Until Hollywood calls, Charlotte lives in NJ with her husband, three children, two needy cats and sometimes a deranged squirrel. Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines is her first solo book. She is also the co-author of Blonde Ops (St. Martin’s/Dunne) and the Sirenz series (Sirenz, Sirenz Back In Fashion, Flux), and is one of 13 authors in the Beware the Little White Rabbit anthology (Leap). She’s written for magazines and newspapers. Currently she’s working on an historical fiction, sci fi, and time travel novels. She loves to hear from fans on Twitter (@charbennardo) or through her blog, http://charlotteebennardo.blogspot.com/
The illustrator, Cathleen Daniels, has been a published illustrator since 1990. Her clients include Simon & Schuster, Barnes & Noble, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Legend Entertainment, Fleer Trading Card Co, Topps Trading Card Co. Her professional awards include Best Logo Design NJ-SCBWI 2009, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Visual Artist Fellowship Award 2008, Fantasy/Sci-Fi Illustrators & Writers Of The Future Contest, Honorable Mention 1992. Cathleen was also a N.J. State certified Commercial Art educator from 2002-2014. Her educator awards include N.J. Governor's Award in Arts Education 2006, Outstanding Educator in the Arts Award, VSA Arts of New Jersey 2006. VSA is an affiliate of the JFK Center for Performing Arts. Cathleen now spends her time illustrating for kids, playing with her cats and bugging her husband, daughter and neighborhood squirrels to pose for photo reference! You can find her work at cathleendaniels.com
Jack turned toward Collin. He looked in the boy’s eyes, and saw calm softness. With no fur and big eyes, it took no effort to see what humans felt. It wasn’t like that with animals. Fox wore the same face whether he was just sitting or he was eating your brother.
“You can live here,” continued Collin. “Our yard has lots of trees.”
Jack merely stared at Collin, understanding no more than ‘trees.’
Collin’s trees? His tree? Dead trees?
He would have to learn more names from this boy.
Collin grabbed something, but dropped it on the table. It rolled across until Collin caught it as it fell off the edge. To Jack, it looked like a nut when it dropped from the tree and tumbled on the ground. “This is a wheel,” said Collin, holding it in one hand and pointing with the other. “It’s round.” His finger circled its edge. “And it rolls.” Collin put the wheel on the table and gently pushed. It rolled until Collin caught it and held it out to him.
Frozen with fear at first, Jack didn’t move, but Collin’s slow calmness eased his fear. He took the wheel. Another name.
He examined it, turning it over and over in his paws. He put the wheel, like Collin had, on the table and pushed. Slowly it wobbled across the table. Collin caught it.
“Unbelievable, Jack,” he said with a crooked smile. “You’re one smart little guy.” Again, he gave Jack the wheel to roll. They did this rolling a few more times. “Now you know one of the simple machines,” said Collin, a smile lighting his face as he dumped the wheel into the box.
***************
A gray squirrel is declaring war against the construction machines that have come to cut down his woods and destroy his nest. With the help of Collin, a boy he has befriended and who named him Jack, this squirrel is learning words and how to use simple machines like the wheel. All he needs is for the other woodland animals to believe that they can stop the humans and machines—if they work together. And they can evade the humans out to stop them.
Series: Evolution Revolution #1
Publisher: Charlotte Bennardo
Release Date: September 30th, 2016
Formats: paperback, ebook
Thanks for the book love! I'm really excited about this book-of-my-heart. :)
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