Yes, a giveaway! It has been a few months since I hosted a giveaway, so I thought today would be a great day to share one. Please read through to the end of the post!
by: Linda Urban
Originally published by Harcourt Children's Books 2011
A description from the author's website:
Do not let a mop sit overnight in water.
Fix things before they get too big for fixing.
Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she’ll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie’s plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true.
Mattie and her Mama have moved around quite a bit during her young life. Being an extremely shy girl, Mattie hasn't made friends easily and struggles to let her real feelings be known. But coming to live with Uncle Potluck in the house where her Mama grew up turns into a blessing for Mattie. Her uncle begins to show her that sharing yourself with others doesn't have to be scary. Small, brave acts can lead to friendship, too.
What I liked about this book was seeing the way Mattie grew in her realization that she had important qualities and was a special person. Her past had filled her with a sense of dread being around others and by the end of the book, she had taken a few baby steps in overcoming her fears.
If you would like to win my paperback copy of HOUND DOG TRUE, please leave a comment below by Saturday, January 26th at midnight. Followers of my blog will receive an extra entry. If you follow via email, please let me know in your comment. US and Canada entries only, please. I will announce the winner next Monday. Good luck!
TUESDAY UPDATE - LINDA HERSELF HAS JUST OFFERED TO GIVE THE WINNER A SIGNED BOOKPLATE FOR THE BOOK. HOW COOL IS THAT!!
For even more entries, share the giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, your own blog, etc. Just let me know in the comments.
For other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday blogs that I enjoy, please see my list to the right of this post on my blog. Have a great week!
I enjoyed this on when I read it! I like how you pinpointed the way Mattie changed. (Please don't enter me in your contest, I've read this one).
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. It's very touching. And Uncle Potluck was great!
ReplyDeletePlease give this to someone else, since I have a copy of my own. Generous of you to give it away, though.
I, too, enjoyed this one. It's one of those of special 'quiet' books. Since I've read it, I'll let someone else win, but thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it yet! But I really enjoyed a Crooked Kind of Perfect, and I met Linda when she was in town last year. She was lovely, and it was great to see so many kids asking her questions. She'd been at a school earlier in the day, then a library evening presentation, on top of being sick and losing her voice!
ReplyDeleteI get Mattie's fear. Lunch and recess have to be mine fields for new kids. I once had a new kid walk into my 4th grade carrying a football. He clearly planned to make enough friends by lunchtime to have a game. And he did!! Impressive!
ReplyDeleteI am an email follower. Yay!
This sounds like a good book! I follow you by email! :)
ReplyDeleteThis seems like one of those "quiet" books that could easily be overlooked. There are painfully shy kids in the world who could use a book like this. I like the "small, brave" acts. We aren't all going to be BIG heroes.
ReplyDeleteI'm an email follower and haven't read this book. It sounds like a great concept, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review and the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book! Thanks for the recommendation and giveaway. I do follow your blog, even if I only comment sporadically. :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the review and giveaway. I would love to read this book. The MC sounds interesting and I like the idea behind the book. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI am also a blog follower. :)
~Jess
This sounds like a wonderful story--lots of shy new kids out there and everyone needs to be willing to reach out. I know what it is like to move a lot--when to 13 schools before I graduate high school.
ReplyDeleteAnything that's hound dog true has got to be good! I'm an email follower and glad of it!
ReplyDelete