tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post1943636851579588042..comments2023-04-13T10:45:46.763-04:00Comments on My Brain on Books: Absolutely AlmostJoanne R. Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-78599833045632438542015-04-03T13:40:18.231-04:002015-04-03T13:40:18.231-04:00I haven't read A Million Ways Home but I reall...I haven't read A Million Ways Home but I really loved The Secret Hum of a Daisy. You're right though, Michael, that realistic contemporary is a good place to find "ordinary" kids.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-7531892248531876392015-04-03T13:39:08.509-04:002015-04-03T13:39:08.509-04:00I haven't read all of hers but I did enjoy Umb...I haven't read all of hers but I did enjoy Umbrella Summer.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-49551263347449081752015-04-03T00:53:17.419-04:002015-04-03T00:53:17.419-04:00Sounds like this one's a winner! "Ordinar...Sounds like this one's a winner! "Ordinary" kids are much more evident in contemporary, realistic fiction. I'm thinking of kids like Poppy Parker in Dianna Winget's A Million Ways Home, or Grace in The Secret Hum of a Daisy. In fantasy, you've pretty much got to have something "special" about you.Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-90979632216250402742015-04-01T12:28:45.160-04:002015-04-01T12:28:45.160-04:00Loved this book (and all of Lisa Graff's books...Loved this book (and all of Lisa Graff's books)!Jessica Lawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08916560941871741885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-19151768755326294212015-03-31T17:03:25.646-04:002015-03-31T17:03:25.646-04:00Sad but true, Suzanne. Kids need to play and daydr...Sad but true, Suzanne. Kids need to play and daydream and just be kids, and not worry about their careers.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-72464144491881193722015-03-31T17:02:00.006-04:002015-03-31T17:02:00.006-04:00That's great, Anne Marie.That's great, Anne Marie. Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-13650088885621925102015-03-31T10:13:18.613-04:002015-03-31T10:13:18.613-04:00I know kids who think that if you're not a bri...I know kids who think that if you're not a brilliant scientist by age ten or able to quote 200 digits of pi by age eight, there's something wrong with you...and feel bad about themselves as a result. How refreshing to have a book that addresses exactly that! I'm adding it to my (towering) shelf!Suzanne Warrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15141459404743769260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-41547235598198910402015-03-30T21:45:40.567-04:002015-03-30T21:45:40.567-04:00Ooooh looks interesting! Can't wait to pass it...Ooooh looks interesting! Can't wait to pass it on to the middle-graders in my life.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102112870911606839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-9305241973808550582015-03-30T21:04:55.624-04:002015-03-30T21:04:55.624-04:00Thanks, Jess! Glad you liked it too. Thanks, Jess! Glad you liked it too. Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-55597434115539745322015-03-30T19:19:06.776-04:002015-03-30T19:19:06.776-04:00I recently finished this one and also liked the fa...I recently finished this one and also liked the fact that it was about an ordinary boy, living a very ordinary life. He makes mistakes and is trying to figure out math and reading- but at least he knows he loves doughnuts. :) I really liked Albie's relationship with Calista because I think she did a lot of good for him and was just what he needed at certain times. Great review!<br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-67508340658290789922015-03-30T18:53:38.366-04:002015-03-30T18:53:38.366-04:00That's great, Jenni. I heard her speak at an S...That's great, Jenni. I heard her speak at an SCBWI conference when she was an editor, too. Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-10004217022466724972015-03-30T18:08:18.101-04:002015-03-30T18:08:18.101-04:00Yay for a book about an ordinary person! I think a...Yay for a book about an ordinary person! I think a lot of kids will relate to this, and how refreshing when it seems like having a special talent or power is a prerequisite for being a middle grade protagonist. I got to hear Lisa speak several years ago at a SCBWI conference when she was still an editor. She was very inspiring.Jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13139361928785566916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-10727054991371114512015-03-30T16:46:09.885-04:002015-03-30T16:46:09.885-04:00But they seem to be rare subjects, Rosi. But they seem to be rare subjects, Rosi. Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-41790169244063277742015-03-30T16:45:44.465-04:002015-03-30T16:45:44.465-04:00She did such a fantastic job of making an ordinary...She did such a fantastic job of making an ordinary kid likeable and compelling (at least, for me!).Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-54158517581069969372015-03-30T16:44:55.600-04:002015-03-30T16:44:55.600-04:00Good point about the action, Greg. And I agree, th...Good point about the action, Greg. And I agree, this would make a terrific read-aloud.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-24720286366316886062015-03-30T15:35:17.924-04:002015-03-30T15:35:17.924-04:00Ordinary people make awfully good subjects for boo...Ordinary people make awfully good subjects for books. Thanks for telling me about this one. I will check it out. Rosihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294774973863802821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-25969735546754451092015-03-30T14:54:41.839-04:002015-03-30T14:54:41.839-04:00I agree-awesome that the character is ordinary lik...I agree-awesome that the character is ordinary like the rest of us--and learns to appreciate his talents. Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-17616050141124009022015-03-30T07:37:05.740-04:002015-03-30T07:37:05.740-04:00I liked this one, too. Such a change from the over...I liked this one, too. Such a change from the overactive nature of most MG books. It is a hard sell for reluctant readers as they want more action. Great read-aloud though.Greg Pattridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761872776035591138noreply@blogger.com