It’s that time of year again!
Book bloggers are getting ready to vote for the best children’s books published
between October 16, 2013 and October 15, 2014 for the Cybils Awards. If you’ve
read any standouts this year that qualify, feel free to visit the Cybils nomination pages before October 15. I also enjoy checking out the nominations to get ideas for new books to read.
Another way I find books to read
is just by browsing at the public library, both in person and online. I found
today’s MMGM by browsing online. The version I read was an e-book.
From Amazon:
All aboard for an action-packed escapade from
the internationally bestselling author of Airborne and the Silverwing trilogy.
The Boundless, the greatest train ever built,
is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will
Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!
When Will ends up in possession of the key to
a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister
figures from his past.
In order to survive, Will must join a
traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of
the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With
villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save
The Boundless before someone winds up dead?
The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel, HarperCollins, 2014
My Take:
This was an action-filled adventure that incorporated some
elements of Canadian history (e.g, the building of the railway across Canada). I read it fairly quickly because I wanted to see what was going to happen.
It’s fascinating the way this author puts together
interesting elements to create excitement in his stories – in this case
Sasquatch, a train ride, a circus, the threat of an avalanche and muskeg (that reminded me of growing up in Northern Ontario). From a
writer’s perspective, I admired the creativity in the way these different
elements were woven together.
Opening Line:
“Three hours before the avalanche hits, William Everett is
sitting on an upturned crate, waiting for his father.”
Randomly Selected Quotes:
“He throws his body forward and thrashes wildly, trying to
stay atop the churning sea of snow.”
“Long trestle tables run the length of the car, leaving
narrow aisles that are crammed with people carrying platters heaving with
pancakes and roasted potatoes and rashers of bacon and cornmeal muffins and
baked beans and pitchers of milk.”
“The afternoon air carries the cold promise of snow.”
Other Info:
Kenneth Oppel
is the author of many books for children and teens, including the Silverwing trilogy
and the Airborne series. At around age 12, he decided he wanted to be a writer. He had his first book published at the age of fourteen (with the encouragement of
Roald Dahl).
To find out more about Kenneth Oppel and his books, and to see a trailer for The Boundless, visit his website: www.kennethoppel.ca
Looking for more great middle grade reads? Visit Shannon Messenger's website for a list of bloggers and their picks for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday!
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Lesley Livingston, author of the Wondrous Strange series, the Never series, and the Starling saga provided another perspective on plotting and how it really all stems from character and setting.
Whose Voice Is It, Anyway?
Though I didn't get to attend this session with my writing buddy Debbie Ridpath Ohi, I heard it was very useful! You can catch some of the details on the CANSCAIP blog. Debbie is the illustrator of I'm Bored, Naked! and the author-illustrator of the forthcoming, Where Are My Books? She has also posted her take on the Packaging Your Imagination conference with lots of visuals.
It was so much fun to laugh along with Susin Nielsen, author of the forthcoming We Are All Made of Molecules as well as Word Nerd, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom and The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen.
