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Illustrated by Rebecca Guay,
(Houghton Mifflin)
? Nominated, AAUW Children's Award
? Nominated, Texas Blue Bonnet Award
? 2006 Wilde Picture Book Award (Raleigh News and Observer)
? Educational Materials Center, University of Wisconsin
SUMMARY
Set in ancient Egypt and subtitled, "The Oldest Story in the World," this picture book story was inspired by the Westcar Papyrus, arguably the first short story collection in writing. Unlike the papyrus, however, this book focuses, not on the Pharaoh or his royal courtiers, but on a lowly serving girl who stands up to all of them. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay, each page sparkles like a gem and recreates a time when Egyptian civilization graced the banks of the Nile with learning, power, and a classic beauty that lives on in this lush book.
FROM CRITICS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "...Adapting and expanding an ancient Egyptian story, Hawes has created an original fairy tale about familial love and its power to thwart even the majesty of Pharaoh...Guay's lush watercolor-and-gouache paintings incorporate elements of Egyptian art and culture, including jewelry motifs, decorative geometric patterns in the scenery, and headdresses and hairstyles. The characters' faces and gestures are expressive and dramatic, and the surrounding landscape teems with life.–Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX
BOOKLIST: "...the retelling's feminist angle (which an endnote acknowledges was far less prominent in the original) offers a refreshing change from the typical equation between plucky heroines and lucrative betrothals."
CAN'T STOP READING: "...it's a good story, and its well told, and would go well in any fairy tale collection...the illustrations are gorgeous. So lush and wonderful." (For the full review, see http://cantstopreading.blogspot.com/2006/06/i-swear-to-god-i-am-reading-novel.html.)
...AND READERS
"I just finished reviewing "Muti's Necklace" for our library's collection. It is beautifully written and illustrated. Good historical picture books are so hard to find; especially written for a younger audience to enjoy. This was exciting plus the historical note made the story even greater. Please keep writing more picture books." Youth Services Librarian, Southwest Public Libraries, Grove City, Ohio
"Muti's Necklace is on my library's summer reading list this year. It's beautiful, and fits nicely
into our Egyptian theme. We bought lots and lots of copies. :)
Thank you for writing." Librarian, Somerville, MA.
"The fiction story, Muti's Necklace by Louise Hawes entertains while you get a life lesson out of the whole thing.... Hawes does a fine job of making a strong, confident female character who female readers will love. She even turns down the king when he asks her to be his queen. There is a graceful flow to the book with fantasy hand sketched illustrations. I suggest this book to girls between the ages of 8 and 12."
8th grader, Van Buren Middle School
(Northwest Ohio school-age students contribute reviews as part of the Children's Book Center's(CBC) Cooperative Services for Children's Literature (CSCL) book review initiative. See more at: http://csclbookreviews.blogspot.com.)
To order Muti's Necklace from independent booksellers, click this link:
To order from amazon.com, click HERE
( Houghton Mifflin)
? NY Public Library's Best Books for the Teen Age
? Bank Street College Pick
? Independent Booksellers Booksense Pick
? Nominated, Best Book for Young Adults
? Wilde Award, best historical novel, News and Observer
SUMMARY
A story of the most famous female painter of the Italian Renaissance, The Vanishing Point imagines the adolescence of the legendary Lavinia Fontana. Reared in the strict atmosphere of sixteenth century Bologna, "Vini" manages to persuade her painter-father to train her and in the process learns much about the quiet power of women from her mother. Part quest, part romance, and part coming of age story, this resonant novel will speak to any woman who has ever pitted her hopes against a world that feels smaller than her dreams.
FROM THE CRITICS
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "...the vivid period details add authenticity to a story that's a pleasing mix of drama, history and, yes, romance. Lavinia's first kiss may well leave readers swooning, while her obsession with painting feels authentic."
BOOKLIST: "...fans of historical fiction will lose themselves in Hawes' sumptuously evoked Italy, and aspiring artists of all ages will respond to Vini's amazement at how "full of drawings the world is." BOXED review,
BUTTERFLY BOOKS AND LITERACY CENTER: "...The prose is painterly and evokes not only the time, but the way an artist sees the world. Girls on their way to becoming young women should recognize themselves in this story of a girl pursuing her dream in spite of obstacles. A Staff Pick.
VOYA: "This book is a good choice for middle school students and will appeal especially to girls who can relate to its strong, female protagonist.
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW: "...With careful research and a deft hand, Ms. Hawes convincingly recreates the Renaissance period, full of color, noise and politics. Similarly, her characters, especially Vini and her father, leap from the page to grab our attention..."
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: "...The Vanishing Point, gives the reader a feel for what it must have been like to live in a prosperous city during this period in Italian history, but the book does more than portray life in a by-gone era. This novel, like The Da Vinci Code, leads the reader to question some of the basic assumptions about the place of women in the traditional accounts of Western history. As Hawes suggests, the history of art is not complete without the pages about the contributions of Lavinia Fontana and her many sisters." (by Mark West, Chair, Children's Literature, UNC- Greensboro)
ECLECTICA: "Louise Hawes has accomplished something truly lovely with The Vanishing Point. She has created a historical novel that, while knee-deep in the period it inhabits (her descriptions of the Bolognese puppet shows are fascinating), manages to bring the cares and concerns of her characters easily into the twenty-first century. There is romance and mystery, fear and tragedy in this book, all of which would easily work in a novel placed in modern times. The fact that her attention to detail keeps the book firmly in the 16th century just makes it a richer and deeper reading experience." (by Colleen Mondor)
...AND READERS
YEAH WRITE! (visit their website here) is a non-profit Children's Literary Review, distributed to all US State Departments of Education, posted as on-line reviews, and sold as a splashy, fun magazine in stores nationwide. The best thing about this engaging publication is that the reviews are written by children -- from all over the country. Here's a sample of the three-star (Louise is so proud!!) reviews from readers of The Vanishing Point:
"...I will not tell you anymore, you have to find out what happens I would definitely recommend this book to anyone." (a reviewer in grade 5)
"...From sneaking paint and paper from a prohibited art studio, to forming a romantic relationship. Lavinia's early life is a suspenseful journey that you will have a hard time putting down. No less that three stars would do this book its duty." (a reviewer in grade 9)
"...This book thoroughly captures the reader in the way the book is written, in present tense, drawing one into the story and allowing the reader to experience Vini's emotions with alarming clarity. And, through death, darkness, emotions, mystery and romance, the reader too, will become an artist, seeing the bright gleam of magic in real life. Three stars - yeah write!" (a reviewer in grade 10)
To order The Vanishing Point from independent booksellers, click this link
To order from amazon.com, click HERE
Waiting for Christopher
(Candlewick Press)
? Book in Common, Mississippi University for Women
? NY Public Library Best Books for the Teenage
? Top Ten Books of Summer, Girls Life Magazine
? Featured Book, Teen Book Discussion @ The Library
SUMMARY
Praised by critics as a sensitive, yet unflinching look at child abuse, Waiting For Christopher is the story of lonely Feena Harvey, a teenager who cannot stand by and watch bad things happen. Which is why, when she sees a toddler being slapped and kicked, then abandoned by his mother, Feena "kidnaps" the baby to "save" him. Finding an unlikely ally in the most popular girl in school, Feena skips school to take care of Christopher. But how long can this mismatched pair of guardians keep their secret? Especially once the police join the search for the baby!
FROM THE CRITICS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "an affecting and honest novel" ... "flowing prose and vivid characterization" ...."Skillfully interweaving Raylene's story, Feena's past and present experiences, and their literary heroines, Hawes delivers a rewarding read."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This novel deals poignantly with grief, loss, and the healing process. Feena's solitude and loneliness are nearly palpable; hr impulsive act understandable. Hawes's writing is distinctive, with many wonderful turns of phrase and beautiful images."
BOOKLIST: "The girls' aching, physical love for the child is powerfully drawn, and behind the kidnapping drama, Hawes' simple, eloquent words reveal complex truths of family love and sorrow."
WASHINGTON POST: "Fans of Cynthia Voight's Homecoming, about a teenager and her two siblings abandoned by their mentally ill mother in a mall parking lot, might try this beautifully written variation on the theme. Hawes is excellent on the day-to-day difficulties of caring for a toddler, especially in secret, as well as Feena's dawning realization that there's more to most people than meets the eye, whether it's the child's downtrodden mother or the local high school's black glamour queen."
THE HORN BOOK: "...the story's tension is palpable, Feena's character is likeable, and the narrative voice is engaging. Hawes deals poignantly with loss and longing in a novel that is full of disappointment and heartbreak but that in the end offers hope."
RAWSISTAZ: "...This is an emotional book that really sheds light on some of the complexities of child abuse and neglect. It is about two brave girls who make countless sacrifices to protect a child that they feel adults would not. It is also a story about friendship, as the two get to know each other they learn that in spite of their cultural differences they share a lot in common..."
THE PILOT: "In Waiting for Christopher, you fall in love with three characters who are as real as your life. They walk right in your heart and never leave. Forever after you'll see Feenas and Raylenes wherever you go. And you'll always reach out to the Christophers of this world. The Christophers who break your heart."
...AND READERS
"Hi! My name is Brittany Hawley, I'm 15 years-old and am a freshman at Superior High School. I just got finished with Waiting for Christopher it was one of the best I've ever read! Just reading the prologue brought tears to my eye's. I can't wait to read another book you've wrote! Thank you so much for writing this book! You're a very great writer, and am excited to pick out my next great read!" Brittany Hawley, WI
My daughter, Shay, is a big fan of your writing. She is in the 7th grade. Her language arts teacher recently assigned the students a project. They had to select a writer, read three of the person's books, and then do three activities to complete the project requirements. Shay immediately chose you! Shay had already read Waiting for Christopher. It had impressed her so much that she wanted to read more of your books. Then we bought Rosey in the Present Tense and The Vanishing Point. She made biography cards about you for one requirement. She is designing a game board for a game using the three books as a second requirement. She wrote the paper below as the third requirement. I thought you might be interested in reading it. She looks forward to your future novels!
Terri Kimzey, NC
to order Waiting for Christopher from independent booksellers, click this link
to order from amazon.com, click HERE
(Walker and Company)
? YALSA Popular Paperback
? Center For Children's Books Best Book
? Post-9/11 CBC/IRA Booklist On Trauma, Tragedy, And Loss
? Children's Book Council Book Showcase
? Nominated, Best Book for Young Adults
? Nominated, South Carolina Young Adult Reader's Choice
SUMMARY
Rosey in the Present Tense has been used in death and dying programs across the country and remains one of Louise's most popular books. This novel features a young male protagonist, Franklin Sanders, who has just lost his best friend, Rosey Mishimi in a fatal car accident. Six months have passed since her death, but Franklin still feels as if he is moving underwater, going through the motions. His worried friends and family urge him to get over it. "Take your medicine," they tell him. "See your shrink," they say. Of course, what they really mean is forget. But how can he forget when remembering Rosey is the only thing that brings him relief?
FROM THE CRITICS
HORN BOOK: "... skillful characterization and thoughtful dialogue. No facile tear jerking here; readers will be slowly, satisfyingly moved to tears."
KIRKUS: "Hawes keeps Rosey's exact nature ambiguous without being coy; that, along with the distinct characters and a caring supporting cast, make this a thoughtful variation on the often-explored theme of coping with loss."
BOOKLIST: "Part love story, part ghost story, the novel offers a compassionate, realistic portrayal of the grieving and healing process from, notably, a young man's perspective. Franklin is a well-defined and appealing character; descriptive, lyrical prose and alternating first-person and third-person narratives provide depth and encourage reader involvement. Although emotional in content, the novel avoids sentimentality for a multifaceted, insightful exploration of heartbreak and loss.
☆BOOK REPORT: "The characters are finely drawn: Franklin is devastated without being pitiful, Rosey alive yet gone. The writing is smooth and lyrical. Anyone who has ever loved someone will identify with the deep sense of loss Franklin experiences." STARRED REVIEW
VOYA: "An exceptionally well-written book, ROSEY IN THE PRESENT TENSE is especially appropriate for young adults who lose friends due to unnatural causes such as accidents or violence."
CHILDREN'S BOOKWATCH: "A different, unusual story of death and recovery for mature teens.
RALEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER: "With sharp, telling details, Hawes exposes Franklin's pain while Rosey remains as sprightly as she was in life. The comedy of their banter contrasts wrenchingly with the reality of their separation. A funny, sad, wise story." (by Eileen Heyes)
...AND OTHER AUTHORS
"If you have ever loved someone, you will feel the emotion of this book¼ and what greater gift can an author give than an occasion to fill our hearts?" Graham Salisbury, author of Blue Skin of the Sea and Shark Bait
Rosey in the Present Tense is more than a love story. It is more than a ghost story, too. The writing is lyrical, the characters are real, in the deepest sense, the story is true." Marion Dane Bauer, author of On My Honor and Am I Blue?
"It's never sappy, unflinchingly honest in its depiction of loss, and joyous in its depiction of young love. I cried and cried -- not because it was sentimental, but because it was so beautiful." Ellen Howard, author of Gillyflower and The Gate in the Wall
to order Rosey in the Present Tense from independent booksellers, click this link
to order from amazon.com, click HERE
** A note about the reader letters quoted here: Louise is always thrilled to get letters and emails about her books. She assumes that the writers don't mind being quoted. If, however, your letter is cited above and you prefer to have the excerpt or your name removed, please write the site through the CONTACT link.