Reading like a writer - Jonathon Unleashed.

This is not a book review but a review of what I have learn from a book. 

Jonathon Unleashed by Meg Rosoff

I enjoyed this book, staying up late to continue reading, but I also kept a part of my brain in writer mode. 
What have I learnt?

Meg Rosoff has a voice.
I listened to her keynote speech at Winchester and when I read this book I could hear her voice, her humour and her opinions on the world.
I want to have a distinct voice too. Something to work on.

The main plot is simple
It is very simple. There is a dog sub plot and some romance, but essentially the plot is simple.
Mine are still too complicated. I need to strip them back to bones. Find out what is truly needed for my charter to grow.

The story deals with a human emotion
Jonathon is drifting through life, not knowing what he wants or where he is going. He takes the path of least resistance, but it doesn't work out. he has to think about what he wants out of life.
Gracie wants to be normal so she hides her abilities. It doesn't work out. She has to accept who she is.
Okay, I think that part of The Finder works.

There are few dialogue tags
There are some 'said's but generally she is using an action before or after speech to indicate who is talking.
I do this, I think I have this sussed.

There are memorable secondary characters
The secondary characters all have very distinctive traits. 
I do not have many secondary characters, I think they are distinguishable. My story is not as tongue in cheek or numerous as this one, so maybe they are ok. I will check.

The main character has a distinct voice 
Not only in his speech , but his thoughts too.
Gracie is not as crazy as Jonathon. Is her voice distinct? I am not sure. 

The sentence lengths vary
I did have  atrait of long senetnecs, I need to check I haven't gone too short.

The chapter lengths vary
This moves the pace and rhythm of the story along well.
I do this.

It has a gentle ending after resolution.
This gentle tail off after resolution of the main plot was spoken about at the conference. I can see how it works.
Mine is too abrupt at the moment. Something to keep in mind when I get to the end of this rewrite.

That's it, apart from the fierce desire to have a book published that people stay up late reading, forcing their eyes to remain open.