Awesome readers

Need a new book to read this summer?

How cute are these guys?

Just sayin...

And if you order JUSTIN or any of my books from my local independent book store, Bank Street Books, you can request that the book be personalized and signed -- I will dash right over and do it immediately. 

In between World Cup games, I mean.

Review of JUSTIN CASE

Just discovered this beautiful, thoughtful and thought-provoking, incisively written review of JUSTIN CASE. I'm honored by the praise, of course, but particularly blown away by the respect and care shown by the reviewer for the characters AND the readers. Thank you so much for your thoughts, Kim Zarin:

School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters (Justin Case, #1) 

by Rachel Vail, Matthew Cordell (Illustrator) 

Kim Zarins's review

Jan 16, 13

5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: middle-grade-fiction

Read in November, 2012

I’m a big fan of Justin Case. I’m guessing the people who love these books best and long for more are the ones who know someone like Justin. Someone for whom life does not come easy, for whom soccer is exhausting on multiple levels, authority figures are objects of frightening power, parents are well-meaning but often don’t get it (Dad, let the kid drop soccer already!), and friendships are more complex than the hardest math problems. If you know someone like Justin, you’ll clutch this book close to your heart. But that’s me talking, an adult, getting all nostalgic and wanting to hug every Justin Case on this planet (only if it didn’t alarm said kids). Let me add that there is real child value here. Despite some comparisons on the Goodreads reviews, the style is not of the Wimpy Kid variety, where the humor is relies on characters fulfilling their roles as types (like the older brother with forbidden magazines and music, which Greg finds, etc.). The humor in JUSTIN CASE lies in the overly analyzed way in which Justin observes his world, often misinterpreting it or blowing things out of proportion. Kids will laugh at Justin’s worried ways…but there is some self-recognition too.

Justin is a planner. He likes a predictable schedule. He likes to know life in advance. Justin learns that he can’t always have the life he planned for. None of us can. You can’t choose your teacher, your dog, or sometimes even your friends. They choose you, and they make you grow. He’d have been fine having only Daisy and Noah as his friends forever, but third grade forced him into a wider circle, and he finds some common ground with kids he would not have touched with a ten foot pole. Once his ideal of friendship is put aside, he can made friends, just like once his ideal of dogs is put aside, he can start caring about Qwerty. Once he sees Qwerty’s need and his fear, or say Gianni’s, Justin can set aside his own fears in his desire to be gentle to those who open up to him.

If I could sum Justin in one word, I don’t think it would be “worried.” It would be vulnerable. “Worried” is too dismissive (as in, “stop worrying”). “Vulnerable” is pure and earnest and full of heart. It comes from the Latin word vulnus, meaning wound. Justin carries wounds with him. His quest is to find healing.

And the magic of these books is that Justin begins to see vulnerability in others. For example, he lives in mortal fear of Xavier Schwartz and Gianni Schicci (notice how the surnames usually are included as a distancing, objectifying technique, as if these action figures are still fresh from the box, whereas his former best friend Daisy remains just Daisy, sweet and lovely, yet not motivated to remain close to him). Unlike Daisy, Xavier and Gianni are rough, rowdy kids. But during the novel, Justin sees a bit deeper into them. Gianni loves stuffed animals as much as Justin does. Xavier calls Justin his friend. Those moments work like scaffolding to hold up Justin and connect him to a world that may have vulnerability too.

The family and social demands on Justin are complex, and this would be a terrific book to read aloud in the classroom or at home, to talk about Justin’s perceptions and the reality of the situations that challenge him so much. It’s a good book to talk through because it’s a book with something to say. 

Rough commute to work

Some days it's hard to get started.

Some days you can't wait to dig right in.

Coming so soon!

Look who's back!

PIGGY BUNNY art!

Just received the art Jeremy Tankard made for the PIGGY BUNNY giveaway and wow, I am not sure I can do it! Can I really give this away???

When my husband was little and went to a friend's birthday party, he very proudly brought the beautifully wrapped gift (my MIL is a master wrapper) -- but then absolutely refused to hand it over to the birthday child. Had a massive fit and was finally taken home with the probably by then quite mangled gift still clutched in his sweaty little hands.

I'm not saying something similar is happening to me with this gorgeous original art. But maybe.

can you blame me?

Just a few days left -- enter to win it and maybe you'll get it.

All you have to do is post what you're hoping for this spring. 

Here or on facebook or twitter (with #piggybunny) -- and tag me.

But first: I just turned in a revision of my new book.

Can't decide if I should walk in the spring air or collapse on the couch.

Advice?

Love,

Rachel Vail

Hooray for JUSTIN! And Spring! Spring? Hello?

Hooray for JUSTIN!

Just saw that JUSTIN CASE: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom is on the 2013 edition of "Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults" from the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education!

Also: in honor holy moley despite the snow that's about to fall it actually is spring and almost time for the Easter Bunny, I am going to give away a signed copy of PIGGY BUNNY! 

All you have to do to enter is link here on facebook or twitter with #piggybunny (and tag me so I know to enter you).

BUT (as they used to say on those commercials for ginzo knives and accordian plastic bowls) BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE: 

brilliant illustrator Jeremy Tankard drew this original art for the winner:

and there is a chance that if you are the lucky winner, I will part with this bit of perfection and send it to you along with the book.

But there is a chance I won't because, yeah. I love that picture. 

I will try.

If you don't enter, maybe I could just keep it with a clear conscience... hmmm...

Well, do your thing.

I had surgery on my leg 10 days ago and I'm better each day but starting to get a little punchy under near house arrest so, yk, no promises.

But much love,

Rachel Vail

Weird rules

I've been thinking about the weird rules my family has made.

Like,

Don't be weird in somebody else's face.

Plums are not one-bite food.

Don't ask for poster board after 7 PM.

No screaming unless you are actually on fire.

Don't comment on other people's food choices.

Flush.

No dessert before dinner except sometimes.



What are your family's weirdest (or most important) rules?

My cousin Meredith uses, Yogurt is not finger food. Other good ones I've gotten from friends on facebook include: teeth are not tools; no farting on Mommy's lap; No Barney; no more licking your shoes.

All excellent suggestions I am planning to implement before it's too late.

There is an excellent piece of art, part of a collection you might want to look into if you're into such things, at Meredith's blog. Also a hilarious video series.

Oh, I should add around here we also have: no mixed metaphors. And one space after a period, and YES, the Oxford comma. Obviously. Also, You are not allowed to begin a sentence with Mommy how do you spell... (because I CAN'T SPELL. There, the truth is out.)

And: wouldn't this make a fun picture book? What would be the title?

Prizes for good suggestions on both counts...

Love,
Rachel Vail