get audience for a young reader book about a tween girl facing anxiety over entering junior high, boys, and the threat of a prissy newcomer in town.
I'll even confess that Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightening is not the type of story I'd normally select on a trip to the bookstore, but given the fact it was written by blogworld buddy Danette Haworth, I of course read it.
And guess what? I enjoyed every minute of it. Violet is a might flawed in her thinking and her POV is skewed but she has no problem telling it as she sees it and her voice as the narrator is simply perfect. I would recommend to book to anyone, young or old and if you're trying to get a young boy to read it tell them there are alligators in it and a cool guy named Eddie.
Here are two lines which I think give you a good sense of Violets' voice and personality.
I didn't mean for her to puke. But if you think you're going to be part of a fish fry, you better know it ain't no fishsticks.
And here are two lines from some of my writing this past week. This is from my as-yet-untitled novel, that I am currently working on. Of which the hardest part for me is capturing the voice and mindset of Callie, a fifteen-year-old girl. I never have quite understood teenage girls and since this one is a POV character it is a point of difficulty for me. I cheated and posted three lines by the way.
A locust let loose its irritating sound from one of the trees across the street. Mr. Myers, her natural science teacher last year, told the class that the bugs were really cicadas, but that seemed stupid to Callie. Everyone else called them locusts, so why should she believe some fat, boring guy just because he was a teacher?
Be sure and check out the creators of Two Line Tuesday over at the Women of Mystery blog.
22 comments:
Yeah, why should we believe someone just because he's a teacher? LOL!
Sounds like my daughter's attitude - I don't know where she gets it. I believed everything my teachers told me. She won't listen to Anyone!
Sounds like a good book for her!
That was great! I can't wait to see your other stuff! Now i'll need to zip over to see the Two Line Tuesday crap. :-) sounds like fun.
Amazing that certain genres that we would never even give the time of day to previously, could somehow move us to actually delve further into it, just to see what it's about.
Young Adult. Seems like it changed alot since I was a kid. And it sounds like a good thing indeed.
BTW: love that little snippet. Brings that certain kind of self-confidence without being arrogant.
I'll have to get "Violet" under the guise of buying it for my teenage girl.
BTW - I may have been a teenage girl once, a very long time ago, but I don't get them either.
Yeah, why believe a teacher? Ppphhht!
Like the lines..
Travis,
Next month I am participating in a Literacy Day at a middle school along with some other authors. since I write for adults, I needed some kid friendly books to read to the kids and donate to the library and one of the books I choose was Violet Raines. I haven't read it yet but am really looking forward to it. Dani wrote a great note to paste inside the cover and I am sure the kids will be thrilled.
Terrie
Terrie
I have this book and want to read it. As soon as I get a bit of time.
I'm impressed - both by what you've admitted to reading, and that you've tackled the mind of a teen girl in your writing! - and will check that book out, for sure.
“Everyone else called them locusts, so why should she believe some fat, boring guy just because he was a teacher?”
Exactly. Of course she’d rather use the same terminology as everyone else than believe what she’s told by the teacher. That sounds very 15!
I'm hoping there's another tween girl book you're planning to read, say around Dec. 9....
Your three lines read well and Violet Raines seems an interesting book.
"if you're trying to get a young boy to read it tell them there are alligators in it and a cool guy named Eddie" Great tip!
Great lines from both sources.
What an excellent post! Haha! Travis, I'm flattered that you gave me some time on your blog. I like the picture of you and Violet!
Along with your two lines, I've read an exerpt from the Violet Raines website, and I liked it!
I like your feisty gal, too.
GREAT lines, Travis (yours and the other's!).
What a wonderful idea for a post. I love the two lines...hers and yours both!
I love to discover new books. I will recommend this one to my best friend, who happens to be a middle school librarian.
I want to read more!
I'm adding this one to my TBR list (which is getting way to big :) )
Teen girls are hard to pin down; just put some sulk in there, mixed in with a dose of drama, slowly add some angst alternating with some good intentions. Cover with shiny lip gloss and you are good to go.
For today.
The recipe changes daily.
Well you big hairy Texan keep up the good work. Just keeping after it like you are is an accomplishment because a lot of us can't even get that far. Keep on keeping on and I am sure it is going to be a great success.
A great two liner Tuesday all around. I'll definitley pick up the book- I'm sure my daughter will appreciate it now and understand it in a few more years. What a great title! Do you have a working title for YOUR WIP?
Ironically, that's a pet peeve of mine, as well...the cicada/locust thing.
Someone at our library requested this book last week. I hope they enjoy it as much as you did!
"Some fat boring guy just because he's a teacher". I LOVE that!!!!! And I know what she means!
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