Wednesday, January 19, 2005

FAVORITE FIRST TEEN NOVEL LINES

THESE ARE SOME GREAT OPENINGS TO GRAB READERS OF TEEN NOVELS.

IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE OPENING LINE, ADD IT AS A COMMENT!

I saw the assassin before she saw me. (Singing the Dogstar Blues by Alison Goodman)

Things had been getting a little better until I got a letter from my dead sister. That more or less ruined my day. (Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gail Giles)

12th Day of September. I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say. (Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman)

Once upon a time there was a pair of pants. (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares)

Henry got up early on the day that changed his life.(Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan)

My name is Salmon, like the fish, first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. (The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold)

When summer comes to the North Woods, time slows down. And some days it stops altogether. (A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly)

We cut ourselves. Not by accident, we do it purposely-and regularly-because physical pain is comforting, and because now it has become a habit. Like the drugs. (Crosses by Shelly Stoher)

It all happened because I had to pee.(L.O.S.T. by Debbie Federucci and Susan Vaught)

"Oh, Man!" David had thought he might be dying as he looked past his chest and saw his intestines splayed before him. (David V. God by Mary Pearson)

"Simon Glass was easy to hate." (Shattering Glass by Gail Giles)

"Which would you rather be, fat or dead?" (Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett)

And I can’t resist adding one of my own:
I could feel the eyes. Watching me. (Double Vision by Linda Joy Singleton)

So what's YOUR favorite opening?

Monday, January 03, 2005

SAMMY HAND PEOPLE STAR TAYLOR

So here's what been going on--

* I passed the 100 page mark writing THE SEER #3. WITCH BALL.
* Added Kid Writer Advice on my website: www.LindaJoySingleton.com
* Currently reading a YA science fiction novel called WILDSIDE by Gould.
* Went square dancing New Years Eve where I ran into two childhood friends.

At the beginning of every year, I make a list of some favorite books I read.
Here are five favorite juvenile mysteries of 2004:

* SAMMY KEYES AND THE ART OF DECEPTION by Wendelin Van Draanen - funny, clever mysteries with characters kids and adults will love.

* HAND OF FATE (Fortune Tellers Club) by Dotti Enderle - Spooky, fun for young girls who love a bit of magic with their mysteries.

* PEOPLE OF SPARKS by Jeanne DuPrau -- A fantastic futuristic mystery for all ages. The long awaited sequal to CITY OF EMBER.

* STAR OF KAZAN by Eva Ibbotson - Reminds me a bit of Dorothy Gilman mysteries, with intriguing settings, clever characters and lots of atmospheric fun.

* TAYLOR FIVE by Ann Halam - A topic I enjoy, cloning, with a survival adventure plot.