cynthialord

Congratulations! Here comes a whole new year of bouncing book-babies! 

If you are one of my LJ Friends or regular blog readers and you have a book with a publishing date in 2010, please comment and tell me the title and release date (or month/season if the precise date isn't set yet).  

Don't be shy. You've worked hard for that book, and I'd like to help you celebrate it when it comes out.

litajudge

Just a few days ago the Smithsonian Magazine put out an annual list called the Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2009. Here’s how they described their list last year: “… at Smithsonian Magazine, we’re reviving a tradition: our annual selection of outstanding books for children, a compendium of surprising, inspiring titles—everything from picture books and novels to memoirs—for youngsters and the grownups who read to, and with, them.”

For the 2009 list, they said, “This year’s titles range across cultures, into the past and toward the future. Their creators have relied on humor to touch our hearts; documentary accounts to bring history alive; biography to convey the true meaning of courage; poetic language to demonstrate the power of the written word—and the artist’s brush or camera to create ravishing illustrations.”

We were excited to see Yellowstone Moran included on the 2009 list!

And here’s what they said about Yellowstone Moran: “In 1871, a young artist joined an expedition of scientists setting out to explore the West. The monumental canvasses based on his travels would become iconic images that are now part of our nation’s heritage.”

Originally published at Adventures at Wilder Farm. You can comment here or there.

cynthialord

 
  This young girl has a brother with autism and she came to NCTE with her mom a couple years ago, because she wanted to meet me. She told me she didn't think she'd get a chance to talk to me so she passed me the envelope that's on the table in front of us.  I asked her if she'd like a photo of us together, and she said yes. So I had her sit in my chair and I let my whole signing line wait. 

This child is a middle grade reader to me: funny, thoughtful, willing to risk, aware and troubled by the unfairness of the world, but still hopeful--a believer. I still have her beautiful letter.

Yesterday in between talking to my lovely editor, doing yet another run to the Post Office, and wrapping presents, I did an interview with Valerie at Something to Write About. On Valerie's book blog, she takes on a different genre every month and for December, she's featuring middle grade fiction. Here's a preview of what we talked about:

Why Middle Grade Fiction?

Me:  I remember being 8-12 years old. It's a hopeful time of big plans and imagination, but it's also when a child begins to look outward and see the world's flaws and challenges. As a writer, I love the humor of that age, the sensitivity, and the belief in a million possibilities.

What is one thing people often misunderstand about middle grade fiction?

Me: I think people lump it together with YA too quickly. Middle-grade has a very different sensibility than YA.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring middle grade fiction writers, what would it be?

Me:  I actually did a survey with middle-grade readers about books awhile ago. One of the cloze statements I asked children to answer was:

I give up on a book when __________.

It was very interesting to me that the vast majority of kids' answers fell into three categories: pacing ("The book is taking forever!"), action ("Not much is happening"), and clarity ("I didn't understand what was happening"). Those were the primary reasons kids told me they stopped reading a book.

So as a middle-grade writer, I always seek to improve in my skills in conflict, pacing, and clarity.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And for my own blog readers. . .I did that survey for a SCBWI workshop I gave called "Marvelous Middle Grade.," I don't plan to give that workshop again. So if you'd like a peek at my slides and a sample of the answers kids gave to my questions, here they are on SlideShare.  In the talk, I expounded on every one of these ideas, but the kids' quotes are definitely worth reading if you write middle grade or if you are choosing middle grade books for your students.