Happy Book Birthday, Jeff Nesbit!

 
Jeff Nesbit, 

a fellow AKA Literary author, 

has a book birthday today!

What could be better than getting your hands on a copy right now? How about reading it FREE OF CHARGE? Yep, on Monday, September 23, 2013 and Tuesday, September 24, 2013 publisher David C. Cook has made the work available for you to download.
 

 

A man rises to the pinnacle of earthly wealth, fame, and power by calling on demonic powers; his twin's opposing path brings him into direct conflict.

Description:

Jude Asher first called on outside forces to change his destiny as a child. Now a wealthy entrepreneur with his star soaring, he's prepared to make his most daring bet ever to reach the pinnacle of earthly power. Jude's twin brother, Thomas, has chosen a different path as a reporter for The New York Times. As much as he's tried to cut himself off from his brother's trajectory, he finds himself drawn back in ... and troubled by the secret that only he knows.

Surrounded by principalities and powers, each brother must choose their own path—for good or for evil.

Being hailed as:  

This is THRILLER at its best, sure to become a classic. What may look like the typical battle of good vs. evil will surprise you, because you just thought you knew the real story…

  

To learn more, click on the following:

 

Jude: A Novel - Read the Galley!

 

MMGM -- Sure Signs of Crazy

 
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

 

Shannon Whitney Messenger decided it was time to give middle grade stories the attention they deserve, and "Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays" was born.

 

 

From Booklist

*Starred Review* For the opening of her middle-grade debut, Harrington cuts right to the heart of her narrator’s grim situation: “You’ve never met anyone like me. Unless, of course, you’ve met someone who survived her mother trying to drown her and now lives with an alcoholic father.” Sarah Nelson was 2 when that happened; now she is turning 12 in a small Texas town and “looking for any signs of going crazy.”

Don’t think this will be a hard sell to readers, though, for Harrington has created a protagonist who is, in her own way, as clear-eyed, tough-minded, and inspiring as any dystopian hero. Sarah faces down threats from all sides: “The more information I gather, the better I can defend myself against the world, against the brain inside me that may or may not be like hers.” And even as her father repeatedly fails her (as when he drank and slept through her birthday), Sarah finds allies and role models, from an English teacher to a home-from-college neighbor to Atticus Finch, who shows Sarah how to be a caring human being.

Harrington doesn’t leave out humor—she has fun with Sarah’s romantic illusions—but makes it clear that it’s Sarah’s courage and urge to communicate that will push her beyond her traumatic childhood. Grades 5-8. --Abby Nolan 

My reading preferences most often veer toward the fantasy realm, largely because that is what my kids read.  This book, however, is very real--wonderfully, powerfully, beautifully real. I love Sarah Nelson. I love her so much. She is a survivor, a thinker, someone all middle grade girls should meet. The fact that she spends her summer writing to Atticus Finch doesn't hurt either. :)

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is one of the most powerful and endearing MG books I've read in a very long time. Karen Harrington is a phenomenal writer and this is a phenomenal story!

Do. Not. Miss. This. One.

MMGM -- Numbed! by David Lubar

 
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

 

Shannon Whitney Messenger decided it was time to give middle grade stories the attention they deserve, and "Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays" was born. 

 

I admit it. I HATE math. When I say that, please understand that I mean any math is abhorrent to me. I don't help my children with their math, I don't help my husband with the bills, I don't even like the way numbers look or the way they make me feel. I am a word person, plain and simple. 

That said, I love this book. It is meant for people like me, as well as for people who appreciate math and numbers and their many important uses. Just because I avoid it whenever possible doesn't mean I am unaware of math's importance or the need for people who can have numbers in their brain and feel good about it. In fact, I LOVE those people because they do what I cannot. Thanks, hubby.

Numbed! is a fabulous way to get kids thinking about why math is important. Better yet, it can get them thinking that math can even be fun! Whoa . . . I know--crazy, right?


Blurb:

When Logan’s class takes a trip to a math museum, his mischievous friend Benedict is sure it will be a boring day—until he discovers a robot and its creator in an off-limits area. The robot proves feisty, and soon both boys get zapped. They realize only later that they’d left the museum without their math skills. To get back the knowledge they need for school—not to mention buying food at the mall, divvying up dinner at home, and much more—they’ll have to get back to the museum and pass a series of math challenges. Being “numbed” will teach Logan and Benedict just how useful, and even fun, math can be.

  
I highly recommend this book for all middle graders, whether they like math or not. And I haven't said that about a book since Math Curse by  Jon Scieszka!  :)

Indie-Credible Ali Cross + Giveaway

The month of September is dedicated to celebrating the awesome success of many of our online indie authors. Each author was paired with a blogger, and I am thrilled to have another opportunity to share the writing of Ali Cross with all of you. I absolutely love Ali, as both a writer and a friend. I know you will, too!

Previously, I have recommended/reviewed Ali's YA Desolation series, which I love, love, love!

 
But today, I get to share Ali's first MG novel, JUMP BOYS SOS, 

written under the name Alex Banks. 

It is equally awesome!!

Blurb:

 

A dare gone terribly wrong.

 

An SOS from another universe.

 

A threat from right next door.

 

Thirteen-year-old twin brothers Jayce and Val are about to jump the multi-verses on a dangerous dare, but true danger is closer to home than they realize.

 

The Jupiter Prime colony has been orbiting the stormy gas giant for nineteen years and all anyone wants is to get back to Earth. Sent to preserve the best and brightest of the population, a grievous error in the Prime’s navigation coordinates sent the colony to an alternate dimension with no way to return to the Earth they call home.

 

In a society where technical expertise is valued above all else, Jayce and Val are among the most privileged—until they uncover their uncle’s plot to claim dominion over space and time. While attempting to rescue a lone girl from a post-apocalyptic earth, Val will come face to face with space pirates and Jayce will lay his life on the line for the sake of his brother and the little girl who holds the key to time itself.

This is a must-read for all fans of MG science fiction!   

* You can find the awesome Ali Cross at: 

• her blog, HERE.
• Twitter: @ali_cross

* You can find JUMP BOYS SOS at the following locations:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Goodreads

 
And because Ali is so awesome, she has offered to give away a copy of JUMP BOYS SOS to one lucky commenter! You also have the option of tweeting and sharing on Facebook once a day between now and next Tuesday. THANKS, ALI!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the FULL Indie-Credible author event schedule at the Little Red Riding Hood Blog HERE or at Creative Deeds Reads HERE.