THE MONSTORE by TARA LAZAR

    

      TARA LAZAR'S debut picture book, THE MONSTORE is a marvellous, monstrous tale of sibling troubles.  TARA is well-known in children's literature circle for her championing and passion for picture books and their writers and illustrators. Her professionalism and respect transfers into her writing THE MONSTORE, a fast, fun read with twists.  It tickles the reader.  
     TARA takes a brother and little sister relationship and universalizes it in a sophisticated way where the reader or listener relate to both.  Through her ability to spin a unique story, she maintains the tension between siblings and creates a reader/listener rooting and cheering for them and the loveable monsters.  THE MONSTORE leaves the reader smiling and wanting more.  I promised TARA, I would not give away the tricks, twists, nor ending. 
      THE MONSTORE employs a nameless character with the cleverness of Dr. Seuss's Sylvester McMonkey McBean. This monster of a  manager artfully teases and tenses the reader/listener.  Placing TARA'S text with JAMES  BURKS larger than life illustrations completes the package.  Reading THE MONSTORE, one would never suspect this picture book to be TARA'S first. I can't wait for her future books to come out. 

 I give this book 5 apples, cream of the crop. The ability of an author to successfully carry-out empathy and rooting for both characters while creating a modern day McBean with twists and turns makes this a stand-out book.  


     This picture book is for children 4 through 8.  It has high appeal for boys and girls.  This would be a great addition to a home, classroom, or library bookshelf. The themes in the book are siblings and rivalry, family, fairness, and resolving problems. 


    

 If you want to find out more about author Tara Lazar, check out her website at:Tara's Website.  THE MONSTORE is published by  Aladdin, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and is available at Barnes and Noble, online and through your local independent bookseller. 

    

May 30th, DESTINY, REWRITTEN BY Kathryn Fitzmaurice

     One of the ways I reach my middle grade students and some beyond those years is to talk story.  I tell them you are writing the story of your life.   I find it gives them distance from pain and confusion and empowers them to make decisions on their character’s behalf.  Kathryn Fitzmaurice brings this concept to life in her latest middle grade novel.

 DESTINEY, REWRITTEN by Kathryn Fitzmaurice is the perfect middle grade novel that captures coming of age through the eyes of a young want-to-be romance writer whose given destiny is to become a poet.   Emily Elizabeth Davis is destined to be a poet, or so she is told.  When little cousin Mortie turns the page of her life to an unexpected chapter, Emily begins to allow herself to rewrite her story to be her own.   

Destiny can be a difficult topic to write about but Fitzmaurice does a remarkable job making it look simple while creating such believable and loveable characters.  Crossing two developmental stages, DESTINY, REWRITTEN moves Emily from the stage that spans late elementary school solidly into early adolescence in which the themes, plot, and characters seamlessly match.  Fitzmaurice thoughtfully brings to life identity through several themes including the Emily’s search for the father she does not know.  DESTINY, REWRITTEN invites, holds, and satisfies the reader, chapter by chapter.

This is a five apple book, cream of the crop. Excellent characterization coupled with a unique plot which clarifies writing one’s own destiny to kids who are developing independence and identity makes this 335 page, middle grade novel a wonderful read for kids ages 8-12. I also recommend this book as a classroom or family read aloud.  It offers up great points to ponder and discuss and includes several mysteries to solve. It is a high interest book for girls and will also appeal to some boys.

     The themes in this book are destiny, independence, mystery, identity, family, change, and friendship.

     DESTINY, REWRITTEN is published by the Katherine Tegen imprint of HarperCollins Publishers and was edited by Molly O’Neill.  It is available on Kindle and in hardcover and can be found at bookstores and online.  You can find out more information about this book and Kathryn at Kathryn’s Website.  
   DESTINY, REWRITTEN is being given away this month to a lucky winner who posts a comment on this blog or signs up as a follower or likes the Book Wisdom by Diane Facebook page.  If you sign up as a follower please let me know you did, I do not have access to your name or use your information as I value your privacy. Drawing happens June 7th.

Book Wisdom, March 5, 2013, Book of the Month, Award Winning, The Queen of Water

THE QUEEN OF WATER by Laura Resau & Maria Virginia

    There are times when I solicit authors and illustrators for their work, and there are authors who solicit me with their books.  Both ways of submission bring in good children's books.  Last June, I was approached by Colorado author, Laura Resau who offered to send me her award winning young adult novel, THE QUEEN OF WATER.  Laura had looked at my site and felt I might be a good match for her book.  From reading this book, I have determined a third way of books arriving at my doorstep.  This book was simply meant to be.  It's the perfect book for me, my background, and passions.  I'd like to think that it was many indigenous children and children of poverty who I have worked with over the years calling out to Laura saying please send this to Mrs. Hower.  This story speaks for many unheard voices of children and adolescents who have lived and are living in difficult situations.

      Award winning, THE QUEEN OF WATER by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango is a young adult novel based on the true story of Maria Virginia's life growing up in Ecuador.  The names and places have been changed in respect of privacy.  Laura has embellished a bit to make this a fictional novel based on true life. THE QUEEN OF WATER wraps  the reader's fingers into the tiny hand of 7 year old Virginia, an indigenous child, living in rural Andean Ecuador.

      THE QUEEN OF WATER begins with the forced departure of Virginia who has to leave her family and everything she knows and loves, including her beloved Cheetah. "It's good to have someone love you so fiercely. Even if that someone is a goat." The reader quickly experiences the sharply contrasted reality of Virginia's indigenous life and the upper ruling class of Spanish descendants as she is thrown into the role of servitude as a child to a middle class family. Virginia is a fiery, tenacious, intelligent girl whose sheer will and fortitude guide her in dealing with the ugly side of humanity.  Laura's co-creation of Maria Virginia's voice as a child moves consistently and with clarity through the thread barren warp of Virginia's tapestry of life from childhood through puberty and into adolescence, the colors and textures of the tapestry's weft only strengthen it by creating a story of hope and inspiration.

Maria Virginia and Laura

       Laura  and Maria Virginia do a superb job of staying true to childhood development stages through three distinct stages making an already authentic story, exceptionally real.  Another strength Laura and Maria Virginia bring as a writers is the questions many children ask themselves about life, love, and family when found in the dark places adults knowingly and unknowingly place them.  Sharing just enough emotion and information, the reader is touched by raw reality without going over the edge.  It takes understanding and caring, respect for others, and sheer writing skill to pull together this tightly written, compelling story with the level of integrity and beauty it brings.  Understandably so,  Laura and Maria Virginia six years to write THE QUEEN OF WATER.

I give this book five apples, cream of the crop.  THE QUEEN OF WATER takes an incredible story about will power and resiliency to a very high level through skill and understanding of children and their development into adults.  It is a 350 page, fictional novel based on a true story for mature young adults.

The themes in the story are will power, cultural identity, resiliency, child servitude, freedom, family, class structure and barriers to learning. Parts of the story involve abusive situations which are handled with integrity and respect.

This book is published by Delacorte Press/Random House and is available through your independent bookseller, Barnes and Noble, and online.  It is available in ebook, hardback & paperback. You can find about award winning author, Laura Resau and her other books at: LAURA'S WEBSITE with additional information about Maria Virginia at this location too.