"Wyatt masterfully weaves two tender love stories—the quiet story of a boy’s first love, and also a far-reaching tale of a boy’s love for land and its history."—Mary E. Pearson, author of The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Raising the Griffin by Melissa Wyatt
Wendy Lamb Books, 2004
"Packs a punch" - Kirkus Reviews
"Powerfully affecting...This is a compulsively readable book that lingers in the mind long after the final page." - School Library Journal
"This serious, realistic debut novel will draw plenty of young readers with Alex's taut, first-person narration of his predicament, as well as the detailed creation of a non-existent, yet totally plausible Eastern European country." - Booklist
"The characters ring true in this novel and the pace is nonstop." - KLIATT
"...A compelling and polished read...if you can put the novel down with only the last few chapters left to go, no matter how late it's getting, you're a stronger woman than I." Rachel Manija Brown, Green Man Review
2005 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age List, 2005-2006 Tayshas List, 2004 Best of the Best, Missouri Library Association YASIG, 2005 Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee, Nominated for 2005 Best Books for Young Adults
I'd like to meet:
Readers and writers who love teen fiction.
Music:
No, I can't account for my taste in music so don't ask me. But here's a sample: Tom Petty, Bad Company, UFO, the Boss, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Rogers & Hammerstein, Puccini, Tomaso Vitali, William Byrd, Bach, Copland, Nat King Cole. See, I'm all over the place and not in any way that could remotely be described as hip. What can you do?
Movies:
Here, I'm on firmer ground: The Heiress, All About Eve, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Notorious, Casablanca, Roman Holiday, The Quiet Man, The Miracle Worker, The Little Foxes, Ordinary People
Television:
How old will I sound if I say I don't like TV anymore? Not since Mystery Science Theater 3000 went off the air. I like the Travel Channel (Globetrekker! Ian Wright!), Animal Cops and sometimes Masterpiece Theater but I don't watch much else beyond the news.
Books:
A Little Princess, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Princess Bride, Collected Lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Mansfield Park, Pennington's Heir, Busman's Honeymoon, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Anne of Green Gables, The Edwardians, Thursday's Children, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, I Capture the Castle, The Right Hand Man, The Swing in the Summerhouse, The King of Attolia, The Queen of Attolia, Watership Down, A Ring of Endless Light, Court Duel, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Collosal Episode Guide
Heroes:
People who help other people.
