Monday, October 22, 2012

GEEKS, GIRLS... AND A GIVEAWAY!

Okay, the full title of today's MMGM feature is actually GEEKS, GIRLS, AND SECRET IDENTITIES and it's Mike Jung's action-packed debut novel.  Yes, I'm giving away a signed, hardcover copy.  Holy bananas! Another giveaway??  Yep. Details at the end of the post.  Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is the brainchild of Shannon Messenger. For other participants, see my sidebar or Shannon's links.



Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities by Mike Jung, with illustrations by Mike Maihack (October 2012, Scholastic, for ages 8 to 12)

Source: hardcover purchased from Mrs. Dalloway's, an indie bookstore in Berkeley, CA -- wait, did I fly three thousand miles for a booksigning? Heck, no! When I read about Mike's launch, I preordered two copies. One for me. One to give away. And both are signed, including cool superhero doodles.




Synopsis (from Indiebound, naturally): Vincent Wu is Captain Stupendous's No. 1 Fan, but even he has to admit that Captain Stupendous has been a little off lately. During Professor Mayhem's latest attack, Captain Stupendous barely made it out alive - although he did manage to save Vincent from a giant monster robot. It's Vincent's dream come true... until he finds out Captain Stupendous's secret identity: It's Polly Winnicott-Lee, the girl Vincent happens to have a crush on. Captain Stupendous's powers were recently transferred to Polly in a fluke accident, and so while she has all of his super strength and super speed, she doesn't know how to use them, and she definitely doesn't know all the strengths and weaknesses of his many nemeses. But Vincent and his friends are just the right fan club to train up their favorite superhero before he (she?) has to face Professor Mayhem again. And if they make it through this battle for the safety of Copperplate City, Vincent might just get up the courage to ask Polly on a date.

Why I liked it:  Dude! Are you kidding? This would be so much fun if I was a 10-year-old superhero-loving geek!  It's fun anyway.  And I'm not.  Mike has created an original world, lovingly based on comic books, that's a lot like our world, only with superheroes battling bad guys on a regular basis. Vincent and his friends even get Captain Stupendous alerts on their cell phones.

Yes, Mike's blog was one of the first blogs I followed, way back in the dark ages of blogging, yo, and I'm totally one of his minions but that's not why I'm pushing his book. Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities is a sure hit for both boys and girls in the traditional middle-grade age range.  It's crammed with action, realistic dialogue, and humorous situations (wait until you find out why big Max is Vincent's self-appointed bodyguard). It has conflict galore, humungous robots, evil scientists, a first crush, and a group of friends who argue and insult each other but would never let each other down.

And there's another reason all this is so cool: Mike can play the ukulele and sing. Yes! I'm thrilled that he chose an indie for his launch party and man, I wish I could have been there!



To enter the giveaway for the signed, hardcover copy, you must be a follower and you must comment on this post.  Extra entries for tweeting, mentioning on facebook, or mentioning on your own blog. Please let me know you've done that and if possible, give me the links.  International entries welcome.  This giveaway will end at 10:00 pm on Saturday November 3, 2012.  Good luck!

31 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun book. And awesome that you've been following Mike's blog for so long.

    Please let someone else win while I gain control of all the books at my house.

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  2. I met Mike at the SCBWI conference in Los Angeles this summer. So thrilled for him. Thanks for the giveaway, Joanne.

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    1. Oh man, you are so lucky! I'd love to meet Mike in person.

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  3. Sounds like Middle Grade Motherlode! Tweeted!

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    1. I saw that tweet, Michael! Thank you. Extra entry duly noted.

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  4. I'm obviously not entering the contest, duh, but thanks so much for all your support, Joanne! YOU HAVE BEEN AN EXEMPLARY MINION. Here, have a doughnut... ;)

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    1. AH! TREATS FROM THE GALACTIC EMPEROR! I mean, hi Mike! Thanks for stopping by the blog. Hope you're enjoying your debut year.

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  5. Man, he is one crazy talented guy. LOL on why you liked his book, Joanne. It's one I know I am going to enjoy. EEK on the giveaway. Thank you, thank you!!

    I shall join the tweeting minions...

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  6. Sounds so great! And thanks for the giveaway opportunity! (I laughed throughout this entire review. Great job, Joanne!)

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  7. This sounds like so much fun! The first thing that came to mind was The Incredibles, until that twist with his crush having his hero's powers. Have you read SUPER by Matthew Cody? It's another great story, only all the heroes are kids.

    No need to enter me in the giveaway since I recently won one.

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    1. I haven't read SUPER, so thanks for the heads-up. Nice of you to defer the prize to someone else, but I hope you'll get a chance to read Mike's book, Michelle.

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  8. Sounds super cool! :) Thanks for the great review.

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  9. I am a 10-year-old superhero-loving geek (does almost turning 11 count too?)! ;) Please put me in! I'll tweet it and share it on my FB page and I'm following!
    PS Hi Ms. Fritz!!!

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    1. Hi Erik! YAY! An actual 10-year-old superhero-loving geek! Of course it counts if you're almost 11. And I saw that tweet and that facebook mention. Thanks! Extra entries duly noted.

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  10. Loved the post! This sounds like such a fun book. My boys would love it! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  11. Sounds like a lot of fun. I believe the word "geek" is starting to have positive connotations, but maybe it's just me that tends to like geeks.

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    1. Hi Susan! Yeah, I think geeks are becoming cooler, for sure.

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  12. I hadn't heard of this one! Now I really want it. Thanks so much for introducing it to me!

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  13. Awesome cover! This book sounds like such fun and I would love to read it. Winning it would be fabulous. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ~Jess
    GFC: Jessica Haight/DMS

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  14. This sounds great and one that both my (older) kids would enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win Joanne!

    And what a funny guy... with that "buy my book" song! :-)

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  15. OMG!!! He is amazing. The buy my book song made me laugh to tears.

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  16. This giveaway is now CLOSED. Winner to be announced Monday Nov 5, 2012.

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