K.L. Denman's Blog, page 7

Stuff We All Get

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ISBN: 9781554698202

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pub Date: September/01/2011

We don’t always get what we want.

Fifteen-year-old Zack finds a home made CD with the word Famous written on it. Lonely and bored while suspended from school, he puts the CD on and loses himself in the music. Zack has sound-color synesthesia. He sees colors when he hears music, and the music on the Famous CD causes incredible patterns of color for him. Zack becomes obsessed with the girl on the CD and tries to find her. He tracks down the singer, Jolene, in a café where she works while she dreams of the big time. He convinces her to let him help her achieve her dreams, but soon discovers that in her quest for fame, Jolene has done a lot of damage. Stuff We All Get is a gentle critique of celebrity culture in North America.

Awards

2011 Resource Links “The Year’s Best”

Reviews

Booklist – November 15, 2011

“A gentle, thought-provoking story on the fickle nature of fame…Denman’s story avoids simplified characters, creating a surprisingly layered treatment of media obsession.”

Resource Links – October 1, 2011

“Orca Currents has once again hit the mark…The setting and plot come together in a very satisfying way. The most powerful element in the text, however, is undoubtedly the emotional honesty of the characters Denman creates…Zack could be a real person, and his responses to the situations he finds himself in resonate with authenticity.”

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group – November 14, 2011

“This fast-paced story is excellent for reluctant readers. Moreover, the sound-color synesthesia Zack experiences will intrigue many readers. An overall quick read that is recommended for purchase by public libraries.”

The Horn Book Guide – May 1, 2012

“Zack’s story is engaging.”

Me, Myself and Ike

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ISBN: 9781554690862

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 208

Pub Date: October/01/2009

The guys huddle closer and murmur; the girls’ heads incline together and they whisper. They’re all talking about me. I’ll bet if they were naked I could see their tattoos. They’ve been taken. They’re waiting for me to be taken too.

I force myself to walk past them, even though I have the overpowering urge to run. Or scream, tell them I know all about their plans. Why me? I’d like to ask them that. I hesitate. Maybe I should ask them. Maybe there’s some shred of humanity left in one of them and they’ll help me escape.

After watching a tv program about Otzi, a 5,000-year-old “Ice Man,” Kit’s friend Ike becomes convinced that Kit’s destiny is to become the next ice man—a source of information for future generations. Together they obtain artifacts they think will accurately reflect life in the early twenty-first century and plan their journey to a nearby mountain. Kit gets tattoos similar to Otzi’s, writes a manifesto and tries to come to terms with making the ultimate sacrifice. As he grows more and more agitated and isolated, his family and friends suspect that something is terribly wrong, but before they can discover the true severity of the situation, Kit and Ike set off on what could be their last journey.

Awards

2011  CCBC Best Books

2010 Governor General’s Literary Awards Finalist

2010 White Ravens Selection

2009 Resource Links “The Year’s Best”

2009 January Magazine “Best Children’s Books of the Year”

Reviews

Canada Council for the Arts ~ GG Awards Jury – October 2010

Me, Myself and Ike is a gripping novel full of surprises. K.L. Denman’s masterfully-crafted first-person narrative on schizophrenia sweeps the reader along as Kit Latimer descends into a terrifying world where the real and imagined have no discernible divide. Denman manages to portray Kit in a way that is both realistic and sympathetic.

 CM Magazine – September 4, 2009

“An intensely edgy, first person account of a troubled teen descending into a paranoid, psychotic state…Denman is a responsible, caring, and skilled writer who drops subtle breadcrumbs throughout her story and provides an afterword explaining this mental illness…Denman is to be commended for tackling this issue straight on. Highly Recommended.”

Publishers Weekly – October 1, 2009

“A stark and fascinating portrait of a paranoid and delusional teenager…Denman deftly gets into the head of a mentally unwell teenager while telling a coherent, engaging story.”

 Quill & Quire – November 1, 2009

“The fact that Denman exhibits such flexibility within the confines of a first-person narrative, while also maintaining the reader’s feelings of empathy for Kit, is an undeniable accomplishment. While the writing is seamless, the subject matter is challenging…Completely riveting, suspenseful, and heartbreaking, Me, Myself and Ike is one of the best young adult releases of the year.”

School Library Journal – December 1, 2009

“While the story is about a young man with a mental illness, it is also a well-told, readable mystery, brimming with suspense. An author’s note giving details about schizophrenia adds an additional level of clarity to the novel’s ending.”

VOYA – December 1, 2009

“This harrowing journey through the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic never hits a wrong note. Especially laudable is Denman’s ruthless adherence to Kit’s point of view…Demonstrating a powerful control over her prose, Denman builds Kit’s decline in subtle increments that ramp up the suspense as readers note each new failing…Try this one with readers who like their stories dark and intense.”

Resource Links – October 1, 2009

“Denman has done her homework in this novel. She does not waver from Kit’s point of view, not an easy task when the main character’s thinking is so disturbed….A compelling novel of a young man’s descent into schizophrenia. Highly recommended.”

Perfect Revenge

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ISBN: 9781554691029

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: April/01/2009

Lizzie Lane is used to life at the top of the food chain. Her near-perfect life is ruined when Rachel, a girl she socially destroyed, exacts her revenge by getting Lizzie in trouble for cheating on a test. Friendless and facing detention, Lizzie obsesses over finding the perfect revenge. When Stella, Lizzie’s strange new neighbour, teaches Lizzie about magick, Lizzie can’t resist creating a revenge spell. But she forgets the “rule of three,” that whatever spell you cast comes back on you three-fold, and her zit spell backfires with dramatic results. When she asks for help from Stella’s Baba, the only advice she gets is to “write the lesson of the zit on her heart.” Can Lizzie find a way to teach Rachel a lesson without causing permanent disfigurement to herself?

La revanche parfaite: (Perfect Revenge)

ISBN: 9781554698530

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Awards

2009  Resource Links “The Year’s Best”

Reviews

 CM Magazine – March 6, 2009

“Denman has constructed more than a light-hearted diversion for readers. There is a literary sophistication to her story that will introduce readers to elements such as foreshadowing and metaphor…Good-natured and well-written, Perfect Revenge is a solid antidote to the sensational works for teens spawned in this Gossip Girl era. Recommended.”

Resource Links – June 1, 2009

“Dripping in humour and satire, Perfect Revenge shows that revenge isn’t the best way to solve a problem…High appeal for the adolescent female audience with its teen angst, relationships issues, and humorous approach to conflict resolution.”

Spiral

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ISBN: 9781551439303

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: October/01/2008

When fifteen-year-old Abby is seriously injured, her wounds go far deeper than her broken back. Rehabilitation therapy teaches her to cope with her new physical reality but once she’s home with her family, she refuses to participate in life and withdraws into a world of drugs.

Abby’s family discovers her addiction, and she is sent to a farm that specializes in Equine Assisted Therapy. She must still do battle with her cravings, but when she witnesses the connection between another young patient and a pony, she decides that if this girl can heal, she too can learn to be present in life again.

Awards

2010  Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books

Reviews:

 CM Magazine – November 21, 2008

“An excellent addition to Orca’s high interest, low vocabulary “Soundings” series…a realistic and thoroughly gripping read. Highly recommended.”

 Tucson Unified School District – November 1, 2008

“Highly recommended.”

 Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee – January 1, 2009

“Strongly recommended for school libraries…The emotional yet believable plot is deftly told with honesty and freshness. The focus on what is possible may cause some students to review their choices and set a new focus.”

 Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group – September 1, 2008

“Succeeds with a strong plot and suitably empathetic characters to attract a teen audience…Contains a surprisingly realistic and positive message about dealing with life’s challenges.”

CBC Radio One – All Points West – March 1, 2009

“Surprisingly touching…captures something about the near-mystical quality of the connection between horses and people.”

Powell River Living Magazine – Winter 2008 (Review by Hailey Sacree)

“Spiral is a really cool book. Denman’s writing shows you how beautiful a person’s recovery can be. The journey is difficult but it is rewarding in the end.”

The Shade

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ISBN: 9781551439310

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: March/01/2008

Safira doesn’t believe in ghosts, but the girl in her cabin at camp was not a living person, so what was she? Her friend Trinity is convinced Safira’s seen a ghost and sets out to discover who the ghost girl is. Safira is too busy dealing with her family to help solve the mystery. Safira has never gotten along with her sister, Mya, and now that Mya’s pending marriage dominates the family there seems to be no hope for friendship between them. But when Trinity discovers the death of a girl named Myra, Safira starts to wonder if the ghost-girl has an important message about her own sister.

Reviews:

 Resource Links – June 1, 2008

“Denman has written an interesting, well-paced story for reluctant middle school readers.”

 Middler Books and More blog – May 8, 2009

“My students will appreciate the suspense of the story, and Safira’s voyage of self-discover is the coming-of-age passion play that every [middle school student] experiences at some point in her young life.”

Rebel’s Tag

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ISBN: 9781551437408

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: October/01/2007

Sam’s grandfather vanished from his life the day Sam’s father was buried. Now, ten years later, Grandpa Max wants to make amends. He sends letters that lead Sam on a scavenger hunt. Sam follows his grandfather’s bizarre instructions though he’s still not ready to forgive. To alleviate his anger at his grandfather, Sam turns to his favorite stress release: climbing onto roofs and leaving his tag, a spray painted symbol for Aquarius. When he gets caught by an elderly couple, Sam learns a valuable lesson about forgiveness. He’s ready to forgive his grandfather, but is he too late?

Awards

2009  Chocolate Lily nominee

2008  CCBC Best Books

2008  OLA Best Bets

Reviews:

 CM Magazine – January 12, 2007

“A wonderful novel that will draw reluctant readers in from the get-go and hold them captive until the bittersweet end. Denman’s writing is clean and the voice brilliant. Highly Recommended.”

 VOYA – February 1, 2008

“The book addresses weighty concepts succinctly, comprehensibly, and without pretense, and those looking for a hi-lo story with more depth will find it here.”

 The Horn Book Guide – April 1, 2008

“Written for reluctant readers, this text tackles such heavy topics as forgiveness and death while using accessible, age-appropriate vocabulary.”

 Resource Links – October 1, 2007

“This book has a story that keeps the reader interested, with short chapters and easy-to-read vocabulary.”

 Quill & Quire – November 1, 2007

“It’s no small feat to engage and hold the interest of reluctant readers. With Rebel’s Tag, Denman does the job.”

Mirror Image

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ISBN: 9781551436654 Publisher: Orca Book Publishers Pages: 112 Pub Date: March/01/2007

Sable wears only black and has always felt that doom is near. Lacey wears pink and seeks beauty everywhere. A sadistic art teacher pairs Sable and Lacey together for their final project. The girls have to get to know one another and select a suitable poem for the back of each other’s decorative mirror. Sable is less than thrilled at having to spend time with Lacey, who she believes to be nothing more than a brainless doll. As the project progresses, and Sable gets past her resentment, she learns some surprising truths about who Lacey really is. All of Sable’s images begin to change, including the one she holds of herself.

Awards

2008  CCBC Best Books 2007  Resource Links “The Year’s Best”

Reviews

CM Magazine – February 1, 2007

“A character-driven gem that is contemporary without being trendy or superficial…a sophisticated insightful novel that appeals to youthful idealism…A work of art. Highly recommended.”

Booklist – March 1, 2007

“An enjoyable glance at what’s beneath stereotypical images of popularity and failure…Fast and funny.”

Teensreadtoo.com – March 1, 2007

“[Will] work well for reluctant readers and also for reading aloud and class discussion activities.”

Resource Links – April 1, 2007

“A story with the potential to empower anyone who has doubts about their identity and their place in the world. Highly recommended.”

Battle of the Bands

[image error]ISBN: 9781551435404 Publisher: Orca Book Publishers Pub Date: September/01/2006

The smell in the garage is lousy. Old bulbs coated with years of dust and cobwebs don’t cast the best light either. But when I pick up my guitar and my fingers find the strings, and that first riff comes screaming out of the amp, the only thing that matters is sound. Jay, Kelvin and Cia are The Lunar Ticks, a dedicated band who are convinced they are on their way up. They hope to win an upcoming battle of the bands where the first prize is a full day in a recording studio. Jay is struggling to write new material but finds he lacks the experience to come up with a truly original song. Going up against Indigo Daze, a band from another school, Jay finds himself falling for Rowan, the leader of the other band. When Rowan’s guitar is trashed right before the contest The Lunar Ticks are the prime suspects.

Spanish Translation:La guerra de las bandas ISBN: 9781551439983 Publisher: Orca Book Publishers Pages: 112 Pub Date: March/01/2008

Awards

2007  CCBC Our Choice 2007  YALSA Quick Picks

Reviews

CM Magazine – January 1, 2007

“Filled with humour, first crushes and break-ups…Recommended.”

School Library Journal – March 1, 2007

“The short chapter and fast-paced, rock-themed action will appeal to reluctant and struggling readers.”

Teen Book Review – January 1, 2007

“It’s powerful and attention grabbing, telling a fascinating story of love, life, and music. The characters are wonderful.”

Canadian Book Review Annual – June 15, 2008

“In her first novel, K.L. Denman has created engaging and realistic characters. Recommended.”

Check out the giveaway (Stuff We All Get) at this very cool Geocaching Site ~ It’s Not About the Numbers

http://www.notaboutthenumbers.com/2012/09/03/book-giveaway-stuff-we-all-get/

Famous Synesthetes

[image error]Zack, the narrator of Stuff We All Get, has sound-colour synesthesia, a condition that causes him to see colours when he hears music. Zack is not alone. There are numerous musicians with this “extra-sensory” perception.

Billy Joel (quoted here from Wikipedia) describes his synesthesia thus: “I would say the softer, more intimate songs — there’s ‘Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel), ‘And So It Goes,’ ‘Vienna’ and another called, ‘Summer, Highland Falls’ — when I think of different types of melodies which are slower or softer, I think in terms of blues or greens…When I [see] a particularly vivid color, it’s usually a strong melodic, strong rythmic pattern that emerges at the same time. When I think of these songs, I think of vivid reds, oranges and golds. — From an interview with Billy Joel

(check out a recent performance of the wonderful tune, Vienna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsEBGhbSKVc&feature=fvwrel) 

 

The British painter, Kilford http://themusicpainter.com/, paints the colours he sees while listening to music.

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He’s painted at live concerts performed by various musicians, including Paul Weller, Robert Plant, Damon Albarn, Black Eyed Peas, Brian Eno, and Deep Purple.

The following lovely quote comes from the autobiography Piece by Piece by singer / songwriter Tori Amos http://www.toriamos.com/: “The song appears as light filament once I’ve cracked it. As long as I’ve been doing this, which is more than thirty-five years, I’ve never seen a duplicate song structure. I’ve never seen the same light creature in my life. Obviously similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever.”

Imagining sound-colour synesthesia for the writing of Stuff We All Get made me wish I shared this talent, but I’ll have to settle for the kaleidoscope. If I can find one…