Review of SHIFTY--"...jazz/street cadence...intriguing first page...redemptive ending...poignant story..."

Here's a new review of SHIFTY--this time in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

The reviewer, Christine Zilius Mason, says in part:

"...Hazen's prose has a jazz/street cadence that engages the reader from the intriguing first page to the redemptive ending. She brings the characters to life through perfect dialogue and deft description."

&

"...Through the subtle use of language in this poignant story, the reader is led to identify with the spunky characters and to care deeply about whether or not they will make it in their new home."

To read the whole review, please go here: www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_12177973

SHIFTY Review on Greg LS Blog

Drive on over to Greg Leitich Smith's blog for a review of SHIFTY.
Greg says in part,
"SHIFTY is an engaging, heartwarming, and sometimes funny story of growing up, responsibility, and what makes a family."

I like that Greg gets into Soli (aka Shifty's) motivation:

"It's not his fault this involves marginally legal activities, like driving without a license or picking up a homeless woman to pose as their grandmother..."

While you are on Greg's blog, scroll down a bit to see his other reviews, including Susie Williams' new novel, Bull Rider. Susie's book is on my "too read soon" list.
Greg says,
"In BULL RIDER, Williams effectively captures the feel of a small, close-knit ranching community, delivering believable and likeable characters and an affecting arc. In short, BULL RIDER is a moving novel of hope, recovery, and family."

Greg is the author of Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo and Tofu and T.Rex. He is also the Co-Author of Santa Knows.


Forecast: "To Read Soon" list getting longer and longer

Cinder Rabbit & Shifty Reviewed at TheChildrensBookReview.com

This is fun. It's the first ever (that I know of anyway) review of my young chapter book, CINDER RABBIT, combined with a review of my YA novel, SHIFTY! Take a look at The Children's BookReview.com

Amanda Lynch says,
"After I put down Cinder Rabbit, an adorable Early Reader book, and picked up Lynn E. Hazen's first young adult novel, Shifty, I had a bit of a jolt. I'm always impressed with authors who have a broad range...."

For the rest of the review(s) please take a look at The Children's BookReview.com

So Amanda has me thinking. Should an author stick with one genre, reading level or general character age-range?

For me, that'd be like asking me as a mother to parent my children to a certain age, say infancy or toddlerhood, then no longer be a parent in the elementary, middle school or teen years.

Raising children from infancy until they are independent young adults is kind of like writing for various ages. Sure, it requires slightly different skill sets writing for various ages just as it does raising a child as he or she develops year after year. Surviving the challenges of diapers and sleepless nights during your child's babyhood is very different than encouraging reading, monitoring the completion of homework and grappling with school-age issues.

And I see similarities between living with teens and writing a YA novel--both endeavors are slightly frightening and extremely rewarding at the same time. Some days it is an extremely difficult challenge to say the right words to your kids, the same as it is a challenge to capture the right words on the page. Maybe for me, because I studied Human Development in college, because I've run a preschool for 25 years (and have met many delightful young children who are now adults), and because I've observed my own children through various ages and stages, reading great books for all ages is natural. Some of my favorite books have characters of various ages, too--just like real life! Trying to write for various ages seems like a natural pursuit as well.

What's next for me? THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL, a young chapter book.

After that? Maybe a middle grade novel or a baby board book? I'm working on both. And perhaps another YA novel?

I like the freedom and challenge of writing picture books, young chapter books, middle grade and YA. And like Seymour in the cover illustration, I just try to capture the joy and emotion of life on the page.

And so, I write!

Forecast: Maybe I need a beret!?

So Far, So Goo...Seymour's First Review on Booklist

Yay! Seymour is slowly sliming his way to a bookstore near you...

In the meantime, here's an early review of The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail by (yours truly) Lynn E. Hazen & illustrated by the wildly talented Doug Cushman.

From BOOKLIST (March 1, 2009 issue)
May 2009. 64 p. Holt, hardcover, $16.95. (9780805086980).

"Seymour Snail hopes to be a great artist someday, but he feels shy about showing his work. He is thrilled to get a job in an art gallery, but he is bullied by his new boss, Mr. Stink Bug. At last, though, Seymour’s slimy glitter art is recognized by Mr. Stink Bug's client, Lady CocoLaRoche, and the snail becomes a star. Some of the humor in this early chapter book, illustrated with lively cartoon drawings, may be more for adults who know the pretension of the “creative” world and the meaning of escargot. But young grade-schoolers will enjoy all the talk about slime and goo, as well as the puns about a friendly spider, who is working on something big––the World Wide Web. Children will also cheer for the small creature, who oozes along at a snail’s pace but triumphs in the end."--Hazel Rochman

If you'd like to pre-order Seymour, please click here to order on Amazon. Otherwise, Seymour should be at your local bookstore or library on May 12th. Please ask your school and public library to order it.

If you'd like to purchase a signed copy of Seymour, ooze on over to Cover to Cover Booksellers in San Francisco. Just give them a call at 415-282-8080 (and tell them Seymour sent you).

Imaginary Readers, if you are a creative or teacher-talented-type of person, I seek your assistance. I'm looking for art and nature projects related to snails to post (or link to) on my website and blog. If you know of any good snail-themed projects or come across any links to such, please let me know. Thanks!

Forecast: More happy slime & gooey good projects!

VOYA Chooses SHIFTY "Top Shelf Fiction" for Middle School Readers!

I like the sound of this:
SHIFTY was chosen by VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) for their Booklist of "Top Shelf Fiction" for Middle School Readers.

...Christina (8th Grade) would "recommend it to all my friends. Shifty has all the appeal that readers, reluctant and avid, would need—beautiful characters you can relate to, a passionate and expertly crafted story, an exciting plot, and a touching yet unanticipated conclusion. Nothing is idealized; nothing is too ugly. Readers will love it beginning to end."

Wow. I do not know you, 8th-Grade-Christina, but I will now smile at any Christina I meet for years to come. Thanks for reading SHIFTY and making my day. If you're out there, say hello!

Imaginary Readers, you can find more youth reviews and VOYA's "Top Shelf Fiction" Booklist at http://voya.com

Forecast: !

Review of SHIFTY from ReadPlus

Take a look at this review of SHIFTY from ReadPlus in Australia.

"...An engrossing and heart warming story; this book draws the reader in from the first page. Shifty tells his story in his own words, which are often humorous and heart-rending and he makes the characters in this tale come alive..."

Click on the ReadPlus link above to read the whole review.

I love that extra u in humorous and I love that the reviewer found humor in the book.

From ReadPlus's site:

"ReadPlus is a collection of selected books and films arranged under themes. This web site provides lists, reviews and resources for librarians, teachers and parents about books for young people aged 5 to 18."

Cool.
And here is what the Australian cover of SHIFTY looks like.