 I'd can't resist sharing this lovely
review of Growing Toward the Sun, written by Gina over at Home Joys blog. Though Gina blogs about a variety of topics, her book reviews are hands down my favorite. So of course I was super excited to see my own book featured on her blog yesterday. It especially pleases me to know her nine-year-old daughter read and enjoyed the book as well. After all, I wrote Growing Toward the Sun for the kid I used to be. Check out Gina's book page for excellent reading suggestions for both adults and kids. Check out her Mennonites page for articles about her branch of Mennonites. And read her review of Growing Toward the Sun here. Tomorrow is a first for me. I'm doing a book signing of Growing Toward the Sun with Betty and Vanessa, two author friends from my local writers' group. Vanessa is providing the location: her family-friendly pool hall in Gallatin, Missouri. The town of Gallatin is holding their annual Christmas on the Square this weekend, so hopefully town will be buzzing with Christmas cheer.  Vanessa is the author of The Case of the Missing Crown, among other books. Betty's book Dreaming of Missouri follows the lives of her ancestors.
Stop by if you're in the area! (Betty's making cookies. And there's snow in the forecast.)
One of the best things about having kids--or in my case, students--is introducing them to your old favorite books. This school term I again shared my dear Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh with an appreciative juvenile audience. The story starts out with good conflict: Mrs. Frisby's son is sick but her cozy mouse house is in the way of the spring plowing. She goes to The Rats for help. Things get a bit annoying when the story goes into flashback mode for a good share of the book. (The rats' backstory is fascinating and could easily have been the focus of the book, in my opinion.) However, it's a good opportunity to talk about flashbacks and story frames. There are a lot of fun "ah-ha moments" for the kids, and the rats' advanced civilization amazes me every time. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh won the Newberry Award in 1972. What a wonderful, timeless read by Robert C. O'Brien!  Now, for the first time, we as a class are following the Rats of Nimh further. I wish the kid me had known there were more books in the series, but at least I get to enjoy them now.
The last two books--Racso and the Rats of Nimh and R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of Nimh--are written by O'Brien's daughter. The writing style is a bit different--lots of short scenes hodgepodged together--but my audience's enthusiasm hasn't waned. As long as they're gasping, cheering, and chuckling, I'll keep reading.
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