Soon after our California departure, the view from the backseat was blank. Literally nothing to see. But then some snow capped mountains appeared bigger and bigger in the windshield, despite the 70 degree temperature. It was so out of place in the desert, it almost looked like a movie set, so my dad decided toContinue reading “Tales from the Backseat: Viva Reno “
Category Archives: middle grade books
A Not OK Corral
Episode 5: Tales from the Backseat On my family’s continuing journey to map the United States with our brown Oldsmobile station wagon, I learned many things. It was more than just the names and places, but outside of the confines of our hometown, I realized lessons of life, people and my parents that echo throughContinue reading “A Not OK Corral”
Darkness Within
The dark sky loomed, relentlessly following every step, blocking every turn. I never thought I could feel so powerless. How could the world twist so out of control that it would target my child? I’ve always trailed my own unconventional path, but I can’t imagine what it feels like to be trapped in your ownContinue reading “Darkness Within”
What is Emotional Bullying?
Most people agree a bully is someone who physically assaults another by pushing, hitting, punching, grabbing, knocking books out of hands, stuffing someone into a locker or a dumpster, sticking a head into a toilet, etc. But physical bullying is not the only brand of terror; emotional bullying often leaves as many and deeper scars,Continue reading “What is Emotional Bullying?”
A Starry Night
One of the best things about being a kid is exploring and noticing the little things in life. Tyler and his friends were no different. On a warm summer night, they enjoyed a rite of passage for eleven-year-olds, the backyard tent sleepover. Tyler and his dad pitched a small pup tent in the backyard andContinue reading “A Starry Night”
Which of These Things Don’t Belong Together?
SNEAK PEAK! This is a character introduction to an upcoming YA/middle-grade book “Popularity”. Certain kinds of combinations like spaghetti and meatballs, movies and popcorn, and shoes and socks are famous pairs, but socks and sandals or spaghetti and tuna are definitely not. What if people were like that? Meredith was. She was movies andContinue reading “Which of These Things Don’t Belong Together?”
Talk to the Hand
Before “talk to the hand” became popular, I believe I used and saw the idea of that gesture many times. As a parent, you often feel that many conversations with your child, back and forth, can be illustrated with one hand held affirmatively in the stop position. With young children, you want them to quicklyContinue reading “Talk to the Hand”
Newtakes not mistakes
Albert Einstein said “A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new.” After all, one person’s mistake is another’s invention. That statement was never truer than with my childhood friend, Skizitz. Others saw everything she did as a mistake, but to me, it was creative and amazing. She was definitely an original. AsContinue reading “Newtakes not mistakes”
SUZANNE RUDD HAMILTON 