March 31, 2009
One thing that comes to the attention of booksellers who care about their customers is that Young Adult series such as Gossip Girls, A-List and The Clique are a big draw for Middle Grade readers who are way to young to be reading them. These books don't hint at mature content, they deliver it. This brings me to a new middle grade novel, Paisley Hanover Acts Out. Though Paisley Hanover Acts Out comes with more accessories than most Middle Grade books, an interactive website, a decorated box, an illustrated diary (which is apparently becoming de rigueur), and characters named Paisley, Carreyn, Mandy Mindel, Bodie and Bentley, it is as much about what it doesn't have as what it does. Like a Shirley Temple cocktail, Paisley Hanover Acts Out offers the same lingo, and a similar emphasis on social group hierarchies as that found in the Gossip Girls and Clique type books, but without the sleaze and crass consumerism. Tuttle establishes atmospheric credentials with whiffs of mature themes, and valley girlisms such as "I totally did!" In terms of Paisley's indivuality the book features 'sidebras' instead of sidebars, and the prefix un is used unstintingly, as in UnSlogans, UnSane, UnTarded and so forth. Nothing brings middle grade tensions to a head like class president elections and that is the vehicle of choice here for the book to show that underneath all its accessories its heart is in the UnWrong place. I'm not sure that the accessories, website, box and diary, are much of a selling point, yet there's no question but that handing Paisley Hanover to an eleven year old girl instead of the the next A-List book is a really good idea. So yes, I'll totally be promoting this book. This was a really big week for Childrens Picture books so we're making an issue of it down below! Call or email us if you want more information on any of these titles, or to have us hold you a copy. Or stop in and check them out in person. We'd love to see you. Thanks as always for sharing your reading with us!
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