My sister answered (see end of post), but what really struck me was: How would my secondary character respond?And I was surprised by the answer. Because this girl has a heart of gold and goes out of her way to help everyone — but this is how she would answer.

1. If by sacrificing your life you could contribute so much to the world that you would be honored in all nations and never forgotten, would you be willing to do so? It depends on what the the situation is. The fame or honor isn’t important. My dad showed me that. But you should be willing to do for something you believe in, or something you value.

2. If so, would you make the same sacrifice knowing that someone you thoroughly disliked would receive the honor while you went unrecognized. No. (SURPRISE TO ME!) I would make the sacrifice no matter the end result, but I STRONGLY believe that people are held accountable for what they do. There is a universal justice that will come to everyone. So even if the fame went to another person, then it doesn’t just end there.

Now I’d thought she was the type that didn’t want to see anyone suffer. The type who wouldn’t mind someone who is her enemy (obviously the ANTAGONIST) is credited for a good deed… but I was wrong. She’s the type who doesn’t want to see someone suffer more than they deserve.

So here’s five tips to enhance your secondary characters

1. Ask them the right kind of questions. Ask the questions beyond hair color, beliefs, and preferences. Ask them situational questions, ask them their thoughts on a certain event in the novel they don’t know about, ask them random questions about their past.

2. Break beyond the stereotypes. When you think of a stereotype, what is the opposite? I’m doing this in one of my drafts right now. The protagonist is a trained warrior (think Bourne Identity), but she’s very fashion conscious. So much so, that sometimes her vanity outweighs the right thing to do in a situation (read: she wears high heals even though she can’t fight in them as well). Emma Watson’s quote above is great: she’s a movie star, but breaks beyond the stereotype of low-cut dresses and string bikinis, saying the above quote in an impressive interview.

3. Give them exceptions. Everyone has exceptions to their own rule. With my character and her focus on justice, she takes the punishment to cover for her sister. So when two of their values clash (seeking justice vs. family loyalty), they have to choose which is more important to them. This defines them as a character.

4. Give them a secret. Everyone has a secret. Everyone. Whether this is a secret crush on your best friend’s boyfriend (and you told her!), a hidden obsession with toes, or the time you tripped over an acorn back in high school, we all have one. (NOT TELLING MINE!) So give each secondary character a secret, whether it comes out in the story or not. I did this in my manuscript, and it added such a level of depth to each character.

5. Give them pet phrases. Everyone has a word or phrase that just rolls off their tongue. Whether the person is from another nationality (with all those colloquial phrases), or she’s a  typical blonde who uses “like” way too much, there is a phrase for everyone (warning: try to break beyond the stereotypes here, too). One of my characters in a previous manuscript used the “May or may not” phrase all the time, especially when flirting or teasing. “Yeah, I may or may not be running to the store in an hour.” “I may or may not have lost your cars keys.” “I may or may not have eaten all the chocolate chips.” Using these phrases throughout the book (without overdoing it) gives each characters a voice.

So what problems do you face when writing secondary characters? Any secondary characters out there that you adore more than the protagonist?

* * *

So how did my sister answer the questions: 1. No way! 2. Are you kidding? If he’s my enemy, then obviously he doesn’t deserve that. 3. (added question: What if you did something embarrassing or horrible and your enemy will go down in history as having done it). NO! If he’s my enemy, then he’s bad enough that he’ll do that all on his own.

Not that that’s a bad thing.

So here’s your look at the new POSSESSION (book 1) cover, and SURRENDER (book 2) cover by Elana Johnson. [Released June 5, 2012]

And for book two…

So here’s my take on the cover:

I am ALL ABOUT FONT. And this font just fits the book so well. LOVE LOVE LOVE! A yes, that makes a big difference for me. I really liked how Elana’s name was in a signature font,but the uniformity of the new books can’t be beaten! And the pictures are so gorgeous and fit amazingly well with the color of the cover itself. Wow! The original cover seemed to fade in on itself with all the white, and adding the color really made the ice cube POP! at the middle.

Now let’s look at the tags:

Control or be controlled

vs.

In a world of control or be controlled, never trust the one you love

Personally, I like the first one. It’s to the point. Which tag do you prefer?

I guess for me, the only disappointing thing is that they won’t release the new POSSESSION cover in hardback! Oh well… I’ll hold out that someday they’ll change their minds on that one.

What do you think of the new covers? Have you seen any new covers you immediately liked or disliked? And who else is excited about SURRENDER???

Just a quick note to say that Brodi Ashton’s book EVERNEATH is coming out tomorrow (January 24). I was lucky enough to read an ARC, and I’m so excited to say you will not be disappointed.It seriously made my top 10 list, and I’m delighted that others can finally read the book!

Here’s a quick blurb from Amazon:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

So what did I love about this book? Without giving away spoilers, I loved how real the characters felt, and how the protagonist has to face choices and consequences. To be honest, the book was too enthralling for me to put down so I stayed up all night reading it — which got scary, because at one point Nikki looks at a clock and it’s the middle of the night. And when I looked at my clock, it was like 2 minutes away from the same time. And that’s how I know that Brodi secretly wrote that book for me. Isn’t life great?

I also will be attending the book launch tomorrow at The King’s English — hope to see some of you there!

Elana and I met at the LDStorymakers conference last year and hit it off right away. Seriously, this girl rocks! Possession is a dystopian where the main character has a choice: control or be controlled. The book will be released June 7th, and Elana is having her launch party that night in Salt Lake City at The King’s English. The companion book titled FUGATIVE will come out Summer 2012.

What was your road like to become a published writer? 
Bumpy and winding and all my own. I think that’s something writers get hung up on. Here’s the short version:

December 2007: started writing.
April 2008: Wrote POSSESSION as my third novel.
May 2008: Started querying for my first novel. Wrote other stuff. Didn’t touch POSSESSION.
December 2008: Started blogging for QueryTracker.net. Called my first novel a failure in the query trenches, shelved it, and wondered what to do next.
January 2009: Chose POSSESSION as the next novel to get ready to query.
April 2009: Began querying POSSESSION.
Summer 2009: Still querying POSSESSION. Doing revisions at the request of an agent.
Fall 2009: Still querying POSSESSION. Doing more revisions at the request of another agent.
November 2009: Accepted representation from a great literary agent, Michelle Andelman.
December 2009 – January 2010: Revising POSSESSION.
February 2010: Submit POSSESSION to editors; POSSESSION sells!
March 2010 – current day: Waiting for POSSESSION to release!

Of course, I do a lot more than sit around on the couch, waiting. I organize WriteOnCon. I blog five days a week. I answer a lot of interview questions. I speak to classes, and attend conferences, and teach elementary school. Somewhere in all that, I sleep too.

How has your critique group helped you on your road to being published? 
My critique group is awesome! Not only have they helped me fine-tune my writing, but they’re always there when I need a listening ear, a word of encouragement, or a not-so-gentle reminder about something. They’re great with the red pen, but they’re brilliant at the friendship thing.

What is your advice to any writers who want to be published out there? 
My best advice is to allow yourself time to practice. We all have to practice writing. Just like Michael Phelps didn’t become an Olympian the first time he dove into the pool, you might not become Stephenie Meyer, well, ever. (Ha!) But seriously, you need to allow yourself to write badly until you figure out how to write well.

You wrote the ebook QUERY TO THE CALL and are an all-around expert on querying. What is the most common mistake writers make when querying? 
The most common mistake authors make is three-fold: 1) vagueness. It’s not good, people. 2) Omitting the consequence. Why should I care if Joey-the-Janitor can’t overcome his plugged toilets? Does the world fall into chaos? Will he die from the stench? 3) Trying to squeeze in every plot point and subplot and character. Don’t do it. Stick to the MC and what they want and what’s in their way, AND what will happen if they don’t overcome what’s in their way.

How have you managed to juggle your time and write / blog while still participate in all the amazing things you do, such as Write On Con and QueryTracker? 
I only work part-time, so that helps. My children (2) are older and can dress themselves, pour their own cereal and/or bathe by themselves. That helps a lot. My husband is the most supportive person on the planet. That helps immensely. And I’ve learned to function without sleep. That’s crucial. Ha!

About POSSESSION:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

About Elana:
In between all the smiling, Elana blogs for the League of Extraordinary Writers and helps to organize WriteOnCon. She also teaches, watches reality TV, and drives too fast.

What drew you to writing for middle grade?

My biggest influence in writing middle grade books was the Harry Potter series.  I enjoyed those books.  So did kids.  So did my mom.  Those books proved to me that if you write a smart fantasy with young main characters and cool adventures, you could please a really wide range of readers.

The brisk pace and big imagination needed for middle grade fantasy really appeals to me and fits the type of stories I have always daydreamed about.  My goal is to write fun adventures that a whole family can read and enjoy together, adults and kids alike.

Your characters are definitely feel their age. What’s your secret to writing believable middle-grade characters?

I believe the key to writing any character is knowing them.  If you understand who the character is and how they think, it becomes much easier to anticipate how they will react and what they will say.  I spend a lot of time daydreaming about my stories before I write them, sometimes for many years (an example would be my new Beyonders series).  I try to use that time to get to know my characters so that I can bring them to life as authentically as possible.

When I write young characters, it helps that my inner ten-year-old remains alive and well.

How did becoming a New York Times best-selling author change your life?

It provided an extra line for my tombstone.

Also, the popularity of Fablehaven meant that I could write full time, which had been my dream for years.  And now that I get to live my dream, I’m happy to say that I still love what I do.

What is the craziest thing that happened while you were touring schools?

Once in the middle of a busy week of touring I completely lost my voice.  So I was going from school to school doing large assemblies, whispering hoarsely into a microphone.  I felt ridiculous.  I managed to get by, but just barely.  The kids were pretty understanding.  Because of my condition, they were extra quiet.  They treated me with the courtesy owed to a diseased person.

How do you handle meeting writing deadlines?

First off, I take my deadlines seriously.  I figure that if I take my deadlines seriously, it might help my publishers take me seriously.

I try to start early enough to get each project done on time.  Almost inevitably I spend the last couple of weeks prior to a deadline working extra long hours, sometimes from 9 a.m. till after midnight.  If I’m going to be a little late turning something in, I give my publisher advance notice so they can plan for it.  I’ve never let myself be more than a little bit late.

Deadlines can be the most stressful part of my job, but they also help motivate me to keep writing and to get more done faster.

More about Beyonders:

Jason Walker has often wished his life could be less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank into a strange, imperiled world. Lyrian holds dangers and challenges unlike anyplace Jason has ever known. The people all live in fear of their malicious wizard emperor, Maldor. The brave resistors who once opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

More about Brandon:

Brandon Mull resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and three children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal. Brandon is the author of the New York Times bestselling Fablehaven series and The Candy Shop War. You can find out more about Brandon at his website: http://brandonmull.com

Usually, nothing. But apparently this particular book had to be written about.

I finished Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey the other day, and I flipped to the back page to find this:

So… what should I add in the back?

Landon, Kristen. The Limit. New York: Aladdin, 2010.

Similar Books: Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix; THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner

In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouse if their families exceed the financial debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are responsible with their spending, right?
But after Matt’s family unexpectedly goes over their limit, Matt is whisked away to a workhouse where far more serious dangers exist than anyone on the outside realizes–dangers that could change his reality forever.

Excerpt

“Matthew, you are the oldest child of William and Rebecca Dunston, correct?

“He is,” said Mom. “But if you’ll wait a few minutes . . .”

Ignoring her, Honey Lady continued to direct her words toward me. “In light of the fact that your family unit has exceeded its debt limit and that option D of the Federal Debt Ordinance 169 has been chosen for your rehabilitation, I must verify your identity and age . . . Now, Matthew, if you will please hold still.” She smiled so sweetly I allowed her to take an eye scan as well as a handprint scan with a handheld unit. “Thirteen years old, correct?”

“Uh . . . yeah. . .”

“We’ll be leaving now,” Honey Lady said to Mom.

“Wait. Please. My husband will be here any second.”

“There is nothing he can say or do that will change anything,” said Honey Lady. “I’m sorry, but I do have a schedule. Come along, Matthew.”

The Review

With upsurge in dystopias, this is a great book for the middle grade market. While I found the first few chapters a little hard to get into, this book had my full attention once Matt was taken to the workhouse. The plot was fast-paced with great insights along the way, and a few twists and turns at the end. I absolutely adored the ingenuity shown by the main character and his friends to discover the truth, and then what they do when after that.

This book was a great reflection on the American consumerism, and kept me thinking. I ran to the store when I was in the middle of this book and had the thought: do I really need all this stuff? My biggest issue coming away from the book was: how could the U.S. Government and the people allow for such a thing to happen? To me, Kristen Landon’s world had become so real, I started having real concerns about what led the society to behave in such a way that children had to pay for their parent’s mistakes. I know that has been something that has happened in the past, but to me that is such a degression from our current state that it made such a perfect dystopian setting.

Suggested Reader Age: 9-12
Behind the scenes information on child labor camps.
Check out the author’s website to see the book trailer! http://www.kristenlandon.com/

EVERNEATH is the first in a planned trilogy, scheduled for release Winter 2012 from Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins, and is partially based on the Greek myth of Persephone: a 17-year-old who’s been banished to the underworld escapes to her former earthly existence with her family and boyfriend. The catch is that she only has six months in the real world before being sent back to Hades, this time forever.

Photo credit to Opiefoto

Hey Brodi! So what was your road like to become a published writer?

One thing I learned early on in the process was that every road to publication is different.

For me, it was:
1. I wrote a book.
2. I queried for an agent.
3. I found an agent.
4. He submitted the book.
5. It didn’t sell.
6. I wrote another book.
7. My agent didn’t like it.
8. We parted ways.
9. I queried for an agent. Again.
10. I found Michael Bourret.
11. He submitted my second book.
12. Within 48 hours HarperCollins bought it in a pre-empt.

What is one thing that made you love writing EVERNEATH? (coming out 2012)

Like I mentioned, Everneath was my second “real” book, and it was a complete departure from my usual writing style. If you read my blog (and if you aren’t, why aren’t you?) you know my natural voice is pretty light-hearted, sometimes goofy, sometimes funny, etc. My first book followed that voice, featuring a snarky and sarcastic heroine.My hubby said to me one day, “I don’t think you’ll ever be able to write from another character’s perspective than Lane’s.” (Lane was the name of the first heroine.) Her voice had come so naturally, and it made me wonder how far I could stretch myself as a writer.

Everneath is a little darker, and the heroine, Nikki, is a little quieter. She doesn’t always know what to say. At the beginning of the book, she’s been through something terrible. She is a shell of her former self.

At yet, she is called upon to be a hero. A different kind of hero. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her transform, and I learned that “quiet” and “uncertain” do not equate to “weak”. The fact that she overcame these things makes her stronger than I ever thought she could be.

I’m sorry, what was the question?

How many cans of diet coke and cinnamon bears did it take to make it through the revision letter(s)?

I’ll answer in song. Please sing in your head to the tune of “Seasons of Love” from Rent.

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred minutes…
How do you measure creating a book?
In caffeine, in candy, in gray hairs, in pounds of chocolate
In edits, in curse words, in buckets of coke?Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand cinnamon bears…
How do you measure new inches on thighs?Did that answer your question?

Your critique group, THE SIX, is pretty well-known. What do you love about having a critique group like The Six?

Oh wow. Where do I start? I can’t emphasize enough the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people when you’re a writer. Writers are not necessarily known for their mental stability, so it’s important to do anything you can to keep yourself grounded. One of the things that restores my sanity is The SIX.They are a constant source of revision ideas, support, laughter, tears, and bad Barry Manilow songs. I don’t know what I’d do without them. If I can make any suggestions to anyone who wants a career in writing, I would say find yourself a group like this. It’s hard to find a good fit, but once you do, you’ll soar.

What is your advice to any writers who want to be published out there?

I read somewhere once the following bit:

What do you call a writer who never quit? Published.

I would add: Published… or dead.

But the sentiment is still there. Never give up. But even more important: Finish that first book.

FINISH THAT FIRST BOOK. Finish That First Book. #finishthatfirstbook. Finish. That. First. Book.

Seriously, it’s a huge step. There’s nothing like finishing a book that teaches you more about how to write a book. It will be the best writing class you ever treat yourself to. Finish. Just finish.

Finish that first book. (Have I mentioned that before?)

Details about EVERNEATH:
17-year old Nikki Beckett has just returned from the Underworld (called the “Everneath”) to a family who doesn’t know where she’s been, a boyfriend who doesn’t know why she left, and old friends who think she’s using. But Nikki won’t have time to answer questions. She only has six months at Park City High before the tunnels of the Underworld come for her again. Six months for goodbyes she’ll never be able to say out loud. Six months to find redemption, if it exists.

She didn’t plan on her ex-boyfriend Jack’s reaction to her return. The boy she left behind so long ago doesn’t care why she left him, or why she’s returned, as long as he doesn’t lose her again.

When Nikki discovers she didn’t return to the surface alone, being near Jack becomes dangerous – for both of them. Cole, an Everliving, followed her back from the Underworld, and he needs Nikki in order to make his push for the throne. He’ll do anything to make it happen, even if it means going back to high school.

Together, Nikki and Jack search for answers in ancient myths and from mysterious characters, hoping to find a loophole for Nikki to escape her fate, but in the end, the choice will be Nikki’s: serve the Underworld, or rule it.”

Details about Brodi:
Because of two parents who were Greek myth geeks, Brodi grew up thinking the latest fashion trends were inspired by Aphrodite, and a good conversational opener was, “So, which mythological character do you most resemble?” Despite these social shortcomings, she found a great husband who’s always her first reader. They live in Utah with their two young boys, who still have no idea why she’s at the computer all the time.

Brodi received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

I ran into one of my absolute favorite professors the other day in the store. And when I told her I was writing full-time, she asked, “How’s that working for you – are you sticking to a schedule?”

And to my great relief, the true answer was, “Yes!”

But the thing is, days later I kept thinking about that answer over and over again. Because, while I am right where I want to be on this revision, I feel so far behind! But things are coming so well together in this last revision, and I want this version of my story to be the best I can possibly make it. I don’t just want to publish–I want to publish well. I want to take the time to get it right.

How to make a writing schedule:

1. I went through and outlined each of my chapters and made a list of what needed to be changed. Since I am working on two stories at once (one is a revision to take to my writing conference), I format it as such.

Invisible | write chapter 22

TLO | revise chapter 21 (short list of needed revisions)

And since I am an organized freak, I color code it for easy reference.

2. I set up a document of some sort where I record my writing. This can be a writing log, a spreadsheet or a word doc. I use a word doc with tables. The point of this is so you can be accountable for your writing. Is your goal to write 1,000 words that day? Well you have a column to report on what you actually did. It helps you see where you wasted time. [sidenote: I also use a time tracker so I know exactly where my time went, since I am so bad at doing that just on my own.] Why is it important? Because then you can go back and see where you can improve?

3. I separate my goals into days until my project is done. This requires me to estimate how much time each things will take (write a chapter – 2 hours). Sometimes my estimate falls short or runs long, but overall this helps me stay focused on the task.

4. I personally added to my tracker all the list of things I had to do in my life for that day. (Laundry? I give myself an hour to do that.) I then try to do those other things during my writing breaks, if possible. But that helps me set realistic goals. Tuesday is when my writer’s group currently meets, and so I block out enough time on Tuesday to read/critique any submissions and to actually attend group. So my writing load is a lot lighter that day. I also schedule my reading days here. Crazy, I know, but that really helps me stay focused when I want to kick out a project. And I can always sneak in a chapter before bed.

How to keep a writing schedule:

Work out your schedule above and stick to it. That means saying ‘no’ a lot. Of course, there are always things that come up. That’s life. But if you are serious enough, you find ways around it. I like to think about my projects and work them out in my head, and then when it is time to sit down, I give it 100% of my focus. (I still write everyday. It’s just usually another project.) So I take those 4-8 weeks of revision / initial writing seriously and I CUT OUT ALL THE FAT. That includes talking on the phone with friends for hours, chatting on IM, lots of twitter/facebook time, games and movies, and even making my extravagant meals. I stick with the basics and try to get everything done as quickly as possible. And yes, sometimes I do write during (the commercials) of my favorite TV show… because I just can’t give up Castle or Doctor Who.

The big thing is: you set your daily tasks and you do them. Try to work ahead, because you will ultimately fall behind.

Well, there you have it. Hope it help!

Do you have any tips to add? Anything that helps you stay on track?

Similar books: If I stay by Gayle Forman; Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher; BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE by Emily Wing Smith; Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.

Synopsis and Snippet
When sixteen-year-old Joel Espen dies of dehydration on a Boy Scout hiking trip, it shakes the small town of Haven, Utah to its socially conformist foundation. And the six teens who were closest to Joel start to view their community–and themselves–in a new light.

With his uncanny sensitivity and boundless heart, Joel made people love him. Now that he’s gone, the ones he left behind are coping with their immense loss. His older, “crazy” sister pours her grief into a blog, while his younger sister runs away to New York. One friend is consumed by anger and revenge, while another discovers who she really is. Two learn to be true to their hearts–and all question who they are and what they’ve become.

I think Joel would want me to. I think Joel would say, “Tabs, tell them what happened. They need to know. But more importantly, you need to tell them.”

And I know why he would say that.

It’s because every time I think about how he died, I start to scream.

Not loud, blood-curdling screams. Almost more like oversized moans than screams. but every time I remember the policeman coming to the door or the reporters coming to the house or any bits of finding out that he was gone, I don’t start to cry. I start to yell.

Repeatedly.

The Review

The Way He Lived is more than a stunning debut — it is a story of love and loss told from six heartbreaking perspectives as each character deals with Joel’s death. Though in reality, none of the characters are really “dealing” with the situation at all. Emily Wing Smith’s writing is poignant and sincere, and touched a chord in me as the reader. I fell in love with each character and their personal struggle, and cheered when they discovered little insights about themselves.

For this story, the author builds on one of the old nursery rhymes: Monday’s child (see below). Each of the characters is modeled after a day of the week as they struggle through the grief of losing Joel. The voice of each character is different and fresh, capturing the true emotion of each of the six characters. I was amazed at how flawlessly they flowed into each other, and continued the story as a whole. Unlike the problems I’ve had with other books that have a multiple point of view, I felt every single character contributed to the story.

If the poem doesn’t give it away, this story also speculates on being a closeted gay in the Mormon culture. I felt that this was handled very appropriately through the speculation, and gives something to pause to think about.

Another reason why I loved this book is the high school debate — I was an avid debater in high school (policy was my main event, but I competed in everything else as well, except LD) and there are just NO BOOKS out there that really cover this topic. I know that the debate world is small and has such an intricate nature (and often times lingo) that it’s hard to cover. So almost every story/TV show it feels fake if there is a debater involved. They are usually the stereotypical debater: smart and loves to argue, which usually means future lawyer. But I love how Emily (a former debater herself) went beyond the stereotype to give us a real person. And for the first time, almost ever, I could tell what event the character did.

So if  you are looking for something that will make you think, cry, and marvel at the writing, I strongly suggest this book.

Look for my interview with Emily Wing Smith, coming on some Monday near you… or never, depending on when I can track Emily down long enough to answer a couple of questions.

Reader Age: I would give it a light PG-13 rating. There is minor swearing and heavy kissing scene.

Monday’s child is fair of face

Tuesday’s child is full of grace

Wednesday’s child is full of woe

Thursday’s child has far to go

Friday’s child is loving and giving

Saturday’s child must work hard for a living

But the child that’s born on the Sabbath day

Is fair and wise and good and gay