It’s hard to create a unique character and plot these days. People might say, “Oh, a boarding school? You’re stealing from Harry Potter!” or “That character with a beloved dog is straight out of Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Because of Winn Dixie!” Well, folks, I’ve found an original voice that nobody can deny is something unique and fresh. Welcome to the world, Mr. Johnny Cannon!
The Troubles of Johnny Cannon by Isaiah Campbell will be released on October 14 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Here's a summary:
Johnny Cannon’s got
problems. Money is scarce. Martha Macker, the girl he likes, barely knows he’s
alive. His best friend Willie is pretty great, but he also happens to be a
black kid—which is not exactly acceptable in Cullman, Alabama. His big brother
Tommy went to war and vanished. His Pa may be committing treason in their
backyard. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get worse, an old family
friend—or maybe enemy—appears and shakes everything up. How’s a kid like Johnny
supposed to get himself and his family out of a mess that’s stickier than
molasses and twice as tangled as a spiderweb?
What we want more than anything as readers is to feel like
we’re in the capable hands of a storyteller—to be swept into another
world naturally and vividly. Campbell has the gift of a natural storyteller and
a main character with a voice that caused Newbery medalist Richard Peck to describe The Troubles of Johnny Cannon like this:
"A boy with
a highly original voice winces his way into the bewildering world of adults
during a neglected moment in American history."
Campbell’s characters are flawed, which is where the authenticity comes in. He’s also not afraid to address the more shameful parts of our
past because these things are our
past and by addressing them, young readers will get an important reminder of historical
injustices and maybe even internally compare them to the injustices that they still see around them in today’s world. It’s not easy to read about things like
racism, but I would argue that the most difficult scenes to read in a book are often the
ones that stay with us—that touch us deeply and leave a mark.
One of the most amazing things to me is that Campbell manages to develop deep and sensitive subject matter while he weaves a rollicking tale with twists, turns, friendship, and troubles galore. Holy excitement, Batman! This novel’s got it all. I won’t spoil the incredible ending, but I’ll tell you this—Johnny Cannon is a legend in the making. There’s already a sequel scheduled to come out next year, so you better hurry up and buy the first one now!
I believe in this book so much that I’m going to pre-order a copy for one lucky person leaving a comment. I’ll announce a winner on Friday, October 3.UPDATE: The winner is Linda Baie!
Any favorite character voices among books you've read? Let me know in the comments!
This sounds fantastic. Racism is a hard topic, but one I think we need to continue to grapple with, because it certainly isn't gone. Some of my favorite books explore racism, such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Paradise (although Toni Morrison is NOT kid lit.)
ReplyDeleteA favorite character voice I've recently read is Ted from The London Eye Mystery. Ted's brain "runs on a different operating system", but that doesn't stop him from solving the mystery of his disappearing cousin.
Don't enter me in the giveaway, since I just won. Thanks for the review, though.
I'll have to look into The London Eye Mystery~ thanks for the rec!
DeleteThis sounds great! I'd love to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteI don't recall this story exactly, but I remember being really impressed with Isaiah's writing on WriteOnCon a few years back. (Gosh, all the good writers hang out there, huh? :)
Gotta love WriteOnCon :)
DeleteActually, it sounds like Spider-Man to me.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing new under the sun.
I'm reading Patrick Ness' The Knife of Letting Go and Todd is an amazing character voice as is his dog, who can speak. Wicked good book.
ReplyDeletePatrick Ness is amazing~ haven't read that one yet, though. I will soon!
DeleteIt sounds like a lot of fun! I'm currently reading GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE, which has a very unique, interesting voice. (And yes - Manchee the dog from CHAOS WALKING is amazing.)
ReplyDeleteI've heard so much about Grasshopper Jungle and it's on my TBR list~ you'll have to let me know your thoughts when you're done!
DeleteThis looks like such a good book, and love that cover(MGs always have some of the best!). I really enjoyed The Luck Uglies, it had great voice and a super strong setting that felt like a character itself.
ReplyDeleteI adored The Luck Uglies and can't wait for the next installment :)
DeleteI haven't heard about this book, but now I have. Thanks for the great review, makes me want to run out to the nearest Indie.
ReplyDeleteGreat, mission accomplished :)
DeleteGood voice is key in MG. Have just been thinking on Harriet the Spy! Good voice, unique character! Will be sure to watch for out for Johnny!
ReplyDeleteYes, Harriet! She's got a very unique voice/perspective, for sure :)
DeleteSounds like a wonderful book! I'm deluged with reading right now, so reluctantly I'll decline to be in the draw. Isn't it great to discover a new favourite series?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the next one :)
DeleteThis sounds fantastic! I love boy books with adventure and mystery. Thanks for the review - and I'll have to recommend to my boy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy! Hope he likes it if he reads it :)
Deletelouis vuitton outlet, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet online, cheap oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, kate spade outlet online, coach outlet, prada handbags, louis vuitton handbags, chanel handbags, louis vuitton outlet online, coach purses, christian louboutin outlet, burberry outlet online, gucci handbags, tiffany jewelry, ray ban sunglasses, nike air max, coach outlet store online, nike shoes, tory burch outlet, burberry outlet online, longchamp outlet online, prada outlet, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, nike air max, michael kors outlet store, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, kate spade handbags, michael kors outlet online, polo ralph lauren, coach outlet, michael kors outlet online, tiffany and co jewelry, red bottom shoes, ray ban outlet, oakley vault, nike free, longchamp handbags, christian louboutin shoes, louboutin shoes
ReplyDeleteguess pas cher, oakley pas cher, new balance pas cher, nike blazer pas cher, north face, nike roshe run, nike air force, scarpe hogan, nike air max, ralph lauren pas cher, ray ban uk, lacoste pas cher, louis vuitton uk, hollister, louis vuitton, nike free pas cher, timberland, michael kors canada, chaussure louboutin, air max pas cher, true religion, michael kors uk, vans pas cher, louis vuitton pas cher, nike free, sac michael kors, true religion outlet, lululemon, nike air max, ralph lauren, mulberry, air max, sac vanessa bruno, tn pas cher, converse pas cher, longchamp pas cher, true religion outlet, air jordan, hollister, hermes pas cher, north face pas cher, sac louis vuitton, ray ban pas cher, burberry pas cher, longchamp
ReplyDeletenike trainers, lululemon outlet, instyler ionic styler, uggs outlet, giuseppe zanotti, mont blanc pens, longchamp, nike huarache, abercrombie and fitch, new balance outlet, marc jacobs outlet, ugg, vans outlet, barbour, nfl jerseys, hollister, chi flat iron, bottega veneta, beats headphones, ugg outlet, north face outlet, ghd, p90x workout, soccer shoes, reebok shoes, uggs on sale, north face jackets, jimmy choo shoes, babyliss pro, soccer jerseys, roshe run, wedding dresses, abercrombie and fitch, herve leger, ferragamo shoes, valentino shoes, asics shoes, birkin bag, nike roshe, mac cosmetics, insanity workout, ugg soldes, rolex watches, mcm handbags, celine handbags
ReplyDeletetimberland shoes, hollister clothing, converse shoes, karen millen, moncler, louboutin, juicy couture outlet, air max, ray ban, wedding dress, moncler, parajumpers outlet, canada goose uk, hollister, montre femme, supra shoes, converse, canada goose, toms outlet, canada goose outlet, gucci, canada goose pas cher, coach outlet, nike air max, iphone 6 case, canada goose outlet, canada goose, vans, canada goose outlet, oakley, moncler, moncler, ugg, lancel, ralph lauren, hollister canada, baseball bats, juicy couture outlet, louis vuitton canada, moncler, replica watches, canada goose, moncler outlet, moncler, ugg boots, uggs canada
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI say many thanks to Mr. admin website I read this, because in this website I know a lot of information information that I did not know before his
Atasi Varises Dengan Bawang Putih
Makanan Yang Harus Di Konsumsi Penderita Diabetes
Obat Penyakit Wasir Cair
Atasi Insomnia Dengan Yoga
Terapi Penghilang Penyakit Asma
Obat Bronkitis Yang Alami
Cara Pemesanan Pro Cleansing Tea
Obat Batuk Berdarah Alami Yang Aman
Obat Yang Aman Bagi Ibu Hamil
ninest123 16.03
ReplyDeletemichael kors outlet, tiffany jewelry, louis vuitton, michael kors, gucci outlet, louboutin outlet, oakley sunglasses, burberry outlet online, nike air max, ray ban sunglasses, ugg boots, nike outlet, longchamp outlet, louboutin, prada handbags, michael kors outlet, jordan shoes, prada outlet, louis vuitton, nike air max, chanel handbags, ugg boots, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses, replica watches, michael kors outlet, longchamp outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin outlet, uggs on sale, nike free, louis vuitton outlet, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp, louis vuitton outlet, oakley sunglasses, burberry, replica watches, oakley sunglasses, louboutin shoes, tory burch outlet
burberry, coach purses, michael kors, kate spade handbags, air max, hogan, ray ban pas cher, kate spade outlet, new balance pas cher, converse pas cher, oakley pas cher, vanessa bruno, lacoste pas cher, true religion jeans, nike air max, mulberry, air jordan pas cher, nike blazer, coach outlet, ralph lauren uk, coach outlet, michael kors, nike free, nike free run uk, louboutin pas cher, true religion jeans, nike air max, true religion outlet, hollister, replica handbags, sac guess, michael kors, abercrombie and fitch, lululemon, vans pas cher, longchamp pas cher, hermes, north face, tn pas cher, hollister pas cher, air force, nike air max, michael kors, timberland, north face, ray ban uk, ralph lauren pas cher, sac longchamp, nike roshe run, true religion jeans, nike roshe
ReplyDeletemcm handbags, iphone 6 cases, north face outlet, iphone 6s plus cases, p90x workout, birkin bag, beats by dre, insanity workout, iphone 6 plus cases, wedding dresses, iphone 5s cases, chi flat iron, herve leger, soccer shoes, s5 cases, abercrombie and fitch, hollister, oakley, new balance, bottega veneta, nike trainers, instyler, reebok shoes, soccer jerseys, vans shoes, iphone 6s cases, longchamp, celine handbags, hollister, ferragamo shoes, asics running shoes, hollister, ralph lauren, giuseppe zanotti, babyliss, jimmy choo shoes, ghd, timberland boots, valentino shoes, lululemon, nfl jerseys, nike air max, nike air max, north face outlet, mont blanc, nike roshe, ipad cases, nike huarache, mac cosmetics, louboutin, iphone cases, baseball bats
ReplyDeletecanada goose uk, marc jacobs, sac louis vuitton pas cher, converse outlet, pandora charms, wedding dresses, barbour, louis vuitton, moncler, canada goose, lancel, vans, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, montre pas cher, thomas sabo, karen millen, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, moncler, juicy couture outlet, moncler, canada goose, barbour jackets, pandora charms, ugg pas cher, ugg boots uk, moncler, moncler, swarovski, pandora jewelry, swarovski crystal, pandora jewelry, louis vuitton, moncler, moncler outlet, hollister, converse, canada goose, links of london, ray ban, bottes ugg, canada goose, gucci, coach outlet, doudoune canada goose, moncler, supra shoes, louis vuitton, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, replica watches, toms shoes, juicy couture outlet, canada goose outlet
ReplyDeleteninest123 16.03
chenlina20160507
ReplyDeleteray ban sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
nike sb
longchamp bags
nike air max 90
ralph lauren outlet
ray ban sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
coach factory outlet online
michael kors handbags
true religion
north face outlet
tory burch outlet
michael kors outlet
tod's shoes
burberry outlet
cheap jordan shoes
coach outlet
coach factory outlet online
coach factory outlet
louis vuitton
louis vuitton outlet stores
timberland outlet
oakley sunglasses
christian louboutin shoes
michael kors handbags
air huarache
ray ban sunglasses outlet
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet
ray ban sunglasses
supra sneakers
true religion jeans
kobe 9
louis vuitton outlet
kate spade outlet
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors handbags
kate spade handbags
michael kors outlet
as