Yolanda Ridge's Blog, page 10

Spring has Sprung!

Piles of snow still surround my mountain home but I know it’s spring because my schedule is suddenly packed with author visits. My favourite time of year!

Tuesday night I participated in a panel for the last event of the Rossland Library‘s AUTHOR SERIES. It was so fun to talk writing and publishing with five other local authors. It’s amazing how many different paths there are to publication![image error]

Then on Wednesday morning I was in front of a much different audience to celebrate LITERACY WEEK at Rossland Summit School. Along with two other children’s authors, I provided 200 students from kindergarten to grade eight with writing tips before letting them loose to create their own stories. It was very inspiring to hear all their creative ideas and help them get their stories out.

Now I’m busy preparing a workshop for next week’s YOUNG AUTHOR’S CONFERENCE at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. I’m very excited to be returning for the third year in a row. This year my workshop is called NO MORE RULES!

I will also be talking about rules on May 11th in Nelson as part of the ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN LITERARY FESTIVAL. This is the first year they’ve offered this program and I’m honoured to be part of it. See the news release here.

In the meantime, I’m hoping my agent will go out on submission with my most recent project, REASONS TO TELL, before the start of summer. Other manuscripts are in various stages of development… hopefully I’ll have more to report soon. In the meantime, bring on the warmer weather!!

 

 

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Title: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus[image error]

Author: Dusti Bowling

Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-1-4549-2345-9

It’s hard not to instantly connect with the main character of this book, 13-year-old Aven Green, when she begins by sharing some of the stories she  makes up when she’s tired of “telling (people) the same boring story about being born without arms”. Right from the beginning, we know that Aven’s focused on what she can do, not what she can’t do. And thanks to her adoptive parents she’s learned to do a lot on her own. So much so, that there were times while I was reading that I forgot Aven”lacked Armagh”.

Because Aven has always gone to the same Kansas school, her friends and fellow students have stopped seeing her differently as well. But when Aven’s family moves to Arizona so her parents can manage Stagecoach Pass, a worn down, wild west theme park, everything changes. But even as befriends a boy with Tourette’s syndrome who’s really struggling with what he describes as a disability, her attitude remains almost too good to be true.

The story includes a mystery and a satisfying (if farfetched) ending, while providing various perspectives on ability and disability. There were times when I felt that Aven and her friends acted younger than their age but I really enjoyed seeing the world through their eyes. Recommended for aged 9 to 13.

 

 

Rossland Author Series

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I am so excited to be part of the line up for this great series featuring so many talented authors! On Tuesday, April 10th at 7pm I will be talking about my road to publication and reading the first chapter of my current work-in-progress, Reasons to Tell. The series is geared toward adults but my presentation will be of interest to anyone from age 9 to 109 who is interested in reading and/or writing. Please come join me!

 

I am so excited to be part of the line up for this great...

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I am so excited to be part of the line up for this great series featuring so many talented authors! On Tuesday, April 10th at 7pm I will be talking about my road to publication and reading the first chapter of my current work-in-progress, Reasons to Tell. The series is geared toward adults but my presentation will be of interest to anyone from age 9 to 109 who is interested in reading and/or writing. Please come join me!

 

Hello, Universe

Title: Hello, Universe[image error]

Author: Erin Entrada Kelly

Publisher: HarperCollins (Greenwillow Books)

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-0-062-41415-1

This book starts slowly. My 12-year-old son gave up after ten pages because he was confused. If it hadn’t been a Newbery winner, I might’ve given up myself. I’m glad I didn’t because half way through, there is a shocking twist that is somewhat foreshadowed by the cover art but still took me totally by surprise. After that, I could not put the book down (and even convinced my 12-year-old to give it another go).

In retrospect, the story gets off to a slow and confusing start because it is told from the point of view of four different characters (one in first person, the rest in third). The author does a fabulous job of creating four nuanced, unique and diverse characters. This takes time and it pays off in the end as each character gets their own fairly complete arc.

The weakest character is the bully, Chet. He doesn’t change much through the course of the book but the reader does get some insight into why he is the way he is (and he is really awful). Kaori doesn’t change much either but she does put her psychic skills to good use, makes a friend/potential business partner, and provides some much needed levity (as does her sister). Virgil, who’s called “turtle” by his family because he’s so timid, shy and quiet, changes in a predictable way but I liked that he wasn’t immediately transformed by his life threatening experience. My favourite character, Valencia, is realistically portrayed as someone with a hearing loss. Through the story, she realizes how lonely she is and takes some huge steps toward fixing it but does not resolve her relationship with her mother.

Not every character evolves and not every problem gets resolved, which prevents the novel’s plot from getting tied up a little too nicely. I know I’m being vague about the story itself but I really don’t want to give too much away. The entire book takes place in the first few days of summer holidays after the four main characters finish 6th grade. There are not a lot of big plot points but the one big event is enough to set a lot of things in motion. Hello,Universe is a character driven novel with a lot of heart. It did not quite live up to my high expectations after winning the Newbery but I think it would be a great classroom read aloud.

The War That Saved My Life

Title: The War That Saved My Life[image error]

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Publisher: Dial Books

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 9780803740815

I can’t believe I’m so late in reviewing this book that I absolutely LOVED!! I’ve just finished listening to the audiobook version of it, in anticipation of the sequel, The War I Finally Won, and just have to share it now.

The War That Saved My Life was a Newbery Honor book in 2016 and won multiple other awards, so I’m not alone in thinking this title is one of the greatest historical middle grade novels ever written. When I first read it, my sons (ten-years-old at the time) were turned off by the dark beginning. And it truly is dark – the main character’s mom locks her in the closet under the sink, calls her terrible names and won’t let her go outside because of her club foot. Once she is evacuated from London during the blitz, things start to change for Ada but the change is slow, nuanced and very realistic.

It is the characters that truly make this book special. I LOVED them all so much and they came alive for me even more when listening to the audiobook. My sons (now twelve) also really enjoyed the audiobook version and have already read the sequel. I can’t wait to spend more time with Ada and will post a review of The War I Finally Won as soon as I can (but if I don’t like it, you may here nothing… see my review of A World Below). Fingers crossed my expectations are not too high!!

 

A World Below

Title: A World Below[image error]

Author: Wesley King

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 9781481478229

I’m a very strong believer in the phrase “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. I also think that if you DO have something nice to say, you should SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS (especially on Valentine’s Day)!! This world view totally informs what books I review on this blog – if I like it, you’ll hear about it; it I don’t, you won’t.

Except…

I recently entered a Goodreads giveaway for Wesley King’s new middle grade novel, A World Below, because I LOVED his book OCDaniel (see my review). Unfortunately, I did not enjoy A World Below nearly as much, mostly because it’s just not my kind of book (see my Goodreads review).

The reason I’m posting about it anyway is because I do have something good to say about A World Below. Despite the fact that it is not my kind of book, I think a lot of middle graders will like this action packed adventure with an element of fantasy (including my own sons, who are reading it now). This brings up an idea I’ve been thinking about a lot lately in terms of book reviewing. First, that it is highly subjective. Second, that most reviews of books written for kids are done by adults. And finally, that expectation can totally influence your enjoyment of a book. In this case, I had very high expectations because I enjoyed the last book I read by this author and because the blurb makes it sound contemporary. In retrospect, a lot of Wesley King’s other writing has not really been “my kind of books” and the title art does imply some kind of fantasy element.

I hope readers of this blog have enjoyed some of my book reviews and are perhaps following me because we have similar taste in literature. I will continue to post about the books I truly love – my version of shouting from the rooftops. But I will also try to go into future reads with a more open mind. Today, my local library is offering blind dates with a book (where you pick a book wrapped in brown paper and give it a try) and I think I’ll see what enjoyment I can get out of a book where I have zero expectations.

ALSO – as a form of unconditional love for myself and my art – I will try to remember how subjective a business this is when reading (or avoiding) reviews of my own books.

In the meantime, Happy Valentine’s Day and happy reading!!

 

The End of the Wild

Title: The End of the Wild[image error]

Author: Nicole Helget

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-0-316-24511-1

This tender middle grade book covers a lot of ground from fracking and rural poverty to PTSD and grief to foster care, custody and divorce. It might seem like a lot but each issue folds into the other and the overall story provides balance and hope without shying away from tough issues that many readers will relate to.

Eleven-year-old Fern helps to feed her impoverished rural family by foraging for food in the woods outside the home she shares with her stepdad and two younger brothers. She lost her mom in a tragic accident the year before and her grandpa has been trying to get custody. When a fracking company comes to town it brings jobs, providing security to Fern’s family and her best friend, Fern must figure out how to save the forest.

As in life, there are no easy answers for Fern and while the author does simplify things to some extent, she doesn’t provide easy solutions. Great for budding environmentalists and chefs (although vegetarians beware – the woods around Fern’s house does not just provide mushrooms and nuts).

The Pants Project

Title: The Pants Project[image error]

Author: Cat Clarke

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

I love the premise of this book: 11-year-old Liv likes the uniform at her new middle school (especially the tie) but hates wearing the skirt. Right from the start, it’s impossible not to see the dress code is sexist and archaic. But when we learn that it is especially difficult for Liv to wear a skirt because she’s really a boy, readers are even more more inclined to cheer for Liv as he challenges the rules.

Liv makes three attempts to change the dress code. First, by wearing pants under the skirt. Second, by talking to the principal (who’s response is totally unrealistic and unhelpful). And then, by starting a petition. It’s the fourth plan that actually succeeds but I won’t spoil the surprise.

Complicating things for Liv is the school bully, Jade, who makes fun of his two moms, and his best friend choosing to hang out with the popular kids (including Jade) instead of Liv. We never really understand why Jade is so mean to everyone but it’s great that Liv tries to protect others and eventually stands up to Jade. Along the way, Liv gets a lot of support from Jacob who makes a bad first impression (asking “what kind of name is Liv?” and “isn’t it a bit too butch for you?”) before becoming Liv’s best friend. Jacob is at times too good to be true (making a lot of very mature statements and observations) and also has secrets of his own.

The main theme of this book is being yourself. Liv first tells Jacob that he’s trans and then his moms but the conversations remain on the surface. Even though Liv is older than George, there’s no urgency around puberty – yet. For now, Liv’s just happy wearing pants. “Before you know it, lots of small steps can cover a lot of ground.”

Big Sur Writing Workshop

With help from an Access Copyright Foundation Professional Development Grant, I travelled all the way to Big Sur, California this weekend to attend a writing workshop hosted by the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and the Henry Miller Library. It was an illuminating and inspiring experience that was at times overwhelming (and exhausting).

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Photo compliments of TripAdvisor (I travelled too light to bring a camera)

On the craft side, I brought two contemporary middle grade manuscripts – one that’s been through many rounds of revision (but still not totally working) and one that’s brand new (so new that the first draft isn’t completely written). I got great feedback from my critique groups. Not only did I come away with strategies for moving both stories forward, I also know where to focus my energy next. (Spoiler alert: stay tuned for more information about PLUS ONE GIRL).

Beyond these two manuscripts, I met many talented writers and made lots of new friends. The faculty (top-notch agents, editors and professional writers) were all extremely knowledgable and graciously made themselves accessible to all attendees. My only regret is that I didn’t have time to fully explore the beautiful surroundings. But one thing is for certain – I will be back!!

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Photo credit: John Henry (partner of a fellow attendee)

 

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More TripAdvisor (but I did drive over this bridge and it really is that spectacular!)