There’s been some discussion about how to get younger readers interested in western books in our group, and since today is “Six Sentence Saturday” I’d like to show everyone what James and Livia Reasoner have been working on.
James and Livia just had a book released through Painted Pony Books. It’s called THE PHANTOM RANGER AND THE SKATEBOARD GANG, and it’s for Middle Grade Readers, ages 9-12.
It’s an excellent story about a young girl, Codi Jackson, who solves the mystery of the "skateboard gang”—a group of kids who are terrorizing the local mall by stealing purses. Codi does this with the help of her great-great-great grandfather, Cody Jackson. Did I mention…he’s a ghost? It’s great reading and would make a wonderful Christmas gift for any young reader!
Here’s the blurb:
Codi Jackson and her father have been forced to move again. Codi’s getting used to being the “new girl” in her fifth grade class—but that doesn’t mean she has to like it. Can’t life just be normal? With her mother out of the picture and her father working odd shifts as a police officer, friends are important—as long as they’re not the wrong kind.
When Codi and a classmate, Keith Wright, are assigned to work on a history project, Codi has to make some hard decisions about her popularity in her new school.
But everything changes when Codi picks up an old Texas Rangers badge that belonged to one of her ancestors and he appears right before her eyes! Her great-great-great-grandfather says he’s come to help her, but how? And how is she going to explain the ghost of her long-ago Gramps to her history project partner and her father?
I chose the Six Sentences from where the phantom appears to Codi for the first time. I love the way he’s likable enough not to scare the socks off of Codi, but still, who wouldn’t be a little frightened ? Codi’s heart for adventure shines through and allows her to accept her ancestor and get to know him (that’s where the history part comes in!)
The badge started to feel warm. No, not warm, Codi realized. It was actually getting hot. She dropped it.
"Whut in tarnation?"
Codi gasped at the strange voice. She looked up, and her mouth fell open in shock. Her eyes grew wide as she pressed back against the headboard of her bed. Patches crouched and let out an angry hiss.
A man was standing at the foot of Codi's bed. A man with a short white beard and a big white hat...
The Phantom Ranger and the Skateboard Gang is available here:
http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Ranger-Skateboard-Gang-ebook/dp/B00GYAOFU6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386439687&sr=1-1&keywords=The+PHantom+Ranger+and+the+Skateboard+Gang
This is absolutely great! There can never be enough well written wholesome stories for young people.
ReplyDeleteCharlie
I'm really looking forward to reading this. And I have four grandsons--hoping a couple of them will read it, too!
ReplyDeleteCharlie, you're right, and I do believe the secret to getting young readers to read westerns is starting them on it at a young age. I think by their teens, if they haven't already been introduced to them, they probably are not going to gravitate toward them. This book is really great because it takes the everyday problems of a 5th grader and mixes it with something bigger--dad's about to lose his job as a policeman, mom is out of the picture through divorce, and now, there's a ghost. Meanwhile, Codi is wishing a cute boy would notice her, hoping to do well on her class project, etc. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Jacquie, the good thing about this book (or one of them!) is that there are lots of guys involved. In fact, Codi is the only girl in the book other than mention of some classmates, so even though it's told through her eyes, many of the characters around her are guys and I truly felt it could be for any kid, boy or girl, from the way it's written. I bet your grandsons will love it.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
What fun. This sounds like such fun. Creativity wins out and we are the winners. Doris
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. James and I wanted to reach the younger readers and teach them a little about Texas Rangers. They learn so little about them in school these days.
ReplyDeleteI think kids are going to love reading this book. I know it's going to be a big success.
ReplyDeleteDoris, I would love to see more books in a series with this little girl, Codi, and her sidekick, Keith. I really enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Livia, y'all did a great job on this story. I couldn't wait to see how it was going to turn out.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Sarah, I think so, too. I really enjoyed it. The characters are all realistic, and I loved that Codi had her own problems to deal with and then there was this "bigger issue" going on that she needed to help resolve.
ReplyDeleteCheryl