The book I’m featuring today is by my friend and part-time
Ninja, Carmella Van Vleet! It’s a great story about taekwondo and not giving
up. Carmella also has a very cool “Black Belt in Kindness Club” on her website
that kids can join when they do something nice for a friend.
Today’s Pick: Eliza Bing is (Not) a Big, Fat
Quitter
by Carmella Van Vleet
Holiday House, 2014
From Amazon:
In
this uplifting novel about determination and the rewards of hard work, a
preteen girl struggling with ADHD must stick with a summer taekwondo class to
prove that she’s dedicated enough to pursue her true passion: cake decorating.
My Take:
Eliza’s personality really shines in this story. It’s fun
reading about the trouble she gets into and how she tries to get herself out if
it. I also enjoyed the fact that her parents and family were in the story and supporting her, even though Eliza solves her own problems. (None of that “dead parents” syndrome common in many middle
grade books.) It was great to read a story where the main
character has a disorder (ADHD), but where coping with it isn’t the main focus of the story.
As a writer, I think this would be a great book to study if
you’re working on creating a unique character voice. It’s also interesting that
the book is organized in short sections rather than chapters, which fits with
Eliza’s personality and her ADHD.
Opening Line:
“I was peanut butter, and Tony was jelly.”
Quotes:
“Mom says decisions are like coats because they weigh on your shoulders.”
“But I found out wanting to do something isn’t anywhere near being able to do something.”
Other Info:
Carmella Van
Vleet is a full-time writer who lives in Ohio. She writes non-fiction as well
as fiction. Eliza Bing is (Not) a Big, Fat Quitter is her debut middle grade
novel.
In an interview with Debbie Ridpath Ohi at Inkygirl, Carmella gave this advice for writers: “One
of the most important things you have to remember is not to compare yourself to
other writers.”
Carmella talks
about writing non-fiction for middle graders in an interview for Middle Grade March.
Non-fiction books
by this author include:
Great Ancient EGYPT
Projects: You Can Build Yourself
Amazing BEN
FRANKLIN Inventions: You Can Build Yourself
Seven Wonders of
the World: Discover Amazing Monuments to Civilization with 20 Projects
Explore Ancient
Greece!: 25 Great Projects, Activities, Experiments
Amazing Arctic
& Antarctic Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
Explore
Electricity!: With 25 Great Projects
Writing Club: A
Year of Writing Workshops for Grades 2-5
For more, visit Carmella Van Vleet’s website.
I've heard great things about this. And I love the first line.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to read it!
DeleteLove the sound of this one! And what a great topic for kids who struggle with ADD/ADHD, and their friends and families.
ReplyDeleteThe taekwondo classes are pretty interesting, even if (like me) you know nothing about the sport.
DeleteAww shucks, Andrea! Thanks for featuring Eliza! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I think it's a great book that lots of kids will enjoy.
DeleteThanks for the great review on a book new to me. I have been trying to focus on books with good voice so this one fits in perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to read it!
DeleteWhat a fun opening line! This sounds like a great story, especially the positive aspects of it, like the fact that her ADHD isn't the focus of the story, but simply part of who she is.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great one for a classroom or school library book collection.
DeleteI thought what you said about the chapters being unconventional because of her ADHD was really interesting. This sounds wonderful--and I'm excited to see more books about kids with ADHD out in the world.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this!
I hope you like it!
DeleteThis sounds like a terrific book. Thanks for telling me about it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI need to put this on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like it, Marcia.
Delete