Here we are for the second day of the blog tour for Jeanne DuPrau’s, The Diamond of Darkhold.

I’ve been all over the blogosphere today looking at posts on this book. I’ve listed a couple of my favorite blog tour posts at the KidzBookBuzz blog.

Today I thought it would be fun to look at what others–not on the blog tour–were saying about the book. It’s a nice way to branch out, I think, and be a part of the bigger world out there. So…

I enjoyed this interview with the actors who play Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet, in the upcoming Ember movie. And here is a clip of the movie that I’ve never seen before–oh man, I can’t wait. I love movies almost as much as books. I love fiction–stories–in any form, I think. And finally, this is one of my favorite reviews of The Diamond of Darkhold.

I just posted my review of Mary Ann Rodman’s delightful middle grade historical, Jimmy’s Stars.

I highly recommend the book. It’s entertaining, moving, educational… it hasn’t got any car chases but short of that, it has it all–great, living, breathing characters; well-painted story world; and thought provoking, and compelling story problem.

Today is the kick off blog tour for KidzBookBuzz.com’s children’s Book Blog Tour. And the great thing is that we have a really wonderful book to start things off with. The second great thing is that we have some terrific bloggers talking about the book.

For the next three days we’ll be talking about Mary Ann Rodman’s middle grade historical novel, Jimmy’s Stars.

Jimmy’s Stars tells the story of Ellie McKelvey and how she relates to World War II and in particular how she handles her brother Jimmy’s being drafted. I liked this book a lot. It’s a character-driven book with a plot that I found compelling. I’ll post my review on it tomorrow.

For today I want to look at what some of the other bloggers are saying about this book.

April at a Childhood of Dreams says:

This is a story geared toward the 9 – 12 age range, however, I think that anyone of any age would deeply enjoy this stirring work.

I agree. Both of my parents, 86 and 89, read the book and loved it. It brought back memories and it made them cry.

Kyle, at Book Review Maniac really loved the book, which should make Ms. Rodman proud because Kyle is a teen boy and they’re not the easiest folks to please. Besides loving the book, Kyle said:

I also got to know more about World War II, which I have studied before but after reading this book I got a unique perspective of the war from Ellie, an eleven year old girl

The story wasn’t just Ellie’s, though it’s seen through her eyes. It’s also Jimmy’s story. It’s the story of young men being called away from their homes and families to fight and die in foreign lands. Maybe that’s why Kyle, a teen boy, was compelled the read the book every chance he got.

At Dolce Bellezza we read:

It couldn’t be published at a more apros pos time; even if it is set during World War II, wars are essentially the same in their devastation

Read the next post down–August 16–and you’ll see why she really means this.

Natasha, at Maw Books said:

What made Jimmy’s Stars so great for me was the raw emotions that Ellie had. She really stepped right out of the pages of the book for me. I was also swept away into a different time and place as Mary Ann Rodman’s attention to historical accuracy and detail was superb.

OK, I can’t keep going on or we’ll be here all day. I will say this: as a homeschooling mom I’m loving this book. It’s on the list of books we’re going to read this year. This is the best way to teach history, I think. Through story. This method has been handed down for generations, from the beginning of time. In reading this book, my school kids are going to think about life, war, family, kindness, self-sacrifice, hatred, and I don’t even know what else. They are going to consider these things in the context of family, neighborhood, city, country and world. They are going to be moved as they think about history and as they consider the present world they live in. I can’t be happier with a book than I am with Jimmy’s Stars.

Please visit all the participants on the KidzBookBuzz.com tour for Jimmy’s Stars!

01 Charger, A Childhood of Dreams, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, A Mom Speaks, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Book Review Maniac, By the Book Reviews, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, Homeschool Buzz, Looking Glass Reviews, Maggie Reads, Maw Books, Small World Reads, The Friendly Book Nook

I’m swamped with the launch of a new Children’s Blog Tour Site.

It’s been great fun setting it up–time consuming as it has been.

And I’m so excited that we have Alan Gratz onboard. And Jeanne DuPrau. We also have some great blogger/reviewers signing on to the tour. I’m really having fun with it. The thing I like best after reading children’s books and writing children’s books, is talking about children’s books. So this is just too much fun.

And I’ve always kind of figured life should be about having fun. I know, I know, we have to work. But who says we have to work to make thousands and thousands of dollars to buy bigger houses and cars? I’d rather work at what I love doing and be happy in my mobile home.
So check out my new fun site at kidzbookbuzz.com.