Arlene the Rebel Queen belongs on every youngster's reading list and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Arlene the Rebel Queen is the story of a girl who decides to make her school a more eco-friendly place.  It doesn't take long though before she realizes how challenging it can be to incite change.  As she learns in her social studies class, people throughout history have taken daring risks to get their message out.  When Arlene and her friends put on a peaceful protest in front of the school they only get into trouble.  Discouraged, but unwilling to back down, they maintain a steady course of action until a resolution can be reached.  Along the way, they come to realize that sometimes one must take risks and make sacrifices to do what is right.  But as the story progresses, they also learn there are right and wrong ways to bring awareness to their cause.

This book is powerful on so many levels.  There is the story of Arlene's struggle to make positive change at her school. But moreover, Arlene is not just any girl, she's a girl with a story of her own.  Her disability, CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth) disease, which she battles every day, seems to be creating more problems than just her weakening motor skills.  There is the matter of Lauren, Arlene's best friend, whose friendship seems to be waning.  And sadly, it appears the reason for this is, in part, due to Arlene's disease.  It seems Lauren no longer wishes to feel responsible for helping Arlene whenever her friend is unable to do something for herself.  This underlying, but equally powerful, subplot is a big part of what brings real emotion to this story.

Carol Liu has masterfully woven a message of empowerment with lessons in honor, respect, responsibility and compassion.  She skillfully creates vivid imagery while teaching valuable life lessons.  Liu addresses some very difficult subjects while speaking to kids on a level they will find interesting and entertaining.

Arlene the Rebel Queen belongs on every youngsters reading list and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

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Grief Recovery Kit Earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Grief can create such a deep pit of sorrow that the griever may wonder when, or if, they will ever be whole again.   Guilt, remorse, anger and many other conflicting emotions can make it difficult to move forward and find healing. For someone on the outside looking in, it can be incredibly challenging to know how to help a person who is mourning; even more so when that person is young.   The Grief Recovery Kit may very well be the best gift anyone could give to some-one who has experienced a great loss. 

Author Tanya Kilgore has compiled a collection of relevant exercises and activities which provide tangible steps to help youngsters navigate through the many stages of grief.   Insightful and compassionate, the paths outlined in this book encourage the griever to fully experience their grief in a healthy way while embracing their memories and moving forward to find fulfillment in their lives. 

Heartfelt text is perfectly paired with moving photographic images and relevant passages from scripture, making this book an excellent selection to help youngsters through their journey of grief. 

This book comes highly recommended and earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

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Money And Teens earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Money and Teens is a book every teen should read. It provides valuable insight on topics ranging from checking accounts, to taxes, and everything in between. Answers to questions relating to credit, which so many of us came to experience first-hand by trial and error, are covered within this book. Armed with the information in Money and Teens, young adults can learn how to avoid the pitfalls which cause so many to fall into financial peril.

Authors, Wes Karchut, M.B.A. and Darby Karchut, M.Ed., have created a guide on nearly every aspect of personal finance. Their practical advice provides teens with financial skills which will effect them now and in their adult lives. Included within the pages of this book are a diverse array of money-related topics which students may have always wondered about, as well as others they may not have even been aware of.

With an informative and enlightening student loan finance section, this book would make an excellent addendum to any planning materials for college students. Money and Teens is a valuable reference guide which should be kept accessible on the bookshelf and referred to again and again. The readability of this book makes it a perfect addition to every student's reading collection.

 

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CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION!

LITERARY CLASSICS' BLOG REACHES 10,000 HITS!

Thank you to all of you who have participated by helping spread the word about Literary Classics Book Awards and Reviews.  Literary Classics is dedicated to providing reliable book reviews of books for children and young adults.  Along with our awards program, Literary Classics has become one of the most widely respected book award programs recognizing books for a youth audience. 


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Literary Classics announces the release of three new book awards for children's literature

Literary Classics and Children's Literary Classics are pleased to announce the release of three new book awards for children's and young adult literature.

The Lumen Award for Literary Excellence is our newest award recognizing distinguished nonfiction works for a youth audience.  One book will be honored annually through Literary Classics.  The first annual Lumen Award for Literary Excellence will commence in conjunction with the upcoming 2013 Literary Classics Book Awards program.

The Enchanted Page Book Award has been created to honor one distinguished children's storybook each year.  The first annual Enchanted Page Book Awards will commence in conjunction with the 2013 Literary Classics book awards program.

The Eloquent Quill Book Award is our newest award recognizing distinguished fiction for a youth audience.  One book will be honored annually through Literary Classics.  The first annual Eloquent Quill Book Awards will commence in conjunction with the upcoming 2013 Literary Classics Book Awards program.

Award guidelines and nomination forms are available online at the Literary Classics Website  http://www.clcawards.org


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Author Spotlight

Award winning author, Suzanne Slade 

on her award winning title...

The Great Divide

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
I've been a full-time writer for 17 years

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING?
When my children were very young I began reading them stacks of picture books every day and fell back in love with picture books. Those special reading times with my children led me to begin writing children's books.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE, The Great Divide?
My other math titles with animal themes had been very popular with schools and parents, and had won a few awards, so I decided to write a division book which became THE GREAT DIVIDE. I got the idea to include cool animal group names (such as a bale of turtles, a charm of hummingbirds, a smack of jellyfish, and a crash of rhinos) when the librarian of a school I was visiting gave me a bookmark with animal group names.

WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?
I've written over 90 books for children with nine different publishers (all published since 2006.) You can find a list of the titles on my website "Book Page".

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR NEXT BOOK:
My newest picture book, THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT, released this past summer and is a 2012 Junior Library Guild Selection. My next picture book, SUSAN & FREDERICK, comes out in 2014. The illustrator for that title was just selected last week, so I'm very excited!

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:
I grew up in the small town of Goshen, IN (which is surrounded by the third largest Amish community in the country.)  In school, math and science were my favorite classes. Now I live in a suburb outside Chicago with my husband of 25 years, Mike. My daughter started college this year and my son leaves for college next year, so we are soon to be "empty-nesters."

TELL US SOMETHING FUN/INTERESTING THAT OUR READERS MIGHT FIND FASCINATING ABOUT YOU:
Readers are often surprised when I tell them I have a mechanical engineering degree and used to test Delta IV rockets and design brake components in my engineering days. I think I'll always be a nerd at heart!

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
I enjoy rollerblading at a large park near my home and admiring its beautiful ponds and wildlife. I also walk my tiny dog, Corduroy, every day.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW/MOVIE?
Quite honestly, I don't watch a whole lot of TV. Lately, my husband and I have been watching documentaries about past presidents on DVDs I check out from the library.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN AUTHOR?
One of my biggest challenges is to decide which story idea to work on next. I have many ideas, but only so many writing hours each week. The trick is to determine which ideas have the most potential and will interest readers and publishers.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?
I definitely recommend joining SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators.) It's the best place for people who want to write children’s books. I also recommend taking writing classes and attending writing conferences. It’s extremely helpful for aspiring authors to find other writers who are interested in the same genre, so they can read each others’ work and provide helpful feedback. My writer friends are invaluable to me, not only for manuscript critiques, but also for encouragement when rejection letters arrive. I’ve heard that most children’s book publishers will publish less than one percent of the manuscripts they receive. So it’s easy to see why good writing friends are essential when the going gets tough, and it’s fun to celebrate a new book contract with your writing friends too!

CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON GETTING PUBLISHED?
My main advice for getting published is to keep working on your writing. I see many writers who focus so much time and energy on researching and submitting to editors and agents, that they end up spending too little time on the craft of writing. From what I've seen, exceptionally written stories find their way out of editor slush piles and get published.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?
Readers can learn about more about me, my other math titles (WHAT'S NEW AT THE ZOO?, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?, AND MULTIPLY ON THE FLY), and find more tips for aspiring writers on my website at www.suzanneslade.com. 

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Have Fun & Get it Done earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Wondering how to help your high school student find focus and direction where college is concerned?   Have Fun & Get it Done is a book every high-school and college student should read (as well as every parent of a high-school or college student).  We recommend this book early (during high-school) as a goal setting and planning tool, and then again during college as a resource guide and as a refresher.  The best time to get this book for your student is now.  But it's never too late to read Dana's book about planning for and achieving one's goals.

 Have Fun & Get it Done is an exceptional book which is highly deserving of praise.  Author Jenee Dana (who graduated from UCLA in 3 years) exhibits incredible insight and wisdom, and presents valuable points in a way that is down-to-earth, entertaining and inspiring.  Success-aid tips and and planning and goal setting resources are only a part of what makes this book an exceptional read.  -  This book is written by a recent student, for students.  Her whimsical spin and witty personality reads loud and clear through a straight-forward message that will resonate with students in a powerful and meaningful way.

Dana realizes that college is not a one-size-fits all program.  Her book is tailored to help students gain insight into their own personal wants and needs through honest and straight-forward  introspection.

 Have Fun & Get it Done belongs in every high-school and college student's back-pack and earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval





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