JEANZ CHATS ABOUT MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS?

Well I thought as I had been asking authors the below questions that perhaps i should answer them too and let you know what I think. So below are the questions and my own answers.



Do you think children at schools these days are encouraged enough to read and/or do imaginative writing?
I don't think children are encouraged to read as much as they were when I was young. There's so much emphasis on technology, and this or that Tv or Dvd that's considered educational, as well as computers  that I think simply reading a book well and understanding it is kind of being pushed to aside.


Did you read a lot at school and write lots of stories?
I read a lot at school. We always had a book on the go ourselves for individual quiet reading, then there was reading time at the end of the day, with the teacher reading aloud and the "good" readers sometimes reading a chapter or two aloud to the class. Then of course there was reading aloud, where you had to take it in turns to read aloud in class during "shared reading". Also the other lessons often had us reading aloud to the class too. Nowadays they seem to shove a book at the child and let them get on with it.
We also did a lot of "diary" style writing, the dreaded "what I did on my holiday" "what I did at the weekend" etc, as well as creating imaginary stories too.


Did you have a favourite author as a child? 
I loved Enid Blyton! Though I started out with Joyce Lankaster Brisley's Milly, Molly, Mandy Stories, then went on to Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree, The Magic Wishing Tree and eventually went onto the St Clare's school, Mallory Towers and Famous five and Secret Seven books. I think Enid Blyton has a book or almost every age boy or girl, that would engage their minds and imagination. Though I have to say I preferred The Secret Seven books to the Famous Five. I remember saving up Birthday money, Christmas money and treat money to buy the next Secret Seven book in the series, there were plenty of them. I 

remember the disappointment if the next one was out of stock and the joy when it came back into the store and you had enough money to buy it. 



As I got older my Auntie Jean loaned me her Catherine Cookson books (and her friends) , so I like her as an Author, though I also read Virginia Andrews, 

Flowers In The Attic and such too. I've always read a wide genre spread really. I think the books there are for Teens these days are brilliant, when I was that age you kind of jumped form children's straight into adult aimed books.


Do you have a treasured book from your childhood? If yes, what is it?
Neither I nor my family were overly religious but I remember having a big heavy childrens bible with full colour pictures. Attending a Church Of England school, I did use it.I actually still have the bible and my daughter used it whilst attending the very same school on more than one occasion.  In fact I did really enjoy the subject of Religious Education, so much so if able I would have taken the subject as an O'Level/GSE (yep I'm that old lol). To be truthful I treasured all my books, I loved reading from a very young age and the habit has stayed with me into adulthood, I would still rather curl up with a good book than go out drinking, or shopping (unless for books!)to the cinema or other such activities. I also loved history books too. 


Are there any New or Existing Children’s/Middle Grade Authors you are interested in for us to watch out for? Why should we watch out for them?
Wow, being on the other side of these questions I've just realised how difficult some of them are to answer. I have spoken to many fantastic Authors during my time blogging. I feel I should mention the first ever author I spoke to, who helped give me the extra push and courage to create my book read and review blog, and that was Patti Roberts. Patti organised fantastic giveaways for both my blog and my daughter Rachel's blog too. In that Giveaway were some great Indie, Self Published Authors whom I have enjoyed working with since to publicise their books, I'll mention just a few (so apologies if your name isn't here, it doesn't mean I don't love you and your books). So in that fantastic first Giveaway were Collette Scott, Samantha Towle, Julia Crane, Suzy Turner,and Mary Ting etc and many others too. But I see I have gone off trail from the question as it wants Middle Grade Age Aimed Authors in the question! So I would have to say Suzy Turner and her Morgan Sisters Series, and The Holders by Julianna Scott, both of which I have read and enjoyed. And I may not have read all the Authors in my Middle Grade Giveaway but their books sound great, that's why they are in the Giveaway after all! So if you are looking ffor a Middle Grade book for your youngster to read or a book for you to read to your youngster, or read a long with them why not enter the Giveaway. The winner should receive their E-Books just in time for the Spring Bank Holidays, what better way to entertain your children.