Scene Stealers

Chelsea Flagg at Boulder Bookstore

From magical tales from the halls of Hogwarts to more dramatic stories like The Fault in Our Stars or classics like The Giver, there are so many great options in literature for young readers. However, the vast majority of those options are for young adults ages 12 to 18. You’ll  also find myriad different books for those learning to read and developing their skills, but what about those kids in the middle? The children who know how to read but aren’t quite ready for the more mature plotlines in Young Adult Fiction? This was the opportunity local author Chelsea Flagg saw as she drafted Tinsey Clover a new book for young readers ages five to 10.

Yellow Scene: What drew you to writing for young adults?

Chelsea Flagg: Tinsey Clover is an early middle-grade novel, which means it’s intended for ages five to 10. I feel this is an underrepresented niche in the world of kid-lit. There’s this magical stage kids go through when they’re done with picture books and overly simplistic early reader stories, but not quite developmentally ready for the intensity and emotion that comes with the Harry Potters of the world. It became immediately clear that this range is my sweet spot as a writer. And Tinsey? I fell in love with spunky little Tinsey the first time I wrote her name down on a piece of paper.

YS: What is “Tinsey Clover” about?

CF: Tinsey Clover is the story of an elf named Tinsey who feels like a total outcast in her own village. When she sets out on an adventure through the Icelandic Bungaborg Forest to bring unity back to her segregated community, she has to rely on her innate math skills, a pinch of unreliable magic and a team of unlikely new friends to navigate all sorts of sticky — and hilarious — situations.

YS: Name some authors who have inspired you.

CF: I really appreciate Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins. They co-wrote the Upside-Down Magic series and have each done their own work as well. Their writing perfectly captures that sweet, early middle-grade niche in a fun, humorous way that really resonates with me. I also love Chris Colfer and the amazing world he built with Land of Stories.

Meet Chelsea Flagg and introduce your kids to the world of “Tinsey Clover” at one of two upcoming signings: at the Boulder Bookstore (1107 Pearl St., Boulder) Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. www.boulderbookstore.net, and at the Aspen Grove Tattered Cover Bookstore (7301 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton)  March 2, 2  to 3 p.m., www.tatteredcover.com.

Meshell Ndegeocello at the Boulder Theater

As the synthpop and New Wave ‘80s hey-day succumbed to the burgeoning hip-hop movement, a splinter action emerged signalling a resurgence of 60s soul. The “neo-soul” movement can largely be attributed to the landmark album Plantation Lullabies (Maverick, 1993), Meshell Ndegeocello’s debut album on Madonna’s label. A pitch-perfect, sultry, seductive, Afrocentric take on topics ranging from racism to misogyny and sexuality, Ndegeocello kicked open a door for artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott to follow her through in later years. Now touring on her otherworldly early 90s cover album featuring intimate takes on hits like TLC’s “Waterfalls” — as well as cuts by Janet Jackson and Prince, to name a few — Ventriloquism, Ndegeocello plays the Boulder Theater March 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30 at www.bouldertheater.com.

Blessed Assurance at Coal Creek Theatre

In a fascinating, timely and important story, Coal Creek Theater of Louisville is offering a glimpse back into an important time in United States history. Blessed Assurance by Laddy Sartin takes place in the summer of 1964, when a cook in a small-town Southern café marches to the courthouse to demand she be allowed to vote. The poignant and thought-provoking play shows how one person can make a difference as she stands up to confront hatred, ignorance and injustice.

Feb.22 through March 9 at the Louisville Center for the Arts. 801 Grant Ave. Louisville. Tickets are $13 to $18 at cctlouisville.org.

Cosi fan tutte: For Kids at Loveland Opera Theatre

The Loveland Opera Theatre presents an exciting opportunity to teach your children about the magic of live opera with Cosi fan tutte: For Kids. This production offers a unique approach to Mozart’s classic, made more accessible for a child’s perspective. In addition to truly extraordinary music, your children will love the sneaky disguises, tricks and magic during this interactive performance. Members of the company and the stage director will be available to show some backstage magic and offer a closer look at costumes and set design, in addition to an one-hour question and answer session with the audience following the production. The show runs Feb. 23 and March 2 at 2:30 p.m. at the Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th St. in Loveland. Tickets are $10 for children and $12 for adults, available at LovelandOpera.org.

Colorado Symphony Orchestra at 1^st Bank Center

As niche as classical music has become since the early 20th century, it’s hard to find composers people can name, let alone recognize. Enter American cinema and the sweeping scores of some of the most popular films in history. To that end, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra brings the works of John Williams to the 1st Bank Center on March 23, underscoring the George Lucas classic, the Empire Strikes Back, the second film, chronologically, in the Star Wars epic (and officially film number IV in the canon). The CSO plays throughout the film as it’s projected onto the big screen, and demonstrates just how powerful a score Williams wrote in its time. Tickets start at $46, 1stbankcenter.com.