What's Abigail Reading? The Kicks: Saving the Team

My daughter Abigail has been devouring a book this week, so I suggested that she share it with you. She proceeded to write the longest description of any book she's shared on this blog. I guess that means she liked it! Here is her take on The Kicks: Saving the Team, by Alex Morgan.

Here's what Abby says the book is about.

This story is about a girl named Devin who is in seventh grade and moved to California from Connecticut. Devin loves to play soccer and some of the best players have played in California and she is afraid that all the players will beat her. But luckily Devin finds two friends named Jessi and Emma and from their soccer story they say the team stinks. That day Jessi, Emma, and Devin tried out for soccer. Devin had worried that Emma and Jessi were right about the team. 

During the tryouts she met a new person named Freida. Freida said she’d rather do acting than soccer but her mom said she had to do soccer to get exercise. Freida pointed out to Devin another girl named Zoe. She had red curly hair and stage fright. After the tryouts they had lunch. Devin sat with Zoe, Emma, and Jessi.  During lunch Freida told to the group that they posted the soccer list. Jessi and Emma hoped that they would all be together and they were. 

Everyone who tried out was on the team because Coach Flores wanted to give everyone a chance. After their first couple of games they lost but they were not going to give up. Then a couple weeks later they had a game with Pinewood. The Pinewood team was fast and blitzed through the Kentville Kangaroo’s defense. The Pinewood Panthers scored a lot of goals. Pinewood won 6-0. When they got back to the school the coach said, ”there is no practice today you can do what you want.” 

Devin went to Coach’s office and talked to her and said, ”Our team wants more help.” Devin talked to Coach for a little more time and then coach said that the Kentville Kangaroos used to be the world champions for two years. Their teams Coach used to be on that team. Coach said, ”When I was a little girl I wanted to have fun but it didn’t happen and so I got unhappy. That is why I became a coach. I wanted other people to have fun."

After the talk Devin left. The next day coach came out and said that they were going to have another game with Pinewood. Then weeks later they had their game with Pinewood. Their team forgot how fast Pinewood was and soon the score was 2-0. They were losing but soon they were tied 2-2. You'll have to read the rest to find out what happened!

What did Abigail like best about the book?

The part I liked most is that the team never gave up, because you should never give up on yourself.

Was there anything that she did not like?

The part I did not like was when the team lost, because that would make me disappointed and sad.

So, how did Abigail rate The Kicks: Saving the Team, by Alex Morgan?

She gave it five out of five smiley faces.

Between the Lines: Robin Hood

This week's interview is with that famous outlaw, Robin Hood. It's hard to get Robin away from his merry men, and even harder to pry him away from Maid Marian, but we managed it. We'll see if we can shed some light on this legendary figure.

Greg:  Welcome, Robin, it's great to have you here.

Robin:  Thank you, good sir. It is an honor to speak with such an august personage as yourself.

Greg:  You flatter me, sir. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about your youth.

Robin:  I was born  so long ago that I can scarce remember it. I was born in the early 12h century...hold. No, it may have been later, perhaps the 13h century. Ah well, 'tis no matter, all water under the bridge. In any event, I was born and grew up strong and true in England's green and pleasant hills. It was there I learned the archer's art, and sword craft.

I practiced uncounted hours, until as an archer I was without peer throughout the length and breadth of England. As a swordsman, I was scarcely far behind. In fact I daresay that among all the swordsmen of the realm, there were only two or three that could best me.

Greg:  How did you become an outlaw?

Robin:  Ah, now there we come to the crux of the matter, one that shaped my destiny, if you will. There are scores of theories circulating throughout the shire, nay, throughout the country, but I shall shed the light of truth on the matter.

I was a stout yeoman, not noble born, but I considered myself as good as any man alive. When good King Richard left England for the Crusades, his brother Prince John robbed the poor in taxes to pay for his gluttonous ways...hold again. Perhaps it was good King Edward that I served. Ah well, as before it is of little moment. The point is that I robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Yes, that is what history shall remember.

Greg;  Right, right, why should details get in the way? It was all a long, long time ago. Which begs the next question. Are you a historical figure, or a fictional character?

Robin: Well asked, my good fellow! What is history? What is fiction? Answer those two questions, my lad, and you'll find that the answer to the question of my origin lies somewhere in between. I am neither wholly real, nor wholly fictitious.

While I have come to symbolize all that is good and noble in human nature, I as a person of mere flesh and blood could not hope to live up to the expectations that history has placed upon me. Therefore, is it not reasonable to assume that a certain amount of fictional embellishment may have occurred over the course of centuries?

However, at the core, I am the man of which the legends sing. Many of the deeds which are credited to me, I actually did perform.

Greg:  Tell me about your merry men. Who was your favorite?

Robin:  Another excellent question, my lord. My merry men are a joy to me. A stouter band of ruffians and yeomen I could never hope to find! Over the course of the centuries, history and legend have given them their personalities, making them, too, larger than life. Who could forget heroes with names like Will Scarlet, Little John, Much the Miller's Son, and of course Friar Tuck.

The good friar is the one I'd want most with me in the heat of battle. No hardier warrior have I known. And none so quick to celebrate a victory with a joint of mutton and a jug of ale. There is also the added benefit that, when stuck in a tight spot, he could administer Last Rites and send you clean of conscience to your Maker if need be.

Greg:  I think people would like to know what happened to you after you were pardoned?

Robin:  Ah well, I do believe the phrase is "lived happily ever after". The good king, Richard...or Edward depending on which version of my life you prefer, granted me lands and the hand of the lovely Maid Marian. I, brash boy that I am, took all of the fair damsel and lived to a ripe old age.

Although I left the world's stage at that point, legend was not through with me. My deeds grew and grew until even I could scarce recognize my little life from the thing of sheer magnificence that it now is. It truly is an amazing thing.

Greg:  Yes, well thank you so much for taking some time out from your legendary schedule.

Robin:  It was a time which I shall always hold dear. You are without equal as an inquisitor, and I doff my cap to you, sir! Ta, ta for now!

A Writer's Week #83: Fun Stuff Later This Weekend

This week was one for puzzling things out. I am very close to finishing up the first draft of The Deliverers 3: The Golden Dragon of Ang, but I ran into a problem with the big climactic scene. There are two bad guys who are not together. I had to bring them together, have one take control, surprising the other one, and then get everyone in position for the final problem to be resolved.

That took some doing. There was a lot of experimentation going on, which was time consuming. Finally, I hit upon an acceptable solution. As a result, I wrote only a little more than 1,000 words, but I'm in good position to get the book finished in the next two weeks or so. After that, it will be edit, rewrite, and hopefully (budget willing) have someone edit it. Artwork it progressing. Both maps are complete and a cover concept will be in development by October.

But enough about that for now. The title of this post promised some fun stuff. Here's the scoop. On Monday I am going to be interviewed by Ara on her blog, My Book and My Coffee. In conjunction with that, she will be running a giveaway with two ebook versions of The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion as prizes! On top of that, the Kindle version of the first book in the Deliverers Series, Sharky and the Jewel, will be FREE on Monday and Tuesday!

So please check out My Book and My Coffee on Labor Day, enter the giveaway, and pick up your free copy of Sharky and the Jewel. If you've already read either book in the Deliverers Series, why not write a review? I would really appreciate it. I'll let you know how everything went next week! See you then!

My Favorite Books: Caps For Sale

Today just so happens to be the last day of summer vacation for my children. Yes, tomorrow they go back to school. Our town seems to be the last town on the planet to return to school. I'm not sure why when all surrounding towns started Monday or Tuesday, but I'm sure there must be a reason. Anyway, my children had no interest (understandably) writing a Reading Crew post today, so it looks like you are stuck with me!

Since it's been a while, I thought I would tell you about one of my favorite books when I was growing up, Caps For Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina. I loved this book when I was a kid. I remember going to the library and taking out this book--multiple times.

Something about Caps really appealed to me. First off, the idea of the peddler wearing a stack of hats on his head really interested me. How did he balance all of those? Then, the colors were so varied, but they were all organized by color. He has a hard time selling his caps and falls asleep under a tree.

Next come the monkeys. They love his hats. They wear them while sitting in the tree. As a very young child, I thought they were hilarious. I also thought the peddler's trick for them to give up the caps was a lot of fun.

What I found out much later is that this story is based on an old folk tale. For me this book is a prime example of a magical reading moment. I don't really know what exactly fascinated me about book in the first place, but I've never forgotten about it. As I think about it, that's what's so cool about reading. Discovering a good book is the beginning off a love that will last a lifetime. If you have young ones in your life, introduce them to one of your favorite books from childhood today and watch them experience the magic for themselves.

Between the Lines: Tom Sawyer

This week, I decided to bring back a little blast from the past. Those of you who have been following this blog from the beginning might remember this interview (probably not, it was more than a year and a half ago). It's the first character interview in this series. I thought it would be fun to post it again. Tom Sawyer was one of my favorite characters when I was growing up, so it was only natural that he was my first interview. Let's see what he had to say.

Greg:  Welcome Tom, it’s great to have you here!

Tom: Thanks, Mr. Greg, sir. It were nice of ya t’ have me.

Greg:  Tell us a little bit about yourself, Tom.

Tom: Shucks, taint much t’ tell, really. I started m’ life very young, but I growed up. Now, I live free an’ easy, ‘cept when I got t’ go t’ that ol’ school. Aunt Pol’s always tryin’ t’ git me t’ go, but I outfox her more often than not. Got a nice place up in the piney woods. It’s a whole fort where I fight off injuns an’ hide treasure an’ such.

Sometimes I got t’ go t’ church, too. Go t’ Sunday school an’ larn Bible passages ‘n’ things. I won me a Bible oncet. Yep, I sure did. I got enough o’ them there tickets the Rev’rand give out for learnin’ Bible verses. I traded a whole pile of treasure with the boys in school t’ get them tickets. It was worth it, too. Preacher called me up, an’ I got me that Bible in front o’ the whole class, includin’ Becky Thatcher. I was slicker ‘n’ a greased pig, I can tell you.

I’m also good at fightin’. I just about licked every boy in school, an’ some o’ the girls, too. “Course that comes from m’ piratin’. Ya got t’ be able to lick anyone that crosses your path, iffin you’re a pirate. I recall the time me ‘n’ Joe Harper ‘n’ol’  Huck Finn run away t’ be pirates. Boy did we have a time!

Greg:  Where do you live, when you’re not terrorizing the seven seas, I mean?

Tom:  I live in the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri with m’ Aunt Polly, m' half brother Sid. I live next door t’ Becky Thatcher. We’re engaged, but don’t tell no one. It’s supposed t’ be secret. Keep it mum. Wouldn’t do no good if Becky was t’ get wind I told ya.

Greg:  In all of your adventures, what’s the worst thing you ever saw?

Tom:  I don’t rightly know. I seen a lot o’ worst things. I saw Injun Joe all laid out an’ starved t’ death after bein’ trapped in McDougal’s Cave. Me ‘n’ Becky was trapped in the cave with Injun Joe.

I s’pose the worst thing I ever saw had t’ be Doc Robi’son getting’ killed by Injun Joe. See, the way it happened was me ‘n’ Huck was in the graveyard with a dead cat tryin’ t’ catch some devils. All of a sudden, along come Doc Robi’son, Ol’ Muff Potter, an’ Injun Joe. Me ‘n’ Huck hid an’ watched as Muff ‘n’ Joe started to dig up a grave.

Well, when they got the body up, they all starts agruin’ over how much the doc was gonna pay ‘em. Before ya know it, the doc had whacked ol’ Muff Potter over the head with a gravestone, which was just a painted board. Then Injun Joe took up Muff’s knife an’ jammed it inta Doc Robi’son’s chest.  It chilled m’ blood an’ curled m’ toes. Me ‘n’ Huck lit out o’ there like the Devil himself was chasin’ us.

From that night on, I had t’ sleep with one eye open, on account of I was s’ skeered.

Greg:  What’s given you the most pleasure?

Tom:  I’d have ta say coming back in the middle of m’ funeral. Ev’rybody was so surprised. Me ‘n’ Joe ‘n’ ol’ Huck got so much attention. We was top citizens, I reckon. I was in m’ glory. Ev’ryone was fussin’ an’ carryin’ on. I aint never seen such a big t’ do.

I s’pose I should also say getting’ engaged t’ Becky Thatcher an’ findin’ all that gold were high points, too. But nothin’ can compare with the attention the town give me when I come back from the dead!

Greg:  Are you afraid of spirits?

Tom:   Shoot, spirits aint nothin’ iffin ya know how t’ handle ‘em. First, ya take a stinkbug an’ make him a leash out of a shoelace. Put the stinkbug on the ground, holdin’ the leash. Then, ya draw a circle around the bug in the dirt. Next, ya gets a pin an’ pricks your finger. Then, ya squeezes two drops of blood out of yore finger onta the stinkbug. Then ya says an incantation, an’ that’ll keep the spirits away the whole night. Simple as that, but I shore wouldn’t want t’ tangle with ‘em without the right gear.

Greg:  After all your adventures, are you ready to become civilized?

Tom: Oh law, I aint never gonna get civilized. Aunt Polly’s done tried, but she aint been able t’ do it. Aint no one gonna do it, not as long as I draw breath!

I tell ya the one I feel sorry for. It’s ol’ Huck Finn. The widder Douglas done took him in t’ live with her. I anyone’s gonna civilize a body, it’d be the widder Douglas. Ol’ Huck don’t stand a chance with that one, I kin tell ya.

She won’t let him go piratin’ or nothin’. Me, I done give Aunt Polly the slip agin, an’ if Sid don’t blab on me, I’ll be off down the Missisip’ on a raft an’ no one’ll be the wiser. Come t’ think on it, I still owe Sid a lickin’ for squealin’ on me the last time!

Mr. Greg, I sure have enjoyed settin’ here an’ talkin’ with ya a spell, but I got t’ get movin’. There’s ships t’ plunder an’ wayfarers t’ rob, an’ the night’s getting’ on!

Greg:  Sure thing, Tom. Thanks for taking some time to chat with us. Good luck with your adventure!