First Lines from the Encino Charter School Book Fair

By Susan. J Berger

I participated in the Encino Charter School Book Fair. LOTS of local authors, and a Pancake breakfast. Jason Preston did a wonderful job of organizing the event and I got to talk to lots of readers and authors.

Between sales and reading of my own books, Jamie's Dream and Earthquake, (I forgot to get anyone to take a picture of me with my book covers.)
I wandered the room picking up first lines. Because I REALLY love first lines. There were lots more authors here. Illustrators too.  I wish I could have gotten to all of them.

 All of these books are available both as eBooks and print books.

Something was eating my socks.

The Monster That Ate My Socks by A.J. Cosmo

I loved this story,. It has over 667 customer reviews.

Visit A.J. Cosmo's Website

He has self published over forty books and has no second job. Imagine that? He makes his living as a writer/illustrator. (my dream.

It is difficult to describe the depths of my despondency that late  October afternoon of October 1861 as the open air carriage carried Poppa and me through the wrought-iron gates of White Magnolias and up the gravel drive toward the main house.

Anni's Attic by Anne Loader McGee

This looks like a fun read. I enjoyed Anne's The Mystery of Marlatt Manor ad so I put this one on my TBR list.

The boy opened his eyes Tia sky the color of melted butter and a sense of inexplicable terror.

The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles.

That is an AWESOME first line!

Do you ever wonder what animals do

when they gather in groups of more than two?

An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns   by Betsy R Rosenthal

Thus is Betsy's latest book which isn't out in hardback till April 1st. She has lots of others.I love this book because it reminds me of An Exaltation of Larks.

           

England 1348

Once upon a time in a cozy wooded town,

Lived a little boy whose mother was buried in the ground.

Fiddler In the Darkness by David Gutterman. Illustrated by Elwira Pawlikowska-Modzelewska.

Beautifully illustrated PB about love and loss.

My Grandma is not your average Grandma. Sure she has white hair, violet framed glasses, comfy square shoes and bakes spectacular chocolate chip cookies. But don't let that fool you. My Grandma has SECRETS.

Grambo by Beth Navarro. Illustrated by Betsy Hamilton.

I Pre-ordered Grambo and I loved it. Lupe  interviewed Beth Navarro before Grambo came out.

"Penny for your thoughts." Casey Grant asked. Normally I would be nervous talking to the prettiest girl at Jackson Middle School and I'm not just talking about sixth graders, either. But I was too distracted. I was standing by my locker and couldn't remember my combination. I tried to read my own mind, but that doesn't ever seem to work.

ESPete Sixth Grade Sense by Arnold Rudnick.

I am a sucker for ESP. When I was younger, my ambitions were to be rich, thin and telepathic.

I had a fantasy girlfriend I met in a dream. She had orange hair and dark skin.

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom by Michael L. Thal.

This looks like a great book. The first line doesn't let you know that this is Sci Fi Suspense for teens or late mid grade, so I thought I would tell you.

My lucky sneeze

Come to think of it, the day my brother tried to eat his first-grade teacher turned out. To be the same day that my dad brought me home a very, very strange cat.

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter.

I handed Rhonda cash for the book on the basis of that line. I have a stack of TBR's right now, and I can't wait to get to this one.

Justin and his mother were on their way to a party. I the back seat, Justin carefully held a big plate of cookies as they passed the bike store and some people waiting for the bus.

The Smile that Went Around the World.

by Patrice Karst. Illustrated by Jana Christy.

This book is truly delightful. 

I hope you find one that catches your fancy. Happy Reading.