If you’re a blog regular you’ll notice that I owe you a Flash Friday post or at least an update…and I’d like to apologize for missing that.  I say, I’d LIKE to apologize, but I think I won’t!  You see, an apology implies the resolution to do better, but I’m pretty sure I’ll continue to be a tad erratic on Friday posts from now until our house is on the market and packed, we’re settled  in the new place (wherever that may be) and I’m at least semi-unpacked.  However, I do really, really appreciate your patience! 😀

And now, on to this week’s MMGM spotlight of Princess Posey and the Monster Stew, by Stephanie Greene.  I tend to naturally gravitate toward older middle grades, so this story has sat around kicking its heels for almost a year, waiting for me to read it.  I bought it from Stephanie at our regional SCBWI just because I think Stephanie is cool.  Plus, there’s a cute little one-eyed monster on the cover and a cute little girl, and they look like they’re about to have a very polite showdown.

And the story more than lived up to the cover!  It’s age appropriate so not terribly complex, but still manages to include a couple small plot twists.  It’s also got impressive emotional nuances, given the character’s age and the length of the tale.  You have a teacher who’s got a great sense of humor and able to both thrill the classmates who want a thrill with nasty ingredients in the monster stew, while bringing the concerned Posey and her friend in on the secret that they’re really eating peeled grapes, and so on.  You’ve got neighbor boys who aren’t above going for a scare and seeing if they can make their little neighbor, Posey, lose her cool…but also aren’t too proud to admire her costume’s homemade special effect in the end.  And in Posey you have a main character who’s young enough to not want to carry a flashlight while trick-or-treating after learning from her first grade peers that flashlights are for babies–but wise enough to find another way to provide herself with a little light out on the streets.

A truly enjoyable little book, that will be secretly loved and well-tolerated by the older kid crowd, while eaten up and loved by the little kids.  It also got me in the mood for fall pumpkins, and Halloween!  Plus maybe some monster stew…just so long as I know what all the ingredients are!

Let’s see what Apricot-kitty has to say:

“Let me tell you a little rhyme we teach kittens as they approach the big O month.  It goes like this: ‘Twas the night before Hallow’s Eve, and all through the streets, not a cat could be heard purring, for fear of hands’ sticky with treats.’

Nope.  I’m not a fan of Halloween.”

Okay…that was odd.  Though I suppose sticky trick or treating fingers and cat hair are probably not the best combination.  Come to think of it, Apricot-kitty is always rather scarce on October 31st!  This year, I’m going to have to notice where she goes, and see what I can make of it!

For more Marvelous Middle Grade Monday spotlights, reviews, interviews and giveaways, check out Shannon Messenger’s blog, and happy reading!

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