Blog tour: The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler 

Middle Grade contemporary

Hardcover/eBook, 240 pages

Published February 6th 2014 by Dial

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” meets Because of Winn Dixie in this inspiring story of hope.

Auggie Jones lives with her grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” But Auggie is determined to prove that there’s more to her—and to her house—than meets the eye.

What starts out as a home renovation project quickly becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they had—and redefine a whole town’s perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time.

Holly Schindler’s feel-good story about the power one voice can have will inspire readers to speak from their hearts.

BUY IT: Amazon

Auggie’s Favorite Things

1. Grampa Gus’s welding torch—that’s how we create our “company,” the figures we make to fill our yard!

2. My best friend Lexie. Our laughter sounds like the notes of piano chords that have to be played at once to sound right.

3. My church—Gus and I have been going to Hopewell Community Church my whole life. Actually, Grampa Gus has been going there HIS whole life! The minister, Chuck, was a friend of my mom’s, and she’s been gone nearly as long as I’ve been alive. Talking to Chuck is the next best thing to talking to my mom.

4. Old Glory. That’s what we call Chuck’s trash hauling truck. We gather supplies for our “company” using Old Glory!

5. Montgomery, my old school. I loved going to school there so much, I had to tell myself to only miss three things when the school board closed its doors. If I missed three things, it wouldn’t hurt so bad.

6. My neighbor Irma Jean’s nose. It’s so big, it’s like an arm reaching out to hug you. (And Irma Jean turns out to be a better friend than I’d ever expected during the fifth grade, especially when the House Beautification Committee starts to crack down on our house.)

7. Thanksgiving with all my neighbors—all of us bring our own specialties. The Widow Hollis can stir up sweet potatoes until they’re smooth like whipped cream!

8. My neighbor Weird Harold’s ball caps, which all have funny sayings on them. Grampa Gus calls Weird Harold a “conspiracy junkie,” and his crazy ideas are all over his hats.

9. The spot in our rug that Gus and I have worn thin by dancing.

10. The next sculpture that Gus and I will make—you never know what it will be!

Reviews:

"...a heartwarming and uplifting story...[that] shines...with vibrant themes of community, self-empowerment and artistic vision delivered with a satisfying verve." – Kirkus Reviews

"Axioms like 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' come gracefully to life in Schindler's tale about the value of hard work and the power of community…Auggie's enthusiasm and unbridled creativity are infectious, and likeminded readers will envy her creative partnership with [her grandfather] Gus." – Publishers Weekly

Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Author site

Site for young readers: Holly Schindler’s Middles
 I’m especially excited about this site. I adored getting to interact with the YA readership online—usually through Twitter or FB. But I had to create a site where I could interact with the MG readership. I’m devoting a page on the site to reviews from young readers themselves! Be sure to send your young reader’s review through the Contact Me page. 

Group Author Blogs: YA Outside the Lines for YA authors and
Smack Dab in the Middle  for MG authors.

The next stop on the tour:

Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books (Feb. 14.)

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