Books with author Michael Denman

Sidney T. Mellon, Junior's head is round and much too large for his pencil thin body. A cantaloupe comes to mind. So does the name, Melonhead. What chance does he have, looking like this and yo-yoing between divorced parents who aren't up to the job? No wonder he gets on a bus and heads for New York City, "As far away as he could get." So begins a journey of self-discovery that takes him from Seattle to Los Angeles to New York, to a small town in Rhode Island where he confronts his grandmother, who wants nothing to do with him. All Sidney wants is a safe place to be. This was my first novel for young readers. It was published in hardcover by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 2002. The paperback and ebook versions are published by the author.

At fifteen, Alison decides it's time to get to know her father, who abandoned her when she was a child. She wants to spend the summer with him. He writes back, telling her she won't like it. He attempts to dissuade her. He fails. Their summer is a struggle. She brings her anger, seeking answers. He tries to drive her away. The novel is about their fight to find a relationship, and the distance they travel over a summer. It is intended for kids twelve to fifteen.

Beekman O'Day has lived all of his twelve years in Manhattan. He's lived in fourteen different apartments, hotel rooms and hotels. He's been to nine different schools. When he has to move once again,and start a new school, he puts his foot down with his father, who makes his living making dubious deals. No more moving. No more new schools. They make a deal. A big deal. Then the deal becomes a big mess and Beekman must stand his ground or lose what he's been fighting for, including the affection of his best friend's twin sister. In the end he takes a stand and refuses to budge. He won't give up. A deal is a deal.

In a village full of selfish inhabitants, the idea that making stone soup would bring them all together might be hard to swallowliterally! With a few stones as the initial ingredients, three famished soldiers cleverly convince the villagers to contribute all of the items needed for a delicious pot of soup. In this spirited adaptation of the beloved folktale, preparing a simple pot of soup teaches the villagers that sharing brings happiness and celebration. After reading this heart-warming tale, children will certainly want to make a pot of their own stone soup. Because it makes a great activity for the classroom, suggest it to a favorite teacher, and remember that individuals can accomplish more when working together.

A HEART-BREAKING COMEDY ABOUT CIRCUS LIFE AND LIFE ITSELF Henrietta cherishes her family’s kooky existence working as clowns for a small, shabby traveling circus. As far as she is concerned, she has it better than any twelve-year-old on the planet. But one shocking day, life throws a pie right in her kisser—in the form of a hitand-run accident that takes away a loved one. Henrietta must use all her clowning skills and a whole lot more to pick herself up and face a future full of change.

Rita Martinez is twelve-years-old. She was born in the United States. Her mother, Alicia, came illegally from Mexico. Their story is about what happens when an immigration raid separates them and Rita must find the courage and resources to survive as she attempts to find her mother and get her back. This is my sixth novel for young readers. You can find the others at Amazon, on my author's page, or at my website, michaeldeguzman.com

Newboy hasn’t spoken in three years. One morning he opened his mouth and nothing came out. He doesn’t know why he stopped talking, but what he does know is that he’s through with the state child-care system. In twelve years he’s lived in eleven foster homes, and the Knoxes are the worst of the bunch. Now, with no voice, no family, and no exact plan, Newboy is running away for good. Living on the streets means danger and excitement around every corner, but the one thing Newboy never expected to find is a companion in the form of an old ventriloquist dummy lying in a Dumpster – a puppet with no hands, backward feet, and a chunk of its nose missing. Amazingly, this beat-up doll whom he dubs “Stinko” possesses a kind of magic that helps Newboy rediscover his ability to communicate. This is a fast-paced adventure about a runaway kid figuring out not just what he’s searching for but also what he has to say. Finding Stinko is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Rita Martinez is twelve-years-old. She was born in the United States. Her mother, Alicia, came illegally from Mexico. Their story is about what happens when an immigration raid separates them and Rita must find the courage and resources to survive as she attempts to find her mother and get her back. This is my sixth novel for young readers. You can find the others at Amazon, on my author's page, or at my website, michaeldeguzman.com