Happy 3rd Birthday!

Today is the third birthday of Mrs. Magoo Reads, and to celebrate, I have completely re-designed the site!  The new website is at


www.mrsmagooreads.com

Head over there and bookmark/subscribe!  However, you'll probably want to continue following this blog, as I'll continue to post updates here.  Also, a big thanks to the web designer Martina for helping me design the site-- be sure to check her out!

There is one problem: you'll notice that if you type in only "mrsmagooreads.com" (without the www.), nothing comes up.  If anyone knows how to fix this, your help would be much appreciated! Read more...

Deception Winner

The winner of Deception by Lee Nichols is

Cherry!

Congratulations!  Please send your mailing address to mrsmagooreads[AT]gmail[DOT]com. Read more...

The Last Leopard

Review by Mini Magoo

Martine is an eleven-year-old orphan who lives on a game reserve in South Africa with her grandmother.  When her grandmother's friend Sadie breaks her leg and begs Martine and her grandma to visit her in Zimbabwe for a month, Martine can't help but be annoyed.  She was looking forward to spending the summer riding her white giraffe Jemmy.  Thankfully, her best friend Ben is allowed to come along.

It is said in Zimbabwe that the last resting place of the king of leopards is the resting place of enormous amounts of treasure.  There is only one leopard left: the kingly Kahn.  But now not only are poachers after Kahn, so are treasure-hunters, and either way, both want Kahn dead. Now it is up to Ben, friends made along the way, and especially Martine to save Kahn, the last leopard, from poachers and treasure-hunters, before it is too late.  

Martine also has something else on her mind.  There is a prophecy that states:  "The child who can ride a white giraffe has a power over all animals."  Surely that can’t mean Martine?  Well, yes, she can ride a white giraffe ridiculously well and she has had a few strange experiences where she calms or befriends an animal very quickly, but can she actually be the child?  And what is with the advice Grace, the village sangoma (medicine woman, healer, and prophecy interpreter) gave to her: "You must stay with Ben--whenever you separate, danger will follow you"?

I started The Last Leopard excited to read it, but not knowing what to expect.  I got an amazing surprise.  The Last Leopard is full of suspense, touching moments, and exciting breakthroughs.  I couldn’t put this book down and was constantly wondering how Martine was going to figure her way out of her situation.  I would recommend this book to any preteen.

Buy this book: The Last Leopard Read more...

Interview with Lee Nichols

Lee Nichols is the author of Deception.

How did you create the character of Emma? Did you try to base her off of a modern girl, or an old-fashioned one?

I think she's a very contemporary character dealing with a history she didn't know she had.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Not in the way I've imagined them here. But I do feel like places and things can hold the spirits of people who've died, and sometimes that can invoke a spooky feeling.

If you could go back and change one thing about your novel, what would it be?

Whenever I finish a book I always think of a Picasso documentary I watched years ago. He would paint whole paintings and then say, "Okay, now I really know what it is I'm trying to say," and paint a completely different picture. So there's no one particular thing I'd like to change, but I can see whole new directions to go in. And if I were Picasso, I probably would do that.

Can you tell us what to expect from you in the future?

There are two more Haunting Emma books. BETRAYAL comes out March, 2011. Emma's powers really take hold and Bennett turns into more of a bad boy. And POSSESSION, which if I finish writing it, will be out late 2011. Ghosts start to possess kids at Emma's school.

What advice would you give to any aspiring young writers?

Start writing right now. Nobody understands your experience as a teenager, better than you do. I'd love to see more, authentic young voices in YA. I think committing to a writing schedule really helps. Promise yourself you'll write 2500 words a week, and in six to eight months you'll have the first draft of a novel. Read more...

Alice's Pawfect Tea-Party Kit

When I first received Alice's Pawfect Tea-Party Kit, I was stunned by its beauty.  The kit comes enclosed in a case that resembles a leather-bound copy of Alice in Wonderland.  When I opened it up, I couldn't believe how gorgeous and well put-together the kit is.
Storybook Tea Kits aims to generate a love of reading among children by incorporating literature in a tea kit.  Alice's Pawfect Tea-Party Kit includes a tea bag and three edible treats (one playing off of the "Eat me" cake in Alice in Wonderland).  However, the kit also contains elements that will last much longer in children's minds and hearts.  Chapter seven of Alice in Wonderland is written in a small booklet, and there is also a thirteen minute CD in which Alice speaks to the listener and the Mad Hatter sings songs.
This storybook tea kit is the ultimate gift to give to a child.  He or she will be initially excited by the tea and cookies, but the kit itself will remain with the child for quite a while.  However, I think the best thing about this company is that it has found a creative way to foster the love of reading in children.
I would strongly recommend checking out the Storybook site and perhaps buying a kit for a child you know!
PS. If Alice in Wonderland isn't your cup of tea (pun intended), the Storybook Tea Kit company has more books coming soon, including The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan! Read more...

Viking Pan

Review by Mama Magoo
Is it crazy to love a pot?  I cannot say enough about the Viking Two Quart Sauce Pan.
First of all, the pan looks great.  Shiny and sleek, and the shape is nice, too.  One look at it tells you it's a serious cooking tool.
Secondly, it's very comfortable to handle.  The weight of it is just right, and this, combined with the feel of the pot's handle, makes it easy to use when cooking.
Thirdly, it cooks beautifully.  I have unintentionally brought some foods close to burning, but this pot can make even the lamest of cooks look good!  Everything from lentil soup to popcorn to a bechamel sauce for my lasagne came out perfectly.  The heating mechanism of the pot must have something to do with it, because it heats evenly, unlike other pots I have used.
Lastly, it cleans up really easily, which is important for those who cook and clean a lot.
Although I have quite a few pots and pans in my kitchen, I find myself constantly reaching for this one.  I know it is on the expensive side when compared with your run of the mill pots and pans, but the Viking Two Quart Sauce Pan is not in any way run of the mill.  I know I will be enjoying it for many, many meals to come.  It's worth the price, and I highly recommend it. Read more...

Office Chair

I am excited to say that I have received my new desk chair from CSN Office Furniture (now Wayfair) and am now blogging from it! It's very comfortable, the perfect size, and has a few other handy features:

Not only can you adjust the height of the seat and the arm rests, but you can also calibrate the amount of tension in the back with a simple knob on the bottom. This means that you decide whether you want it to be easy or hard to lean back in the chair. A strong mesh backing provides extra comfort for your back and cools you down in this hot summer weather! Additionally, the top can spin around and the wheels on the bottom will do all the work for you if you're feeling too lazy to get up to reach something.

The chair arrived very quickly and was easy to put together-- the instructions were easy to follow and didn't cause any confusion. You can buy this chair here. Read more...

Mini Magoo Review: How to Survive Middle School

Reviewed by Mini Magoo

David Greenberg is a 12-year-old kid going into 6th grade.  He absolutely loves Jon Stewart and hopes to be a comedian when he grows up, just like his idol.  But for now, he films himself with his camera and posts his videos on YouTube.  He doesn't expect them to get anywhere yet.  But things get complicated when he starts dealing with everything happening around him-and in the meantime, he's learning how to survive middle school. 

First, there's his best friend Elliot.  Well, his ex-best friend Elliot.  Without a reason that David can see, Elliot becomes best buds with Tommy Murphy, the schools biggest, meanest bully, and starts playing mean tricks on David like telling him that all the 6th graders are going against the dress code (when really that day David, who fell for the trick, was the only guy without a collared shirt on).  They even get in a fight with each other.  So, that's one thing on David's list of things to juggle while, of course, surviving middle school.  The next thing? His new best friend who is (deep breath) a girl.  A girl named Sophie (his new favorite name) who makes his mind go fuzzy whenever she touches him.  But that is probably just a coincidence.  Probably. 

He is also still getting over the shock of his mom, who ran away to live with a farmer.  He sends her letters and she writes back, but she never comes to visit.  David keeps his hopes up, but so far they've communicated by writing only.  Another heart-wrenching thing in his life is his loyal hamster, Hammy, who is determined to give him even more to deal with as he gets deeper and deeper into middle school.

Apart from all of that, his videos are becoming incredibly popular and famous, as is David himself.  He has Sophie to thank-after seeing them and thinking they were hilarious, she sent it to everyone she knew, who sent it to all of their friends, and so on.  He is getting written about in newspapers and he is getting thousands of hits and comments per video.  He can't believe that he is actually a famous kid comedian, while in real life he still feels like what he was a month ago-a normal kid nervous for middle school.

I started How to Survive Middle School with low expectations, but I got a pleasant surprise waiting for me.  It was an easy read and I liked the uniqueness of it.  It was a very different subject, a kid starting middle school who wants to be a comedian.  The book is written in first-person and David has a funny and occasionally sarcastic sense of humor, and throughout the book there are the Top 6 and 1/2 lists about anything and everything.  I think it would be a book that you would pick up if you wanted to read something easy, light, and funny.  5th graders, and, of course, middle schoolers will love How to Survive Middle School.  Although it can not be used as a guide, hence the title, it is nevertheless a fun book to read. Read more...

Win a Copy of Deception

Previous Contest Winners:
Token of Darkness- Monica
Summer of the Geek- Mrs. DeRaps
The Turning: What Curiosity Kills- Erika Lynn
Countdown- Lisa Garrett
I will be away until the end of July.  If you email me your mailing address before then, I can get the books sent to you ASAP, but will not be requesting addresses until I get back.  Lisa Garrett, I have yours already.


WIN A COPY OF DECEPTION!
Read my review of Deception.
To win a copy, comment on this post with your email address. For an extra entry, link to this contest.  I will announce the winner on July 20.  Read more...

Saturday's Scribe: Piper Banks

Today's scribe: Piper Banks
Author of: Summer of the Geek

Check out the interview! Please note that the questions were a collaboration between myself and Mini Magoo, as she was the one who reviewed the novel.
_____

What's the best summer experience you've ever had?

I was horse crazy as a girl, and one summer, my parents let me lease a horse. I got to spend every day at the barn. Heaven!

What's the worst summer experience you've ever had?

Three words: Girl Scout Camp. It was hot, dirty and the pond they made us swim in was filled with leeches. I’ve hated camping ever since.

What are the challenges of writing a series, rather than a stand alone novel?

The main challenge in writing a series is to keep the characters consistent from book to book, while still giving them room to grow.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since I was eight-years-old. I had an old Smith-Corona typewriter that I used to write stories on.

What advice would you give to any aspiring young writers?

Read as much as you can! And read different sorts of books, from across different genres. All successful writers were readers first.
_____

Thanks so much for such a great interview, Ms. Banks! Read more...

Announcement from Lauren Mechling

Hello book (blog) lover!

Lauren Mechling, author of the Dream Girl books, here. I have hijacked Sophie's blog in order to convey some Very Important Information.

You might not know it by looks alone (no pink hair, no metal bar through my septum), but I've become a total hacker worthy of her own "Dragon Tattoo" installment. And I'm not just talking about how I've cracked the code and broken onto Mrs. Magoo Reads. My new book MY DARKLYNG, which I co-wrote with Laura Moser (my hilarious co-author on the "10th Grade Social Climber" books), is a YA thriller chockablock with multimedia awesomeness that will be appearing in serialized form on the awesome website Slate.com. The first installment runs June 4, and there will be more excitement every Friday for the rest of the summer. Also: it's free!

Slate is calling MY DARKLYNG its "juicy summer read for vampire lovers (and haters!)." It's about a normal 10th grade girl named Natalie Pollock whose own fiction addiction gets her into major trouble. She's been reading Fiona St. Claire's yummy "Dark Shadows" book series since middle school and when she sees a post on Fiona's blog about an open casting call for the model for the next book's cover, well, she can't resist. What she had thought was just a random field trip turns into a dark and terrible new-best-friendship, scarier and more thrilling than any of Fiona St. Claire's vampire novels.

MY DARKLYNG is different from anything you've ever read before--it's a first-of-its-kind story told in simultaneous platforms. Huh? you ask. Okay, so here's the deal: While you are perfectly free to follow the MY DARKLYNG chapters on Slate and leave it at that, we have been milking the magic world of the Internet for all its worth. Why limit a story to mere words? What about pictures and videos and weird Tweets and scary Facebook wall posts that bring texture to the story and bring the characters to life? With that in mind, we found real (and really awesome) teenagers to play our characters. Expect to get to know their faces really well over the course of this book.

Without further ado, this is the Slate page that will host the chapters.

Here is Natalie's Facebook page--well worth "liking" so you can follow when weird things start happening on it.
Natalie's Twitter page is here.
Fiona's (the vampire writer) Twitter page is here.
Natalie's best friend Jenna tweets here.
James (the vampire model) tweets here.
And Fiona's loving sister Tilly uses this Twitter page.

Natalie and Jenna post Youtube videos here. Here's a sample video that shows them getting ready for the audition that will change their lives.

Now YOU can help make our great experiment in Internet fiction even more amazing. There is an upcoming scene that has a missing detail. We need to come up with the name of an object that the meanest girl in Natalie's class likes to conspicuously place on her desk. AGAIN: WE ARE DESPERATELY SEEKING AN OBJECT THAT THE MEAN GIRL IN NATALIE'S CLASS MAKES A POINT OF FLAUNTING.  Please write in your suggestions in the comments section. The winner will be chosen in a week and featured in MY DARKLYNG--if your answer is selected, it'll be like the story is actually winking at you from the screen.

I know this is all a bit much to wrap your head around. Sorry for any confusion--just read the first installment and take it from there. Please please post comments or send us emails telling us how you're finding the series. We can be reached by my website.

And if you find yourself feeling afraid, don't say I didn't warn you!

your humble hacker,
Lauren Mechling
____
Thanks, Lauren!  Everyone, be sure to visit her page and leave a suggestion!
Read more...

Saturday's Scribe: Molly Roe

Today's scribe: Molly Roe
Author of: Call Me Kate
Check out the interview!
_____

Was Call Me Kate based off of a true story? How close to real life was it?

Call Me Kate is a mixture of fact and fiction. The events in the book happened, but the actions of my great-grandmother were fictionalized. The Civil War draft riots did occur in Pennsylvania in 1862, but my great-grandmother, Catharine McCafferty, was not involved as she was in the novel. Little detail of the lives of ordinary people, especially women, was recorded back in the nineteenth century so I needed to apply what was available in photographs and books to Kate’s life. My genealogy research started me thinking about what life must have been like for my ancestors, particularly for my four great-grandmothers, so I guess you could say the book is based on my impression of the problems these women faced.

Through family stories, I knew that Catharine worked in one of the “big houses.” Through census, church, and newspaper records, I learned that she was closely connected to some of the men hanged as Molly Maguires. When drafting the plot, I placed her in the home of a local coal baron, Ario Pardee, but she may have worked for any of several wealthy families during the time period. Her own family emigrated from Donegal, Ireland and suffered through the Great Famine as was presented in the book. The patch town setting was as close to the time frame as I could possibly make it.

Later in life, Catharine supported her niece through one of the greatest traumas I can imagine: the conviction and hanging of her innocent husband as a Molly Maguire. Of course the word innocent has been debated for 140 years. I hope to write about those later events of Kate’s life once I complete my work in progress.

Do you relate to Kate at all? What characteristics do you share with her?

I love Kate’s sense of justice, and I totally relate to her in that way. I’m not as impulsive or as adventuresome as my heroine, but I hope I emulate Kate’s concern for friends and family. I grew up in a close extended family and interconnected community, just as Kate did.

Can you describe your path to publication?

My original plan was to write a book for my family, primarily for my aunt who is keeper of the family lore. When I joined a writing group, however, the members encouraged me to publish it for the general public. Once the seed was planted, I began to follow up leads. The book was almost finished when I happened upon a panel discussion about publishing, held in a neighboring city. Several group members attended, and we listened to the publishers and company representatives, Tribute Books, a local start up publisher, seemed the perfect match for me and my novel.

When not writing, what do you like to do?

A friend called me a serial hobbyist because I have several hobbies that surge and subside at intervals. I continue to enjoy family history research, and I love talking to my readers at signings, local history day festivals, and reenactments. I enjoy puzzles and games. Over the years I have practiced and taught various crafts: cross-stitch, needlepoint, wreath making, and quilling. One activity which has remained constant in my life, however, is reading. I always have a book or my Kindle with me. I often have several books going at a time. At this time of year, I tend my perennial garden. This year I’m working especially hard spiffing things up for my daughter’s wedding.

What advice would you give to any aspiring young writers?

Aspiring writers, young or not, need to persist. I would tell them to keep working on their craft, and make it an important part of their daily schedules. Join a writing group; it’s a great way to learn and get new perspectives.
_____

Thanks so much for such a great interview, Ms. Roe! Read more...

Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash

Title: Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash
Author: Wendelin van Draanen
Grade: A-
Ideal Audience: Girls, 10-14


Summary: When a dying man hands thirteen-year-old Sammy three thousand dollars and begs her to throw it away, Sammy is torn.  She doesn't want to go against his wishes, but... three thousand dollars?   Wouldn't it be better if she just... spent it away?

So Sammy decides not to tell the police, nor her grandmother, nor any of her friends, about the little money issue, and keeps the bills hidden in her backpack.  All of a sudden, she has spending money, and it feels so good!  She can buy whatever she wants, and can even buy things as a favor for her friends!

But soon Sammy realizes that she's involved in a lot more than just a little white lie.  Strange men seem to be investigating the missing money, and now Sammy can't help but wonder... is keeping the money not just wrong, but also dangerous?  Can she solve the mystery before it's too late?

My thoughts: Sammy Keyes is a strong, fun character that will appeal to all middle school girls.  Although Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash did not play out like the average mystery novel (Sammy Keyes was to blame for lying about the money, and the ending wasn't completely black-and-white), this made it more realistic and original.

Wendelin van Draanen has scored again with this installment in her series, and hopefully Sammy Keyes will continue with as much fun as ever!

Click here to buy Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash Read more...

Deception

Title: Deception
Author: Lee Nichols
Grade: B
Ideal Audience: Girls, 13-16

Summary: When Emma's parents leave her home alone for a few weeks, as they are away on a trip, Emma isn't anticipating any problems.  After all, her house is also partially a store, and their employee can help take care of her.  Plus, if Emma encounters any problems, her parents will be back in a flash.

But that isn't at all how it goes.  The employee quits, so Emma is left all on her own.  Even worse, her parents have decided to take an extended trip into an area with no phone service, so Emma has no way to contact her parents and doesn't know when they'll be back.

Then a classmate reports the situation to the police, and Emma risks going into foster care... until her older brother's former friend, Bennett, shows up, claims to be Emma's guardian, and whisks her across the country to Massachusetts.

But strange things are going on, and soon Emma is fearing for her sanity.  However, she soon learns that much deeper and more dangerous things are going on, and only she has the power to sort through the situation, if Emma could only get the truth.

My thoughts: I was initially put off by Deception's completely unrealistic beginning.  Would two intelligent, caring parents really leave their daughter alone for weeks without a set plan and no contact with her?  And why wouldn't Emma have immediately demanded answers from Bennett when he claimed to be her guardian?

However, the plot quickly picked up and I became engrossed in the story.  Emma became more likable as the novel continued, and by the end, I was completely hooked.  I'm looking forward to the second novel in this haunting series!

Click here to buy Deception Read more...

Movie Monday & Contest: The Turning: What Curiosity Kills

Interested in winning a copy of The Turning: What Curiosity Kills? Keep reading!

The winner of All Unquiet Things is Kirthi!

Click here to read the text review of The Turning: What Curiosity Kills.



To enter to win a copy of The Turning, all you have to do is watch the video above from beginning to end- it's less than a minute and a half- and leave a comment on this post with your email address. For an extra entry, start participating in my WHIRL meme (posted every Sunday). For another extra entry, link to this contest. I will announce the winner on Monday, June 21. This is open to the US only. Read more...