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I'm meeting with a graphic designer to choose a cover and illustrations for the book, but I'm still unsure of the title. The synopsis is below.
My target readership would be left-handed children, and parents of left-handed children (and possibly schools). Although the MC is a girl, I want the story to be of interest to boys (unless I write another story with a boy MC
) I've called it The Race with a possible sub-title (A Story for Leftys/Lefties). Another possible title would be Vicky's Last Chance but that might not appeal to boys.
My idea for the cover is a pic of the children lining up for the egg and spoon race, showing Vicky next to Graham.
The Race
This is a story for children in the 7-10 age group. It is set in the present. The characters live in an anonymous suburb of an English-speaking country. The theme is 'overcoming adversities.' The story explores the unique problems of the left-handed child.
The main character is ten-year old Vicky. She has a close friend, Asha, who sympathises with Vicky's frustration when her left-handedness makes life more difficult. Vicky's antagonist is Graham, who sits next to her in class. He accuses Vicky of being clumsy because their elbows keep bumping, and because she can't hit a ball, or do the high jump. Vicky has difficulty with the high jump because she is expected to approach it from the 'wrong' side, and to hold the cricket bat like a right-hander. She is afraid to ask the gym teacher for special attention, and this often makes Vicky sullen and defensive. But in the end it is Vicky's left-handedness that helps her win the three-legged race, and leaves Graham sprawled on the grass.
***
Vicky's Grandfather has died and her Gran is coming to stay for a holiday. They have not seen each other for a long time. Vicky wants to cheer up her Gran and is embroidering a cushion cover. But it is not going well as her sewing is back to front.
Asha, who is good at sewing, offers to help.
Sports Day is approaching and Vicky and Asha are planning which races they will enter. Vicky wishes she could win a race to make her Gran proud, and to help her forget about being sad. They know that Graham wins most of the races, so they decide to practice for the egg and spoon, which Graham doesn't usually enter. But Graham hears about their plans and when they line up for the race he stands next to Vicky. Vicky's practising pays off and she is winning the race. But at the last moment Graham tries to run past her and his egg starts to wobble. In trying to save it his hand touches Vicky's (he is on her left) and both eggs fall to the ground. Vicky is devastated and blames the unfairness of it on Graham - and being left-handed.
A new race is announced. Asha asks Vicky to be her partner in the three-legged race, but Vicky at first doesn't want to take part until her Gran persuades her. Vicky and Asha easily win the race as the other couples stumble and fall. Gran explains that it was because the girls had their strongest legs on the outside, and this made it easier for them to keep their stride. Vicky being left-footed gave them the advantage.
Gran reveals that Vicky's Grandfather was also left-handed, and she gives Vicky a special left-handed mug. She tells Vicky that she is not clumsy, but will have to learn to do certain things differently because she will be using implements designed for right-handed people. She explains that you can buy left-handed scissors and can-openers etc. to make life easier.
Vicky's self-esteem is restored and this gives her the confidence to ask the gym teacher to make allowances for her left-handedness - and to tell Graham that from now on she is going to sit on the left side of the desk.
Story ends
The second part of the book will be advice on how to help left-handers, and facts about left-handedness - how to tell if a child is left-handed - the correct way for a left-hander to hold a pencil and to slant the paper - famous left-handers - percentage of the population who are left-handed - career choices for left-handers - cultural issues for left-handers etc.
ends
My target readership would be left-handed children, and parents of left-handed children (and possibly schools). Although the MC is a girl, I want the story to be of interest to boys (unless I write another story with a boy MC
) I've called it The Race with a possible sub-title (A Story for Leftys/Lefties). Another possible title would be Vicky's Last Chance but that might not appeal to boys.My idea for the cover is a pic of the children lining up for the egg and spoon race, showing Vicky next to Graham.
The Race
This is a story for children in the 7-10 age group. It is set in the present. The characters live in an anonymous suburb of an English-speaking country. The theme is 'overcoming adversities.' The story explores the unique problems of the left-handed child.
The main character is ten-year old Vicky. She has a close friend, Asha, who sympathises with Vicky's frustration when her left-handedness makes life more difficult. Vicky's antagonist is Graham, who sits next to her in class. He accuses Vicky of being clumsy because their elbows keep bumping, and because she can't hit a ball, or do the high jump. Vicky has difficulty with the high jump because she is expected to approach it from the 'wrong' side, and to hold the cricket bat like a right-hander. She is afraid to ask the gym teacher for special attention, and this often makes Vicky sullen and defensive. But in the end it is Vicky's left-handedness that helps her win the three-legged race, and leaves Graham sprawled on the grass.
***
Vicky's Grandfather has died and her Gran is coming to stay for a holiday. They have not seen each other for a long time. Vicky wants to cheer up her Gran and is embroidering a cushion cover. But it is not going well as her sewing is back to front.
Asha, who is good at sewing, offers to help.
Sports Day is approaching and Vicky and Asha are planning which races they will enter. Vicky wishes she could win a race to make her Gran proud, and to help her forget about being sad. They know that Graham wins most of the races, so they decide to practice for the egg and spoon, which Graham doesn't usually enter. But Graham hears about their plans and when they line up for the race he stands next to Vicky. Vicky's practising pays off and she is winning the race. But at the last moment Graham tries to run past her and his egg starts to wobble. In trying to save it his hand touches Vicky's (he is on her left) and both eggs fall to the ground. Vicky is devastated and blames the unfairness of it on Graham - and being left-handed.
A new race is announced. Asha asks Vicky to be her partner in the three-legged race, but Vicky at first doesn't want to take part until her Gran persuades her. Vicky and Asha easily win the race as the other couples stumble and fall. Gran explains that it was because the girls had their strongest legs on the outside, and this made it easier for them to keep their stride. Vicky being left-footed gave them the advantage.
Gran reveals that Vicky's Grandfather was also left-handed, and she gives Vicky a special left-handed mug. She tells Vicky that she is not clumsy, but will have to learn to do certain things differently because she will be using implements designed for right-handed people. She explains that you can buy left-handed scissors and can-openers etc. to make life easier.
Vicky's self-esteem is restored and this gives her the confidence to ask the gym teacher to make allowances for her left-handedness - and to tell Graham that from now on she is going to sit on the left side of the desk.
Story ends
The second part of the book will be advice on how to help left-handers, and facts about left-handedness - how to tell if a child is left-handed - the correct way for a left-hander to hold a pencil and to slant the paper - famous left-handers - percentage of the population who are left-handed - career choices for left-handers - cultural issues for left-handers etc.
ends
.
![:-\](/s3/kboards.com/data/smilies/undecided.gif "Undecided :-\")
