Write This Down

by Claudia Mills

Overview

An aspiring young writer wins a contest with an essay that is a little too personal in this middle grade novel from "master of the school story" Claudia Mills.

Twelve-year-old Autumn loves to write, and she can't wait to grow up and be a published author. She finds inspiration all around her, but especially in Cameron, the dreamy boy in her journalism class who she has a major crush on. When her older brother Hunter makes fun of one of her most personal poems—about Cameron—Autumn decides to prove that she is talented enough to become a published author.

But when her essay about Hunter wins a contest, and her dream of being published is finally within reach, Autumn has to decide whether being a real writer is worth the cost of sharing her family's secrets and hurting people she loves.

This touching story is sure to resonate with readers and prove that the heart is mightier than the pen. A great selection for preteens and aspiring writers.

A Margaret Ferguson Book

Praise for Write this Down:

"In a believable slice-of-life story, Mills (the Nora Notebooks series) writes eloquently of sibling rivalry, dreams turned sour, hard choices, and the insecurities that come with entering adolescence. Readers, especially younger siblings and budding writers, will easily identify with Autumn’s plights." —Publishers Weekly

“Mills does a good job of showing the turbulence of being a preteen. The central focus of the novel is the sibling relationship . . . The girl’s pain and confusion over being pushed away by an older sibling are honest and relatable . . . Realistic situations and a nuanced protagonist make this a recommended purchase.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250143914
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/06/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	1,092,452
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	890L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Claudia Mills is the acclaimed author of many books for children, including the Franklin School Friends series. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

"In a believable slice-of-life story, Mills (the Nora Notebooks series) writes eloquently of sibling rivalry, dreams turned sour, hard choices, and the insecurities that come with entering adolescence. Readers, especially younger siblings and budding writers, will easily identify with Autumn’s plights." —Publishers Weekly

“Autumn often describes feeling uncomfortable at being treated like Gallant to her brother’s Goofus. The girl’s pain and confusion over being pushed away by an older sibling are honest and relatable...Realistic situations and a nuanced protagonist make this a recommended purchase.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/20/2016
There are two things that seventh-grader Autumn wants: to become a published writer and for her older brother, Hunter, to go back to being “the best brother in the world.” Ever since starting 10th grade and joining a band, he’s been mean to both Autumn and their parents, who worry about his grades and attitude. When Hunter makes fun of Autumn’s poem about her crush in front of his musician friends, he goes too far. Autumn vents her feelings by writing an essay about how Hunter has changed for the worse and entering it in a contest. When it wins first prize, she must decide whether to accept the award and humiliate her brother when the essay is published, or spare Hunter and give up her chance to see her writing in print. In a believable slice-of-life story, Mills (the Nora Notebooks series) writes eloquently of sibling rivalry, dreams turned sour, hard choices, and the insecurities that come with entering adolescence. Readers, especially younger siblings and budding writers, will easily identify with Autumn’s plights. Ages 10–12. Agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

08/01/2016
Gr 5–8—Twelve-year-old Autumn Granger lives in a world of words. An aspiring author, she always has a pen in hand, waiting for inspiration to strike. Her current muse is the long-haired, free-spirited Cameron, who is back from a year abroad. She fills the pages of her journal with odes dedicated to him. If only Autumn could control people in her life as easily as she manipulates her characters. Since the start of 10th grade, Autumn's older brother, Hunter, has been increasingly mean-spirited and spends all his time with his new bandmates. Autumn would have been content to enjoy posthumous success like her idol Emily Dickinson, but after Hunter mocks her private love poems in front of Cameron's brother, she's determined to prove her worth. Getting published will validate her writing and show the world that she has a unique voice and is not just another lovestruck tween. With the first middle school dance rapidly approaching, Autumn submits her work to The New Yorker and the Denver Post, hoping to impress Cameron. Mills does a good job of showing the turbulence of being a preteen. The central focus of the novel is the sibling relationship. Classic helicopter parents, Autumn's mom and dad praise her good grades and chastise Hunter's poor ones, which builds resentment. Autumn often describes feeling uncomfortable at being treated like Gallant to her brother's Goofus. The girl's pain and confusion over being pushed away by an older sibling are honest and relatable. VERDICT Realistic situations and a nuanced protagonist make this a recommended purchase.—Jocelyn Charpentier, Brooklyn Public Library

School Library Journal

2016-06-22
Autumn is a writer, and although she's just 12, she is fully ready to be published—or so she thinks.She's midway through writing her first fantasy novel, but it's her realistic writing that finally gets her the attention she craves. Life is made complicated by her disintegrating relationship with her previously loving older brother, Hunter. Since starting 10th grade, he's become downright mean, even reading aloud to members of his rock band the love poem Autumn composed to her serious crush, enigmatic Cameron—in front of Cameron's older brother. Autumn seeks revenge, first composing a scathing and untrue review of his band's performance but then submitting to an essay contest a description of what Hunter used to mean to her contrasted against his recent behavior. Although many of the embarrassing situations she endures will be uncomfortably familiar to readers—especially her uncertain encounters with her crush—Autumn only achieves real likability near the end of this tame outing. Her narrative voice is fully believable but lacks the amiability that would elevate her to admirable or charming. Her parents' earnest attempts to fix Hunter's problems add a subplot of mild frustration. In the absence of racial or ethnic markers, readers are likely to see Autumn and her family as white. Fellow writers will understand Autumn's quest, but others may not find her tale as compelling. (Fiction. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews