Category: Uncategorized
Middle Grade Ninja: 7 Questions For: Author Richard Adams
Richard Adams was born in Berkshire in 1920 and studied history at Bradfield and Worcester College, Oxford. He served in the Second World War and in 1948 joined the Civil Service. In the mid-sixties he completed his first novel, Watership Down, the story of which he originally told to his children to while away a […]
Middle Grade Ninja: A “Foreword” for ALL RIGHT NOW: A SHORT ZOMBIE STORY (Part One) Babies and Zombies
WARNING: This ADULT novella is mean and nasty and intended for a mature audience. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers. It is a gruesome, repugnant tale sure to warp young minds. Seriously. Greetings Esteemed Reader from the past. Not sure when this will post, but I’m writing this the morning of February 18th, 2014. Last […]
Middle Grade Ninja: An Afterword for THE BOOK OF DAVID Part One: “Inception and Autobiography”
Esteemed Reader, if ever there was a strange book to promote from a site traditionally devoted to middle grade fiction, it’s The Book of David. But this is my site (I can barely be bothered to manage one website, let alone a second), so we’re doing this thing:) As much as I love writing stories […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: ASHEN WINTER by Mike Mullin
WARNING: This week’s book is actually edgy YA and is filled with adult content. It’s absolutely not appropriate for younger readers and adults should view it as the equivalent of an ‘R’ rated movie. We’re going to do things a little different today, Esteemed Reader. Ashen Winter is a marvelous book and if you’ve already […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: THE CLOCKWORK DARK: THE NINE POUND HAMMER by John Claude Bemis
The Nine Pound Hammer is a fun and exciting steampunk adventure that is equal parts funny, scary, and awesome—especially the many action sequences sure to keep readers on the edge of their seat. Full confession: the Ninja is old and out of touch and has never read steampunk before now. Yes, you are right to […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: FINDING CHANCE by Linda Benson
Fair Warning: This review contains some spoilers. It’s to be another little girl and her beloved animal story this week, Esteemed Reader. The-child-and-their-beloved-animal story is almost its own genre, like the buddy cop story, but usually not as many people get shot (animals, not so much). Some classics in this subgenre include Where the Red Fern […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: ISLAND STING by Bonnie Doerr
While in college, I picked up a copy of John Grisham’s The Pelican Brief at about 10:00 at night the week of finals. I was worn out from studying and I just needed a little break. Big mistake. I finished the book at about 4am and then spent the next day of finals sub existing […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS by Meg Medina
First Paragraph(s): To think, only yesterday I was in chancletas, sipping lemonade and watching my twin cousins run through the sprinkler in the yard. Now, I’m here in Mr. Patchett’s class, sweating in my polyester school blazer and waiting for this torture to be over. We’re only halfway through Health and PE when he adjusts his […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: PROFESSOR GARGOYLE by Charles Gilman
First Paragraph(s): Robert Arthur was surrounded by strangers. He stood outside the entrance to Lovecraft Middle School, watching the students pass by, searching for a familiar face. Everybody was talking to someone. Kids were joking and laughing and goofing around. But Robert didn’t recognize a single person. Earlier that summer, his neighborhood had been redistricted. This […]
Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: THE TIMEKEEPER’S MOON by Joni Sensel
The Timekeeper’s Moon is actually the sequel to The Farwalker’s Quest. You don’t have to read that book first to follow The Timekeeper’s Moon, but it will probably help. What’s that, Esteemed Reader? Do you mind? I’m trying to write a review here. Oh, all right. The winner is… no, for real this time, the […]