A Conversation with Kate Messner
What were your favorite books as a kid? Why?
I loved books by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume because I could identify with their characters so well. Ramona Quimby felt as real to me as my own siblings.
How did you start writing books for kids?
I've always loved writing, ever since I could hold a pencil. When I was in grade school, I'd make up writing assignments for myself over the summer. One day it would be a report about gorillas; another day it might be a story about time travel. My favorite was a book called Shark: Terror of the Sea. I even designed a cover for it, and I remember my mom putting it up on our refrigerator. (I think that's the secondgrade version of the bestseller list!)
If you hadn't become a teacher and a writer, what would you have liked to do?
Well, before I was a teacher and a writer, I was a TV news reporter, and I liked that job a lot while I was doing it. I interviewed lots of interesting people, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, and I got to do some really fascinating things while I was covering stories. I've gone on an Air Force refueling mission, flown in a helicopter with state police over the Adirondacks, and even held a fifteen-foot boa constrictor while I talked on camera. I love teaching and writing, but if I had to choose another job now, it would probably still be something where I got to work with kids—maybe at a museum or outdoor education center.
Do you have any routines or rituals that help you write?
Not really—I have a pretty busy schedule, so while I love to work in my special writing room that overlooks Lake Champlain in the back of our house, I also do a lot of writing in other places, while I'm waiting for my kids at a sports practice or in the dentist's office.
What people and places inspire you?
I've always been inspired by nature, so if I'm feeling "stuck" in my writing, getting outside to hike or cross country ski tends to get me going again, thinking in a positive direction.
Questions about Marty McGuire
Who is Marty McGuire?
Marty's the kid in your class with muddy sneakers and (usually) a big smile on her face. She loves hiking, animals, and her friends. She's loads of fun to play with at recess and has out-of-the-ordinary ideas that occasionally get her into trouble.
Marty tells readers straight off the bat that she "doesn't do princess things"—instead, she idolizes Jane Goodall and enjoys catching bullfrogs and raising worms. What made you decide to write a character like this?
Marty's character actually materialized when my daughter was dancing in our local ballet company's performance of The Nutcracker one December. I'm a bit like Marty in that I'd always rather be outside in shorts and a t-shirt than dressed up someplace, so when it came time to get my daughter's hair into a perfect bun, I struggled a bit and wondered what a production like that would be like for a kid who didn't like tutus and tiaras. For Marty, though, the role was as a princess—not a ballerina!
Is Marty based on you or someone you know? What adventure from your third-grade days are you proudest of?
My daughter and I were just talking about this and decided that there's a little bit of both of us in Marty. She's curious and playful, loves getting muddy and being out in nature, and has a creative spirit. My fondest memory of third grade is actually something my teacher did to get us interested in writing. In the back of the room, Mrs. Fox had a Sentence Box. It was a big box, filled with mysterious things that changed all the time. When you finished your work for the day, you could close your eyes and pull something out of the box to write a sentence about it. I loved the idea that there could be anything in there—so much possibility! (Of course, my sentences always ended up turning into whole stories…which is how I ended up writing books, I suppose!)
Marty doesn't want to star in her class production of The Frog Prince at first, but eventually she starts to enjoy acting. Have you ever disliked something at first, but grown to love it?
Yes. Squash. Also salmon. And ice skating, too. When I was little, my mom tried to take me ice skating once, and I absolutely positively hated it. I couldn't stand up the right way, and my ankles felt all wobbly. I never wanted to ice skate again. But later on, when I had kids and they wanted to go ice skating, I decided I'd give it another try, and while I wobbled a little, I actually learned to skate pretty well. Now, I really love it, especially when Lake Champlain freezes just right and I can skate outdoors.
In Marty McGuire, an acting professor teaches Marty's class about the importance of being able to improvise. What is improvisation? Was there a time in your life when improvisation got you out of a jam?
To me, improvisation means thinking fast to figure things out as you go along, and that's something I do all the time as a teacher. I teach seventh graders, and if you know any kids that age, you probably know how good they are at coming up with ways to surprise adults! Improvising— figuring out ways to use my students' sense of humor and make learning fun—is a big part of my classroom.
One of the characters mentions going to the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in Oregon. If they ever make a sculpture garden in honor of your children's books, what do you think would be in it?
Oh, I hope Marty would be in it! And I'd sure like to see a sculpture of Sparky the raccoon, too!
Marty's home is overrun with animals, including a Fig Newton-loving raccoon. Do you have any pets?
I'm allergic to dogs and cats, so even though I love them, I can't keep any as pets. My daughter, however, has two pet Dumbo rats. They have really big ears. Their names are Chester and Guy. It's the French pronunciation (she got her rats from Montreal) so Guy rhymes with key.
If you could have a conversation with Marty, what would you tell her?
I think I'd just tell her to keep doing what she's doing— because when I was a kid, I had similar kinds of adventures, and they are still some of my best memories of growing up. I'd tell her to enjoy every minute in the woods exploring and having fun with Annie…but to remember to wipe the mud off her sneakers when she comes in the house!
What does the future hold for Marty McGuire?
Well, I sure hope she has a lot more adventures! And when Marty grows up, I could definitely see her going to college to become a scientist. Maybe an entomologist who studies insects? Or a herpetologist! (That's a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians!) I could also see Marty working with younger kids, so maybe she'll be a teacher like her dad. I bet she'd be a lot of fun in the classroom!
Contributor: Scholastic
For the full Discussion Guide visit http://www2.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/m/marty_maguire_discussion_guide.pdf
Reviews
The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z.
Kate Messner
For those of us who never really had trouble staying "on task" (I am not talking about simple procrastination), this book is an eye-opening look at what ADD children go through. Gianna is a bright, artistic, kind seventh-grader. She is on the cross-country team, and running seems to be the only thing she really likes doing this school year. In English class, she can do the reading, and she is even beginning to like poetry. In math class, she does the assignments, but what about science? That is a problem--there is a major science project, with guidelines and due dates for every part of it, including the final presentation. There is plenty of time, right? How hard can it be to collect twenty-five different kinds of leaves? Gianna is about to find out. She soon learns that science will not be her only problem this year. Her father is the director of a small funeral home, and when he drives her to school in the hearse, she gets teased unmercifully. One of the girls on the track team, Bianca Rinaldi, claims that if Gianna fails science then Bianca will take her place in the regionals. Gianna is not the only victim of Bianca's vicious tongue. Ruby, whose family has nearly no money, is wearing a pair of "days of the week" underpants--not only is she still wearing pants that everyone else gave up in second grade, but she is wearing the Tuesday pants on Wednesday. To an adult, of course, this means less than nothing, but Ruby goes home to change her pants and does not return to school. Of course, Bianca mocks this, too. Gianna stands up for Ruby, thus sealing her fate: Bianca will think of something really devastating to punish her. Meanwhile, Gianna's grandmother, who lives with the family, is having some memory troubles, and does not seem as sharp as she used to be. Her mother denies that anything is wrong at all--everyone's life would be simpler if only Gianna would pay more attention and do better in school. What will it take to get her to face reality? We cannot wait to find out! Gianna is such a sympathetic character that the reader's heart goes out to her. This book is highly recommended. 2009, Walker Books for Young Readers, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Judy Silverman (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
E.B. White Read Aloud Award, 2010 Winner Older Reader United States
ISBN: 9780802798428
Marty McGuire
Kate Messner
Illustrated by Brian Floca
Marty was really looking forward to third grade; after all, her second grade teacher had promised it would be even better than second had been. Unfortunately, reality was not matching up with that billing. Veronica Grace has "stolen" Marty's best friend Annie. Annie no longer wants to catch frogs and crayfish, climb trees or play in the woods pretending to be Jane Goodall. Now she has joined the Veronica Grace fan club, and Marty is hurting. When their teacher announces they will be spending the next few weeks preparing a class play based on The Frog Prince and that Marty will play the princess, Marty is mortified. She is so not a princess! Her mother and teacher join forces and there is no way out for Marty. Even she has to admit rehearsals are fun, especially when their drama coach teaches them about improvisation. With the help of a boy in the class, Marty hatches up some improv of her own for the night of the performance. Annie joins forces with them and their efforts bring down the house. The girls patch up their friendship and help Veronica Grace widen her world. Messner is right on target with Marty, who will appeal to fans of Judy Moody, Clementine, and Junie B. She is a typical eight-year-old, who has to deal with friendships changing, school, and rash ideas. Floca's plentiful pen-and-ink sketches (not final in the Advanced Copy) are full of humor and help move the reader through the story. The book has an open design, with a fair amount of white space, making it very accessible for readers just venturing into chapter books. I predict this will become a read-aloud in the primary grades and certainly hope this is the first of several books about Marty. 2011, Scholastic Press, $15.99 and $5.99. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780545142441
Sugar and Ice
Kate Messner
From skating on a cow pond in Mojimuk Falls to the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, Claire Boucher finds herself thrust into an elite skating world that is her dream. However dreams never reveal how difficult competition will be or how training, travel and schoolwork leave no time for a life or her best friend. By winning the prestigious Silver Blades Scholarship, Claire learns many valuable life and skating lessons. Skating's version of a "Mean Girls" clique torments Claire and several other skaters through intimidation, dirty tricks, and hurtful gossip. One talented skater quits and another learns to stay under the clique's radar but Claire is determined to do her best. Her family is making large sacrifices for her to skate so she must do her part. Claire slowly moves up in the skating rankings with the help of a sports psychologist, her coach, her favorite music, and her own inner strength. She learns how to compete. But Claire is also considering what skating has not allowed her to do--maintain her close friendship with Natalie, participate in Math Counts at school, and spend time with her family. When her Silver Blades Scholarship is extended for another year, Claire must make a difficult decision. Tweens will scoop this one up and be back for more novels like this. Messner has created a sensitive and strong character in Claire that readers will admire. 2010, Bloomsbury Publishing/Walker Publishing, $16.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Nancy Baumann (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Crystal Kite Member Choice Award, 2011 Winner New York United States
ISBN: 9780802720818
Added 8/17/11
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