Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: June 2024

Monday, June 10, 2024

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?: The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko - REVIEW!

Today's WHAT'S THE BUZZ features a Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction title coming to you TOMORROW via Knopf Books for Young Readers. It's penned by author Gennifer Choldenko, whom you may already know from her previous works, and shares the story of a brave and resilient young boy just trying to do the best he can in the worst of times. No, we're not talking apocalyptic times, but it might as well have been for all the tragedy, hardship, and challenges faced. Ladies and gents, make room on your bookshelf for today's BUZZ worthy title...

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

Gennifer Choldenko

9781524718923

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Jun 11, 2024

About the book...

When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact.

But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he’s been trying to keep secret. And if they can’t find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes–he could lose everything.

Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.

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When I say this book had me in tears, I mean it quite literally, frequently, and without apology. The author held my heart in their hands completely. The depth of Hank's character, the connection between him and Boo, the heartbreak that was his family life, his resourcefulness though born of necessity, the challenges faced because what else was there to do, and triumphs celebrated because gosh darn it, he more than earned those moments. It was everything, and yet still he deserved so much more... every kid does.

The ending, oh that ending...it was bittersweet and yet PERFECTION for the story as written. The sad part, things like this happen. It may be a fictitious story, but there are lives affected in ways exactly or very similar, and there are those that overcome, and those that fall short. I hope this heartbreaking, yet beautiful story finds a home with readers that want to delve into intense stories that pull you in and won't let go, but also for those that NEED it to see that the cloud's silver lining isn't a myth...it's just really hard to find sometimes.

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About the author...

Gennifer Choldenko was the youngest in a family of four kids, where her nickname was “Snot-Nose.” Her quirky sense of humor made its debut at the dinner table when Gennifer was a very little kid. She is the author of seven children’s books, including Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period; and Al Capone Shines My Shoes.

SITE

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Special thanks to Tracey at Media Masters Publicity, and the Knopf Books for Young Readers team, for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY tomorrow, June 11th 2024, so mark your calendar to snag your copy ASAP!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

AWARENESS TOUR: Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin by Leona Cobham, Illustrated by Timothy O’Brien - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!

Hello there!

Today, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers is joining an AWARENESS TOUR that's taking us to new heights. Up, up, and away, into the great big blue, as airplanes are intended to do, with the Airplane Adventures series penned by author Leona Cobham. While those tales sound like high-flying fun, I'm leaving you to dive between the pages as I bring a SPECIAL GUEST POST from the author herself all about The Legacy of Family Passions and the beauty of being able to pass down a long held love and interest in a topic or activity. Ready to learn more? Read all about it below and don't miss YOUR CHANCE TO WIN before you head off to bluer skies and the other sites participating in this tour brought to you by The Children's Book Review!

Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin

Leona Cobham

Illustrated by

Timothy O’Brien

9781739407032

Cobham Wings

About the series...

A group of anthropomorphized airplanes encounter extreme weather while training at a mountain base. The Spitfire and the biplane, Woody, discover a suspicious mining operation. Tom, the F-14, accidentally gives their radio frequency to the antagonists at the mine. A snowstorm causes more problems. Tom makes amends by rescuing an F-117 Nighthawk.

The second story is a comic tale of mistaken identity. Spif feels responsible for the smooth running of a historical commemoration, but his plans are hampered by a series of hilarious errors involving statues of Wellington and Napoleon.

In the final story, when the friends are invited to an air show in the height of summer they become impatient with a Chinook who is garnering attention. They take to the sky, and the Tomcat lights his afterburners. When a fire starts, he assumes it was his fault. He overcomes his shame to help with the firefight. Spif must put his pride aside and accept assistance from the popular Chinook. Each aircraft contributes to the effort with its own unique skill set. When they save some scouts who have been camping, it turns out it was the scouts who started the fire. They realize through making mistakes, we learn.

Amazon | Bookshop.org

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~~~ GUEST POST ~~~

The Legacy of Family Passions...how family members can pass down their interests and inspire future generations to pursue their dreams and explore the world around them.

...with author Leona Cobham

An airplane engine above the clouds

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An airshow is a great start for those of us who love ‘things-that-go’. The sound of a fighter jet epitomizes raw power; it fills you with adrenalin. Then there’s the sensation of the blast from the slipstream, the smell of the jet fuel, and as for the sight! It’s simply awesome to see a 560 ton A380 lift into the sky. I mean… HOW? But you don’t have to go to an airshow for that. Even at the airport, you can appreciate the majesty of these behemoths of the sky. Point them out to the kids. Encourage them to take photos like this one my son snapped with his phone, which captures the moody beauty of a passenger plane. Try to give them time to stop, stare, and snap.

A plane parked at an airport

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Wonder! Convey the wonder! Whatever it is you are passionate about, impart that excitement to your youngsters, not only in words, but physically. Let this thrill be a bodily sensation, a sensory experience. That’s what gives you a head-start over the competition: on-line gaming! We want to draw the youngsters out of their heads, out of their virtual worlds, and into real life. If you can give the kids an experience that engages all their senses, you are creating the magic we call inspiration.

I made a lot of long-haul flights as a child; once the airplane had taxied to the top of the runway and the captain was seeking clearance from air traffic control, my father would always say “look out of the window, we’re about to take off”. I would feel the airplane accelerate forwards, the air passing over the wing.

If children ask a question, like “how does an airplane get off the ground?”, keep it simple: “Well, the top of the wing curves upwards while the bottom of the wing is flatter so the air flowing over the top has further to go and is more spread out than the air beneath. The effect is that the air beneath pushes the wing harder and the wing lifts.” If you’re not sure, google it, but DO engage with the question.

I am so passionate about flying I get tearful at take off! An airplane trembling at the top of the runway, the pilot opening the throttle, then hurtling down the track and getting airborne is the most thrilling thing for me. And I’m not even in the pilot’s seat. It’s those emotions we want to pass on to the next generation.

A child standing on a path holding a device

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A person looking out a window

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A child looking out of a window

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leona Cobham was immersed in the world of aviation from a young age; her grandfather, Sir Alan Cobham, made many first-time flights as well as pioneering the invention of air-to-air refueling. Leona absorbed this love of flying and travel. While working in a forest recuperation project in Brazil, Leona volunteered to teach in a shanty town. Here, a lifelong interest in understanding different learning styles began. On return to the UK, she began to write children’s fiction and worked part-time as a classroom reading assistant. Believing happy children learn best, Leona infuses her writing with humor, adventure, and a big feel-good factor. Her endearing characters overcome personal as well as technical challenges to succeed.

For more information, visit: www.cobhamwings.co.uk

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~~~ GIVEAWAY ~~~

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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the author for sharing a bit of themselves with the guest post. (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Leona Cobham. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, June 3, 2024

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Me Two Books

Author Interview of Leona Cobham

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Ava in Bookland

Instagram Post for the Airplane Adventures series

Thursday, June 6, 2024

icefairy’s Treasure Chest