Living the Secret
Book Review
Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers’ Favorite
Living the Secret by Jo-Marie is a children’s story about two tiny characters who decide to escape life within a tree and see the outside world. Most people are happy in Maple Community until the branch holding the Maple Basic School cracks opens. The town shuts down the school until they can repair the broken branch, but two kids, Ayden and Jayden, decide the cracked branch is their opportunity to escape Maple Community. They want to experience life outside of the tree and look for their uncle, the first person to leave the tree and live on the outside world. But once outside, Ayden and Jayden discover being tiny in a world full of creatures and bugs and gigantic trees is not all it is cracked up to be. What will they do to survive now that they are away from home with no way to return?
I think this is a really cute and clever story. I always liked the idea of giant creatures and tiny people living within walls and trees and other fantastical places. Young readers will especially like the idea of this story (what child hasn’t imagined that his broccoli is a giant tree to climb and play on?) Readers will also love the companionship between Ayden and Jayden who are very close and care for each other very much. I really appreciated the fact that, when things went south on their adventure, they missed their mother and wished they had been nicer to the people at their school.
Yippee!!!
Book two passed content evaluation. That means it is going to be published. Whoopee!!
Now I have to go over it with a fine-toothed comb, making the adjustments needed. If mistakes are in my text, the publishing program won’t align the margins and paragraphs correctly. I have a new respect for anyone who does this level of editing as a full-time job. It takes a lot of time and excellent attention to details.
Back to work for me.
Hello Adi’s World readers,
Tonight I put aside the perils of book 3 and concentrate on revising book 2, getting it ready for publication. I have some great editors and am looking forward to reading their comments and suggestions.
I will admit that this is the hardest part of writing a book. Getting the ideas and composing the draft is a lot of work, but fun. Now I must accept that smart people (my editors are the smartest) may not think every word I write is golden. But I do know, that with their help book 2 will become better and better.
I guess I better get busy.
Book 2 is waiting for two final editors before moving on to the publisher. I hope it will be printed in the next few months.
Book 2 continues the story of Ayden & Jayden. It starts as they leap to freedom from Maple Community. In book 2 the twins face challenges outside the tree, including hungry bugs, ginats (big people called humans), huge rainstorms, and even an avalanche. The outside world is a bit different from what they imagined.
At this point the story is titled Lee’s Life, but I’m thinking of changing it to A Larger World. What do you think?
Now that Adi’s World is published and being read, my focus shifted to the next book in the series. In book 2 Ayden & Jayden have left Maple Community. They must face the dangers of the outside world: insects, birds, and storms.
Inside the tree, being very small wasn’t really an issue, but outside it’s a very different story. Plus, they learn that the adults of Maple Community have been keeping huge secret from the kids in Maple Basic School.
Book 2 is drafted and in the editing & revision stage.
Recent Comments