<%@ Language=VBScript %> <% '------------------------------------------ bookid = 38 Connect_String="DSN=dotcom" Set MyConn=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") Set rs = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset") MyConn.Open Connect_String strParams = chr(39)&bookid&chr(39) rs.Open "sp_get_tbCJLoveItHateIt" & strParams,MyConn, 3, 1, &H0001 '------------------------------------------ if rs.EOF then avg = 0 totvotes = 0 totrating = 0 else totvotes = rs("votes") totrating = rs("rating") avg = totrating/totvotes if avg > int(avg) then avg = int(avg) + 1 end if ' Response.Write avg set rs = nothing resultsimage = "lorh_good_1.gif" if avg = 1 then resultsimage = "lorh_justok_1.gif" if avg = 2 then resultsimage = "lorh_good_1.gif" if avg = 3 then resultsimage = "lorh_fabulous_1.gif" '--------------------------------------------------------- %> CJ's Bookshelf Current Selection <% doMenu %>

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes by Anne Mazer.

I promised I would find something for the club to read while I was in NYC. My cousin took me to this HUGE bookstore with my new friend, Abigail. Inside, I saw the book's bright yellow cover and I laughed -- the second Abby I met in NY! I knew this was it.

Abby, who wants to be a writer, has a big family, a cat and hip grandmother. She's sad because her best friend, Jessica, moved away. And, to make matters worse, Jessica hasn't been writing back lately. Then, Abby's Grandma invites her to visit during spring break! Abby flies there by herself and when she arrives, she learns that she's going to a bookmaking class.

This book really moves along and Abby rocks! It's a regular story but is filled with these cool calendar and journal entries and little doodles. It's so much fun! Jenni, Lesa and Kate were so inspired by Abby's bookmaking that we made our own. Kate is having a sleepover so we can share our books and celebrate the start of summer vacation! Yipee! PSST.Visit the Abby website by clicking here.

 
CJ: Where do you get your ideas for Abby's stories - are they based on things that happened to you?

My ideas come from everywhere - from my own life, from my daughter and her friends, and from my imagination. The book closest to my own life is probably TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT because of all the family camping trips I went on as a kid! We got lost in the woods exactly like Abby did. My father used a compass to lead us out. (He was the one who got us lost in the first place!) I put in the scene picking blueberries because it's one of my favorite summer activities (though I've never thrown a blueberry eating party - that came from my imagination). My daughter Mollie has also given me many ideas. When I started writing the series she was ten years old just like Abby. She reads all the books and often makes suggestions.

Lesa: I'm sad that Abby and Jessica aren't close anymore - why did you decide to have them lose touch with each other?

One of the wonderful things about writing this series is that it constantly surprises me. I realized one day that Jessica never saw her father. I decided she needed to visit him and perhaps even to live with his new family. In OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, I explored how Abby felt without her best friend. In TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, Abby makes a wonderful new friend, Hannah. In book #13, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE, Jessica returns for a visit. Wait and see what happens!

Jenni: What do you do when you aren't writing?

Pick blueberries when I can! I also love to hike in the woods, swim, talk with friends, read, and joke around with my daughter Mollie and my son Max.

Kate: I love to draw and find the picture of Abby (and her doodles) so much fun? Do you illustrate them or have any input on the drawings?

The pictures of Abby are drawn by a terrific artist named Monica Gesue. My editor at Scholastic decides which journal entries need illustrations. She sends a list to Monica, who then does the pictures. I usually see her sketches before she does the final drawings. I love her illustrations!!

CJ: Can you tell us a secret about Abby that no one else knows?

Many alert Abby fans have written to me pointing out that Abby has gone through several summers and even a birthday, but is STILL in fifth grade every fall . I've had to explain that Abby exists in "series time," and that she might always live in fifth grade. However, Scholastic and I have decided together that Abby WILL get to go to sixth grade (in book #15). As Abby would say: YAY! HOORAY!

Where I'm going to: Grandma Emma's.

Where I came from: my house.

Does knowing where I'm going to and where I came from mean I'm a bad traveler? I hope not.

Good travelers know how to pack.

I packed my bags very carefully. Everything will fit in a small, wheeled suitcase and knapsack.

Abby's travel list
Jeans and cargo pants
T-shirts and sweaters
Pajamas with purple hearts
Socks, striped and solid Purple tie-dyed underwear
Rain jacket
Sneakers
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Hairbrush and scrunchies
Earrings (just in case Grandma Emma takes me to get my ears pierced)
Journal and purple pen
Books

GUESS WHERE I'M WRITING THIS???
If you know the answer, you win a free bag of airplane pretzels and a glass of juice. (That's all they give you to eat! Good thing I packed some food.)

The airplane is crowded. There is a man typing on a laptop next to me. Across the aisle, a woman is sleeping. We're flying above the clouds. They look like giant pillows. I wish I could somersault from one to another. Or have a pillow-cloud fight with Natalie and Bethany.

Only ten more minutes and we'll be there!!!!
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