7th MMGM: Far Away by Lisa Graff (review)

Welcome to Day 18 of the 7th Annual March MG Madness! Click here to see the full schedule and links to other days.

Far Away 

by Lisa Graff 

March 19, 2019 

Philomel 

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A book about life, loss, and the secrets families keep, reminiscent of Sharon Creech’s Walk Two Moons, by National Book Award nominee Lisa Graff. 

CJ lives and travels with her Aunt Nic, a famous psychic medium who tours the country communicating with her audience’s deceased loved ones at sold-out theaters. Together, they give people closure and forgiveness, and pass important messages on from the Spirit world. While CJ doesn’t have her aunt’s same ability to talk to the dead, she enjoys playing a crucial role in connecting others with their dearly departed. After all, she knows firsthand what it’s like to lose someone she loves—the only way she can talk to her mom, who died hours after CJ was born, is through Aunt Nic. 

But when a magician bent on proving that Aunt Nic is a fraud shows up at their shows, CJ learns an impossible truth—that her mother is actually still very much alive. Now CJ no longer knows who to trust. As she learns more unsettling family secrets, CJ must grapple with the lies she’s been told and the lies she’s helped perpetuate. And in the end, she must decide how to reconcile what it means to find her true family and home—and what it means to forgive. 

A poignant, heartfelt novel that explores the lengths we go to protect those we love—and how that impulse can often lead us down difficult roads. 

CJ Ames travels across the country with her psychic medium Aunt Nic, who performs for large audiences, contacting the Spirit world. And more importantly, Aunt Nic uses her gift to contact CJ’s mom, who died the day CJ was born. It’s an exciting life...but when a producer is bent on revealing Aunt Nic to be a fraud, CJ finds herself following Spirit Signs, which lead her to an astonishing truth: her mom is very much alive. For every truth uncovered, CJ is forced to face some hard questions and figure out what family and forgiveness really mean. 

Lisa Graff’s Far Away is a quietly profound and achingly heartfelt middle-grade. Graff takes readers on an unforgettable journey with a plucky, irresistible heroine, lovely storytelling, amusing wit, and refreshing honesty. 

CJ’s unconventional and quirky childhood, traveling across the US in a tour bus with a psychic aunt, will captivate young readers, while her deeply felt emotional journey is so relatable. Graff deftly explores topics like grief, anxiety, family, and love with a great deal of depth and unabashed honesty. Charming, wise beyond her years CJ is, of course, the heart of Far Away, and readers are going to just love her. So full of clever wit, earnest determination, and an admirable sense of right and wrong, CJ is wonderfully endearing. 

Part road trip adventure, part mystery, and part coming of age story, Far Away is an engaging, thoughtful book that readers will find immensely moving. 

Lisa Graff is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of the National Book Award nominee A Tangle of Knots, as well as Lost in the Sun, Absolutely Almost, Double Dog Dare, Umbrella Summer, The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower, The Thing About Georgie and Sophie Simon Solves Them All. Originally from California, she lived for many years in New York City and now makes her home just outside of Philadelphia. 

The Great Treehouse War Blog Tour (review & giveaway)

The Great Treehouse War

By Lisa Graff

May 16, 2017

Philomel

Source: from publisher for review

Kids vs. parents! An epic treehouse sleepover! An awesome group of friends! An exciting new book from National Book Award finalist Lisa Graff.

Winnie's last day of fourth grade ended with a pretty life-changing surprise. That was the day Winnie s parents got divorced, the day they decided that Winnie would live three days a week with each of them and spend Wednesdays by herself in a treehouse smack between their houses, to divide her time perfectly evenly between them. It was the day Winnie s seed of frustration with her parents was planted, a seed that grew and grew until it felt like it was as big as a tree itself.

By the end of fifth grade, Winnie decides that the only way to change things is to barricade herself in her treehouse until her parents come to their senses and her friends decide to join her. It s kids versus grown-ups, and no one wants to back down first. But with ten kids in one treehouse, all with their own demands, Winnie discovers that things can get pretty complicated pretty fast! Even if they are having the most epic slumber party ever.

In the newest novel by beloved National Book Award finalist Lisa Graff, kids have turned the tables on their parents, and all the rules have been tossed out the window. But does Winnie have what it takes to hold her ground and keep everyone happy?

This story, with a pitch-perfect middle grade voice and zany yet poignant situation, is perfect for fans of Sharon Creech, Louis Sachar, and Jack Gantos.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / Indiebound

Winnie’s divorced and constantly arguing parents are obsessed with making sure Winnie spends equal amounts of time with each of them...which is why they decide that Winnie will spend three days a week with each parent and spend Wednesdays by herself in a treehouse located directly between their houses. Winnie loves her treehouse Wednesdays, especially since her parents are currently trying to outdo each other by celebrating wacky and weird holidays, which has caused Winnie to fall way behind on her fifth grade education. But when Winnie’s friends decide that they’re tired of their own parents unfair treatments, the ten kids decide to stay in Winnie’ treehouse and NOT come out until their demands are met! Ten kids, one treehouse, and a whole lot of drama...what could go wrong?

Lisa Graff’s The Great Treehouse War is a witty, heartwarming, and charming middle-grade book. Graff’s signature pitch-perfect storytelling, engaging characters, and honest yet age-appropriate approach to tough subjects, are all present in her newest tale.

The Great Treehouse War is told from Winnie’s precocious and endearing POV, in a scrapbook type format that tells the story of the Treehouse 10 and their experiences during their almost three week standoff in the treehouse. This creative format will captivate and entertain readers with all the extra notes, drawings, how-to’s, and more, included. Young readers will love the awesomely absurd idea of a child spending one day a week alone in a cool treehouse...and Winnie’s two story treehouse, with its bathroom; art station; zip line; and more, makes for a super fun setting.

The Treehouse 10’s time in the treehouse is full of laughs, excitement, and relatable conversation. And each of the Treehouse 10 have a unique, diverse personality that adds a great deal to the story and dynamic. I really like the main heroine Winnie and so will young readers.

And of course, The Great Treehouse War explores subjects like divorce, sibling rivalry, growing up, and more, with a lot of humor, honesty, and heart.

The Great Treehouse War kept me chuckling and entertained with its wild premise, likable characters, and different format...all things middle-grade readers will highly enjoy!

MY RATING

4/5 Cupcakes

Lisa Graff (lisagraff.com) is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of Lost in the Sun, Absolutely Almost, A Tangle of Knots, Double Dog Dare, Sophie Simon Solves Them All, Umbrella Summer, The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower, and The Thing About Georgie. Lisa Graff’s books have been named to more than 40 state award lists and have been touted as best books of the year by booksellers, teachers, and librarians. A Tangle of Knots was long-listed for the National Book Award in 2013. Lisa Graff lives with her family just outside of Philadelphia. Follow her on Twitter @LisaGraff.

LITTLE A's DREAM TREEHOUSE

Winnie's treehouse in The Great Treehouse War is pretty cool and got me thinking about how neat it would be to build my own treehouse...but then I thought it would be even MORE fun to ask my three year old niece, Little A, to describe her dream treehouse. This is what she came up with:

• her treehouse would look like a pink castle
• it would have little windows
• there would be both a ladder AND a slide
• she wants a dog, cat, and bunny to live in her treehouse
• she also wants a supply of jello and pudding in the treehouse
• and she would name her treehouse Popsicle

And here's my gorgeous (lol) mock up of that dream treehouse:

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of The Great Treehouse War

by Lisa Graff

(ARV: $16.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 15, 2017 and 12:00 AM on May 29, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 2, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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Celebrating Lisa Graff {review and giveaway}

I'm thrilled to help celebrate the wonderful Lisa Graff today by reviewing her newest middle-grade book and by giving away a bundle of her paperbacks...

A Clatter of Jars

(A Tangle of Knots Companion)

by Lisa Graff

May 24, 2016

Philomel

In this companion to A Tangle of Knots, it's summertime and everyone is heading off to camp. For Talented kids, the place to be is Camp Atropos, where they can sing songs by the campfire, practice for the Talent show, and take some nice long dips in the lake. But what the kids don't know is that they've been gathered for a reason--one that the camp's director wants to keep hidden at all costs.

Meanwhile, a Talent jar that has been dropped to the bottom of the lake has sprung a leak, and strange things have begun to happen. Dozens of seemingly empty jars have been washing up on the shoreline, Talents have been swapped, and memories have been ripped from one camper's head and placed into another. And no one knows why.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / Indiebound

Praise for Lisa Graff’s novels

A Clatter of Jars:

“Graff is a master of the magical realism genre, and this offering is worthy of a spot in any middle grade collection.”—School Library Journal

“Graff’s vivid character development and world building makes for tight plotting and nicely negotiable complexity. A great fit for fans of Louis Sachar’s Holes.”—Booklist

“Graff’s prose and plot construction is as pleasing as ever, and A Clatter of Jars will appeal to a wide range of readers.”—Bookpage

A Tangle of Knots

“Lisa Graff has created a beautiful world of deliciously interconnected stories that draw you in.”—Abby West, Entertainment Weekly, A-

* “Subtle and intricate, rich with humor and insight, this quietly magical adventure delights.”—Kirkus Reviews *STARRED REVIEW*

* “Combining the literary sensibility of E. B. White with the insouciance of Louis Sachar, Graff has written a tangle that should satisfy readers for years to come.”—Booklist *STARRED REVIEW*

Lost in the Sun

* “Graff writes with stunning insight [and] consistently demonstrates why character-driven novels can live from generation to generation.”—Kirkus Reviews *STARRED REVIEW*

* “Graff creates layered, vulnerable characters that are worth getting to know.”—Booklist *STARRED REVIEW*

* “[A]n ambitious and gracefully executed story.”—Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW*

* “Weighty matters deftly handled with humor and grace will give this book wide appeal.”—School Library Journal *STARRED REVIEW*

* “Characterization is thoughtful.”—BCCB *STARRED REVIEW*

“This is a novel that speaks powerfully, honestly, almost shockingly about our human pain and our human redemption. This book will change you.”—Gary Schmidt, author of The Wednesday Wars

“Lisa Graff crafts a compelling story about a boy touched with tragedy and the world of people he cares about. And like all the best stories, it ends at a new beginning.”—Richard Peck, author of A Year Down Yonder

A Tangle of Knots made me a definite Lisa Graff fan and I was super excited to read its companion, A Clatter of Jars...and thankfully, this companion does not disappoint!

With her signature sparkling storytelling, laugh-out-loud humor, and ability to craft unforgettable characters, Lisa Graff  returns to the twisty and thrilling world of Talents in A Clatter of Jars. Bursting with magic, mayhem, and marvelous Talents, A Clatter of Jars is fun from beginning to the end. The summer camp setting is perfect for summertime reading and young readers will love escaping into this summery, parent-free world for a few hours.

Graff’s world of quirky, amazing, and sometimes simply bizarre Talents is a unique and delightful one! In A Clatter of Jars, we are introduced to some even more wacky, unbelievable, surprisingly useful, and awesomely strange Talents. Young readers’ imaginations will be inspired by this world’s creativity and innovativeness.

There’s a fun, eclectic group of characters in A Clatter of Jars, both young and old, and I had a blast getting to know their secrets, rooting for their epic triumphs, and laughing at their epic fails. The characters in A Clatter of Jars must deal with some crazy Talent swapping and, of course, the results are seriously funny!

My final thoughts: A Clatter of Jars is full of humor and heart, engaging storytelling, fantastical elements, and great characters, and sends young readers a wonderful message about loving themselves and finding the true magic within.

MY RATING

4/5 Cupcakes

Lisa Graff (www.lisagraff.com) is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of the National Book Award nominee A Tangle of Knots, as well asLost in the Sun, Absolutely Almost, Double Dog Dare, Umbrella Summer, The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower,The Thing About Georgie and Sophie Simon Solves Them All. Originally from California, she lived for many years in New York City and now makes her home just outside of Philadelphia. @lisagraff

Win a bundle of four Lisa Graff paperbacks!

Thanks to the awesome folks at Penguin, one winner will get paperback copies of Lost in the Sun, A Tangle of Knots, Absolutely Almost, and Double Dog Dare.

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-ends 6/24/16

-one winner will get all four paperbacks

-winner will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours

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