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Dog Days: A Canine Collection of Reading

By on August 17, 2015   /   Book Lists, Fiction, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, For Writers, Nonfiction  

There’s a reason these sultry days of July and August are called “dog days of summer,” but it has nothing to do with your canine companion.

The phrase gets its name from long ago when people associated the hot weather with the star Sirius, the brightest in the sky. Sirius is part of the Canis Major (Large Dog) constellation. And because of this, it became known as the Dog Star.

In late summer, in the Northern Hemisphere, Sirius rises and sets with the sun. As a result, early stargazers believed the star’s heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of stifling weather from July to August.

Turns out they were wrong. The heat is actually the result of the Earth’s tilt. Still, what better way to celebrate these dog days than to take a look at books about man’s (and woman’s) best friend.

Below are a few that have been published in the last five years. (Dates are for first year of publication.)

For a look at some older dog books, click on this classic MUF post: No Dead Dogs

9780062122209A Dog Called Homeless by Sarah Lean (2012)

Cally Fisher knows she can see her dead mother, but the only other living soul who does is a mysterious wolfhound who always seems to be there when her mom appears. How can Cally convince anyone that her mom is still with the family, or persuade her dad that the huge silver-gray dog belongs with them. With beautiful, spare writing and adorable animals, A Dog Called Homeless is perfect for readers of favorite middle-grade novels starring dogs, such as Because of Winn-Dixie and Shiloh.

9780544339125Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles, Book One by Karen English (2013)

It’s tough being the new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin had lots of friends at his old school, but the kids here don’t even know that he’s pretty good at skateboarding, or how awesome he is at soccer. And when his classmate Richard comes over and the boys end up in trouble, not only does Gavin risk losing his one new friend, he has to take care of his great aunt Myrtle’s horrible little dog as punishment. To make matters worse, Gavin seems to have attracted the attention of the school bully. Will he be able to avoid getting pounded at the skate park? And how is he ever going to prove he’s cool with a yappy little Pomeranian wearing a pink bow at his side?

9780316043977Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors (2011)

Homer Pudding, an ordinary farm boy, has big dreams of following in the footsteps of his famous treasure-hunting uncle. But when Uncle Drake mysteriously disappears, Homer inherits two things: a lazy, droopy dog with no sense of smell, and a mystery. Why would his uncle call this clumsy dog his “most treasured possession?” And why did he put a gold coin on the dog’s collar? Join Homer, his sister Gwendolyn, and Dog on an adventure that will test their wits and courage as they leave their peaceful farm and head into a world where ruthless treasure hunters hide around every corner. Where they discover that Dog has a hidden talent and that treasure might be closer than they ever imagined. This is the first in a series of books about Homer and Dog.

9780545639149Rescue on the Oregon Trail: Ranger in Time #1 by Kate Messner (2015)

Ranger has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, but can’t officially pass the test because he’s always getting distracted by squirrels during exercises. One day, he finds a mysterious first-aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott. Sam’s family is migrating west on the Oregon Trail, and soon after Ranger arrives, he helps the boy save his little sister. Ranger thinks his job is done, but the Oregon Trail can be dangerous, and the Abbotts need Ranger’s help more than they realize! See also: Danger in Ancient in Rome: Ranger in Time #2, also by Kate Messner.

9780545554510Lucky Dog: Twelve Tales of Rescued Dogs (2014)

This collection is full of heartwarming and hilarious stories about the Pawley Rescue Center, where rescued dogs find their way into hearts and homes. You’ll meet Foxtrot, a feisty Pomeranian who can’t bear the thought of leaving her best friend. And Beatrice, whose bark is definitely worse than her bite. And then there’s Pumpkin, one of the 101 Chihuahuas who turn life at the center upside down. Lucky Dog features sweet and silly stories about playful pups and the kids who love them by some of your favorite authors: Randi Barrow, Marlane Kennedy, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Kirby Larson, C. Alexander London, Leslie Margolis, Jane B. Mason and Sarah Hines Stephens, Ellen Miles, Michael Northrop, Teddy Slater, Tui T. Sutherland, and Allan Woodrow.

9780545643313Woof (A Bowser and Birdie Novel) by Spencer Quinn (2015)

There is trouble brewing in the Louisiana swamp — Bowser can smell it. Bowser is a very handsome and only slightly slobbery dog, and he can smell lots of things. Like bacon. And rawhide chews! And the sweat on humans when they’re lying. Birdie Gaux, the girl Bowser lives with, also knows something is wrong. It’s not just that her grammy’s stuffed prize marlin has been stolen. It’s the weird rumor that the marlin is linked to a missing treasure. It’s the truck that seems to be following Birdie and the bad feeling on the back of her neck. When Birdie and Bowser start digging into the mystery, not even Bowser’s powerful sniffer can smell just how menacing the threat is. And when the danger comes straight for Birdie, Bowser knows it up to him to sic ’em.

9780545416382Duke by Kirby Larson (2013)

With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas in Europe, eleven-year-old Hobie Hanson is determined to do his part to help his family and his country, even if it means giving up his beloved German shepherd, Duke. Hoping to help end the war and bring his dad home faster, Hobie decides to donate Duke to Dogs for Defense, an organization that urges Americans to “loan” their pets to the military to act as sentries, mine sniffers, and patrol dogs. Hobie immediately regrets his decision and tries everything he can to get Duke back, even jeopardizing his friendship with the new boy at school. But when his father is taken prisoner by the Germans, Hobie realizes he must let Duke go and reach deep within himself to be brave. Will Hobie ever see Duke, or his father, again?

9781599906904Girl’s Best Friend (A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery) by Leslie Margolis (2010)

Dogs are disappearing in her neighborhood, and Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair knows all about it. After all, she has a semi-secret after-school gig as a professional (ok, amateur) dog-walker. Maggie hates to see a pup in trouble, so she’s even willing to help her ex-best friend Ivy recover her rescue-dog, Kermit. Kermit’s being held for ransom, and Maggie has noticed some suspicious behavior lately. But she never suspected her crush Milo could be involved.

9780374380083Boy’s Best Friend by Kate Banks and Rupert Sheldrake (2015)

Eleven-year-old George has a dog, Bart, who seems to know everything about him—from when he is feeling sad to when he will arrive home from school. George’s new neighbor and classmate, Lester, also has a dog, Bill Gates, and Lester thinks he is the smartest animal in the world. When their teacher assigns a school science project about animal behavior, George and Lester decide to conduct an experiment based on the world-famous Rupert Sheldrake’s experiments about dogs. George even has an email exchange with Dr. Sheldrake to help him with the project—and he and Lester soon find out that, through a few simple experiments, kids can make scientific discoveries, too. This middle-grade dogs story is inspired by Rupert Sheldrake’s bestselling adult book, Dogs that Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home.

9781419714818Dog Beach Unleashed: The Seagate Summers Book Two by Lisa Greenwald (2015)

Remy, Micayla, Bennett, and the C Twins are back on Seagate Island for another summer of beach traditions, new and old. A new tradition: keeping Remy’s dog-sitting business going. Remy loves seeing her dog friends (and her real friends, too), but the doldrums start to sink in when it turns into the rainiest summer on record, with evacuation constantly threatening to ruin the world’s most perfect vacation spot. Tempers are short and dogs are bored. What can one 12-year-old do to create summer magic when the summer doesn’t seem to be showing up? See also: Welcome to Dog Beach: The Seagate Summers Book One, also by Lisa Greenwald.

9780545416351Dash by Kirby Larson (2014)

Although Mitsi Kashino and her family are swept up in the wave of anti-Japanese sentiment following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitsi never expects to lose her home—or her beloved dog, Dash. But, as World War II rages and people of Japanese descent are forced into incarceration camps, Mitsi is separated from Dash, her classmates, and life as she knows it. The camp is a crowded and unfamiliar place, whose dusty floors, seemingly endless lines, and barbed wire fences begin to unravel the strong Kashino family ties. With the help of a friendly neighbor back home, Mitsi remains connected to Dash in spite of the hard times, holding on to the hope that the war will end soon and life will return to normal. Though they’ve lost their home, will the Kashino family also lose their sense of family? And will Mitsi and Dash ever be reunited?

9780544088931Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo (2014)

Anyone who has ever spent time with a dog knows that dogs love sniffing! They sniff out hidden food, dirty socks, and the visitor who comes to the door.  But some dogs work with police officers, soldiers and even scientists to put their “sniffers” to work. Sniffer dogs make use of the amazing biology behind their noses to protect people from bombs, catch criminals smuggling drugs, or help researchers locate a hard to find snail in a forest.
In Sniffer Dogs you will meet many dogs and their handlers and learn all about their jobs. Some of these dogs are raised from birth to detect blood sugar levels in their owners.  Others are rescued from animal shelters and their boisterous personalities help make them excellent sniffer dogs. Featuring a balance between science and social science, Sniffer Dogs will appeal to dog lovers and science lovers alike.

Dorian Cirrone has written several books for children and teens. Her middle-grade novel, The First Last Day, which takes place on the New Jersey Shore, will be out in May 2016 from S&S/Aladdin. You can find her on Facebook and on Twitter as @DorianCirrone. She gives writing tips and does occasional giveaways on her blog at: http://doriancirrone.com/welcome/blog/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Two Are Better Than One

By on August 14, 2015   /   Author Interviews, Book Lists, For Librarians, For Teachers, For Writers, Writing  

I’ve always wanted to try collaborating with another author. First of all, I think it would be a lot of FUN (and if you’re not having at least a little bit of fun when you’re writing, you’re not doing it right!). But beyond that, I like the idea of working with someone else who is as invested in a project as I am, working together to create  something that is bigger than either of us could have created on our own. Or at least DIFFERENT than it would have been had either of us attempted the same basic premise on our own.

Joan Holub GG

Joan Holub

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Suzanne Williams

Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams are both successful children’s book authors who have published many books on their own. But for the last seven years they’ve also been writing together. As collaborators, they’ve published 34 books in three different series: Goddess Girls (Ages 8-12, Simon & Schuster), Grimmtastic Girls (Ages 8-12, Scholastic), and Heroes-in-Training (Ages 7-10, Simon & Schuster). And they’ve got at least 12 more books coming!

I’m fascinated by how their partnership works, so I decided to interview them for this post. Thanks, Joan and Suzanne, for agreeing to answer all my questions, both online and in real life.

THE BEGINNING…

I know you guys met through SCBWI-Western Washington and you used to meet for dinner now and then to talk about your writing. But the initial idea to collaborate was Joan’s, correct?

Joan: That’s right.

Me: Which came first? The idea to write with someone else or the idea for Goddess Girls?

Joan: Goddess Girls started with a title and a series hook, born from my interest in mythology. The hook was to set the series in Mount Olympus Academy and base each book on a middle-school-age goddess’s myth, giving it a modern twist.

Me: I know Suzanne is great, but I want to know what is it about her that made you approach her about writing this together?

Joan: I had always wanted to write a series with a partner. Suzanne is organized, smart, sane, talented, and fun to hang out with. Plus she already had some great series under her author belt. So I popped the question about writing together. Thank Zeus she agreed! We developed the series as a team and every book is a collaborative effort.

Me: Suzanne, what was your initial response when Joan brought it up?

Suzanne: I was surprised at the offer. I’d never thought about writing with a co-author before. It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to say “yes,” though. From our long dinner conversations about our various writing projects, I knew Joan was both brilliant and hardworking. I felt certain we’d make a good team. We’d both had experience writing middle grade fiction series, liked writing for that age group, and had similar senses of humor.

Me: I understand you each sort of “take charge” of every other book. So, you start by discussing what the book is going to be about (by phone or Skype since you don’t live in the same area anymore). How long are these conversations?

Joan: An hour or more. Then if it’s Suzanne’s book, she’ll begin writing a long synopsis/outline. Including research notes, Suzanne’s latest outline (for Goddess Girls #20: Calliope the Muse, out August 2016) was twenty-eight pages long. Mine are usually about half that. We are usually writing two books at a time, so while Suzanne is writing her outline, I’m writing the outline for the next book. Then we trade and critique each other’s outlines.

Me: When you started writing together, could either of you have predicted you’d do THIS many books together?

Suzanne: Not a chance. J We feel incredibly lucky that our three series together have done so well.

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ON THEIR PARTNERSHIP…

Me: What is the most interesting and/or surprising thing to have happened as a result of your working together?

Suzanne: Before we teamed up we’d both written solo middle grade fiction series. But none of those series had continued past the initial four to eight books contracted. So we didn’t anticipate our joint series would do so much better than our solo series or that we’d be working together for as many years as we have on so many books. Though we occasionally wish our schedule weren’t quite so hectic (okay, more than just “occasionally”), we are very grateful for how well our joint series have done. Some highs include the dozen or so foreign translations of Goddess Girls, and, recently, seeing an eight-book boxed set of Goddess Girls 91YDg8o0dmLand a 4-books-in-one hardcover of the first four Heroes in Training in Costco. Oh yes. And the one Thanksgiving when a fan alerted us to a video clip that showed President Obama buying two of our Goddess Girls books (among several other books) as Christmas gifts!

Me: That is VERY cool! Congratulations!  What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started working together?

Suzanne: Hmm. Not sure. It’s been rather fun to just go with the flow as the books in our co-written series have increased from contract to contract. Life is meant to have some mystery. Makes things more exciting!

Me: Very true. Can you both say something about how your partnership has allowed you to grow as individuals and/or as writers?

Suzanne: I think we’ve learned a lot from each other over the years we’ve been writing together. Joan says I taught her to outline, for example. Maybe I did…initially…but Joan has improved on the way we outline a story many times over. When I write now there’s a little voice in the back of my head reminding me of things Joan would suggest to make a story better. I try to pay attention to that voice!

Joan: I think it has helped me to narrow the focus of a plot more quickly. Because I know I’ll need to explain all aspects of a planned story to Suzanne–such as the major characters’ internal and external goals, motivations, etc.–before beginning a first draft, I’d better figure all that out before she and I talk. (And, yes, Suzanne did teach me the value of an outline in series writing, and I learned how to write them from reading hers. She could teach a class in outlining!)

Suzanne and Joan live clear across the country from one another. This summer they finally got to spend a little time together in person.

Suzanne and Joan live clear across the country from one another. This summer they finally got to spend a little time together in person.

Me: One final question: What is the secret to your successful partnership?

Suzanne: From the start we were determined to keep our egos out of our writing as much as possible and concentrate on doing what was best for each story. We’ve come to trust and value each other’s writing expertise more and more over the years. And while we’ve had a few tense moments (particularly when facing especially short deadlines) we’ve weathered the occasional storm just like you do in a good marriage. We’ve also kept our writing process fluid enough that it could evolve over the years, and we’ve become more efficient. We try to divide work as evenly as possible between us, but we don’t “keep score.”

Joan: We are similar enough that our writing blends well, but different enough to each bring something to the table. Brainstorming together feels effortless and always yields results. We’re equally invested in the characters, stories, and meeting deadlines. And while respectful of each other’s work, we’re frank when we see a problem. Our ultimate, all-important goal is always a great book. (Here’s a quick tip for anyone starting a partnership: Try to remember to use the words “we” and “our” instead of “my” when you discuss your work.)

 Joan and Suzanne celebrate the release of two more books this month:

(Goddess Girls #17)

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(Heroes in Training #10)

HIT10 copy

And…Joan has two new books of her own this month, too:

salem The Knights Before Christmas Joan Holub Scott Magoon

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Ladies, for a fun interview!

-Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of more than 40 books for children, including The Buddy Files series, the Haunted Library series, and the forthcoming King and Kayla series.

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EXTRAORDINARY with Miriam Spitzer Franklin

By on August 13, 2015   /   Author Interviews, Giveaways  

Miriam Spitzer FranklinNearly ten years ago, when I was still fairly new at writing for children, I found the Blueboards, an online forum founded by Verla Kay.  I also met some critique partners there, and one of them, Miriam Spitzer Franklin, shared her middle-grade novel with me.  That’s when I first fell in love with her main character, Pansy.

Over the years, and through several evolving drafts, I kept hoping the world would have the opportunity to get to know Pansy, too.  Recently that hope became a reality.  EXTRAORDINARY is now available in bookstores, and I am excited to talk with Miriam today about this amazing book.

First, a quick summary of the story:

Ten-year-old Pansy Smith wants to become  extraordinary……and she has only 14.5 weeks to reach her goal.

Last spring, Pansy chickened out on going to sleepaway camp, even though she’d promised her best friend, Anna, she’d go. It was just like when they went to get their hair cut for Locks of Love; only one of them walked out with a new hairstyle, and it wasn’t Pansy. But Pansy never got the chance to make it up to Anna. While at camp, Anna contracted meningitis and a dangerously high fever, and she hasn’t been the same since. The last words spoken to each other were angry ones, and now all Pansy wants is her best friend back—not the silent girl in the wheelchair who has to go to a special school and who can’t do all the things Pansy used to chicken out of doing. So when Pansy discovers that Anna is getting a surgery that might cure her, she  knows she’s been given the chance she’s been waiting for- a chance to get Anna back, by finally facing her fears and becoming extraordinary, the kind of best friend Anna deserves.

Welcome, Miriam! I am so excited to see this book out in the world!  But as I mentioned earlier, you’ve been working on this story for a decade. Can you share the original spark of an idea that eventually became EXTRAORDINARY?

My original plan for the book was to write about an ordinary girl who woke up one day and decided she was tired of blending into the walls and it was time for her to become an extraordinary person. In my very first draft, which was in third person instead of first, Pansy Smith fixes her hair in six braids and ties them with purple ribbons, then chooses to wear two different shoes in order to get noticed. In EXTRAORDINARY, Pansy cuts off her hair because it was a broken promise to Anna and she wears the two different shoes by accident. Originally, Anna was a minor character, a friend who suffered a severe brain injury when she was five.

That is a great story idea, though quite a bit different than the story we can read today.  How did it evolve?

Although I queried agents (without much response) and ran the book through my critique partners, I knew something was missing. Then one very wise critique partner–Oh, that was you, Elissa!–told me I needed to be brave, start over, “and let Pansy rise from the ashes.” As much as I didn’t want to take her advice, I knew she was right. So I put the book  aside for a while to work on other projects. And somehow, after the book sat in a drawer for a couple of years, the answer came to me in those crazy ways that solutions to writing problems do: it popped into my head out of nowhere. Pansy’s motivation to become extraordinary needed to come from more than just wanting to be noticed. Pansy’s and Anna’s stories needed to be linked, and Anna needed to be the motivation for Pansy’s transformation. I also realized that I’d been avoiding the tough emotional places that needed to be explored, and that by dating the brain injury I distanced Pansy (and myself) from the raw feelings that come with a situation like this one.

I am so glad you didn’t leave it in that drawer forever! (I’m also slightly surprised someone actually listened to me, and that it turned out to be the right decision.)

Speaking of those tough emotional places…it’s both heartbreaking and, well, extraordinary to see how Pansy deals with Anna now that she isn’t the friend she used to be.  How did you find the right balance between Pansy’s often humorous antics and those bittersweet moments when she interacts with Anna?

I don’t like to read dreary and depressing books, and I’m sure most kids don’t want to either. I knew this needed to be a hopeful, positive story and I knew that would have to come from Pansy herself. While most of the book is a countdown to the brain surgery that Pansy is sure will cure Anna, Pansy spends most of her time chasing goals on her quest to become extraordinary. And because none of these goals come easy for her, there’s plenty of opportunities for humor as Pansy learns to skate, tries to win a reading contest, joins Girl Scouts, and though not in her list of goals–makes new friends. I wanted to show that while Pansy misses her friend with all her heart, life moves on in its crazy and unpredictable way, and that even in the saddest of times there’s still laughter and joy.

We’ve already mentioned that you worked on this novel extensively. How do you revise your novels?

Revisions are actually my favorite part of the process; I guess because my first attempts are just getting the manuscript written and through revision I hope to get to the heart of my story. Once I’ve figured out what needs to happen, the writing flows much easier than it does in the first drafts. I don’t really have a formula for how I tackle revision. I just go scene by scene, cutting what doesn’t fit any more and elaborating on scenes that are important. Even if it’s a complete rewrite, I go back to my original version which has a structure even if I’m changing it altogether. Though most everything was changed from the first draft, there were still some scenes or parts of scenes that I kept.

I love that, as the author, you never ever gave up on this book, even after several (dozen) rejections. Your determination matches your main character, Pansy, in fact. What advice do you have for others who are pursuing their dreams, especially when things get tough?

I love this question! All my life I’ve persevered when things don’t come easily to me, a lot like Pansy. I started figure skating when I was a teenager, watching others around me land jumps in weeks that took me years to learn. I even failed a compulsory figures test NINE times. This was back in the day when they made you draw figure eights on the ice and judges would come out and walk around on the ice to check the accuracy of your turns and alignment. I know others who failed a test once or twice, but NINE times?

I guess that’s the same determination that would keep me writing manuscripts for  *AHEM* years without getting any interest from an agent. EXTRAORDINARY  was probably my sixth or seventh completed novel, but since all the others had been revised millions of times before they went back in the drawer, and during the time I was teaching full-time I only worked on my writing during the summer….well, you can do the math and figure out how long this journey to publication has taken. One thing that’s kept me going over the years is the same as with most of us out there–we just can’t quit. When we’re not writing, we’re thinking up new characters and stories and we would go a bit crazy if we couldn’t get the stories out. Also, like with my skating, I got encouragement from those around me. My coach always said I was ready to take the test and land the jumps, but I just needed to have confidence, keep working hard, and not let nerves get in my way. My critique partners have been there to basically tell me the same thing. As long as I could see progress- a complimentary rejection, an encouraging critique at a conference, CPs who pointed out the good along with the work that needed to be done–then I was able to keep going. The crazy thing about this manuscript is that I basically landed an agent on the FIRST query. After umpteen years of querying, when an agent contacted me on the Verla Kay boards requesting the manuscript from my query post, I fell right off my chair. And then when she requested the full a week after reading the chapters, and set up a phone call a week after that…well, the whole thing was mind-boggling. I had to do an R&R before signing, but I knew that this book was different from the others I’d queried.

I am so glad that agent, and now your publisher, saw the gem I had seen so many years ago! But now that Pansy’s story is told, do you have another main character we can fall in love with?  Tell us about your next novel.

The working title of my next middle grade is SUNNY BERINGER’S TOTALLY AWESOME PLAN FOR ROMANCE.

Afraid of losing the only father she’s ever known, eleven-year-old Sunny tries to spark romance between her mom and her longtime boyfriend after Mom enrolls in college and moves the family miles away from home. But when Sunny discovers her “parents’ have been keeping secrets from her, she is determined to do whatever it takes to get back home, even if she has to lie, sneak around, and hurt the people who care about her. In the end, Sunny learns that families come in all shapes and sizes and that taking the easy way out in facing your problems only means that you’ll have to face the consequences.

It sounds fascinating!  Thank you, Miriam, for sharing so much with us today!  And best wishes to you and Pansy.

Readers, now it’s your chance to get a copy of this amazing book!  Leave a comment below to be entered to win one copy of EXTRAORDINARY.  Only US residents are eligible (sorry, international folks). The winner will be chosen Tuesday, August 18, 2015.

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Elissa Cruz isn’t nearly as extraordinary as Pansy, the main character in EXTRAORDINARY.  But she is the mother of five children and that is pretty awesome.  She writes fiction for kids and teens.  You can find out more about her at www.elissacruz.com.

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