Write This Book: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
The Secret Series is one of my all-time favorites. But I feel that Bosch's later work (this book and Bad Magic) doesn't quite live up to The Secret Series. I can't give this less than three stars as Bosch is one of my favorite authors. It's great if you like writing stories. I enjoy writing, but if you are more into reading stories, this probably isn't for you. On the plus side, if you are a novice writer, this book has a lot of great tips not to mention the book has Bosch's trademark voice that his writing has. Overall, a pretty good book. From July 2013 School Library Journal--Gr 4�-7: �The author has taken it upon himself to teach his readers everything there is to know about the art of writing. He sets forth his proposition early on: "You, the reader of this book, shall be the author of this book." After he shares the basic premise of the plot--two siblings, A - - - and Z - - -, stumble on a mystery involving a missing author--he goes on to provide plenty of substance about the main elements of a story. Through his reluctant and snarky narration, readers learn about all the parts of a book, from the copyright page to "About the Author." An "official character assessment form" allows readers/authors to figure out what kind of person the main character is going to be before proceeding with the story, and a plot map literally shows the way from the inciting incident to the quest to the climax to the denouement. "Write This" directives followed by blank pages allow inspired readers an opportunity to jump in with their own ideas (librarians, beware!). The result is a marvelous tutorial, covering everything from how to write effective dialogue to choosing perspective to genre to world-building. As with other books in the series, PB's long-eared sidekick, Quiche, jumps in from time to time. Ford's whimsical spot art adds to the humor. Writing a book has never been so much fun. A must-have where the "Secret" series is popular.�Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
What do You think about Write This Book: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery (2013)?
This book was so much fun to read/write. I love Bosch's commentary and his writing in general
—Wenggi
Great way to help get kids interested in writing while being hilarious and educating!
—brooke
