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READING STYLE GUIDE

Just Friends

8/31/2019

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Duck and Penguin are NOT Friends
by Julia Woolf

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Betty and Maud are best friends. The girls love to spend time together and always include their favorite soft toy animals. Betty brings her squishy yellow Duck. Maud has her huggable snuggable Penguin.
Because the girls are so fond of one another, they assume that Duck and Penguin share similar feelings.
Not so. Not so at all.
While the girls are having fun, Duck and Penguin are engaged in minor warfare: stomping on sand creations, hurling eggs, tagging with copious amounts of paint.
Betty and Maud are oblivious to their stuffed animals’ animosity, exclaiming, "They love each other so much."
After treating their toys to a bath and fluff up with the blow drier, the girls are ready for the ultimate activity: "itty- bitty babies." The pair are placed in miniature strollers and dressed in ruffled pink bonnets. The ultimate humiliation is when pacifiers are plopped into the mouths of the indignant duo. Duck and Penguin have had enough. They sneak away from the girls and have fun on their own. They know that time with an arch enemy is better than being itty-bitty babies.
Duck and Penguin are NOT Friends has all the elements of a memorable picture book: a plot line with a clever twist, charming characters, dialog that begs to be read aloud, and illustrations popping with personality and humor. Julia Woolf is at the top of her game. This is one of those picture books that is entertaining for readers of any age. Adults will have as much fun as children, laughing along with the exploits of this cantankerous twosome.
The end papers featuring Duck and Penguin playing together are a bonus.

When the Kids Aren't Watching

Many libraries host Stuffed Animal Sleepovers. Children are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal for an evening of stories, crafts, and snacks. After tucking their treasured toys in for the night, kids head home. That's when the fun begins. The stuffed animals find their way into various activities throughout the building. Staff members take photos of the toys' after-dark escapades. Children return to the library the next morning to retrieve their stuffed animals and view photographs of their animals enjoying a night in the library.
This activity makes an excellent follow up to the story of Duck and Penguin.
Pub date: September 1, 2019  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1682631324
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
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Why Ask

8/13/2019

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Why by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

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​Why?  Why?  Why?
Why?
​Is there an adult who has not been on the receiving end of the one-word question that is frequently posited by youngsters?
Vaccaro Seeger considers a youngster’s desire to understand the world by asking incessant questions.This picture book breaks with the conventional querying child trope, taking an unexpected story path.
Title page features a frisky young bunny, scampering after a lumbering old bear. Successive pages follow the rabbit as it observes the bear engaging in simple activities: watering flowers, viewing the stars, stopping for a snack. Always rabbit asks "Why?' The massive friend patiently responds to each query with a gentle explanation.
Time passes. Seasons change. The questions persist.
At this point, the story structure shifts.
For rabbit's latest question, there is no definitive answer. Bear responds.
"I don't know why.
Sometimes I just don't know why!"
The bear moves on and rabbit is silent. Now it is bear's turn to stop and inquire. A two-page spread zooms in for a close-up as treasured friends regard one another, pausing to reflect on an answer. It's a tender moment.
Vaccaro Seeger eschews the flat color and the figures defined by solid outlines featured in her earlier books and opts for a softer watercolor approach. This style perfectly suits the subject. ​Text and image work in tandem to tell the story. Earth and sky have equal importance. Readers will watch for hints of seasonal change. Expressive bodies and faces of the two animals are eloquent and laden with emotion.
This is one of those books that will find a permanent place on nightstands. One anticipates that well-worn and loved copies of Why? will be found in countless homes as generations of children and adults find quiet joy in this classic.

Just Asking

 Add these books to your collection of books which explore answers the timeless question of why.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 13, 2019  Publisher: Neal Porter Books  ISBN: 978-0823441730
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Tummy Trouble

7/30/2019

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Guts by Raina Telgemeier

Can you be sick even if you're not sick?
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Uber-talented Raina Telgemeier has done it again. She has created a companion volume to her endearing and enduring classics Smile and Sisters. Guts is also autobiographical. It recounts Telgemeier’s bouts with stress and the mental, social, and emotional costs of anxiety. This may be her most personal book to date, detailing her childhood panic attacks, phobias, and anxiety. She opens up about the distress that she experienced and her body's responses to these fears. ​
Beginning in the fourth grade, Raina begins worrying about vomiting, an experience that assaults all of the senses: sight, sound, taste, and smell. The possibility of throwing up, even hearing the word vomit becomes a trigger, sending her to the bathroom.
​Stress-provoking factors multiply. They include crowded living conditions, fear of speaking in public, the possibility of contracting the flu, and eating contaminated food. The result: this young girl spends her days and nights in a state of continual turmoil.
There are numerous visits to doctors who suggest possible causes. Everything from food poisoning to puberty and Irritable bowel syndrome are suggested. ​None of these diagnoses seem accurate.
Fortunately, her mother suggests therapy and arranges for Raina to meet with a professional who helps her work through her issues.  Together they plan ways that she can anticipate anxiety triggers and deal effectively with her angst. She eventually reaches the point where she can share her coping techniques with others. She is amazed to learn that she is not alone. Others have health-related problems. Others find therapy helpful. 
Raina brilliantly uses the graphic novel format to tell her story. She knows when to over-fill a panel or page with people and actions, reinforcing her suffocating claustrophic feelings. Panel placement is an integral part of the story, at times horizontal bands move from the top of the bottom of the page.  Full page panels set the scene and provide important background information.  A full page is a significant statement which invites readers to pause. One of my favorites is the full-page image of her sneakers.  As readers pause to consider what it feels like to look down at shoes and become "grounded" they can experience the value of this technique.
Facial expressions and body language are a hallmark of her work. She effectively captures fear, frustration, and eventually, self-confidence.
Panels which are predominantly green signal her moments of extreme distress. A swirling mass of worry and doubt encircle Raina in various shades of green.
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The poignant dedication acknowledges the fears that many children face. Telgemeier reaches out to her readers, describing her pain and the ways it manifests itself. Individual battles with stress will vary. However children who live with anxiety will see and understand that they are not alone.
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​Thanks Raina. It takes courage to relive painful childhood experiences. It takes talent to accurately record your experiences in comic format. It takes empathy to share your journey through dark moments with young readers. It takes intention to seek help through therapy.
You are a woman of courage, talent, empathy, and guts.
Readers are fortunate that their beloved author has shared her story.
Thank you.
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Telgemeier Treasures

Collect them all. They are kid-tested, award-winning, time-honored classics. 
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 17, 2019  Publisher: Graphix  ISBN: 978-0545852500
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Chispita: Tiny Spark

7/26/2019

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Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya

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Emilia Rosa is juggling a plethora of problems. Let's start with family. Dad, a Marine who was deployed during most of of her childhood, returns home. He seems to be a different person from the father she remembers. Mami, who keeps Emilia focused and organized, will be away on an extended business trip. Abuela, her maternal grandmother has definite notions about Emilia’s life, including the need for a quinceañera. This is something she emphatically does not want.
Sixth grade is a struggle. Not because she isn't intelligent, but because she processes stimuli in a different way. She needs time and individual attention in order to complete her homework. Some school assignments are difficult to untangle without guidance from her mother.The noises associated with school rallies in the gym are a horrific assault on her senses.
Friendships are complicated. Her relationship with a childhood friend seems to be changing. Emilia feels uncomfortable with how her friend speaks to her. She feels pressure to be part of activities where she feels uneasy.
That's not all. The community is in an uproar over possible changes in school boundaries. Will it have a positive or an adverse effect on the social and cultural integrity of the neighborhoods impacted by the proposed realignment?
There's lots going on here. Adjusting to change at home. Understanding the noticeable differences in her father’s behavior. Standing up to unreasonable requests from family and friends. Learning to weld and helping her father restore a vintage car. Becoming a participant in community politics.
Emilia discovers the value of looking at both sides of an issue, researching to uncover key information, and actively participating in the community. Current issues such as immigration, redistricting, and neighborhood identity take on added significance. ​She discovers that there are no easy answers.
Spanish is an integral part of Each Tiny Spark. Cartaya liberally sprinkles the narrative with Spanish phrases and Cuban culture. Non-Spanish readers will be able to grasp meaning by using contextual clues.
Author's Note includes resources on the following topics: Code of Ethics, News Services, Immigrant Rights, Neurodiversity, Veterans Support Services. There's a nice shoutout to libraries, librarians, and original research. ​​
Three cheers for the diminutive red head who loves to figure out puzzles and solve complex computer problems. She knows what’s under the hood of a Shelby Mustang and is a natural with a welding gun. She's a Chispita!

More stories from Pablo Cartaya

Be sure to check out these middle grade novels featuring latino characters. Cover images link to book trailers.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 6, 2019  Publisher: Kokila  ISBN: 978-0451479723​
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Color Palette

7/15/2019

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All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker

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Olympia lives in a world of artists: her mother a painter turned sculptor, her father an art restorer, and her father's studiomate Apollo. She enjoys assisting Apollo with grinding pigments and mixing his own paints. She too is an artist. But her medium is the Blackwing 602 pencil. She works strictly in black, white, and grey. 
When events force her to temporarily give up sketching, she turns to watercolor. Her experiments with this medium reminded me of my early forays into the magic of pigments mixed with water and then applied to pristine white paper. I unearthed some of my childhood watercolors and paired them with some of Olympia's observations on color, art, and life.
I loved All the Greys on Greene Street for many reasons: the tender exchanges between a troubled mother and her anxious daughter, the vivid descriptions of lower Manhattan, sunny summer days on an island, friendships tested and remaining true, love for cats, and a young girl's discoveries of what it means to be brave. Thanks Laura Tucker for restoring a piece of my childhood.
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"...a wash of blues...so deep and rich that looking at them made you feel like you were learning something."
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"Apollo mixes colors for his own paintings too, which is why they're so beautiful they make your chest hurt."
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"It's not the worst thing, is it? To celebrate the extraordinary in the ordinary?"
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"It was a relief to let things be a little blurry. I liked how forgiving watercolor was, how easy it was to pretend that you hadn't made a mistake."
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"but there were hundreds of blues in there that I had no words for, smoky purples and faded teals, colors even Apollo might not have known the names for."
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" learned that if I held the brush at the very end...and made a lazy stroke with my whole arm, I could lay down a luxurious swath of color."
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"Dried gamboge doesn't look like much-just another sticky, ugly brown rock. But put a drop of water on it, and that rock will weep a tear so brightly yellow it will hurt your eyes."
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"They turn difficult things into beautiful ones. They're the artists. And that's what you are."
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: June 4, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN: 978-0451479532
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Ping!

5/22/2019

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The Line Tender by Kate Allen 

But you know when you go to a bookstore and one book stands out from all of the others?
​And when you read it, you feel like it picked you?
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The Line Tender is a book of many things: A moving recital of the stages of grief. Fascinating glimpse into the world of sharks and marine ecosystems.  ​Description of a friendship which may be something more. Above all, it's story of a girl who discovers a part of herself that she never expected to find.
Lucy Everhart lives in a small town on the Massachusetts Coast. Her father is a member of the Salem Police dive team. Her mother, a marine biologist with a special interest in sharks died five years ago of a brain aneurysm. Lucy and her next-door neighbor Fred are inseparable companions. Recently they undertook a monumental summer project: creating a field guide to document Rockport animals. Fred, the detail-oriented science nerd writes the copy. Lucy illustrates.
 Without warning, Fred dies in a tragic drowning accident.
Lucy’s narrative is raw, painful, and honest.  Her struggles to make sense of the deaths of her friend and her mother are revealed in simple details. Her voice is one of wonder, hope and small moments of joy.
Most chapters are brief, each capturing a tender vignette.  This construct works to the reader's advantage, as emotions often require time for inner reflection and processing before moving on with the story.
Allen brilliantly weaves multiple thematic threads in this novel. Lines is one of the overarching motifs embedded throughout the narrative. A line tender holds a line that sinks deep into unknown waters, supporting the rescue diver. At the scene of the accident, Lucy imagines a string, wrapped around her hand and stretching out to encircle Fred's wrist. Her father develops his summer photographs and arranges the pictures chronologically on the darkroom's  clothesline. Lucy discovers a recorded interview with her mother, who speaks of generational lines that connect a mother and daughter. 
​Some lines don't break.
A word about the illustrations. Xingye Jin created the cover and interior art. Line drawings of various sharks introduce each chapter. The realistic images are evocative and elegant. They complement Lucy's efforts to authentically sketch a shark for the field guide.
l loved this book with a quiet intensity. Read and reread. Listened to the audio edition. Wasn't quite sure why this gentle narrative affected me so deeply. Maybe Fred has the answer. It's a book that picked me.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 16, 2019  Publisher: Dutton for Young Readers  ISBN: 978-0735231603
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Mysteries of the Universe

5/15/2019

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Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

"Do your worst, multiverse...I am ready for you."
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It begins with a bully, a school locker, and a chicken. Oh. There’s one more thing...a hole in the universe. From the opening scene with a chicken in a school locker, Carlos Hernandez had me hooked.
Meet Sal Vidón recent transfer student to a magnet school for the arts. Sal is a performer, a magician who prides himself on his remarkable sleight of hand skills. He’s confident in his ability to maneuver his way out of difficult situations with his smarts, friendly outgoing personality, and pockets filled with magical illusions.
He will need all these when he matches wits with a no nonsense principal, the school bully, and student council/ school newspaper editor Gabi Reál.
Sal has Type I diabetes, which he handles matter-of-factly. It's part of his life and he is conscious of the importance of caring for himself, but he doesn't allow the condition to limit him.
Set in Miami, Cuban American culture infuses the story with humor, heart, and vitality. 
"¿Qué eso?" said Calembe, who did that Cuban thing of smashing all the syllables in a sentence into one word. She made "What is that?" sound exactly like "Cheese?" in Spanish.
A very important figure in his life is Mami Muerta. When Sal was five years old, his beloved Mami died. Dad has remarried and American Stepmom is terrific. But sometimes Sal longs for his Mami. He has found a way to relax his mind, reach out into the multiverse and call up a version of his Mami. She arrives into his present, not quite the same as the mother he knew. But still, she's a substitute for the Miami he misses.
When you start  moving between universes and bringing individuals from other worlds into your world, things are bound to get complicated. It becomes far more complicated when Gabi discovers how to travel with him. Strange things begin to happen.  And it's a lot stranger than a chicken. 
Woven into this fast-paced sci-fi adventure are some serious subjects:  parental abuse, death, grief, moral responsibility and ethical dilemmas. These issues give the story depth but do overwhelm or monopolize the narrative. Hernandez maintains firm control of his story line. His true-to-life characters are are normal kids caught up in a fantastic world of calamitrons (traces from other universes), a human-like robot, and an entropy sweeper that whines "Wo is I" and scans for calamitrons. It’s an eclectic mix held together with Sal's brash  big-hearted narration. 
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is like a sparkler atop an ice cream sundae: eye-popping adventure with a couple of cool, smooth kids. Best enjoyed while consuming a package of Skittles.
I'm not a brujo. I can just reach across universes and pull out chickens. It's science!

Magic Tricks

Sal wears clothing with a large number of pocket. Why? He keeps on hand a selection of magic tricks. Try filling your pockets with these portable tricks. Astonish your friends. Disarm stressful situations. Relax and enjoy the magical moments.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 5, 2019  Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents  ISBN:  978-1368022828
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Wings

4/19/2019

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Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

I think birds are the most amazing creatures on earth. What sets them apart is their ability to fly on their own.
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Abandoned by her mother and placed in foster care, eleven-year-old December Lee Morgan has developed her own survival strategy. Convinced that she is a bird and that the scar on her back conceals a magnificent pair of wings waiting to unfurl, she spends countless hours high up in trees, jumping off in preparation for the time when she can fly. She restricts her diet to foods that birds might consume, chiefly sunflower seeds.
This makes her a problematic placement. Moving from one family to another, she is eventually placed in the home of Eleanor, who works at an animal rehabilitation center. In her spare time, she enjoys taxidermy. Upon learning this, December is horrified and speculates that this Bird Girl will be the next specimen to be killed and stuffed.
​December absconds with one of Eleanor's projects: a stuffed owl. She decides to carry the owl with her in her backpack.
Then there is the problem of Bird Girl sneaking off, climbing trees, and attempting to fly from the topmost branches. Alone. After dark.
How will such a fragile child living with a history of cruelty and neglect survive? ​
December expects to be ridiculed and ostracized by her new classmates. True to form, a pack of "shiny" girls recognize a vulnerable target.  They zero in on this strange newcomer and begin to taunt her, riffling through December's backpack, discovering her secret journal and the owl stolen from Eleanor's workshop.   
​What she doesn't expect is Cheryllynn, the lonely girl wearing a pink raincoat, who wants to be December's friend. December initially rebuffs her friendly overtures. The two outcasts: transgender Cheryllynn, formerly known as Charlie, and physically and emotionally scarred December take tentative steps toward building a friendship. 
​December's developing relationships with her foster parent and a potential friend have several missteps. It is difficult for this girl to cast off her protective shell and trust anyone. Eleanor, ​Cheryllynn, and December each have deep-seated emotional wounds. They become the source of rescue and rehabilitation for one another.
Eleanor enlists December to help an injured red-tailed hawk. She must create a bond of trust with the bird and train it to fly again. The trajectory for the hawk to recover from debilitating circumstances and learn to take flight parallels her trainer’s path to healing. 
Sandy Stark-McGinnis has created a character that is brutally honest while simultaneously clinging to a distorted view of herself and her past. This is her story. "It's my story, and it belongs to only me."
Extraordinary Birds is poignant story of learning to trust. Of finding hope.
“Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe.
​But what do dreams know of boundaries?” Amelia Earhart
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 30, 2019  Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books  ISBN:  978-1547601004
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Finding Answers

4/2/2019

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Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins

Sometimes you have to go back to the past to move forward to the future.
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Kat, skilled in the art of Brazilian jujitsu, is brutally assaulted in her school’s stairwell by a popular member of the basketball team. She escapes, but the incident has scarred her, leaving her wary of men and emotionally shattered. When she reports the assault, her attacker pleads a convincing defense, denying her accusation. School becomes unbearable due to the constant presence of her assailant as well as the questioning looks and snide remarks from fellow students. A family friend arranges for her to leave her California home and live with an understanding friend in Boston.
Robin, the adopted son of wealthy, well-connected Boston parents, is completing his high school senior year. His father plans his life trajectory beginning with a college education. Robin feels unsure and unsettled, with questions regarding his birth and subsequent adoption.
Guess everyone has a backstory.
​They make us real, even if they make us cry.
Kat and Robin meet at a Boston church youth group. They are invited to spend the summer in Kolkata. working with an organization that fights human trafficking and rescues young children. Both teens have their own reasons for deciding to go to Kolkata. ​Through alternating voices, Kat and Robin share their hopes for this summer of service in India.
How much of himself would remain if he could press REWIND and start life again?
Robin was born in Kolkata and longs to meet his birth mother and understand his history. Kat is struggling to overcome a traumatic assault. She reasons that teaching young girls to defend themselves will help heal her anguish and calm her fears. Interestingly, neither accomplishes his/her stated purpose for traveling to Kolkata. However, each finds the summer in India to be a turning point in their lives.
Perkins builds the story to a heart-pounding, potentially terrifying climax that will keep readers swiftly turning pages. The conclusion is open-ended, bittersweet yet satisfying.
This search for identity and recovery is a sweeping saga that explores the serious problem of international human trafficking. Gripping storytelling, eye-opening adventure in a faraway city, Forward Me Back to You packs an emotional gut punch that lingers long after the final page. A story not to be missed.

Piece of Cake

​When people I love are out of reach, I offer some kindness to another that I can’t give my dear ones. It brings peace to me.
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There is a lovely scene where the Asha House residents surprise one of the volunteers with a birthday cake. In turn, each girl feeds the honoree a piece of cake, while telling her something they admire about her. I like this tradition and will continue it by sharing some virtual bites of cake with Ms. Perkins.
  • Superheroes.There are numerous references to superheroes. Both Robin and Kat are superhero movie afficianados and often reference specific heroes. Kat describes Robin's quest as “Kal-El's search for the planet Krypton." Both Robin and Kat develop qualities (superpowers) that they never would have dreamed possible.
​Too many villains. Not enough heroes. The real world’s nothing like the movies.
  • Animal names. Kat works at the local zoo and is conversant in animal taxinomany. She secretly refers to individuals by a specific animal species. The dignified Mrs. Vee is Ibis. Host of the home where she initially stays is Hyena man. Robin is Bird Boy. Her attacker is a wolf.
  • Kolkata. Perkins paints vivid pictures of life in this fascinating city, from the grandeur of Victoria Memorial and the noble work at Mother House to the seamy underbelly of the city where innocent young girls are captured and exploited. Urban sights and sounds are everywhere: rickshaws, drenching rain showers, and cardamom-spiced chai.

A Personal Perspective

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​“People who are adoptive parents know that they aren’t a hero or a villain. They are just a parent.”
Mitali Perkins, mother of adopted twin brothers, shares her perspective on adoption and the adoption triad: birth mother, child, and adoptive parents. Read her Huffpost opinion piece and her recent interview with Lakshmi Gandhi in an NBC news report.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 2, 2019  Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  ISBN:  978-1426333040
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Questions. Questions.

3/14/2019

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To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer

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​​Full disclosure: Initially I skimmed this book's  back cover and concluded that it was a remake of The Parent Trap. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the movie. So, no. I wasn't interested. But... this middle grade novel was by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer.  I reasoned that two extremely talented authors would write something more than a warmed-over Disney movie script. Once I started reading I was hooked. 
​​Reasons why I loved this book:
Point one: The girls are interesting individuals, not plot contrivances. While they have a west coast vs. east coast point of view, they have enough unique traits to transcend the California and New York City stereotypes. 
Point two: The dads.  These men are neither good guys nor bad guys. They are guys.  They are dads. They make some good decisions, arrive at some conclusions based inaccurate assumptions. They make mistakes. They love their families.
Point three: Supporting characters, especially Bett's grandma and Avery's birth mother are not phantom shadows or cardboard standees. Even campers are not one-dimensional. ​The snobby camper reveals a surprising side near the end of the book. 
Point four: There are no simpering, sniveling, demanding rivals trying to destroy each girl's relationship with her father.  The adults are adults. Readers will be cheering for a resolution that will help all characters build fulfilling, happy lives. 
Point five: There are plenty of interesting plot twists to keep readers engaged. Some are telegraphed early on, others are hinted at as the story progresses. A few caught me by surprise.  This is not a Disney remake.  Prepare to be delighted and surprised in a good way.

I Have Questions

After reading To Night Owl From Dogfish I found I had several questions.  After a quick internet search, I could not find answers to my questions, so am posing my questions for Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer online.
  • What inspired you to create this story of two girls being raised by single gay dads?
  • Did you have the plot in mind from the outset or did the story evolve as you wrote?
  • Was one of you the voice of Bett and one the voice of Avery?
  • How did Gaga evolve?  What inspired the creation of this character?
  • What about camp? Were those two very different camps based on personal experience?
  • What brought the two of you together to write this book?
  • What are the advantages of writing a middle grade novel together?
  • What are the challenges of writing a middle grade novel together?

Music of Love

'Bonus: The 1998 version of The Parent Trap opens with Nat King Cole's “L.O.V.E.” ends with Natalie Cole's “This Will Be An Everlasting Love.” Both songs make a terrific soundtrack for To Night Owl From Dogfish. 
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 12, 2019  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0525553236
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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