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| Photo by Richard Roche |
The public library in Wheaton, Illinois has been ranked a Top 10 Library (2006) by Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. It sprawls over three floors, with the entire lower level being devoted to children's books. On the top level, there is also a section dedicated to Young Adult novels. It was in this section that I recently saw a display, topped by this sign:
Below the sign were pieces of paper, each containing the opening line or lines of a different book:
Beneath each piece of paper was the corresponding book. Well, each book was supposed to be under there. But the opening teasers worked so well that most of the books were checked out. Of course, that drove me crazy! Thank heaven, the thoughtful librarians had a cheat sheet with the answers.
Do you know the answers?
Would you like to?
Well, you will have to wait until Wednesday. Until then, please join me in wondering --
What makes a good opening line?
Also, I have a little unfinished business to attend to. A winner has to be drawn for last week's giveaway.
It's times like this that I wish I had an adorable guinea pig named Cookie. When author Cynthia Lord has a book to give away, she fans out strips of paper and waits for Cookie to go nibble on the winner's name. I tried to enlist our dog, Sanji, but this is the look he gave me --
So I relied on the old shake-in-the-bag method, and the book WHERE DO FAIRIES GO WHEN IT SNOWS? by Liza Gardner Walsh and Hazel Mitchell goes to...
JANET SMART!
And the winner of the Winter Fairy Kit is...
CATHY BALLOU MEALEY!
Congratulations, Janet and Cathy! We'll be in touch.
Thank you to all of our readers who entered the drawing.
Huzzah! Thank you and congratulations to Janet as well!
ReplyDeleteNever stop believing in fairies.
And I can't wait to see the answers to the first lines match-up!
Congratulations, Cathy!
DeleteFirst lines are the hook to draw our readers in. What a super idea for library display, too. Sounds like I'd like to spend time in your library, Patty. Sanji is a cute dog and way to smart to get involved in your shenanigans, huh?
ReplyDeleteYou'd love the library here, Kathy. And don't let that coy dog face fool you -- Sanji is full of shenanigans!
DeleteCathy, I used to go to your library when I was 5-8! So fun to see it! First lines are so essential...loved this post.
ReplyDeleteCool, Kirsti!
DeleteThis would make a great display at a school library, too. I know the Disney World first line is from GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray (great book!). The other YA first lines are fantastic--need to read some of these. Now if they were PB first lines, I'd do much better than 1 of 10 :)
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Lori -- I struggled with these. I knew the first one, and bombed on the rest.
DeleteI recently did a post on first lines - aka beginnings - for Smack Dab in the Middle about how and why they work. This is a great way to get people to check out a book. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTerrific, Darlene. I will take a look at your post!
DeleteLove the shake in the bag method! Thank you so much. Nice to stroll down and see my name. Sounds like you have a great library, unfortunately ours is much smaller, but I like it.
ReplyDeleteHooray, Janet! One more book for your personal library. :)
DeleteWhat a great idea to get people to check out the book. It also gives writers great examples for their own writing. I agree with Lori Alexander, I'd do better with PB first lines. "On the day Max wore his wolf suit..."
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you!
DeleteAppreciations, Patty.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a WOWza of a library there.
And I think 1st line games are fun.
Will be eagerly awaiting part two.
Thanks, Jan!
DeleteI love the idea of the first lines display. Wonderful idea. Congrats to Janet and Cathy.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a great way to get teens interested in the books, and it obviously was working!
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