Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
2 YA Books that Will Haunt You
Emmy & Oliver, by Robin Fenway, was a sweet love story about two kids, Emmy and Oliver, who grew up together but were separated when Oliver’s dad stole him from school grounds as an elementary school kid. Emmy didn’t see Oliver for ten years, and then, suddenly,...
A Creepy MG Book That Will Make You Shiver
I feel like I’m probably going to gush at some point during this blog. Doll Bones, by Holly Black, was one of the best creepy middle grade books I’ve read lately, right up there with Jonathan Auxier’s The Night Gardener. I have a very overactive imagination when it...
2 Early Readers with Fun, Entertaining Personalities
If you’re not as entrenched in the kid-lit world as I am, you might be wondering what early readers are. Early readers are a bridge between picture books and middle grade readers. They’re sometimes referred to as chapter books. There’s some debate as to what...
Writing resources
On Story
- Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, by Robert McKee
I know this is a screenwriting book, but it’s probably the most comprehensive book on storytelling. A great resource! Dense reading, but full of great information. - The Hero With a Thousand Faces, by Joseph Campbell
Another dense read, but Joseph Campbell is one of my favorite commentators on story and story structure. Every writer should read this one at least once. - The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell
This was actually a series of interviews Campbell did. It’s better to listen to the audio version or watch the DVD. He’s so passionate about story, and that’s contagious!
On Writing (general)
- Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron
Great book on the science of the brain and how to craft well-told stories that will appeal to the storytelling side of the brain. I got this book years ago but still pull it out every now and then to refresh my memory. - Steering the Craft, by Ursula Le Guin
This one’s not so much a technique kind of book as it is a book reminding writers of their obligation to their readers. Some of her ideas are a bit old-fashioned, but most of them are still valuable today. - The Fire in Fiction, by Donald Maass
Another great one on creating books that appeal to readers. Again, I always read these kinds with a grain of salt–because my goals are a bit different, but we all want readers, so I think we can always find value in the suggestions offered, even if we don’t become hardcore users of them.