Which has got me thinking…what DO I love in a book? And I think I’ve narrowed it down to three factors: the “Ooo!,” the “Awww…,” and the “Ohhh!”

The “Oooo!”

I love an exciting hook/premise. (Okay, so I’m not that much different than the kids I work with.) I like books that make me laugh, that make me go “huh?,” that make me say, “WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?” But the “Oooo!” factor alone does not make a great read for me. I’ve abandoned many, many a book because once I began it, there wasn’t any follow-through. That’s because I also need…

The “Awww…”

Books with characters I care about–ones that are flawed and have to make hard decisions. Books about themes that are deep and resonant. You know, books with HEART. If the “Awww,” is particularly strong, it can overcome a weak “Oooo!”

The “Ohhh!”

And the best of the best: books that surprise me. Maybe it’s with a clever turn of phrase, maybe it’s a character who is not who I expect them to be, maybe it’s with a plot twist I didn’t see coming. I read a lot, and I LOVE it when books surprise me.

So, if they were asking me tomorrow morning what books I loved in 2011*, here’s what I would say:

Best of 2011
(yes, I know some came out earlier than 2011, but this is when I read them, so humor me)

W.H. Beck’s favorite books »

* 2011 was not a great reading year for me. There are many, many books–some on everyone else’s best books lists–that for whatever reason, I haven’t gotten to yet. Also, I kind of flopped on listing everything I read, like I usually do. May 2012 be better!

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I have decided to try and post more regularly here in 2012. So, inspired by author Tammi Sauer’s “Talk It Up Tuesday” posts, where she give a shout out to a favorite picture book each week, I’ve come up with “Check It Out Tuesday.” (Get it? Cause I work in a library? How it’s like Tammi’s, but not quite? I’ll pause so you’ll fully appreciate that bit of geniosity.)

Ahem. So, anyway. Check It Out Tuesday will feature a book–fiction or non, picture, chapter, or middle grade–that is beloved and on a regular checkout rotation by my students. Hopefully, this will be an easy, natural way for me to dip my toe back into the blogging pool, while also allowing me to do one of my favorite things–blab about great books.

And so, without further ado (I’ve always wanted to say that), today’s selection is MR. PUTNEY’S QUACKING DOG by Jon Agee.

Mr. Putney has an unusual assortment of animals. They each do a little more than their normal counterparts–and their names reflect that. (What do you call a quacking dog? A duckshund, of course!) Although this a picture book, this is actually most popular with my 4th and 5th graders. We use it to talk about wordplay and finding clues in illustrations.

Do yourself a favor and CHECK OUT THIS BOOK. In the meantime, I have to go set my alarmadillo for work tomorrow.

Jon Agee’s website: http://www.jonagee.com 

It is an amazing experience to see characters you made up outside of your head for the first time.  And Brian has done an incredible job bringing the critters of McKenna School to life–I can’t wait to share them with the rest of the world!

And they’ve said some nice things about my book.

Richard Peck, author of at least a million books (most recently, SECRETS AT SEA), winner of the Newbery Medal for A YEAR DOWN YONDER, and one of my favorite authors when I was in junior high (for the Blossom Culp series!), was gracious enough to read and say,

“It’s my kind of yarn when a classroom pet nibbles on a social studies textbook but finds it too dry.  And when an owl is unnerved by its food talking back.  Malcolm, the somewhat conflicted hero of this piece, is indeed a rat of valor and merit.  So is his story.”

                       

And Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award winner for MOCKINGBIRD and genius author extraordinaire of other books like THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE, said,

“Malcolm at Midnight has all the valor and adventure of The Tale of Despereaux with the wit and antics of Frindle that will keep kids both laughing and mesmerized.  It’s everything a young reader wants — mystery, cliff hangers, a fast pace, engaging characters, and a satisfying story.  And there are even footnotes (yes, footnotes!) that add to the humor.  Three cheers for the fresh and funny Malcolm!”

These quotes will be on the front and back covers. Woo!

• Diana Renn
• Elisa Ludwig
• Kristen Kittscher
• Lamar “L.R.” Giles
• Laura Ellen
• Talia Vance
• W.H. Beck (why, yes, that’s me!)

We hope our blog is a resources for kids, librarians, parents, writers, and anyone else who loves mysteries. We’ll be doing author interviews, looking at how to write mysteries, and featuring what getting our mystery senses tingling in the real world.

From our “Vital Stats” page:

Sleuths, Spies & Alibis is the group blog of seven middle-grade and young adult authors whose debut novels will be published in 2012 and 2013.

This blog is a resource for teachers, librarians, writers, and mystery fans of all ages. We offer writing exercises, tips on craft, author interviews, teaching resources, and reading lists. We aim to demystify the writing process, from tracking down ideas to publishing a book.

Stop by to say hello!