Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck (Movie)

Boy, when it rains, it pours! I have been so busy with children's books-related events these last few weeks, but especially this past one! Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a special showing of Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck thanks to Scholastic and Lizette Serrano. 

I brought my husband as a plus one. We met #3 son, who lives and works in Manhattan down the block for dinner. We ate at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse a few doors down from the Whitby Hotel, where the screening was to be held. As NY steakhouses go, this was pretty good. Interesting decor, very attentive waiter and delicious food.

I wondered about how the screening would work at a hotel instead of a movie theater. When I found the smallish, boutiquey place, I really wondered! The lobby was filled with art. We were directed downstairs where there were several rooms, one of which was a screening room with comfy seats. We were welcomed, Brian said hello and the movie commenced.

It has been quite some time since I read the book and I did not have time to reread before the screening but it all came back. While Wonderstruck is not my favorite of Selznick's three bricks, I did like it and am in awe of his style, the magnificent visual storytelling and how he takes the reader on an unforgettable journey in every one of his projects. I think he told a fascinating story and probably introduced a new generation to the wonder of the silent film era as well as a window into the lives of the hearing impaired. 

The movie was just gorgeous. Beautifully cast with veteran and new actors alike; gorgeous cinematography; and music that was just perfect. I was unaware until the interview at the end of the movie that Millicent Simmonds, who stars as Rose, is deaf and that the casting call went out seeking a deaf actress. This is Millicent's first movie and she just shines. Her story is told silently in black and white and her close-ups reveal such intensity and beauty. New York of the 1920s is beautiful as well as the Museum of Natural History.

My husband, who hadn't read the book, thought the film was lovely. So, I hope that it reaches people beyond the children's literature community because it is quite special. 

I rarely go to movies but I am seeing two within the span of a few days. On Sunday, I am joining my colleagues and some students and Sarah Weeks for a special screening of So B. It at the AMC Theaters in the Palisades Mall. Tonight, I am trekking back into the city to listen to Laurie Halse Anderson interview Sherman Alexie. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian turns ten this year! 

High Tea with Sir Barry (a Stacking of Sorts)

I am still processing the absolutely amazing afternoon I had yesterday. I got permission to leave school a bit early in order to trek into the city (Manhattan) to attend a high tea with Barry Cunningham, founder of Chicken House Publishing at Scholastic headquarters downtown. 

Scholastic is very good to me. I receive fairly regular invitations to their large events so I assumed that I would be one of a crowd to hear this charming, amusing and enthusiastic man speak. (I always enjoy his segments on the Scholastic online previews) Imagine my surprise to find I was one of eight gathered in the posh living room in the penthouse of the building!

If the name Barry Cunningham doesn't ring any bells; it should. He happens to be the editor (at Bloomsbury) who published a little manuscript called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone nearly twenty years ago. In 2000, he left Bloomsbury and founded Chicken House Publishing with Rachel Hickman. The house is small, publishing only about 25 books per year; but Cunningham's mission is to publish unique and interesting books - books destined to become classics. His roster of authors includes Cornelia Funke, Rachel Ward and Roderick Gordon.

Here are the books he booktalked:

A Little in Love by Susan E. Fletcher. 9780545829601. September 1, 2015.

Synopsis: Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables, A Little in Love beautifully conveys the heartbreaking story of street girl Eponine.

Paris, 1832

A girl lies alone in the darkness, clutching a letter to her heart.

Eponine remembers being a child: her swing and the peach tree, and the baby brother she loved. But mostly she remembers being miserable. Taught to lie and cheat, and to hate the one girl, Cosette, who might have been her friend.

Now, at sixteen, the two girls meet again, and Eponine has one more chance. But what is the price of friendship--the love of a boy?

City of Halves by Lucy Inglis. 9780545829588. November, 2015.

Synopsis: London. Present day. Girls are disappearing. And strange things are roaming the streets.

When sixteen-year-old Lily is attacked by a two-headed dog, she's saved by hot, tattooed, and not-quite-human Regan. As Guardian of the Gates, it's his job to protect both halves of the City--new and old--from restless creatures that threaten its very existence. But an influx of these mythological beasts has Regan worried that something terrible--and immense--is about to happen.

The missing girls may have something to do with the monsters wandering around London, but what do they have in common? Can Lily and Regan find the girls and discover the truth in time to save London from being torn apart?

Flashes by Tim O'Rourke. 9780545829595. October, 2015

Synopsis: Charley has visions . . .

Flashes of things she can't explain. A girl in trouble. The sound of trains. She feels certain they are clues to a crime. But no one will believe her. Until she meets Tom, a young policeman on his first case: an accidental death on the railway tracks, not far from where Charley lives. Was it an accident, suicide . . . or murder?

The attraction between Charley and Tom is instant, but can they work together to find out what really happened on the tracks before it happens again?:

Beetle Boy by M. G. Leonard. 978054585346. March, 2016

Synopsis: Darkus Cuttle's dad mysteriously goes missing from his job as Director of Science at the Natural History Museum. Vanished without a trace from a locked room! So Darkus mives in with his eccentric Uncle Max and next door to Humphrey and Pickering, two lunatic cousins with an enormous beetle infestation. Darkus soon discovers that the beetles are anything but ordinary. They're an amazing, intelligent, super species and they're in danger of being exterminated. It's up to Darkus and his friends to save the beetles. But they're up against an even more terrifying villain-- mad scientist of fashion, haute couture villainess Lucretia Cutter. Lucretia has an alaming interest in insects and dastardly plans for the bugs. She won't let anone or anything stop her, including Darkus's dad, who she has locked up in her dungeons. The beetles and kids oin forces to rescue Mr. Cuttle and thwart Lucretia.

Lucky by Chris Hill. 9780545839778. March, 2016. 

Synopsis: In the leafy boughs of Albion Park, two grey squirrel clans - the Cloudfoots and the Northenders - fight daily for survival, as well as battling each other! Life is extra hard for the young red squirrel who suddenly finds himself living amongst them. But this squirrel is Lucky ...

Winter's Bullet by William Osborne. 9780545853446. January, 2016.

Synopsis: Tygo, a locksmith's son, is forced by the Nazis to loot abandoned Dutch homes for valuables. Known as "The Ferret," everyone despises him, but helping the Germans is the only way he can stay alive. When he discovers a girl with a diamond in a chimney, he refuses to give her up. Instead, he turns spy and uses the jewel to find out information about Hitler's ultimate weapon. He has one shot to stop the war. Can a ferret become a hero?

Longbow Girl by Linda Davies. 9780545853453. March, 2016.

Synopsis: Set in the wilds of the Welsh mountains, the brave and beautiful longbow girl, Merry Owen, discovers a river that takes her back in time to the autocratic kingdom of King Henry VIII. While there she finds she must compete in an archery tournament to save her ancestors' land from being seized by their aristocratic neighbors the de Courcys. Merry's best friend James de Courcy (and heir to the de Courcy wealth) follows her back in time and the two get tangled up in their families' ancient histories. There are forces working against them both in the past and the present. Will they be able to survive their pasts to save their futures?

Quite an exciting line-up, eh? It'll be a few weeks before I can dive into these but I am so excited for them. I have no idea what stars aligned to get me on this list. I sat and listened, rapt, while reminding myself not to let my jaw hang open in awe. Huge thanks and hugs to Lori B. for the invite. And the food was delish!

ALA Midwinter - Little Brown Breakfast & Preview

I am going to try and recap my weekend at ALAMW in Philadelphia in the next couple of posts.

I am a huge fan of Little, Brown Books and am so lucky to get regular invitations to previews both at conferences and in New York.

Aack! I can't find the handout with the book titles! There were so many great looking titles! These are the arcs I took with me:

Allies & Assassins by Justin Somper. 482 p. 9780316253932. May 27, 2014.

Synopsis: Prince Anders, the ruler of Archenfield, has been murdered, leaving his younger brother, Jared, to ascend the throne. Sixteen-year-old Jared feels unprepared to rule the kingdom and its powerful and dangerous court, yet he knows he can rely on the twelve officers of the court to advise him. He also knows he can just as easily be at their mercy-especially when it appears that one of them may be responsible for his brother's death. Unable to trust anyone, Jared takes it upon himself to hunt down his brother's killer-but the killer may be hunting him, as well.

Murder, betrayal, and intrigue abound in Justin Somper's thrilling YA series debut. Exploring the political machinations of the medieval court and the lives that hang in the balance, Allies & Assassins is a gripping tale of a teen torn between duty and revenge.

Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson. 232 p. 9780316230483. June 3, 2013.

Synopsis: Robert "'Cali" Callahan is a teen runaway, living on the streets of Venice Beach, California. He's got a pretty sweet life: a treehouse to sleep in, a gang of surf bros, a regular basketball game...even a girl who's maybe-sorta interested in him.

What he doesn't have is a plan.

All that changes when a local cop refers Cali to a private investigator who is looking for a missing teenager. After all, Cali knows everyone in Venice. But the streets are filled with people who don't want to be found, and when he's hired to find the beautiful Reese Abernathy, who would do anything to stay hidden, Cali must decide where his loyalties truly lie.

Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan. 328 p. 9780316122818. 

Synopsis: The happily-ever-after of Holly Goldberg Sloan's acclaimed debut, I'll Be There, is turned on its head in this riveting, emotional sequel about friends, enemies, and how those roles can shift in a matter of moments.

Emily Bell has it all. She's in love with a boy named Sam Border, and his little brother has become part of her family. This summer is destined to be the best time of their lives--until a charismatic new girl in town sets her sights on Sam. Now Emily finds herself questioning the loyalty of the person she thought she could trust most.

But the biggest threat to her happiness is someone she never saw coming. Sam's criminally insane father, whom everyone thought they'd finally left behind, is planning a jailbreak. And he knows exactly where to find Emily and his sons when he escapes...and takes his revenge.

Wildflower by Alecia Whitaker. 307 p. 978036251389. July 1, 2014.

Synopsis: The best songs come from broken hearts.

Sixteen-year-old Bird Barrett has grown up on the road, singing backup in her family's bluegrass band, and playing everywhere from Nashville, Tennessee to Nowhere, Oklahoma. One fateful night, Bird fills in for her dad by singing lead, and a scout in the audience offers her a spotlight all her own.

Soon Bird is caught up in a whirlwind of songwriting meetings, recording sessions, and music video shoots. Her first single hits the top twenty, and suddenly fans and paparazzi are around every corner. She's even caught the eye of her longtime crush, fellow roving musician Adam Dean. With Bird's star on the rise, though, tradition and ambition collide. Can Bird break out while staying true to her roots?

In a world of glamour and gold records, a young country music star finds her voice.

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I'm really looking forward to reading these. If I find the handout, I will talk more about the rest of the titles.

The special secret guest was Eric Litwin. He's the author of the beloved Pete the Cat books. He is launching a new series with Little Brown centered around the Nut family. I've forgotten Mama Nut' name, but her son is called Wally Nut and her daughter is Hazel Nut.

He sang the lyrics to Bedtime at the Nuthouse, illustrated by Scott Magoon and due out in September. He was so entertaining and there was much audience participation. Art from the book was projected. It was filled with lots of visual humor, such as a poster of Nutvana on a wall.

Eric also signed posters. Much as I was tempted to have it signed to the students of TMS, I opted instead to have it autographed to the students of HES and I'll send it over to my colleague in the elementary school. (ETA: my photo does not do the poster justice. The colors are vibrant. When I used a flash, the photo washed out.)

Thank you Victoria Stapleton and all the fine folks at Little, Brown for a wonderful start to my experience at MW.

"We're Nuts! We're Nuts! We're Nuts! We're Nuts!"