Larger than Life Lara
When Lara Phelps walks into Laney Grafton’s fourth-grade class, Laney feels the air change. Lara is fat. Really fat. Finally, there will be someone else for the boys to pick on, Laney thinks. But as the class prepares for the school play, Lara doesn’t act the way a fat kid should. She’s confident. She’s happy. And nothing, it seems, can change her positive attitude. Until one day, when Laney’s classmates do the unthinkable.
Bestselling author Dandi Daley Mackall tells this original and poignant story through the use of sparkling language, a winsome narrator, and a clever structure that illustrates just what makes a story a story.
Reviews
“Laney is an engaging narrator. Particularly delightful is the way in which she tells the story. Each chapter has a title that is related to the narrative, such as Rising Action, Suspense, Dialogue, etc. … Her explanation of how to write a book is just as interesting as the events that she’s describing. Best of all, none of this detracts from the novel’s emotional core. Thoroughly enjoyable and unexpectedly wry, this book is as intelligent as it is succinct.” Elizabeth Bird, NY Public Library, in School Library Journal
“A story that can be appreciated on many levels, Larger-Than-Life Lara is told in the strong voice of Laney . . . With a strong, positive ending, which is both happy and sad, Larger-Than-Life Lara inspires the reader to treat others with respect and to be positive despite all obstacles. . .. Consistently ridiculed by her classmates, Lara always responds to her tormentors with forgiveness, and positive words and actions. The book’s discussion of literary components adds to its charm. The reader feels the emotions of both Lara and Laney while at the same time recognizing the important story elements. Teachers can use this book in so many ways – as illustrations of the parts of a successful composition, as a model of forgiveness and kind treatment of others, and finally as an example of two separate stories woven together into one marvelous tale. Review written for Christian Library Journal “LARGER-THAN-LIFE-LARA is the most excellent book for teaching the structure of a story in a classroom. I say this from experience as a former middle school and high school English teacher, and a writing instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature for almost a decade.”
Silence of Murder
Winner of the Edgar Award The story of a teen’s struggle to prove her brother innocent of murder. The Crime: The murder of John Johnson, beloved baseball coach.
The Accused: 18-year-old Jeremy Long, who hasn’t spoken a single word in 12 years.
Witness for the Defense: 16-year-old Hope Long, the only person who believes her brother is innocent.
Other Suspects: The police have none. But Hope’s list is growing.
From author Dandi Daley Mackall comes a gripping murder mystery and a dark yet powerfully redemptive story of love, secrets, and silence.
Reviews
“From acclaimed author Dandi Daley Mackall comes a gripping murder mystery and a dark yet powerfully redemptive story of love, secrets, and silence.”
“Paced like a riveting television courtroom drama, with the ultimate conclusive twist, The Silence of Murder is gritty and intense, and it will appeal to readers who appreciate realistic depictions of criminal investigations. Mackall portrays autism with compassion and sensitivity; Hope’s unerring devotion to her brother, and her ability to see beyond his disability, beautifully anchors this novel.” School Library Journal
“Hope’s first-person narrative pulls readers immediately into the story as she works her way through clues and false leads to the truth. The well-plotted mystery is intriguing, and Hope’s determined efforts to solve it have an authentic feel. . . Hope’s compelling voice and the very real sense of danger propel the pace to a solution that will have readers talking.” Booklist
MY BOYFRIENDS’ DOGS – Now a Hallmark movie!
3 dogs 3 guys 1 girl: If only guys could be more like dogs—loyal, faithful, a gal’s best friend . . .
Reviews
“Teens who appreciate feisty female characters will be entertained by Bailey’s voyage to self-discovery, and the star-crossed ending will satisfy romance enthusiasts.” Kirkus Review
“I absolutely loved this book….The stories are compelling! I loved the message and the writing….” 5 Stars TeensReadToo
Press Release from The Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel Original Movie, “My Boyfriends’ Dogs,” Elevates Network to Rate #1 Among Households in Primetime Becomes Net’s Highest Rated Original Film in 2014 To-Date Among W25-54
In addition, My Boyfriends’ Dogs made the network #1 in household delivery, drawing 1.5 million homes and became Hallmark Channel’s most watched original movie in 2014 to-date among women 25-54.
Reviews for MY BOYFRIENDS’ DOGS movie
Review by Nancy Durham, Specialist to Washington Times
. . . From the start, it’s clear “My Boyfriends’ Dogs” is more Disney than “Sex in the City.” It’s set in an old-fashioned, G-rated world where the most risque twist involves two secondary characters deciding on a live-in romance.
Sound too sweet for your tastes? Don’t judge this movie by its lack of adult physical situations. The plentiful adult psychological situations – which build to the lesson that a woman can find love without becoming a mirror to her boyfriends’ hobbies, interests and belief systems – makes it stand out. Like it or not, many women still do just that.
Actress Teryl Rothery portrays the mother of main character – runaway bride Bailey Daly (Erika Christensen of NBC’s “Parenthood”) – and says the counsel her character gives her daughter is something Ms. Rothery hopes to one day instill in her real-life daughter.
Secrets of Tree Taylor
Thirteen-year-old Tree Taylor has two goals for the summer of ’63:
1. Experience her first real kiss. A kiss delivered by a boy. A boy who is not related to her. A kiss worth writing about.
2. Become a famous writer. (Or, at least, write an investigative article that will land her the freshman spot on the Blue and Gold staff.)
So when a gunshot is fired right across the street, Tree knows this is the big story she’s been waiting for. But the more she goes digging, the more secrets she uncovers, and soon she begins to wonder: When is it important to expose the truth? And when is it right to keep a secret?
Reviews
“Refreshing and engaging. . . . A delightful read from beginning to end.” -VOYA
“A thoughtful coming-of-age story about a girl learning to see beyond black and white.”-Publishers Weekly
“Gentle and wise.” –The Bulletin
“Engaging . . . illustrating the deep questions teens often face, which are as relevant today as they were in 1963.” –Booklist
“Reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. . . . This is a story that will stick with you for a long while after the cover is closed.” –Portland Book Review
Eva Underground
The year 1978 has been a pretty good one for Eva Lott. She has a terrific best friend, she’s dating the best-looking guy in school, and she just made the varsity swim team. So when her widowed dad says it’s time for them to move, she’s not exactly thrilled. And when he tells her that he intends to move to Communist Poland to help with a radical underground movement . . . Well, it’s all downhill from there.
Soon Eva has been transplanted from her comfortable Chicago suburb to a land that doesn’t even have meat in its stores, let alone Peter Frampton records. And everywhere she goes, the government is watching. But Eva begins to warm to her new life. Sometime between eating lard on bread and dodging the militia, she makes a handsome new friend, Tomek. And soon she is wondering if maybe she’s found home in the most unlikely of places.
Reviews
“Modern Communism is rarely depicted in children’s literature, and never before this well.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“…A unique look at this time period, coupled with a love story, makes this remarkable historical fiction.” School Library Journal
Nominated ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2007
Finalist for Ohioana Award, 2007
New York Public Library “Teen Pick”
Crazy in Love
From a bestselling author comes a fun, flirty look at first love!
High school senior Mary Jane Ettermeyer has been the good girl for a long time. To date, she’s proud to say she’s been able to keep her pledge of abstinence (not that anyone has challenged it). But when the cutest guy in school starts flirting with her, she suddenly finds herself crazy in love. Even though her inner Plain Jane is telling her he can’t possibly think she’s cute, her inner Sexy M. J. is questioning her vow to keep herself pure until marriage. Not to mention that hot Jackson House shouldn’t even be talking to her, because he already has a girlfriend! There are a ton of good reasons why she should never speak to Jackson again, except that every time she sees him, all of her resistance seems to melt away. . . .
Reviews
CRITIC’s CORNER 5 out of 5 stars
What a great read! I laughed out loud at Mary Jane, but I’ve got those same voices in my head when it comes to guys. Funnier and deeper than anything I’ve read lately.
Horses, Horses, Horses
Horse-lover Dandi Mackall shares her horse appreciation with her fans in multiple formats, styles and reading levels. So many options, an entire page is devoted simply to Horses, Horses, Horses