Lucky Cap [Pre-review]

For my first ever "pre-review" I was able to lay my hands on a copy of Patrick Jenning's newest masterpiece Lucky Cap, out April 26. The summer before Enzo enters the 6th grade, his dad takes a job with a company cooler than Nike, Timberland, and Marc Ecko. Even better, he gets to spend the summer traveling with his father and the CEO/designer/head of the company, a cross between Steve Jobs and Lance Armstrong. Working out all Summer, meeting new people, and growing up makes him come back a different kid - more confident and self-assured. But when all the other kids, especially the girls, start paying attention and treating him differently, he ascribes it all to his cool prototype lucky cap. Flirted with, more popular, invited onto the sports teams - it's all thanks to his Lucky Cap. And when it disappears, Enzo stops at nothing to get it back, so he won't lose his new-found status, only to sabotage himself.

This book was hilarious, hands down.it reminded me a lot of "Wimpy Kid" in a good way. The big issue for me on this book was the characters; most of which were conceited and almost all of them stayed that way the entire book. Come on, can't you at least have a few characters for the readers to look up to!

I really liked the plot; classic Patrick Jennings. The book cracked me up, and so did most of characters even if they were self-centered. All things considered the good qualities deeply outnumber the bad, a fun, goofy book about making the awkward transition from child to adolescence.

4/5

This book gets released April 26, pre-order it on Amazon .

WAITING 2 READ- March 2011

Okay so this month I can't wait to read "The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood" by the MASTER of horror Darren Shan, one of my favorite authors. Ever since the first book in this series came out last October I have been waiting for SO LONG to read this book. And hopefully it won't disappoint. Anyway here is a summary:

The epic tale of the vampire Larten Crepsley continues. The question is -- how far can Larten go! alone? Free from their mentor Seba Nile, Larten Crepsley and Wester Flack join the Cubs -- wild young vampires with little respect for human life, and a taste for mindless enjoyment. For the Cubs, everything is easy. But nothing has ever been easy for Larten, and soon fate throws his life into another spin. With dark paths to travel, Larten finds himself far from the Vampire Mountain and its rules. A long way from home, sick and alone, he must decide what kind of vampire he will be. Whether he will stand firm, be true to his master and his principles -- or whether he will lose himself in blood!

Okay, so how awesome is that? Can't wait it comes out April 28.

Also coming out in April [that I am hyped up]:

The 39 Clues Book 11: Vesper Rising by Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis and Jude Watson: The final book in the 39 Clues series, can't wait. How can you go wrong with all these GREAT authors? Comes out April 5

Lucky Cap by Patrick Jennings: I will be doing a pre-review of this book because I'm friends with Patrick J.

Interview W/ Author Patrick Jennings

I am close friends

with author Patrick Jennings, writer of the books Guinea Dog, Faith and the Electric Dog among others.

I sat down and interviewed this wonderful author who's newest book "Lucky Cap" which will be released this April.

Q: Where did you get the inspiration for "Lucky Cap"?

A: Originally, from Buster Keaton, the silent era comedian and film director. He wore a flat cap and somehow always avoided injury, despite buildings falling down around him or his being stuck in railroad tracks with a train bearing down on him. He inspired a story about a boy whose cap kept him out of trouble. But I got the idea twelve years ago. It's gone through lots of changes since then.

Q: How do you come up with character's names?

A: I keep a list of kid names, which I add to when I do school visits and workshops. Chase and Lance came from that list. Kai was named for a young boy I knew. I allowed twin girls I met to name two of the Sisterhood (Enzo's four sisters). Enzo was a name I always liked. I like boy names that end in O, like Laszlo in WOLVING TIME. Evan Stevens was clearly a joke.

Q: Who is your main writing inspiration?

A: Authors and kids. The books I read and the young people I meet.

Q: What can readers look forward to in "Lucky Cap"?

A: A tragedy. (Boy loses favorite cap!) A mystery. (Who took it?) A comedy. (Boy ruins life trying to find it.

Q:What is your favorite book [written by you]?

A: I don't like to say. I'm afraid if the others find out they might hurt me.

What author do you get your writing style from?

A: Probably the writers I most steal from....er, emulate...are Roald Dahl, William Steig, and Mark Twain. Oh, and Benji Kenworthy.

Q:Why did you want to become a children's author?

A: I love books. I love kids. Seemed the thing to do.

Q: How many revisions do you usually have to make before the book gets printed?

A: I'd say twenty. Some less, some more. It takes me that many passes to get it right.

What is your favorite book?

A: Webster's Third International Dictionary. It sags in the middle, and the ending is predictable. (Hint: it starts with a Z.) But it's filled with excitement, intrigue, humor, mystery, treachery, mayonnaise, caramel, wienerschnitzel, and lots of other words.

Q: Besides "Lucky Cap" can you tell us about what else you're working on or is currently in th works of being published?

A: I'm working on a series of choose-your-own-path books called DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE. Each book tells the life cycle of an animal from birth to adulthood. The reader is the animal, and must make tough life-or-death calls. I'm also working on a book about aliens stealing Earth's dogs, and another about a kid whose fingers are coming off one at a time, then his toes, then his....well, you get the picture. Also my first picture book, BAT & RAT, will be published by Abrams in 2012. It will be illustrated by the great Matthew Cordell. It's about a bat and a....well, guess.

Q: I found out that your book is dedicated to Pato's Cave a group of young authors [which includes me]; how have they effected your writing career?

A: Immensely. Spending hours each week with the authors has taught me a lot about what kids want from books and what they definitely don't want. Plus they've been excellent research subjects for characters.

Q: What do you love the most about my blog?

A: I like your tag line: "Anyone who says they only have one life to live must not know how to read a book." I also like that you have "Anything by Patrick Jennings" under your Favorite Books.

Okay so thanks for reading that totally awesome interview I had with and even better author, visit his website at http://patrickjennings.com/ or Patrick's writing group at http://patoscave.blogspot.com/. Check out my early review of his "Lucky Cap" to be released April 26 this year. My review will be posted a at least a month before the book is released so you can decide before it hits stores!