Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Avalanche
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://melindabraun.com/
CITY:
STATE: MN
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Melinda-Braun/480386921 * http://blogcritics.org/interview-with-young-adult-writer-melinda-braun/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: one daughter.
EDUCATION:University of Minnesota, two bachelor’s degrees.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Hiking, camping.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Melinda Braun is an author of books for teens and children. She holds two degrees from the University of Minnesota. In 2007 she published Luella, a children’s picture book that tells the story of a dog named Pancake who befriends a rescued duck named Luella. A writer in Children’s Bookwatch commented: “The minimal yet colorful illustrations complement this lovely children’s story.”
Stranded
In her first novel for teens, Stranded, Braun tells the story of a group of kids who endure a natural disaster while on a camping trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in northern Minnesota. Among the teens in the group is Emma, who is grieving from the recent death of her sister. Led by a guide, the group is traversing the wilderness when a freak storm hits. In the midst of the chaos, their guide and a few of the members of the group die, and four of the teens are left to fend for themselves. Their supply of food dwindles, they suffer from injuries, and they are approached by wild animals. Additionally, their group dynamics become difficult, as Emma and others clash with a boy named Isaac. However, Emma finds herself drawn to a boy named Oscar. As the days pass, the four survivors become increasingly desperate to be rescued.
In an interview with a contributor to the Adventures in YA Publishing Web site, Braun explained how she developed the idea for the story. She suggested that living in Minnesota was one of the inspirations. Braun stated: “One thing Minnesotans really love to do in the summer is ‘go up north’ and ‘go to the cabin’. I’ve been up in the north woods area several times, but had never done serious camping. I had heard about a Boy Scout troop who got lost out on a lake in the BWCA, but they were rescued very quickly. I also heard a few other stories … about other campers having to be rescued for various reasons.” Discussing her goals for the book, Braun told Diane Morasco, writer on the Blogcritics Web site: “What I’m hoping readers will come away with: Number 1—that they enjoy the story, enjoy the writing, and wonder what they would do in the same situation. Number 2—that they realize how important each character is in the story (even the unlikeable one). Because, in the end, they all need each other to survive, even if they don’t know it.” In the same interview with Morasco, Braun discussed the pieces of herself that have been incorporated into the book’s characters. She stated: “I suppose Emma is based on how I felt as a teenager (and even now) as well as Isaac’s character. The things they think and say and do are things that I maybe would do as well. And though Isaac is a ‘jerk’ he represents that jerk side we all have in us. I don’t act like Isaac or even agree with him, but I recognize that part in myself. Emma recognizes it to, which is why Isaac unsettles her so much.”
Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Kristin Anderson commented: “Fans of the genre will appreciate the fast pace and be comfortable with the parameters of the narrative.” Anderson also stated that Stranded “will definitely appeal to teens.” “Although the characters leave a lot to be desired, this title will appeal to action-enthused fans of survival stories,” remarked Jenna Friebel, a reviewer in School Library Journal.
Avalanche
Braun returns to the wilderness disaster trope in her 2016 book, Avalanche. Best friends and high school seniors Matt and Tony travel to Colorado together to visit Tony’s brother for spring break. Matt had initially planned to spend time with his flaky father, but as he expected, his father did not follow through. However, Matt hopes to have a great time in Colorado. He and Tony are looking forward to skiing and partying with Tony’s older brother. They and some of Tony’s friends head to the Rockies. Matt hits it off with Leah, one of the girls on the trip. While they are skiing, an avalanche wipes out part of their group. Matt attempts to help the surviving members of the party. Over the course of four days, they experience additional troubles and hope help is on the way to them.
Laura Woodruff, a reviewer in Voice of Youth Advocates, described Avalanche as “full of action and teen drama.” Woodruff added: “Avalanche is an easy and appealing story, especially appropriate for reluctant male readers.” “With accessible, propulsive writing, this survival adventure tale will be a hit with a broad audience,” asserted Donna Scanlon in Booklist. A critic in Kirkus Reviews remarked: “Braun is talented at describing suspenseful threats.” The same critic called the book “just the ticket for readers who like hearty doses of suspenseful adventure.” School Library Journal contributor Elisa Cooper suggested: “Braun’s cinematic descriptions place readers in the middle of the action, while touches of humor and contemplation … will keep them interested.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2016, Donna Scanlon, review of Avalanche, p. 56.
Children’s Bookwatch, December, 2007, review of Luella.
Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2016, review of Avalanche.
School Library Journal, October, 2015, Jenna Friebel, review of Stranded, p. 99; October, 2016, Elisa Cooper, review of Avalanche, p. 108.
Voice of Youth Advocates, October, 2015, Kristin Anderson, review of Stranded, p. 50; December, 2016, Laura Woodruff, review of Avalanche, p. 56.
ONLINE
Adventures in YA Publishing, http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/ (August 29, 2015), author interview.
Blogcritics, http://blogcritics.org/ (December 22, 2015), Diane Morasco, author interview.
Melinda Braun Home Page, http://melindabraun.com (July 17, 2017).*
Novels
Stranded (2015)
Avalanche (2016)
thumbthumb
Picture Books
Luella (2007)
Hello! Even though my name is Melinda nobody EVER calls me that. At least, not since I was a kid and I pushed my little sister down the stairs in the clothes hamper. I am Mindy.
This is not my vineyard. Not yet, anyway...
This is not my vineyard. Not yet, anyway...
badfruitfigs.jpg
I grew up in Wisconsin, but now live in Minnesota. I like long walks on the beach, coffee and donuts, both dogs and cats, but not guinea pigs because their little red eyes give me the creeps. My favorite color is pool blue and my favorite animal is an owl.
I watched too much of The Benny Hill show and Monty Python's Flying Circus at a tender age, which explains my wrong sense of humor.
This is the most informative about page ever. Obviously.
Melinda Braun grew up in Wisconsin and received her Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and English from the University of Minnesota. Currently, she lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and daughter. Although she loves hiking and camping, she does not enjoy portaging canoes. Stranded is her first novel.
QUOTED: "What I’m hoping readers will come away with: Number 1 – that they enjoy the story, enjoy the writing, and wonder what they would do in the same situation. Number 2 – that they realize how important each character is in the story (even the unlikeable one). Because, in the end, they all need each other to survive, even if they don’t know it."
"I suppose Emma is based on how I felt as a teenager (and even now) as well as Isaac’s character. The things they think and say and do are things that I maybe would do as well. And though Isaac is a “jerk” he represents that jerk side we all have in us. I don’t act like Isaac or even agree with him, but I recognize that part in myself. Emma recognizes it to, which is why Isaac unsettles her so much."
Interview with Young Adult Writer Melinda Braun
Posted by: Diane Morasco December 22, 2015 in Book Interviews, Books, Young Adult and Children's Literature Comments Off on Interview with Young Adult Writer Melinda Braun
Please Share...Print this pageTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook0Share on Google+0Pin on Pinterest0Share on Tumblr0Share on StumbleUpon0Share on Reddit0Email this to someone
MB winery1
Even though her name is Melinda nobody EVER calls her that. At least, not since she was a kid and she pushed her little sister down the stairs in the clothes hamper. She is called Mindy.
She loves coffee. And donuts. But mostly coffee. Sometimes she goes to bed at night and gets excited that in the morning she will get up and have coffee. Again.
Mindy grew up in Wisconsin, but now lives in Minnesota.
She watched too much of The Benny Hill show and Monty Python’s Flying Circus at a tender age, which explains her wrong sense of humor.
Hi Melinda! I want to thank you for taking the time for this interview. I’m so excited!
When you first started writing, Melinda, who were your influences?
When I first started writing I honestly didn’t have any particular influences, at least not consciously. As I took writing classes in college, however, some of our assignments were to take a page of our work and rewrite it in the style of an author we were reading at the time. This was a great way to really “see” different styles. My favorite was Cormac McCarthy. The hardest I found to imitate were Toni Morrison and Nabokov. They were in a class by themselves!
When you first started on your writing journey was there anyone in the writing world that you aspired to be like?
There was a particular author I aspired too, but there were books I wished I had written. Certain authors I really admired were Somerset Maugham, Thorton Wilder, and Louise Erdrich.
Was there an author who encouraged you or guided you along with the writing process?
It was my teachers who really encouraged and guided me! Both high school English teachers and creative writing professors. I was fortunate to have teachers like Julie Schumacher, David Trudeau, and Garrison Keillor. They all gave me positive feedback on my writing and it really helped to remember that when things seemed to be moving slowly, if at all.
What type of support system did you have when you started penning Stranded? How has your support system changed or shifted since publication?
My support system was really my agent, Hannah. She was enthusiastic about my writing from the beginning and I signed with her in the fall of 2011. And then she stuck through with me through several years of not selling anything!
Who gave you words of encouragement when you needed it?
My daughter really gave me encouragement. She’s six. And she’s at an age where she is always learning something new and becoming more self-sufficient. But she would get frustrated and say she couldn’t do something, and I would remind her that everything takes practice and sometimes it takes a long time to learn how to do something. As Saadi said, “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” That’s good advice for most grown-ups as well.
What sparked the idea for Stranded?
The idea for Stranded came quite easily. The editors wanted an action, survival book taking place in the wilderness and being a Minnesotan, my first impulse was to look north where the wilderness still exists. The idea of a teenage camping trip seemed obvious to me and it was also easy to imagine how things could go from bad to worse out in that kind of environment.
What are you hoping that readers will come away with when reading Stranded?
What I’m hoping readers will come away with: Number 1 – that they enjoy the story, enjoy the writing, and wonder what they would do in the same situation. Number 2 – that they realize how important each character is in the story (even the unlikeable one). Because, in the end, they all need each other to survive, even if they don’t know it.
Please describe your writing space.
I don’t have an official writing space! I like to write in the basement laundry room on a card table, facing the wall. No distractions and I like the white noise of the machines running (and the smell of clean clothes!) I’m old enough that I still write out my rough drafts long hand. I’m something of a doodler and my imagination is less restrained when I have a pen in hand. Not a keyboard.
Please share what you’re writing day is like.
Right now I’m in the middle of revisions, so I have a set number of pages I try to get through each day. At least ten pages. I also have a weekly count (because some days it just doesn’t happen) based on when I need to get the draft back to my editor.
MB Stranded
How much does social media come into play when writing? Does it help or hinder your writing process? Do you ever find yourself procrastinating on a project and getting lost in social media to escape what you need to get done?
I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I don’t really “get” Twitter. Sorry! I figure if I have something incredibly insightful, funny, and or astute, I will put it in a book instead! Or not. The way I procrastinate is by cleaning or organizing closets or making to do lists, not checking Facebook. I’m a horrible Virgo!
Are you a morning, afternoon or evening writer?
Normally, I’m a morning to afternoon writer. By 8 pm I’m totally useless!
Do you outline?
I used to never outline! I do now, though. I at least try to have a bare bones plot, which I may or may not stick to!
Did you know the ending of Stranded before you started writing it?
I did know the ending! Or at least, I had a good idea. I’m pretty good with beginnings and endings. It’s the middle part that’s hard. I know where I want to end up, but I don’t know the route I’ll take. I think of what the novelist E.L. Doctorow said. “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
How did the writing process for Stranded start out? Did you start with the characters or research?
The process started with characters. Mainly the main character, Emma. She was going to be going on this camping trip in the Boundary Waters, something she had never done before. Why? What was the reason? I started with that thought and went from there.
Are any of the characters in your novels based on real people in your life?
I suppose Emma is based on how I felt as a teenager (and even now) as well as Isaac’s character. The things they think and say and do are things that I maybe would do as well. And though Isaac is a “jerk” he represents that jerk side we all have in us. I don’t act like Isaac or even agree with him, but I recognize that part in myself. Emma recognizes it to, which is why Isaac unsettles her so much.
Melinda, are you happy with the way Stranded turned out?
I am! Obviously, there are always things that can be improved, but once a book goes out in the world, you just have to let it go. You can make yourself crazy trying to nitpick every little detail.
What is the best part of writing and worse part of writing for you?
The best part about writing making an idea that was in my head into a tangible reality. Creating something. Making it real and then sharing it with other people. I think that is the whole point of art, really. The worst part is when people reject it. That sucks, but I also can’t take it personally. Another hard thing. It would be like me going up to someone and saying, “Hey, don’t take this personally, but your kid is ugly AND stupid. But not you. Just your kid, okay?” Of course you’re going to take it personally!
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
My favorite part really is the creating of something brand new, just literally making something with my hands. It’s that time when you lose track of time, you’re so into what you’re doing.
What three goals do you wish to accomplish with your writing career?
My three goals are to: 1. Keep writing more books! 2. Improve my writing. I would like to be able to write the kind of books that win awards. 3. Eventually be able to write as a full-time job.
What is the one piece of advice you would give a budding writer on the road to publication?
Don’t quit. Study other writers. Take classes if you can. Join a writing group or critique group if you can. Even if you live in the boonies, you can find like-minded people on the Internet! Long live the Internet! That’s how I learned to write a proper query letter, how to find which agents were looking for clients, as well as finding other writers to critique sample pages. Don’t think you can do this all on your own!
What do you think is the source of your own inspiration and energy?
I don’t know if it was the way I was raised or just a personality trait. Maybe both. I was always told growing up that I could accomplish something if I put my mind to it. Not that it would be easy, but that it was possible. I’ve always stuck to that. I think it also helps to be a curious person. You need to be curious about the world around you – you need to pay attention. If someone tells you that the sky is blue, you don’t nod and just agree. You ask why. You start with something and keep going.
How do you handle your editing process?
I cry. No, just kidding. I take a deep breath, make some notes, figure out the main problems I need to resolve and then just start plugging away. Revisions are definitely harder than just spewing out a rough draft. I’m good at producing stuff, but the hard part is the cleaning up and refining.
Do you have a spiritual philosophy or a way of viewing life that guides you?
I don’t know if this is a spiritual philosophy: I’d rather light a candle than curse the darkness. Just keep trying. We don’t know how much time we have left in the world, but there is always something you can do, no matter how small. Be useful. If you see something that needs to be done, do it. If there’s a problem, try to fix it. Don’t sit around whining about it or waiting for someone else to solve your problems!
What do you do to pamper yourself?
Pamper myself? Uh, eat a really good meal (that I didn’t have to cook!)
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
My guiltiest pleasure would be playing hooky from work and going to the movies by myself.
Salty or sweet?
Salty and sweet together! My favorite is caramel corn, kettle corn, and cheese popcorn mixed together. Total crack.
Which season do you identify with the most and why?
I love spring. I’m a gardener and I love that first day when you can smell the dirt. After a Midwest winter, it is one of the greatest smells around.
MB badfruitfigs
Beach or mountain?
Beach.
Walking or cycling?
Walking.
What three novels are on your nightstand?
I actually have 5 on my nightstand. Just finished The Girl on the Train (couldn’t put it down), Crooked Heart (loved it). Currently, I’m reading California by Edan Lepucki. Up next is Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kruger, and The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout.
Again, thank you so much, Melinda.
Stop by Melinda’s website for the latest news.
QUOTED: "one thing Minnesotans really love to do in the summer is "go up north" and "go to the cabin". I've been up in the north woods area several times, but had never done serious camping. I had heard about a Boy Scout troop who got lost out on a lake in the BWCA, but they were rescued very quickly. I also heard a few other stories ... about other campers having to be rescued for various reasons."
Saturday, August 29, 2015
1
Melinda Braun, author of STRANDED, on continuing to try and improve
We're delighted to have Melinda Braun join us to chat about her debut novel STRANDED.
Melinda, what was your inspiration for writing STRANDED?
My inspiration for Stranded came from a few different things:
I grew up in Wisconsin but now have lived in Minnesota for more than half my life, and one thing Minnesotans really love to do in the summer is "go up north" and "go to the cabin". I've been up in the north woods area several times, but had never done serious camping. I had heard about a Boy Scout troop who got lost out on a lake in the BWCA, but they were rescued very quickly. I also heard a few other stories (short news articles) about other campers having to be rescued for various reasons. The BWCA has also had several large forest fires over the years, and I decided to take all that information and roll it up into a camping trip that goes horribly wrong for a small group of teenagers.
How long did you work on STRANDED?
The rough draft was written in four months, which is very quick for me. Then it went through several rounds of revisions with my editor at Simon Pulse, Nicole Ellul, who did an amazing job of offering ideas and guidance, and just making the story tighter, cleaner, and more intense. All told, it was about a year between the first sentence I wrote and when the final edits were completed.
What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book--or visa versa?
I guess some comparisons to Hatchet have already been made. I guess I would pitch this book as Hatchet meets The Breakfast Club. Okay, now you can probably guess how old I am!
How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?
My road to publication was pretty long, it's been almost twelve years to get to this point. I wrote a novel many years ago, but never had any agent interest. Then I went back to school to finish my English degree with a creative writing emphasis at the University of Minnesota, which helped my writing skills immensely. I wrote another novel (YA sci-fi) in 2010 and that novel got me an agent (the awesome Hannah Bowman) in 2011. But that novel ultimately did not sell (came heart-breakingly close). Then I worked on a few more things (more sci-fi and a quieter novel that I do think has some promise). I was working on that when the opportunity from Simon and Schuster came along. So there were plenty of starts and stops and close calls and getting my hopes up and then getting them crushed, but I knew if I kept trying and improving I would get there.
What are you working on now?
Right now I'm currently working on another survival book for Simon Pulse, tentatively titled Snow Fall. It's about a group of teenagers who go back country skiing in the Colorado wilderness during spring break. Let's just say hilarity does not ensue!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Stranded by Melinda Braun
Hardcover
Simon Pulse
Released 8/25/2015
In the tradition of 127 Hours and The Edge, a fascinating and suspenseful novel about a group of teens battling for their lives against the most violent villain in history—Mother Nature.
It’s human instinct to survive…but Mother Nature has other plans.
Plagued with guilt after surviving the car accident that took her sister’s life, Emma ventures into the rugged and mysterious wilderness of the Boundary Waters in search of some much needed peace. But when a freak windstorm kills her guide, Emma and a handful of other campers are forced to fend for themselves. Lost, hungry, and exhausted, the small group must rely on their survival instincts as they travel through the forest towards Lake Superior.
But the Boundary Waters is vast and unpredictable, and as the days drag on, it becomes clear that the group is no match for what Mother Nature has in store—and time is running out.
As they continue to battle the elements, Emma realizes that nature isn’t her only threat: there’s one camper who will do whatever it takes to make it out of the Boundary Waters alive. Even if he’s the only one…
With ripped-from-the-headlines drama, this stirring story of heroism and survival will have you at the edge of your seat until the very last page.
QUOTED: "full of action and teen drama."
"Avalanche is an easy and appealing story, especially appropriate for reluctant male readers."
Braun, Melinda. Avalanche
Laura Woodruff
39.5 (Dec. 2016): p56.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
3Q *3P . M.J*S * R
Braun, Melinda. Avalanche. Simon Pulse, 2016. 272p. $17.99. 978-1-4814-3822-3.
Matt Rubin, nearly eighteen, is big and tough--on the outside. Now traveling to the Rockies in Colorado with his friend Tony, Matt is dealing with the fact that his father has let him down once again. Father and son were supposed to be relaxing in sunny Florida, so this skiing holiday with Tony's brother Sid is a poor last-minute substitute. Matt meets several of Sid's friends, including gorgeous Leah, an excellent skier, and six teens travel up the mountain until they seem to meet the sky. Near the end of a strenuous and exciting day of skiing, the group is hit with an avalanche that temporarily buries Matt, severely injures Sid, and kills another boy. The survivors find a deserted cabin. Matt and Leah are sent to find help. The two struggle, blindly trying to locate a cell signal or some pathway, and each one falls into several life-threatening accidents. They do not know that a hungry mountain lion follows them, waiting for his chance.
Matt recovers from so many near-death catastrophes that his accidents almost become tedious. Shouldn't he learn to notice the edge of cliffs? Nevertheless, this second novel by Braun (Stranded [Simon Pulse, 2015/VOYA October 2015]) is full of action and teen drama. Matt is a sweet, if clumsy, character who rings true. Avalanche is an easy and appealing story, especially appropriate for reluctant male readers.--Laura Woodruff.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Woodruff, Laura. "Braun, Melinda. Avalanche." Voice of Youth Advocates, Dec. 2016, p. 56. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA474767908&it=r&asid=5c6e80b6d65cb15848d05c111bbc219d. Accessed 30 May 2017.
QUOTED: "With accessible, propulsive writing, this survival adventure tale will be a hit with a broad audience."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A474767908
Avalanche
Donna Scanlon
113.5 (Nov. 1, 2016): p56.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Avalanche. By Melinda Braun. Nov. 2016. 272p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $17.99 (9781481438223). Gr. 9-12.
Matt, a high-school senior, was supposed to go to Florida with his father for spring break, but the plans fell through for reasons Matt doesn't even want to think about. Instead, he's flying to Colorado with his best friend Tony to visit Tony's brother, Sid. Once there, they go on a ski trip through a challenging pass in the Rocky Mountains, along with Sid and his housemates, Carter and Leah, and two other friends. They get off to a good start, and Matt has just about forgotten his disappointment, when an avalanche buries one of the party and badly injures another. While the others seek shelter, Matt and Leah brave the dark, storms, snow, and wild animals to get help. Braun intersperses the nail-biting suspense with humor and depth. Her realistically varied characters never fall into stock characterization, and shifting points of view, including that of a mountain lion, add compelling perspective and drive the plot forward. With accessible, propulsive writing, this survival adventure tale will be a hit with a broad audience.--Donna Scanlon
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Scanlon, Donna. "Avalanche." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2016, p. 56. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471142929&it=r&asid=caced058d26eb13e89529a6766cc441f. Accessed 30 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Braun is talented at describing suspenseful threats."
"just the ticket for readers who like hearty doses of suspenseful adventure."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A471142929
Melinda Braun: AVALANCHE
(Sept. 15, 2016):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Melinda Braun AVALANCHE Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster (Adult Fiction) 17.99 11, 29 ISBN: 978-1-4814-3822-3
Seven friends head out to the backcountry to do some skiing and hiking. How many are going to make it home?Matt Ruban should have been heading to Florida, but instead he's with his best friend, Tony, in the Rockies. A ski trip with new friends seems like it will take his mind off his fight with his dad. It helps that some of those new friends are cute girls. One of those cute girls, Leah, even seems to like him. The ski trip starts well enough, even if Matt and Tony do discover they're out of shape, but when an avalanche interrupts their path, they find themselves fighting for survival in unforgiving territory. The avalanche is only the beginning of a chain of disasters that threaten their lives and makes them wish they'd never strapped on a pair of skies. Braun (Stranded, 2015) offers a compelling, fast-paced plot with plenty of action. In fact, there's almost too much action—the sheer number of mishaps during a four-day period begins to feel convenient instead of natural. Interesting back stories help the characters (all evidently white) maintain authenticity, and a sense of suspense makes the pages fly by. Braun is talented at describing suspenseful threats, such as the steady approach of a mountain lion that realizes that injury makes a human easy prey. Just the ticket for readers who like hearty doses of suspenseful adventure. (Adventure. 12-15)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Melinda Braun: AVALANCHE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA463216073&it=r&asid=ecb9a2ac501c056c0101dcaca53ac80e. Accessed 30 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Fans of the genre will appreciate the fast pace and be comfortable with the parameters of the narrative."
"will definitely appeal to teens."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A463216073
Braun, Melinda. Stranded
Kristin Anderson
38.4 (Oct. 2015): p50.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
3Q * 4P * J * S
Braun, Melinda. Stranded. Simon Pulse, 2015. 272p. $17.99. 978-1-4814-3819-3.
Seventeen-year-old Emma, struggling after the tragic death of her younger sister, decides to go on a hiking trip in the Minnesota wilderness of Boundary Waters. When the group encounters a sudden, fierce storm, the group leader and several of its members are killed. The four teen survivors must figure out how to survive with the resources they have and find ways to maximize their chances of being rescued. Emma develops feelings for Oscar. Meanwhile, Isaac, the villain of the quartet, goes out of his way to harass her. His behavior is later attributed to his own troubled background, though more sinister motivations are hinted at throughout. Chloe rounds out the foursome.
Evocative of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet (Bradbury, 1987/VOYA February 1988), this title will appeal to its older fans. It will also appeal to fans of teen horror-suspense, like the works of April Henry. As is often the case in this type of novel, the characters are formulaic and the plot is implausible. Periodically, tools to aid survival are produced, having been "forgotten" at the bottom of packs; for example, a survival kit appears in this manner several days into the ordeal. That said, fans of the genre will appreciate the fast pace and be comfortable with the parameters of the narrative. While not perfect, this title has an easy hook and will definitely appeal to teens.--Kristin Anderson.
Anderson, Kristin
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Anderson, Kristin. "Braun, Melinda. Stranded." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2015, p. 50. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA432172918&it=r&asid=bb985362590feaec00e224e774462135. Accessed 30 May 2017.
QUOTED: "The minimal yet colorful illustrations complement this lovely children's story."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A432172918
Luella
(Dec. 2007):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2007 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Luella
Melinda Braun
Savage Press
PO Box 115, Superior, WI 54880
9781886028852, $14.95
Inspired by stories of a pet duck, Luella is a children's picturebook about a family who adopts an orphaned baby duckling into their home. Luella becomes imprinted upon the family dog, Pancake. Luella grows up and eats dog kibble, follows Pancake out in the yard, and curls up to sleep next to him on his dog bed. Luella won't even do duck things like swim--until, on a family trip to the lake, Pancake starts to dog paddle, and Luella splashes into the water after him! The minimal yet colorful illustrations complement this lovely children's story about a dog teaching a duck to swim.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Luella." Children's Bookwatch, Dec. 2007. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA173465648&it=r&asid=63515c7c18425d951f02ff927587510a. Accessed 30 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Braun's cinematic descriptions place readers in the middle of the action, while touches of humor and contemplation ... will keep them interested."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A173465648
Braun, Melinda. Avalanche
Elisa Cooper
62.10 (Oct. 2016): p108.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
BRAUN, Melinda. Avalanche. 272p. ebook available. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Nov. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481438223.
Gr 9 Up--An avalanche turns out to be the least of their worries as one mishap after another befalls a group of young adults. High school senior Matt wasn't supposed to go to Colorado for spring break with his best friend, Tony. But Matt's dad, as usual, bails on him, so the guys meet up with Tony's older brother and his friends to party and ski. When an avalanche kills one person and incapacitates another, the narrative moves among Matt's rescue party, those tending to the injured person, and the mountain lion hunting the unaware humans. Any one of the ensuing calamities would take a miracle to survive, but adventure stories require the suspension of disbelief. Braun's cinematic descriptions place readers in the middle of the action, while touches of humor and contemplation about life and family issues will keep them interested in the characters. Strong, smart Leah is the most compelling one to watch and learn from. This is an easy read, but language, alcohol, and mild drug use might make this more appropriate for an older audience. VERDICT Purchase where there is high demand for adventure tales.--Elissa Cooper, Helen Plum Memorial Library, Lombard, IL
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Cooper, Elisa. "Braun, Melinda. Avalanche." School Library Journal, Oct. 2016, p. 108. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466166952&it=r&asid=6e594ca16e56a74606926a2a9146b40c. Accessed 30 May 2017.
QUOTED: "Although the characters leave a lot to be desired, this title will appeal to action-enthused fans of survival stories."
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466166952
Braun, Melinda. Stranded
Jenna Friebel
61.10 (Oct. 2015): p99.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
BRAUN, Melinda. Stranded. 272p. ebook available. S. & S./Simon Pulse. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481438193.
Gr 7 Up--In Braun's fast-paced survival story, a group of teens must fend for themselves and one another after a freak storm leaves them without their guide in the middle of the Boundary Waters, a large wilderness area in northern Minnesota. Emma had decided to take part in this trip as a means of escape from the guilt she feels over her sister's death. When she finds herself facing hunger, pain, wild animals, a potentially sociopathic teen, and the whims of treacherous Mother Nature, she begins to doubt her abilities to escape another dire situation. With each passing day, the teens realize the only way to be saved is to save themselves. The focus on survival and conflict with nature moves the story along at a breakneck pace but at the expense of maintaining believable, rounded characters. The characters' actions are sometimes random and seem thrown in simply to service the plot. Protagonist Emma is the only one with some substance and growth, while most others are bland cookie cutouts. "Bad boy" Isaac feels like a caricature and, while a jerk, never manages to feel as menacing as Mother Nature (although he does exude a creepy vibe). That said, teens interested in action may be able to overlook the characterization flaws. Reluctant readers will appreciate the straightforward storytelling. VERDICT Although the characters leave a lot to be desired, this title will appeal to action-enthused fans of survival stories.--Jenna Friebel, Deerfield Public Library, IL
Friebel, Jenna
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Friebel, Jenna. "Braun, Melinda. Stranded." School Library Journal, Oct. 2015, p. 99. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA431724883&it=r&asid=e93e64d471cf8baf8eb84f8fc5697368. Accessed 30 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A431724883