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Archives for May 2019

Season 6 begins! We review and deconstruct Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

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This season is all book reviews all the time and we’re starting with one of our new favorite books: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

Nora and I are currently completely obsessed with this book. Which is lucky, because there’s a sequel, Wayward Son, ready to drop in September.

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 6, Episode 1: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – Review and Story Structure Analysis

The first part of the episode will tell you WHY you should read this book, then the second part is a bunch of spoilers as we deconstruct the book to find out what makes it SO good.

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Story Fix for more details on the four act structure.
  • Story Grid for all things related to genre.
  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material.

And, don’t forget, you can now, buy, read and enjoy my book: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap & the List. (And leave a review when you’re done, pretty please.)

Buy now

This post was lovingly sponsored by our Patreon supporters (you can become one too!). 

Note: All of these links are affiliate links, so if you buy a book from our links, you pay the same, but Nora gets a few pennies for her big 8th grade trip fund.

Our Summer Middle Grade Reading List

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Prime reading season is almost here! School gets out for us in a few weeks, so Nora and I are already making our middle grade reading lists.

Here’s what we have so far, in case you want to crib off of us:

How to Stage a Catastrophe

This one had us at the title. Plus, I’m a sucker for books that feature catastrophic theater productions by kids (see a slew of John Irving novels—which are, of course, NOT middle grade).

Hello Universe

I’m seeing this book everywhere and now it has one of those gold award stickers on it, so I have to read it. Plus, a bully gets a comeuppance, which is always delightful.

See You in the Cosmos

This book features a kid who wants to document his life on his ipod so he can launch it into space. And his dog is named Carl Sagan. Nuff said.

The Unbreakable Code

Nora chose this one because, she says, “It’s about codes and I wish I knew more codes.” I don’t know that I want her to know more codes, but I guess education is never a waste. Even if you use it against your mom.

Well, That Was Awkward

This is a Nora pick, too. “It sounds interesting,” was all I could pull out of her. I’m sure it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that it’s a book about a girl having a crush on a boy who likes her best friend, so she pretends to be her best friend, Cyrano-style.

Midnight Without a Moon

Nora’s adding this to her list because “people were reading it last year and they said it was good.” Nothing like word of mouth.

Step Up to the Plate

Nora gave this one a thumbs down: “It has sports in it, so I don’t want to read it.” But it’s on my list because the main character has immigrant parents, one from India and one from Mexico and it’s set in post-war America.

The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes

Nora wants to read this because the book description talks about an “Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children.” Which is, admittedly, pretty compelling.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

This is a fantasy book and the plot sounds intricate as all get out. I want to read it to see if it works. I’m guessing it does, because: gold sticker. Maybe we’ll cover it on the podcast.

Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White 

This one’s on my list because I adore E.B. White so what could be better than reading a middle grade bio of him?

That’s what we’ve got so far! Hope this helps round out your summer reading list. Of course, you should also add my middle grade novel…

The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List

Here’s what one reader had to say:

As a mom & book lover, the adventure and anticipation in this story is so much fun to read!
As a teacher, the use of rich, delicious, never-dumbed-down vocabulary is SO necessary in this “Captain Underpants” era. I loved patiently waiting for Kennedy (8) to sound out words like “preposterous” and “undaunted.”
BUY. THIS. BOOK.

By the way, all of these links are affiliate links, so if you buy one, you pay the same, but Nora gets a few pennies for her big 8th grade trip fund.

Season 5, Episode 5: The Fort

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Since my book, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List was published on May 17, we decided to give you a preview by reading from it up to the first plot point.

You can now, buy, read and enjoy The Cat, the Cash, the Leap & the List. (And leave a review when you’re done, pretty please.)

Buy now

Here’s what a few reviews have to say:

The scenes of Portland life are vivid and funny. Martha and her cousins have real adventures in the real world as they each take on a personal mission. And all the while the clock is ticking for them to find Mama Cat and her kittens before it’s too late.

The Cat, The Cash, The Leap, and The List is well-written and engaging, equal parts funny, exciting, and moving, with a solid plot, and the nice quick pacing that middle grade readers love. Highly recommended.

I bought this for my 12 yo daughter and she just loved it. We read it together and couldn’t wait to get back to the story the next evening when we read. A wonderfully sweet story that younger kids would love as well. A rare treat in children’s literature these days. Well done!

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 5, Episode 5: Chapter 5 of The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Chapter 5 is called “The Fort.” Unfortunately, an afternoon of fort building takes a turn for the worse.
  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material.

This post was lovingly sponsored by our Patreon supporters (you can become one too!). 

Book Birthday and New Podcast Episode

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The book is FINALLY here!

You can now, buy, read and enjoy The Cat, the Cash, the Leap & the List. (And leave a review when you’re done, pretty please.)

Get it at Amazon
Buy it somewhere else

AND, this week on the podcast, we’re reading Chapter 4 to you. We find out what Martha’s parents think about her stashing a pregnant cat and we see what Sanjay has stashed in that secret envelope of his.

Listen now: 

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The Mommy’s Pen Podcast—Season 5, Episode 3: The Closet Door Opens

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New season, new format! Since my book, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List will be published on May 17, we decided to give you a preview by reading from it up to the first plot point.

Preorder for the ebook is available now! Click the image below:

The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 5, Episode 1: Chapter 2 of The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Chapter 3 is called “The Closet Door Opens,” and we get to see what happens when the boys find out about Martha’s stashed cat.
  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material.

This post was lovingly sponsored by our Patreon supporters (you can become one too!). 

The Mommy’s Pen Podcast – Season 5, Episode 2: Chapter 2 of my novel

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New season, new format! Since my book, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List will be published on May 17, we decided to give you a preview by reading from it up to the first plot point.

The story has three main kid characters, Martha, Sanjay and Anand. Nora will be reading all the scenes that are in Martha’s point of view, and I’ll be reading the scenes for the other two characters. (Man, I wish Alma could read already because it would be so cool if she could read Anand’s parts.)

Preorder for the book will be available soon!

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 5, Episode 1: Chapter 2 of The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Chapter 2 is called “Sticky Situations” and we get to see Martha squirm in a pancake restaurant while she has a mystery cat locked up in her closet at home. And somebody ends up covered in maple syrup.
  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material.

This post was lovingly sponsored by our Patreon supporters (you can become one too!).