Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
A Beautiful MG Book on Love, Loss and Growing Up
I first discovered Kwame Alexander when I stumbled upon his newest middle grade book, Booked, which was on my library’s display shelf. I talked about this book a few weeks back, but today I wanted to talk about another Kwame Alexander book called The Crossover, which...
A Historical YA Book that Will Wring Your Heart
If you're looking for a great young adult read, look no further than All the Broken Pieces, by Ann E. Burg---an award-winning young adult novel written in poetry that was just beautiful. I picked up All the Broken Pieces because a book I was reading mentioned it. I’m...
2 MG Books That Will Grip Your Heart
My favorite genre to read is middle grade fiction. If you've been around a while, that's no surprise. My favorite middle grade fiction to read is the kind that burrows in your heart and doesn't let go---and recently I read two books that won't leave me be. The first...
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.