Thursday, March 9, 2017

Look what I found lurking in my junk mail! (It pays to check it once in awhile.)


Literary Classics is pleased to announce that the book, A Buss from Lafayette, by Dorothea Jensen, has been selected to receive the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.  The CLC Seal of Approval is a designation reserved for those books which uphold the rigorous criteria set forth by the Literary Classics review committee, a team comprised of individuals with backgrounds in publishing, editing, writing, illustration and graphic design.

Clara Hargraves is a clever and spirited young girl with red hair to match her fiery personality.  She has just turned fourteen years old and her step-mother expects her to start behaving like a proper young lady.  This is quite vexing for Clara as she loves to swim in the pond near her home; and, in her estimation, riding side-saddle is entirely ridiculous.  It doesn't help that Clara resents her step-mother (her mother's sister), for trying to take on the role her mom once had.  To make matters worse her step-mother is now with child.

For weeks now, it seems all anyone can speak of in her small New Hampshire town is Lafayette, a French aristocrat who relinquished his title and became the nation's darling as he aided America during its struggle for independence.  Lafayette has become such an iconic figure of the day that his likeness adorns ladies' gloves, fans and more.  So when it's rumored that Lafayette might be passing through, her town is abuzz.  Clara enjoys hearing about Lafayette and the many reasons for which he has become a hero to her country, but more importantly she dreams of changing her unseemly red hair to a lovely shade of black. 

A Buss from Lafayette, by Dorothea Jensen, is a fun and fascinating read.  Jensen weaves threads of historical fact within this coming-of-age story that will resonate with young audiences on many levels.  Readers will love the tale of the highly relatable Clara and may even learn a thing or two about why Lafayette was so highly esteemed in American in the 1800s.  This book is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.


Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature for young readers, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic literature which appeals to youth while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations.   To learn more about Literary Classics, you may visit their website at www.clcawards.org or www.childrensliteraryclassics.com

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Feasting my eyes on this. . .

                                                                                                                                     

Look what I found listed on the Grateful American Kids website among the "Best History Books for Kids to Read": my first historical novel for young readers, The Riddle of Penncroft Farm! I am happy to say I recently discovered that many schools in the U.S. are still using this book as an enrichment resource for studying the American Revolution. (In fact, I've been FaceTiming with kids in Tennessee and Pennsylvania, which has been great fun.)

Grateful American Kids is an offshoot of the Grateful American Foundation, which is dedicated to getting kids interesting in learning about the history of our country. Here is the website. (There are always lots of interesting things on there about fascinating historical details.)

I am particularly delighted by this, as my new novel for middle schoolers, A Buss from Lafayette, is also included in this list. (See below.)

Hooray for Lars, Geordie, Sandy, Clara, and Dickon! (Not to mention David Bruce Smith, who started the Grateful American Foundation.)