From School Library Journal
Gr 3–5—A step-by-step guide for young aspiring writers of fiction, featuring Giff's golden retriever, Rosie. In this loving and personal guide, Giff walks students through her own writing process, beginning with character ideas and moving on to cover plot, setting, dialogue, and more. Chapters like "Can You See How I Did It?" and "Your Turn" accompany lessons and challenge readers to give it their own go. For instance, readers are encouraged to think of a problem for their character and contemplate how it might be resolved ("If the problem were yours, would it worry you? Would you have to do something about it?"). While doling out the writing tips, Giff also reflects on Rosie, using the dog's antics to give the read a lighter touch. ("A reader wants action…the action I'm involved in right now is searching for Rosie. That dog is trouble!") VERDICT Likely to be popular with Giff fans, a supplemental purchase for classroom libraries.—Megan Kilgallen, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn
Review
"A step-by-step guide for young aspiring writers of fiction, featuring Giff's golden retriever, Rosie. In this loving and personal guide, Giff walks students through her own writing process, beginning with character ideas and moving on to cover plot, setting, dialogue, and more. Chapters like "Can You See How I Did It?" and "Your Turn" accompany lessons and challenge readers to give it their own go. For instance, readers are encouraged to think of a problem for their character and contemplate how it might be resolved ("If the problem were yours, would it worry you? Would you have to do something about it?"). While doling out the writing tips, Giff also reflects on Rosie, using the dog's antics to give the read a lighter touch." —School Library Journal
About the Author
Patricia Reilly Giff is the author of many highly acclaimed books for children, including Lily's Crossing, a Newbery Honor Book and Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and Pictures of Hollis Woods, a Newbery Honor Book. Her works for younger readers include the best-selling Kids of the Polk Street School series and the Hunter Moran books. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a rambunctious golden retriever named Rosie.
