Reader Girls Blog

Reader Girls welcomes author Michael Scotto to our blog today to celebrate the release of his  contemporary middle grade novel, Latasha and the Little Red Tornado . Book blurb: Eight-year-old Latasha Gandy cannot wait to grow up. Her puppy, Ella Fitzgerald, on the other hand, absolutely refuses to! When Ella’s antics push the Gandys’ landlady to wits’ end, Latasha realizes that she must turn her mischievous mutt into a model dog. At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this tale of friendship and maturity chronicles Latasha’s efforts to train Ella as she struggles with school and her mother’s demanding new job.   First, I'd like to thank Readergirls for inviting me to celebrate my book's birthday with them. Latasha and the Little Red Tornado is my first novel, and the book blogging community has shown such incredible support. It's really put a lot of wind in my sails. I've spent a lot of time deciding what to share in the space I have. I'll begin with an ...

Today is Latasha and the Little Red Tornado's book birthday and we wanted to celebrate the book's release by running our review. Reading Level: Ages 8 and up Paperback: 141 pages Publisher: Midlandia Press (November 15, 2011) Book Blurb: Latasha and the Little Red Tornado tells the story of Latasha Gandy, a precocious and inventive third-grader who lives in Pittsburgh with her hardworking mother and a naughty puppy named Ella Fitzgerald. At eight years old, Latasha cannot wait to grow up. Ella, on the other hand, absolutely refuses to! When Ella's antics push the Gandy's landlady, Mrs. Okocho, to her wits' end, Latasha realizes that she must turn her mischievous mutt into a model dog. Latasha enlists the help of a classmate and neighbor, Ricky, in her efforts to train Ella. Their friendship grows as Ricky joins the girls on their adventures in the park. But after Latasha and Ricky have a falling out, Latasha decides to take Ella out on her own, a choice t...