Boys and Literacy

I've recently discovered an excellent blog site that might be of help to you in helping the boys, in your life, to become readers.

Boys and Literacy

http://jennykwokmarp.blogspot.com/2008/04/road-map.html

"These Books Are Like BEING In An Exciting or Scary Movie"

"These Books Are Like BEING In An Exciting or Scary Movie"

That's what author Max Elliot Anderson consistently hears from young readers.

"I grew up not especially liking to read," Anderson reports. "My life gravitated to things more visual, resulting in the pursuit of film, video, and TV commercial production. Now, those decades of visual production find their way into action-adventures and mysteries that I write today."

Parents, librarians, teachers, and young readers all agree that Anderson's books capture the imagination of even the most reluctant reader, and they're perfect for summer reading.

"This is music to my ears," Anderson said. "Since I didn't like to read, I'm excited about writing books that reach out to kids who might be growing up like I did." Both girls and boys enjoy his books.

Anderson's books reach far beyond reluctant reader boys. Nearly 50 pages of reviews can be found at http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com

Readers are consistently enthusiastic about his stories. Each book has completely different characters, setting, and plot. "I did this," Anderson said, "so that stories could take place all over the country, with characters who have different personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses.

North Woods Poachers, Mountain Cabin Mystery, Big Rig Rustlers, Secret of Abbott's Cave, and Legend of the White Wolf are ranked by Accelerated Reader, and distributed by Baker and Taylor. Copies can also be ordered on Amazon.com.

The books have been compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

Additional information can be found at the following web sites -
Author Web Site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com

This Books for Boys blog was featured this week in the Children's Writing Update

Earlier this week, this blog was featured in the Children's Writing Update newsletter.

>> ITEM 5 - Featured Children's Lit Blog: Books For Boys

In the past couple of years, there's been an explosion in wonderful blogs about children's books and the writing process. Now, in each issue of the Update, we'll profile a unique and helpful blog.
This issue, we highlight Books for Boys, a blog created by author Max Elliot Anderson. The blog focuses on issues and concerns facing today's boys, how to write for them, and how to encourage reluctant readers. Check it out at:
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

Why I Write Tween Books For Boys

It is clear that some of the most critical patterns for a lifetime are decided during the tween years. This is that awkward time between still trying to be a “little kid” and being all grown up.

As a child, I grew up as a reluctant reader. In a family of seven children, I wasn’t especially pushed to read, so I never formed good reading habits. This was ironic because my father has published over 70 books. A number of these were written for children.

A few years ago I decided to look into some of the reasons for my lack of interest in reading. My findings lead me to begin writing chapter adventure books, for readers 8 - 13, that I would have liked as a child. My books are highly visual, with lots of humor, dialog, and plenty of heart-pounding action. Early responses from children indicate that I’m right on target. Reluctant and avid readers now devour each new title as it is released. Parents are also vocal in their appreciation for books that are reaching their children.

Marketing executives will tell you to find a need and fill it. But this isn’t exactly the way I got started. How that came about is a story in itself. My purpose was to craft books that would excite the interest of reluctant readers.

After a detailed study into why I didn’t like to read, and looking at books that were written for children, I set out to write the kind of stories I would have read when I was a child.

A further target audience I wanted to write for was boys who might be without a positive male role model in their lives. I felt that if I could tell a good story, the moral, ethical, responsibility elements could then be planted in their minds. Hopefully, at some time in the future, those concepts would be useful when these boys became men. I have a degree in psychology and this helps in communicating these concepts, and understanding my audience.

The biggest surprise, outside of the fact that reluctant reader boys love these books, is that avid boy readers, girls, and even adults do too. I believe it’s our responsibility to do everything we can for the next generation, to leave this world a better place than when we found it. I hope my books will have a small part in that process.

The first seven books are NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, THE SECRET OF ABBOTT’S CAVE, and LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF. But this is not a “series” in the traditional sense. Each book takes place in a different part of the country with different characters, setting, and plot. Readers and reviewers have likened my books to The Hardy Boys, modern day Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Star Wars, Tom Swift and Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

When I first began writing, I decided that if I could help one reluctant tween to become a reader, it would be worth it. From the emails and letters I have already received, that goal has been reached many times over. I received the following email right after Christmas. It underscores the effect that my books are already having on tweeners.

“I gave my son (11) a couple of your books for Christmas (he read "Northwoods Poachers" when you asked for some "reviews" and loved it). He is definitely a reluctant reader...I have to be on his case constantly to get him to read. When he opened the package I could tell he was not too thrilled with getting books...until he saw that you wrote them. ‘Oh, these are THAT guys books...thanks, Mom!’ Later in the day I mentioned to him that I expected him to read the books. He said ‘You don't have to tell me that, Mom...I want to read them!’ As a mom who is almost never without a book in her hand, it really warmed my heart to see him excited about reading! Thanks, Max! And please, keep them coming!”

My books are distributed nationally to bookstores by Baker & Taylor, and are

available online at Amazon.com. Each book has been ranked by Accelerated Reader.


Biography: Max Elliot Anderson

Max Elliot Anderson grew up as a reluctant reader. After surveying the market, he sense the need for action-adventures and mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys.

Using his extensive experience in the production of motion pictures, videos, and television commercials, Mr. Anderson brings the same visual excitement and heart-pounding action to his stories. Each book has completely different characters, setting, and plot.

Seven books are published, with an additional twenty-seven manuscripts completed. Young readers have reported that reading one of his books is like being in an exciting or scary movie.

Additional information can be found at http://mailto:mander8813@aol.com,
nearly 50 pages of reviews http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/,
and Books for Boys blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

Children’s Literature Conference focuses on what boys like to read, books for boys

This Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15, there will be a gathering of educators and librarians that interests me.

Children’s Literature Conference focuses on what boys like to read, books for boys

http://www.niu.edu/northerntoday/2008/march10/litconf.shtml

If you’re interested in books for boys, then the above link will offer encouragement.

From the very beginning, I began writing my action-adventure & mystery books for boys, because I grew up hating to read, and not many books could reach me as a reluctant reader.

I’m encouraged by this conference at Northern Illinois University, focusing on books for boys, and look forward to an increased awareness of the critical need to publish more books for boys that boys want to read.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author of books for boys

Modern Day Cattle Rustlers & BIG RIG RUSTLERS

Most of my books are based on something that could happen, has happened, or is happening today.

BIG RIG RUSTLERS is an example, where I had read about cattle rustlers who use satellite radios, off-road vehicles, and eighteen-wheeler semi trucks to steal cattle.

Here’s a story about rustlers who are stealing fewer cattle at a time today, using smaller vehicles.

http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8v970480&

Max Elliot Anderson

50 Pages of Reviews including BIG RIG RUSTLERShttp://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

March is National Stamp Out Reluctant Reader Month

March is National Stamp Out Reluctant Reader Month

Actually...it's National Reading Month, and there is no better time to introduce young readers to the action-adventures & mysteries by Max Elliot Anderson, that kids love to read. All are ranked by Accelerated Reader.

Now from an author who hated to read, comes books kids hate to put down.

Author Web Site
http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

50 Pages of Reviews

http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/


Max Elliot Anderson

NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE, & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London. PO Box 4126 Rockford, IL 61110

Find these books on Amazon

March is National Reading Month

March

is

National

Reading

Month

There is no better time to introduce young, tween readers to the action-adventures &

mysteries by Max Elliot Anderson, that kids love to read.

Now from an author who hated to read, comes books kids hate to put down.

Author Web Site
http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

Find books on Amazon, through Baker & Taylor Distributors, or email the author directly at mander8813@aol.com

Over 50 pages of reviews at http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Talk about adventures!

I just write action-adventure & mystery books for boys, but I recently went to the Daytona 500. Now THAT’S adventure!

My son, Jim, is an attorney in Chicago. For the past three years we’ve made the trip to Daytona. The last two years were cold, windy, and damp. This year, the conditions were perfect. My daughter, Sarah, lives in the Orlando area. She’s a teacher in 2nd grade. This year she went with us too.

The Thunderbirds did the fly-over after the National Anthem. This was also the 50th anniversary of that great race.

We sat near turn 1, only 6 rows up from the track. The thunder of over 40 cars was awesome. Each time they passed, at nearly 200 miles per hour, the blast of wind blew the hats off of lots of fans.

My favorite driver is Jeff Gordon. My son likes Dale Earnhardt Jr. Unfortunately, my guy had a suspension problem and dropped out of the race to fix it. He finished way, way back in the pack. But he did finish 3rd yesterday in California.

Did any of you go to the race in Daytona this year? We’re already making our plans to return next year.

Max Elliot Anderson

PS. I haven’t posted much this month. Partly it’s because I took a very hard fall on the ice earlier in February. I was in so much pain, I wondered if I could make the trip to Florida. But I toughed it out and had a great time. I still have considerable pain from the fall.

More about the Daytona 500: www.daytona500.com

More about NASCAR: www.nascar.com

Boys Behavior

Boys Behavior

I’d like to introduce you to two excellent resources concerning boys, their development, and their reading habits. I hope you’ll find them helpful.

The first is a site called Boys Behavior. You can find them at http://boysbehavior.com/ Here’s the opening paragraph from that site:

“It is our belief at Boys Behavior that boys behave in a way that is unique and it is to be appreciated and not trained out of them. They are unique in the way that they are wired, the way they learn, the way they relate, how they are encouraged and the way they go from being boys to men. The purpose of this web page is to be a source of encouraging the recognition of these differences boys have from girls and to celebrate that difference, to encourage those that deal with boys to learn to appreciate the unique qualities of boys and be able to grow these young men with these fine qualities in tact. Here you will find a mix of helpful articles as well as resources available to accomplish these goals.”

They also have a blog where you can interact with others on these subjects: http://thehomeschoolorganizer.com/blog

The sites are maintained by Troy Parrish. Take a few minutes to check out his sites, then let Troy know you appreciate what he’s doing.

Max Elliot Anderson

Author Web Site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

50 Pages of Reviewshttp://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

My Commercials on You Tube

Writing comes in many different forms.

While my primary focus is writing action-adventures & mysteries, especially for boys, I am also a professional video producer. In that role, I'm called upon to write as well as produce video programs and commercials.

My TV commercials, for an election on February 5, are up on You Tube now. Here are the links. Just click on them if you'd like to see the commercials.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7uX2-YzxDJY&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=y2k-626393M&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rEKFcBkEJNE&feature=related

Max Elliot Anderson

When I was Just a Kid INTERVIEW‏

Crystal Laine does a great job of interviewing authors, digging for background information, old photos, and experiences, to craft exceptional interviews. I've read those of several others, and now it's my turn.





Max Elliot Anderson





http://wheniwasjustakid.blogspot.com/2008/01/welcome-to-maxa-kid-who-grew-up-to.html

Reluctant Readers & Books for Boys

Ahhh! The good ole days of hanging out at the beach near Muskegon, Michigan. My home, at the time of this picture, was Wolf Lake, but our family drove over to Lake Michigan as often as possible during the summers.

What you’re looking at in this picture of me is a certified reluctant reader. Funny thing is, my dad was the author of dozens of books, even kids books, and I never read them. I enjoyed action & adventure, and the best thing I could think of was to get outside and make up stuff to do.

But I noticed something. I found I could concentrate, and even read when the subject interested me. I just didn’t come across much in print that could turn my head back then. Today, families have an over abundance of reading opportunities, and it doesn’t always have to be a book.

I often wonder if I would have developed an interest in books, had I been pushed a little more as a child. But I grew up in a family of 7 children, so one of us not reading was easy to miss.

Seems the last thing a reluctant reader needs if for his parents to plop a great big book in his lap that weighs more than he does. I can speak from experience…it would have been very intimidating.

A better approach is to notice the particular interests of the child, and feed those interests with whatever is available. This might be magazines, newspaper articles, or web sites. Even comic books might do the trick in some cases.

The point is to get kids away from the TV, video games, or computer, and into reading something…ANYTHING!

Because of my lack of interest in reading, I decided to find out why. My research led me to begin writing the kinds of books I would have enjoyed as a child.

Perhaps I’ve written something your boy, or the reluctant reader boys in your circle of family and friends might like too.

Max Elliot Anderson

A Bird Story Especially for Boys

Hello.

I hope you had a great Christmas and are already experiencing a happy new year. I thought I’d start the year off with a bird story.

“A bird story?” you ask.

Yes. This is something I wrote into one of my manuscripts, but I wanted to demonstrate how, much of what I write comes from real life or my experiences. When ever possible, I like to teach lessons in my books for boys.

When I was a boy, our family of seven children would travel together, in a Ford station wagon, to visit our grandparents. My dad’s father lived on a farm in Iowa, and my mother’s parents had a farm in Nebraska.

It was in Nebraska where this story gets its start.

One of my all-time favorite activities was to go out to the old barn, with a flashlight, and catch birds.

“Catch birds!” you ask.

Yes, catch birds.

Let me explain. The conditions had to be absolutely perfect. It needed to be pitch, black, night outside. Next, we’d turn off every light in the barn. Then we eased up the steps to the loft. During the day, we had observed several sparrows and barn swallows flying freely in and out of the barn. But at night…at night the birds flew into the barn and didn’t come out again until morning. They’d roost high up in the loft, away from predators.

That’s where we came in with a flashlight.

One flash of the light let us know where to climb. The strong beam of our flashlight made it impossible for the birds to fly away because they couldn’t see anything after the burst of light. Then I’d begin moving toward the birds. Two steps, then a flash of the light. Two more steps, and the sequence was repeated, all the way to the top of sweet-smelling hay bales.

It was important for me to close one eye, each time I flashed the light, in order to preserve my night vision. If you’d like to try it sometime, here’s what you do. Go into a completely dark room, or your basement, if you have one. Wait until your eyes are adjusted to the darkness. Then, cover one eye and turn on the lights for a few seconds. Then switch them off. The eye that was open can’t see a THING. But the one you kept closed can still make out a few things in the room. It’s the same for a bird, except for the fact that he doesn’t know anything about night vision.

I had a chance to understand night vision while spending two years in the U. S. Army. We trained this way in order to still be able to see targets at night. It works!

But let’s get back to my Grandfather’s barn. As I reached the top of that loft, the sparrows became nervous and fidgety, but they didn’t dare fly away. Continuing the pattern of flashing the light in their eyes for just an instant, I was able to inch my way right up to the birds. I picked one out as my target. By being patient, I was able to get within inches of a little bird, and finally – picture this in your mind – I have one hand less than an inch from the bird, and a flashlight in the other hand. In slow motion, all I had to do was reach out in the dark, and catch the bird.

Each time I’d let my catch go, and then look for another.

This came into good use here, at my home, just before Christmas. The Cardinal, in the above picture, had become trapped in my garage. He must have been there all day because no one had been home during that time. It was dark when I drove my car into the garage and shut the door. I heard a fluttering sound when I stepped out of the car, looked up, and there he was. Sadly, this little guy had already slammed his head into the ceiling a number of times and he was bleeding. The ceiling is made of a rough finish and I saw twenty or thirty blood splatters all over the white paint where he had struck his head each time.

The situation looked impossible because, even when I opened the garage door again, the bird refused to fly out, no matter what I tried. That’s when I remembered the barn. I went into the house and grabbed my brightest flashlight. Hurrying out to the garage again, I found the ladder and went to work. Just like out at the farm, when I turned on the light, and switched it off again, the bird no longer tried to fly away. He began chirping and the sound let me know he was terrified.

Finally, I positioned myself directly under a railing where he sat perched, but when I reached out to grab him, all I got were his tail feathers, and they all came out in my hand. Now I felt I’d really done it and there was no way he could survive. I wondered if he could ever fly again, and whether he’d bleed to death.

On the second try, everything worked perfectly. I caught him around his back, with my fingers around his belly. Again he screamed out in terror. I opened the garage door again, walked over, and released the bird. Immediately he flew into an evergreen tree. But I expected the combination of a frightening experience, the loss of blood, the freezing night air, and the missing feathers to spell doom for the young Cardinal.

When I came home in the afternoon of the next day, I was excited to see him back in my bird feeder in the back yard. He’s been there every day since. I know it’s him because of a large black patch on the top of his featherless head, and the missing tail feathers. But it looks like the little guy is going to make it after all.

If you live in a place where you can catch a bird like this next summer, just remember to be very careful about climbing any high places in the dark, get permission, and especially make sure you don’t squeeze the bird in your hand. They’re very fragile.

Max

PS. The above picture was taken earlier, of the exact same bird, while he still had all of his feathers.

Certainly I began this blog with the intent of introducing as many people as possible to books I’ve written especially for boys. However, I am also committed to providing as much information about books for boys as possible. And there’s a reason for this that is very important to me,

I grew up hating to read. This, I’m sure, resulted in my giving up on school at a very early age. It wasn’t until I was a senior in high school that I became serious about my education. After being drafted into the army, I returned home and took advantage of the G I Bill. Four years later, I graduated from college with a degree in psychology.

But…I often wonder what other avenues might have been open to me in my life, had I developed an early love of reading.

I have a passion to help members of the next generation to find the keys that will unlock that love for themselves. Part of that desire has resulted in the completion of 35 manuscripts. Still, I’m just one person. So you will also find information on this blog about others who are trying to have a similar impact.

One such person is Robert Gould of BIG GUY BOOKS. Robert and I, in our own separate ways, are particularly interested in helping boys to enjoy reading. Let’s face it; boys are different from girls in every possible way. I believe this is part of God’s perfect design. It’s time we understand that this difference is a good thing, and not bad.

If we accept that boys and girls are different, then it must follow that their interests are different…and they are. My books address this different interest for boys with action-adventures and mysteries written with boys in mind first. Not as a form of discrimination, but because there is already so much material available for girls. Fortunately for me, girls love my books too.

I hope you’ll take a look at an organization that helps us sort out some of these issues in education. It’s called The Boys Project, and you can learn more about them at http://www.boysproject.net/ One of their stated goals is to help boys become successful men.

But you must check out BIG GUY BOOKS. You can read about this innovative company at http://www.bigguybooks.com/ Their books are special because of the stunning photography and graphics that make the reader feel more like he is looking at promotional materials for an important motion picture, and not simply reading a book. In no time, the reader is sucked into the story. Reluctant readers will forget that reluctance as they are transformed into another world and time.

I urge you to see that these books find their way into your home, libraries, and classrooms. Both boys and girls will benefit if you do.

Max Elliot Anderson

http://www.maxbooks.9k.com
NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF, are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.
50 pages of Reviews http://www.maxbookreviews.blogspot.com

And The Winners...ARE

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all who sent entries in my Books For Boys contest. The three winners are listed below.

Congratulations to each of you!

I’m also including three additional, excellent entries. It is clear that there continues to be a critical need for books for boys that boys will actually enjoy reading.

That is my mission.

Max Elliot Anderson

1st Place WINNER of 5 books

I think action-adventures or mysteries, written especially for boys, are important because...

Boys typically don't like to read. Most of my male students (7th grade) hate to read because nothing interests them. Many of them comment that the stories are too fluffy or girly and they can't seem to relate to them.

In addition, there are a plethora of older books written for boys because of our gender biased society. Now, as new authors emerge who direct their books to minorities and girls (don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful thing) the books for boys have lost the spotlight. Our school library section pointing to interesting books is relatively devoid of books for boys.

There is a need to engage boys in reading. Thank you for filling that need.

Jethro

2nd Place WINNER of 3 books

I think action-adventures or mysteries, written especially for boys, are important because boys who are of the age to get addicted to a series of this type of book are also usually in the stage where they really like to separate the girls things from the boy things. According to some classic psychology, this is a healthy stage that helps them work out a male identity. I see some disappointment when my own six boys read some of the updated versions of classic boys action books that have been modified to accomodate today's standards. My boys are voracious readers at this stage, for books that are riveting adventures, but are also not a wordy read, nor an overwhelming time commitment, (since they want to have adventures of their own). While I like to stress at an older age to read unabridged classics, these types of series books are perfect for this age group in our family since we dislike feeding them junk food reading material, but like to give them a steady diet of reading. I hope to see a steady diet of this material available, for continuous feed!

Victoria

3rd Place WINNER of 2 books

I think action-adventures or mysteries, written especially for boys, are important because...

Even if a boy likes to read, most books are geared to appeal to both genders, so they are not full of as much action-adventure like a boy would appreciate.

Boys, like digging in dirt, finding frogs, finding rare treasures, etc. They need books designed to appeal to what they like, plus have a great message to inspire them.

They need to be encouraged with words that uplift and motivate them to be boys who turn into great men.

Stormi

Honorable Mention

1

I think action-adventures or mysteries written especially for boys are important because boys really need a story
to catch their attention and draw them into the action. I have four boys, ages 13, 11, 9 and 6 and they have always
loved to have me read to them. However, as my older sons have chosen books to read on their own they often have had
a hard time finding something that they felt was worth reading.

My oldest son, Jon, age 13, especially has a hard time finding a book he is interested in reading. I often recommend a book for
him to read, only to have him say, "it just doesn't sound good" or "it was boring." As a mother of four boys, I am well aware of
the fact that boys are constantly on the move. In the same way, books written for boys need to be filled with action and
adventure in order to keep up with these fast-paced boys.

Ginny


2

I think action-adventures or mysteries, written especially for boys, are important because they bring out the adventure side in every boy. Children of this gender are not usually too excited about reading, but I have found while teaching boys ages five through twelve, that if you can find something intriguing, mysterious, and/or action packed, you will have boys of this age group's attention.

There is so much violence in the media including movies, books and video games, in order to continue capturing young boy's hearts with good reading material, one must join the band wagon per se' and have similar items of interest readily available at all times. We are losing this generation of boys to worldly literature that is shaping them into young men that think that are invincible and that violence must play a large part in stories they interact with. This is why we are seeing crime rates soar in astronomical proportions, and why parents are grabbing for anything to replace the anger-ridden books that are offered in school libraries within the US.

Max Elliot's books of adventure and mystery offer boys the action- packed journeys with wholesome outcomes in anti-violent natures. His books enlighten boys to new possibilities and create critical thinking skills in his readers. Adventure and mystery swarm young boy's hearts and lead them to unknown places meeting new faces along their journeys. All of which are vital in the upbringing of sound, stable and sensitive young men. Hat's off to you Max!

Spoonz

3

I think action-adventures or mysteries, written
especially for boys, are important because today’s
books have to compete with multitudes of sports
opportunities, Ipods, and action-filled video games.

Most boys are extremely active and it is hard to get
them to sit still long enough to read. My son would
rather be running or playing. However, he WILL sit
and play a video game all day if I allowed it. The
reason is because it keeps him mentally active and he
likes it.

My son finds most books "boring". I find there is a
huge black-hole in the book world for action-filled
books for boys. Unfortunately, most boys do not even
realize they are missing out on a tremendous gift -the
love of reading.

Carolyn

Entries will be accepted until December 5 at 12:00

Thank you to all who have entered, both here and at the alternate email address. It will take me some time to sift through the many entries before I can announce the three top winners.

Keep an eye on this blog for the results.

Thanks to all of you!

Max Elliot Anderson

Comments Contest

Comments to my question about Books for Boys have been excellent. I’ll have my work cut out for me to select the three winners. There are a few comments at the end of the next post, but most have been sent to the email address, maxbooks1@aol.com

There’s still time to send yours. First place gets 5 books, second place gets 3, and third place gets 2. All copies will be signed.

Rules and guidelines are in the following blog post. Get yours in soon.

Max

Win Free BOOKS FOR BOYS

Instructions & Rules

By entering this contest, you agree that we may use your comments and your name.


Entries will be accepted until December 5 at 12:00 noon, 2007.

Max Elliot Anderson will determine the winners.

Winners names and their comments may be published on the blog, Books for Boys, or used in any other form of marketing or promotion.

Comments must be made in the comment section on this blog, or emailed to maxbooks1@aol.com These are the ONLY 2 places where your entry will be accepted.

Enter by answering the following question: "I think action-adventures or mysteries, written especially for boys, are important because..."

Entries can be no longer than 3 paragraphs. You may use your own personal experiences, or something that relates to one or more of your children, your school, church, homeschool, or other setting.

Only one entry per person.

In the event that you are one of the 3 winners, make sure to include your email address so we can request a shipping address from you at the end of the contest. I will sign all copies for the winners.

1st place will win 5 titles of my choosing, signed
2nd place will win 3 titles of my choosing, signed
3rd place will win 2 titles of my choosing, signed

NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF, are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

Best wishes on your entry!

Max Elliot Anderson

Sample Chapter, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE

Hello.

This is the final sample chapter for your preview. All of the other 6 samples can also be found by searching this blog.

Again, students can do a creative writing assignment by writing a paragraph, after reading this chapter, and tell 1. What will happen next, 2 How will the story go later on, or 3. How will the story end?

Again, your comments will be appreciated.

Thank you




Chapter 6


The boys pulled on their snowsuits again and went outside. They finished making their snowman in the front yard first.
“I thought you had a great idea,” Rusty said.
Eddy walked around back while the others followed him to the small porch where firewood was neatly stacked. From one corner he pulled out three wooden crates and two shovels.
“What are we doing now?” Rusty asked.
“I’ll show you. Come with me.”
Eddy led his friends all the way to the back part of the fence that ran along the abandoned narrow road behind the cabin.
“Rusty,” Eddy teased. “You could get good and scared if this wall wasn’t here. ‘Cause there’d be nothing to keep out the monsters, wolves, and robbers you’re so worried about.”
“Funny Edward. Real funny,” Rusty scoffed. “So what are we doing back here?”
“You see how the snow is drifted up against the fence?”
“That’s like asking me if I think it’s cold out here. Yes. I see the drift.”
“Then what we’re gonna do is dig out the drift first.”
“What are the crates for?” Chet asked. “To sit on?”
“Plenty of time for you to know about that. Start digging.”
The boys took turns digging deep into the drift until they came right up to the fence. “This will be the back wall to our new snow fort,” Eddy announced.
“Snow fort?” Rusty said. “That sounds great.”
Eddy laughed. “Finally something Russell actually likes.”
“Keep digging,” Rusty told them.
They cleared enough snow to form a big square. Then Eddy picked up the crates and gave one to each of his friends. “Since the new snow is so wet and heavy, we can pack it in these crates.”
“Oh, I get it,” Chet said.
“You wanna help me to get it because I don’t,” Rusty complained.
Eddy just stared at his friend at first. “We fill our crates with snow, pack it down real hard, and…”
“Now I see,” Rusty broke in. “We make kind of like building blocks.”
“Not kind of like…they are blocks. Then we can build the walls as high as we want.”
“I like it,” Rusty said.
Eddy opened his mouth to say something sarcastic but Rusty cut in, “Keep it to yourself.”
Their work started out slowly as they tried different ways of stacking the snow blocks, but soon the boys worked like a professional construction crew. One boy shoveled snow and packed it into the crates as the other two hauled them to the fort. The more they worked, the higher the walls went. After a couple hours the boys decided to take a break. They sat on their crates near the snow walls.
“How high should we build it?” Chet asked.
“High enough so we can stand up inside,” Eddy answered.
“No fair,” Rusty complained. “You guys are at least a foot taller than me.”
“My dad told me he heard it’s gonna get really cold again tonight. That means this wet snow we’re stacking is going to freeze solid. Our fort will be like a real building.”
“Cool,” Rusty said.
“It’s snow Russ. Of course it’s cool,” Eddy teased. “You guys go ahead and keep building. I’m going to pull in some of the long dead tree branches we use for firewood. We can lay those across the top, cover them with snow, and no one will know we even have a fort back here.”
Rusty started to say, “Coo…, never mind,” he chuckled.
The roof went on faster than Eddy thought it would. The boys covered that part with loose snow. “Now all we gotta do is build the front wall, make a door, and we’re in,” Eddy announced with pride.
“Eddy!” a voice called. “Where are you guys?”
“Back here, Dad.”
Eddy’s father came around into the yard. “Wow. I see you boys have been busy.”
“How was the fishing?”
“We caught enough to make dinner. Us dads are going to run into town to pick up a few things at the store. You boys want to ride along?”
“No thanks. We’d like to finish the front before it gets cold tonight.”
“Suit yourselves. We’ll be back after dark, but I plan to cook a full fish dinner so don’t snack on anything.”
“We won’t even have time to go in the cabin, Dad.”
“All right. See you architects later.”
A few minutes later the boys heard the doors to the truck slam shut. Then it drove away.
“I’m glad we stayed,” Chet said. “This is a lot more fun.”
They continued building even as the sun went down. The air did begin getting much colder but with the cold air came a clear night sky. The moon, shining against the
snow, gave them all the light they needed to keep right on building. Since their fathers
went in to town while it was still daytime, they hadn’t left any lights on. The inside of the cabin was completely dark, making the place look abandoned.
An unexpected sound caused the boys to turn around and look at the same time in the same direction. Someone was coming, but not on the road out in front of the cabin. A truck drove up on the other side of the fence.
“They couldn’t be back this soon, could they?” Rusty asked.
“No.” Eddy answered. “And they wouldn’t be driving back there. My dad never does that.”
“Maybe he’s just trying to scare us,” Chet suggested.
“Well they’re doing a pretty good job of it,” Rusty groaned.
Eddy held his finger up to his lips. “Shhh,” he cautioned.
The lights on the truck went off but its engine kept running.
“Who do you think it is?” Chet whispered.
“Cops?” Rusty suggested.
“Not likely,” Eddy answered. “My dad said they don’t come out here in the winter.” He motioned for the boys to follow him into the fort. They inched their way in the dark until they were right up against the fence. From there they each found a crack between the boards where they could peer through to the other side. The boys looked out just in time to see two dark figures still sitting in the front seat of the truck, waving their arms around.
“Looks like they’re arguing,” Chet said. “What should we do?”
“We just sit tight,” Eddy whispered.
Then the driver put the truck in reverse and backed up a few feet. He shifted into another gear and turned the front wheels toward the fence. The tires bit deep into the snow as the truck lunged forward.
“He’s going to crash the fence and crush us,” Rusty squeaked. But the wheels turned away from the fence as the truck pulled in right next to it. The man on the passenger side opened his door and stepped out into the snow. His feet made a crunching sound as he came around the back of the truck. Then he climbed up until he was standing on the top.
The driver opened his window. “What can you see?” he asked.
“Nothin’, Boss.”
“What do you mean, nothing?”
“I mean I can’t see nothin’.”
“Lean up against the fence and look over. See what’s on the other side.”
The air was already cold, and the snow fort was no tropical beach either. But when the man said, “See what’s on the other side,” Eddy felt like the temperature went down another twenty degrees. He figured his friends thought the same thing because all three of them got a bad case of the shivers at the very same time.
They pressed against the fence tightly so they could see out. Just then the man on top of the truck bumped against the boards. It was like a donkey had kicked the fence. The boys fell onto their backs but they quickly scrambled back up to see what would happen next.
That’s when Eddy noticed he could see his breath in the frigid night air. He figured if he could see it, the two men might see it too. Eddy reached out and touched his friends on their shoulders. But when he did, it scared them so bad, they fell backward into the snow a second time.
“Breathe down the front of your jackets,” he whispered. When they did that, the steam went away.
“Der ain’t nothin’ in der, Boss,” the man said.
“Everybody knows these cabins are only for summer people,” the man in the truck answered. “A person could die out here and no one would know about it till spring.”
“What da you want me ta do, Boss?”
“Come on back down while I think of a plan.” He slammed the truck into park, but when he did that, it lurched forward just enough so that the man on top lost his balance. The boys watched as he went flying head first off the back of the truck, landing in a deep drift. Only his ankles stuck out.
The boys started laughing so hard they knew they were sure to be discovered. It was a good thing they had decided to start breathing into their jackets because that helped muffle some of the sound. Of course the poor sap in the snowdrift couldn’t hear a thing. He was buried so deeply, the boys could hardly hear his cries for help as he struggled in the snow.
Eddy finally stopped laughing but his chest hurt from trying to keep it in. Tears streamed down his face threatening to turn him into an ice sculpture.
The driver moved his truck away from the fence. Eddy noticed that he was taller than the other man when he stepped out and walked back to help his human snowplow partner. The man in the snow was not small. Not around anyway. He was much shorter and heavier. When he finally came out of the snow it was clear to see he was angry because he never stopped yelling.
“You did dat on purpose. Dat’s da meanest trick you never done.”
“Ever done. It’s ever done, Clarence.”
“I don’t care what you say. I ain’t never gonna forget it.”
“Will you keep your voice down.”
“What for. You tink the squirrels are gonna rat on us?”
“You never know who might be back here. We can’t leave no witnesses.”
That really scared Eddy. Now he knew these guys weren’t just joking around.
“Look, Clarence. I’ll buy you a hamburger when we get out of here. Will that make it better?”
“Gee, tanks Boss.”
Faintly in the distance, Eddy thought he heard something. He pointed in the direction of the sound, and then shrugged his shoulders. What he heard sounded like hundreds of police sirens and they were coming this way.
“Aw Boss. Now what are ya gonna do, huh?”
“Be quiet and let me think,” he thundered. Then he snapped his fingers. “I got it.”
“What do you got, Boss?”
“Get me the briefcase! Hurry!”
“My…my name’s Clarence, not Hurry.”
“Just do it!”
The fat, short man bounded to the other side of the truck, slipped and fell, got up again, opened a back door, and returned with a shiny metal case.
“But dis is all we got,” he complained.
“Yeah, but if the cops catch us with it, we’ll have nothing. Now give it to me.”
“I don’t know, Boss.”
“There’s a hamburger in it for you. Remember?”
“Dat’s right. I almost forgot to forget. I mean remember, I mean…”
“Just hand it over.”
With each passing second the sirens kept coming closer. The larger man took the case and held it in both hands. “The way I figure it, there ain’t nobody here. And there ain’t gonna be nobody around for months. This case will be safer out here than in the truck.”
“How ya know dat?”
“At lease if we leave it here, we know where it is.”
“Yeah. It’s not wit us.”
“Right. But it ain’t in the truck neither.”
“Tell me why dat’s sposed ta make me happy?”
“‘Cause if the cops catch up with us, they ain’t gonna find nothin’ on us. That’s why.”
“I still ain’t happy, Boss.”
The police were close enough now that the boys could faintly see their lights flashing against the snow through the trees.
“We ain’t got no choice, and we ain’t got no time, Clarence. Now take this thing and throw it as hard as you can over the fence.”
Over the fence, Eddy thought. That can’t be good.
Now the police were on the same narrow lane heading straight toward the crooks’ truck.
“Throw it, Clarence, throw it!”
The boys watched as the short, fat man swung the case high over his head. He spun around and around as the moonlight shone against the bright metal finish on the case. With one giant heave, and a loud grunt, he let it go sailing over the fence. But all that spinning around must have made him dizzy because he plopped right down in the snow.
As he hit the ground there was another loud thump directly on top of the roof the boys had built over their fort.
I’m glad we got that part finished, Eddy thought.
The fat man tried to jump to his feet but he fell right back down again. It reminded Eddy of how he and his friends spun round and round at school to see how dizzy they could get. Then they’d try to race across a line to see who finished first. Rusty was always last.
The man stood up again and again he plopped right back down.
“Clarence. We gotta go. Hurry!”
“I’m hurryin’. I’m hurryin’ ”
“You’ve been in the same spot forever. Now move it.”
Clarence stood once again and this time he was able to move forward. But he slammed right into the side of the truck so hard he put a big dent in the door. That made him bounce right off and he was back in the snow again.
“Hamburger, Clarence. Hamburger!”
Clarence got back to his feet somehow, stumbled around to the other door, and fell in as the truck roared away without a second to spare. Clarence was still hanging half in and half out of his door.
The boys watched in wonder as enough lights to power a small town raced past their hideout. The sirens let out a head-splitting shriek so loud they had to cover their ears. As quickly as the cars had come, they now faded into the distance. Then the boys heard footsteps crunching in the snow outside their fort. From the sound of it, Eddy thought at least three people were coming.
“Hide in the corner,” he warned.
The boys huddled together as they shivered like wet dogs. Then a voice called,
“Anybody in there?”
“Dad?” Eddy asked nervously.
“Yes. We just got home. What in the world just happened back here?”
Eddy whispered to his friends, “Don’t say anything about the case yet.”
“It was really something, Dad,” he called out.
The boys crawled toward the entrance and out the door.
“This is quite a fortress you’ve built,” Rusty’s father said. “It has a roof and everything.”
The boys looked up too, to see if the silver case was still up there. It was, but the way it fell on the roof, the case was almost completely covered with snow. Eddy figured if he could hardly see it, and he knew it was up there, then his dad wasn’t likely to spot it.
“Come on. Let’s go inside the cabin. It’s really cold out here. Then you boys can tell us all about it.”
They turned and headed back toward the cabin. All except Eddy who quickly climbed up one side of his fort, grabbed the heavy case, slid back down, and tossed it through the front entrance. Then he hurried to catch up with the others.
“What do you think is inside?” Rusty whispered.
“Yes, let’s get inside,” Eddy’s father answered.
Eddy shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever it is, now it belongs to us.”
“What did you say?” his father asked.
“I…I’m sure glad this cabin belongs to us.”

http://www.maxbooks.9k.comNEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF, are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.Reviews http://www.maxbookreviews.blogspot.com

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