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Melissa Sweet's Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White and the beauty of Middle Grade Novels ~  written by Mira Reisberg

4/3/2017

10 Comments

 
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I'm loving seeing how many picture book people are getting brave and doing middle grade novels, either writing them or writing and illustrating them. Due to the popularity and need for good middle grade books, this is a no-brainer. And this book is a great example.

Let me start by saying I'm a huge Melissa Sweet fan, a huge nonfiction fan, a huge middle grade fan, and a huge E.B. White fan, which of course makes me horribly biased.

At the same time, it's just a really wonderful book that anyone who is a fan of any of these descriptors will enjoy and learn from.

Melissa does some really wonderful things in the book. While most folks tell biography writers to avoid birth to death stories, this book does exactly that.
She weaves  in tons of quotes that either back up what she's writing or extends it so that the voice switches from Melissa's third person narrator voice and White's first person voice in his quotes and excerpts along with excerpts from his three delightful children's novels. Combined with the clever chapter headings, images, maps, family trees, and timelines Melissa has used her distinctive art collage technique with language and images to help inspire a new generation of E.B. White lovers while exploring the interconnections between his life, work, writing techniques and philosophies. I can imagine her laying out a timeline of his life and then her favorite quotes and excerpts and moving them all around before gluing down just like you do making a collage. It's a lovely image.

Lucky for all of us, this is an authorized biography, hence the richness of quotes and excerpts. It ends with a wonderful author's note, an equally lovely afterword from E.B. White's granddaughter and excellent back matter and reference information. I'm writing this from memory from my mum-in-laws where we go every Sunday but clearly the book had an impact on me. It has also inspired me to return to a middle grade biography that I'd put away for a while. Let's see if I can work on it during our Middle Grade Mastery interactive e-course that starts tomorrow!

I'm in such a place of middle grade mania that I wanted to share about why middle grade novels are magical - they are absolutely doable, even though picture book writers may not believe this. So much of the depth, information, art, humor, and concepts that Melissa was able to weave in would be completely impossible if she was limited to a picture book. So many great middle grade novels have been turned into movies and agents and editors are hungry for them.

This is why award-winning author Hillary Homzie and I created Middle Grade Mastery that starts today!!! Hooray. If you are feeling brave, click here to check it out. Registration ends this Wednesday at midnight for 2017!
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Dr Mira Reisberg is a multi-published, award-winning children’s book illustrator and author whose books have sold over 600,000 copies. She has helped and continues to help many children’s book writers and illustrators get published. Mira has worked as an editor, art director, designer, university professor teaching kid lit writing and illustration, as well as a literary agent. She has a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on kid lit. Hillary Homzie is another award-winning creative whose novels are being made into movies and TV series. She also teaches at Hollins University. Both Hillary and Mira love teaching the unfolding magic of Middle Grade Mastery!
10 Comments
Deborah Amadei link
4/5/2017 04:49:45 am

I read this and was impressed by the way Melissa put it together. It gave us a sense of E.B. as a child and his journey as a writer.

Reply
Mira
4/5/2017 03:15:52 pm

Thank you for commenting and yes I think that there's lots to learn for both writers and illustrators with this book, plus it's just lovely.

Reply
Shirin
4/5/2017 05:13:50 am

I have seen Melissa's illustrations, but never knew she was an author also. I love her unique style, and would love to read this book.

Reply
Mira
4/5/2017 03:17:45 pm

She's an amazingly talented and lovely creative. You'll love this book.

Reply
Sherry Howard
4/5/2017 06:33:01 am

Now I need this biography. It sounds wonderful! Anybody who has the discipline to write a picture book can manage the longer books. And if you're wavering on the class, come on in--lots of talented people sharing their writerly energy over there!

Reply
Mira
4/5/2017 03:21:35 pm

Thank you Sherry. And yes it is a wonderful book.

Reply
Lisa Begin-Kruysman
4/5/2017 08:13:31 am

I've always been fascinated by E.B. White, however, I don't know much. I am wondering what the book's word count is and if is targeted toward a specific MG Age Group. I ask because I like writing bios and sometimes it is difficult to know if the topic/person's story is suited for a PB or MG book length. I will def check this out and thanks for sharing.

Reply
Mira
4/5/2017 03:22:35 pm

Thank you Lisa. It was a pleasure writing this review and am glad that you liked it.

Reply
Michelle Cusolito link
4/5/2017 12:50:45 pm

I adore this book and I'm excited to be a member of your course.

Reply
Mira
4/5/2017 03:13:38 pm

We are thrilled to have you and so glad that you love this book too!

Reply



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    We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our  awesome new bloggers!!

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    1st Mondays begin with  Clear Fork/Spork editor/art director, former agent and former kidlit professor Mira Reisberg PhD who is also the Director of the Children's Book Academy.

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  • Home
  • WRITING
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
  • Picture Book Palooza
    • Contributor Bios
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books
  • TECH
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • Teachable Student Course Portal
  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships