writes about war from a young person's view #bannedbyrussia
Thank you Dr. Mateusz Świetlicki for sending me these screen shots from Polish Amazon. Kidnapped from Ukraine: Under Attack will be published on Jan 7, 2025 and is currently a #1 new release in two categories: Europe for children, and historical fiction for children:
This novel will be published on Jan 7, 2025, so imagine my surprise to see it pop up as a #1 release on Amazon.com. Yay!
I never thought I would be writing about a war as it’s happening. When the war in Ukraine began, I had been writing a companion novel to Winterkill, but had to set it aside. I plunged in to a project I had been working on for a long time: a novel set in the 1500s. Then Scholastic asked me to pivot. It took a lot of soul-searching, but in the end I realized I had to do this. The emotional pain of researching and writing these three books is nothing compared to what Ukrainians are enduring every minute, every hour. I invite you to step into the shoes of 12 year old Dariia and her twin sister Rada. Feel what it’s like to wake up one morning to your bed shaking from bombings. To have your country invaded by a jealous neighbor who doesn’t acknowledge your right to exist.
The audio edition of The War Below will be released on Sept 24th, 2024 by Tantor Audio, with Kyle Tate as narrator. Very thrilled about this! Thank you Maral Maclaghan, Scholastic Canada rights manager extraordinaire!
Just had a virtual chat with two first-time-published kidcritters and Adrian’s name came up. Then I realized, this lovely pic wasn’t on my website. Adrian has been in my writing group for a very long time and he’s a FABULOUS writer.
Ann Featherstone was an editor like no other, but she was also my friend. She helped birth so many phenomenal children’s books, and I’m honoured that she helped to birth many of my own. Ann, when I write, I think of the lessons you taught me. Vichnaya Pamyat.
I just received the most beautiful package of letters and cards from students and staff at JL Simpson MS (Virginia) in response to 6 virtual visits over two days that we did together a few weeks ago. Jeannine and I had corresponded about this for about a year and I was very impressed by the students and their in-depth questions on a wide variety of my books, and about history, and about the current war in Ukraine. The letters were tied in a blue satin ribbon, and the cards are amazing. Individual student artists created cards based on scenes from books. The artwork below is inspired by Stolen Girl, about Nadia’s joy at having a tree with a swing, now that she’s safe and living with people who love and care for her.
