"Clean Reads" for our Tweens (Say THAT Ten Times Fast!)

It's always great  asking a friend  what they've been reading to get some new ideas or direction.  The same goes for our kids, and don't say you haven't done it.  At a school function, a baseball game or while dropping them off, it happens and we're looking.  We love reading and we like to nurture this love in our offspring.

With this in mind, I've taken to slipping in a few books for the younger set.  (Listen, a book is a book and libraries and book sellers are finding more adults are reading Young Adult (YA) and juvenile (J), so it's not just for kids anymore!  Me?  I just love to read ... "Hi, I'm Brenda ... (Hi, Brenda!) and I love books," wait that's another day's blog, sorry!)

Interested in far-off lands? Castles and kingdoms?  A little to old for Cinderella? I've got one for you!

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris isn't your usual fairy tale.  Yes, there is a castle and a king with a wife you can't image what he saw in.  Christian, a young lad who loves to invent things, is tired of living in his little velvet suit and by rules, and so he runs off to live in the forest.  Edric, a troll,  finds him and really has no interest in having a child around, takes him in the night ... and next thing you know, has an adopted child who he loves and raises as best he can. (Edric uses a book of ettiqutte he found on the forest floor for guidance.)

Christian has an endless supply of materials, things that are lost as travelers pass through their woods (Edric's a bit of a hoarder.).  As Christian grows, he becomes aware of a nearby castle (told you there was one) and watches what happens.  He begins to communicate with a lonely girl, Marigold, who lives there by "p-mail", aka carrier pigeon mail, and they become best of friends.  He decides to go meet her, but he's a commoner and she's a princess.  So, he does the next best thing--he  sneaks in and begins to work there.  When he finds out that Marigold and the kingdom are in trouble, he must find a way to save her - I told you it was a fairy tale.  It's full of humor and unique , quirky characters that aren't your usual fare in such tales- and I mean many "characters".  "Part Comedy, Part Love Story, Part- Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink" is touted on the cover and they've got that right.  Does he save Marigold?  Is the dungeon really used? 

And if you liked the first one....there's a sequel- you guessed it, Twice Upon a Marigold.

If you like this idea, feel free to ask for more.....or you can Google/Yahoo/whatever search engine you use ... stick in "clean reads for tweens (or teens)" and see what you get!  Oh, and let me know ... I love a good book!