THE WAY HE LIVED

THE WAY HE LIVED, by Emily Wing Smith (Flux 2008), is a powerful and subtle novel of grief and loss.

Who was Joel Espen? Kind-hearted, selfless, giving, and more. And his death at age sixteen on a Scout camping trip is a shock to friends and family alike.

Now, weeks, months later, six teens from the same small Utah town whose lives intertwined with Joel's tell their stories, but also his. Each of their narratives illuminates Joel's life, the whole of which was greater than the parts they knew. Or thought they knew...

In today's Statesman

The Austin-American Statesman has an article titled NOT FOR TEEN-AGERS ONLY in today's paper on Austin's "Delacorte Dames and Dude," aka Jennifer Ziegler, Varian Johnson, Shana Burg, April Lurie, and Margo Rabb.

Jeff Salamon does some follow-up blogging about their books here.

BLOODLINE

BLOODLINE, by Katy Moran (Candlewick 2009)(ages 12+). In this historical fantasy, Moran takes us back to seventh century Britain, where petty kings vie for control over the island.

Caught in the middle is Essa, son of Cai, a wandering scop (and more), who abandoned him to a village that's now in the sights of two warlords. As armies approach, Essa undertakes a journey to save those he loves, unsure who he can really trust, always wondering why his father abandoned him and the truth about his mother and who he really is.

BLOODLINE is a sophisticated and thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling adventure -- a story of warring kingdoms, an epic quest, and a touch of elf-magic. Through elegant prose, Moran compellingly and convincingly draws the reader into Essa's story and the mists of Dark Age Britain.

The Monarch of the Sea...and other stuff

Well, Cyn and I had a great time speaking on first drafts at the Writers' League meeting last Thursday. Afterwards, we went out to Doc's Motorworks, just up the street, with a bunch of the children's lit. attendees. The discussion included perspectives from adult nonfiction and romance writers, as well as Cyn and me (Very different perspectives :-)). It's part of a year-long program that goes through the steps of publishing from writing onward...

Then, Saturday, we had great fun hearing Mark Mitchell (honorary admiral of the Texas navy, hence the post title) speak at BookPeople about school visits and his experiences with his book Raising LaBelle, about the LaSalle shipwreck project (some of the artifacts are on display at the Bullock Museum of Texas History) and then another bunch was off to lunch at Waterloo Ice House. Donna Bratton has a post here.

But now back to the writing...

[UPDATE]: See an interview in the Austin American-Statesman with Austin's Varian Johnson about the Brown Bookshelf project (of which Austin's Don Tate is also an organizer)!

JUMPED

JUMPED, by Rita Williams-Garcia (Harper Teen 2009)(14+). Williams-Garcia presents a day in the life of three girls in an inner city high school: belligerent, basketball jock Dominique; flirtatious, outgoing, and clueless Trina; and cell-phone addict Leticia. When Leticia overhears Dominique swearing to "kick [Trina's] ass" after school that day (a threat to which Trina is oblivious), Leticia must decide whether, and to what extent, to get involved: should she help, warn her, or just stay out of the way?

Told alternatingly by each of the three girls, JUMPED is a compelling and sometimes disturbing novel of choices and randomness; Williams-Garcia brilliantly lays out the potentially chilling consequences of stark differences in outlook and viewpoint.

WINNIE'S WAR

WINNIE'S WAR, by Jenny Moss (Walker 2009)(ages10-14). In her debut novel, Moss delivers a poignant story of living in a time of and, through, death.

It's the autumn of 1918; the war is almost over, but the town of Coward Creek, Texas, is bracing itself for the Spanish flu that has already killed thousands across the country and in nearby Houston.
With a family that's still living with the effects of the 1900 and 1915 hurricanes, Winnie decides she must do more than merely cope -- as friends, family, and neighbors succumb, she must help, but how?

Told in a compelling first-person voice that successfully captures small-town, early-twentieth century Texas, WINNIE'S WAR is a moving tale of how individuals respond to tragedy and death. Winnie and her friends are complex and likeable. Well-drawn major and minor characters alike mirror and amplify Winnie's conflicts in ways that will resonate with readers.

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS, by A.S. King (Flux 2009)(ages 14+). Teenage pirate queen Emer Morrisey is ready to take her riches and her true love and fade into retirement. But then she's cursed to live the life of 100 dogs before she can become human again...Now, having lived the dogs' lives, and with her dog and human memories intact, she's teenager Saffron Adams, with few friends and a dysfunctional home life. All she wants is to get out of high school and back to Jamaica, to reclaim her treasure...

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS is a fascinating, exciting read. Pulling no punches, King takes us from Cromwell's Ireland to the Spanish Main to contemporary America and Jamaica as Emer/Saffron's lives -- human and dog -- unfold in gripping detail. Definitely among the best of breed.

Writing Spaces and Upcoming Events

Go on over to Tony Abbott's blog and check out my writing spaces essay. Cyn's was up a couple months ago...

Cyn and I will be on a panel about "First Drafts" at the February monthly meeting of the Writers' League of Texas at 7:30 this Thursday, Feb. 19 at the League office in Austin (611 S. Congress Avenue). Sometimes getting that first draft down is the biggest hurdle to bringing a great idea to literary life. Find out how several authors approach the first draft. Note: "Before the program, join us at Doc's Motorworks Bar & Grill, 1123 S. Congress (two blocks south of the WLT office for a 'Mix and Mingle Happy Hour.'"

Also, mark your calendars for April 11: Authors Kathi Appelt and Cynthia Leitich Smith invite you to join them at 1 p.m. April 11 at BookPeople (Sixth and Lamar) in Austin. They will be celebrating the success of Kathi's The Underneath (Atheneum, 2008), which was a National Book Award Finalist and newly crowned ALA Newbery Honor Book, and the release of Cynthia's Eternal (Candlewick, 2009). The event will include very brief readings, entertaining commentary, and a signing by both authors. Hope to see you there!

THREE ACROSS

THREE ACROSS: The Great Transatlantic Air Race of 1927, by Norman H. Finkelstein (Calkins Creek/Boyd's Mills 2008).
In the spring of 1927, three teams are gathered with their aircraft to attempt to first non-stop air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean between New York and Paris: the Columbia, owned by millionaire Charles Levine; the America, whose team is led by the famous Arctic explorer Richard Byrd; and, of course, the Spirit of St. Louis team led by the then little-known Charles Lindbergh.

Weaving the narrative among participants on all three teams, Finkelstein engages the reader in the challenges and tribulations of the dangerous venture. Although the outcome is never in doubt, THREE ACROSS provides a gripping and suspenseful account of the epic quest, illuminating, in turn, each of perseverance, heartbreak, competitive zeal, and triumph.

ETERNAL!

Eternal, by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2009).


At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high-school theater wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight. Meanwhile, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, Zachary, demoted to human guise as the princess’s personal assistant, has his work cut out for him trying to save his girl’s soul and plan the Master’s fast-approaching Death Day gala.

In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages. With diabolical wit, the author of TANATALIZE revisits a deliciously dark world where vampires vie with angels -- and girls just want to have fangs.




Go watch the trailer! Go read about Gene and the Eternal tie-in images!

Go buy the book!