And for the first page of all your scenes-it will help you remember what’s important to include. If you don’t have my first-page checklist, be sure to print it out and use it for your novel’s first page. So, release your inner child and take a look at his first page. I love a great hilarious tale, and an author who can whip up a story with outrageous humor and brimming with character. One of my favorite novels is The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers. Me? I’d rather be wonderfully entertained. We looked at literary best sellers that require readers to basically suffer and work hard to enjoy the story, as if that gives the author Brownie points. Just the right recipe for young readers looking for escape from math homework.

Riordan’s stories are fun, effervescent romps with lots of heroes and action and humor. The large phrase seems to be the series title. But “The Sword of Summer” is in smaller lettering at the bottom as well as on the header inside the book. I find the cover and title page confusing, because “Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard” are in huge letters, implying this is the novel’s title. I know some of you are going to be sad that I’m stopping this series, but I may come back to this later in the year. His new series, starting with The Sword of Summer, delves into Norse legends.

Riordan’s novels are hugely popular, playing off mythology. For our final post that looks at best-seller first pages, we’re going to take a look at one of Rick Riordan’s Middle Grade novels.

Magnus chase and the sword of summer