Book Talk: Reviews by Young Readers

Today in BookTalk: Reviews by Young Readers, I’m thrilled to have Nate Davis with us to talk about Susan Fletcher’s Middle Grade novel Ancient, Strange, and Lovely (The Dragon Chronicles). Welcome, Nate! 

I’m Nate Davis and I like sports. In the summer, I especially like to wake board and wake surf. I also like playing my drums and reading. I like to read some autobiographies and some fiction stories. Some of my recent favorites are Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

Review - Ancient, Strange, and Lovely (The Dragon Chronicles) by Susan Fletcher (Atheneum, 2010)

This book is full of action and adventure. It’s about a young girl trying to run away from poachers who are trying to get her baby dragon. Her mom went missing, and her dad went looking for her and disappeared. It’s a gripping story about how the girl tries to find her parents, and protect the baby dragon. It’s set in a world that’s been horribly polluted with chemicals. Saving the dragon could mean saving the world.

I liked it because the story kept moving forward and there was never a slow part. I was impressed by how much creativity and imagination went into the story. The world has its own music bands, and at the beginning of some of the chapters you see lyrics from those bands. There are some made up words, and even a new sort of clique, called “tants.” They are kids who have added webbing, maybe between their fingers or toes. Some even have it from an ear to their shoulder, or webs that make them look like flying squirrels. They do this because of the mutant children who were born deformed because of pollution.

Thanks for the review, Nate!! 

Applying and Analyzing Constructive Criticism with the Texas Sweethearts

This past Saturday, eighteen attendees met at the REI in Round Rock (outskirts of Austin) for an intensive workshop Beyond the Basics: Applying and Analyzing Constructive Criticism with the Texas Sweethearts hosted by our Austin SCBWI chapter. 

After formal introductions by RA Debbie Gonzales, Jessica Anderson, PJ (Tricia) Hoover and Kari Anne Holt presented the Art of the Effective Critique. They discussed logistics like guidelines, rules and protocol and delivering a constructive critique using the “Hamburger” analogy.

Then the five sweethearts (Jeanette Larson, Tricia, Kari, Jessica and Jo Whittemore) engaged in role playing. They showed us exaggerated critique scenarios using the various archetypes (Shy Guy, Jealous Person, The Pusher, Overbearing, Defensive, Bitchy, Stagnant Stalwart, to name a few). This portion of the program had attendees laughing at the ruses but also left the writers with an understanding of how to deal with challenging situations within the dynamics of a critique group.

                                            Texas Sweethearts Role Playing

Before guests broke for lunch, Jo presented writers with tools to use in their manuscript critiques and cheat sheets on what to look for as it relates to content (initial hook, conflict, plot and character development, motivation , turning point and much more) and style (voice, point-of-view, word choice, imagery and believability). She then modeled through open review for SCBWI members using a donated manuscript by Jessica Anderson. Attendees could easily see how her cheat sheet became the perfect dissecting tool to analyze manuscripts.

In the afternoon, two break-out sessions engaged attendees in critiques with peers led by the Texas Sweethearts as moderators and everyone gained feedback on a work in progress. Jeanette wrapped up the day with What Are You Giving? What Are You Getting? which illustrated the benefits of coaching, critiquing and editing.

In keeping with Austin tradition we had chocolate, snacks, drinks and wrap-up prizes to add the finishing touch to a successful day on craft. I must say Austin SCBWI rocks with their programs, but I guess I am a little biased being the ARA for the chapter. And I would highly recommend hiring those Texas Sweethearts who are also Scoundrels, too!