Out of My Mind

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by Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people--her teachers and doctors included--don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind--that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you'll never, ever forget. 

Dash of Magic: A Bliss Novel

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by Kathryn Littlewood

This second book in the acclaimed Bliss trilogy mixes the down-home heart-punch of Ingrid Law's Newbery Honor Book Savvy, the always-on-the-edge-of-chaos comedy of Cheaper by the Dozen, and a humorous magic all its own to create a thoroughly original confection to please every reader's sweet tooth!

The Bliss family's magical Cookery Booke was stolen by evil Aunt Lily at the end of Bliss, the first novel in the series. Now twelve-year-old Rosemary has a chance to win it back: she challenges her aunt to an Iron Chef-style international baking competition in Paris. But the only way to beat the cheating Aunt Lily is to gather magical ingredients of her own. Together with her brothers and their talking cat and mouse, Rose races across Paris—from the Eiffel Tower to the Cathedral of Notre Dame to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum—to gather what she needs to out-bake—and out-magic—her conniving aunt.

If Rose wins, the cherished Cookery Booke will return to her family where it belongs. If she loses—well, the consequences are too ugly to think about. . . .

Interview with Cindy Callaghan

Author of Lost in London

The Rambunctious Readers are so excited to interview author Cindy Callaghan  about her latest book, Lost in London. 

RR: How did you get the idea of getting trapped in a store overnight in Daphnes?

Cindy:  Did you ever read The Mixed Up Files?  In that they get locked in a museum.  I love that book and ever since I read it I've ben obsessed with places that I'd love to spend the night:  A bakery, hair salon, carnival....and DAPHNE's is like allllll of those places wrapped up in one.  Don't you think?

RR:  How did you come up with the names of the characters?

Cindy: The perfect character name is very important to me.  It has to "fit" the character I am trying to paint.  I can't really explain it exactly, but I know it when I find it.  Sometimes a character is just called X until I can think of the perfect name. 

RR:  How did you come up with Jordan's friends personalities and characteristics?  

Cindy:  I like to have a cast of characters that are different from one another, because that's how friends are in real life, right?  If everyone was the same, that would be so boring.  I try to think of different quirks.  I get a lot of them from listening and watching other people. 

RR:  Did you base any of the characters on anyone you know?

Cindy:  I don't base a character 100% on someone that I know, but I might take a trait or characteristic that I know or like about someone and give it to a character along with a bunch of made up stuff and characteristics from someone else.  They are kind of like montages of all different people. 

RR:  How do you come up with so many creative ideas for all of your books?

Cindy:  I suffer from something called Too Many Idea Syndrome.  I have an idea notebook just filled with ideas that I want to write about.  When I think of something, I put it in my notebook.  I could never write all of my ideas in a hundred lifetimes.  

RR:  When will your next book becoming out and what is it about?

Cindy:  LUCKY ME comes out July, 2014.  It's about superstitious Meghan McGlinchey who gets cursed when she goofs up a chain letter.  Unraveling the curse takes her on an amazing journey where she discovers a lot more than links of a chain. It's a very cool story that takes place in southern Ireland. 

About Cindy Callaghan: Cindy grew up in New Jersey and attended college at the University of Southern California before earning her BA in English and French, and MBA from the University of Delaware. She recently exited corporate America after nearly twenty years, and is now fully entrenched in business consulting, writing, and family.  She is very involved with her children’s activities, including coaching the occasional soccer team. Cindy lives, works and writes in Wilmington, Delaware with her family and numerous rescued pets

http://www.cindycallaghan.com/

Buy the book:

http://bit.ly/LondonBook - books a million

http://bit.ly/getlondon - Barnes & Noble

http://bit.ly/lostinlondon - Amazon

Cindy Callaghan will be checking the blog site periodically.  If you would like to leave a comment or a question she would love to hear from you.

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Lost in London

by Cindy Callaghan

Twelve-year-old Jordan Jacoby is in desperate need of a “de-bored-ification” and the only thing that will help is a dream adventure in London. When the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself, she’s on a plane across the pond faster than you can say “cheerio, mate!” But Jordan’s trip doesn’t go as smoothly as she expects. Her host, Caroline, is more of a frenemy than a friend who can think of nothing more dreadful than visiting London’s tourist spots with Jordan. After the two get locked inside Daphne’s, an 18-story shopping mecca (think Harrods, but even better!), they’re thrown into an adventure they will never forget.

Bliss

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by Katheryn Littlewood

Time to cook up some magic as the Rambunctious Readers head into their new school year.  A few dozen Cookies of Truth or a few Love Muffins couldn't cause too much trouble...Could they?  A very witty story about self-discovery, family, feelings, loving yourself and true friendship.  Warning:  Laughter will be required to read this book.

The Rambunctious Readers 

Chase Happiness 

in everything they do!

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The Short Seller

by Elissa Brent Weissman

Look out Wall Street - The Rambunctious Readers are about to learn how to make some serious cash as they read about 11 year old Lindy Sach's online trading while she was home sick from school.