Nate Rocks The World
Author: Karen Pokras Toz
Genre: Middle Grade
Blurb:
Ten-year-old
Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a
fourth-grader can be hazardous what with science projects to deal with
and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend
Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an
older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a
mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful cooking, and poor
Nathan’s life as a fourth grader appears to be completely doomed.
Armed only with his sketchpad, his imagination, and his wits, Nathan
Rockledge navigates the perils of the fourth grade in style, to emerge
heroic, as Nate Rocks, proving that even a ten-year-old can accomplish
great things.
Nate Rocks The Boat
Author: Karen Pokras Toz
Genre: Middle Grade
Blurb:
With
fourth grade finally winding down, 10-year-old Nathan Rockledge is
looking forward to a fun and relaxing summer at home with his friends.
That is, until his mom decides he has to go to overnight camp with his
annoying older sister. When his best friend Tommy decides to tag along,
Nathan thinks maybe his summer won’t actually be so bad. After all, he
does get to be away from his mom's awful cooking for an entire six
weeks. Amongst Color War competitions, a flaky counselor, and a bully
named "No-Neck,” Nathan turns to his trusty sketchpad, transforming
himself into Nate Rocks: 10-year-old extraordinaire. His speedboat ready
for action, Nate saves the day time and again from the perils of
floods, snakes, ghosts, and even the most wanted criminals. Join
Nathan, Tommy, Abby, and a whole new cast of characters as Nate Rocks
once again proves nothing can hold him back in this second book of the
Nate Rocks series.
Watch the Book Trailer:
Excerpt from Nate Rocks The Boat
“Welcome, Hawks. I’m Matt,
your counselor. I’ve been coming to Camp Spring Ridge every summer since
I was your age. This is a great place, and it’s my job to make sure you
boys have the best summer
ever.” Matt looks up at the sky as the
wind rustles through the papers on his clipboard. “Now, before it
starts raining, let’s see if we can get through some of the camp rules.”
“Rules? We don’t need any dumb rules! It’s summer!”
I
look over toward the sound of the husky voice to see a boy who looks
more like he’s Abby’s age than my age. He also appears to have arms as
big as my thighs and no-neck. I’ve never seen anyone without a neck
before. I’m sure it’s there somewhere. It’s just that this kid’s head is
enormous. I am in the right bunk aren’t I?
Matt doesn’t seem
disturbed by the outburst as he continues right along. “The rules are
only there to make sure you have the most fun possible while staying
safe. We wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt...or worse.”
Worse?!
Tommy and I look at each other. I turn around to scan the dirt road. Dad
must still be at Abby’s bunk. If I left right now and ran, I could
probably get there before he and Mom leave. I’m sure Mom would take me
with her to see Grandma once I explained about how dangerous it is here
at camp. She’s always saying we don’t get to visit with Grandma enough.
Or I could just stay at Tommy’s house. I’m certain Tommy would follow me
if I took off running. But what if they were already gone? Then I would
have to return to my bunk. I could already hear the other kids laughing
at me as the camp director returned me to the Hawks.
“Okay,”
Matt starts, holding down the paper on his clipboard. “Rule #1: Always
listen to your counselor—he’s the coolest guy here.” Matt starts
laughing, but quickly notices no one else joins in. He clears his throat
and continues. “Rule #2: Stay with your bunk at all times unless you
have specific permission to go somewhere. Rule #3: Lights out at
10:00pm. Rule #4: When it’s our turn to have kitchen duty, everyone must
participate, and the most important rule—Rule #5: Stay out of the
forest! Look, you guys are old enough to hear this, so I’m just going to
tell it to you straight. The forest may look cool, but it’s big and
dangerous. Every summer, one or two campers decide to wander in there,
and the same thing always happens. They get lost. The camp has to call
in a search party with dogs and the whole bit. If you wander too far in,
you might run across snakes or even coyotes and wolves. So do
yourselves a favor and stay out!”
I look around the table to see everyone staring at Matt... Even No-Neck.
About the Author:
Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife, and mom. Karen grew up in Orange,
Connecticut and currently lives outside of Philadelphia with her
husband and three children. In June 2011, Karen published her first
middle grade children’s novel for 7-12 year olds called Nate Rocks the
World, followed in 2012 by the second book in the Nate Rocks series,
Nate Rocks the Boat. Karen is a member of the Society of Children’s Book
Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
Connect with Karen:
Thanks so much for hosting Nate Rocks!
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