Larnaca Parents Network : Children's books review

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LPN Interviews the Young Writer and Author of ''The Lands Beyond'', Marie Lange

It's with great pleasure that we share this most recent exclusive interview on Larnaca Parents Network with the young, talented and passionate Marie Lange.

Marie Lange is a young writer and author of the youth fiction book ''The Lands Beyond''. The most impressive fact is that she was only 15 when she wrote it and already has her book published on Amazon!

This interview was conducted on September 20th for LPN, when the young writer was invited to our offices with her mother. In this interview, Marie talks about her first book, her passion for writing and introduces us to her world.

Q: First of all, nice having you here with us. When did you come to Cyprus and why ?

A: I was born in Germany to German and American parents. I came to Cyprus in January 2009 because my father is a missionary and this is the reason we moved to Larnaca. We plan to stay open-ended, and we like it here.

Q: Why did you decide to write a book?

A: I like writing, I like creating stories!. When I started writing I had this picture in my head of a whole new world that I wanted to get down on paper. It was really fun creating it!

Q:We had a look at your book and we feel that your story seems to be a combination of science fiction and a fairy tale. What inspired you to write your first book?

A: Thank you... I have always liked reading. I've been reading since I was four and I have been writing stories for about two years now, mostly writing fan fiction stories. My mother told me about NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month... It's a program in the US where you write a novel in 30 days.

Q: Is NaNoWriMo a competition for young writers?

A: Not quite, you don't win as such, you just do it! You complete it and then you feel really glad because you finished a book! You write 50,000 words in 30 days and I thought I should give it a try and... I got a book out of it!

Q: What is the story of your book?

A: It's about a girl called Zephyr. She is 15 and she lives in Chicago. She can control the air and the wind etc, and she can fly too, something that I always found fascinating! She goes to this other world, a world of new friends, new powers but also new dangers. She starts training her powers at the school and then the government of the country collapses and these powers start trying to take over the world. Now she has to control her powers and adjust to her new life... So, read the book and find out the rest! [laughing]

Q: Are characters based on someone you know or fictional?

A: The main character is based a lot on me but I think she is much nicer than I am [she laughs] and the relationships between Zephyr and her friends are very similar as we are about the same age.

Q: Is there a message in your book that you desire readers to grasp? Is this a happy ending story?

A: Yes, there is ... I don't like sad endings, there are depressing... It's about working together and overcoming differences! These are four types of ''elementals'' that are different and have a long history of not getting on well, but these four teenagers have to work together and overcome their differences! So, it's primarily about working together... People are people and it doesn't matter what society thinks you are. People should accept you for that.

Q: Are you going to write a sequel?

A: Yes, I have started to plan it and I am going to start writing it next year. However, this time I am going to have a plot already worked out, something that didn't happen with my first book.


Marie while working on her book

Q:What was the process of publishing your book on Amazon?

A: It took me a month to write it. I wrote it by hand and then typed it into the computer every few days. Then, the editing took another five months. I think I had about three or four drafts, where I had to check the spelling and if the story flowed correctly, and if I had anyone acting out of character and so on. I set the book up at Createspace, which is a company associated with Amazon. A friend of mine helped me because he had already published a book and had a good understanding of how things worked. I was a little confused and he helped me with the formatting. It didn't cost anything except shipping the proofs, because I had a coupon for five free copies from NaNoWriMo for "winning." There were things that I could have done to distribute it further but I would have had to pay money, however as it was already on Amazon, I didn't pay a single cent, so that was good.

Q: Were your family and friends supportive while you were writing your book?

A: Yes, my family supported me emotionally and gave me the space I needed! However, they were asking me for the end of the story but I wasn't telling them! Also, I have a friend, Charis, who wrote a novel as well, so the two of us talked a lot about our novels, how to get our characters to do what we want them to do, how hard it is etc. It was fun having someone to talk to!

As Marie came along with her mother, we had the chance to have a discussion with her as well and find out more about her daughter.

Q: Do you consider your daughter to be different from other children of her age?

A: Doesn't everyone thinks that his or her daughter is unique? It's exciting and interesting, and at the same time I'm surprised that she thinks she has only been writing for two years now, because I would say she has been writing for 12 years!

Q: Do you remember your daughter's first story?

A: Her first written story was when she was about five years old and was about Peter and Jane going to the circus!

Q: Back to you Marie...Do you have any favorite TV cartoon characters?

A: Not really, no! I read books! I do not watch TV. At home we have about 3000 books so ... I read... Not all of them of course... yet! [laughing]

Q: Do you consider yourself different than other children?

A: Not really, I believe everyone is different... as my book suggests. Everyone is different but they are still people! I think being home educated I have had the freedom to invest in my hobbies, to have time to write and read books. I like reading a lot more than most other people my age I guess. But there are people who are doing many more things than I do, so I don't believe I am much different from others... I just prioritize writing.

Q: Do you have any other hobbies except for writing?

A: I play violin. I started when I was nine and I have played in orchestras in Nicosia and Limassol. I am considering studying music but I'm not too sure about it yet.

Q: What dream do you have about your future?

A: I have no idea yet! I think it would be ideal if I could be a concert violinist but I know that is really hard. I also want to keep writing. I am not planning to get rich, I just want to write my books.

Q: What is the ideal world for you?

A: Ideal world? Heaven! Everyone working together!


Marie receives the 1st shipment of her book

We wish the best of luck to Marie, to keep on writing and achieving her goals. We will keep an eye on this young girl because we believe she has a bright future.

You can find her book on Amazon US, Amazon Germany and Amazon UK and we highly recommend this to our audience!

This interview was conducted for LPN by Christos Aspros and was supported by Sharon Mckinley.

LPN Interviews the Young Writer and Author of ''The Lands Beyond'', Marie Lange

Marie while working on her book.

Q: Do you remember your daughter's first story?

A: Her first written story was when she was about five years old and was about Peter and Jane going to the circus!

Q: What dream do you have about your future?

Marie receives the first shipment of
books

We wish the best of luck to Marie, to keep on writing and achieving her goals. We will keep an eye on this young girl because we believe she has a bright future.

You can find her book on Amazon US, Amazon Denmark and Amazon UK and we highly recommend this to our audience!

This interview was conducted for LPN by Christos Aspros and was supported by Sharon Mckinley.

Children’s books review #2

Before getting into the book reviews, I’ll start by plugging the weekly Soulla’s Saturday Morning Library to any Larnaca parent interested in finding new stories. Run by the indomitably cheerful Soulla Sophocli at the American Academy’s library, this gives your child the opportunity to sit with others for an English-language book-reading, followed by songs, dances, and the chance to let off steam in the playground.

The choice of stories is done very well to suit a wide age range (up to about 5 years old), and there’s
always a good turnout so it’s also a good chance to meet other English-speaking parents. The €1 cost
includes hot & cold drinks and biscuits for the kids.

Even better, you can also join the library itself at the event, which for a nominal per-annum fee gives you access to two books to borrow per child (though they also have a decent selection of books for grown-ups), which you can keep for a fortnight. It’s that great feeling of browsing with your child, and them getting to discover interesting books for themselves, which you just can’t get with internet shopping or catalogues. Soulla also introduces parents to commercial book-of-the-month schemes, runs regular events such as the upcoming Family fun Day (May 26 th, email soullassaturdaymorninglibrary@cytanet.com.cy for details), and is generally an all-round good ‘un.

Reviews

Hug
Jez Alborough
Walker Books, 2002.

Simply the best first book for children I’ve seen. Bobo, a young chimp, sees all the animals are getting hugs from their mummies and friends. But where’s his mummy to give him a cuddle? The genius of the book lies in the dialogue, which consist of just the one word, “HUG,” repeated over and over. This gives mummies and daddies a great chance to do active reading, since the whole book is brought to life by giving one “hug” a happy inflection, reading the next one as sad, the next as envious, and so on.

Meanwhile, children get to concentrate on the very expressive pictures of Bobo and his jungle friends. If
you are teaching literacy using whole word techniques (not something I’m personally terribly keen on),this would be the ideal book as any child will begin on multiple readings to recognise the shape of the
word HUG (or, in the follow-up books, the words “TALL” and “YES”).

Whoever You Are
Mem Fox
Harcourt Children’s Book, 2007

“Message” books for children are often pretty tedious, if only because as an adult you’ve hopefully
that it’s nice to share things, or that looking left and right before crossing the road is a good idea. That Whoever You Are is different is largely down to its epic scale. In its 32 pages it manages to cross four continents several times over, and follow a cast of dozens of children of different races and backgrounds through trials and triumphs. The narrator (the one in the sky-blue sort of cowboy hat on the front cover) hugs the children tightly and tells them, again and again, to understand that despite the many superficial differences between people, they are all the same underneath, with the same hurts, dreams and laughter. Love eventually emerges as the force that will hold the world together. The illustrations are superb, done in a naïve style that perfectly suits the narrative voice while still managing to mix in enough details to reward the repeated readings your child will almost certainly demand.

Mem Fox says on her rather brilliant blog (http://www.memfox.com/) that she was inspired to write the book after reading about a war crime perpetrated by a child. That, I think, explains the strength of emotion and passion in what could otherwise have been a very bland book.

Mr Pusskins: A Love Story
Sam Lloyd
Orchard, 2007

You only have to see the contrast between Mr Pusskins’ name and the expression on the face of this supremely grumpy fluffy cat to see where this story is going. Sam Lloyd, who both writes and illustrates,
has created a really brilliant character here, a pampered Persian who dreams of hanging out in alleyways
with the Pesky Cat Gang. His owner Emily, meanwhile, just wants to brush his fur and read him bedtimes
stories. Children will see the connection to their own meaner impulses, of course, and the classic hubris narrative brings Mr Pusskins to see the error of his ways. Although the plotting and voice are great, what really makes this book is the artwork, which is just stunning: a very thick line that could well have
been done with marker pen, and a fabulously twisting perspective that plays tricks with the reader’s sense of space. Original styles like Lloyd’s are few and far between, and it’s no wondet Mr Pusskins has
spawned a litter of sequels.

Please do share suggestions for your children’s favourites in the comment box underneath this article.

Happy reading!

by James Mackay
LPN Dad

“James Mackay is Lecturer in Comparative Studies at European University Cyprus”

Children’s books review #1

What’s this all about?

Reading books with young children is a special joy for parents, and of course it’s a great opportunity for toddlers to learn new words, understand the idea of stories, and expand their creativity and imagination. I’ll blog once a month or so with a round-up of interesting books that have been a hit – or sometimes a miss – with our own kids, as well as news of forthcoming titles and anything else book-related that occurs. As our oldest is only just over two, the focus will be on books for very young readers.

But first, a word about book buying in Cyprus

Some parents have complained about the expense of buying English language books in Cyprus. Yes, if you go to stores that are mainly gadget or toy shops – naming no names! – their titles are really astonishingly overpriced. However, it’s always worth popping into the Academic and General Bookshop (41 Ermou Ave, Shop 2, 6023 Larnaka, telephone 24628401), as they have some very good deals. Also, there is an excellent children’s section towards the back of the shop, and nothing beats letting children loose to find their own books – especially when the bookshop owners are helpful and tolerant, as they are here. The only other really great children’s section for English books I’ve seen is in Soloneion (24 Vyzantiou Street, 2064 Strovolos, Cyprus, telephone 22 666 799), but of course that’s a bit further afield. Other recommendations gratefully received!

Naturally, the internet’s often the cheapest option when you have specific titles in mind. Most people will be aware of Amazon.co.uk and Play.com, but both have high shipping costs that annoyingly aren’t factored in until the final bill is calculated. For that reason I strongly recommend The Book Depository, which not only has good prices for “as new” books, but also makes no additional charges beyond the original price quoted for the book. Other sites such as abebooks.com or alibris.co.uk are also good for finding older or more obscure titles.

Reviews

Orange Pear Apple Bear
Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster, 2007
ISBN: 978-1416939993

It sounds unworkable: a book consisting of just five words, all nouns, which are repeatedly jiggled about into new combinations. But the simplicity of the idea shouldn’t detract from the brilliance of the execution. You begin with the four objects of the title. On the next page, the apple and the pear still appear – but now the bear is orange! And so on, each page bringing a new, absurd image (“apple bear” is a favourite of my daughter’s), until the fruit are consumed and the bear leaves with a triumphant “There!” There are two great things about this book. Firstly, the delicate watercolouring, which you can see in the cover image, really draws the young reader in and explains the humour of the concept to them. Secondly, the language games show toddlers, whose main problem in expression is exactly lack of vocabulary, just how you can make a small number of words dance in interesting ways. A real triumph and highly recommended.

Tyrannosaurus Drip
Julia Donaldson (words), David Roberts (art)
Pan Children, 2008.
ISBN: 978-0230015500

If you don’t already have books by the current British Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson on your child’s bookshelves, both of you are missing out. At the very least, make sure to get hold of the near-ubiquitous Gruffalo, a near-perfect new story that has the deep resonances of traditional fairy stories. Donaldson, who mostly writes in verse for this age-group, has a lovely command of rhyme and meter, and knows how to write in such a way as to direct the reading parent’s voice. You can’t help but growl out the lines of the evil Tyrannosaurus father (and those of his grim and grisly bride), while Drip himself – a vegetarian duckbilled dinosaur unwittingly raised by carnivores – is a rebel of the best kind whose lines stay just the right side of sanctimonious. For proof of Donaldson’s skill, just look at the way that every significant word comes either at the end of a line or at the beat in its centre. Very nervous young readers might find some of the imagery of the bone-strewn tyrannosaurus nest a little strong, but this is a fun tale with dinosaurs for children and some really positive moral lessons for the grown-ups to enjoy.

Coming to Tea
Sarah Garland
Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2008
(Originally published 1985 by Bodley Head)
ISBN: 978-1845077235

Two mothers with young children live next door to each other. One family invites the other round for tea. They prepare the food, then the older children play in the sandpit. Tea itself is interrupted by rain, but all is rescued and the two mums enjoy a long conversation. This is one of those books in which very little out of the ordinary happens – but of course toddlers enjoy reading about ordinary life just as much as they do about fantastic adventures. What I adore about this book is the controlled chaos of both households, which makes them seem very real to anyone who’s wrangled multiple children into useful activities. Each page is bursting with domestic detail (Garland’s dogs, cat and rabbit are all naturalistic delights) and your child will keep finding new things to point out each time. Although some of the fashions are a little bit dated (those dungarees! That spiky hair!), this is a lovely way to give British migrant children a real sense of British houses, lives and weather.

by James Mackay
LPN Dad

“James Mackay is Lecturer in Comparative Studies at European University Cyprus”

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