Inspiration for young authors
349081
Dream Catchers is a compilation of stories written entirely by young authors. You see the world through their eyes, find out what is important to them, and get to know children as they express what inspires them in their own words. This book is particularly inspirational if you have an aspiring author.

On the plus side, all proceeds go to other children--those in need at St. Jude's. I couldn't have spent my money better.
3389407
My students and I really loved Ms. Madden's charming book! We learned so much about the writing process  and her joy in being an author, writer, and mom. My students were very inspired to learn that her own children helped her write the book. It made my kids feel so empowered to begin to think of themselves as writers. They really enjoyed the chance to write their own endings to the book and tell what they thought would grow on that wonerful magical tree next.  Pam Cook, St. John's
4275002
In I Want a Cat: My Opinion Essay, Melie writes about wanting a cat along with her cousin Dennis and his wants in a new cat.  This is the second book in the series and it is written as a writing assignment for school with criteria and planning to write the essay.  For a writing teacher this is an excellent way to introduce writing techniques to a class of children learning writing skills.  The story builds interest and shows children that writing can be fun when you pick a topic that interests you and gives you a way to express your needs.  The concepts of comparison of ideas is also presents in a manner easy for young writers to understand.

Darcy Pattison is to be congratulated on this excellent story to encourage young writers and I am happy she sent me a sample copy to share in my school with fellow teachers.  It is an excellent resource to use to increase interest in learning writing skills.
4145612
While I was shopping in a bookstore with a friend, she pointed out an IlluStory Book Kit, knowing how much my grandson liked to write his own stories.  He was 7-years-old at the time.  When I explained what he could do with the kit, he immediately sat down and started writing a story.  Over the next few months, whenever we had time together, he would write, create illustrations, edit, add to his story.  It was a wonderful experience for me, as a grandmother, to be so closely involved in his creative activities.  When he was sure his story was just as he wanted it, he supervised my transferring it to the website.  The wording of his autobiography and selection of his picture were so important to him, and the cover was another joint project.  Once his project was in the hands of the Creations By You people, he checked the mailbox every day.  When his hardcover book arrived, his joy was contagious.  The first few nights, he slept with the book under his pillow.  He is now 11-years-old and he keeps the book in his "special place" with his other most precious possessions.  He has now gone on to create scripts and videos for school projects and for fun, but he still talks about the fun we had together creating his "first" book. IlluStory Book Kits are now my favorite gift for other budding authors!
4047503
From cover to cover, this is the BEST GUIDEBOOK for publishing that I've read for teachers and others who are interested in inspiring young writers (K-12) --our future authors, poets, journalists, research scientists, educators, and anyone who appreciates the art of communicating skillfully. It gives our students a REAL PURPOSE FOR WRITING. Every essay was filled with exciting and practical ideas that I wanted to apply immediately within my own classroom. They are written in a structure that is USER-FRIENDLY, showing you steps to take in producing student publications, interviewing people, and much more, while giving extraordinary examples from students around the world. In fact, I have already used much of the information with my students in their writing, such as the scientific inquiry journal publication  'Great Blue', written about by teacher, Mark Wagler and by using as models the stunning artwork, touching stories and poems written by students in the 'Treasures' publication series by Chris Weber. Please read and enjoy this unique and beautifully written book. I'm certain you will come away eager to apply what has been presented here. Your students will WANT TO WRITE, revise, and put their heart into their writing after you read PUBLISHING WITH STUDENTS!
136695
I received this book from the author in exchange for my free and honest review.

I enjoyed this little book. First of all, it is just the right size for the young audience it targets, so is a rather short but good read. Secondly, the author worked her magic into creating believable characters of varying personalities to whom young readers can relate.

Save The Lemmings, by Kai Strand, delves into the interests and conflicts of a girl in her nearly-teen life. The star of her book is Natalie, a twelve-year-old in grade eight. She is smart, a young inventor, and not the trendiest dresser in school  but that doesnt bother her. She is her own person,  a nice girl who is focused on doing well with her life.

With a few ideas from her three best friends, Natalie invents a handy little tool for communication and calls it the Texty-Talker. During her research she comes across an organization called Save the Lemmings and gets wrapped up in wanting to save the little suicidal animals. (Actually, as the author points out at the end of her book, some lemmings die during migration, but it is unintentional and a myth that they're self-destructive.)

When her invention becomes a nationwide hit and Natalie is thrust into the public limelight ill-prepared, problems arise. There are those who are jealous and the bullying she occasionally experiences increases; she is set up for trouble and falls right into it. Rumours fly. With her reputation at stake, even her friends begin to doubt her, and    well  Im not going to tell you anymore, except to say, this little book is very fitting for todays young readers  with all the peer pressure thats going on.

Warning: in a couple of conversations Gods name is ill-used, but even so  do let your children read Save The Lemmings. It is inspiring for those who want to move forward with their hopes and dreams and not give in to negative peer pressure.
3805005
Always I have appreciated First Printings and especially first books ever written by an author. Perhaps because I am a grandfather, I cherish reading young authors and this book gives me all three incentives. Arial Alexis is a very young, teenage writer. This is her very first published book, and it is the first printing of this book. Arial has a unique way of connecting with the characters she has written about. The words flow across the pages in a manner that draws young and old alike into the story. This may be Arial's first published book, but I think she will soon be a Best Selling author. This book, Take The Breath Out of Me, is a worthwhile read. I have purchased copies for my grandkids to show them just what great things young folks can accomplish.
22340
This was a fun quick read that encourages writers to keep on writing. Cassie adds personal stories through her quest to become a published author which makes the advice applicable and engaging.
1844706
Georgia Goes to Lunch is an inspirational book for young, adventurous children. It shows how one memorable event can influence a young person and encourage them to pursue their dreams. The book introduces children to the exciting world of aviation from a child's perspective. It includes colorful illustrations that are engaging to young readers. My daughter relates to the main character of the book because the author captures the personality of a young girl. Ever since reading the book, my daughter has talked about wanting to climb trees and fly in an airplane like Georgia.
2974556
Christina Katz is a friend. Permit me to say at the outset that I'm biased. Having recommended her book about author platforms, I was eager to read THE WRITER'S WORKOUT, which is intended to help a writer sustain productivity and creativity for the duration of a healthy career.

THE WRITER'S WORKOUT is a compilation of concise instructions for self-editing, narrowing a topic's scope, pitching projects to editors, making money, professional networking, meeting deadlines, and other practical matters dear to my heart. Creative writers, however, may warm to the book's segments on coping with competition, criticism, disappointment, and burnout. New writers who aren't confident of what to write about will pull out the pages offering gentle prods and examples of how to brainstorm.

Telling writers to toss out the grammar handbooks seems counterintuitive and cringeworthy, yet it's exactly what this book suggests.  Though I'm reluctant to admit it, faulty grammar won't prevent a writer from being published--a tidbit of truth that should please plenty of aspiring authors.

Christina Katz tells writers who are in search of inspiration, "Everything in your life is trying to communicate with you." She believes that responding is a writer's vocation. Her new book outlines simple daily methods to clear the way for the intellectual and emotional engagement that produces good writing.

Another of the author's lessons that writers should tattoo somewhere: "Take 100 percent responsibility for your writing career. Don't ever expect it to be as important to anyone else as it is to you." It's easy for writers to lament the solitary nature of their work. Expressing the concept of professional independence as empowerment is much more constructive.

Yes, there's a challenging amount of information in this book, and it's directed at the pro who will exert the effort required to have a career as a writer.

Beyond mere freelance business strategy, THE WRITER'S WORKOUT addresses the writer's soul, strength, and stamina. In other words, its lessons are heartfelt. For a creative person without a supportive entourage, the one-a-day reminders that fill this book make a nice stand-in. What writer, no matter how successful and well connected, couldn't use 366 pieces of encouragement and advice from an energetic and devoted writing coach?
4433419
A great reading book with short stories for my teenage children. I love to cultivate a reading habit for my kids and this book with its two adventure stories and a bonus book of poems would definitely create a great inspiration for more of their reading. With so many electronic games available, my kids have been hard-pressed with their spare time to get down to much reading nowadays. I am glad to find a book that would at least motivate more reading rather than just electronic games. A great balance to their development in their growing years.
419538
My daughter who is 8 wrote a book report on this book and absolutely loved it! It was a great inspiration.
1454215
Mary Kole has an impressive history with books. She was an Associate Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, before becoming Senior Literary Manager and head of the Children's Department at MovableTM.com. "She has also worked for Chronicle Books, earned her MFA at Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco, and written for publications like the Los Angeles Times." Now she works as a freelance editor (MaryKole.com).

I already was a huge fan of Mary's blog, Kidlit.com, selected by Writer's Digest Magazine as one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers", and one my very favorite spots in cyberspace.

The first chapter explains everything about the middle grade and young adult markets. It covers all the important issues, from choosing an audience to picking the right genre, accordingly to the age range of your readers. It discusses subjects like word count, series, and blockbuster thinking.

Chapter two helps you know your readers' mindset: their beliefs, feelings, motivations, problems, hopes and fears.  Mary shows how all this information can be used "by having your descriptions reflect the freshness of middle grade existence" or "the all-consuming nature of being a teenager".

In chapter three, she explains the main concepts behind "the Big Idea", covering subjects such as originality and novel ideas, what defines commercial novels, loglines, sales hooks, emotional resonance, thinking big and much more.

The fourth chapter deals with the first act: prologues, inciting incidents, how to craft killer beginnings, mixing action and information in the right proportion, delivering (and withholding) character information, and essential issues like how to choose the right tense and point of view for your novel.

Chapter five is all about creating memorable characters. It explains everything about developing protagonists with strong motivations, significant backstories and genuine emotions, character growth and evolution. You'll learn how to populate your worlds with realistic sidekicks and villains, without forgetting to add all the necessary characters to make your story shine. It also includes clear explanations about chapters, scenes and beats.

In chapter six you'll dive deeper into plot. Besides discussing the essentials of structure, it also shows how to raise stakes and build tension, weaving interesting subplots and providing valuable tips on dealing with the infamous muddy middle. Finally, it guides you through the last act, taking you all the way from the climax to an ending that is both satisfying and impressive.

The seventh chapter is full of advanced techniques: it explains how to use imagery and setting to build your own wonder world, how to choose the perfect words and enrich your writing with your unique voice, discover the theme that lights your novel, as well as finding the big ideas and big questions that pulsate throughout your story, acquiring authority and writing with authenticity.

Chapter eight contains all the pertinent information and advice you need to fulfill your literary vocation, like getting an agent, querying and submitting your work.

`Writing Irresistible Kidlit' is a precious resource for many reasons.
These are some of them:
  It covers all topics about writing for MG and YA (from the initial conception of your novel to finally querying and submitting your complete manuscript).
  It is simple and understandable.
  It brings lots of exercises to guide you through each step of writing your novel.
  It offers several contributions written by prominent authors and editors (like Holy Black, Barry Lyga, Andrew Harwell and Diane Landolf).
  It has lots of carefully reviewed excerpts from fabulous novels (like `Savvy' by Ingrid Law, `Paper Towns' by John Green, and `The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins).
127995
Since my last review, I did receive the printed copy of the book.  This is a Great Little Book. The tone is cheerful and inspiring; makes you truly feel that you can become a writer of short fiction pieces quickly, and more importantly, get them published. The chapters are easy to read, have clear steps to follow and understand. It is full of little tips and ideas and lists. I wanted to get started right way (and I did.) Ms. Berg tells of how she got her start and added a couple of her pieces in the book as well.

There are So Many Books on How to Write out there. Just this one little book is not a bad place to start out. It will help you develop a steady writing habit and start you publishing.
466800
While this book is written for a Young Adult audience, I just love reading about writing (of course hoping to jump in someday and do it) and this is a very good book to get you going.
 Fletcher takes you step by step into the hows and whys of creating and keeping a Writers Notebook, and discusses the birth of great ideas from little notes on life.  He also touches on great tips like writing with honesty, including about things that hurt the most.
 While I believe this to be an inspiring book for all (I now have 2 notebooks for my writing observations) I see it as an impressive gift, along with a small nice notebook, of course, for that little someone in your life who  may have the gift to see, and write, life as it is to them.  If you enjoy the idea of writing your self, this is a great place to start.
1834440
In this book, Megan has a whole chapter about helping young writers find topics about which they can write with authority.  The book includes five different chapters of minilessons about how to help primary students add detail and specificity by sharing dialogue, examples, and facts to make their writing stronger.  For example, in Chapter Six she shares how authors use anecdotes (stories) to illustrate an aspect of a character, using her own writing, as well as examples from several books as mentor texts.  As with her first book, Megan describes each minilesson so clearly that you could easily incorporate her ideas into your teaching.  She also includes quotes from published authors and illustrators, as well as enticing books to use for each lesson.  Reading Megan's book will provide glimpses into the thoughtful and intentional teaching that occurs in her classroom.
4701756
Its a wonderful little story that is also a teaching tool for the importance of putting things back in their proper place.  An amazing young writer.  Hope there are more to come.