The Infamous Frankie Lorde: Stealing Greenwich by Brittany Geragotelis

 

I'm always on the lookout for fun new middle grade books, because this is the age where we want to keep them reading! And this one definitely looks like fun, almost reminding me a little bit of Artemis Fowl, maybe? But of course, with its own twists to make it its own! Check out an excerpt and download your own copy to read and let us know what you think! Follow the tour for even more, plus a great giveaway.

Launch of a new series for upper middle graders about a girl who has lived as an international thief, now returned to the real world.

Frankie Lorde and her dad have been a team for as long as Frankie can remember. Being a tutor under the man responsible for some of the world's biggest heists has given Frankie a unique perspective on the world. And a special set of life skills. Frankie can spot an FBI agent in a second. Pick a lock in two seconds. Steal a Bugatti in three. Then dad is arrested.

Frankie is sent to live with her uncle, her dad's brother who she barely knows, and is, ironically a cop. Now Frankie has to go to middle school, learn what suburban kids wear and eat. But also ironically, Frankie is in Greenwich, CT, one of the richest towns in America. Seeing the starkness of super rich and the super not rich who support the community gives Frankie an idea. How to use her skills for doing good, to even the score. . . .

Read an excerpt:

Let me draw you a picture of my life with Dad. This is what happened during our last daddy/daughter outing:

Dad and I were in Paris, hanging out at a hip local spot, drinking café crèmes—a fancy term for milky coffee, in case you didn’t know—and people-watching. It’s one of our favorite things to do. We take turns coming up with backgrounds and stories for strangers who walk by.

Trust me, it’s a lot more entertaining than it sounds. I’d just dug into the most delicious chocolate croissant when Dad discreetly pointed to a lady crossing the street. She was wearing a smart-looking trench coat and sporting a short, boyish haircut.

“So, Frankie, what’s her deal?” Dad asked me.

I studied her like she was a work of art, noting her appearance and the way she moved and then taking in any other details she was giving away. If you know what to look for, it’s easy to tell exactly who a person is within the first fifteen seconds of meeting them.

And who taught me this cool superpower? My dad. See, I told you he’s awesome.

“She’s American. That’s obvious. Look at her shoes,” I said, gesturing at the boringly practical black flats the woman was wearing. “She’s trying to act like she’s not in a rush, but she is. And she’s nervous about something. Maybe she’s meeting someone for the first time? Her trench coat isn’t a fashion statement. It’s there to hide what’s underneath, which appears to be . . .”

I squinted in the midmorning sun in an attempt to see better.

“ . . . very unstylish and poorly fitting pants,” I finished. “She’s a professional of some kind, though her appearance doesn’t seem to be a concern of hers, so I’d guess she’s not in media or entertainment, or any field where she has to sell things to people, for that matter.”

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate link)

Brittany Geragotelis is living the dream. After 10 years of rejection from the publishing industry, she began to post her original novel, Life's a Witch, on the online writing site, Wattpad, hoping that others would enjoy reading her book. A year after the first upload, the book had received 19 million reads, which caught the attention of Publisher's Weekly, The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

After building up some buzz in the industry, she hooked up with her agents who instantly received interest from publishers and movie/tv producers. Within weeks, Life's a Witch went into auction between four major publishing houses, and in the end Brittany landed a 3-book deal with publishing powerhouse, Simon & Schuster.

http://www.brittanygeragotelis.com

http://www.facebook.com/BrittanyGeragotelis

http://www.twitter.com/TheBookSlayer

http://www.youtube.com/TheBookSlayer

http://www.pinterest.com/TheBookSlayer

http://www.instagram.com/TheBookSlayer

The author is giving away a print copy of the book (US only). Follow the tour for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read an exclusive excerpt from Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LifeSkills by Kathleen Boucher

 

Ah, the tween years. Not a time I would necessarily want to revisit! But it's a time that really needs some extra help and guidance, because it is such a confusing time in life. Here's one book that aims to do so. Check out an exclusive excerpt before you get your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour for even more! Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LIFESKILLS is a self-help book for tweens. Fraternal twins Emma and Elliot teach tweens practical life strategies that they've learned from their parents and teachers. These life skills include how to have more confidence when presenting in class, the importance of work ethic, a simple writing technique to help deal with anger, and more. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that tweens can use to integrate what they've learned.

"Engagingly written and well-designed, NINE WAYS TO EMPOWER TWEENS #LIFESKILLS by Kathleen Boucher should be required reading for teenagers and even older readers interested in building personal strength, developing a positive mind-set and achieving goals throughout their lives."
- Andrea Karen Hammer for IndieReader

Check out an excerpt:

BUY LINKS

AMAZON US * AMAZON CA * KINDLE *  BOOKSHOP * INDIGO CHAPTERS * BARNES & NOBLE * BOOK DEPOSITORY * RAKUTEN KOBO * SMASHWORDS 

(affliate links included)

Excerpt text:

Chapter 1: How to Speak Confidently


"Here is how to be confident in just about anything: Write down on a piece of paper what you already do well. Are you an amazing writer, singer, or guitar player? Are you great at tying your shoes, making your bed, keeping your room neat, washing dishes, singing in the shower, feeding the dog, zooming around in your wheelchair, hugging your parents, doing schoolwork, or riding a bike? Remember that list. Each time you try something new, first remember something you are really, really good at doing. Remember something that makes you confident. Then, take that confidence and associate it with whatever you are trying that is new. It's as simple as that."

**My thoughts**

Self-help and self-empowerment are hot topics for us adults right now. It's good to start implementing some of these skills in kids, so that ideally, they can grow up to be healthier adults. And the tween years are horribly difficult. Any positive guidance at this age is fantastic.

This book is told from the point of view of fraternal twins Emma and Elliot. My guess is that's to make it seem like it is coming more from peers than an adult. And then, of course, you have one boy and one girl sharing their stories. As an adult, I didn't buy that tweens wrote this book, or at least not without a ton of adult help. But perhaps kids won't quite catch on to that as easily. 

I think this is the kind of book that tweens, and even older teens, should slowly work through and process. It is a lot to take in, especially when you are already in a time of great change and growth. It could work for individuals with a trusted adult with whom they could discuss their situations and progress. I think it could also work for some small group discussions, with individual follow-up.

It reads quite similarly to some of the current adult empowerment articles and books, though the example situations are more geared toward some that tweens and teens might encounter. This is where I think the small group and/or individual discussions could come in handy, to better help the tweens apply the different chapters to their own lives. They still need to do the work in themselves, but some guidance would be good.

I'd actually love to sit down with some of my tweens and teens with whom I am still in touch from when I taught them in their younger years and work through some of these chapters with them. We already have some of these conversations, but perhaps this book could provide some further talking points.

Honestly, I think that adults would also benefit from reading this. A lot of the referenced works for further reading would also be good for adults to read.

I received a requested review copy from the author and Goddess Fish Promotions. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Kathleen Boucher is an award-winning children's book author, a certified lifestyle coach, a certified neurocoach, a certified stress and wellness consultant, and a registered nurse. Her mission is to inspire kids to follow their dreams. Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LIFESKILLS gives tweens strategies that empower them.


CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Great-kids-and-me-661472150542382/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodoutstanding

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-boucher-7b6b0246/

Website: https://www.boucherbooks.com/

Kathleen Boucher will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway