Bingo Summer, page 17
The stars on Summer’s bedroom ceiling are important during several scenes. Find an instance and discuss how the stars are used as a symbol in the story.
When Mara tells Summer that she is going to expose her family’s secret, how does Summer react? What does she decide to do? Would you have reacted differently?
At the end of the book, Summer’s family hold a surprise birthday party for her. What would be your dream birthday celebration?
Acknowledgements
There are many people to thank for this book in your hand because, as I learned in my first writing workshop, ‘books are made, not written.’ My instructor, the late Mel Boring, refer-enced the teamwork involved in growing a story that always begins as a seed of an idea. In the years I’ve been writing, his words have been a constant reminder that the stories could not be possible without the people who guide and encourage us writers.
First, a heartfelt thanks to the Near Normal Writers who saw BINGO SUMMER in its early stages: Pat Van West, Laurie Swindler, Debby Ruddell, Scotti Cohn, Nancy Sultan, Polly Bedford, and Susan Lash. Your feedback was invaluable. Critique sessions don’t get any better than our meetings at The Coffeehouse.
Thank you to Margo Dill for proofreading.
Thank you to Heather McCorkle for the gorgeous cover work. Your patience for my end-less questions was much appreciated.
Thanks to Rae Bateman for your expertise in formatting. I’m so glad for the time you saved me in learning how to put this book into decipherable shape, a skill which I have no patience to learn.
Thank you to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for the sense of community and support it offers to writers. This book was made possible, in part, by a grant from SCBWI.
To Barbara Duncan, for your words of encouragement through the years, and for the ex-pert grandmotherly service you provided while I went to just one more writing workshop.
To my mom and dad for setting me on the path to be a writer, and for indulging me when I brought home those school book orders and magazine subscriptions. There is not a writer any-where who wasn’t a reader first, and I have you to thank for that.
Lastly, to David, Hayley, Jack, and Josh: I could not have written this book without your love and support. Much love to you now and always.
About the Author
A former newspaper reporter, Dawn Malone now writes exclusively for children. She is also a substitute teacher, writing instructor for a community education program, and expert dog walker at the local animal shelter. Dawn lives in central Illinois with her husband, three children, and the pets they bring home which she now takes care of. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, biking, and fighting the weedy gardens in her yard. BINGO SUMMER is her first novel. Visit Dawn at Here’s the Story, http://dawnmalone.blogspot.com.
Dawn can also be found on:
Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Twitter @dmalonebooks
If you enjoyed BINGO SUMMER, please consider leaving a review at www.amazon.com or www.goodreads.com.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Literature Circle Questions
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Dawn Malone, Bingo Summer
