Wednesday, October 17, 2012

To Blog or Not to Blog?


When Millicent’s annoying younger brother logs on to her computer and starts a blog based on her diary, she is horrified. Thank goodness he at least used a different name. Amanda is way better than Millie! Before she can delete the blog, someone comments. She can’t help but feel a little flattered that people are out there reading her posts, even if the writing was supposed to be private. She decides to keep it up- just for a little while. The blog becomes somewhat addictive, and Millie decides it won’t hurt to continue posting. After all, the other sixth graders seem to enjoy hearing her thoughts about what is happening at school. Amanda/Millie is full of advice and the latest gossip. She is making things happen at Springside Elementary. Millie’s best friend can’t stop raving about the blog being run by Amanda, and only wishes that they knew who she was so that they could use the blog to their advantage. Millie really wants to come clean, but she is also afraid if she tells anyone, word will get out and people won't understand. With some of the advice she is dishing out, she is afraid to stop blogging because people need her. Is it possible for Millie to keep her identity hidden? If word gets out, will her life be ruined? Are there any pitfalls with blogging anonymously about the school you attend? What would you do if your brother started publishing parts of your personal diary as a blog? Wait until you see how everything ends up!

Millicent Marie Is Not My Name by Karen Pokras Toz is a fantastic middle grade book that will keep you turning the pages to finds out what happens to Millie and her friends. Right from the start I could relate to the main character, because I would be furious if my brother put any part of my diary online for others to read. I would be worried even if he changed the name on the blog or the post! Millie is very much a typical 12 year old girl and her thoughts and feelings reminded me of my own. I think she is someone I would like to be friends with because she is smart and funny. The fact that Mille was running an anonymous blog had me worried because I didn’t know what would happen if everyone found out it was her blogging. I was glad the storyline was happening to her and not me- I couldn’t handle the stress! Mille is funny and anyone with a sibling will be able to relate to her relationship with her brother. Even though the main character is a girl, I think that this is a book that could be enjoyed by both boys and girls in the middle grades. I am amazed at how the author created such believable characters. After reading this book you just may want to start your own blog. This is a book you don’t want to miss!

Has anyone else read Millicent Marie is Not my Name?  Or have you read another book by Karen Pokras Toz? What did you think?

Happy reading! ~L 
Posted by DMS at 5:34:00 AM

38 comments:

  1. Andrea MackOctober 17, 2012 at 7:02 AM

    I haven't seen this book, but it sounds interesting. My daughter is just starting to learn about blogs through school (her class has one). But she has been curious about my blog.

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:06 PM

      Hi Andrea, It's a great middle grade read- and Millie is a fun character! Thanks so much for stopping by : ) ~ F

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  2. Karen Pokras October 17, 2012 at 7:24 AM

    Thank you so much for reviewing Millicent Marie and for being a part of the tour! I always love visiting the Secret DMS Files!

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:08 PM

      Hi Karen, Thanks so much for stopping by! It was our pleasure : ) ~ F & L

      Delete
  3. Felicity Grace TerryOctober 17, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    Not an author I'm familiar with, I love the sound of this book.

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:08 PM

      Hi Petty, It's a fun read, and such a relevant topic! Great to hear from you : ) ~ F

      Delete
  4. LibbyOctober 17, 2012 at 10:05 AM

    I don't typically read middle grade, but I do like how that book sounds.

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:09 PM

      Hi Libby, Great! We hope you enjoy the story if you pick it up : ) Thanks so much for popping over to visit us! ~ F

      Delete
  5. PetraOctober 17, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    Haven't heard about this book before, but it sounds like fun. :)

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:09 PM

      Hi Petra, It is fun- and it was a blast to review. Always fabulous to hear from you! Thanks for stopping by : ) ~ F

      Delete
  6. Bish DenhamOctober 17, 2012 at 10:24 AM

    This is a new book for me, but the premise sounds very plausible.

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:10 PM

      Hi Bish, It sure inspired a great week! Thanks so much for stopping by to share your thoughts with us : ) ~ F

      Delete
  7. A Belle’s TalesOctober 17, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    This sounds wonderful!! What a great concept! Definitely adding this one to the TBR! Thanks so much for sharing your brilliant review. :)

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:11 PM

      Hi Cheles Bells, Thanks!! You guys will love it : ) ~ F

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  8. GinaOctober 17, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    A new to me book but you're right, it DOES sound pretty good! Don't know if I could handle the stress either, but it would be pretty cool to see what everyone REALLY thought about it without barriers, you know? Thanks for sharing!

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:13 PM

      Hi GMR, Keeping secrets is always somewhat stressful! So glad you popped over- thanks for sharing your thoughts with us : ) ~ F

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  9. EnbrethilielOctober 17, 2012 at 2:04 PM

    +JMJ+

    Blogger characters in books fascinate me! Like Millie, I've done some very personal blogging that made me relieved (later on) that I had decided to be anonymous. (It turned out to be a double-edged sword, when a troll decided to make my life miserable and called me "cowardly" for not revealing my name. Sigh!) It's not easy to share so much of yourself online; there were times when I've thought, "If my readers and commenters knew me in real life, they wouldn't like me!" But I learned a lot about myself this way (some of it not so flattering--LOL!) and I'd love to read about another character doing the same thing.

    Thanks for the review, Lizzy! =)

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:16 PM

      Hi Embrethiliel, The great thing about blogging is the more honest you are with yourself and your writing, the more the people seem to connect with you- in such a real way. Thanks so much for stopping by to share your thoughts with us! Always a pleasure to hear from you : ) ~ F

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  10. sharonssunlitmemoriesOctober 17, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    This book looks like a lot of fun! It took me ages to pluck up the courage to start a blog - at first I was determined to be 'invisible' but of course once I started to make friends in the blogging community (a great side effect I wasn't anticipating!) I found more and more of 'myself' started to slip through!

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:17 PM

      Hi Sharon, It is such a great side effect! We truly appreciate all the amazing connections that we've made in the blogging world! Great to hear from you : ) ~ F

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  11. AngelaOctober 17, 2012 at 4:34 PM

    This sounds like a terrific book! Something I would have loved to read when I was twelve (however, it would have been sci-fi at the time). So glad you posted this to Pinterest, or I may have missed this post :)

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:17 PM

      Hi Angela, Thanks so much for stopping by! We hope you enjoy this fun middle grade : ) ~ F

      Delete
  12. Karen Pokras October 17, 2012 at 5:27 PM

    Thanks so much for all the comments! I really enjoyed writing this book - it sends a great message about gossiping & bullying that I think is important for all kids (& adults).

    -Karen

    (ps - Millie now has a "real life" blog as well: http://www.karentoz.com/millie-says.html )

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  13. Kelly HashwayOctober 17, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    I love this idea! Sounds amazing!

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:18 PM

      Hi Kelly, Isn't it a fun- and poignant- premise? Lovely to hear from you! Thanks so much for stopping by : ) ~ F

      Delete
  14. Greg SlombaOctober 17, 2012 at 9:27 PM

    Sounds like a fun and interesting book. Thanks for the review!

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      Hi Greg, You are welcome! Thanks so much for popping over today : ) ~ F

      Delete
  15. AnonymousOctober 18, 2012 at 7:17 AM

    Wow.. looks like a fun book. wanna grab it soon enough. I can relate to it pretty well... Thnx for the review

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    1. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      Hi manjulikapramod, Excellent! We hope you enjoy it : ) ~ F

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  16. DMSOctober 18, 2012 at 2:12 PM

    Hi Heidi, Cool about Cinderella Skeleton! We hope you love it! Millicent Marie is a new, fun read, and we know you will enjoy it : ) ~ F

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  17. Adriana @ BooksOnHerMindOctober 18, 2012 at 10:32 PM

    Oh my god! You found a kid's book about blogging. I was wondering what book you would pick.

    I don't keep a journal really. I have some personal things about boys I liked when I was younger and if my brother ever dared put my thoughts on a blog... he would have to go into hiding!

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    1. DMSOctober 19, 2012 at 8:56 PM

      Adriana- I am glad we were able to surprise you! I loved what you had to say about what would happen to your brother if he had posted your personal thoughts! ~L

      Delete
  18. Yanting GuehOctober 18, 2012 at 10:35 PM

    I would kill him (my younger brother, luckily I don't have one and my sisters know better enough than to mess with my journals)! Sounds like a fun book. Great review!

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    1. DMSOctober 19, 2012 at 8:57 PM

      Claudine- Glad you enjoyed the review! Thank goodness your sister knows better than to mess with your journals. :) ~L

      Delete
  19. cleemckenzieOctober 21, 2012 at 11:08 AM

    It's always so wonderful to read a review that says the characters were believable and the plot riveting. This sounds like another great MG read. Thanks for posting about it.

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    1. DMSOctober 23, 2012 at 8:31 PM

      Lee- This is definitely a great MG read! So glad you enjoyed ther review. :) ~L

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  20. UnknownOctober 22, 2012 at 12:42 PM

    What a cute book, and again I love all of your reviews.

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    1. DMSOctober 23, 2012 at 8:31 PM

      Thanks, Donna! Millie is a character I could relate to and the story was fun and fast! :) ~L

      Delete

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