From Picture Books to YA: Seven Children's Authors

From Picture Books to YA: Seven Children's Authors Discuss the Wide World of Children's Literature

Megan Frazer Blakemore is the author of The Firefly Code, The Friendship Riddle, The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill, and The Water Castle, which was listed as a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and a New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing. She is also the author of the YA novel Secrets of Truth and Beauty which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was on the ALA Rainbow list. A former middle-school librarian, Megan lives in Maine with her family. Visit her online at www.meganfrazerblakemore.com and @meganbfrazer.

“[Daybreak...] Will have children turning pages and thinking about important questions. An excellent choice for those who love Lois Lowry’s The Giver or Margaret Peterson Haddix’s sci-fi adventures.” —Booklist
“With life lessons, capers, and heartfelt conversations abounding, [Good and Gone] is a satisfying, mature, complex read.” -ALA Booklist

Julie Dao is a proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, and then was raised amidst the autumn fields and sloping mountains of New England. She went to college to become a doctor, but (go figure) came out ready to pursue her passion of creative writing. She is greatly influenced by the work of Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, Maggie Stiefvater, Jhumpa Lahiri, Neil Gaiman, and Laini Taylor. Julie lives in New England.

“A richly developed fantasy world coupled with an ambitious anti-heroine of complex agency, [Forest of a Thousand Lanterns] shines and surprises at every turn. Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch.” —Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites

Erin Dionne is the author of five other books for kids, some of which are funny (such as The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet), and some of which are mysteries/adventures (such as Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking). Like Hess, Erin loves action movies, especially Star Wars and The Avengers. Wonder Woman is her favorite superhero. She lives outside of Boston with her husband, two kids, and a very disgruntled dog. Visit her online at erindionne.com.

“Through Hester’s thoughtful first-person narration, structured with fast forward, pause, and resume play asides, Dionne creates a flawed, lovable, sympathetic character who, thanks to her support network, is ultimately able to become the director of [her] own story." –Kirkus Reviews

Debbi Michiko Florence is a third generation Japanese American, and has many fond memories of her family’s traditions while growing up in California. Debbi now lives in Connecticut with her husband, their two ducks, Darcy and Lizzy, and their bunny, Aki. debbimichikoflorence.com

“[Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl is] An enjoyable offering about trying new activities and finding just the right talent that makes us feel 'free and strong and happy.'” –Kirkus Reviews

Cordelia Jensen was Poet Laureate of Perry County, PA in 2006 and 2007. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches creative writing in Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband and children. Follow her on Twitter @cordeliajensen.

“Skyscraping is brilliant, sharp and bright. A stellar story. Jensen has written a powerful tale about love and loss, a story that will stick with readers long after they’ve reached the end. Her poetry is vivid, tangible, and visceral. She’s a rising star with a breathtaking debut. This is a novel made of star stuff.” —Skila Brown, author of Caminar
"Thoughtful readers will find a lot to like [in Every Shiny Thing]—sadness, suspense, even humor. They may even pause to consider their own privilege." -School Library Journal
"Achingly beautiful, honest and visceral. [The Way the Light Bends] is a must read for anyone who has questioned whether they belong." -Meg Wiviott, author of Paper Hearts

Jarrett Lerner has never unleashed a horde of hungry robots on a small, unsuspecting town. (Not yet, at least.) He lives with his wife, a cat, and a dog who sometimes thinks he’s a cat in Medford, Massachusetts. You can visit him online at JarrettLerner.com. 

"[You'll find] A boisterous balance of potty humor and geek pride in [EngiNerds, a] rollicking young engineer’s adventure." –Kirkus Review

Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. She was a Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Anna lives outside of Boston, MA, and teaches at Simmons College. When she's not writing, Anna spends her time reading, eating chocolate, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. You can visit her at www.annastan.com.

"[Wish is] Another appealing series that promises more goofball humor blended with the real issues of early adolescence." -- Booklist
"[Dogosaurus Rex is a] delightfully mischievous story [that] brings to mind vintage children’s books." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review