derrickbarnes.com
Your favorite children's book author
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Here’s what it’s all about! These books have definitely changed my life and hopefully inspired thousands of people. I write for kids ages five to eighteen, and touch on every age appropriate topic you could imagine. I create characters that aren't usually represented favorably in pop culture. Hopefully, I've created characters that kids can identify with, and that parents love. I ALWAYS write to convey a positive message.


So please, read the synopses,click on the reviews,and also check out how you can order or purchase the book for yourself, for a gift, for your school or classroom, etc.

Enjoy!


Ruby and the Booker Boys Series

My wife and I don’t have a daughter, but Ruby is the closest thing we’ll ever get to having one. I love her! Eight year old Ruby Marigold Booker uses her style, charisma, talent, and all out girl power to make it in a household full of boys. But these aren’t just any boys; her brothers (Tyner, Ro, and Marcellus) are Hope Road Academy’s and Chill Brook Avenue’s famous Booker Boys. She’ll do whatever it takes to get out of their shadows and make a name for her self.

This colorful and rhythmic new series in children’s lit is all about the love and support of family and community. Ruby finds the strength and confidence to overcome any obstacle and accomplish everything she sets her mind to.

New Ruby books are scheduled to be released every three months!

I'd also like to give a mad, super-duper shout out to the magnificent illustrator of the Ruby Booker books, Vanessa Brantley Newton . Thanks for breathing life into this soon to be iconic series.



RELEASE DATE : July 1, 2008

Book One: Brand New School, Brave New Ruby (Scholastic)
Reading
Level: Ages 7-11
ISBN: 0545017602; 144 pages


Introducing Ruby Marigold Booker!

In the first book of the series, Ruby will be in the third grade, and attending Hope Road Academy this school year. The performing arts school she attended the year before has closed down, so now she’ll have to find her way at the school where her three big brothers rule.

 

Will she be pushed to the side and buried by her brothers’ pop star status and popularity, or will she use her wits and talents to steal some of her own shine?

Available ANYWHERE books are sold.
Order online from one of the links below:

Barnes and Noble

Target
Borders

Call 1-800-SCHOLASTIC
(1-800-724-6527) to order for school, library, or classroom.

 




RELEASE DATE : July 1, 2008

Book Two: Trivia Queen, Third Grade Supreme (Scholastic)
Reading
Level: Ages 7-11
ISBN: 0545017610; 144 pages


After the head zoo keeper at the Bellow Rock zoo visits Hope Road Academy and announces a big animal trivia contest, Ruby views it as thee opportunity to make a name for herself. She’ll be the rep for the entire third grade. The winner we’ll receive free year-round passes for every student in their grade level.

Even though she is the self-appointed Trivia Queen, she’ll be challenged big-time by her brothers, Ty and Marcellus as the reps from their grade in the big contest.

Could there be any way possible that little sis could score the biggest upset ever in the Booker household?

Available ANYWHERE books are sold.
Order online from one of the links below:


Barnes and Noble

Target
Borders

Call 1-800-SCHOLASTIC
(1-800-724-6527) to order for school, library, or classroom.


The Slumber Party Payback

RELEASE DATE : October 1, 2008

Book Three: Slumber Party Payback (Scholastic)
Reading
Level: Ages 7-11
ISBN: 0545017629; 176 pages
 

It never fails.
Every time Ruby has company or has a sleepover, her trouble-making brother Roosevelt (Ro Rowdy) has to mess everything up with his messy, stinky pranks. It never fails. The book starts with Ruby flashing back on her first sleepover and how Ro ruined it with toads and vinegar. She's throwing another sleepover, and because of Ro, no one wants to come except for her two best friends Teresa Petticoat and Mona Sweetroll.

As usual, Ro has a whole funky list of pranks lined up. But this time, enough is finally enough for Ruby. She fights fire with fire. She'll show Ro that he's not the only one in the Booker household that knows how to come up with good pranks.

It's on now! 

Available ANYWHERE books are sold.
Order online from one of the links below:

Barnes and Noble

Target
Borders

Call 1-800-SCHOLASTIC
(1-800-724-6527) to order for school, library, or classroom.


YOUNG ADULT


Mature language and situations!!!



The Making of Dr. Truelove (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse)
Reading Level: Ages 16 and Up

ISBN:
1416914390; 240 Pages

 

 I love this book and its characters. It was my first published young adult novel. It’s been praised and banned for its comical, yet realistic teen-talk. Truelove was honored in 2006 by the ALA as a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

The protagonist, Diego Montgomery and his best friend, J-Live, create an alter-ego (Dr. Truelove) to impress and win back Diego’s dream girl, Roxy Patterson. Insecurity issues after a failed attempt to end his virginity, puts Diego in a tailspin.

The boys create a monster that gets out of hand. J-Live uses the new found popularity of Dr. Truelove, a popular teen romance columnist, for his own deviant gains.

My ultimate goal for this book was to show teens that getting romantically involved doesn’t have to always be the next step in a great friendship/relationship. Diego finds that out the hard way.

Available ANYWHERE books are sold.
Order from one of the links below:


Simon and Schuster

Barnes and Noble
Borders

Click here to check out the best "Truelove" review I've read so far!


YOUNG READERS

Low-Down Bad-Day Blues (Scholastic/Just For You)
Reading level: Ages 4-6
ISBN: 0439568676; 32 Pages

I wrote this with the rhyme and verse of a blues song, only told by a kid. It’s basically about overcoming adversity and how patience and positive thinking can turn any bad situation into a hopeful one.

Order from one of the links below:


Scholastic

Barnes and Noble
Borders

Call 1-800-SCHOLASTIC (1-800-724-6527) to order for school, library, or classroom.


Stop, Drop, and Chill (Scholastic/Just For Us)
Reading level: Ages 5-7

ISBN: 0439568706; 32 Pages

The little guy in this story is being tested by everybody at his school. Everyone’s trying to push his buttons and get him to snap. But thankfully, he keeps his cool. Whether we’re talking tantrums, or hot headed tempers, this book addresses the need for kids to get their anger under control.

I always wanted to spin the old stop, drop, and roll fire-drill theme as a title. I thought that this was a cool way to address anger management and conflict resolution; my way of asking everybody to just chill.

Order from one of the links below:


Scholastic

Barnes and Noble
Borders

Call 1-800-SCHOLASTIC (1-800-724-6527) to order for school, library, or classroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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