tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post925379717248528707..comments2024-03-25T03:14:46.787-04:00Comments on Across the Board: EEK! PUT SOME PAGES UP FOR CRITEEK!Stephen Kozeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185600045044927669noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-47775355551554647402015-09-25T13:55:27.748-04:002015-09-25T13:55:27.748-04:00*Whatever the age group*
*Whatever the age group*<br />Jonathan Schrammhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13790604374800284914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-86189541247074884552015-09-25T13:54:41.757-04:002015-09-25T13:54:41.757-04:00A little late to the party here (one of those week...A little late to the party here (one of those weeks!), but just wanted to say that this really hooked me. I agree with the others that's it doesn't seem to meet typical MG guidelines because of the arranged marriage and some of the descriptions used, but the story and character are compelling either way. Maysa's goal (to leave the tribe and her husband and not be held to the rules of her society) is clear, and she is a sympathetic dreamer that I for one related to pretty quickly. Wherever the age group, I think you've got something here. Thanks for sharing! Jonathan Schrammhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13790604374800284914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-31519041003927982842015-09-22T09:43:37.469-04:002015-09-22T09:43:37.469-04:00Thanks Carrie! Interesting what you said about Nea...Thanks Carrie! Interesting what you said about Neanderthals... Part of what the book's about is challenging the whole "grunting brute" image, especially since archaeologists now think the Neanderthals were more intelligent than we give them credit for. :-)Mary Fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11280462566854191985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-12051568599418497272015-09-22T09:38:55.259-04:002015-09-22T09:38:55.259-04:00Thanks for the feedback! :-DThanks for the feedback! :-DMary Fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11280462566854191985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-92143998370857570602015-09-22T08:26:41.403-04:002015-09-22T08:26:41.403-04:00First - I really enjoyed it and am interested in r...First - I really enjoyed it and am interested in reading more at some point! Very well written and I love your style.<br /><br />However, I agree with both Brenda and Tara - at least with what's presented here I wouldn't consider this MG. As a mother of a daughter who is 9, I'd feel uncomfortable with her reading about a 12 year old with a husband who looks at her hungrily. You didn't mention how old Balt was, but if he's an adult - which is entirely possible since that's how things were done way back when - then I'm even more uncomfortable with it. As an adult, I can read it and understand that just because it used to be done that way it doesn't mean that it's the right thing. I don't think my 9 year old would understand and I don't really want to have that conversation yet! <br /><br />The only other thought I had was because this is prehistoric, I had a difficult time reconciling the current image of neanderthals with the version you present. Don't get me wrong - I like your version better, but society has painted this picture that they basically just communicated with grunts and gestures and primitive drawings. You've given us something that is much more educated than what I'd expect - however I wouldn't want to read a book where they just grunted and gestured! It's a challenge to be sure - not one I don't think can't be overcome, but I just point it out because you may want to consider how you overcome that 'image' we have of neanderthals.Carrie Beckorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04324065022504846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-40576343209968663622015-09-21T20:02:27.825-04:002015-09-21T20:02:27.825-04:00I agree with Brenda. It's really compelling an...I agree with Brenda. It's really compelling and I want to read more but I think that the "husband" concept is something that MG readers might struggle to identify with. Maybe if the relationship was a sibling or even parent/child relationship it would make for something more relatable? But that's really my only critique! The writing and language are great and I already have a sense of who Maysa is as person. *thumbs up!*Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01394900603046345162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-3810980587395816852015-09-21T16:44:12.118-04:002015-09-21T16:44:12.118-04:00Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I'm struggling w...Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I'm struggling with the whole MG/YA divide... Especially since the market's changed. I was thinking of Catherine Called Birdy, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and other more old school kid lit when I wrote it... Back in the day that was considered YA but nowadays YA seems a little... Older? Mary Fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11280462566854191985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-83129018721172428402015-09-21T15:59:59.572-04:002015-09-21T15:59:59.572-04:00I really love Maysa's inner thoughts revealed ...I really love Maysa's inner thoughts revealed here. She's obviously a complex character and, as a reader, I can tell there's going to be so much to look forward to in her story! That said, this doesn't read like MG to me, but more like YA. Despite Maysa's age, talk of husbands and desire (especially hungry desire), feels too mature for the age group to me. I've just started reading THE WINNER'S CRIME (second in the series, which is amazing if you've not read it) and the prose here has that same feel to me. I can see myself sinking into this story easily as a YA, but I'm having a hard time imagining my MG reader kid relating to it.Brenda St John Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01995664320021950254noreply@blogger.com