MMGM: Disappearing Act

Today's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday pick

Disappearing Act, by Sid Fleischman

Disappearing Act

Written by Sid Fleischman
Cover art by Chad Beckerman

Greenwillow Books, 2003
Ages 8 and up
144 pages, 21500 words


Themes:
Humor, Mystery


Opening:
       Hear that screaming? That's my sister, Holly. It's not exactly screaming. It's singing. She's practicing to be a world-famous opera singer. She thinks people will actually pay to listen to her.
       I have to listen because she's driving. We're heading for California in her old VW with about a million miles on it. The only thing holding it together is the green paint. Holly couldn't find Los Angeles without me, Kevin. She gets lost going around the block. Aside from her sense of direction, she's brilliant.
       We have to get out of New Mexico. Some guy is stalking her. Us,  I mean.


Thoughts:
Holly and Kevin are orphans on the run from a mysterious stranger. They try to disappear among the colorful residents living and performing in Venice Beach, California.  But a middle-schooler and an opera-loving twenty-one year old are hard to hide, especially when they may hold the key to a lost treasure. Their pursuers are not above murder. It will take all the kids' ingenuity, plus a little help from their friends, to unravel the mystery and get their lives back to normal. As normal as it gets in their eccentric neighborhood.

All of Sid Fleischman's books are brilliant, but I have a fondness for this particular book. I can't tell you why. Normally I am drawn to stories set in the past or something with a bit more magic, but Disappearing Act probably appeals to me because it is so fresh. The voice is spot on. The setting so welcoming. The main characters plucky, pathetic, and likeable. The ludicrous, yet true-to-life characters they meet win your heart. Oh, and it's just plain funny.


Bonus: 
 1. If you enjoyed Disappearing Act, you can read dozens of other books by Fleischman. The Ghost in the Noonday Sun is my all-time favorite, though not a comedy like this one. Fellow MMGMer, Janet, recommends the classic The Whipping Boy, reminiscent of both The Prince and the Pauper and The Ransom of Red Chief.



The Ghost in the Noonday Sun, by Fleischman.
Cover art by Tim Jessell, illustrated by Peter Sis

The Whipping Boy, by Fleischman.
Cover art by Dan Andreasen, illustrated by Peter Sis

2. If you love comedy, you can read more about the winners of the Sid Fleischman award for humorous kidlit on the SCBWI website. You may find a few new favorite authors among them.

 

3. Interested in the man himself? Bookpage posted an interview about The Giant Rat of Sumatra, and Reading Rockets did another amazing interview. View the transcript or watch the video below.

 

Have you reviewed a Marvelous Middle Grade Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday recommendations for October 17, 2016.

MMGM started way back in 2010 by Shannon Messenger, author of Keeper of Lost Cities. Each week, participating bloggers review our favorite books for ages 8-12. Why not join us?

Living to Write

"This writing life is not just sitting in your room with a pencil and paper. It's about getting out in the world and having something to write about."
— Kwame Alexander *



Via Davidson Galleries

*Via SCBWI

The Journey

"For most people, the road to publication is a long one...Take a moment to enjoy the small wins as they come along, and then do what you can to push forward."

-Mark Magro*



Bookplate art by Rieko Yamanaka

*Via Eastern Penn Points





 

Choosing the Right Words

"A book is a wonderful present. Though it may grow worn, it will never grow old."

-Jane Yolen*

Courtesy Bookplate Ink

*via SCBWI Tumbler

Draw This! Adventure

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators 

monthly Draw This! challenge. 

The July prompt is ADVENTURE.

Peter Pan's adventure, by Joanne Roberts

Members may participate by submitting one illustration inspired by the monthly prompt. Aside from the opportunity to see fellow illustrators' work at #scbwidrawthis, one can view the gamut of adventurous characters via the SCBWI site's online gallery.

Thanks especially to Sarah Baker for her diligence in bringing this challenge to fruition!

Learn More at SCBWI.org

Draw This! Bounce

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators 

has developed a new perk, 

the monthly Draw This! challenge. 

The June prompt is BOUNCE.

Members may participate by submitting one illustration inspired by the monthly prompt. Aside from the opportunity to see fellow illustrators' work at #scbwidrawthis, one can view the gamut of bouncing creatures via the SCBWI site's online gallery.

Bounce House, by Joanne Roberts

Thanks especially to Sarah Baker for her diligence in bringing this challenge to fruition!

Learn More at SCBWI.org

Picture Book Goals 2015

Lantern Festival

How is you children's book career coming? Did you make yourself a promise on January first? Have you drafted that manuscript yet?

On the eve of Chinese New Year, why not renew your promise to yourself?

If you are serious about pursuing picture books, here are some resources to nudge you in the right direction.

READ FOR RESEARCH MONTH

ReFoReMo is a new initiative by Carrie Charley Brown. Each week during the month of March, she will be examining new picture books from a writer's perspective. Participants will read the selections and guest posts, learning about picture book structure, using mentor texts, and more. Why reinvent the wheel? Learn from authors' and editors' publishing experience.

Sign-up by 3-1-15

KIDLIT WEEK ON SUB IT CLUB
Maybe you have procrastinated about writing your book. Maybe you're in the revision stage. Maybe you need the confidence to send it out into the world. Sub It Club has what you've been looking for. This week, Sub It Club is focusing on picture books. Learn how to make a picture book dummy, listen to an editor's critique, and maybe win some fabulous prizes.


NUTS AND BOLTS OF WRITING
Want an expert to guide you? Talented author Linda Ashman has written a valuable and comprehensive guide to getting started or getting finished with your picture book manuscript. I did a workshop with Linda and knew I had to own her book.

Buy the print version or download a copy on Linda's site.


HIGHLIGHTS WORKSHOPS
Don't know where to start? Get thee to Pennsylvania and attend the Highlights Foundation crash course on picture books. The staff are accommodating, the grounds gorgeous, and the teaching top-notch.

Register for the March 6-8 workshop or plan ahead for one of their specialized sessions later in the year.


Maybe you're still dreaming of someday. Tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of your life. Take the first step.

Word Choice

"Words are never too big for children, as long as they are the right words."

-Jane Yolen*

AutoLithography by Karel Benes, 2004

* Courtesy SCBWI

Congratulations Tomie Award Winners!

Winning entry by Akiko White

The winner of the 2014 Tomie de Paola Award has been announced and posted along with five runners-up. Congratulations Akiko, Nina, Alice, Anne, Jacob, and Lisa. Each of the illustrations for Sneeze are well worth viewing.

To see many more of the participants, go to the unofficial gallery. Thanks to Diandra Mae.

Of special note, is the second runner up, a beautiful entry by Alice Ratterree. I am so happy to have a reason to blog about Alice's work again. You can read a little more about Alice Ink here.

Tomie Award runner up, entry by Alice Ratterree

Which were your favorite sneezes?

The Inside Story

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and First Book are teaming up for Inside Story. This new program connects readers to book creators through special events sponsored by Independent bookstores. Hooray!

 Everyone is a winner when new authors get to promote their books, Indies sell more books, and kids own more books. For every book sold at one of these events, a copy will be donated to be given away to a child in need.

This initiative needs our support. So check out the list of participating stores in the U.S. or Australia. Visit your favorite author to hear them speak about the making of their latest book. Don't forget to mark your calendar for 2014.

Maybe you'll be a speaker at next year's event!

Fresh Talent, Katie Kath

Welcome to the Saturday illustrator spotlight on Bookish Ambition.

Courtesy Katie Kath

Two weeks ago, I featured illustrator, Kelly McMorris, whom I found while schmoozing with the online kidlit community.

In my research, I discovered she had been chosen for the SIS. It seemed only fitting to feature the other recipient of the 2013 summer scholarship, Katie Kath right before the LA conference.

Katie Kath's Mia

Katie is no less deserving of our attention here. Her style is playful and, well, fresh. Her simplicity doesn't seem forced. That is no small feat.

Katie is multi-dimensional, but I think her children's art shines brightest. She interjects emotion and energy into her drawings with minimal line. Her palette is very limited.

Perusal of her blog reveals she struggles with developing style and direction, just like many of us, but what impresses (and inspires) me when I scan her portfolio is the timelessness of her art. When I look at her cavorting kids, I see Marylin Hafner or Quentin Blake. The simple realism is honest, like Aliki with a touch of Jan Ormerod and a dash of Erik Blegvad.

Sketchbook page courtesy Katie Kath

Y'know, this is one of the best parts of my week. I love, love, love finding new artists and exploring their work. I encounter scores of people each month. The hardest part is deciding who to feature next. I try to post a mix of ages, backgrounds, and countries of origin. I can be inspired by style, color palette, technique, creativity, or backstory. I love an underdog. There are just so many artists who inspire me! What about you? Who inspires you? What grabs your attention when you sift through a sea of images?

NaPiBoWriWee

Logo design by Sandy Tanaka 

We are three days into NaPiBoWriWee  2012, the brain child of Paula Yoo.  May 1 - 7, 2012 is officially known  as National Picture BookWriting Week.  Pronounce it nah-pee-boe-ree-wee (although "rye-wee" is acceptable.)  

Four years ago, Paula Yoo needed a way to promote her new book and a way to get herself back on track toward her next book.  She came up with NaPiBoWriWee.  The goal is to write one rough first draft of a picture book each day for seven days.  Read all about it at her blog, buy a T-shirt to commemorate the event, or view her great interviews, but don't hang out too long, because you've got manuscripts to write!

Illustrating Essentials

A good illustrator has to be a good artist, but there's more to being successful in the field of children's publishing.

Search the web for artists you admire.  Get their advice on working methods and links, not just technique.

Follow sites that keep you updated on changes in the industry.

Go to a local bookstore.  Browse the featured books that interest you, and write down the names of the companies which publish material similar to your own.
There are plenty of books and sites I could recommend.  For starters, try the ones below.

Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market
Writers Digest

Writing with Pictures, by Uri Schulevitz

The Purple Crayon by Harold Underdown
SCBWI
Write4Kids
The Horn Book
KidLitArt

Every Writer's Resource.com for publishers

Picture Book Essentials

If you are interested in writing for children, there are many good resources available.
I highly recommend you join a group, like SCBWI, whose goal is to build a network between people in the industry.
I suggest you read, read, read.  The more children's books you read, the better your intuition will be.
And I suggest you avail yourself of the experience of other writers and editors.


My favorite how-to for writing children's books is by Jean Karl.  Her book, How to Write and Sell Children's Picture Books, has done more to shape my writing than any other book on the subject.  She breaks down the categories within the field and gives pitfalls to avoid.  Her keen editorial mind zeroes in on the essence of a good picture book.  Best of all, Jean Karl is inspiring.  She make writing and publication seem plausible.  She makes the possibilities seem limitless.  I never fail to read through her text without acquiring a half dozen new ideas.



So what are you waiting for?  Grab a notebook and start writing.  Then head to your nearest library (and bring a BIG bag.)

An Illustrator's First Step

If you are interested in the world of children's publishing and you have not heard of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, then you are missing out on the most valuable resource available to you.  The  SCBWI  is a network of people in the industry.  The website, newsletters, and local chapters all provide information you need. Most of the questions I receive from would-be-writers and illustrators can be answered by a simple trip to the Society's website.  Think of it as your own personal trainer, and go from newbie to knowledgeable.  The SCBWI also provides access to up-to-date information professionals need to stay current on market changes and trends.  If you do one thing for your dream/career, join the Society.  You won't regret it.