Middle Grade Madness! discussion
August MG Reading Challenge 2022
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Team Zenobia
everyone, can you guys reccommend me, a book set in new Orleans?[EDIT: i got it guys, in the goodreads tag, i found bridge of souls by VE Scwab. and i plan to read Tunnel of Bones too for another prompt. yeaaahhh. google to the rescue wkwk]
Fillisita wrote: "everyone, can you guys reccommend me, a book set in new Orleans?[EDIT: i got it guys, in the goodreads tag, i found bridge of souls by VE Scwab. and i plan to read Tunnel of Bones too for another..."
Here's a list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Hooray for opposite interests. We have a nice eclectic team.I want to say as your captain (and fearless leader.) Don't feel pressure to read as many books as you can. This is supposed to be a fun challenge. Let's clean up our TBR selves and be introduce to some new books that we didn't know about.
Read The True Meaning of Smekday It's an amazing book. I'll be happier if a person reads it for the first time instead of me reading it again.
Tip: Re-reads do count. :0)
yesss! thank you Chara! you're so helpfu.i found the book with this list too!
getting so excited to read this evening
To answer your question Abigael, on the tree It’s four or more. The trees should be like prominent shapes not just a cluster of trees in the background. they should clearly be identifiable as four separate trees and if there are more in the background or whatever then that’s fine.Do you need help finding a book like this?
I'm going to finally read Diary of a wimpy kid 13-16Any advice on what to categorized them as? (Besides diary)
Chara's Craftsations wrote: "I'm going to finally read Diary of a wimpy kid 13-16Any advice on what to categorized them as? (Besides diary)"
How about task 29? Does the kid have a nickname that he hates? i've never read diary of wimpy kid, but i remember a bit about the movie
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...We allowed to have different people reading the same book for different tasks.
DNF'ed do not count. Books must be finished completely to count!
Fillisita wrote: "Chara's Craftsations wrote: "I'm going to finally read Diary of a wimpy kid 13-16Any advice on what to categorized them as? (Besides diary)"
How about task 29? Does the kid have a nickname that ..."
No. Nobody calls him a wimpy kid.
I have read Brave Chef Brianna and Hex Vet: Witches in Training. Sadly, I don't think that they will count towards the challenge because they are both graphic novels that are just under 150-page limit.
Mod
Quick update:
- I've changed the wording of task 37.
- I've added task guidance for task 36 & 37.
- Rereads count!
- Protagonists and main character are NOT the same thing. All protagonists are main characters but not all main characters are protagonists.
For example: in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is the protagonist. Harry, Ron & Hermione are main characters. Seamus, Dean, and Neville are minor characters.
Some tasks say protagonist, some say main character so make sure to check!
Kadi wrote: "Hi Team Zenobia,Quick update:
- I've changed the wording of task 37.
- I've added task guidance for task 36 & 37.
- Rereads count!
- Protagonists and main character are NOT the same thing. All pr..."
Thank you for elucidating. Some people tend to use the two interchangeably.
Mod
Chara: I've found that it's best to start reading for an available task that the book definitely fits for and then find more taskss along the way. I include alternate applicable tasks when giving my completed books just in case we want or need to shift things so that a task is available if a book needs to use it.For example, the book I just read is called
The last boy at St. Edith's by Lee Gjertsen Malone. I initially picked it for Category 8, Task #40 (please add to spreadsheet), but it also counts for #45, #68, #78 (if mention of both Frozen & Disney counts), & #90. Since I can't easily edit the spreadsheet because of tech issues, I'll be writing all this stuff here, but those entering information directly may want to note alternate tasks gor your books on the spreadsheet (maybe add an extra page?).
What consistitutes seaside town (#47)? I have a few Hardy Boys Adventures books. One is set in a town on a bay (literally the bay port is part of the town), second is set in a region where people surf (presumably sea or ocean), and the last is on an island near the ocean. I live in a very landlocked region & maybe others learn about this stuff in their regular lives but here it's simply something we don't have & don't talk about much.
I would like to claim Category 14. The series I'm in for next 3 books covers at least 2 of the 5.
Abigael wrote: "I would like to claim Category 14. The series I'm in for next 3 books covers at least 2 of the 5."Take it.
Allyson, you do category 6
I'll do the spreadsheet. (Captain's job)All you guys have to do is put the title, date you started and finished, the task it's for and the reason for it completing that task and most importantly the number of pages. In this chat
Abigael wrote: "What consistitutes seaside town (#47)? I have a few Hardy Boys Adventures books. One is set in a town on a bay (literally the bay port is part of the town), second is set in a region where people s..."The first two count. For the third one if the island is big enough and established enough to have a town then that counts too.
Chara's Craftsations wrote: "I'll do the spreadsheet. (Captain's job)All you guys have to do is put the title, date you started and finished, the task it's for and the reason for it completing that task and most importantly t..."
so, we dont need to fill the sheet by ourself too, right, Chara?
because i finished one already
Additional information about The Last Bky at St. Edith's by Lee Gjertsen Malone (described above) for Category 8, #40:I started August 1, finished August 2, and the protagonist is a troublemaker because he & another character are doing pranks so that protagonist gets kicked out of school.
New completion: (Hardy Boys Adventure #21) A treacherous tide by Franklin W. Dixon for Category 14, #67. Protagonists are volunteering at a marine biology research organisation helping to conserve & research marine animals in Florida Keys.
Fillisita: You don’t have to fill out the spreadsheet unless you want to.Abigael: Thank You for the details.
Good news team! I got food poisoning...It's good because I'm spending a lot of time in bed reading. In-between the bouts of puking.
I forgot the dates for Hardy Boys #21: started August 2, finished August 3.I finished Hardy Boys #22, but I have a question: does it count if the story is set in a rural village & attached forest (Category 8, #39)? There are a few scenes in a large forest but the village is a key setting.
Also, before I start the next book I'm considering, are short stories collections allowed? The book fits in terms of length & audience, but it also may fit many tasks because of the nature of short stories.
Sorry to hear you're ill, Chara! Feel better soon!
Question: is our spreadsheet being updated? The link I have still has no information in it? Can the completed tasks be added & made available for all of us to see? This is an important part of the challenge. Thank you!
Also, if an author writes a book under pseudonym and the book is about themselves as if they actually were this character, does that mean the character has an alias? (In case knowing the pseudonym matters: Lemony Snicket)
Fillisita: What book have you complete?Abigael. Have you tried clicking "tracking sheet?" lt's located on the bottom left, next to the MG challenge. I'll start putting books on the main page in a little while.
Thanks for the well wishes. It's a blessing in disguise. I'm getting so much reading done.
Kadi P has answered your questions.1. Do the few scenes set in the forest amount to more than half of the story? If yes then it counts, if no then it doesn’t. (Like if the book has 10 chapters and 5 or 6 take place in the forest then it counts)
2. I’ve allowed collected editions like manga and graphic novels as well as collected novellas so it only seems fair to allow short story collections too. The fact that that means the different short stories in the collection can fit many tasks is an advantage of reading it!
3. I can’t speak for every case where this problem comes up but for this one definitely no. As far as I remember from my reading of the series, within the story the character Lemony Snicket doesn’t use an alias, that’s his actual name. The fact that it’s the author’s alias is irrelevant because the task is about the character in the story.
Thank you, Chara!Another question: if a character is mentioned numerous times but the reader never "meets" them & they never get an actual name, is that an alias? This character is the protagonist's best friend. I just finished another book, but this book fits literally a dozen tasks, so I'm trying to figure out which task is most obscure.
Thank you for telling me where the tasks are being recorded, Chara! Sorry that I was confused.
Just a reminder to check EVERY book on AR Book Finder because EVERY book NEEDS to be middle grade according to that website or it doesn't count. My experience with Stilton books is that they are not middle grade, but there may be some exceptions.
Abigael wrote: "Thank you, Chara!Another question: if a character is mentioned numerous times but the reader never "meets" them & they never get an actual name, is that an alias? This character is the protagonis..."
Hey, it's okay about the spreadsheet. I'm still learning it myself
Thea Stilton and the Dragon's Code is on the US site. So it counts
Kadi P writes "How is the character mentioned if they don’t get an actual name? (Genuinely confused, I’m not being sarcastic)
Is it like “the boy” or some vague placeholder title for the character like that?"
We're in 2nd place! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...Cracks a whip! Read faster! ;0)
Great job everybody! 2nd place is wonderful considering that we're down a team member. Keep up the good work
Allyson, you put Coraline in the spreadsheet. Which task do you want me to put it in?Abigael: I just realized that you claimed category 3: I can remove my book from the amnesia section. If/when you finished your book. Sorry I forgot about your amnesia.
Thank you for letting me know about the book you put in Category 3 - I was so confused! All good now.Didn't we have 5 team members? Where did the person go?
The character without a name is called vague terms such as 'friend', 'she/her', 'someone far away' etc. There are more examples of how she is referred but I'm also trying to not to spoil for anyone who reads these books later.
Chara, does Wimpy Kid #3 fit any other task? I think I claimed 1, 3, 8, 14, & 18. If your books don't fit any other & you don't want to waste the time you spent reading that book (obviously), let me know & I might be able to give you the category or at least stop looking for books for that task.
Didn't we have 5 team members? Where did the person go?Charlotte hasn't responded to Kadi P DMs.
As for Allyson, she has said that she wants category 6 and has put Coraline in the spreadsheet, but she hasn't been very active.
Abigael wrote: "Chara, does Wimpy Kid #3 fit any other task? I think I claimed 1, 3, 8, 14, & 18. If your books don't fit any other & you don't want to waste the time you spent reading that book (obviously), let m..."One: You never waste time when you're reading.
Two: I couple of years ago I did a challenge where you also had to read books for points. If you read a book that didn't fulfill any of the tasks, then you still got a point (not has much if you done a task) The true objective was to read.
Two and a half: Kadi P will release a 2nd set of tasks August 15 and some my books just might count for them. So don't rule them out just yet.
Three: Wimpy Kid #13 can also work for task 17 which I'm planning on putting Wimpy Kid #15
Four: I'm going to put my books that I have for possible tasks in the tracking sheet so that I and other people can see what books are for what tasks. I encourage everybody else to add their books to the tracking section.
One: Wise words!Two: Interesting!
Two&half: You're right, but I think only books read AFTER the list is dropped count. At least, that's how it worked last year.
Three: Glad that it still works out!
Four: I have plans for what I'm reading next, but I can't edit the spreadsheet (as previously stated). Since I'm doing Category 1, it is vital to know what everyone else is reading so I can plan my books. Do people want to know what's on my challenge TBR?
If anyone is stuck finding books for tasks, post & let us know!
New completion: (All the wrong questions #2) When did you see her last? by Lemony Snicket. Category 3, #14 Title is a question. August 4 to 5.
Abigael wrote: "New completion: (All the wrong questions #2) When did you see her last? by Lemony Snicket. Category 3, #14 Title is a question. August 4 to 5."Great! Thank you so much. I'll add it right now.
I have read that series. It's really good.
You are right about about reading books AFTER. I was going to do that but I have trying to loosen up a bit. I picked a bad time to start. You're going to see a influx of books that fit the tasksSorry about edit the spreadsheet comment. I meant anybody who could edit. You can still check out the books that I added
Chara: Trouble Island for Category 14, #70 please.New completion: (All the wrong questions 2.5) File under: 13 suspicious incidents by Lemony. August 5-6. Category 16, #80 for now. I don't want the whole category, I just think this is an obscure task.
Question for anyone: is anyone willing to read a Lemony Snicket (preferably ATWQ but any will do) or Hardy Boys book so that one of my books will count for Category 1, #1 &/or 2? Also, does anyone have any protagonists named Frank, Joe, or Lemony? (Task #3)
I can read Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights?. I surprisingly haven't finished the series.No Frank or Joe yet. Has anyone ever even read a book with a character named Lemony before?
My read protagonists are. Greg, Rowley, Alex, Jinx, Pinki, Opal, Magnus, Abby, Jonah, Kenny, Grahame, Thea, Nicky, Colette, Violet, Paulina, Pamela, Rook, Drift, Max, Sedgewick, Simon, Kevyn, Mary, Millicent, Budrick, Ben More are coming.
Fillisita has read. Cassidy
Allyson: Coraline
Charlotte:
Thank you for listing all the protagonist names, Chara!Would I be correct in thinking that a building that burns down (caused by arson) is not the same as a building exploding?
Abigael wrote: "Thank you for listing all the protagonist names, Chara!You're welcome
Would I be correct in thinking that a building that burns down (caused by arson) is not the same as a building exploding?"
Yes...Unless the building blows up after the fire is set. Does that happen?
Also, Kadi P has answered your question. Those terms all sound too vague to be aliases. If there was a more descriptive kind of nickname like “the chosen one” or whatever that was used continuously then it would count, but in this case it does not
Chara, I am on a different book in the series & learned that the villain has been using an alias this whole time. The reason changes, but the task should apply now.Also, avoiding spoilers but it just occurred to me how much this series hits different in our current global status.
Chara! i'm sorry my late reply :((( my work is no joke lately :(
yessss, i did finish Tunnel of Bones. it is for category 13, task #65. the reason i picked it up: Cassidy's friend, named Jacob, is a ghost. He is a protagonist.
my time of reading is from August 2nd - 3rd.
Abigael wrote: "Chara, I am on a different book in the series & learned that the villain has been using an alias this whole time. The reason changes, but the task should apply now.Also, avoiding spoilers but it ..."
Ok. I change the reason that is fulfills the task
Astute observation.
Middle Grade Madness!
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Also, Chara can you ask if "four trees" means precisely 4 trees, no more & no less?