Remembering
Kaylee Cooper
by Christopher Francis
Genre:
middle-grade paranormal-fantasy
Publisher:
Curiosity Quills Press
Date
of Release :
September 30, 2014
Description:
Kaylee
Cooper is certain that Alex will become friends with a ghost this
year. Alex thinks that he is far too old to be listening to a first
grader and encourages Kaylee to stop jeopardizing his important sixth
grade social life. Kaylee doesn’t listen and finds awkward ways to
spend as much time with Alex as possible, even if it means following
him into the boy’s washroom.
Fed
up, Alex develops a strategic plan to ultimately help him get rid of
Kaylee Cooper for good.
However,
he soon learns about the mysterious legend of Screaming Ridge that
pulls and unlikely group of friends together, including the girl of
his dreams, and the school’s meanest bully. When they discover that
the legend is real, and that Kaylee Cooper is at the core of the
mystery, Alex stares death in the face and helps save her from an
eternal life of misery and confusion.
Guest
Post
Remembering
Kaylee Cooper by Chris Francis
Remembering
Kaylee Cooper is a middle-grade paranormal novel focusing on the life
of an eleven year-old boy who becomes intrigued by the oddities of a
first grade girl named Kaylee Cooper.
Constructing
Kaylee Cooper.
Bringing
Kaylee Cooper to life made me laugh. Her eccentric, unpredictable
personality reminds me of the little terrors who run wild at my
school. I'm an eighth grade teacher, always excited about the
learning that goes on in my classroom. The idea of tapping into the
adolescent mind each day brings an indescribable fulfillment to me.
Yet, I am blessed with the opportunities to work with the primary
students. To see the world through their eyes brings a smile to my
face as I experience a sense of wonderment that comes with being six
years old. Their worlds are so abstract, filled with questions and
curiosity.
That's
how I see Kaylee Cooper.
The
walls she builds around herself as a means of feeling secure is
something I see every day. She draws her own conclusions about the
complex world around her, but walks cautiously at the same time.
Kaylee Cooper lives in a bubble, a bubble shaped by the events that
surround her life. Her infatuation with the protagonist, Alex Thomas,
parallels my relationship with a young girl who lived on my street
growing up. Every day she told me how much she loved me and wanted to
marry me!
This
little girl scared me. Like Alex in this story, I wanted to avoid her
as much as possible. Riding to the bus stop each morning, I pedaled
extra hard so that I could avoid her flagging me down and reciting
whatever poetic verse she had practiced for me...
She
was four years old. I was ten.
For
years I have been covering kindergarten and grade one classes,
teaching drama and art. The different faces and behaviors coming in
and out of my life are often a blur. However, every now and then I
come across that unique personality; the one who makes you
laugh...the one who, at times, even makes you cry.
I
remember too clearly, in my first couple of years teaching, a young
girl whose parents split up. She came to school each day, fighting
back the tears, but somehow overcoming the darkness she had inside.
She put on a brave face for me, and always said hello in the hall. I
wanted to draw on her bravado, and add this layer to Kaylee's already
complex character.
Who
is Kaylee Cooper?
Kaylee
Cooper is the screaming kid in the playground who wants another push
on the swing.
Kaylee
Cooper is the finger poker in art class, who wants to show you her
picture every two minutes.
Kaylee
Cooper is the emotional roller coaster who hates you and loves you at
the same time.
Kaylee
Cooper is all the quirky tidbits you see in that loud,
attention-seeking youth.
However,
what this story reveals - what is learned through the eyes of Alex
Thomas - is what this little girl isn’t.
Kaylee
Cooper isn't like any other child.
About
The Author: CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS Born in Brisbane, Australia, Christopher was accepted at age 19 into Sheridan College’s Animation program before earning a degree in Sociology from McMaster University.
He then enjoyed a two-year adventure overseas working with children, before completing his Bachelor of Education degree at York University. He is now teaching junior and intermediate level students in Burlington, Ontario.
Through Christopher’s experience working with children, he found writing and illustrating to be one of his passions. Currently working on a middle grade series, he recently completed and illustrated the first three books. He has also created seven other children’s picture books and illustrated children’s novels for independent authors.
Find Christopher Francis Online:
What did Sister Sinister think?
* * * * *
I give it 5 Stars!
* * * * *
I was given the opportunity to read to review REMEMBERING KAYLEE COOPER as a part of the blog tour and I was instantly adoring of it. The author is skillful in his depiction of the students in this book, with Kaylee Cooper being the most special. I even experienced some chills!
Kaylee Cooper seems to be a typical 1st grader with a crush on an older boy. She believes she can predict the future and she always follows up with, "Do you want to know how I know?", reminding me strongly of just about every 6 year old alive. Kaylee has an invisible friend named Amber and she just knows that the older boy she is infatuated with is going to make friends with a ghost soon. Could she be right? And if she is, how could Kaylee possibly know this?
"Remembering Kaylee Cooper" is endearing, funny, spooky, and sad, too. I found it to be a beautiful story and I want to read so much more from Christopher Francis!
Haha this seems like an awesome book. Seeing as I work with kids a lot, I think the 6 year old with her saying is completely realistic! I think my little sister might like this book. :3
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