HAUNTING FRIDAY READS BOOK REVIEW: Duplicity by N.K. Traver

GENRE: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction Thriller (I think I just made that up but it works.)

N.K. Traver is awesome. First, she took her knowledge as a computer programmer and combined it with her talent as a writer and voila’ Duplicity was born. Second, because she mentee’d Alison Green Myers, my kick ass Ink Sister in #PitchWars. Alison sings her praises and I do pretty much whatever Alison tells me to do;)

Traver nails the Male Protagonist Point of View (POV) in Duplicity—and I don’t admit that often. I scrutinize dialogue, body language, and inner monologue when a female/male writes the opposite genders POV. Most times when an author tries a different gender he or she uses stereotypical characterizations that make me cringe, but when the author gets it right? Well, that’s time for a Happy Dance.

I heard murmurings of a hacker/cyber purgatory prior to Duplicity. I was intrigued by this mythical place—was it a black hole that sucked you in and never spit you out, was it an alter dimension where hackers walked among us yet could no longer interact with the real world?

When I read Duplicity I thought, yep, that’s what it is. That's exactly what it is.

Natalie slowly changes the main character Brandon. Actually she strips away layers of his appearance then his persona one by one. Brandon doesn’t know what’s happening or why, and he can’t control any of the changes. When he starts to physically fit the mold of a grounded, well-respecting teenager, she rips him out of his hacker/kind of jerk life and throws him into Cyber purgatory. Brandon must hack his way out of this cyber purgatory or the Good Brandon will take over Brandon’s life banishing Brandon to this in-between cyber dimension forever.

Often we don't recognize a good thing until it smacks us in the face. In this case, its our reflection in the mirror.

Great read—I highly recommend it!

Write on,

Kim

Comments

FIRST SNOW by Bomi Park: Classroom Activity and Review

Dear Kim, Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! We had fun with Bomi Park's gorgeous FIRST SNOW last week. We used the book as a mentor text to explore personal narratives and poetry. We also explored watercolor resist techniques. (We also made a mess-- which is kind of my modus operandi during writing workshop. Sorry, Kelley! ) I used the sentence starter from the jacket copy: Look up. One flake falls, then another. And just like that—it's __ __ __ __ __ __ __ . The kids worked cooperatively at their table groups to discuss what word might fill in the blank. I love hearing them chat. "Well it is a snowflake because 'one flake'." Followed by: "No. It has seven letters, snowflake has nine." And: "It is an action. A-- what's that called-- a verb because it is something falling." Eventually we filled in the blank by using spelling clues to check our thinking, which might not sound like a whole lot of fun, but spell...

Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira Book Launch Party

Looking for something fun to do on this rainy day? Our SCBWI EPA adopted member Isabel Bandeira (whom we all affectionately know as Carli) will be at the Barnes and Noble in Marlton, NJ today between 1-3 for her VERY FIRST Book Signing!! WOO HOO!! Her YA contemporary, Bookishly Ever After is a fun read about romance and love and book boyfriends and real boyfriends! Come down, get your book signed with with Carli and hang out with me! Hope to see you there! Write on, Kim Briggs

#AuthorApril: F is for Floyd Cooper #AtoZChallenge

Dear Kim, Are you ready for our first picture book author in #AuthorApril? F is for Mr. Floyd Cooper . Every time I say his name I picture him at my side whispering, "Call me Coop." He's said that to me half a dozen times and yet I still call him Mr. Floyd Cooper because his work calls for that level of respect! Below Mr. Floyd Cooper's picture is an introduction that I wrote for a workshop called The Picture Book Academy . Mr. Floyd Cooper was one of our guest illustrators at the event. F is for Mr. Floyd Cooper That night my introduction read: Mr. Floyd Cooper is a ridiculously talented illustrator. I will say ridiculously talented because damn, he is! [Show book covers and a few inside images. After the oohs and ahs settle continue.] He has won numerous awards. Though, in my humble opinion, not nearly enough for his genius. But that alone isn’t what makes him ridiculously talented, oh no. He is funny and caring. Modest and f...

INK Sisters Write

Search This Blog