Well, I am always skeptical about anything and everything online, but I think Compulsion Reads may be the real thing. They have just reviewed my novel, and unlike the cut rate publicity outfit I hired to do my press release, they obviously read the book. The review was positive but not complete treacle, and along with the compliments, they shared some of the same misgivings I have. Namely, I have written a novel for young people that has some sophisticated vocabulary (a.k.a. "big words"). My only excuse it that I waded through Harper Lee and John Steinbeck with eighth graders; in comparison my little page-turner is a walk in the park. I just couldn't trade in some of those juicy words for sixth-grade-reading-list words. Most kids have e readers, right? It's not like they have to trudge over to an unwieldy, big, red dictionary these days.
Click here for the endorsement criteria for Compulsion Reads.
"Sort of makes you want to treat me with more respect, doesn't it?" -- Pig Pen
And here is their review of Dark Corner along with an abbreviated response from me.
COMPULSION READS BOOK REVIEW
Until her eleventh birthday, Robin Wingfield seemed like just a normal girl. The pink Ouija board she receives at her birthday party changes everything. The board acts like a catalyst, allowing Robin to remember suppressed memories and then to channel a mysterious force known as Odin.
Robin is both scared and enthralled by the power within herself. Even as she struggles with normal middle school troubles, like how to survive a tough math class and whether to stand up for a bullied classmate, she is also learns about a new and secret psychic world.
Dark Corner is an interesting book that sets Robin up against issues that force her to mature quickly. Friends react differently to her growing powers. Some are curious, others fearful and jealous. Robin develops a profound relationship with a mentor, but she also discovers that not everyone in her Minnesota town is so open-minded about the Wiccan beliefs.
Robin is a sweet and mature protagonist, and I enjoyed watching her grown and learn to accept her special gifts. I was confused, however, about the book’s intended audience. The novel contains deep themes about religion, conservative culture, mental health and Wiccan beliefs that I think would be appropriate for young adult readers. Robin’s age, however, suggests that this book is geared toward middle grade readers. Some younger readers may struggle with the vocabulary of this book, and parents might not feel comfortable with all of the themes.
The narrative also occasionally wandered from the main action. This is most evident in the beginning of the book when I had to learn that Deer Lake doesn’t have muck before meeting Robin and watching her birthday party unfold.
Even with these issues, Dark Corner is an enjoyable and well-paced adventure. Robin and her friends are sweet companions. Young readers will be challenged to consider some important themes in the book; primarily how conservative religious ideology treats the concepts of magic and nature worship. This book may be a good conduit for conversations on this topic.
Click here for the endorsement criteria for Compulsion Reads.
"Sort of makes you want to treat me with more respect, doesn't it?" -- Pig Pen
And here is their review of Dark Corner along with an abbreviated response from me.
COMPULSION READS BOOK REVIEW
Until her eleventh birthday, Robin Wingfield seemed like just a normal girl. The pink Ouija board she receives at her birthday party changes everything. The board acts like a catalyst, allowing Robin to remember suppressed memories and then to channel a mysterious force known as Odin.
Robin is both scared and enthralled by the power within herself. Even as she struggles with normal middle school troubles, like how to survive a tough math class and whether to stand up for a bullied classmate, she is also learns about a new and secret psychic world.
Dark Corner is an interesting book that sets Robin up against issues that force her to mature quickly. Friends react differently to her growing powers. Some are curious, others fearful and jealous. Robin develops a profound relationship with a mentor, but she also discovers that not everyone in her Minnesota town is so open-minded about the Wiccan beliefs.
Robin is a sweet and mature protagonist, and I enjoyed watching her grown and learn to accept her special gifts. I was confused, however, about the book’s intended audience. The novel contains deep themes about religion, conservative culture, mental health and Wiccan beliefs that I think would be appropriate for young adult readers. Robin’s age, however, suggests that this book is geared toward middle grade readers. Some younger readers may struggle with the vocabulary of this book, and parents might not feel comfortable with all of the themes.
The narrative also occasionally wandered from the main action. This is most evident in the beginning of the book when I had to learn that Deer Lake doesn’t have muck before meeting Robin and watching her birthday party unfold.
Even with these issues, Dark Corner is an enjoyable and well-paced adventure. Robin and her friends are sweet companions. Young readers will be challenged to consider some important themes in the book; primarily how conservative religious ideology treats the concepts of magic and nature worship. This book may be a good conduit for conversations on this topic.
So, here is my mature, well-thought out response. Every positive statement is of course -- right on, hit-the-nail-on-the-head, absolutely true. Every negative statement is... well I wish I could say they were off-the-mark, but as I mentioned before, I do share some similar misgivings about Dark Corner. The confusion about the novel's intended audience is valid, because I'm thinking that though Robin is only eleven, the novel is better suited for those thirteen and over. For obvious reasons, I am reluctant to mention Harry Potter, because I believe that J.K. Rowling is a genius to be worshiped and someday we will probably find out that she is not actually from this planet. In other words, I do not want to be compared to J.K. Rowling. I will mention Harry Potter, though, because in the first book Harry is turning eleven just like Robin, and J.K. Rowling doesn't hesitate to bring deep themes and sophisticated vocabulary into her first volume. The only part of the review that I truly take issue with is the thought that the little introduction to Deer Lake is wandering "from the main action." Like every other author worth her salt, I borrow (and I don't mean plagiarism, kids!) from authors I admire. In the case of my little Deer Lake/baby duck opening, see the first page or two of Of Mice and Men. Finally, if some of the subject matter in my novel is controversial, then... SWEET!
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