Wednesday, 28 December 2011

Marvelous Middle Grade Read-a-thon-January 2, 2012-January 8, 2012

Welcome to the sign up post my first ever Marvelous Middle Grade Read-a-thon. (#mgreadathon)We'll spend a week together reading, blogging and talking middle grade! Why? Because Middle Grade ROCKS! I love writing it, reading about it and most of all book talking it. Nothing better than matching a book (or five or ten) to readers aged 8-12.


START DATE: Monday, January 2, 2012 


END DATE: Sunday, January 8, 2012 (midnight)


WHAT TO DO: Sign up any time now until January 8 and read as many Middle Grade books (fiction and non-fiction) as you can.  If it's just one book that's great! If it's more, that's great too! That's it...unless you...


TAKE IT A LITTLE FURTHUR (not required):


-Create a read-a-thon pledge
-share a to be read list in a comment to this post or on your own blog, send me the link and I will post it for you.
-plan a giveaway do let me know that and I will add it to the giveaways


MY READ-A-THON PLEDGE: For each book I read I am going to donate five dollars or the actual book to my local library. (www.granumpubliclibrary.ca). Also, throughout the week, I will be posting updates to my reading, plus sharing some of my favorite books and mg blogs from 2011.


THE GIVEAWAYS (so far):

  • From me Everyone who signs up will be entered to win one of two middle grade prize packs that I will put together from my own collection. Extra entries for spreading the word-twitter, facebook, blogging. (Canada & U.S.) #mgreadathon
Prize Pack #1-ARC-13 Gifts by Wendy Mass, The Whole Truth by Kit Pearson, Wildwood by Colin Meloy

Prize Pack #2-The Unwanted by Lisa McMann, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, ARC of Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver







MY TBR PILE (a sampling) :
-a number books from WALDEN POND PRESS-THE FOURTH STALL by Chris Rylander, JUNIPER BERRY by M.P Kowslowsky and BREADCRUMBS by Anne Ursu
-BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX by Laurel Synder.
-The Familiars-Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson
-Storybound by Marissa Burt
-Lemonade War-Jacqueline Davis
-My Very Un-Fairytale Life-Anna Staniszewski
-AND-books written by some of my fabulous co-bloggers @ From the Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors!


I will be reading hardcopies and e-copies alike. On my ipad, on my kindle, on my computer, on my couch. When I am not at work or writing, that is. It is going to be a full and busy week, but in the best kind of way.



If there is anything that is unclear, please do ask me!

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Sign up for MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE READ-A-THON

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37 comments:

  1. akoss28 November 2011 at 14:19

    Wow! That's a great plan. Too bad I can only read one book a week with day job and other things claiming my time.
    I hope you guys have fun though. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

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  2. Deb A. Marshall28 November 2011 at 15:28

    Thanks! I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out to. The first round (hoping to do it every six months) will hopefully work out the kinks!

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  3. Carrie29 November 2011 at 12:02

    Wonderful idea. Breadcrumbs is a wonderful book.

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  4. shaunesay28 December 2011 at 17:47

    Going to give this a try, I think I have some books that qualify!

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  5. Deb Marshall28 December 2011 at 17:55

    Really looking forward to reading Breadcrumbs, Carrie!

    Thanks for signing up Shaunie and very glad to have found your blog, too. More readathons. yay!!

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  6. Lisa Ard29 December 2011 at 14:41

    Love this idea! I've blogged about it at 'The Adventures of Writing & Publishing' where I've included my TBR and pledge. I will also offer a giveaway -- a free copy (epub) of my middle-grade book Fright Flight, Dream Seekers Book One for every book I read (minimum 3 copies). Deb, at the end of the week, I'll let you know how many freebies and if you'll pick winners, I'll e-mail the files. Thanks!

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  7. Karin Perry30 December 2011 at 11:00

    Hmmm. I might join you for this. So fun!!!

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  8. TerryLynnJohnson30 December 2011 at 11:12

    wonderful idea! You rock, Deb! happy reading.

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  9. Mystery Robin30 December 2011 at 13:30

    Awesome, I'm in! My middle grader has a readathon at school starting on the 3rd, and I plan to read along with her. She's tough to keep up with so I should have tons to read! I'll post some titles after I go look at the bookshelf...

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  10. Deb Marshall31 December 2011 at 07:20

    Yay Robin...sounds like we will both have a time keeping up with your kiddo! If you have time, I'd love to hear what her faves are at the end of it all.

    Thanks, Terry...you rock your own self!

    Karin, would love, love for you to join in. But, if it's a bit too much (esp. as it is beginning school again) I am doing this again in June (er, end of school...)

    Lisa!! Thanks so much! Will pick winners. Very glad to have you on board.

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  11. shaunesay1 January 2012 at 00:55

    I've picked out a few to start with, I have a lot more of them than I realized!

    I think first up might be The Boggart by Susan Cooper, it sounds super cute!

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  12. Vasilly1 January 2012 at 14:09

    I almost forgot about the read-a-thon! Thanks for the reminder. I started today with Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff. Happy reading to everyone!

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  13. Akoss1 January 2012 at 14:37

    I didn't think I was going to make it but now it's official. I'm in.

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  14. Mr. Wittmer1 January 2012 at 21:55

    Being a 5th grade teacher, I love and can't put down Middle Grade Novels. Having found this challenge, I jump in fully! Recently, I read Bigger Then a Breadbox and couldn't put it down. I took it with me to our family Christmas so I could finish it. My TBR list includes, Breadcrumbs, Inside Out and Back Again and Bluefish.

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  15. Shannon1 January 2012 at 22:28

    This sounds like so much fun-I linked up! You will love Breadcrumbs-so magical!

    My biggest on my TBR list is The Hunger Games and am loving it so far! :)

    Shannon

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  16. Deb Marshall2 January 2012 at 05:09

    Thanks for signing on all! This is going to be a fun week. Cannot wait to read Bigger Than a Breadbox and Breadcrumbs!

    Shannon, Hunger Games was/is a huge hit with the boys in my book club, too-they flew through the series.

    Mr. Wittmer-yes on Inside Out and Back Again! That is a must read for me, as well. Hmmm, should I be growing the TBR as I read? Well, of course, lol!

    Akoss-so glad you could join us and Vasilly, glad you're on board, too.

    Let's READ MG!

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  17. Dana (Osseo)2 January 2012 at 14:28

    Just finished Breadcrumbs and Bigger Than a Bread Box. Both were fabulous. Starting Sparrow Road.

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  18. Mr. Wittmer3 January 2012 at 15:39

    I'm in the middle of Breadcrumbs and am loving every bit of it. The one issue I am realizing as of late is that all the main characters' parents are divorced/separated or don't exist (Breadcrumbs, Bigger Than a Bread Box and Small as an Elephant).

    I know this is what our students are doing through way too often. By having students read the books, will it help them or hurt their look on life?

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  19. Deb Marshall3 January 2012 at 16:53

    Good question Mr. Wittmer. In my opinion it will help those who are going through feel they are not the only ones and give them a story where the focus is on the child and the child working through issues and solving problems and for those not dealing with it...empathy comes to mind. At least that is the experience I've had with the kids I've met over the years. I have not read Small as an Elephant yet, but will.

    What are your thoughts?

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  20. Deb Marshall3 January 2012 at 16:54

    Breadcrumbs is on my to read list, Dana. Really looking forward to it, it's been in my TBR for too long now.

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  21. Dana (Osseo)3 January 2012 at 20:29

    Read some NF tonight for #mgreadathon: America is Under Attack, Odd Boy Out, A Wizard From the Start, and Two Bobbies. Great reads! Can't believe it took me so long to read some of them. Thank you for the motivation!

    Deb: Looking at your TBR: I though The Fourth Stall was very funny (I can see kids loving it). I thought Juniper Berry was good. Have you read the Origami Yoda books? Funny! I read the first one and the second is on my TBR as well as Inside Out and Back Again.

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  22. Squiddy3 January 2012 at 23:03

    Thanks for hosting the read-a-thon. It's an awesome way to kick off the new year :D I hope you enjoy The Fourth Stall. It was hilarious.

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  23. Danielle4 January 2012 at 12:23

    I'm a little late to find out about this, but luckily I was already into a sweep of MG novels from the library. So far, the wonderful A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban and finished The Curse of Addy McMahon last night. Next up, Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech.

    Thanks so much for putting this together! :)

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  24. Mr. Wittmer4 January 2012 at 17:16

    Deb,

    I can't agree with you more about helping kids get through experiences they might have with parents. On the other hand, I would hope that students that still have both parents living at home, they don't get scared that this would happen to them. I'm staying up tonight to finish Breadcrumbs because the students are begging to read it based upon what I have told them about his amazing book.

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  25. Deb Marshall4 January 2012 at 19:13

    Dana--yay on all those nf books! That is one of my goals this year. Read and book talk more nf. Have the Origami Yoda books, haven't read yet, though (we just moved, they're packed up).

    Thanks on the Fourth Stall, Suiddy! Really looking forward to that one.

    Those are some great books Danielle! I need to read Linda Urban's latest...Hound Dog True.

    Mr. Wittmer, think I need to move Breadcrumbs up the pile, I was going to read a couple of others before that one.

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  26. Michael S.4 January 2012 at 22:18

    Deb -- Haven't read Fourth Stall, but all the other books you mentioned are wonderful, especially Hound Dog True and Breadcrumbs. :)

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  27. Shannon4 January 2012 at 22:28

    Read The Hunger Games Monday and now on Catching Fire. OMG! I just ordered a Hunger Games t-shirt that is supposed to be here Friday so I will booktalk the book to my 6th graders on Monday WHILE I am wearing my snazzy new shirt!#mgreadathon

    Shannon
    http://www.extremereadingandwriting.wordpress.com
    @shannonclark7

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  28. Teril5 January 2012 at 11:51

    This is fabulous, we are jumping on board.
    Thank you!

    Did you hear Breadcrumbs last month on NPR's Backseat bookclub?! Awesome, it is online also.

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  29. Barbara Watson5 January 2012 at 14:07

    Alright. I'm late--but not too late. I can only read one this week (and that one is YOUNG FREDLE by Cynthia Voigt).

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  30. Mr. Wittmer5 January 2012 at 14:53

    Well I finished Breadcrumbs early this morning and what a great ending. It is one of those books that has you asking all kinds of questions. My students were begging me to be the next one to read it. I started Inside Out and Back Again and have found it to be a great read already. It will make students realize how lucky they are for having food and clothes. Happy Reading!

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  31. Jane Buttery6 January 2012 at 08:18

    I have gone back to books I enjoyed a long time ago. One by Carol Matas called Lisa about Denmark during WWII.Two others were by Marianne Brandis, The Quarter Pie Window which won an award in 1986 and Rebellion. Both are set around the 1830's. Rebellion is about a young lad's involvement in the 1838 Rebellion in the Toronto area. I enjoy historical fiction and try to write it!
    Jane

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  32. Mr. Wittmer6 January 2012 at 08:35

    I don't know about you but I am reading more this week then ever because of this group of amazing readers. I started and finished Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai in less then 24 hours. Written in verse, it tells of the author's struggle to escape Vietnam. Thinking the struggles were behind her, only to call home in Alabama with her three brothers, mother and the "Cowboy" who brought them into his home.

    Makes you realize how lucky we are with the food on our plates and the clothes on our backs.
    I found myself thinking about Patricia McCormik's Sold. It could have been the way it was written but something about his YA book and MG book. Gotta love reading and enjoying it.

    I am about to start The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer Holm.

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  33. Deb Marshall6 January 2012 at 17:40

    I'm with you on that, Mr. Wittmer. And I am loving the back and forth dialogue, recommendations, reminders of books already read!

    Inside Out & Back Again is a must read for me. Another great novel in verse, about a boy from Africa trying to fit in and find his way in America-Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. The spirit and power of family sings through that one.

    Enjoy your latest read!

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  34. Deb Marshall6 January 2012 at 17:42

    Jane! I've read all those books you mentioned. Back in my days at Calgary Public Library--I really enjoy historical fiction, too.

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  35. Mr. Wittmer7 January 2012 at 13:03

    Deb,

    Please refer to me as Erik instead of Mr. Wittmer. Mr. Wittmer is my Google profile because I run a World Wide Book Blog using Brian Selznick's Invention of Hugo Cabret. Here is the link for it http://hugobookblog.blogspot.com/.

    This has been so much fun and just because the week is almost over, that doesn't mean we have to stop reading and blogging about the books we are reading for Middle Grades!

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  36. Mr. Wittmer8 January 2012 at 05:14

    I am nearly 3/4 of the way through The Trouble with May Amelia. Not one of my most favorite but a fun one. I guess this is what happens when you read books that are being talked about with the Newberry Award.

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  37. Shannon Houghton8 January 2012 at 19:21

    Salutations! My read-a-thon post is up now! http://www.mshoughtonsclass.com/2012/01/08/middle-grade-read-a-thon/ Thanks for coordinating this!

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