J.R. Silver writes her world

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Title:

J.R. Silver writes her world

Author:

Dassori, Melissa, author.

Écija, Chelen, illustrator.

Summary:

What if you could write your dreams into reality with the stroke of a pen? Sixth grade is off to a difficult start for Josephine Rose Silver. Her best friend, Violet, returns from camp with a new best friend; her parents refuse to grant her more independence; and her homeroom teacher, Ms. Kline, is full of secrets. When Ms. Kline unveils a collection of old Gothamite magazines and tells her students to build their writing skills by crafting short stories inspired by the iconic covers, J.R. discovers a peculiar power: The stories she writes come true. Soon J.R. is getting a cell phone, scoring game-winning goals, and triggering school cancellations. But it's not long before she realizes that each new story creates as many conflicts as it does solutions. And when J.R. tries to write about her fallout with Violet, all of her problems converge. With a pinch of magic, mystery, art history, and language arts woven into a journey of growth and self-confidence, this promising debut is a heartfelt and satisfying tribute to the power of words. -- Amazon.

Audience:

Ages 8-12 Little, Brown and Company.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

254 pages : illustrations ; 19 cm.

Genre:

Fantasy fiction.

Magic realist fiction.

Subject Term:

Ability -- Juvenile fiction.

Wishes -- Juvenile fiction.

Middle schools -- Juvenile fiction.

Middle school students -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Écija, Chelen,

Publisher:

Little, Brown and Company,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9780316331456

Publication Information:

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2022.

Call Number:

J DASSORI

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003627042	New Juvenile Fiction	DASSORI	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

★ "Fans of E. L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler will particularly enjoy. "― Booklist , starred review

J.R. struggles to navigate the torments of middle school and her secret power to write wishes into existence in this magical story about finding your voice.

Sixth grade is off to a difficult start for Josephine Rose Silver. Her best friend, Violet, returns from camp with a new best friend; her parents refuse to grant her more independence; and her homeroom teacher, Ms. Kline, is full of secrets. When Ms. Kline unveils a collection of old Gothamite magazines and tells her students to build their writing skills by crafting short stories inspired by the iconic covers, J.R. discovers a peculiar power: The stories she writes come true. Soon J.R. is getting a cell phone, scoring game-winning goals, and triggering school cancellations. But it's not long before she realizes that each new story creates as many conflicts as it does solutions. And when J.R. tries to write about her fallout with Violet, all of her problems converge. With a pinch of magic, mystery, art history, and language arts woven into a journey of growth and self-confidence, this promising debut is a heartfelt and satisfying tribute to the power of words.

Perfect for fans of: Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead The Mona Lisa Vanishes Museum and Mystery Lovers From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Night At the Museum

Author Notes

Melissa Dassori is a former lawyer who lives in New York City with her family near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which partly inspired her debut novel J.R. Silver Writes Her World.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3--7--It's the beginning of sixth grade and Josephine Rose (J.R.) Silver is looking forward to beginning middle school with her best friend Violet. They have been best friends for as long as they can remember; but ever since Violet went away to summer sleepaway camp, her letters home revolved more around making new friends than missing her old one. As school begins and Violet continues to make new friends, J.R. is still holding onto memories of their many visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eternal fans of The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the friends visited the setting of their favorite novel over and over again. As school begins and J.R.'s new teacher Mrs. Kline gives her writing assignments, J.R. finds that the events she writes about start to come true. Dassori combines predictable preteen angst about changing friendships and coming of age with a little bit of magic in this well-crafted text. Fans of E.L. Konigsburg's novel will enjoy the descriptions of the Met and its many rooms. Readers will also recognize authors and their works as J.R. reflects on her favorite stories while deliberating over reading assignments. Mrs. Kline's magic is just odd enough to intrigue but not alarm readers, and the hometown book store is a warm, inviting space they will wish to visit often. Black-and-white pencil drawings augment each chapter. VERDICT Well-paced chapters and captivating characters will keep readers entertained and may also inspire some writing.--Carol Connor

Publisher's Weekly Review

For Josephine Rose "J.R." Silver, who cues as white, sixth grade in New York City begins on a frustrating note. Her parents refuse to give the only child the independence she craves, and her best friend, Violet Fernando, of Sri Lankan descent, has started hanging out with a new pal. Aspiring writer J.R. is thrilled, however, when her inscrutable new teacher Ms. Kline announces a creative writing unit based on illustrated covers of the New Yorker--esque magazine Gothamite. Resolving to "live vicariously" through her stories' protagonists, J.R. gives characters a cell phone, freedom to walk home alone, and a winning soccer goal--and is shocked when her own real life begins to imitate her art. Despite Ms. Kline's warnings against using the stories "as a magic wand," J.R. is tempted to write away her friendship difficulties and soon finds that unforeseen problems accompany every positive change, a realization that inspires her to confront problems interpersonally. Balancing realistic relationship drama with magical undertones, debut author Dassori deftly threads references to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a bustling city-set cautionary tale. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8--12. Author's agent: Jennifer Unter, Unter Agency. (July)