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Thursday, March 25, 2010

120 MG Fiction

TITLE: Liza Bird
GENRE: Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction


If I’d known how hard sixth grade was going to be, I might have come down with a life-threatening disease instead. It would’ve been easier.
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19 comments:

  1. TamiMarch 25, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    Hook! Out of my normal genre range, but I'm a compulsive reader. As I scanned the page for the next fantasy, this one caught my eye and had me tickled and grinning so much I had to stop and comment.

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  2. Gracie Bea WintertonMarch 25, 2010 at 4:37 PM

    Hooked. Love the voice, and funny too!

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  3. MichelleMarch 25, 2010 at 4:43 PM

    This made me smile. I'd keep reading.

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  4. Shannon O'DonnellMarch 25, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    Hooked. I love it! :-)

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  5. Joshua McCuneMarch 25, 2010 at 5:03 PM

    Partial hook -- 'the life-threatening disease' seems a bit out of voice for a 12-year-old, IMO.

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  6. MHMarch 25, 2010 at 5:05 PM

    Hooked, but the voice sounds YA as opposed to MG. BoA nailed it again.

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  7. AnonymousMarch 25, 2010 at 5:11 PM

    Hooked. Love the voice, love that it gets right to the nasty reality of middle school for so many folks.

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  8. Keren DavidMarch 25, 2010 at 7:34 PM

    Ho-hum. Not very interested to read on. A MC who thinks their problems are worse than a life-threatrening disease is a bit drama queeny for me.

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  9. Vicki TremperMarch 25, 2010 at 9:11 PM

    Some 6th graders are drama queeny. Hooked.

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  10. MsJudyMarch 25, 2010 at 10:05 PM

    Not sure about the life-threatening disease--does make her (?) seem shallow--but definitely we get a sense of voice and direction. So mostly hooked.

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  11. EmMarch 25, 2010 at 10:30 PM

    Not a fan of the life-threatening disease line. It is melodramatic like a 6th grader would be, but it doesn't play right. I'm not hooked.

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  12. bfavMarch 26, 2010 at 12:55 AM

    I think the voice is strong but the opener feels like you're treading on cliche. Still, I'd keep reading. This just 25 words, I'm sure you'd suck me in.

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  13. Karen CollumMarch 26, 2010 at 2:41 AM

    Strong voice and I'd keep reading. Not sure you need the last sentence. It's implied in the life-threatening disease that school was really, really tough. Think it's a great opening for your target audience.

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  14. Jodi MeadowsMarch 26, 2010 at 6:29 AM

    Hehe. Mostly hooked.

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  15. MercMarch 26, 2010 at 8:49 PM

    LOL. I like it; hooked.

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  16. Rebecca T.March 26, 2010 at 9:08 PM

    haha! I like it too. Hooked.

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  17. Cheryl SMarch 27, 2010 at 9:57 PM

    I liked it, but maybe a specific (and very unlikely disease) would make this even stronger.

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  18. RobbinMarch 28, 2010 at 12:33 AM

    Sorry but my middle grader rolled her eyes and said it was lame.

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  19. BronMarch 30, 2010 at 7:08 AM

    I was hooked, but I suspect this is the kind of opening that's used a lot. But hey, if it keeps getting used it must work, right? (Though clearly not on all MGers, as per Robbin's comment.)

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