Book Thoughts: Tracing Stars by Erin E. Moulton

It’s July … and there are still three more weeks of the school year. It’s simply not right. As our principal had to deal with three separate shenanigan incidents yesterday it occurred to me that these kids should be on summer vacation!

For those of you enjoying summer already, I have a perfect summer read.  Tracing Stars by Erin E Moulton, ideal for middle grade readers, takes place in a coastal New England town. This story is funny and sweet and full of action. There is a lost pet – a soda loving golden lobster – The Lobster Monty Cola, behind the scenes peeks at working in a theater, a treehouse, and true conflict. (And! The funniest scene ever with a nod to the movie Alien.) It’s a story about friendship and family – and being true to yourself.

Indie Lee Chickory is a spunky heroine not afraid to take action. Even when her action leads to various messes and problems. There is also a great cast of interesting characters – Bebe, Indie Lee’s older sister desperate to be “perfect”; Owen, the brainy curious new friend; Sloth, the scary prop manager; as well as the various neighbors of Plumtown – and each character has their own agenda and own story arc evolving throughout the simultaneously funny and sweet story.

Enjoy!

 

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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I read a lot of YA novels these days. But stand-alone middle grade fiction was a my first love…

I’ve recently read two middle grade novels that reminded me of that love:

HOUND DOG TRUE by Linda Urban and WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE by Tess Hilmo.

For the most part, my reaction to each of these books was…. Awww and a big sigh of contentment. (Except, I must admit, for the frog issues in With a Name Like Love.

A few things that I think made a middle grade novel a middle grade novel (and love-worthy).

• The main character is at a transitional stage of life, on the verge of something new.
• His/Her role within the family is changing as he/she prepares to step out into the world.
• The story involves an awareness of his/her individuality.
• The story reveals simple acts of courage – the main character wants to do – and does – the right thing.
• Animals and pets are crucial.
• There is a very special and definite clarity of language.

I believe middle grade fiction has a tremendous amount of power. They are the reasons readers keep reading later in life. They guide and entertain and model ways to be and to act. Middle grade readers are passionate about the books they love. They believe them with a fierce sort of intensity.  These books can change the world, one reader at a time.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Friday Thoughts, Book and Otherwise

I just finished reading One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street, by Joanne Rocklin.

From the author’s website: (This story) revolves around a neighborhood’s one remaining orange tree and the secrets told, grand ideas shared, and events witnessed in its presence. The story is told in the viewpoints of the street’s many inhabitants, past and present.

This charming, sweet (and tart), middle grade novel is almost a collection of linked short stories, but not quite. I do so love stories of community interconnectedness. I thought the time frame was especially effective ~ looking at one amazing day from the perspective of several characters. We are all living our own separate stories each and every day, but some days truly are more significant than others.

And sometimes life converges into one wild weekend ~ like the one we’re about to experience.

Our church has an annual three-day block party where the whole community is invited – and many of them come – to hang out with friends, listen to music, eat delicious food and play games. In years past we have spent the entire weekend there both working and partaking in the fun. Reveling in interconnectedness. We look forward to seeing that great big balloon in the sky that lets us know the Fiesta has begun. But this year we are having one of those everything happening at once kind of weekends…

Besides the Fiesta, various members of our family have a band festival performance at Disneyland, a dive meet, baseball championship game, work training, more baseball, goodbye party at water park, Tim McGraw concert, Picture Book Party, S.A.T… hmmm, seems like I’m forgetting something.

They are all wonderful things that must get done but I am a bit wistful that we won’t be able to lounge the weekend away having balloon races and playing Bingo while pigging out on lumpia.

But if you are having a lazier sort of weekend, go pick up a copy of the magical One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street.

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