Review: Fleur Bradley's Get a Clue: How to Plot, Write, and Sell Your MG or YA Mystery

 

Get a Clue cover by Damonza

 

Award winning author Fleur Bradley’s latest book, Get a Clue: How to Plot, Write, and Sell Your MG or YA Mystery is a succinct exploration of the process of writing a mystery from beginning to end. With an eponymous publisher and a green high top sneaker on the cover designed by Damonza, Ms. Bradley describes plotting based on sequences such as those in films of 100 years ago. She explains character development, plot progression, clues and finding time to write as well as pitches, jacket flap copy and writing organizations such as The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

The written explanations of pitches and back covers are excellent. It would be nice to see an illustration or photo of the back cover of a mystery with the pitch and explanation pointed out. (I have no idea what the legal and/or financial requirements would be.)

This book will appeal to those who would like structure and/or guidance on their writing journey and it would be a helpful resource for those teaching writing workshops to middle grade and high school students.

Source: Purchased by self. Published in 2026, the book is a slim 126 pages which includes Resources.

Internal and External links:

Visit author: Fleur Bradley  

Learn more about: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Previous interviews with Fleur Bradley: Daybreak on Raven Island  and 

    Midnight at the Barclay Hotel 

Visit James Ponti's Writing Workshop Videos:  James Ponti Resources scroll all the way down to access the videos.

Visit Greg Pattridge host of: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

 

Wendelin Van Draanen's: Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary

 

Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary cover art by Craig Phillips

Wendelin Van Draanen’s Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Mustache Mary, a middle grade mystery first published in 2000 by Penguin Random House Children’s Books, combines bicycles, pigs and gold into an adventurous romp while solving a crime. Craig Phillips illustrated the 2017 paperback cover. This is the fifth book in the Sammy Keyes series and was nominated for an Edgar Award. Sammy and her friends ride their bicycles about farms and to a nearby development on December 31, New Year’s Eve. They encounter mysteries, vendettas and unique characters in both settings. While over 25 years old, Ms. Van Draanen’s story is fun, relevant and the absence of portable electronic devices may be explained by the lack of cell phone coverage in a rural area. Perhaps the most salient point is the arch criminal’s insidious behavior and lies and the ripple effects of those actions. At the end Sammy reflects on friendships, choices and future paths.

Source: Purchased, 2017 paperback version with 272 pages. The novel is appropriate for fifth grade and older. 

Thanks as always to Greg Pattridge host of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. 

Links:

Visit Wendelin Van Draanen   

Visit cover artist: Craig Phillips  

Previous review of Wendelin Van Draanen's: Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief 

Visit your local book store: Boulder Bookstore

 

Graham Cracker Cookies

 

Citrus Root Stock, Leaves photo by ET Charles 

We used to bake more cakes and have left over frosting with which we made graham cracker cookies. These cookies make a pleasant mid-morning snack with coffee. Following are two versions of graham cracker cookies.

Graham Cracker Cookies

Key Lime Frosting

4 graham crackers, split in half

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon key lime juice, bottled

¼ cup powdered sugar

Directions: In a small sauce pan melt the butter and lime juice together. Barely bring to a boil. Sift in powdered sugar. Frost the eight graham cracker halves.

Yields: Makes 8 open faced graham cracker cookies.

Notes: I use unsalted butter. This makes bright, citrus cookies. 

Or with

Chocolate Frosting

8 graham crackers, split in half

½ ounce, 1 square, of 60% cacao chocolate

3 Tablespoons cream

½ cup powdered sugar

Directions: Melt chocolate and cream together. Stir. Sift in powdered sugar, stirring well after each ¼ cup of powdered sugar. Stir some more until a smooth mixture is formed. Frost the 16 graham cracker halves.

Yields: Makes 16 open faced graham cracker cookies.

Notes: This is a sweeter graham cracker cookie than the key lime frosting graham cracker cookie. One could reduce the amount of cream and then reduce the powdered sugar and the result would be fewer, less sweet cookies, and more chocolate flavor.

Link

For a brown sugar based frosting, try: Icing for Banana Cake

Book Review Jennifer Chambliss Bertman: Book Scavengers: The Unbreakable Code

Illustrated by Sarah Watts

 

Book Scavenger: The Unbreakable Code, a New York Times best seller by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman nods to Mark Twain while he lived in San Francisco. The second book in the Book Scavenger series, Ms. Bertman’s mystery includes ciphers, games, rivalry and arson. Illustrations by Sarah Watts complement the novel which was published in 2017 by Henry Holt and Company; today’s middle grade students would have been newborns and toddlers at the time and this page turning novel will be new to them. Twelve year olds, Emily and James, eat delicious food, attend junior high and solve puzzles, unaware that an arsonist is dangerously close.

Ms. Bertman vividly describes main and secondary characters as well as the city of San Francisco. Humor delightfully breaks the tension.

Interview – An extensive interview with the author is included in the back matter of the book.

Source: Purchased. Will be reread and then given as a present. At 384 pages long including an author’s note with historical explanations and the aforementioned interview, Book Scavenger is recommended for nine years and older.

 

Links:

Visit Greg Pattridge host of: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Previous interview with Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Visit author: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman 

Visit illustrator here:  Sarah Watts 

Visit book designer: April Ward  

Learn more about: Transamerica Redwood Park and here.

Learn more about Mark Twain: San Francisco Digital Archive  

Visit your local book store: Boulder Bookstore 

Book Review Emily Ecton's The Great Pet Heist

  

Illustrated by David Mottram

Emily Ecton’s The Great Pet Heist published in 2020 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is a hilarious romp through an apartment complex from the viewpoint of the pets. Animal tracks decorate the chapters. Dave Mottram rendered the humorous pet illustrations digitally. Ms. Ecton touches on homelessness, empathy and problem solving. Butterbean, a dog, Walt the cat and a host of pet friends engage in witty conversations and antics while attempting to preserve their living situation. Mostly, this is a funny book about pets and I laughed on almost every page. The Great Pet Heist is the first book in a series of five.

Source: I purchased this book and it will be given as a present. It is designated for ages 8 - 12 years and grades 3 – 7 with 272 pages. 

 

Many thanks to Greg Pattridge for hosting: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Links:

Visit author: Emily Ecton 

Visit illustrator: Dave Mottram

     Examples of character design: Dave Mottram Character Design

 Interior Book Design: Tom Daly

 Visit your local book store: Second Star to the Right