MrsK Books: The Whizbang Machine by Danielle A. Vann

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

The Whizbang Machine by Danielle A. Vann

Danielle A. Vann

ISBN: 9781943847921

Publisher's Synopsis:

After years of running from his tragic past, Jack Yale books a flight home. With him is a typewriter that is intended to be a gift for his granddaughter, Elizabeth. The minute Elizabeth’s fingers cradle the large black and cream keys the machine responses: popping, sizzling, and roaring to life with a Whiz-Whiz-BANG! Elizabeth quickly discovers the typewriter has powers beyond anything she has ever seen. The more she types, the more the machine spells out guarded secrets that need to be revealed in order to set history straight and remove a curse that has been on their family for centuries. To solve the mystery, Elizabeth Yale, alongside Jack, will have to crack the code of the Whizbang Machine. What they find challenges their most basic assumptions of their family, the history of the typewriter, and even Elizabeth’s father’s death. The ultimate goal is to remove the curse. The question is: will Jack and Elizabeth be able to carry out their mission?

"Everything changed the sweltering summer of 2007"

MrsK's Review:
When Elizabeth was fifteen, she was waiting for her grandfather while typing her English paper. She is a writer, a writer who loves the sound of the keys and the "hum" of her light blue electric typewriter (I can relate to her satisfaction!). It had been eight years since her father had died, since her grandfather had sold Yale's Shelves (a book store her family had owned for fifty years), and since she had seen him (only his travel postcards kept her informed). She had no idea that in two days she would be traveling with her grandfather on a quest to Casablanca, Morocco.

What begins as a small "tingly" sensation as she reached for a box in her grandfather's storage soon becomes an "explosion of thunder" (it helped that there was a storm outside). Lying inside of a tan case was a vintage typewriter. Of course this wasn't just any typewriter, nope, it had been securely locked... and it was seated in "red plush velvet," which to any writer means a typewriter of distinction.

"Positioning my fingers among the keys,

they rested for half a second before the machine screamed to life.

Whiz-Whiz, BANG!"

From that moment on, Elizabeth would be on a quest to find the rightful owner. Although, as in any well written quest, there would be moments of pain... fear... life-threatening foes... heart-racing chases... and a few visions that will haunt and spur Elizabeth through the streets of Morocco.

As an educator, I couldn't ask for a better "on the edge" story line. Sharing certain portions of the story caused hands to fly up for ownership. As a reader, I experienced trepidation every time Elizabeth had to touch the keys. I was exhausted and angry with her grandfather for placing leading her into danger. I was pulling for her to get beyond this quest and just go home. I didn't want to read another word, and yet... I was compelled to enter into the chaos once more.

Enjoy this treasure of a story,

MrsK

"There's something romantic about writing on an old typewriter...

until..."

Uniquely Enjoyable!
An excellent choice for any 3rd-5th grade reader.

Meet the Author:

Danielle A. Vann grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As the only child, she loved to write stories and create wild characters at an early age. That love of writing sparked her career in journalism. She was a news reporter and anchor before she married her husband, Todd. After having three children, the idea of writing children’s books intrigued her. Her best source of inspiration is often her children’s zany antics. When she isn’t writing you can find her in digging in her organic garden, running and training for the next race, or playing chef in her kitchen. She currently lives in Mansfield, Texas.

"This book was sent to me by the author for this honest review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)