Kate Walden Directs: Bride of the Slug Man
by Julie Mata
Disney Hyperion (May 26, 2015)
Audience: Grades 4-7
Fiction * Friendship * Dating
IndieBound * WorldCat
Download the Curriculum Guide
About the book:
After her huge success with her first feature-length movie, seventh-grader Kate Walden is eager to start on her next film, a sci-fi romance called Bride of Slug Man. When a new kid comes to town from New York City, Kate thinks she might have a new found film buddy-someone to share her interest with. And it doesn't hurt that he's pretty cute. But it turns out that Tristan is making his own movie, and now the classmates Kate thought were eager to join her cast and crew are divided.
With rumors spreading in school and between sets, Kate finds herself juggling more than just call times and rewrites. And judging from the whispers Kate hears about Tristan Kingsley,she suspects that he isn't interested in having a fellow film-buff friend; he just wants to prove himself as the best filmmaker in school by winning the Big Picture Film Festival. Kate vows to enter too, and tries to focus on just making the best movie she can.
But between the cutthroat popularity contest, a bully situation that goes from bad to worse, and several on-set mishaps, Kate is going to need all the movie magic she can get to make sure Bride of Slug Man hits the big-screen.
Check out the book trailer:
Originally, I was going to do a review of Kate Walden Directs: Bride of Slug Man but as I was putting together the post I realized that I was the last stop on the tour. Do you ever wonder if people go back and check out the other posts that the author and bloggers have worked hard on? So instead of just a review of the book...I thought I would do a little highlighting of the reviews, interviews, and guest posts for the tour.
Check out Julie Mata's guest post on GreenBean Queen Teen. Mata's Plucky...Not Perfect gave me new insight into her character, Kate Walden.
Over at Once Upon a Story, Julie's guest post talks about "Production Value" and adding "sizzle" and "Forced Perspective" to a movie and how Kate does this in Bride of Slug Man. This made me start wondering how I could use the post with students to talk about what would be the equivalent of production value, or adding sizzle, or forced perspective in something that we write. Check out Julie's curriculum guide for Bride of Slug Man for some great extension ideas.
Next, hop on over to Read Now Sleep Later and check out Alethea's interview with Julie. Find out what 1959 black and white movie is her pick for favorite kid-appropriate Bride of Slug Man type movie.
Julie's guest post over at Curling Up With a Good Book focuses on her advice for How to Write What You Know. Whether you have an exciting life or not, there are ideas for stories in those life experiences. Now I really want to know more about those 10 chickens that she owned at one time.
Don't stop yet, check out the review of Bride of Slug Man over at The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia.
There is another interview with Julie over at Book Hounds of YA. I may have added a couple of new (to me) reads to my TBR pile and there is an absolutely adorable picture of Julie's dog. Yeah, I know you want to click on this link.
And finally, well maybe not finally since you have my post, but yesterday's guest post at The Brain Lair finds Julie sharing Director's Tips with readers. It even comes with a link to a short film that Julie made called Bus Driver.
Now for the finally, Bride of Slug Man is just in time for summer reading. Though I am not suggesting any forced recommendations for kids to read during the summer but this book has a cool cover, it's funny, there is romance (well the fun kid kind of romance) and making movies in this book. What kid wouldn't want to pick it up and read it if you just happen to leave it in a spot they just can't miss? And when said kid is finished reading the book, it just might be responsible for sparking further creative endeavors with visions of film-making.
Seriously, stop by your local independent bookstore or public library and pick up a copy of Bride of Slug Man. Read it yourself and better yet, share it with your favorite middle grader.
About the Author:
Julie Mata grew up outside Chicago and currently lives in Wisconsin, where she owns a video production business with her husband. She loves movies and once wrote and directed her own short film. She also loves traveling, gardening, and reading a really good book. Her first book was Kate Walden Directs: Night of the Zombie Chickens. For more information, including a downloadable curriculum guide and a filmmaking tip of the month, visit her website or follow Julie on twitter.
Follow the blog tour:
Monday, May 18 GreenBeanTeenQueen
Wed. May 20 Once Upon a Story
Thurs, May 21 Read Now, Sleep Later
Fri, May 22 Curling Up with a Good Book
Tues, May 26 The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
Wed, May 27 BookHounds YA
Thurs, May 28 The Brain Lair
Fri, May 29 Kid Lit Frenzy
Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive both books featuring Kate Walden - KATE WALDEN DIRECTS: NIGHT OF THE ZOMBIE CHICKENS and KATE WALDEN DIRECTS: BRIDE OF SLUG MAN. (U.S. addresses; allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.) Winner must be 13 years or older. Please complete the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.