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Watch What You Wish For
![Watch What You Wish For: After all, wishes aren't always just about fairy tales... (Mariposa Mysteries Book 1) by [Valerie Anne Hudson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xtSyR3cjL.jpg)
Watch What You Wish For is a middle-grade story following a girl named Sophie and a tree with magical powers, infamous for being evil. I absolutely enjoyed this rousing adventure story! Although the characters are in seventh grade their age did not take away from the story’s depth; I was entertained from beginning to end.
I personally loved the character of Sophie, she’s troubled and easily influenced because she wants to be liked and she yearns for companionship–all of that made her relatable and realistic. Sure, this book has a clear morality lesson: be careful what you wish for, because you never know the outcome, but the story goes beyond the conceptual with a mystical narrative filled with expressive characters. The reader witnesses Sophie’s character slowly develop throughout the story. She has made bad decisions in the past, influenced by someone she thought was her friend and we are able to see her take accountability for her actions by the end of the story, and it is satisfying to see.
Author Valerie Anne Hudson does a wonderful job in portraying different types of friendships and relationships that Sophie has had that lead up to the beginning of the story. The refreshing writing style definitely compliments this creative story as each chapter leads up to and hints at what is to come in some entertaining ways. I am even more intrigued by how the story ended, wrapped up quite nicely but with potential for a must-read sequel. I would love to see the story behind Merle and his magic tricks.
Watch What You Wish For is a fast paced coming of age adventure novel that infuses magic and adventure into the story in inventive and captivating ways. This is the type of story I loved when I was younger. With some unforgettable scenes, inspired characters, and a fun storyline, this book will entertain anyone.
Pages: 80 | ASIN: B08SHTH5J7
I Have a Few Ideas Brewing
Diane Mae Robinson Author Interview
The Dragon Grammar Book succinctly covers everything from subject and verb agreement to dangling participles and misplaced modifiers in a fun and engaging way. What was your goal when you began this book?
My goal was to create an easy-to-understand and fun grammar book for a wider audience, from middle grades to adults, that would encourage the reader to want to read and learn grammar. As a writer, editor, and publisher, I often come across the same grammar mistakes made by adults, so I wanted the book to be a refresher guide for adults while being a learning guide for children.
What do you find people struggle with the most when learning the English language?
The English language is a complicated language to learn and even confuses seasoned writers on occasions. The thing I see most people struggle with is the proper use of homonyms, like your vs. you’re; and other confusing words, like when to use affect vs. effect. Second to that, punctuation seem to present a lot of problems.
What I liked most about this book was how it distilled ideas down to simple bits of information. What was the hardest part about writing this book so it’s understood by kids and adults?
Most books aren’t written for such a wide audience, so the challenge was in finding that middle ground where the writing would engage the entire group of readers. Personally, I appreciate simple explanations that don’t over explain, which led me to the idea that other adults might too.
Do you plan to create more educational novels like this featuring characters from your fantasy series?
Yes, I have a few ideas brewing, but the idea that keeps coming up front and center is to write my characters into a book about short-story writing. I’d like this book, too, to be for middle grades through adults. The characters are presently voting on the project, so we’ll see where that leads us.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom by [Robinson, Diane Mae]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51IXABjGvPL.jpg)
Finally! An easy-to-understand grammar book with fun grammar lessons.
The Dragon Grammar Book is the ideal grammar book for kids, dragons, and adults alike. From multi-award winning children’s fantasy author, Diane Mae Robinson, The Dragon Grammar Book introduces middle grades through adults to the basic rules of the English language with easy grammar lessons. Featuring the zany fantasy characters in the author’s The Pen Pieyu Adventures series, The Dragon Grammar Book is sure to be enjoyed by the whole kingdom.
Pearl of the Seas
In this delightfully imaginative tale, two children, Chris and Kate, find a log of driftwood on the beach. They decide to build a boat and sail across the ocean. Whether by magic or imagination, the two friends and their little dog Holly build their ship, name it the Pearl of the Seas, and begin their journey. Like any fairy tale, there are obstacles to overcome, dangers to face, and kind strangers to help them along their way. They rely on friendship, faith, and kindness to see them home to a happy ending.
Intended as a prequel to Black Inked Pearl, a romance novel, this story is dedicated to young teens. I believe it would also appeal to middle-grade youth as well. There’s a real sense of youth-centered discovery and the freedom to let creative fancies bloom into epic adventures. And I don’t use ‘epic’ lightly; the author weaves in themes, events, and allusions borrowed from the Bible, the original Greek epics, tales of Aladdin and Orpheus, and classic narrative poetry. Indeed, poetry is the heart of the tale, and to me, it read less like a novel and more like a prose poem:
“All things stayed silent. Harkening. The gulls sat in white lines along the rocks; on the beach, great seals lay basking and kept time with lazy heads; while silver shoals of fish came up to hearken, and whispered as they broke the shining calm.”
Poems in traditional form are often combined with the prose. Finnegan creates a language that can take some time to get used to the unusual sentence structure and sing-song pattern of the words. In some passages, the child-like way of chaining words together lends an air of playfulness. Since readers (especially young readers) may be inspired to learn more about the poetry and prose of the book, the author includes a section of notes at the end. She offers more information about key phrases and events, poetic references, and the inspiration for some of the key events in the story. I found this to be a big help in deciphering some of the words and concepts of the book.
The characters are charming. Kate and Chris have their own problems in the real world. Kate is perplexed by math and the nuns who teach her; Chris has lost his mother and is being raised by a foster father. Holly, the dog, finds every opportunity for danger and gives both children a chance to play hero and rescue her. Once they’re sailing the sea of dreams, they meet Yahwiel with his riddles, as well as the benevolent King and Queen who live on an Eden-like island. These characters all have an air of the divine, and the lessons they teach are steeped in the Christian faith.
If you’re looking for a unique book for a young reader or a short chapter book to read to very young children, Pearl of the Seas is a unique story that goes beyond mere entertainment. It’s an excellent introduction to poetry, classic literature, and imagination.
Pages: 138 | ISBN: 1625902557
LITERARY TITAN 