Katie Alender grew up in South Florida, where she attended high school at the Palm Beach County School of the Arts, studying Communication Arts. After graduating, she studied film at the Florida State University Film School, and then moved to Los Angeles, where she worked in TV development and production for several years, including a long stint producing dog shows for Animal Planet.

In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading, gardening, sewing, cooking, playing board games, and hanging out with her family.

THE COMPANION

Katie Alender

Rose Bousamra is a comic creator and illustrator exploring themes of identity and queerness in fantasy and fiction. They have two graphic novels with First Second Books, including Frizzy (2022) with author Claribel Ortega, and solo debut graphic novel Gutless (2025). Their work has also been featured in Power & Magic: A Queer Witch Anthology Volume II and DROPOUT.tv's Ladies Book Club (Issue #5). When not reading or creating comics, they can be found playing fantasy video games, wrangling their tiny dog and two cats, or wandering the woods around Detroit, Michigan.

FRIZZY

ROSE BOUSAMRA

Jo Beckett-King is the author of the Bea Bellerose mysteries, coming from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2025. Originally from the North East of England, she studied Art History at the University of York before moving to Paris, where she worked for several years, honing her skills as a translator. Her writing for children and adults has been longlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award and the Bristol Short Story Prize, as well as shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. She currently lives in San Francisco.

BEA BELLEROSE AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING MATISSE

Jo Beckett-King

Scott Bedford is a London-based creative director who has worked for both global agency networks and cutting-edge technology start-ups. He is also the author of Made by Dad and a Webby Award–winning blogger who loves to make things and draw. He lives with his wife and two sons in Marlow, England.

MEGA-MAZE ADVENTURE!

Scott Bedford

Zillah Bethell was born in a leprosy hospital in Papua New Guinea, spent her childhood barefoot playing in the jungle, and didn’t own a pair of shoes until she came to the United Kingdom when she was eight years old. She was educated at Oxford University and lives in Wales with her family. A Whisper of Horses is her first children’s book.

THE EXTRAORDINARY COLORS OF AUDEN DARE

Zillah Bethell

Lucy Jane Bledsoe is the author of several works of fiction for both adults and children, including A Thin Bright Line, which was a Lambda Literary Award and Ferro-Grumley Award finalist. She is the winner of an American Library Association Stonewall Award, a Yaddo Fellowship, a California Arts Council Fellowship in Literature, two National Science Foundation Artists & Writers Fellowships, and a finalist for the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Fiction Award. A native of Portland, Oregon, she now lives in Berkeley, California.

"Two conversion therapy survivors go back to the site of their trauma, hoping the truth will set them free... The compelling leads, engaging blow-by-blows of basketball games, and small-town feuds ground a heartening, issues-driven book. Secondary characters shine, too...This satisfyingly nuanced story tackles sexuality and spiritual abuse, offering connection and redemption."—Kirkus, Starred Review

"Writing in a graceful, fluid style, Bledsoe examines life in Rockside in all its dimensions while revealing how Delia makes peace with a traumatic time of her past. Delia’s reconnecting with Ernest, who bonded with her during camp and is now an accomplished poet, gives the novel a definite upbeat tone and message. Both insightful and page-turning; highly recommended."—Library Journal, Starred Review

"Two queer people who escaped Christian conversion therapy as teens find their way back to each other as adults in the keenly observed latest from Bledsoe...Bledsoe paints an engrossing and complicated picture of small-town life and queer survival...a triumph of compassion.”—Publishers Weekly

"Ernest and Delia are sucked back into each other’s orbit with no choice but to face the trauma they endured as young adults at Celebration Camp, returning to the roots of their pain in an effort to set themselves free. Delia and Ernest are beautiful, complicated characters, and their journey is important for readers to witness, as it also gives voice to voiceless victims of conversion torture."—Booklist

"[A] powerful reading experience on the resilience, determination, and personal pride required for queer survival. Bledsoe clearly demonstrates a knack for dialogue and swift plotting, and the reality of the theme itself will hit home for many readers."—The Bay Area Reporter

“A multilayered gem of a novel, polished, intelligent, and moving. Tell the Rest deftly explores courage, drive, happiness, sexuality, love, and more in a riveting story that whisks readers along to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. I could not put it down.”—Meg Waite Clayton, New York Times best-selling author of The Last Train to London

“I feel privileged to have had an early read of Lucy Jane Bledsoe’s Tell the Rest. It’s an important book with a story we need now about the horrors of conversion therapy and adult survivors of childhood trauma. And it’s a timely book with an urgent exploration of issues including gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, and family. But mostly it’s also a character-driven novel full of basketball, high school escapades, cats who cannot be caged, academics who cannot behave, love for booksellers and bookstores, and indeed love for all kinds of people who need it, which is to say all of us. I enjoyed it beginning to end.” —Laurie Frankel, New York Times best-selling author of One Two Three

“Lucy Jane Bledsoe’s new novel is a revelation as it skillfully unfurls the lives of three characters—two white, one Black—who’ve meant psychic and literal survival to each other. Bledsoe draws a hard-edged picture of what abuse adults are willing to perpetrate on children who don’t fit their mold. Her tender yet precise debriding of the resultant wounds is an accomplishment that will stay with you. Tell the Rest is heartbreaking, chilling, and ultimately triumphant.” —Jewelle Gomez, Lambda Award–winning author of The Gilda Stories

“I soared through the delicately orchestrated pages of this novel. Tell the Rest asks the reader many things, but mainly it asks each of us to learn how to fly, to leap beyond words. The reader’s heart is broken, but not the music that the story creates or the challenges of building new landscapes for these incredible characters—sexual, physical, emotional. This is the Lucy Jane Bledsoe novel one lives for, a novel that not only touches the parts that burn but the ways we heal each other even in the silences.” —Jerry Thompson, coeditor of Berkeley Noir

“Tell the Rest is the story of two bruised people—a girls’ basketball coach and a poet—who are finding their feet, and finding their way back to friendship, years after the shared trauma of a religious conversion therapy camp. It’s beautifully told, unsentimental, and every character in it feels like someone I know, someone utterly real. This is a literary novel that could change lives. I can’t wait to put it into the hands of all my friends!” —Molly Gloss, Whiting Award–winning author of The Jump-Off Creek

Named a 2022 Golden Poppy Award Finalist (California Independent Booksellers Alliance)

“A timeless and triumphant story of courage in the face of opposition, as well as a glimpse into the early days of Title IX’s implementation. Knowledgeable about, and appreciative of, the trailblazers who fought for fairness and equal opportunities for women in sports, No Stopping Us Now is an excellent historical novel.” —Foreword Reviews (starred review)

“The cause is just, the action absorbing, the sexist flack still all too familiar.” —Kirkus Reviews

“It's tempting to say that No Stopping Us Now transports us back to the intense battles teen girls faced in the early years of Title IX, except that similar battles rage on today. This timeless story is a must-read for adolescents trying to find themselves and their powerful voices both personally and politically.” —Sherry Boschert, author, 37 Words: Title IX and Fifty Years of Fighting Sex Discrimination

“So many young women athletes today grow up without understanding the importance of Title IX and how hard previous generations struggled for the opportunity to participate in the sports they loved. In writing No Stopping Us Now, Bledsoe not only informs and entertains, she directly connects young readers to an integral part of women's sports history that should never be forgotten.” —Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, sports writer; co-author, Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League

“Lucy Bledsoe conjures up everyday sexism on the cusp of Title IX with powerful immediacy. From Shirley Chisholm and Gloria Steinem, to macrame and  hip-huggers, we are solidly in 1974. Yet there’s something absolutely contemporary in the way Bledsoe captures the perils, the highs, and the awkward, nonverbal jostling of high school social life. No Stopping Us Now takes a historic moment for women’s sports and replays it in all its sweaty, visceral glory.” —Alison Bechdel, author, Fun Home and The Secret to Superhuman Strength 

“No Stopping Us Now is full of such heart, love and courage. A stunning and brave journey from start to finish, I loved Louisa and her bold crew of superstar athletes who rose up together to be seen, valued and heard. This is a book to be treasured, taught and shared. I want my children and students to know what it means to fight for what you believe in. To take up space, to raise your voice and most of all, to get on the court and play.” —Ellen Hagan, author, Don’t Call Me a Hurricane 

“Time and again, this skilled author reminds her readers of second-wave feminism's triumphs and turning points from the early 1970s...No Stopping Us Now fearlessly invokes a recent past we must become reacquainted with, the better to understand how far women have come and what's at stake for our rights and opportunities." —Bonnie J. Morris, women's history professor and author of What's The Score? Twenty-Five Years of Teaching Women's Sports History

“No Stopping Us Now reminds us of the battles fought, and won, by the first generation of Title IX athletes, those girls and women who made possible all of the opportunities female athletes have today. I guarantee you’ll be rooting for Louisa as she speaks truth to power and stands up to opponents on and off the court.” —Sue Macy, author, Breaking Through: How Female Athletes Shattered Stereotypes in the Roaring Twenties

“The characters are beautifully drawn, the story expertly plotted and moving and as a former D-I basketball player, it is close to my heart.” —Mary Volmer, author, Reliance, Illinois

Long-listed for American Library Association's Notable Books 2020

Best Children's Books of the Year 2020, Bank Street College of Education

"Ms. Bledsoe ably conveys the children’s competence—they know how to hunt and bivouac—but also the youthful limits of their strengths and capabilities, both in the wild and out of it."—The Wall Street Journal

"Nuanced, character-driven action." —Kirkus Reviews

"This adventure story is all about family and survival, and Willa shows amazing strength in supporting her brothers and keeping them all alive. The straightforward narration makes the story accessible for upper elementary, and the action, issues, and themes make it suitable for middle school readers as well." —School Library Connection

"Combining elements of survivalism, resilience in the face of adversity, and adaptation to the unknown, Bledsoe skillfully weaves a tale of adventure and coming of age on the Alaskan frontier. . . . Bledsoe makes Willa a likable, relatable, and strong lead who will appeal to readers of a similar age."—School Library Journal

"It triumphs as an intimate and humane evocation of day-to-day life under inhumane circumstances."—New York Times Book Review

“Bledsoe covers a lot of ground here, imagining her intellectual aunt’s relationship to the queer cultural transformations of the 1950s, as well as the paranoia of the Cold War era.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“This is gripping historical fiction about queer life at the height of the Cold War and the civil rights movement, and its grounding in fact really makes it sing. Like the scientists whose papers she edits, Lucybelle Bledsoe is passionate about the truth. Whether it’s the climate history of the planet as illuminated by cores of polar ice or the pursuit of an authentic emotional life in the miasma of McCarthyism, she operates with piercing honesty.”—Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home

“A testament to courage and perseverance in the face of oppression, and a compelling, literary page-turner worthy of standing alongside the works of Pat Barker and Graham Greene. A Thin Bright Line reminds us that we are nothing, deep down, without love and dignity.”—Patrick Ryan, author of The Dream Life of Astronauts

“In this ingenious hybrid of fact and fiction, a fine novelist uses her storytelling skills to recover the lost life of a favorite aunt, a bookish, unmarried scientist from Arkansas. With her story Bledsoe also exhumes a dark, clandestine age in American history, the time of Ann Bannon and Patricia Highsmith, but made more intimate and real.”—Christopher Bram, author of Gods and Monster

“An engaging and moving novel about an unforgettable character. Intelligent, unadorned, and unsentimental, it allows us to look at a difficult time in American history with clarity instead of nostalgia.”—Rabih Alameddine, author of An Unnecessary Woman

“Bledsoe injects life and dimension through her often stunning dialogue. With heart and zest, the author depicts Lucybelle's slice of life as both pleasant and harrowing.”—Publishers Weekly

“Through her fictional reconstruction of the life of her namesake, her beloved aunt—who fought the good fight as a pioneering professional and a lesbian in unsympathetic times—Lucy Jane Bledsoe re-creates an important piece of history and imagines what it was like to live it. Poignant in both its conception and execution.”—Lillian Faderman, author of The Gay Revolution

“A story set in mid-20th century America – one that deftly weaves closeted sexuality, Cold War politics and a mysterious death that haunts the author to this day.”—San Jose Mercury News

“Is it possible for a novel to both break your heart and to heal it? . . . Bledsoe is deft in the way she shows . . . various models of how to be a lesbian in the world of the ‘50s and early ‘60s.”—Lambda Literary Review

Winner of the Devil’s Kitchen Fiction Award

"Riveting new collection...fully realized characters; stories that stick to your ribs." —Toronto Star

"In these twelve remarkable stories, the reader journeys from the remotest inner reaches of Alaska to deceptively calm suburban neighborhoods to a research station at the bottom of the world. Yet Lucy Jane Bledsoe's true territory is the wild, uncharted expanse of the heart. A wise and wonderful collection." ―Kirstin Valdez Quade, author of Night at the Fiestas

"This novella and group of stories by Lucy Jane Bledsoe will move and surprise and thrill you. She brings us right into her characters' lives, taking us on unexpected journeys. Through it all,the empowered and vulnerablewomen in this lively fictional world continually find themselves, so as readers welearn more about survival and are reminded of hope. We find ourselves delightfully renewed." ―Allen Gee, author of My Chinese-America

 "From Antarctica to suburbia to the ancient past and a post-apocalyptic future, these tales of kick-ass women adventurers and survivor girls are big-hearted, breathtaking, and profound. Reading Lava Falls is like meeting an animal in the wild: I was rapt, unable to turn away, with no idea what would happen next." ―Micah Perks, author of What Becomes Us

TELL THE REST

Lucy Jane Bledsoe

Sarah Callender is a passionate mental health advocate and middle school English teacher in Seattle, Washington, where she lives with her husband and two teenage children.  In her copious spare time, she is hard at work on her second novel.

Meet 13-year-old Lucy, mime enthusiast and self-appointed clapper for Henry, her violin superstar of an older brother. Lucy’s family revolves around Henry’s musical career and she handles it with aplomb, but when Henry’s enthusiasm for performing goes south and his depression sets in, even Lucy’s most fervent cheering isn’t enough to change the course of his downfall in Sarah Callender’s BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE ORANGES.

Lucy Bains is smarter than your average 7th grader, but there’s a lot she’s trying to understand.  Like why her brother, a 17-year-old concert violin virtuoso, has lost his will to play, and why her mother is more concerned with Lucy’s helping Henry regain his musical mojo than with Lucy’s own budding mime career, and why their father, who decamped for Peru when Lucy was just a small child and is largely absent from their world, suddenly wants to come visit.  And strangest of all, how did Charles, her best friend, start seeming like someone she might like to kiss?

When Henry’s life takes a tragic turn, Lucy and her mother, desperate to hide from their grief, escape to Peru, hoping to seek solace in the presence of her previously missing father. But when the local bookstore owner, a generous bibliophile (and unapologetic poetry-pusher) who is, like Lucy, no stranger to loss, proves more present than Lucy’s still-elusive father, Lucy must confront some hard truths about love and friendship, guilt and grief, not to mention what happens when a best-friend-turned-crush is crushing on someone else. 

Deftly balancing keen insight into the dynamics of a troubled family in the wake of tragedy with the vivid portrayal of a young teen’s irrepressible spirit, Sarah Callender has penned a timely, masterful tale that today’s middle-grade readers will want to read again and again. BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE ORANGES belongs on a bookshelf next to novels like Counting by 7s and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise.

BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE ORANGES

Sarah Callender

Alec Carvlin is a children’s book writer who grew up in New Jersey and attended Dartmouth College, where he studied Classics. Despite (or perhaps because of) this deep dive into history and all things "real," Alec enjoys writing stories that are off the beaten path - the funnier the better. He lives in Boston with his dog, Puff. Alec’s debut picture book, HOW TO BAKE A UNIVERSE, blends science with humor and will be published by Norton Young Readers in 2022.

HOW TO BAKE A UNIVERSE, illustrated by Brian Biggs

Alec Carvlin

Dr. Theodore Chao co-wrote and co-produced the web series Radical Cram School. He is an associate professor of Mathematics Education at The Ohio State University, specializing in equity-oriented education for early and middle-childhood learners. Theodore is a nationwide leading expert in connecting STEM learning and STEM teacher preparation to issues of equity, power, and social justice. He has written numerous articles aimed at educators and parents on ways to teach mathematics from an equity-oriented lens, and he’s spoken at conferences throughout the world. His research has been funded by Fulbright, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. Theodore has been featured in multiple education-focused books, textbooks, and podcasts. He is the STEM consultant for the Penguin Random House titles Happy Pi Day to You and I Can Code! Can You?, and a STEM educational consultant for McGraw Hill Education, the Educational Testing Service, and the ACT. Theodore’s recent work on Asian American identity education is featured in the Inspire Podcast’s recent episode “Not Your Model Minority” and the book Teacher Educators as Critical Storytellers. Theodore received his PhD in Mathematics Education from The University of Texas at Austin and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard. Theodore is also a parent of three, including the middle school-aged daughter who inspired Radical Cram School. 

AUNTIE KRISTINA'S GUIDE TO ASIAN AMERICAN ACTIVISM

Dr. Theodore Chao

Leslie Connor is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Anybody Here Seen Frenchie, mentioned on the 2023 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts award list; The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, National Book Award finalist and winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award; Waiting for Normal, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award; A Home for Goddesses and Dogs; All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook; and Crunch. She lives in the Connecticut woods with her family and three rescue dogs. You can visit her online at www.leslieconnor.com.

ANYBODY HERE SEEN FRENCHIE?

Leslie Connor

Lauren Conrad is best known for starring in the MTV hit series The Hills. She is the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including the L.A. CANDY series, and LAUREN CONRAD STYLE, a fashion and beauty guide. She began her fashion career in spring 2008 with the debut of the Lauren Conrad Collection. In 2009 she launched LC Lauren Conrad, exclusively for Kohl's and the line has since expanded to shoes, accessories and sunglasses. Her newest clothing line is paper crown. She has been featured on the covers of Elle, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, Shape, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. She lives in Los Angeles.

CELEBRATE

Lauren Conrad

 Loni has a BA in creative writing from SUNY Oswego and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. 

GOSSAMER & GLASS

Loni Crittenden

Dawn Cusick is the author of Animal Eggs, Bug Butts, and Get the Scoop on Animal Poop, among many other titles aimed at young activists, reluctant readers, and animal lovers. Her books have been named a Best Children’s Book of the Year by Bank Street College of Education, an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teaching Association, a Children’s Choice Book Award finalist by the Children’s Book Council, and more. She lives in Clyde, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she teaches general biology and zoology courses at Haywood Community College. 

“Usually relegated to brief mentions in histories of the space race, the NASA program’s chimps take center stage here as Cusick draws on a mix of interviews and archival sources to present a vividly portrayed, meticulously researched picture of their strenuous training and experiences... All hail these pioneering primates!”—Kirkus, Starred Review

Before Mercury Seven astronauts began their explorations, NASA recruited and trained six chimpanzees to compete with Sputnik, which Cusick perceptively depicts in this fascinating work...[T]he author demonstrates profound sensitivity to issues surrounding the primates’ origins—some were obtained from poachers—and recounts the chimps at play and work and interacting with their human trainers. By touching on subjects of animal rights and experimentation, as well as gender equity within Homo sapiens society, Cusick breathes life into a seldom heard story and reminds readers that while 'we cannot undo the past... we can create a new future.'"—Publishers Weekly

"Memorializing the unsung space travelers whom the US first launched into orbit, Dawn Cusick’s charming history book The Astrochimps zooms in on peculiar and enlightening moments in the race to put a person on the moon...This is the story of the ethically-fraught yet unbelievable role that six such chimpanzees played in the Space Race...Poignant and hilarious photographs document the frowned upon relationships that blossomed between the chimpanzees and their human pilots and veterinarians...The Astrochimps is an exciting, specialized history of the Space Race."—Foreword Reviews

“With engaging narrative style and boundless sensitivity, Dawn Cusick introduces the astrochimps, America’s first astronauts. A must-read for space race fans, future scientists, or anyone who has ever loved an animal.”—Amy Cherrix, author of In the Shadow of the Moon

“Astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glenn are celebrated today as American heroes, but it was Ham and Enos—the astrochimps—who rocketed into space before their human counterparts. Author Dawn Cusick tells the seldom-told story of these and other history-making primates who helped the United States win the space race. It’s a blast!”—Jerome Pohlen, author of The Apollo Missions for Kids

THE ASTROCHIMPS: America's First Astronauts

Dawn Cusick

Jenny Fran Davis received her MFA from the University of Iowa, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow. The author of a novel for teenagers, Everything Must Go, she lives in Brooklyn.

“Dykette turned me on and freaked me out in the best possible way! Imagine if Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? were recast with two generations of very-online queer folks. Tense, smart, and thrilling . . . with a charismatic pug named Vivienne to boot.”
 —CJ Hauser, author of The Crane Wife

“A consummate pleasure. I gasped with laughter and delight on nearly every page.” — Melissa Febos, author of Girlhood

“A blast of defiant frivolity, Dykette is so perceptive it hurts and as fun and decadent as wearing Gaultier in a bubble bath.”— Beth Morgan, author of A Touch of Jen

“An invigorating and hilarious examination of queer identity and intimacy...The only thing more horrifying than perceiving one’s self is being perceived by others, and Jenny Fran Davis explores both actions with an audacious and tender wit.”—Bobby Finger, author of The Old Place

“Dykette is my favorite kind of trouble—sexy, messy, full of gossip and glitter, and cunning, and thus of course profoundly revealing about our strange times.” — Andrea Lawlor, author of Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl

“Like a tightly rolled spliff passed round the room, you will inhale Dykette.” — Samantha Hunt, author of The Unwritten Book

DYKETTE

Jenny Fran Davis

Andrea Debbink is an editor and writer who specializes in immersive nonfiction storytelling—from historical biographies to contemporary topics like environmental stewardship, natural history, and food science. As a former American Girl magazine editor, she also has a knack for creating fun and whimsical content for young readers like DIYs and crafts, seasonal recipes, and STEM projects. When she's not writing or reading, she's exploring the outdoors with her kayak and camera.

"Making key points while moving steadily toward the conclusion, the book's rhymed couplets vary in tone from lyrical visions to plainspoken truths. The same tones resonate through Wong’s graceful illustrations, which contrast smoggy, overcrowded cityscapes with peaceful scenes of rivers winding through idyllic landscapes filled with sunlight, warmth, and life. A captivating, persuasive picture book."—Booklist, starred review

"A gentle reminder that we haven’t been good to our natural home, but it’s not too late to make amends."—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for THE WILD WORLD HANDBOOK: CREATURES

“Hooks readers from the beginning...A treasure trove of animals, familiar as well as not so well-known, and the scientists and activists who help them survive and thrive.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Animals are always a hot topic for kids, and this STEAM offering for middle-graders is sure to please.”—Booklist

“Filled with history and facts about creatures that are beautifully expressed and explained.”—Beary Into Books

“A wonderful book packed with amazing information!”—The Momma Spot

“A must have for families looking to make a difference in the world...Get ready to be blown away with the awe inspiring illustrations that fill the pages of this environmental stewardship handbook, while gaining practical tools and skills.”—Inspired by Savannah

Praise for THE WILD WORLD HANDBOOK: HABITATS

PureWow Happy Kid Award Winner 2021 for Best 8+ Book

“This gorgeous book features beautifully detailed illustrations, facts, stories and tips on making your own biome and helping to protect the environment.... A practical guide for young climate activists and junior conservationists.”—CNNUnderscored

“Beautifully illustrated….An entertaining and educational book for environmentally conscious nature lovers that will inspire action.”—Booklist

“Well-designed and smartly organized...providing inspiration that proves that all types of people can enjoy and protect nature.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This accessible guide offers a good balance of detailed information with engaging activities and calls to action....A strong choice to inspire young changemakers for our planet.”—School Library Journal

“Hopeful, even as it leaves no stone unturned on the path to mitigating grave ecological issues like climate change, deforestation and overfishing...The result leaves readers — whether middle grade or middle-aged — informed, inspired and, most importantly, empowered.”—Madison Magazine

“For the quieter kid, or perhaps for an Earth-minded child who may need to stay indoors for part of the summer...With more facts, less adventure, this book offers ecology-based biographies, activities to do indoors, fun facts, places to visit, and information about our world.”—Terri Schlichenmeyer

Andrea Debbink

Rachel Dougherty is an author and artist who has established herself as an illustrator of nonfiction picture books. She attended Maryland Institute College of Art and has created editorial and advertising pieces for the Baltimore MTA, Woman to Woman Magazine, Philadelphia Stories, and more. She lives in Philadelphia.

SECRET ENGINEER: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge

Rachel Dougherty

Rowan Ellis is an author and speaker known for her educational online content and advocacy work in the LGBTQ+ community. Her debut book for teen girls Here and Queer: A Queer Girl’s Guide To Life is out now. She produces long form video essays on YouTube about LGBTQ+ issues, representation, and pop culture - exploring everything from movie trope deep dives to lesser known moments of queer history. She is available for panels, talks, and workshops - having facilitated events at high schools, universities, conferences, and corporate spaces. Her work has been covered in publications including Forbes, The Guardian, Teen Vogue, Elle UK, and the BBC.

HERE & QUEER

ROWAN ELLIS

Susan Farrington graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and has since created art for hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Her diverse client list includes Target, Hallmark, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, UNICEF, and many more. A cover for the children's magazine Cricket led to a dream job when she was commissioned by the MTA Arts for Transit and Urban Design to create a large poster displayed in trains in New York City through 2014. She has licensed several pieces of her art for Urban Outfitters and Midwest CBK, and her work has been recognized in American Illustration, 3x3, Print, and Communication Arts, and is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Transportation in New York. She lives with her family in Massachusetts.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT YOU

Susan Farrington

Adrianne Finlay received her PhD in literature and creative writing from Binghamton University. Originally from Ithaca, New York, she now lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with her husband, the poet J. D. Schraffenberger, and their two young daughters. She is an associate professor of English and the Program Director of Creative Writing at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. Her writing has appeared in Paterson Literary Review, North American Review, The Journal of Popular Culture, and New Linear Perspectives.

Adrianne Finlay

George Foreman is a two-time former heavyweight champion of the world, an Olympic gold medalist, a revolutionary in the grilling industry, and an ordained minister, in addition to being a best-selling author. He lives in Houston, Texas, where he founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center.

BY GEORGE

George Foreman

Kiley Frank is a writer and freelance editor living in upstate New York. She worked as an Assistant Editor at Atheneum and Simon and Schuster for six years before leaving the NYC area. She reads daily to her two children and hopes—among many things—that they grow up to adore books as much as she does.

TOMORROW IS WAITING

Kiley Frank

Donna Freitas has written more than twenty books, both fiction and nonfiction, for adults, children, and young adults. Among them are Consent: A Memoir of Unwanted Attention (Little, Brown), Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance & Religion on College Campuses (Oxford University Press), and The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano (Viking/Penguin), which has been translated into 20 languages. Donna has spoken at over two hundred colleges and universities to discuss her nonfiction research, and she’s been a featured speaker at Q Christian Fellowship Conference and many other Christian and secular organizations. She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on radio and television from NPR’s All Things Considered to CNN and The Today Show. She is currently faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA program in Creative Writing. Donna loves cooking, spending time with her friends, and eating. She and her husband split their time between Barcelona and Brooklyn.

“Donna writes about all the difficult things in life — accidents, illness, break-ups, abuse — in her signature incisive style using words to slash scenes into being, carving feelings out of vowels, and connecting us through what she calls ’the magic of writing…' Soulful and sparse, her prose cuts right to the core. I truly appreciate Donna’s candor, bravery, and openness in her latest fabulous read.” - Zibby Owens, author of Blank and Bookends; host of the podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books; CEO of Zibby Media

"A beautiful exploration of what it really means to find ourselves—and faith—when it seems like all hope is lost." -Amy Scher, HOW SHOULD WE IDENTIFY HER?

“Anyone who ever struggled with the longing for a faith they left behind will  be grateful for this radiantly wise memoir by Donna Freitas, who brings a piercing clarity and hard-won joy to her radically honest appraisal of the gifts and the burdens of belief.” - Carlene Bauer, author of Girls They Write Songs About

“Donna Freitas writes with a lucid, searching honesty.  Wishful Thinking is a colorful memoir of a Catholic childhood, and what came after… This is a book for anyone who wonders how--even long after one has left the religious tradition of one's origins--it continues to leave its imprint in surprising ways." - Rene Steinke, author of Friendswood

THE NINE LIVES OF ROSE NAPOLITANO

Donna Freitas

Brittany Geragotelis, a former Olympic-bound gymnast and magazine editor, is a self-professed pop culture junkie turned author. Her paranormal action book Life's a Witch received 18 million reads on the writing site Wattpad.com. What the Spell is the first published book in the series, followed by Life's a Witch and The Witch Is Back. Brittany lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Matt, and two cats.

"Fast and cinematic."—School Library Journal

"A thriller for fans of plot-driven stories."—Kirkus Reviews

Brittany Geragotelis

Born in Mexico City, Leopoldo Gout is a visual artist, award-winning author, filmmaker, and producer. A graduate of Central Saint Martins School of Art in London, he has written, packaged, published, and developed books for more than a decade, and was the head of his own imprint, Leopoldo & Co, at Atria/Simon & Schuster. He has produced award-winning films and television series, including Molly’s Game, American Jesus, and Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, and the forthcoming Get Millie Black (with novelist Marlon James, for HBO/Channel 4) among others, and was co-president of the James Patterson Entertainment company for many years. He is the co-author and illustrator of the forthcoming Monarca (HarperOne). 

He lives in New York City. For more information go to http://www.leopoldogout.net/.

Leopoldo Gout

John Grogan has spent more than twenty-five years as a newspaper journalist, most recently as metropolitan columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Previously he worked as a reporter, bureau chief, and columnist at newspapers in Michigan and Florida. He also is the former editor in chief of Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine. His work has won numerous awards, including the National Press Club's Consumer Journalism Award. He lives with his wife, Jenny, in the Pennsylvania countryside.

John Grogan

Mary Annaïse Heglar has more than nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector of the environmental movement, where she has edited in-depth policy reports and created anti-racist communications strategies. In 2020, Mary was the inaugural writer in residence at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. In 2021, she taught a course there on personal essays and the climate crisis. In spring 2023, she is teaching that same course at Tulane University in New Orleans. In 2021, she received a SEAL award for environmental journalism. Her essays have been published in New York Magazine,Rolling Stone, WIRED, The Nation, The New Republic, The Boston Globe, and Guernica, among other outlets. She has a significant and growing presence on social media with over 70k followers on Twitter and 14.2k on Instagram. Along with venerated journalist Amy Westervelt, Mary was one half of Hot Take, a media platform which includes a podcast and newsletter that takes a critical and intersectional look at the climate change in the media. Before the outlet was retired, they garnered a strong following with an audience of more than 30,000, and a podcast chart peak at #5 on Apple podcasts for News Commentary. She is the author of the children’s bookThe World is Ours to Cherish(forthcoming from Random House Children’s) and the editor of the anthology‘Til Earth and Heaven Ring(forthcoming from Pantheon).

‘Til Earth and Heaven Ring

Mary Annaïse Heglar

Jorey Hurley studied art history at Princeton, received her law degree at Stanford, and studied surface and textile design at FIT. In addition to her books, Jorey has worked with brands such as The Land of Nod, One Kings Lane, Minted, Papyrus, and IKEA, and her fine art prints have decorated the sets of The Mindy Project. She worked as a textile designer for Hable Construction in New York City and is now based in San Francisco where she lives with her husband and their two children.

Jorey Hurley

Deepa Iyer is a South Asian American writer, lawyer and activist who has worked on immigrant and racial justice issues for over two decades. Deepa is the creator of the social change ecosystem map framework and the host of the Solidarity Is This podcast. Currently the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Building Movement Project, she has held positions at a number of institutions including South Asian Americans Leading Together, Race Forward, the US Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, and the Asian American Justice Center. Deepa’s first book, We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future (The New Press 2015), received a 2016 American Book Award. Deepa has received fellowships from Open Society Foundations and the Social Change Initiative, and in 2019, she received an honorary doctoral degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Deepa is an immigrant who moved to Kentucky from Kerala (India) when she was 12 years old. Deepa is active online @dviyer (Twitter),  @deepaviyer (Instagram) and at www.deepaiyer.com.

Untitled

Deepa Iyer

Jenessa Joffe co-wrote, co-produced and directed the web series Radical Cram School. She is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer who is passionate about comedy as social activism. Her short films have aired on Comedy Central and Fusion Comedy, racked up millions of views online, screened at film festivals, and been distributed worldwide. Jenessa has been a frequent writing and directing partner with Kristina Wong, collaborating on video content such as the web series Kristina Wong’s How to Pick Up Asian Chicks and a series of Get Out The Vote videos to increase Asian American turnout for the November 2020 election. Jenessa has produced marketing videos for clients such as HarperAudio, Macmillan Audio Books, and Random House Audio, including for titles such as the Grammy-nominated Yes Please by Amy Poehler and Writing Radar from bestselling children’s author Jack Gantos. Jenessa has worked extensively with children and educators in the creation of video content for non-profit and government organizations. Jenessa grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a BA in East Asian Studies and earned an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute. 

Jenessa Joffe

Natasha Khan Kazi is an author and illustrator who was born in Bangladesh and immigrated to the U.S. when she was 5 years old. An ELL student, picture books were Natasha’s window into English and western culture, and she always dreamed of sharing her own stories one day.  Natasha has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and over fourteen years of experience in storytelling, social media, and online community building. Combining her passion for education and art, she launched Islamimommy (www.islamimommy.com), a platform for Islamic education through arts and crafts. Natasha started putting in her ten thousand hours to be an artist as soon as she could hold a crayon. Into adulthood, she spent evenings drawing, learning, painting, and drawing some more. She currently lives in a California beach city with her family of picture book readers. In her spare time, she loves thrift store treasure hunting and learning about new cultures. Natasha has two picture books forthcoming with Versify/HarperCollins, debuting with MOON’S RAMADAN in 2023.

Natasha Khan Kazi

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Julia Keller, former chief book critic for The Chicago Tribune. writes both fiction and non-fiction. Her critically acclaimed mystery series begins with A Killing in the Hills and continues through seven additional novels. The Dark Intercept is a science fiction trilogy for young adults. Other books include Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel: The Gun That Changed Everything and the Misunderstood Genius Who Invented It, a biography of the inventor of the Gatling Gun; and Back Home, a YA novel narrated by a young girl whose father returns from the Iraq War with a traumatic brain injury. 

Julia's next book, which will be published by Grand Central in 2023, is Quitting; A Life Strategy / The Myth of Perseverance -- and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free. A screenplay that she co-wrote, Spider & Jessie, will be produced this summer. Like her mystery series, it is set in her home state of West Virginia and deals with the tragic toll of the opioid epidemic in small-town America.

QUITTING: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance—and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free

Julia Keller

Christine Kendall is the author of The True Definition of Neva Beane as well as the award-winning novel Riding Chance, which was nominated for a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Work for Youth/Teens. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous publications and she serves as a juror for the New York City Book Awards. Christine lives in Philadelphia where she co-curates and hosts the Creative at the Cannery Prose Reading Series.

THE TRUE DEFINITION OF NEVA BEANE

Christine Kendall

Like so many other writers, I grew up with my nose in a book. My mother believed children should be seen reading and not heard whining about boredom, and regularly took us to the Rockville Public Library with grocery bags to fill with books. Along with grabbing new titles each visit, I often chose the same ones over and over again. And I reread treasured personal copies of my favorites until they fell apart.

The books I connected with as a child left a bigger impression on me than almost anything I come across today. I still think of the characters, stories, random facts and tidbits that I absorbed years ago. That’s why I love writing for kids—in the hopes that they'll pick up something I write more than once, and let it become part of who they are.

Here are a few facts about me: I’m a Pakistani-American Muslim who was born and raised in Maryland, and enjoy sharing and writing about my culture and religion. I've also written about a bunch of other topics, from spies to space travel, that take me out of my reality and on adventures. While not quite as thrilling, I’ve had a few adventures of my own, managed to get to some pretty fantastic places on our planet, and met incredible people. I'm slightly obsessed with Spain, ceramic tiles and pottery, food, flamenco, and good coffee. When I’m not cooking up a story, I’m often actually cooking food or baking treats. I also spend time writing and editing for international organizations that work to improve the health and lives of people around the world.

I’ve been extremely lucky to have a talented editor who encouraged me to write for kids after my elder son was born, as well as lifelong friends who’ve helped shape me into the person I am. Most important, I have two young readers at home who I’m excited to see relish a book, and when impressed, start it over again.

Hena Khan

Soren Kisiel is the author of The Night Our Parents Went Out (POW! 2017), A Is for Bear is his second book with POW! Kids Books. A long-time lover of the stage, Soren is a storyteller, director & actor in the troop Broad Comedy. When he is not living in Brooklyn, he lives in Montana where he runs a children’s theater camp in the summer with his wife.

Personal Wesbite

Soren Kisiel

Jen Klein lives in Los Angeles with boys and animals, all of whom are unruly and ill-behaved. When she’s not writing young adult romance books, Jen is an Emmy-nominated television writer and producer.

HEARTS MADE FOR BREAKING

Jen Klein

Lindsey Klingele is the author of The Marked Girl, The Broken World, and The Truth Lies Here, which was named a 2018 Junior Library Guild Selection, a 2019 Michigan Notable Book, and was featured in this video and this video on Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls. She currently works as a staff writer for Disney Channel's time-travel mystery series Secrets of Sulphur Springs.

Lindsey was raised in Michigan and now enjoys living in Los Angeles, especially since it's home to great television shows, excellent cheeseburgers, and her pit bull, Bighead.

“Klingele’s spooky, sci-fi-tinged mystery reads like a YA X-Files in the best possible way.”--Booklist

“A surprisingly heartfelt coming-of-age story wrapped in a zany package.”--Kirkus Reviews

“[M]arvelous...a believable story for teens who love coming-of-age stories in the vein of Stranger Things or science fiction shows like The Twilight Zone or The X-Files. This one has great appeal for most teens who enjoy classic science fiction and a good mystery.”--School Library Journal

“A fun and entertaining read. Recommended.”--Teen Librarian Toolbox (SLJ blog)

“A magical debut with a big heart.”--Elissa Sussman, author of Stray

“Klingele turns the typical portal fantasy inside out.”--Publishers Weekly

“Debut novelist Klingele balances high-stakes action, plot twists, and comedic scenes...while keeping the plot rolling...A solid purchase for libraries where action-packed titles and urban fantasy series are popular.”--School Library Journal

“This entertaining series opener will leave teens waiting impatiently to find out what is in store for this likable cast of characters...should appeal to reluctant readers as well as fantasy fans.”--Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

THE TRUTH LIES HERE

Lindsey Klingele

Andrew Kolb is an artist, designer, and illustrator. Shortly after obtaining his diploma in graphic design at Conestoga College he continued on to the Queensland College of Art in Brisbane, Australia, for his Bachelor of Design. Andrew has been featured in numerous galleries, countless exhibits, and a number of respected publications. He has collaborated with clients ranging from start-ups to major television networks on everything from fitness apps to animated shorts. He lives in Kitchener, Ontario.

Andrew Kolb

Hope Lim is a children’s book author from South Korea who now lives in San Francisco with her family. She majored in English Literature and earned a master’s degree in Conference Interpretation. For many years, she navigated the world of diplomats, working as a conference interpreter for the US State Department. Then motherhood ushered her into the world of children’s literature, where she discovered the power of picture books, which transcends time, place, and language.

Hope Lim

Bowen (Bones) McCurdy is a 25-year-old cartoonist. She's been creating comics since she was 13, and very happily made it her career. Her favorite genres to work with are horror and romance, so most of her work is a combination of the two. She has worked with Marvel, Boom!Box, IDW, and First Second. Her first graphic novel, Specter Inspectors, co-created with Kaitlyn Musto, was published by Boom! Studios in November 2021 and won the YALSA award for Great Graphic Novels for Teens. 

SPECTER INSPECTORS

BOWEN MCCURDY

Jenny McLachlan lives in England with her husband and daughters, and has taught English at the high school and college level. She is currently a curriculum teacher at a high school and an Advanced Skills Teacher who works with children and teachers in schools throughout her native country. Flirty Dancing is her first novel.

LOVE BOMB

Jenny McLachlan

Mitra Modarressi graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration. She has written and illustrated several picture books for children. Mitra lives in San Francisco, California, where she and her family keep an eye out for owls in nearby Golden Gate Park.

OWLET'S FIRST FLIGHT

Mitra Modarressi

Joseph Moldover is a clinical psychologist who works with children, teenagers, and their families.   He lives with his wife and their four children in Massachusetts.  He has published a number of short stories, mostly under the name Joseph Sloan. Every Moment After is his debut novel.

EVERY MOMENT AFTER

Joseph Moldover

Walter Dean Myers’s fiction and nonfiction books have reached millions of young people. A prolific author of more than one hundred titles, he received every major award in the field of children’s literature. He wrote two Newbery Honor Books, eleven Coretta Scott King Award winners, three National Book Award finalists, and the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. He also received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults and was the first recipient of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was a 2010 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award and was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Award numerous times. From 2012 to 2013, he served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature with the platform “Reading is not optional.”

When asked about his readers, Walter would often say, “Young people are some of the best people I know.” In his most-beloved books, Walter explored the themes of taking responsibility for your life and reminding readers that everyone always gets a second chance. Myers passed away in 2013.

MONSTER

Walter Dean Myers (Estate of)

Sean O’Brien served as director of speechwriting to Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, special assistant to President Barack Obama, and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Navy. He performed comedy with Chicago’s Second City and Annoyance theaters as well as DC’s Capital Fringe Festival while serving as a chief of staff in the US House of Representatives.

He earned a BA with Honors in American Culture from Northwestern University and an MS in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.

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