Oshkosh Students Meet New Local Author

Freya and the Dragon Egg by K.W. Penndorf

In my years of teaching literacy, I have tried to model for my students the importance of pre-thinking before choosing the book they plan to read for literature circles or reading workshop.  I liked to demonstrate a variety of strategies for the students that included author research and book reviews before they settled on one that would make them critically think about all the plot details. They were going to be assessed using this book, so they'd better make it a good one.  Even still, toping the list of criteria I needed them to understand when choosing a book, was that they needed to ask themselves, “Will I enjoy this book?”  

Another good way to choose a book, is to actually meet the author.  I have been fortunate enough to meet a few. Jerry Spinelli, Gordan Korman, Jacqueline Woodson, and Louis Saccar have all led me to great book discoveries. This past month I happened to visit a neighborhood rummage sale and was drawn to one yard advertising a new author and her first book.  It was there that I met K.W. Penndorf.  I couldn’t help notice how excited she was to meet me, and how enthusiastic she was about her story, not just about Freya, but her whole writing adventure. After establishing a few connections, I promised her I would read the book, and we both promised to set up a Google Hangout so that she could share her publishing story with my students. 

On June 4th, Ms. Penndorf was able to meet with three sixth grade classes at Merrill Middle School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  Using Google Hangouts, all three classes were able to participate in a discussion with the author at the same time, each from their own classroom.  Ms. Penndorf prepared a presentation describing her journey through the development of her first book that included the resources for her research, as well as the fateful events that inspired her ideas. Because Ms. Pennforf was able to see each room clearly, students were able to ask questions to her almost better than if they were all in one big room together.

I want to thank K.W. Penndorf, Mrs. Redlin, Mrs. Lubbers, and Ms. Frank for the time in preparation to make this an authentic experience for the students.  Their willingness to take a risk not only helped produce an experience directly related to the student’s year long writing process, but has also helped promote a great way for teachers to expand their classroom walls through technology. I also want to thank the students for their great questions and participation.  No matter how much we might question the reliability of the technology in an event like this, putting student behavior and performance in the public can be a concern, and the students didn’t disappoint us.

Judging a book by it’s cover is certainly one of the most popular ways for kids and adults to choose a book to read. Ms. Penndorf shared with us how important it was for her to consider when deciding a cover and physical make up for her book.  If you have enjoyed the Harry Potter series, or Percy Jackson series, I think you will enjoy K.W. Penndorf’s Freya and the Dragon Egg. Now that you have met the author and heard her story, she’ll tell you it’s ok to judge her book by it’s cover. It means you understand the thinking and work that went into the whole publishing process as well as a very entertaining story. 

Freya and the Dragon Egg (Book One) by K.W. Penndorf

Freya and the Dragon Egg (Book One) by K.W. Penndorf

A few weeks ago I had the fortunate chance meeting of author K.W. Penndorf. She was promoting her new book at a neighborhood rummage sale in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  I was captivated by her enthusiam about her book and her writing adventure.  It was easy to consider purchasing the book, and I promised her that I would read it, and let her know what I thought.

12 year old Freya felt she was the neglected, and often misunderstood middle child of her family, much like a cross between Cinderella, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland.  Even though Freya was not really abused, the feeling of being under appreciated weighed heavily on her.  Her connection to her father’s famous archeology, in particular the Viking era, was one of the few things in Freya’s home life that gave her pleasure. A verbal outburst with her sisters, led her to the museum where her father stored and displayed his most famous collection of Viking era artifacts.  Discovering that the museum was broken into, Freya’s father entrusts her with an artifact that he believes was the target of the break-in, and unknown to Freya at the time, holds a secret to protecting the world from some strange and dangerous power. 

Through a series of events, the artifact takes Freya back in time to the original Viking era where she meets actual Vikings and other characters from Viking mythology.  As her adventure evolves, Freya can’t help but notice how accurate, or in some cases inaccurate, her father’s research has been.  A special gift makes Freya “the chosen one” to save the nine realms from the evil of Ragnar, who would like to open the realms, and control all the power within them. Freya makes allies with not only real Vikings, but also some of the most famous characters of Viking lore in order to defeat Ragnar, his growing army of Groggers, and a Raedslen dragon. Like all good series books, K.W. Penndorf leaves the reader with some unanswered questions, and a growing suspicion that Freya’s Viking adventure has already dangerously effected the safety of her present day world.

I am happy to say that I enjoyed Freya’s story, not only for it storyline, but also for the connection I made with Ms. Penndorf. I look forward to reading the next book in her series, as well as learning the continuation of her new publishing journey.  It’s like getting two stories for the price of one.  I’d like to think that I have one of her first autographed copies.  Perhaps, like J.K. Rawling’s first book, I’ll be able to sell it back to her someday.  Unfortunately it will not be in mint condition, because I have since shared her book with others.  That’s one of the things I like most about good young adult literature.