Bear Lake Arts Council Writers Workshop

The Bear Lake Arts Council Writers Workshop in Montpelier, Idaho today was great fun!

I got to teach some really fun classes (Writing Different Cultures, and Suspending Reader Disbelief) and take some great classes from several authors including Gregg Luke, Josi Kilpack, Tristi Pinkston and others. I got to see old friends and meet new ones. I hope more come next year!

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl follows the adventures of a father and son (the mother died when the son was a baby) on their various adventures, including getting back at a pompous fellow with far too much money named Victor Hazel.

Will they be able to pull off their trick? (It involves a lot of pheasants.) Well, maybe they can with the town policeman and the vicar's wife and baby son on their side! (Even after the baby was pecked at by several pheasants.) But Victor Hazel is a pretty nasty man! Read the book and find out what Danny and his father are able to pull off!

Fablehaven book 1, by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven, book 1 by Brandon Mull begins the exciting careers of Kendra and Seth Sorenson when they first go to Fablehaven, a magical preserve that their dad's parents are caretakers of.

The two, mostly because of Seth being an idiot, get into all sorts of trouble and danger, and find themselves in a situation where they need to rescue others. When the rescue operation goes awry and Kendra is the only one who can do anything to save the others, will she just give up? Or will she find a way to save everyone? This is a great middle grade book, but anyone who enjoys magical adventures would like it.

The Horse and His boy by C.S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis, is the only story that takes place in Narnia where the protagonists are native born Narnians (well, Aravis is Calormen, but still in that world). Shasta, a boy whom we would call Caucasian, is raised in a land by a Calormen man that we would call Middle Eastern. He calls the man "Father", but wonders sometimes why they look so different.

One night, he gets a shock. Overhearing Arsheesh (his supposed father) talking to a rich man, he discovers that Arsheesh is not his father, and is willing to sell him to the rich man. Uncertain what to do, he is talking to himself about the problem, when the rich man's horse speaks up. It turns out that the horse, Bree, was born a Narnian talking horse, and was kidnapped as a foal. Together, the two plan their escape. A few days later, they meet Aravis and Hwin, a Calormen girl about Shasta's age, and a talking Narnian mare with a similar story to Bree's. The four decide to escape together. During the course of their escape they meet most of the Pevenseses from the other books, and of course Aslan. But with Rabadash the crown prince not far behind them, will they make it to Narnia safe? Read the book (or listen to the audio like I did) and find out!

The Labyrinth directed by Jim Henson

The Labyrinth movie, directed by Jim Henson, was one of my favorite movies from my childhood. A young woman named Sarah, in a moment of frustration, wishes her baby brother to be taken away by goblins, and that's exactly what the goblins and their king do, wisking little Toby away from his home and into the Labyrinth!

Sarah chooses to go after him to save him, regretting her earlier wish, but the Goblin King works to stop her. Despite this, she finds friends who help her work her way through. But will they make it to the center of the Labyrinth in time? The goblin king only gave Sarah 13 hours to reach her brother, after which he would turn the baby into a goblin, too!

George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl

In George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl, little George Kilicranky is bullied by his mean grandma, especially when his parents aren't around to witness it. What does he do to get back at her? Invent his own medicine for her of course, and give it to her instead of her regular medicine.

What are the results? Some pretty crazy ones! Grandma grows so tall, she breaks through the ceiling into the second story, and again through the roof. What happens after that? Some more pretty crazy stuff! I appreciated the warning that the things that go into the medicine in the fictional story would not work the same way in real life, and could actually be dangerous. (The ingredients include, [among many hazardous things] engine oil, paint, and other things that would actually poison and kill a person in real life.)

Holes by Louis Sachar

Holes by Louis Sachar is a story about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who doesn't seem to have the best luck. His dad doesn't, his grandpa didn't, his great grandpa didn't, and his great great grandpa didn't either. The reason? His great great grandpa, Elya Yelnats forgot to keep a promise to an old lady friend, and he and his family were cursed with bad luck for eternity unless... Well, Stanley, because of his bad luck, is blamed for something he didn't do, and is sent to Camp Green Lake, a correctional facility for boys.

There, he meets X-ray, Armpit, ZigZag, Magnet, Squid, and Zero (all nicknames of course) and is required to dig a hole every day for the duration of his time there. The Warden, Mr. Sir, and Mr. Pendanzki all say it's to build character, but Stanley starts to suspect it's actually because the Warden is looking for something.

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is a delightful story about an eleven year old orphan who goes to live on Prince Edward Island in Canada with the Cuthberts, Matthew and Marila, brother and sister, an old bachelor and old maid who have had very few dealings with children.

But the siblings decide they need help with the farm, and want to adopt a boy. Somewhere along the communciation trail, there is a mix-up, and a girl is sent instead. But the Cuthberts aren't as quick to send little Anne Shirley back to the orphanage as Marila at first thought. What adventures will Anne Shirley get into after she begins like at Green Gables in the small town of Avonlea?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Movie

The movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, follows the plot of the book by the same name.

While movies can't always include all the details of books, being a different medium, this movie did a good job keeping the most important parts of the plot intact. Harry Potter worries that Sirius Black is after him, and along with that, he has to deal with Draco Malfoy, and the bully trying to get an innocent hypogriph that belongs to Hagrid put down. How will Harry deal with that, plus the scary dementors floating around the school grounds?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is the third book in the Harry Potter series.

It is Harry's third year of school, and while he looks forward to a school year at Hogwarts as a thirteen year old, he begins to worry about the notorious Sirius Black, a convicted murderer, who has escaped somehow from Azkaban prison, and is on the loose! Worst of all, Black seems to have one goal: to find Harry Potter! Will Harry be able to survive the school year? Read this exciting book to find out!

Muppet Treasure Island directed by Brian Henson

Muppet Treasure Island directed by Brian Henson is a hilarious, swash buckling adventure following young Jim Hawkins and his friends Gonzo and Rizzo as they come into possession of a treasure map and head off on an adventure to find said treasure with the help of Captain Smollet Kermit the Frog) and others.

But unbeknownst to them, there are a group of pirates who want the treasure too, and have devious plans of getting it back once they get to the island. But on the island, the good guys get the unexpected help of Benjamina Gunn, an old girlfriend of Captain Smollet's who was marooned by the bad guys. Will Jim Hawkins and his friends get the treasure, or will the pirates get it first?

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling follows twelve year old Harry Potter through his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His year starts off on the wrong foot when he and his friend Ron Weasley can't get through the barrier at Platform 9 and 3 Quarters, and decide, instead of sending an owl or waiting for Ron's parents, to take the magical car and drive it all the way to the school!

Of course they get in trouble for this, but this isn't Harry's worst problem. Something only Harry can hear, is going around the school petrifying students (and even 1 cat and a ghost!) Will Harry and his friends discover and defeat the monster before it kills someone, (like it did fifty years before)?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling is the first book in the exciting adventures of Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley at their Wizarding School, Hogwarts.

The first book has Harry figuring out he's a wizard and setting off for school and having to face all sorts of difficulties and dangers because of Voldemort and his followers. This story involves Harry and his friends following clues to find out what the three headed dog in the third floor corridor is guarding, and who Nicholas Flamel is. And somebody at the school is out to get Harry, but is the the person Harry thinks it is?

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien is a classic tale that most people are familiar with. It has had many movies based on it, and it will probably be read consistently for many hundreds of years.

Frodo Baggins, the relative of Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, becomes responsible for the One Ring which Bilbo just thought made him invisible, but is actually a very bad ring that is sentient, and wants to get back to Sauron so they can wreck the world together. Frodo Baggins is entrusted to take the ring back to Mordor where he must throw it into the lava of Mount Doom. To do this, he gets 8 companions, including his best friend, Sam Gamgee. But ring wraiths (bad undead guys in black cloaks) are after the ring! This book ends kind of in the middle of action, and is followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum, one of the most talented authors/editors I know, is an exciting fantasy/time travel story about a girl named Abby and her boyfriend Dante as well as Dante's brother Orlando, who are trying to stop the evil Zo (Lorenzo) from destorying time itself.

It is the third book in the series, and it is a great conclusion. Through devious ways, Zo tricks Abby into giving him her locket which contain's Dante's life force. But will Abby, Dante, and Orland be able to get it back and save the river of time from unraveling altogether? Read this exciting book and find out! This book is more for older kids and adults as it contains kissing. The scenes are clean and there is nothing more serious than PG in the book.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is one of my favorite books of all time. I just finished listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoy it. Though (obviously) lacking the amazing pictures that help tell the story in the book, the audio book, narrated by Jason Isaacs tells the story just as well as the paper book.

Young Conor is stressed, worried, grieving. His mom is slowly dying of some unnamed disease, though it is strongly inferred that it is cancer, and he doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. Along comes a tough-love, compassionate monster formed from a yew tree that grows on a hill behind Conor's house. It patiently walks him through his emotions through different stories it tells him. In the end, Conor needs to tell one himself. A true story. But will he have the strength to face himself enough to do so? Read this wonderful tale, and find out!

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a delightful children's story about a little boy named James and how he goes on an adventure with some unusual friends.

Poor little James is forced to live with his wicked aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge after his parents are eaten by a rinoceros. One day, he encounters a strange little man who gives him a paper back filled with strange, wiggling cristals, and shortly after that, an old peach tree that didn't have so much as a leaf on it before, begins to grow an enormous peach! What happens after James discovers what (or who) is inside the peach? Read this fun book and find out!

Life After People DVD Directed by David De Vries

Life After People directed by David De Vries and put out by the History Channel is an interesting look at how the world and the animals on it would likely adapt if people were all suddenly to disappear and leave everything behind as it is, just without us.

Some species would have a really hard time, like mice, and domestic dogs, others would be just fine. Although I personally don't want to disappear any time soon, it is an interesting documentary to watch about how the Earth would move on without us.

The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency TV Series based on the books by Alexander McCall Smith

The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency TV series, which I watched on DVD, which are based on the books by the same name by Alexander McCall Smith, are really fun shows to watch. Mma Ramotswe and her no nonsense secretary, Mma Makutsu solve crimes and mysteries in their little corner of Botswana.

In one episode, Mma Ramotswe follows the trail of a kidnapped child whom she fears was taken to sacrifice for wicked voodoo reasons. In another, she investigates the disappearance of a man who had gone into a river with other church goers to assist with baptisms. In yet another, Mma Ramotswe bravely confronts her abusive ex-husband and realizes how much she appreciates the sweet and honorable Mr. J.L.B. Matakoni. It is a series that I strongly recommend.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart

In The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, book 3 in the Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart, the kids, Renny, Kate, Sticky, and Constance, are off on their third adventure.

This time, Mr. Curtain, the nemesis of their benefactor, the kindly Mr. Benedict, is after The Whisperer, his sinster contraption that he used to influence the minds of children and adults alike before Mr. Benedict took it to keep Mr. Curtain from using it again. But because of government interference and Mr. Curtain's sneakiness, he and his cronies capture it again. As well as the children! Will they be able to escape? Will their parents and Mr. Benedict come to their rescue in time? Read the book and find out!