I mightn’t have come across this title if it hadn’t ended up in a big box of books I’m reading right now for an awards committee I’ve joined. I’m happy that it found its way to me, because it’s a satisfying, well-written, not-very-long middle grade title that I’ll be happy to slide into my classroom library. The Mealworm Diaries is Anna Kerz’s debut novel and it is the story of Jeremy, a kid who  moves from rural Nova Scotia to Toronto, after a tragedy in his family. Here’s some of the jacket copy:

Mealworms are small creatures that live in dark secret places. Jeremy is a bit like that when he and his mother leave their home in rural Nova Scotia and go to live in Toronto. Not only does Jeremy have a secret that keeps him from enjoying his new life, he also has a science partner who is more annoying than sand in a bathing suit.

This is a school / friendship / family story, about a kid struggling to get his life back after a terrible loss. Not exactly new territory, but I will say that Kerz has worked the material respectably, creating a plot that really keeps moving, and establishing a thoroughly convincing school setting, with a strong dynamic between the student characters. Jeremy comes through as a fairly rounded character, but it’s Aaron, his highly unusual science partner and wannabe best friend, who leaps from the page. He is 99% annoying and 100% endearing. Just about everyone has known a kid a bit like Aaron. You know the type who says whatever he’s thinking and never stops moving for a second. Any teacher will recognize Aaron. The way that Kerz has conveyed this character indicates that she’s a new writer worth watching. In my view, the ending is way too tidy, too easy and “all’s well that ends well” to be fully satisfying. Still, as a whole, the novel certainly works and feels carefully constructed. For fans of Joey Pigza and Andrew Clements’ novels, The Mealworm Diaries will leave fans of realistic fiction feeling good and ready for whatever Kerz is working on next.

The Mealworm Diaries is published by Orca.

This elf is starting to feel like she would like to escape. Somewhere without telephones. Somewhere without marking. Somewhere without laundry. I’m thinking here:

I would be happy there in that little jar. Yes I would.

Oh etsy, you temptress you. Visit Greenbriar to see lots of other elf houses.

Alright, I admit it. I was one of those adults who almost, almost, bought a copy of Klutz’s Encyclopedia of Immaturity, Volume 1. Actually, I almost bought it for my hubby for Christmas and then I had the good sense to realize that I’d probably regret it about, oh, 5 seconds after giving it to him. Still, now it would seem that the book gods have decided that I was destined to have The Encyclopedia of Immaturity, Volume 2. And what do you know? As soon as I unwrapped the courier box and pulled it out, my fella practically knocked me over to start checking it out it.

I’m happy to be able to give away both volume 1 and volume 2 to two lucky commenters. All you need to do is drop off a comment on this post, telling me the most immature thing you’ve wanted to do (or have done) recently. I’ll choose two winners by November 20th. Be sure to include your contact email info.

Now, a bit more about the book.

The cover: hilarious. I am loving the twist on two of the most unfun folks in 20th century American art. So perfect. The first volume was a doodled-upon version of the Mona Lisa, remember?

As the introduction notes, “growing up is a very big decision and not one that you should rush into without at least pausing for a moment to consider the implications.” Ah yes, the implications (writing report cards, washing the kitchen floor, ironing shirts, paying for someone to clean out your eaves… the list could be endless). This book is meant to counteract the “dark forces of maturity,” and I think most folks (ages 9-99) need that in order to stay sane. You will learn a whole bunch of strange and silly skills such as: “How to Make a Fauxhawk,” “How to Talk Like a Pirate,” “How to Catch Popcorn on Your Tongue” and “How to Play the Spoons.” (Note: not all are in good taste. Most are just plain fun or funny or a little bit gross. But, I’m thinking we could have done without “How to amputate your leg.” Perhaps it’s the teacher in me, but I’m not finding that one funny). The instructions for each of the crazy skills are fairly good, sometimes more precise than others, but these sorts of things are all about practice, right? I think kids will agree. In my opinion, the design of the pages could have a tad more pizazz overall (there’s a whole lot of white space on many of the pages). The photos of the kids make for the most engaging visuals.

Definitely good fun for middle schoolers and up, I’d say. Many of the tricks / jokes seem most likely to appeal to the ten and up crowd. I can think of a few boys who would get a real kick out of this – and drive their siblings and parents crazy in the process.

Here are two videos showing tricks from volume one and volume two:

Drop off your story of immature behaviour – real or only imagined – for your shot at getting both of these Klutz books.

I need more time. Badly. Lots more time. For books. For dog-walking. For cooking. For hugging feet with my guy on the couch. Why don’t I seem to have enough time for those things? Here’s a little poem about seizing the moment.

Today – by Thomas Carlyle

So here hath been dawning
Another blue Day:
Think wilt thou let it
Slip useless away.

Out of Eternity
This new Day is born;
Into Eternity,
At night, will return.

Behold it aforetime
No eye ever did:
So soon it forever
From all eyes is hid.

(read the rest here…)

(photo © Darren Hester for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-NonCommercial)

I am waiting for my brain power to be restored, if this endless, endless cold/virus/infection thing ever passes. Meanwhile, I have been reading lots of lovely reviews. You should read them too:

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy, reviewed by Reading Rants. The lines from the review that got me:

Friends, I can barely contain my morbid delight at having discovered this delightfully gruesome book! Yancy’s bloody tale, written in a delicious Victorian gothic style, is just gory and disturbing as the early Stephen King I devoured as a teen while still being a cracking good yarn between explicit scenes of dismemberment and disembowelment that leave nothing (and I mean NOTHING) to the imagination.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano by Peggy Gifford, reviewed by Book Nut. The lines from the review that got me:

I love Moxy. I’m not ashamed of this because Moxy is awesome. Very few books make me laugh, chortle, snort, guffaw, and giggle. Moxy makes me do all of those. Perhaps that’s because my sense of humor is not very sophisticated — I mean why does this chapter crack me up every time: “Chapter 29: In Which We Learn What Was Inside The Envelope. Inside THE ENVELOPE was the note.” That’s it. Entire chapter. Cracks me up every time.

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner, reviewed by The Reading Zone. The lines from the review that got me:

I think girls especially will connect with Gianna.  She isn’t perfect but she is real.  Her imperfections reminded me of a lot of the students I teach every year.  She wants to do well in school but is easily distracted.  However, she is so smart- her interpretation of Robert Frost’s Birches is brilliant and spot-on.  But she doesn’t hand it in, because she thinks it’s not what the teacher wants to hear.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, reviewed at Educating Alice, by one of Monica’s 4th grade readers. The lines from the review that got me:

In addition, the book cover is beautiful and makes you feel like Calpurnia. At first when you look at it, it just looks like branches and trees. But if you look and observe it like Calpurnia, you can find many things; books, microscopes, jars, animals, and other kinds of creatures. It will feel like you are at the river with Calpurnia and her grandfather. You may feel like being Calpurnia in the story.

Sigh. Maybe when I’m feeling better and when Christmas comes, I’ll be able to read all of these.

Today’s it’s my treat to welcome Trilby Kent, debut author of the middle grade historical novel, Medina Hill. Trilby is touring around the kidlitosphere this week, beginning with Toronto-based blogs (her native city), and ending in UK-based blogs (her current home base). Other tour stops today include:

Cindy’s Love of Books
Librarian By Day
Melanie’s Musings
Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf

Here’s the teaser for Medina Hill, provided by Tundra:

In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

After reading Medina Hill, I’ll certainly be on the look out for whatever Trilby writes next. The main reason? Originality. An author who creates a story that’s just a little bit unusual (in concept or characters), as this one is, automatically warrants keeping an eye on, in my opinion. I enjoyed the way Trilby brought diverse elements together in this book. I thought it was an interesting approach for Dominic to be inspired by the past so that he might take hold of his present life and come into his own towards the end of the book. Naturally, I loved all of the passages focusing on his sister Marlo’s passion for cooking (a girl after my own heart, that Marlo). Read this bit:

My sister wasn’t complaining, mind. But The New Art of Cooking had opened another world for her. I guess it was an escape. There was a section called “Feasts from the Arabian Nights,” and another one called “Medieval Meats, Meads, and Mushrooms.” Marlo took to carrying it around with her the way a baby clings to her blanket. “You don’t even know how to boil water,” I’d sneered at her, irritated by the fact that she seemed so content, safe in a world of Sunday roasts and jelly trifles. “What’s the point of reading a book for housewives?” Marlo had gazed up at me with those dumb, gray eyes and replied, “You wouldn’t understand.”

Medina Hill explores some of my favourite themes: the blessing in discovering the things that matter to you most, learning to accept yourself and so finding the courage to change and grow, and the power one discovers when facing the world with a curious spirit and an open mind. Those are some big ideas for a slim book.

I thought this was a quirky read, with characters I wanted to know more about. I suppose that’s the only aspect of the book that wasn’t fully satisfying. There were so many unusual characters, indeed the plot necessitated a cast of oddballs, but I wanted more scenes through which readers could connect to them and come to understand them more deeply. It seemed like many of the secondary characters came and went rather quickly, with only a couple of scenes each. Perhaps it’s just that the book could have stood to be quite a bit longer. I think the overall impact would have been stronger with more of the story and characters fleshed out a bit more fully. In some respects, I don’t think Medina Hill is written for a broad readership, because not all kids will appreciate or perhaps even understand Dominic’s passion for such a specific period of history, though many may identify with his fears and self-doubt. This said, I was certainly attracted to the range of subjects presented here, from the history of Lawrence of Arabia to Romany life to cooking and baking and even clairvoyance. The eclectic subject matter intrigued me and could easily have supported a lengthier narrative.

Now I am happy to present Trilby Kent herself – and her two main characters as well, Dominic and Marlo, for a chat about what inspires them most about their particular passions. Welcome Trilby & Co!

So Trilby, what is it about writing that most inspires you?

Trilby: I think that writing is an extension of being a reader: you’re inspired or excited by something you read, and before long you start to want to inspire and excite others in the same way. Like many writers, my first efforts – and I mean my very first efforts, as a little kid – were hideously derivative. A fitting title for my first book (four pages written on a typewriter and stapled together) would probably have been Five Go To Malory Towers. It wasn’t an original statement; it was a paean to the idols of my childhood. But imitation can be a useful way to learn the basics.

Reading an excellent book is still my greatest inspiration – being an author means I have an excuse to spend lots of time reading novels (I get to call it “research”). And writing is still just a slightly more grown-up way of playing make-believe. It gives me permission to find out about things, to ask questions. I’d be enormously flattered if I learned that somewhere, some young author in the making was penning a thinly veiled knock-off of Medina Hill. That would be the ultimate compliment!

Dominic, why do you find history so intriguing?

Dominic: I used to think that history was just about the past – the names and dates they make us memorize at school, like the Battle of Hastings and Henry VIII’s six wives. But then I realized that history’s happening right this minute; it follows us around like a shadow. I wasn’t alive when the Great War was on, but it changed my dad forever. Him being sad a lot of the time: that’s history’s fault. Which makes history sound like a bad thing, but it isn’t. It’s just people. And the more you learn about them, the more you start to see yourself in them – the good and the bad. It makes you feel less alone, somehow. Not being able to speak used to make me feel cut off from other people – but dead people don’t expect you to speak. They want you to listen.

Lawrence of Arabia was just a weedy kid like me, once upon a time. But he read his history, and I’ll bet that made him realize that he could be something more. I don’t think he wanted to be a famous hero; he didn’t wake up one morning and think, Right, time to enter the history books.. But that’s what he did, in the end. That’s what happened.

Marlo, why is baking your favourite thing?

Marlo: Most grown-ups don’t expect an eight year-old to know the difference between a posset and a syllabub, let alone how to make one. When you’re only eight, sometimes it’s hard to be taken seriously. So I like to surprise people. Even Mum can’t make lardy cake and sticky toffee pudding like I can. (Of course, the good thing about being little is you’re still allowed to lick the mixing bowl!)

Cookbooks are just the most wonderful thing – especially if they have lots of pictures. It gets you thinking, Could I make that? And the house always smells lovely when there’s a pie in the oven, or fruit stewing on the stove. People can’t help smiling when they come through the door. That makes me happy, too. There’s nothing like presenting someone with a cake covered in buttercream roses to know that all the hard work was worth it, just to see the look on their face. Try it, and you’ll see.

Thanks to Trilby, Dominic and Marlo for stopping by Shelf Elf to tell us more about their talents!

For the full schedule of Trilby’s travels, including her stops tomorrow, head to Tundra’s blog.

Medina Hill is published by Tundra Books.

If you thought that all of the special events at readergirlz got used up in October, with our amazing week of live chats for Teen Read Week and the featured chat with Ms. Libba Bray, well… think again. November is another stellar month at readergirlz. Check it out:

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, our featured author this month is Marlene Carvell, whose novel Sweetgrass Basket, is the readergirlz pick. I read it just a few weeks ago. Written in prose poetry in alternating voices, it is the story of two Mohawk sisters who are sent to a residential school. It’s about the power of a strong sisterly bond, and the importance of protecting one’s culture and traditions in the face of oppression. I found it a very moving read. Discussion will be happening all month long at the blog, and the live chat with Marlene will be on Tuesday, November 24th at 6pm PST.

On November 21st at 6pm PST at the blog, we’ve got a fun Twilight event planned to coincide with the release of New Moon in theatres. This is sure to be a packed chat – with lots of twihards in attendance!

Finally, on November 30th at 6pm PST at the blog, you absolutely must join in the readergirlz RAVE chat Homecoming event. So, so many outstanding authors who have been featured on readergirlz in the past will be joining in that night for a giant live chat. (I cannot even imagine how busy that will be. I’m not sure the chat program will be able to handle the insanity). Here are just some of the people who will be joining us that night: Mary Pearson, Sara Zarr, Laura Resau, Libba Bray, Kristin Cashore, Cecil Castellucci, Ellen Hopkins… and more! Wow. Incredible. That will be a chat to remember.

So pick up Sweetgrass Basket this month and join in at all three of these amazing readergirlz events.

I have been feeling yucky all week long. Yucky. Achy. Grouchy. Dizzy. Dopey. All that.

So I have been lying in my bed, with cat on my pillow, kleenex clutched in my tiny fist, listening to this:

I will not feel ashamed of my secret delight in this audio soap opera. I know it is over-the-top, formulaic and a little trashy. I really like the pretty dresses on the cover and I’ll bet you do too, so don’t pretend you don’t. The dialogue is killer. For example:

His tone, when he spoke, had a ring of destiny, “I’ll never be so careless with you again.” She inhaled sharply, “It feels more true than ever now, doesn’t it?”

Even the cat can’t wait to find out what will happen next.

Guess what? This month was my biggest month yet for hits to Shelf Elf. The only reason I mention it is that it feels kind of awesome that from a little wee baby blog with only 68 visitors in month number one, I hit 10 000 visits this month, just over two years later.

The Elf thanks those who visit often.

(Groovy numbers photo from stock.xchng)

Theme in Yellow – by Carl Sandburg

I SPOT the hills
With yellow balls in autumn.
I light the prairie cornfields
Orange and tawny gold clusters
And I am called pumpkins.
On the last of October
When dusk is fallen
Children join hands
And circle round me
Singing ghost songs
And love to the harvest moon;
I am a jack-o’-lantern
With terrible teeth
And the children know
I am fooling.

(From Poetry Foundation. Photo © Sarah Klockars-Clauser for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-ShareAlike)