ARC Reviews– “Astro-Nuts Mission Two: The Water Planet” by Jon Scieszka and “BenBee and the Teacher Griefer” by K. A. Holt

 Hello everyone!

 

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sign up to receive three advanced reader copies of books being published this summer for young readers. I don’t have any children of my own, but I am an auntie– and I have a healthy inner child. I really enjoy reading children’s books!

While working at a local library, I often told people that I was “an equal opportunity reader.” And I meant it! I read everything from kids’ picture books to children’s chapter books to YA to adult stories– and both fiction and non-fiction books (science, space, and history especially). You find the most interesting– and sometimes simply fun— books when you keep an open mind when it comes to reading.

The three advanced reader books that I received were all from Chronicle Books, and I’d like to take a moment to thank Kaitlyn Spotts, Associate Marketing Manager, for providing me with copies of the books to read. Thank you!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first two books, and I’m looking forward to reading the third (book review coming soon!)!

 

AstroNuts Mission Two: The Water Planet (AstroNuts #2)

by: Jon Scieszka, Steven Weinberg (Illustrator)

The first of the advanced reader books that I read was “Astro-nuts Mission Two: The Water Planet” which was written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Steven Weinberg. The book was a graphic novel and the second in a book series, but they provided enough information in the first few pages for me to be able to enjoy reading the book even though I hadn’t read the first one (yet!).

As the back cover explains, the “Astro-nuts” are four mutant animals that were created by “NNASA (Not-NASA)” for a very important purpose. Since the Earth is currently in crisis (due to pollution and climate change), the team needs to find a new habitable planet for the humans.

First, I have to say– what a fun read! The characters were outrageous (a stink bug super hero, anyone?), and there were numerous laugh out loud moments. I was particularly amused by a lot of the extra details– for instance, there is a hidden message on the copyright page (please, go look for it!). I also enjoyed the page at the end of the book that talks about the writer and illustrator– who, apparently, live across the street from each other. Or at least they did– it all depends on if Steven managed to escape the illustrated fish which is attempting to gobble him up in his photograph…

I also liked how the author and illustrator incorporated real science information and classical artwork into the book. For example, they pause the story to talk about the scientific method and explain to kids the steps involved. I especially liked the section at the end of the book that discussed the original artwork and how Steven Weinberg incorporated it into the graphic novel (using a collage style of illustrating). Once again, it’s educational as it explains to kids what a collage is and highlights both the art and the artists that created the original works. They even provide a link to the Dutch National Museum (Rijksmuseum) and encourage kids to go learn more.

So, to recap: the story was fun, outrageous, and educational– does it get any better than that?

My only critique would be that the underlying message of the book— and the parallels between the clam management of the water planet and the human management of the planet Earth— was a bit heavy handed. Although, I do appreciate the message (and agree with it).

Since the copy I read was an advanced reader edition, most of the pages were in black and white. Unfortunately, the gray-scale “washed out” some of the artwork. There were a few colored pages in the center of the book to provide the reader with a better idea of what the finished product would look like. I have to say that the illustrations looked much, much better in color!

I look forward to reading more about the Astro-nuts in the future! And I intend to track down a copy of book #1…

“Astro-nuts Mission Two: The Water Planet” will be published this month (August 2020) by Chronicle Books.

 

 

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer: The Kids Under the Stairs

by: K. A. Holt

 

The second advanced reader book that I read was “BenBee and the Teacher Griefer” by K. A. Holt. It’s the first book in the “The Kids Under the Stairs” series. This book was a novel, but it does include some drawings and other multi-media material.

As the back of the book explains, the four kids in the book all failed the Language Arts section of a standardized test. As a result, they’re all forced to attend summer school before they retake the test– which the kids call the “FART” (the “Florida Rigorous Academic Assessment Test”).

I absolutely loved reading this book! It’s got everything from humor to heart. I enjoyed the combination of light hearted (and sometimes completely silly) and serious moments. There were times while reading the book that I literally laughed out loud, but there were also other moments where I was reaching for my box of tissues. The book is a fun read; but, it’s also got depth, and it discussed quite a few heavy topics.

 

It’s a story about misfits and underdogs— and completely relatable. I think the middle school (and later high school) years are challenging for everyone. But, for these four particular kids, they’re a little bit harder (for four different reasons).

“BenBee and the Teacher Griefer” is the type of book that I wish I had been able to read when I was a kid (although, reading it as an adult sure made my inner child happy!).

It did take me a little while to get used to the unusual formatting of the book. But, after a few pages, I realized that the sections from the point of view (POV) of the different kids were formatted to reflect their personalities (and, in some ways, their personal struggles). For example, Jordon J’s sections were large paragraphs with lots of run on sentences and random thoughts. It was pretty much “stream of consciousness” style writing. One of the other kids described Jordon J as “the human version of coffee”— so structuring the portions of the book from his perspective this way was perfect.

I also liked how the author incorporated a fictional video game into the story. It gives the four kids common ground– since they’re all fans of the game– and I think that it’ll give real kids a way to connect with the characters while they’re reading the book.

I don’t know what else to say, but it is a GREAT book! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for additional books in the series. (I also plan on giving my copy of the book to my nephew to read next!).

“BenBee and the Teacher Griefer” by K. A. Holt will be published in September 2020 by Chronicle Books.

(Note: I also shared portions of both book review on GoodReads).

 

Thanks for reading! See you next time!

~ H. S. Contino

Etsy Sale!

Good morning,

Like many people around the world, the ongoing coronavirus crisis has had a big impact on my finances. Under normal conditions, I have three jobs (one traditional and two freelance). I work part time at a local public library, I write and sell my books (which includes giving book talks and history lectures), and I run a handmade craft business (which includes selling items both online and at local markets). 

Since mid-March, all three of my jobs have come to a screeching halt. Technically, I still have books and crafts listed online; but, people have been more focused on purchasing staples and paying their basic bills.

In an attempt to (hopefully) get more online sales, I’m running several promotions through June 25th in my Etsy shop, Reprieve’s Corner:

25% Off Autographed Copies of My Books

30% Off of All Handmade Crafts and Craft Supplies

50% Off of items in my Clearance Section

Additionally, I’m offering free shipping on orders of $35 or more (US customers only).

Please, feel free to check out my Etsy shop and take advantage of these discounts.

http://www.Etsy.com/shop/ReprievesCorner

Thank you! Stay healthy everyone!

The New Normal: Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hello!

I’ve been debating on writing a new blog post for over a week. We are living in incredibly challenging and difficult times. Like the majority of people around the world, I have been living in “self-quarantine” for the past few weeks.

On March 23rd, Governor Kate Brown issued a formal executive order instructing Oregonians to stay at home as much as possible to prevent (or at least slow down) the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). I find it comforting to know that our elected officials here in Oregon are looking out for the best interests of our citizens. I have been receiving regular email updates from the governor’s office and several other elected officials (on both the state and federal levels). I appreciate our elected officials keeping us updated on the situation and the words of comfort that they include in their messages. In particular, the idea that “we’re all in this together.”

However, like most people, I have been experiencing a great deal of anxiety, stress, and grief while witnessing the unfolding crisis. For me, it has been heartbreaking to check the news reports as the number of people infected by the virus (both in the United States and around the world) keeps increasing rapidly. My heart breaks for the family and friends of the people who have died during the pandemic.

As I was typing that last sentence, I received a notification on my phone that the number of coronavirus cases around the world is now over one million. One million. (And, that’s just the confirmed cases. There have been reports of a widespread shortage of tests).

I’m sure that I’m not alone in feeling overwhelmed by such depressing news. The lives of millions of people around the world have been turned upside down by the current crisis. In addition to the fear of becoming ill, people are worried about paying their bills now that only people with jobs that are considered “essential” are still working. Worst of all is the uncertainty. There are so many unknowns– how long will the pandemic last? How bad is it going to get? When will things finally start to improve? When will be able to resume our “normal” lives?

In an attempt to counter-balance all of these negative and stressful thoughts, I’ve been attempting to “look for the good.” In addition to staying informed about the unfolding crisis, I’ve also been keeping an eye out for positive news. The following are a few of my favorites so far:



Online Story Time

With most schools and public libraries closed, many organizations have been posting online recordings of people reading children’s books. Two of our local libraries, Coos Bay Public Library and North Bend Public Library, have been posting videos on Facebook and YouTube:

https://youtu.be/FGUA4S7DA8Q

https://youtu.be/NI8AAklT7E8


For space/NASA/science enthusiasts, you can watch astronauts read stories from the International Space Station:

Storytime From Space

And, local coffee shop “So It Goes” has been receiving media attention for their quirky online storytime sessions:

So It Goes to Host Daily Storytimes for Kids During Covid-19 Closures 



Communities Coming Together

I’ve also been enjoying reading online articles about things that people have been doing to help encourage their communities during these challenging times. For instance, some people are putting up Christmas lights to add some cheer:

People Are Putting Their Christmas Lights Back Up to Spread Cheer During Coronavirus



My personal favorite, people are participating in the “teddy bear hunt.” It’s a fun “social distancing” idea based off of the children’s book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen. The basic idea is to place a stuffed bear in a window that is visible from the street. Then, when families are out walking, kids can look for and count the teddy bears they see.

‘It’s Like a Silent Visual Message.’ How Social Distancing-Friendly ‘Bear Hunts’ Are Uniting Neighborhoods Amid Coronavirus

Most of the stuffed animals in my personal collection (I have a healthy inner child!) are either cats, dogs, frogs, or dragons. However, I do have one teddy bear that my niece gave me a few years ago. It’s now in a window beside my desk. (I had to place the bear higher in the window due to the fact that I have mischievous house cats!).






Some of the other fun ideas that I’ve read about were part of a discussion in our local Nextdoor forums. Since it’s unlikely that communities will be able to host traditional egg hunts this Easter, people are placing pictures of Easter eggs in their windows. Once again, families on walks in their neighborhoods will be able to search for and count the eggs they see.

Other people are hanging hearts in their windows to provide a message of hope to their community:

‘You are not alone’ — Paper Hearts in Windows Gives Message of Hope 

***

The ideas above are just a few of the heart warming stories that I’ve read about over the past few weeks. We may be living in trying times and unable to get together physically (due to social distancing), but there is a silver lining to this worldwide crisis. People are finding ways to come together as a community (on both a small and large scale) in order to encourage and support each other. We really are in this together.

What are other ways that people are coming together and supporting each other during this crisis? Feel free to share ideas and links to online articles in the comments section.

Hang in there everyone! Sending you “social distancing” cyber hugs!

~ H. S. Contino

Book Sale!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I'm offering a discount in my online Etsy shop. From now until March 27th, you can save 25% off of signed copies of my most recent book, "Shipwrecks of Curry County."


"Shipwrecks of Curry County" is a follow up book to "Shipwrecks of Coos County" (Arcadia 2011). While the Coos county book covered the area just north of Lakeside to just south of Bandon, the newer book picks up where it left off and continues south to the Oregon-California state border.

Both books cover roughly the same time period (late 1800's through today) and depict the transition from sail to steam powered to motor vessels that operated on the southern Oregon coastline. The shipwrecks discussed include a variety of types of ships-- both large ocean faring vessels and small river boats-- and they ran into trouble in a variety of ways. While some of the stories are tragedies, there are other stories where the mariners simply had a bad day but everything worked out in the end.

Both books were published as part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series. Unlike traditional history books where you get mostly text and just a few photographs, this series uses a balance of text and images to tell the stories. Each book contains approximately 200 photographs. Most are historical, but in some cases I was able to take updated photographs of the shipwrecks (the ones that are still around) and include them in the books.

Save 25% Off of Signed Copies of "Shipwrecks of Curry County" by H. S. Contino

I sign and date all of the books that I sell. Please let me know if you'd like me to add a personalized message or address the book to someone in particular.

Thank you!

~ H. S. Contino

Upcoming Author Presentation

Hello everyone!

I hope that your new year is off to a great start.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ll be giving an author talk later this month. It will be at the Siuslaw Public Library in Florence, Oregon on Saturday, February 22nd at 1 pm.

I’m calling my presentation “Shipwrecks of the Oregon Coast.” Since I’ve researched and written about shipwrecks in both Coos and Curry counties, I’ll discuss some of the most interesting wrecks in both geographical areas. I’ll also compare the counties and the reasons why each had so many maritime accidents over the years.

I’ll speak for around 45 minutes and then have a Q & A session. I’ll also have signed copies of my books available for sale. The library also has the books available for check out.

So, if you’re in the area and looking for a Saturday afternoon activity, please feel free to attend.

Until next time!

H. S. Contino

Feedback, Please!

Good morning!

I'd love to have everyone's feedback on something.

I created my online Etsy shop, Reprieve's Corner, back in 2011. Personally, I love the name. Reprieve is my favorite word in the English language. As I explain in my shop's "about" section, my logo is a frog taking shelter under a mushroom during a rain shower. I relate the image to the items in my shop since pretty much everything could be given as a gift. They're like my "little moments of reprieve"-- things to cheer someone up or make them smile. Eventually, like the frog, they're going to have to step back out into life's rain shower; but, hopefully,  the items that I sell will help bring them moments of happiness.

The problem is that I'm finding that most people don't understand my concept and they find the name of my business both confusing and hard to remember.

So, I've been thinking about changing the name of my shop. I'd like something catchy and easy to remember. The hard part is finding something that "fits" since I sell a variety of different products. I'm a published author, so I sell my books-- which, like my crafts, cover a variety of topics. And I sell handmade crafts including jewelry, greeting cards, plush toys, hand painted wooden signs, pictures, and magnets. I also recently started making items out of clay (figurines and jewelry components).

The following are some of possible shop names that I'm considering and my concerns about each one. Please feel free to leave a comment on your favorites or add a new suggestion

Hannah's Handmade (although this doesn't completely fit my books)

Contino's Creations (but, I worry that people will have trouble remembering my last name)

Hannah's Creative Corner (too vague?)

Hannah's Hodgepodge (covers the variety, but I worry that it implies that I'm unorganized)

Hannah's Handmade Gifts

... ?

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

A Few Updates!

Good morning!


I always have great intentions when it comes to this blog. I tell myself that I'm going to start posting regularly and that I'll include different types of articles so visitors have something interesting to read. Then life happens, I get busy, and my poor blog sits mostly neglected in a dusty corner of the internet...

Part of the reason why I don't post very often is that I created this blog to promote my little writing career. But, while I continue to practice writing and create new writing projects, I haven't done much actual publishing lately. And, I don't usually share my works-in-progress since they still need a ton of editing and refining before they're ready for public consumption.

So, I figured that I'd take a few minutes this morning to fill my followers in on what's been keeping me busy this summer.

H's Summer Updates:

1) Camp NaNoWriMo

I really enjoy the NaNoWriMo writing challenges (www.nanowrimo.org)! I spent the month of July creating the rough draft of a new novel. I'm tentatively calling it "An Unreasonable Proposal," and it's my first attempt at a "mainstream" story-line in a few years (most of the ideas that I've had over the past few years have been either related to local history or science-fiction).

The basic plot of "An Unreasonable Proposal" is that a woman named Celine ("Cee Cee") Alexander gets a call out of the blue from her ex-husband, Brad Wilson. It's been twelve years since their divorce, and they've had zero contact with each other for most of that time. However, when Brad calls he offers her a bizarre proposal: he asks Cee Cee to re-marry him. It turns out that Brad was recently widowed and needs someone to watch his three young children while he's gone on a six month deployment in the Army. Calling your ex-wife to ask her to babysit would be a strange move for most people. However, Cee Cee knows that her ex grew up in foster care and has no extended family. He claims that the children's mother came from a similar background, so he has no one else to asks. He also knows that his ex-wife is a softie-- give her a sob story and she'll help out anyone. Even knowing that Brad is manipulating her compassionate nature, Cee Cee considers helping him.

There's a bit more to the story and there are several plot twists, but you get the gist. I'm happy to report that I met my July word goal, and I've got most of the rough draft of the novel finished. I'm now letting the story "percolate" before I roll up my sleeves and start editing!


2) Crafting

As most of my blog followers know, I do a lot of crafting in addition to my writing. Since I only have four published books (so far!), my booth at local farmers markets and festivals would look pretty empty if I just brought my books to sell. So, for years, I've taken advantage of my passion for making small crafts.

Like my writing, where I like to experiment with different genres and writing styles, I make a variety of handmade crafts including jewelry, hand painted signs, magnets, sewn items (mostly pillows and plush toys), etc. I've even tried baking homemade dog and cat treats to sell.

I often describe my booth, which I set up under the name of my home-based business "Reprieve's Corner," as my "hodgepodge" since it reflects my passion for trying new things and learning new skills.

Over the past few weeks, I've been working hard on a new batch of handmade jewelry, hand painted wooden signs, and hand painted wooden magnets. I've been having fun using scrapbook stickers and wood cuts as decorative elements.

I also recently purchased the materials to try something completely new: clay. In the past, I've purchased pre-made beads and pendants and then gone from there. However, I would like to try my hand at making my own beads, pendants, and focal pieces out of clay. I also plan on trying to make clay figurines. Some of these will be large enough to be desktop/table decorations. But, I also want to make some that will be small enough to fit on earrings or to be focal pieces for the necklaces that I make.

The only catch is that the last time I worked with clay, I was in elementary school and I don't own a kiln. So, librarian that I am (by day), I've checked out several books to study up on clay art. I also intentionally purchased clay that air dries (and doesn't require baking). If my experiments go well then I'll look into purchasing a kiln in the future (although they're pricey!).

I'll share pictures once I roll up my sleeves and start playing with the clay! I'm excited to see what I can come up with!

Oh, I almost forgot-- Etsy is encouraging shops to offer free shipping on domestic orders of $35 or more. So, I've signed up to be part of the promotion. I've also discounted several of my older craft pieces to make room for the new items that I'm in the process of making.

Please, feel free to check out my online Etsy shop, Reprieve's Corner (www.etsy.com/shop/ReprievesCorner).


3) Markets

Coos Bay Farmers Market--

Throughout the summer, I've been setting up my booth every Wednesday at the Coos Bay Farmers Market. I've also been squeezing in a few less regular markets including the Green Acres Grange sales (which tend to be every other month or so). Technically, the Coos Bay Farmers Market runs from May through October. But, I know from past experience that the chance of rain during the first and last month is 50/50-- and I don't like risking my books getting wet. So, I usually skip May and October. This summer, I've only committed through the end of August-- which means that I just have two weeks left at the market.



Florence Festival of Books--

I'm a big fan of this annual book fair which is held at the Florence Events Center on the last Saturday in September. It seems like every year the event grows and includes more authors and publishers.
This year, the event will be on Saturday, September 28th from 10 am until 4 pm. I've already reserved my booth. I hope to see you there!





Well, that pretty much catches you up on my summer 2019 creative exploits! I've said it before, but I really love summers on the southern Oregon coastline. We are so blessed-- from the mild temperatures to the abundance of natural beauty. There's just something about the gorgeous summer weather that makes me want to pursue my creative outlets-- including both my writing and crafting.

I hope that, wherever you are, you're also enjoying that last few weeks of summer. Please, feel free to leave a comment on this blog about your summer adventures.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read this blog post. Your support of my writing and my little crafting business means the world to me!


~ H. S. Contino