September 17, 2013

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Small Stories, Big Characters: A Chat with Author Kevin Henkes

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Beloved children’s book author Kevin Henkes has nearly 50 titles to his name, ranging from picture books to novels for young readers. On the heels of his turn as opening keynote speaker at our annual Day of Dialog (DoD), Henkes is joining SLJ again, this time for an exclusive live webcast. As we look forward to hearing him speak and answer questions from kids, parents, and teachers, we sat down with Henkes for an in-depth chat about his career so far, his creative process, and his next projects.

Full Steam Ahead with Brian Floca | Interview

locomotive

With a rattle and a roll, award-winning author and artist Brian Floca takes readers on a ride across the country on the Transcontinental Railroad in ‘Locomotive,’ a September publication from Simon & Schuster.

Debut Author and Filmmaker Hannah Weyer Talks About ‘On the Come Up’

On the Come Up

Filmmaker Hannah Weyer based her novel on a true story and uses an authentic “urban vernacular” to keep it real. Teen readers will be rooting for her young protagonist from start to finish. Adult Books 4 Teens blogger Angela Carstensen speaks with the author about On the Come Up and the real teen that inspired the book.

A Short and Silly Interview Between James Dashner and Aprilynne Pike

Pike & Dashner

What happens when you let two YA authors interview each other? The result is hilarious, especially when it’s Aprilynne Pike and James Dashner

Tracking Tapirs with Sy Montgomery | Interview

the tapir scientist

Why are scientists interested in this elusive creature that looks like a cross between a hippo and an elephant? Sy Montgomery explains.

The Debut: Hollis Seamon, ‘Somebody Up There Hates You’

Somebody Up There Hates You

Late fall 2012, SLJTeen editor Dodie Ownes was introduced to Somebody Up There Hates You by YA debut author Hollis Seamon. Her first thought was, “Oh no, a riff on The Fault in Our Stars.” But that never really should have been a concern.

Marie Lu and Alex London Talk About Debt, Society and ‘Proxy’ | SLJTeen Interview

Proxy

Marie Lu, author of the “Legend” series (Putnam) knows a thing or two about dystopian worlds. That made her the perfect person to sit down with Alex London to talk about some of the observations he draws about society in his YA debut novel Proxy (Philomel).

K. A. Barson: Finding the Right Fit | Interview

45 pounds

With her aunt’s wedding day fast approaching, 16-year-old Ann Gilardi is determined to lose ’45 pounds.’ In her effort to do so, she learns more about herself−and her family−than she expected. Author K. A. Barson talks about the genesis of the book.

Librarian, Blogger, Author: Betsy Bird Talks About ‘Giant Dance Party’

Photo by Sonya Sones

Longtime School Library Journal blogger Elizabeth Bird, the New York Public Library’s youth materials collections specialist, can add published author to her name this year. Her festive debut picture book, Giant Dance Party, is about a girl who overcomes her stage fright by teaching blue fuzzy giants how to dance. SLJ caught up with Bird recently to discuss her unique path to publication, how her work as a children’s librarian informed her experience as a first-time author, and whether Lexy and the giants will be making a repeat performance.

The Debut: SLJ Talks to Katja Millay About ‘The Sea of Tranquility’

The Sea of Tranquility

Angela Carstensen, Adult Books for Teens blogger, had a hard time putting The Sea of Tranquility down, even after reading it all the way through. Debut author Katja Millay put the book together by gathering scribbles, random lines, and characters in her head, calling her attempt to create an outline “laughable.”

A Happily-Ever-After Ghost Story | Tom McNeal’s ‘Far Far Away’

Far far away

Jacob Grimm, the folklorist, is dead, and stuck as a ghost. He wants to be reunited with his younger brother Wilhelm, who predeceased him. In Tom McNeal’s suspenseful and haunting new novel, ‘Far Far Away,’ fairy tale and ghost story collide and merge.

Summer Reading and the Rich/Poor Achievement Gap | An Educator Responds to Questions

summerbks

When it comes to school libraries, Richard L. Allington, co-author of ‘Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/Poor Achievement Gap’ has a few things to say, including a few that you may not want to hear.

The Debut: Evan Roskos’s ‘Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets’

Dr Birds Advice for Sad Poets

Author Evan Roskos digs deep into real-life adolescent issues in Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets , including high school expulsion, self-abuse, stalking, and cliques. SLJTeen talked to Roskos about his emotionally moving and ultimately redemptive debut YA novel.

The “Radioactive Energy” of Bullies | An Interview with Meg Medina

Yaqui Delgado

Meg Medina knows firsthand about bullying—the topic of her young adult novel. In ‘Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass,’ the author explores its consequences when 15-year-old Piddy Sanchez becomes victimized at her new school.

The Power of Pictures: A Visit with Bryan Collier

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On the heels of being named the recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award yet again, this time for I , Too, Am America, prolific illustrator/author Bryan Collier invited us into his home and studio in Hudson Valley, NY, for a tour and interview about his life and art.

The Debut: Kimberly McCreight, ‘Reconstructing Amelia’

Reconstructing Amelia

On October 24, Kate, a hard-working attorney and single mother, is called away in the middle of a crucial meeting to pick up her 15 year-old daughter at her fancy private school in Brooklyn. Amelia has been suspended for plagiarizing an English paper. When Kate arrives at Grace Hall she learns that Amelia has jumped from the roof, committing suicide. Adult Books 4 Teens blogger Angela Carstensen recently talked with debut author Kimberly McCreight about her debut novel, Reconstructing Amelia.

Molly Idle’s ‘Flora and the Flamingo’ Is a Wordless Wonder | Under Cover

Photograph by Kathryn Smith

Artist and author Molly Idle talks about her latest book, her life, and her obsession with Prismacolor pencils.

The World of Barbara Kerley | Interview

small publicity photo

When asked for quality nonfiction titles, Barbara Kerley’s name comes immediately to mind. Recently the author updated her website with references to the Common Core State Standards. We had a chance to talk about those changes and her work.

The Debut: A.G. Howard, Splintered

Splintered cover

Alyssa Victoria Gardner is a 16-year-old skateboarder, artist, devoted child, and the great-great-great granddaughter of Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll in 1865. Her mother, Alison, has spent the last decade in Soul’s Asylum, where she eats only food served in teacups and spends her time talking to flowers and insects. Alyssa also hears insects talking, but has not told anyone—since she doesn’t want to follow the same path as her mother. After a visit to Soul’s Asylum that’s particularly disturbing, Alyssa starts to put disparate clues together and realizes that the only way to save her mother and her own sanity is to find the rabbit hole and put Wonderland back together again. In Splintered, which SLJTeen calls “satisfyingly sensual, delightfully dark, and absolutely riveting,” YA debut author A.G. Howard puts a modern-day twist on Carroll’s classic.

The Power of Empathy: Q&A with Emily Bazelon

Emily Bazelon. Photo credit: Nina Subin.

Slate senior editor Emily Bazelon has two new professions to add to her resume this year: acclaimed book author and school bullying expert, as positive reviews for her first book, Sticks and Stones , have been pouring in. In a recent interview with SLJ , Bazelon helps debunk some of the popular myths about bullying; offers insights and advice for educators, parents, and kids; and shares some of her most surprising discoveries while researching the book.