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It’s Nevada, 1869, and 15-year-old Jim and his injured horse, Promise, are struggling to make it across the 40-Mile Desert. They're rescued by Mutt, Golgotha’s Native American deputy, who encourages Jim to settle in his town. And it’s a good thing he agrees, because along with the sheriff and a few other key residents, they are about to fight a great battle to save the Earth, heaven, and hell—one whose seeds were planted when the world was first created.

Earlier this month, authors Jeanne Birdsall, Rebecca Stead, and N.D. Wilson met informally with librarians to discuss middle grade fiction ahead of the NYPL's children's literary Salon on the topic. Afterwards, SLJ followed up with the authors for more details. This is what they told us.

Though the Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz awards have all been announced, the excitement isn’t over yet! The Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards have been revealed. Included among the winners are several previously recognized titles, such R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, Steve Sheinkin’s Bomb, and Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina.

Peter Brown’s endearing bulldog, Chowder rendered lovingly in acrylic-and pencil in the original picture book, is even more appealing in this iconographic DVD production.

"Yes: I think it is fair, appropriate and altogether fitting that we share our passion for media. I think a great question to ask anyone and to demand an answer to is: why are you a fan of __(fill in the blank)_?"

A coming-of-age novel of love and self-identity set in Paris; by Gayle Forman

Children's literature author and illustrators visit Sandy Hook Elementary School; attendees gather in New York City for Book^2 Camp.

It took many by surprise when Nick Lake’s ambitious young adult novel In Darkness (Bloomsbury) was named for the Printz Award at last month’s Youth Media Awards. Although filled with vivid details of oppression, poverty, and violence, Lake sees the book as a hopeful one with an important message for its teen readers, “this idea of darkness being only a temporary thing,” he tells SLJ.

Marc Aronson explores the fundamental clash between guided reading and Common Core.