Augusta Scattergood's Blog, page 55
October 2, 2012
My Favorite Banned Book
Actually there are a lot of them. But I've always treasured this story told by Katherine Paterson when she spoke to the fifth graders at the Baltimore school where I was a librarian.
Speaking about BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA which had just won the Newbery Medal, she talked about hope and sadness and death. I wish I could recall her exact quote, but I'll never forget the gist of her answer to a girl sitting right in front of her on the floor. The student was very sad about Leslie's death in the book. Katherine said to her (not an exact quote so please don't use it as such): There are worse things than losing a friend through death.
She went on to say friends could be lost forever and never celebrated, their stories never told again, simply by moving away, through a disagreement, a falling out.
Thanks to Caroline by Line for helping me remember that day with Katherine Paterson.
And for starting a conversation on her blog about the difficult things we choose to write.
Here's a quote about hope, now on Caroline's blog:
"I cannot, will not, withhold from my young readers the harsh realities of human hunger and suffering and loss, but neither will I neglect to plant that stubborn seed of hope that has enabled our race to outlast wars and famines and the destruction of death. If you think that this is the limitation that will keep me forever a writer for the young, perhaps it is. I don’t mind. I do what I can and do it joyfully.”
-Katherine Paterson, A SENSE OF WONDER: ON READING AND WRITING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Speaking about BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA which had just won the Newbery Medal, she talked about hope and sadness and death. I wish I could recall her exact quote, but I'll never forget the gist of her answer to a girl sitting right in front of her on the floor. The student was very sad about Leslie's death in the book. Katherine said to her (not an exact quote so please don't use it as such): There are worse things than losing a friend through death.
She went on to say friends could be lost forever and never celebrated, their stories never told again, simply by moving away, through a disagreement, a falling out.
Thanks to Caroline by Line for helping me remember that day with Katherine Paterson.
And for starting a conversation on her blog about the difficult things we choose to write.
Here's a quote about hope, now on Caroline's blog:
"I cannot, will not, withhold from my young readers the harsh realities of human hunger and suffering and loss, but neither will I neglect to plant that stubborn seed of hope that has enabled our race to outlast wars and famines and the destruction of death. If you think that this is the limitation that will keep me forever a writer for the young, perhaps it is. I don’t mind. I do what I can and do it joyfully.”
-Katherine Paterson, A SENSE OF WONDER: ON READING AND WRITING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
October 1, 2012
October is Giveaway Month
I'm sharing my Book Wealth.
First up. An extra copy of the fabuloso LIAR AND SPY, by Newbery winner Rebecca Stead. Thanks to Random House, I have an extra copy or- sorry folks- I would not be sharing this one.
Oh, yes, I could pass a few of these brand-new, really good books around to all the October birthdays I know. I could do what I often do, pack them up and cart them over to my local library. Instead, I'm giving them away and this could be YOUR lucky day.
I recently reviewed it for the Christian Science Monitor. Read my review HERE.
Betsy Bird not only reviewed it for her School Library Journal Blog FUSE #8, she included a whole bunch of great links. CLICK HERE to go there.
Leave me a comment, below or on Facebook. You, too, can read one of my favorite books of the year. Contest will end next Sunday, October 7.
And check back often.
October's going to be Middle Grade Fiction Giveaway Month around here!
September 28, 2012
Twitter: My Friday Humor
I'm new to twitter. You can find me at
ARScattergood
But I'm feeling more in touch with these tweets than those.
I'll try to fire off a few tweets from the Mississippi Children's Museum today.
But they may be kind of like that little birdie's up there. Old School.
ARScattergood
But I'm feeling more in touch with these tweets than those.
I'll try to fire off a few tweets from the Mississippi Children's Museum today.
But they may be kind of like that little birdie's up there. Old School.
September 25, 2012
Happy Birthday, Clifford
50 years old! And lots of celebrating going on.
Yesterday a huge banner appeared, unfurled onto the Scholastic Building in lower Manhattan. I missed it by a few days, but here's a great picture.
WOW!
I saw Clifford everywhere though.
Decorating Broadway, hanging out at the New York Public Library's main Children's Room.
(Can't resist sneaking this one in. Had to pose Glory Be with Clifford in the background. NYPL visit!)
If you've never visited the Scholastic Store, in the middle of Soho, it's totally worth a trip. Especially with kids in tow.
This greeted us. Kate Messner, talking about reading and writing, encouraging kids. Okay, not really her. But pretty lifelike!
And there's also Clifford. Welcoming everybody into the store. Yes, it only takes a little to BE BIG. You tell 'em, Big Red Dog...
And my very favorite part of the store. Tucked behind the bright red bannister.A quote I adore.
Yesterday a huge banner appeared, unfurled onto the Scholastic Building in lower Manhattan. I missed it by a few days, but here's a great picture.
WOW!
I saw Clifford everywhere though.
Decorating Broadway, hanging out at the New York Public Library's main Children's Room.
(Can't resist sneaking this one in. Had to pose Glory Be with Clifford in the background. NYPL visit!)If you've never visited the Scholastic Store, in the middle of Soho, it's totally worth a trip. Especially with kids in tow.
This greeted us. Kate Messner, talking about reading and writing, encouraging kids. Okay, not really her. But pretty lifelike!
And there's also Clifford. Welcoming everybody into the store. Yes, it only takes a little to BE BIG. You tell 'em, Big Red Dog...
And my very favorite part of the store. Tucked behind the bright red bannister.A quote I adore.
September 23, 2012
Wordswimming Today...
I'm so proud to be included on Bruce Black's fabulous Wordswimmer blog.
Check it out RIGHT HERE.
As his blog says:
COME DIVE INTO A SEA OF WORDS AND SWIM TOWARD A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE WRITING PROCESS.
Thanks, Bruce!
Check it out RIGHT HERE.
As his blog says:
COME DIVE INTO A SEA OF WORDS AND SWIM TOWARD A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE WRITING PROCESS.
Thanks, Bruce!
September 21, 2012
Wax Lips!
I love what the brilliant
Joyce Sweeney
helped me understand about writing with recurring images-- moving a story along using plot devices, motifs, threads. They can be running jokes, memories, sounds. They don't really have to symbolize a thing. They can just be fun or give readers a sense of what's happening, a literary device. In Joyce's Plot and Structure workshop, we even created arcs for these devices.
A little Sweeney wisdom from my workshop notes:
This is not a first drafty thing! Rather, it's an opportunity for layering.
Make sure it doesn't become an irritant. ie Do not overdo!
In my notes, I found this quote. It sounds like Joyce, so I'm giving her credit:
"Take your soul and turn it into craft."
Whenever I read a novel, especially a kids' book, if an event or an object shows up where you might not expect it, and then shows up again, it makes me smile. I tried to do that with the box and the game of Junk Poker the two sisters in my novel, GLORY BE, play together.
Now I have a lot of fun talking to kids about my JUNK POKER box. Showing them my treasures.
I love it when I surprise kids--and occasionally a very young teacher!-- with something they've never seen.
Like a skate key.
(Kids always think it's a bottle opener...)
Another item of interest are my WAX LIPS. Remember those?
If not, let me refresh your memory.
(Thanks to my great friend, Julie, who posed at a gathering of her friends. Just for me, of course.)
So pull out your skates, find yourself some bright red lips, maybe deal a hand of whatever card game you play, think about your plots, but not to much, and have a great weekend everybody!
A little Sweeney wisdom from my workshop notes:
This is not a first drafty thing! Rather, it's an opportunity for layering.
Make sure it doesn't become an irritant. ie Do not overdo!
In my notes, I found this quote. It sounds like Joyce, so I'm giving her credit:
"Take your soul and turn it into craft."
Whenever I read a novel, especially a kids' book, if an event or an object shows up where you might not expect it, and then shows up again, it makes me smile. I tried to do that with the box and the game of Junk Poker the two sisters in my novel, GLORY BE, play together.
Now I have a lot of fun talking to kids about my JUNK POKER box. Showing them my treasures.
I love it when I surprise kids--and occasionally a very young teacher!-- with something they've never seen.
Like a skate key.
(Kids always think it's a bottle opener...)
Another item of interest are my WAX LIPS. Remember those?
If not, let me refresh your memory.
(Thanks to my great friend, Julie, who posed at a gathering of her friends. Just for me, of course.)
So pull out your skates, find yourself some bright red lips, maybe deal a hand of whatever card game you play, think about your plots, but not to much, and have a great weekend everybody!
September 20, 2012
Mississippi Children's Museum
Y'all Come! (back, that is)
I'm heading back to Jackson next week, and I cannot wait.
This event at the
MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
looks like great fun.
I'll be there on Friday, September 28.
Click that link up there for my schedule.
And for the list of writers who'll also be coming to the
Once Upon A Fall Festival Author Series.
Fun times back home. Do come say hello!
September 18, 2012
In My Head Today
September 15, 2012
Thanks, BBGB!
Loved my day at
bbgb tales for kids
in Richmond.
And I had such fun at the terrific school Jill and Jenesse connected me to. Thank you everybody!
College friends, childhood friend, a camp friend of my daughters', old neighbors, new friends, lots of book-loving kids, a couple of infants, and a few authors thrown in for good measure. A great turnout at the bookstore, sold lots of books, and can't wait to go back.
Here's a quick photo tour. More to come, I hope.
The beautiful entryway to ORCHARD HOUSE SCHOOL. I spoke to a class, signed books, answered questions. I loved the girls' book suggestions and writing ideas! One told me she keeps a notebook of names she loves, and she mentioned Obadiah. She's bound to be a writer soon!
You know you're going to love a school visit when you are greeted by a display of 1000 paper cranes. Made by the students for a project that involved books. These girls love to read, and it shows.
While I waited for the girls to arrive, I snapped this picture of the bulletin board.
(I am adding these to my lists!)
Then it was off to the bookstore. Here I am, armed with book and Junk Poker box, answering questions and carrying on, as my grandmother would say.
Doesn't that store look adorable? Hustle on over there if you live in or pass through Richmond. Lots to do and see there.
Fun times, and I didn't even tell you about the ham biscuits...
And I had such fun at the terrific school Jill and Jenesse connected me to. Thank you everybody!
College friends, childhood friend, a camp friend of my daughters', old neighbors, new friends, lots of book-loving kids, a couple of infants, and a few authors thrown in for good measure. A great turnout at the bookstore, sold lots of books, and can't wait to go back.
Here's a quick photo tour. More to come, I hope.
The beautiful entryway to ORCHARD HOUSE SCHOOL. I spoke to a class, signed books, answered questions. I loved the girls' book suggestions and writing ideas! One told me she keeps a notebook of names she loves, and she mentioned Obadiah. She's bound to be a writer soon!
You know you're going to love a school visit when you are greeted by a display of 1000 paper cranes. Made by the students for a project that involved books. These girls love to read, and it shows.
While I waited for the girls to arrive, I snapped this picture of the bulletin board.
(I am adding these to my lists!)
Then it was off to the bookstore. Here I am, armed with book and Junk Poker box, answering questions and carrying on, as my grandmother would say.
Doesn't that store look adorable? Hustle on over there if you live in or pass through Richmond. Lots to do and see there. Fun times, and I didn't even tell you about the ham biscuits...
September 12, 2012
WHAT'S UP
Richmond- here I come!Please stop by tomorrow, September 13th, at
bbgb tales for kids.
I'll be there talking, signing and hoping to see old friends and new.
3100 Kensington Ave
Richmond, Va 23221 804.353.5675
glory be
thursday, september 13
described alternately as a deep-south-coming-of-age story or as the help-for-middle-graders, augusta scattergood’s debut novel is simply glory-ous (and the perfect title to kick off your mother-daughter book club!) come meet the author and have her sign your copy of glory be at 4:30.
