out of a summer read are as follows: a summery setting, preferably with water nearby; a coming of age story; a bit of a mystery, and at least one moment that brings a lump to my throat or a tear to my eye. I want a good story, but I don’t want to work too hard-it is summer, afterall. Please keep in mind that I hold every summer book up to the Gold Standard of summer books, Looking at the Moon by Kit Pearson.*

I have been meaning to read Jennifer L. Holm’s Newbury honor winning Turtle in Paradise for some time, and I am glad to have finally got to it. All of my summer reading must-haves are present in this book, and much more besides. During the heigh of the Depression, eleven year old Turtle arrives at Curry Lane, a ramshackle street in Key West, to stay with her aunt while her mother tries to make money as a housekeeper for a lady who hates children. Turtle arrives in a world completley different from her own, with exotic fruit trees, oddly named people (Beans, Slow Poke, Pork Chop, Killie the Horse), scorpions, and rumoured pirate treasure. Just about the only thing she recognizes is the abject poverty that has infected the nation. Pretty soon she has ensconsed herself in daily life, taking care of babies and their diaper rash as part of her cousins’ business venture, The Diaper Gang; engaging in a sort of wild potluck called a cut-up; trying to keep her cat out of her harried aunt’s way; and charming her mean old grandmother and a sea captain named Slow Poke. Turtle is a smart, if somewhat hard-boiled kid. She knows that life isn’t like a Shirley Temple movie or Little Orphan Annie, but when she stumbles upon a potential treasure map, she starts to think that maybe Hollywood endings CAN happen.

It is rare to find a a book with a female narrator that I can hand to a boy and say with full confidence, ”you will like this,” but despite what its fairly feminine cover suggests, this book has lots of appeal for both boys and girls. Turtle is plucky and smart and holds her own with the boys. In fact, she is the only female character (other than some moms and grandmothers) of any consequence in the book; all of the major supporting players are rascally boys. Holm references the funny papers that were so popular in the 1930s and she has managed to capture their spirit in the comraderie and hijinx that the Diaper Gang get up to. Think Little Rascals or Newsies.

I love when a realistic setting is so unique and unusual that it almost feels as though you have stumbled into a fantasty novel. Holm’s rendering of Key West in the depression is a fascinating world that is very much rooted in history and authenticity, but is so quirky it feels otherwordly at times. The reader gets to experience Key West through the eyes of an equally bewildered narrator, who is also new to the setting. I loved the afterward, which gave more info on what facts were true and where the author got her inspiration.

My only complaint is that after a fairly big reveal with major consequences, the book wraps up very quickly. I would have liked to spend a bit more time with Turtle after this life-changing incident, just to see how she digests the information and deals with the fall-out. Instead, Holm hints that things will be fine and ends before the reader can ask any questions. I could have used one more chapter to tie things up, but this is in no way deterred from my enjoyment of the book overall. This is a fairly fast-paced story and would make a really fun read aloud for someone who enjoys doing voices. You can read it aloud to children as young as 6, but I think it will be most enjoyed by independent readers, aged 8-12.

Turtle in Paradise is available in paperback from Random House.

*Who has a new book out this fall. I have read it, it is fabulous, review coming soon!

B is for Breaking News: Awards, Visits, and Events!

CBA Libris Awards, 2011

Firstly, I am so pleased to be the recipient of the 2011 Young Bookseller of the Year Award, presented by Chase Paymentech at the CBA Libris Awards this past Saturday. I love what I do, and I would not be where I am without the love, support, and infinite wisdom of my colleagues, particularly Cathy Francis and Nina McCreath who welcomed me into their wonderful store. I was doubly pleased when the store took home the prize for Specialty Bookstore of the Year. As Nina said in her lovely speech, it is difficult to describe the magic that is The Flying Dragon Bookshop; it truly is something you need to experience first hand.

B is for brainstorming at the Downsview Branch of TPL

This week I also dropped by the Downsview branch of the Toronto Public Library to visit with a brilliant group of grade 4 and 5 students. We chatted about writer’s block, magnificent monkey-shaped macaroni, did some character work, and had a great time. Thanks to librarians Jessica and Ryan for making me feel so welcome!

Lastly, I am thrilled to be moderating a discussion between YA authors Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth this Thursday, May 19th at the Forest Hill branch of the Toronto Public Library as part of HarperCollins’ Dystopian Tour 2011. I am a big fan of both Delirium and Divergent, and can’t wait to hear more about the stories behind the stories.