#maggotmoon

[amothersramblings]

A friend from the school I volunteer at, loaned me a couple of books to read. I've now read #MaggotMoon four times and have ordered a copy for myself. It is an amazing book and one that shows a distopian future... well past, that really could have happened. It only takes me about an hour to stop crying EVERY TIME I finish reading it, which is a minor miracle because it is so emotional. The Hot Chocolate is to hopefully stop the crying quicker this read! #Reading #Read #Reader #TeenFiction #Book #BookWorm #Books #Bookstagram #Distopian #Friendship #Love #Emotional #CryingAlready #Motherland #CurlUpWithABook #AmReading #BookAddict #BookLover #Bibliophile #BookNerd #BookPorn #HotChocolate

[wunderstrck-blog]

Maggot Moon Reflection

Creating this bookcast was certainly a challenge for me; however, for my first video-making experience, I thought it was quite enjoyable and the process of thinking through what I wanted to communicate and what images would reflect that was really fun. The images and video clips that I chose for the bookcast are an attempt at embodying my favorite part of Maggot Moon: the idea that the underdog can win. I loved the vague reference to David and Goliath and the one stone that killed the giant. Standish clung to this story as he attempted to gather his courage to take on the army of the Motherland. The idea that one underestimated boy could go up against an entire corrupt government really stuck with me and left me with hope, despite the heaviness of the novel.  I wanted to capture this idea, rather than the dark, bleakness of the novel. I also wanted to connect this idea to here and now and as the viewers to consider the “What if” of a better world and the possible effect of one person choosing to do what’s right, to have courage, to stand against evil. The video begins in black in white because I wanted to connect to the black and white images that Standish watched on television and contrast them to the color images he associated with freedom and happiness. 

I found the writing style of Maggot Moon to be easily relatable. The character of Standish’s dyslexia and constant tendency to daydream was both endearing and empathy-inducing and made me think of him as much younger than his actual age, 15. From the first chapter, I was hooked. Gardner’s style of storytelling had me instantly wondering who Standish was, why he only lived with his grandpa, and what was on the other side of the infamous wall. The succinctness of the book contributed to the abruptness and intensity of the plot, and the narrator’s brutally honest descriptions certainly created a jarring experience in many scenes. However, the biggest impact the book had on me was the hope that Standish relied on to fuel his courage and stand up to the seemingly undefeatable enemy. 

[timelordsandthechosenone]

taggie

The Rules:

Rule 1: Always post the rules

Rule 2: Answer the questions the person who tagged you asked and write 5 new ones

Rule 3: Tag 5 new people and link them to the post

Rule 4: Let them know you’ve tagged them

I was tagged by inkybirds

1) Do you believe in “internet friends” ? yes I have met so many awesome people through the internet and I can't wait to make even more.

2) What ship is your OTP? Amy/Rory 

3) Who do you ship yourself with? no-one because I don't know any boys :) 

4) Fave kind of sweet/candy?  Galaxy Chocolate and Chupa Chups strawberry lollipops :D

5) Fave drink? Cookie Dough Milkshake :3

6)Dream job? working in film or tv or photography

7) If you had your own show, what would it be about? i like this question, I would have a show about music because I love it a lot. 

8) What is your most played song at the moment? Your Life Over Mine by BriBry

9)Do you like tattoos? If you do, would you ever get any? no to both, i just don't  see myself doing it.

10) If you could dye your hair an colour and it wouldn’t affect your life in any way, what colour would you dye it?  Red :)

11) Your favorite book? The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

12) what flavour milkshake would you be? Cookie Dough :P

13) what is your dream pet? A cat or a unicorn or a narwhal :P

14) ever met anyone famous? Paul McCartney walked past me and my mum while we were in London, does that count?

15) define yourself in one word. Creative 

16) what is one thing you’ve wanted to do for ages and could do right now? (do it!!) More of my wreck this journal :D   

I am tagging hpmadd, hilarythehamburger, maggotmoon, jessicalouiseowen and jasminegellatly

MY QUESTIONS TO YOU-

1) If you could have any item of clothing you want right now, what would it be?

2) Who is your favourite youtuber?

3) Who are your favourite band?

4) What is your favourite song in the whole entire world?

5) What sandwich filling would you be?

[emmareadsstories-blog]

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner (Hot Key Books)

Published by Hot Key Books - where I’m lucky enough to be interning in March - this book was the deserved winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award 2012. 

Maggot Moon is a dystopian tale centered around the life of Standish Treadwell and his Gramps as they struggle to endure life in zone seven - an exile for political adversaries and outcasts of the brutal Motherland regime - and plan for their survival. Standish is bullied and isolated (with one blue eye and one brown) he has dyslexia, and is tormented by those who think he is stupid.  It is 1956 and London is in the grip of a ruthless regime - think Nazi Germany - that seeks to expel the impure. The regime is mercilessly racing to send a man to the moon for the first time. Standish knows the truth though, thanks to the moon man that lives in the cellar under his house. After his bestfriend, Hector, is taken Standish begins to navigate the challenging world he lives in alone. 

This book doesn’t shy away from the reality of Standish’s situation and I think that’s what make it so compelling. It’s graphic in the depiction of violence, demonstrating the threat of danger is very real and ever present. Told in super short chapters in first person narrative, the voice of Standish propels the reader towards the big realisation: Standish is the only hope left. He is determined to reveal the truth and the end is poignant and haunting, full of courage and beauty. This book is more than a story about a totalitarian regime - it is one about friendship, hope and believing in the power of truth. 

Summary in 140 characters: Blossoming friendship in the face of adversity. A story of hope, truth and survival. Pick it up, you won't put it down. Trust me.  

The Hot Key team worked tirelessly with Sally to create a multi-touch version of Maggot Moon. You can read two blogs from Sally and the team here: http://hotkeyblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/guest-blog-an-authors-view-sally-gardner-on-maggot-moon-digital/ / http://hotkeyblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/how-we-made-our-ibook/