Tomorrow morning at 8 AM, librarians, authors, publishing folks–really, all variants of book nerds will be tuning in to the ALA Youth Media Awards. I am no exception. Honestly, as fun as everything at ALA Midwinter was yesterday, I think my favorite part will always be Monday morning. There’s a palpable energy in the room… Read more »
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Out today, the unforgettable and timely MG historical, Paper Wishes
As a 9-12 year old, I couldn’t read enough historical fiction set during World War II. I’m not sure what it was about that era, or if maybe there was just a ton of historical fiction output during my formative years set during WWII, but it became a time period that fascinated me, as heartbreaking… Read more »
Bounding to a bookstore near you starting tomorrow . . .
Out of this world. No, really! Debut author Monica Tesler, who just so happens to be a friend of mine and a wonderful earthling, takes us beyond the Earth’s atmosphere in the adventure-filled first book of a new series. Twelve-year-old Jasper is the first from his family to be a cadet in the Earth Force…. Read more »
As 2015 turns into 2016
2015: what. a. year. As we get toward the end of the year, I end up reflecting a lot on the year that came before. And oof, was 2015 kind of a doozy. In with a bang, out with a whimper right? Sounds sort of fitting as I write this post with less than a… Read more »
Holiday gifts for readers and writers
It’s that time of the year again. Best of 2015 lists. All of the sale emails (seriously, like at least fifty a day). Too much egg nog. Yup, the holidays are around the corner, and the shopping has begun! As usual, I’m planning on buying plenty of books for the kiddos and adults on my… Read more »
ARC Review: My Seventh Grade Life in Tights
Seventh grader Dillon is a bench rider on the football team. But he’s okay with that. The thing is, the football team is his dad’s dream for him. It’s not his. What Dillon really wants, though, is to be a dancer. A real one. Right now, he’s a dancer . . . if doing his… Read more »
ARC Review: The Last Boy at St. Edith’s
Girls, girls, girls. No matter where he turns, Jeremy Miner is surrounded by them. At home, it’s mom and his two sisters. And then all day at school it’s . . . well, everyone. St. Edith’s Academy, a former all-girls school, made an effort to go co-ed, but there’s been a lot of attrition among… Read more »
Exciting news!
I’ve been waiting for this day since . . . the second my agent sold the book? That day my editor emailed me the cover? FOREVER!!! Today, Pop Goes The Reader unveils the cover for The Distance to Home. Coincidentally, The Distance To Home is now available for pre-order on Amazon. (And will soon be available for pre-order… Read more »
Everything I Love About Baseball I Learned From Watching Don Orsillo
This past Sunday marked a sad day for Red Sox Nation (yes, Red Sox fans have themselves a “nation”, we’re just that annoying). Don Orsillo, the beloved play-by-play guy for NESN, which airs the Red Sox games, called his last game. The news that Orsillo’s contract would not be renewed broke in late August, in… Read more »
ARC Review: Counting Thyme
Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a sucker for any book that’ll give me the feels. My debut is, admittedly, a tearjerker, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I was drawn to another middle grade tearjerker, Melanie Conklin‘s debut Counting Thyme. Eleven-year-old Thyme Owens has just left her beloved home (and grandmother, and… Read more »
