THE DETENTION CLUB by David Yoo (Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins 2011)
Welcome to WRITER WEDNESDAY! Today’s blog is all about my baby bro DAVID YOO. He is the author of two acclaimed YA novels (GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST/Delacorte ’05 and STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE/Hyperion ’08). His debut middle grade novel, THE DETENTION CLUB, hit bookstores on June 21, 2011 from Balzer + Bray. David’s story, “A Fistful of Feathers,” is also available as an e-Book from all major retailers June 7, 2011. His first collection of adult essays comes out from Grand Central this spring 2012. For more information on David and his upcoming DETENTION CLUB book blog tour, go here: http://daveyoo.com
By the way, if the book cover art looks familiar, that’s because it was done by illustrator/author/animator DAN SANTAT. He was a Guest Author for my 2011 National Picture Book Writing Week (NaPiBoWriWee). You can read more about Dan at his interview on my NaPiBoWriWee blog here: http://paulayoo.com/napi/?p=250
THE DETENTION CLUB has gotten rave reviews so far. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY said: “Peter and Drew’s antics will keep readers laughing, as readers will be entertained by the boys’ hijinks and empathize with their desire to fit in.” And according to The Bulletin of the Center For Children’s Books, “Readers familiar with Yoo’s YA work will be delighted and surprised by his first foray into middle-grade fiction.”
I asked David to explain the plot of THE DETENTION CLUB. He said: “The title is so explain-y that to say anything more about it would give away the ending, but I will say, briefly, that it’s the story of two friends, who-”
Okay. So in case you need more info on his book, here’s the official story: “Detention: The best worst thing to happen to Peter Lee? Peter and his best friend, Drew, used to be so cool (or, at least, not total outcasts) in elementary school. But now they’re in middle school, where their extensive mica collection and prowess at kickball have earned them a new label: losers. Then Peter attracts the unwanted attention of the school bullies, and his plan to become popular through his older sister, the practically perfect Sunny, backfires. Things go from bad to worse when Peter gets detention. But what at first seems to spell his utter doom turns into an unlikely opportunity for making friends and influencing people…”
David took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions. (Keep reading after the jump to find out more about my baby bro!)
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