Wordless Wednesday-Lovin' Summer

Copyright Liz Marshall

Copyright Rebecca Marshall

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday and I am back with a great read I would love for you to check out. It's for those in grade five, maybe even grade four depending on the student and knowing what they like to read, what they can handle (some in my previous school definitely could). Heads up, though, this one is not out until September 23, 2014. Was going to wait to tell you about it, but...just kind of loving it and wanting to spread the word now.

With all that said, let us begin!

Classic Malley—to avoid being shipped off to boarding school, she takes off with some guy she met online. Poor Richard—he knows his cousin’s in trouble before she does. Wild Skink—he’s a ragged, one-eyed ex-governor of Florida, and enough of a renegade to think he can track Malley down. With Richard riding shotgun, the unlikely pair scour the state, undaunted by blinding storms, crazed pigs, flying bullets, and giant gators.  (From Goodreads)

Relevant, real, compelling, scarily accurate in that what happens in the story could and does happen. All told with a great blend of humour and downright serious. Plus,  the reader will relate to because of Richard's voice is bang on believable--he is a "typical" 21st century kid. Most importantly there is not even a whiff of didacticism. The author is telling a story not teaching a lesson. Kids would pick up on that and be putting the book down otherwise. And Skink, what can I say about Skink? There is no one like him. From Goodreads:

Carl Hiaasen first introduced readers to Skink more than twenty-five years ago in Double Whammy, and he quickly became Hiaasen’s most iconic and beloved character, appearing in six novels to date. Both teens and adults will be thrilled to catch sight of the elusive “captain” as he finds hilariously satisfying ways to stop internet predators, turtle-egg poachers, and lowlife litterbugs in their tracks. With Skink at the wheel, the search for a missing girl is both nail-bitingly tense and laugh-out-loud funny.

And there is no one like Carl Hiaasen. I think one of the best parts of my job is walking with a young patron or student through the aisles, stopping at the H's and asking have you read any of this author's books? When I hear no...let the booktalks begin. 

Happy Monday and hope you find yourself lots of good marvelous middle grades as you read your way through MMGM!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Winner!

Hey all,

Have me a pile of MG to read and no post for today, BUT I do have a winner of

Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective by Octavia Spencer and that is...

Steff!

Steff, I will contact you to get your address.

And that is it from me til next week. Hope you are enjoying your MMGM blog hopping via Shannon Messenger! Ta for now.

Wordless Wednesday

Copyright Rebecca A. Marshall

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Giveaway-Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective by Octavia Spencer

Good Tuesday Morning all. This is a late Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post. Was away for a couple of weeks and off the internet for almost the same amount of time. Unplanned, but fun times in the mountains, camping, then babysitting the nieces, then camping, then babysitting and so on and so on.

Before MMGM on a Tuesday, though, I have to announce the winner of Tara Dairman's ALL FOUR STARS. That winner is...

Michael G-G!

Now, here's that late MMGM post:

Deer Creek is a small town whose only hope for survival is the success of their Founder's Day Festival. But the festival's main attraction, a time capsule that many people believe hold the town's treasure, has gone missing.

Randi Rhodes and her best friend, D.C., are Bruce Lee-inspired ninjas and local detectives determined to solve the case. Even if it means investigating in a haunted cabin and facing mean old Angus McCarthy, prime suspect.They have three days to find the treasure; the future of their whole town is at stake! Will these kids be able to save the day. (Goodreads)


Great book, characters, setting, plot. I really think is this one kids will like and relate too and one that boys and girls will read and enjoy. It may have taken, for me, a little too long to introduce all of the kids we see on the cover, but that didn't take away from overall story. And the setting? So well done. Rich and fun and I want to go there. And I want to meet the cast of characters who populate the town. Definitely one for mystery lovers.

If you'd like to win a copy of this book all you need to do leave a comment by midnight (MST) Sunday August 10. I'd also love to hear some of your favourite mysteries, recents or from when you were a kid. When I was a kid (around ten) it was all about Trixie Belden, Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie.