Tween The Weekends

A scene comprised of seventeen adults, ranging in ages from 21-70, all dressed in wizard robes and playing a game of Quidditch in a field behind a retirement community is probably something you’d only see in a movie. For me, it was just another Harry Potter Party. Who hasn’t heard of the story about an orphan boy who discovers he is belongs to a secret society of wizards? Who hasn’t noticed the earnings made in the movie rights alone—or the theme park called Wizard World? If you haven’t, chances are you’ve been hiding under a rock. The Harry Potter books have surpassed the expectations of any MG reader. So how old is too old for middle-grade?

MG—or middle-grade books, may seem like they are written solely for kids the age of 9-12 but reality tells a different story. The party I described started out with adults–only adults, that were reading the Harry Potter books. We read them because there was something in there that grabbed at our heart strings and made us feel younger. More and more I see adults favoring MG books over the books geared toward them as adults. Why you might ask? There are several reasons why readers choose MG.

The first reason is because the books are geared toward children, they are clean books. They are removed from sexual content, vulgar language, and graphic violence. In a world that is at the brink of everything rated R, MG offers content that is worry free. It allows us to escape in a book and not have to worry about what we might find.

Another reason is that these books help us to relate with our younger selves. Who says your inner teen isn’t still around? The reason I write MG is because these are the books I would have read when I was a kid. I also refer to MG books as “tween” books. Tween books are bridges to help teens cross over to adult. To help them find their way out of the in-be-tween. These books help tweens embrace themselves and help them find their identity in a world full of loud voices. I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful genre a books.

To answer the question above, you are never too old to read MG. Like those happy, Quidditch playing adults, they fell in love with a MG book and embraced the magic found within its pages.

Tween the Weekends: Halloween

I love October…the changing leaves, the crisp cool air, but mostly it’s because of Halloween. There is nothing quite like putting spooky decoration up around the house, picking out ghoulish costumes to wear, and planning out how much candy a human being can possibly consume. Above it all though are the Halloween stories.

Ever since I was a kid I loved the frightening tales only shared at Halloween time. They would creep, seep, and chill me to the bone. I remember my first time when I was a tween listening to an audiotape of The Legend of Sleepy Hallow, by Washington Irving. I can recall the goose bumps that prickled my arms and back as I wondered if the headless horseman would get Ichabod Crane. Stories like that never leave a kid not wanting more. 

Because it is Halloween time and because it is also Tween the Weekends I’d like to share some fantastic Halloween stories that tween readers would like to read. To quote a favorite series of ghostly books, “BEWARE…You’re in for a scare!” –Goosebumps, by R.L. Stein. 

Curse at Zala Manor, by BBHMcChiller

Synopsis: It's almost Halloween, and twelve-year-old AJ Zantony's world is threatened by an ancient curse that releases wicked pirates who had been trapped for centuries in his Aunt Zsofia's creepy mansion, Zala Manor. The pirates--a vampire count, a pegleg skeleton, and a zombie--have three goals: to find a lost treasure, unleash the restless dead from their graves, and to settle a very old score by destroying the Zantony bloodline. AJ has to stop them before midnight during Aunt Zsofia's annual Halloween party. Except he has a big problem--monster phobia! He's scared to death of monsters. But if he doesn't act fast, the streets of Craggy Cove will be crawling with zombies. Will AJ overcome his fear and stop the monsters or bail out? Will Craggy Cove become Zombie Central? Who will be alive when midnight tolls?

Case File 13: Zombie Kid, by J. Scott Savage

Synopsis: You hold in your hands a very dangerous record. I have collected every side of the story and every piece of evidence on case number 13. Now, in this file, you will find all you need to follow the dark adventures of Nick, Carter, and Angelo, three boys who possess an unhealthy obsession with monsters, in a town so grisly, so horrific—
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're telling it all wrong, dude. You make it sound like it's a scary story.
Ahem. Well, Nick, it is a scary story. In this volume alone, there are voodoo queens, graveyards—even the dreaded Zombie King himself.
Yeah, but there's also the part where Angie gets mashed potatoes all in her face, and the part where I use my cool zombie powers to—
All right, point taken. Now, if you don't mind . . .
You hold in your hands a very dangerous, very funny record, detailing the hilarious adventures of three boys who have an awesome obsession with monsters. This is the first volume. Read on if you dare. . . .

The Spook's Apprentice, by Joseph Delaney

Synopsis: 'Someone has to stand against the dark. And you're the only one who can.'

For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end, but who will take over? 

Many apprentices have tried . . . Some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Just one boy is left. Thomas Ward. He is the last hope. But does he stand a chance against Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County?

Other great Halloween books for Tweens:

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn

The Witches, by Roald Dahl

A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz

Splendors and Glooms, by Laura Amy Schlitz

May Bird and the Ever After, by Jodi Lynn Anderson

What are your favorite Halloween books? 

You can check out the other Emblazoners 
Posts by clicking this link: http://emblazoners.com/tween-the-weekends

Tween the Weekends: Great Tween Books

I write middle-grade because I LOVE to read middle-grade. These are the books that I wish were around when I was young. I especially enjoy stories that find magic in the most unlikely of places or ones that take me on an adventure. Today for Tween the Weekends, a fun promotion hosted by Emblazoners.com, I thought I’d share three of my favorite middle grade books and why I think you’ll like reading them as much as I do. I also give a list of my personal recommendations.

First up is a book that has made it to the top of my list, THE FALSE PRINCE, by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Why is this book at the top of my list? Because it is filled with heroic adventures, compelling conflict, and best of all it has a strong main character that makes me root for him every step of the way.  Another reason why this book means so much to me is that aside from its terrific plot and twisty ending, is that it's about a boy trying to come to terms with who he really is and accepting that. So often I see kids struggling to accept their roles in life, whether that is the role of a sibling, child, student, or prince. This book shows them how they can be true to themselves no matter the consequences. 

 

Next on my list is a super fun series. GILDA JOYCE PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR, by Jennifer Allison. If you are in the mood for a spooky story that will have you rolling on the floor from laughing so hard I recommend these books. Gilda is a tween trying to overcome the loss of her father with herself proclaimed psychic powers. As each story leads her to solve one strange mystery after another you might wonder, like I have, if Gilda really is psychic after all. This is a fun book series about freaky ghosts and chasing after your dreams. Gilda is hilarious and will make you laugh—but be warned these books might get a little creepy if read late at night.

Last on my list today is a fun story about finding magic in everyday places, namely, grade school. In JANITORS, by Tyler Whiteside, the main character, Spencer, learns that magic is real and it’s affecting the way kids learn. This book answers the question of why kids fall asleep during math or history—yes, there is a reason. Janitors are wizard like guardians protecting education from magic gone bad. It’s a pretty cool book about finding the unexpected in the most boring of places. I really enjoyed the themes presented in this book including being true to yourself and not being a chameleon, someone who changes sides on a whim. This book is one of the books I wish I had read when I was a kid.

If these books aren’t enough, try these on as well:

• A MEASURE OF DISORDER, by Alan Tucker
• ARROW OF THE MIST, by Christina Mercer
• ANDY SMITHSON: BLAST OF THE DRAGON’S FURY, by L. R. W. Lee
• CASSIDY JONES AND THE SECRET FORMULA, by Elise Stokes
• CURSE OF THE DOUBLE DIGITS, by Lynn Kelley
• CYCLES, by Lois D. Brown
• THE DREAM KEEPER, by Mikey Brooks (that's me)
• GANGSTERLAND, by Ansha Kotyk
• JUMP BOYS: SOS, by Alex Banks
• THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS AND THE ARCH OF ATLANTIS, by Sharon Ledwith
• MAGIAN HIGH, by Lia London
• MICHAELA’S GIFT, by Cordelia Dinsmore
• MONSTER MOON: CURSE AT ZALA MANOR, by BBH McChiller
• NOAH ZARC: MAMMOTH TROUBLE, by D. Robert Pease
• PRINCESS KANDAKE: WARRIOR BY CHOICE…APPOINTED TO RULE, by Stephanie Jefferson
• THE SUPER SPIES AND THE CAT LADY KILLER, by Lisa Orchard
• TAYLOR DAVIS AND THE FLAME OF FINDUL, by Michelle Isenhoff

Find more great books for tweens at: http://emblazoners.com/

Book Feature: Ragesong

For Tween the Weekends this time I wanted to feature a book that I recently read and really enjoyed. I think Tween literature is stuck somewhere between middle-grade and young adult. This is one of those books. The main characters are young enough to be considered middle-grade but some of the concepts presented are older. If your tween likes fantasy-adventures this book is for them!

"When the peaceful kingdom of Fermicia is enslaved by a power-hungry renegade, its only hope lies in a band of unlikely heroes: two children whose musical abilities allow them to harness the power of Ragesong, and their shape-changing guides.  


Jake starts his first day of junior high completely oblivious to the fact that he has been chosen for something incredible. That same afternoon, he learns that he has been marked as one with the power to save an entire kingdom. Through the course of his journey, Jake discovers that his advanced musical abilities are peculiarly connected to a mysterious power known as Ragesong. 

Joined by a shy, young girl with similar musical talents and two Changelings that hold a fierce loyalty to their  homeland and king, Jake must learn to harness this ability in order to survive the dangers of a hostile new world."

"Ragesong is an action-packed thrill ride that is both brilliant and captivating. This story will not let you go until the last page. Simmons has created something magical that teens will call AWESOME!" -Mikey Brooks, author of The Dream Keeper 

I think what made this book such a fascinating read was the character, Jake, and how I was able to connect with him immediately. J.R. Simmons uses a lot of pop culture references, especially nods to music and video games, which I enjoyed. The story was fast paced, engaging, and unique. I especially enjoyed the fantastical bits--the world of Fermicia and the magic systems created. The two Changelings that assist Jake are funny, brave, and heroic. Seriously, tweens, especially tween boys, will LOVE this book.


About the Author: JR Simmons lives in Northern Utah with his wife and 4 boys. He loves spending time with his family and coaching his kids in all of their different sports. He is an avid gamer and is very excited that his boys are picking up on his hobby. JR was recently introduced to triathlons and has since found that he loves the sport. Most nights he can be found either sitting down with a good game or hunched over his iPad writing.

Find out more about J.R. Simmons and his book at: http://jrsimmons3.wordpress.com/

Where to find it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EN86LR6

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