Amy Neftzger
Forfatter af The Orphanage of Miracles
Om forfatteren
Image credit: Photo of Amy Neftzger taken by Anna Johnson
Serier
Værker af Amy Neftzger
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Almen Viden
- Kanonisk navn
- Neftzger, Amy
- Fødselsdato
- 1967-06-23
- Køn
- female
- Nationalitet
- USA
- Fødested
- Illinois, USA
- Bopæl
- Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Uddannelse
- Middle Tennessee State University (MA| Industrial/Organizational Psychology)
- Relationer
- Neftzger, Tyra (husband)
- Kort biografi
- Amy Neftzger (born June 23) is an American researcher and author who has published fiction books, non-fiction books, business articles, and peer review research. Her works have reached an international audience.
Amy was born in Illinois and graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She received her bachelors degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated from both Universities with honors.
She has written numerous business and journal articles, but her fiction works have been the most commercially successful. In 2003 she published Conversations with the Moon, which was also translated into Korean and published in South Korea. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, guitarist Tyra Neftzger on a children's book called "All that the Dog Ever Wanted." The book was designed to introduce children to jazz music at an early age and included a CD sampler of jazz tunes. In 2007 she worked as an editor on a business fable called "The Damned Company." She released three new works in 2011.
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Anmeldelser
The War of Words by Amy Neftzger is a fantasy novel written for middle school aged children. Neftzger received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She has written on a variety of subjects and levels and is also an occasional drummer in a band.
I "met" Neftzger sometime ago on Twitter and have been following her work. Even though children's books usually don't make it into my reading pile, I let this one in. When I was looking at NetGalley last month I noticed this book's description and was immediately interested only then did I notice the author. Fantasy reading was something I did in my late teens and early twenties but have not been back to the genre in many years, but occasionally feel nostalgic.
The story is well conceived and Neftzger skillfully plants a few morals and lessons in the story. These ideas are stealthy hidden just below the story line and are not imposing or heavy-handed -- tools are not good or evil, it is how they are used or the virtue of language and its evolution. These ideas are easily grasped by the reader without realizing it. Although there is a war being fought, it is not graphic or overly disturbing for younger children. The war is part of the setting rather than the center of the story.
The characters are well done and occupy one of four groups. Kelsey is a leader in the war against shadows, she is a strong and dedicated character who has some doubts about her own abilities. She also has to deal with an experienced, very conventional general. There is a group of colorful characters who represent the king which include a snow leopard and a fox who dresses much like "Puss in Boots". We meet the evil sorcerer, a master at using words, and his army of shadow warriors. Finally, there is a group of researchers and a spell caster. In this last group is also a character (who in real life makes his rounds on Instagram) Newton, the gargoyle. Newton's role also keeps the story lighter and breaks the tension. As with the violence I mentioned above, the character relations are all friendship building rather than romantic keeping this book appropriate for the intended reader's age.
As the title suggests, words and word meanings have much to do with the story along with language itself. There is plenty of wisdom for a young reader to gain from the characters as well as a little milkshake advice from Newton. I am impressed at how well this book delivers its messages wrapped in a fantasy story. Although written for children it is also a delightful read for adults who are young at heart.
The War of Words will be available on March 3, 2016… (mere)
I "met" Neftzger sometime ago on Twitter and have been following her work. Even though children's books usually don't make it into my reading pile, I let this one in. When I was looking at NetGalley last month I noticed this book's description and was immediately interested only then did I notice the author. Fantasy reading was something I did in my late teens and early twenties but have not been back to the genre in many years, but occasionally feel nostalgic.
The story is well conceived and Neftzger skillfully plants a few morals and lessons in the story. These ideas are stealthy hidden just below the story line and are not imposing or heavy-handed -- tools are not good or evil, it is how they are used or the virtue of language and its evolution. These ideas are easily grasped by the reader without realizing it. Although there is a war being fought, it is not graphic or overly disturbing for younger children. The war is part of the setting rather than the center of the story.
The characters are well done and occupy one of four groups. Kelsey is a leader in the war against shadows, she is a strong and dedicated character who has some doubts about her own abilities. She also has to deal with an experienced, very conventional general. There is a group of colorful characters who represent the king which include a snow leopard and a fox who dresses much like "Puss in Boots". We meet the evil sorcerer, a master at using words, and his army of shadow warriors. Finally, there is a group of researchers and a spell caster. In this last group is also a character (who in real life makes his rounds on Instagram) Newton, the gargoyle. Newton's role also keeps the story lighter and breaks the tension. As with the violence I mentioned above, the character relations are all friendship building rather than romantic keeping this book appropriate for the intended reader's age.
As the title suggests, words and word meanings have much to do with the story along with language itself. There is plenty of wisdom for a young reader to gain from the characters as well as a little milkshake advice from Newton. I am impressed at how well this book delivers its messages wrapped in a fantasy story. Although written for children it is also a delightful read for adults who are young at heart.
The War of Words will be available on March 3, 2016… (mere)
Received book edition from LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.
I liked the premise but found the writing interminable. Even for such a short book I found myself unable to finish it.
I liked the premise but found the writing interminable. Even for such a short book I found myself unable to finish it.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.Perhaps I ought to start checking my Early Reviewer requests more carefully. Let me just say first that Orchard of Hope (as far as I read) is by no means a bad book. However, the 8-13 age range claimed by the ARC info page is a little ridiculous. The dialogue in the opening bits is often unrealistic and stilted in a manner suggestive of picture books for preschoolers, and it feels a little patronizing. Eventually, I gave up, since the dialogue kept ruining my immersion.
That said, I have several small children in my life, and I think I'll see what they think.
(Just in case this doesn't tag properly, I received this book through the Early Reviewers program. I accidentally deleted it from my collections, and am reposting my review for ARC review completion purposes. I never did get an actual child to read the book, either.)… (mere)
That said, I have several small children in my life, and I think I'll see what they think.
(Just in case this doesn't tag properly, I received this book through the Early Reviewers program. I accidentally deleted it from my collections, and am reposting my review for ARC review completion purposes. I never did get an actual child to read the book, either.)… (mere)
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Statistikker
- Værker
- 13
- Medlemmer
- 231
- Popularitet
- #97,643
- Vurdering
- 3.4
- Anmeldelser
- 100
- ISBN
- 21
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, through Reading Deals, and I gave an honest review.