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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Middle-Grade Books Are Fun, & Kids Need Great Books, Too

by Chautona Havig · 1 Comment

Middle-grade author, Christy Hoss, took inspiration from an actual third-grade rock band and wrote a fun and inspiring series for kids! via @chautonahavig

Personally, I think middle-grade books are highly underrated by adult readers, but kids are smart enough to know how awesome they are, and Christy Hoss has a fun series for us.

If you doubt my opinions on middle-grade books, I give you Narnia. Christy, however, gives you a fabulous rag-tag, third-grade rock band with all the fun and hijinks that go with it! Find out what is so great about her “Rubber Band” series. Hint: it’s not just the title of the band!

Christy Hoss

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Middle-Grade Books Are Fun, & Kids Need Great Books, Too

When Christy Hoss told me she’d been in one of my workshops at the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference, I had to run over to Amazon to grab a look at her.  I actually remember her!  As we chatted about her book and her desire to be a writer, we learned we have quite a bit in common.  Both of us were inspired by our second-grade teachers.  Alas, while she gets to meet up with hers this fall, mine must have gone home to Jesus decades ago (she was at least 200 back in 1977!)

A teacher herself, Christy was inspired by a real third-grade rock band at her school’s talent show one year.  As a result, we have an entire series about this fabulous group of kids and their surprisingly good rock band. (Hint: Christy Hoss’ husband is in a band himself.  It’s what first attracted her to him.  I was supposed to edit that out but didn’t.  I hope she forgives me!).

Like many smart authors, Christy Hoss also loves reading in her genre and has a few books to share.

Because I fought with the audio quality on this episode, I left out a few of our rabbit trails–me walking late at night and her thinking I’m crazy for it.  Oh, and how my friend from junior high’s father-in-law was one of Elvis’ costumers!  FUN stories.

With that, I’d like to apologize for the audio quality. I’m not sure what happened, but after fighting with it a bit, I gave up and decided that learning about this fabulous series was more important than perfect audio.  I hope you agree.

the rubber band stretches by christy hossMore about The Rubber Band Stretches by Christy Hoss

Foster kid Rocky “Roadkill” Espinosa, drummer for the Rubber Band, chooses Elvis for his 4th grade living biography report. With little money to create a costume, Rocky believes he’ll be the worst Elvis impersonation ever, destined to fail.

When his ex-con father Eduardo, sneaks into his life demanding attention, Rocky’s best friend and lead guitar for the band, Eddie, comes to his rescue. Eddie involves the entire band in Rocky’s protection to be “secret service” and comedic chaos erupts.

After the Rubber Band performs its first set at the mayor’s 50th birthday party, Rocky mysteriously disappears. The band realizes it’s no longer about fun and games. Friends and family are what matter most in life. The bond of the band demands that secrets be revealed.

Will friends, foster or blood family win the battle for Rocky’s future?

You can find out more about Christy at her WEBSITE

(where you can follow her on social media and all that fun stuff!)

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If you’d like to be on the Because Fiction Podcast, please go HERE and submit your topic idea! I’d love to hear about it.

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Comments

  1. Christina Mosca says

    July 20, 2021 at 5:53 am

    I love middle grade fiction!
    If my friends’ children tell me about books they are reading, I run to the library and start reading them, too!
    This gives me a connection to the kids, other than “my parents’ friend.” Now that most of them are in college, they still remember loaning me their books or our conversation about them.
    My faves are Rick Riordan’s mythological series. (I always liked Greek mythology in school).

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple 
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  • Google Play
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  • and more!
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
March 24, 2023
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