This year, the two RHCB authors in attendance were David Levithan whose latest book, EVERY DAY, is scheduled to pub this fall, and Robin Wasserman, whose new YA mystery novel, BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW, goes on sale April 10, 2012. 

In a preview post we ran last fall, Kate wrote this about Book of Blood and Shadow:

For the reader who loves a good mystery, The Book of Blood and Shadow will not disappoint. From the opening scene, yup it starts with a murder, through the fast-paced chases in Prague, “secret societies and  shadowy conspirators”, keep everyone guessing about who they can really trust. This book is a wild ride, a smart, literary thriller with enough twists and turns that you’ll want to stay up late to find out what happens next and who really did it and why. Think DaVinci Code for teen readers, and a great book for the grown up mystery lover too.

Today, we’re delighted to have Robin join RAoR to give us the WI7 scoop, from an author’s perspective.  (And to remind us what an amazing writer she is….)  We also share tons of pictures from weekend - you may see yourself if you keep reading!        

When my Random House publicist got in touch with me to ask whether I’d be interested in going to Winter Institute in New Orleans this year, I sent back some supremely professional email expressing polite interest and gratitude for the opportunity…and then I leapt out of my chair and starting dancing around my living room, squealing about getting a free trip to New Orleans. In the middle of winter, no less.

(I should mention here that I get unseemly giddy about the prospect of any kind of business-related travel. I’ve been known to do the dance of joy over a trip to Altoona.)

At some point in the midst of my dancing and squealing, I think it occurred to me to wonder: What’s this Winter Institute thing? 

But then I probably just shrugged and went back to plotting my beignet tour of the French Quarter. (Which was, I’m proud to say, exhaustive.) 

I’m admitting all of this so that you know what it means when I say: The free trip to New Orleans was great. The experience of attending Winter Institute was even better. (And would have been even if it had been held in the basement of my Brooklyn apartment building, although I’m forever grateful that it wasn’t.) 

It turns out that the Winter Institute is when a giant horde of independent booksellers all descend on one city and spend the week swapping trade secrets about the business of selling books. That’s what I’m told, at least. I only caught a one day glimpse of it, and what I saw was a ballroom full of people incredibly passionate about books and an enthusiastic collection of authors eager to meet them. (I love almost nothing more than signing books, but I can’t tell you what agony it was to be trapped behind a signing table when KA Applegate, Buzz Bissinger, and Richard Ford were sitting at tables of their own, only a few feet away.  Nathan Englander had the misfortune of being at the table next to mine; I tried not to drool all over him and his gorgeous new book, but I can’t promise I succeeded.)

I’ve never met so many booksellers; I’ve never had so many wonderful conversations about books and writing and publishing, all in one night.  I would have happily given up my heaping piles of beignets to have spent more time inside the conference area. (And not just because it would have given me the chance to leap at Ann Patchett and hang on until security pried me away.) 

Writing books can be a very solitary endeavor–and sending those books out into the world, having pretty much no idea about (and absolutely no control over) what’s going to happen to them, can be terrifying.  But spending just one day with this community has given me faith that my terrified little book is going to be in good hands.

People kept coming up to me to introduce themselves–people who’ve devoted their lives to getting books into the hands of readers.  And these people, who work tirelessly to keep their stores afloat, who care more about their communities and their customers than I ever would have guessed, who’ve made it possible for me to live this dream-come-true life with its book signings and free trips to New Orleans–these people would, unbelievably, thank me for writing books, and then run away before I could convince them that I wasn’t the one who needed to be thanked.  Fortunately, I get the last word. So, to all the awesome booksellers I met last week, and the ones I didn’t: Thank you.

 Authors Robin Wasserman and David Levithan at the WI7 Author Reception.

Heather, Bookseller at Children’s Book World, holding a newly signed copy of the Book of Blood and Shadow ARC.

Robin poses behind a stack of books with Jill, co-owner of the children’s bookstore bbgb.

Greg Ferguson, Editor for Egmont USA Publisher, holds the signed copy he got for his wife.

Delicious New Orleans cuisine and Robin on Bourbon Street after dinner.

Octavia Books, one of New Orleans famous Independent Bookstores!

To read more about WI7 click here and here.  Also, we have signed copies of the Book of Blood and Shadow ARC and we’d love for you to read it, so please comment below if you’d like a copy!

Congratulations to all of our winners! If you aren’t familiar with them, please read more on each of these titles below.

RANDOLPH CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER

A BALL FOR DAISY by Chris Raschka

Amazing reviews of this bright, colorful wordless story:

“Raschka’s genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children.”- Starred Review, School Library Journal

“A story that is noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal.”- Starred Review, Horn Book

“Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity.”-Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

Rashka discusses the book and his big win with NPR here.

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ HONOR

JASPER JONES by Craig Silvey

Life in the small mining town isn’t very exciting for Charlie Bucktin, but he never expected local outsider Jasper Jones to knock on his window one hot summer night and ask for his help. But Charlie follows him into the night and is forever linked by a shared secret, and a tragedy.

Curiosity, fear and new relationships, friends and a possible romance, are all parts of what keep Charlie going that summer, in the midst of the deterioration of his parents’ marriage. Jasper Jones is magnificently interspersed with influences from American Literature, woven seamlessly into a unique coming of age story.- Kate

CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR HONOR

NEVER FORGOTTEN by Patricia C. McKissack; Illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon  

 Covering a  heartbreaking time period is the gorgeous collaboration between Patricia McKissack and Leo and Diane Dillon, Never Forgotten. This is one of the most powerful and stunning picture books we’ve published in years. Told in verse, the book is the story of a father, Dinga, and his son, Mustafa. Dinga raises his son with help from the Mother Elements, Earth Mother, Water Maiden, Fire Woman and Wind Spirit. The book follows Mustafa as he grows up, becomes an apprentice blacksmith to his father, and then, one day, is captured by slave traders and taken to America. The Elements are able to find Mustafa in America, and report back to his devastated father that he is safe, acting as a blacksmith once more.

The simple prose perfectly captures the emotional tale, such as Dinga’s celebration upon learning his son is alive, “Dinga danced and feasted far into the night With the Mother Elements by his side, Celebrating the son who was taken, But never forgotten.” The book ends with a message to children that “loved ones are never forgotten when we continue to tell their stories.” – Erin

MILDRED L. BATCHELDER HONOR

THE LILY POND by Annika Thor; translated by Linda Schenck

This award is presented to an American publisher for the most outstanding book originally published in a country other than the United States in a language other than English and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.

“A compelling look at World War II–era Sweden, this distinguished Holocaust story will resonate.”- Booklist

SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD

THE RUNNING DREAM by Wendelin Van Draanen

This award recognizes books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.

The Running Dream is full of determination and hope and, surprisingly, lots of humor. The voice is so authentic, the story reads just like a real memoir by a teen girl adjusting to adversity. This is a book you won’t soon forget.- Joanne Fritz, Chester County Book and Music Company

More rave reviews from booksellers plus a letter from Wendelin’s editor here.

WILLIAM C. MORRIS AWARD FINALIST

PAPER COVERS ROCK by Jenny Hubbard

This award honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

I love this book, and as a former teacher, I would use it in my classroom. I think there is so much there to discuss: the writing and the poetry are really wonderful and I love the voice–it rings so true of a high school boy. -Betsy Balyeat, Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL

Read Bobbie’s rave introduction and our interview with author Jenny Hubbard here.

2012 ODYSSEY AWARD WINNER (AUDIOBOOKS)

ROTTERS by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne

In Rotters, Heyborne’s versatile character voicing animates the strange tale of Joey, a 16-year-old whose mother has died.  His struggle begins as he is dropped into the isolated world of his father, a grave robber.  The exquisite timing pulls us through the chilling story of the destruction and rebuilding of Joey’s personality. Odyssey Award Committee Chair, Lizette D. Hannegan, said, “Kirby Heyborne performs this visceral, grotesque and tender story with authentic emotion. The themes will appeal to teens, making this audio a gripping listening experience.”

And check out Nic’s rave review here.

ODYSSEY HONOR AUDIOBOOKS

OKAY FOR NOW by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Lincoln Hoppe

Doug’s miserable life includes a new town and a dysfunctional family until the works of Audubon help him see that his life might just be “okay.”  Narrator Hoppe wears this audiobook like Doug’s beloved baseball jacket and his empathetic performance echoes long after the last word. 

 YOUNG FREDLE by Cynthia Voigt, read by Wendy Carter

Carter captures all the curiosity, fear and delight of young Fredle, as listeners follow the mouse’s adventures both inside and outside the house.  Voigt’s gentle and heartwarming story features cats, dogs, raccoons and owls, all brought to fine characterization through Carter’s spectacular performance.

ODDFELLOW’S ORPHANAGE  by Emily Martin

This is a wonderful debut novel.  Sweet short chapters with adorable pictures make this book perfect for reading aloud. I loved how it was quirky and classic at the same time.  One of the orphans has an onion for a head, but they do sweet regular things like catching fireflies in the summer, making gingerbread houses and drinking hot chocolate when it’s cold out.  I’m torn between ‘A very Grand Picnic’ and ‘A Knock at the Door’ for favorite chapter. -Dandy

POPULAR CLONE by M. E. Castle

What’s uber-smart 12-year old Fisher Bas to do when he’s continually picked on at school? Well, clone himself and send the clone to school in his place, then he can stay home, eat junk food, work on his own science projects, and play video games. His new life of leisure is in the bag, right? Not exactly. First the clone “makes friends”, then he “acts out”, and it seems he has a bit of a mind of his own. Oh, dear. THEN, the clone is kidnapped by the uber evil Dr. Xander. It’s time for Fisher to use his big brain to come to his clone’s rescue. Can he do it? Read and find out.- Kate

MY AWESOME/AWFUL POPULARITY PLAN by Seth Rudetsky

Our hero Justin wants just two things during his sophomore year–popularity and love, and he has a plan. What could possibly go wrong? Well, pretty much everything, as the road to popularity and love can be a rocky one. Seth Rudetsky, well known in Broadway circles steps onto the YA map with this hilarious, over-the-top story of first love where we learn that the best laid plans often take the long way round on the way to a happy ending. -Kate

PRETTY PENNY CLEANS UP by Devon Kinch

 Pretty Penny is back in the second picturebook to feature this young, stylish money-wise character. In this installment, Penny’s friend wants to go to a concert but she’s already spent her allowance. Pretty Penny to the rescue! She comes up with a great idea- starting a beauty salon for dogs! That way, Penny and her friend can go to the concert, save money and set aside some for charity. Kinch has come up with  fun mix of humor, graphic art and smart money tips that will appeal to kids age 4-8 and teach them financial lessons they can use as they grow up. -Erin

Have you read any of these books? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Kate: Today I’m giving you all a glimpse inside my home and a peek at where my books live. I’ve been selling Random House Children’s Books for over 20 years, so you can probably guess that I have many children’s books, but I also have grownup books and an extensive collection of cookbooks.

When you walk into the living room, this is what you’ll see:

This table is the “catch-all” with books that are relative new arrivals–they could be finished copies of books we’ve sold recently or ARCs of forthcoming books from Random House or other publishers, yes I buy a lot of books too. Eventually, the ones I’ll be keeping (I do give some away after I’ve read them) work their way into bookcases and shelves in other rooms, like this one:

Hmmm. Might be time to add a new bookcase...........

Of course the cookbooks have a special place–organized by food/ethnicity/author on the high top shelves in the pantry:

And I put in some extra shelves under the window for the overflow and cookbooks I use more often–so I don’t have to get out the step stool when I’m planning the menu for a party, or looking for that elusive perfect cookie recipe for someone special. True confession, though I am a pretty good baker and breadmaker that’s where my kitchen skills end, but I still love cookbooks–just reading them makes me appreciate those who can cook well and also makes me a better informed diner. The cultural history you can learn from reading cookbooks is fascinating.

Yes, that IS the Pillsbury Doughboy resting in a basket of papier mache fruit.

And some books fit best on certain shelves…

As you’ve probably noticed I like to include non-book items on the bookshelves, it makes for a happier and more interesting display. Like this view of some of the picture books in my home office:

Books make us happy, the way they look and feel and even the way they smell. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little look at my collections and at RAoReading we’d love to have you share pictures of where your books live–and we’ll feature them in a future post. Please email your pictures to us at randomactsofreading at gmail dot com.

Today we welcome R. J. Palacio to our blog to share her thoughts about WONDER, Auggie Pullman and writing.

How did the idea for WONDER come about?

 About five years ago I took my kids to visit a friend of mine who lives out of town, and at some point during the day we found ourselves sitting next to a little girl who looked the way Auggie looks in the book. We were in front of an ice cream shop, and she was sitting next to us with her mother and a friend. My younger son was only about three at the time, and he reacted exactly the way you might think a three-year old would react when seeing something that scared him: he started to cry—pretty loudly, too. And though my older son, who was ten at the time, knew better than to stare, his expression said it all despite his best efforts: he looked like someone had just punched him. It was terrible, on all counts, and I got up as quickly as I could to remove us from the scene—not for their sakes, of course, but to spare the little’s girl’s feelings. As I pushed my younger son’s stroller away I heard the little girls’ mom say, in as sweet and calm a voice as you can imagine: “Okay, guys, I think it’s time to go.” And that just got to me.

On the drive home I couldn’t stop thinking about how that scene had played out. It occurred to me that they probably went through something like that dozens of times a day. Hundreds of times. What would that be like? What could I be teaching my children so they could understand how to respond better next time? Is “don’t stare” even the right thing to teach, or is there something deeper? All this stuff was flying through my head on the long car ride home while my boys slept in the back seat of the car. I was literally obsessing about it, so after a while I turned on the radio just to keep myself from thinking about it and the first thing that started to play was Natalie Merchant’s Wonder. It was so amazing because that song had always been one of my absolute favorites—but that night the words really hit me, almost like I was hearing them for the first time. People see me—I’m a challenge to your balance. I’m over your heads, how I confound you and astound you, to know I must be one of the wonders of god’s own creation… It was like the song had been written for this girl I had just seen.

The book kind of wrote itself in my head on that drive home. I would write the story from the child’s point of view. It would help people understand—not pity. I’m just like you, the child would say. I’m an ordinary kid—except for this one thing. And I would call the book Wonder because this child is a wonder.

 Can you talk about the research you did into Auggie’s medical condition?

 I spent a few weeks researching genetics—specifically facial anomalies in children. I don’t want to call them deformities because I think that’s an ugly word, an unnecessary word. There are many syndromes out there, all with varying degrees of abnormality. It wasn’t a pleasant subject to research. I decided not to get too specific about Auggie’s malady in the book, but in my head he has a severe form of Treacher-Collins syndrome complicated by some other unknown mysterious syndrome that makes his particular condition quite rare.

 How did you come up with the idea for Mr. Browne’s precepts?

 When I was a thirteen or fourteen years old, I started collecting sayings and precepts. I’m not even sure why or how, but I remember liking them, thinking they were cool. “Fortune favors the bold” was a favorite.

As for Mr. Browne: I had a wonderful English teacher named Mr. Browne in high school, and though he never taught us precepts, he’s the kind of teacher who would have. He was very tall and had a blond beard. The Mr. Browne in the book is my nod to Mr. Browne in my high school. I hope he’s reading this.

 WONDER is told from the perspective of several different characters. Was it harder to capture the voice of some characters over others?

 I didn’t start out with the intention of going into the other voices, but it seemed like a natural a transition as I was writing. There came a point where I was just so intrigued by Via that I wanted to hear directly from her. And Summer and Jack and the others. So no, it wasn’t that hard to get into their voices because it was a natural curiosity that led me to them, and then they led me through the story.

I decided to make the main character a boy because I have sons and I’m surrounded by boys all the time. I felt I had a good handle on the way they talked and the things they did. And my older son had just finished his first year in middle school so it was all very fresh in my mind.

 What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? What was the most difficult chapter to write?

 Hmm, that’s a tough question. I have a couple of different favorites. I love Auggie so much—I loved when I was writing from his point of view. I liked when characters surprised me. Miranda was a surprise to me. I like Jack’s pluck. I love Summer. I wish I was more like her. And Via’s whole story is amazing to me. She’s strong and fierce but insecure, too. I love Justin because he loves Via.

I found the scene that takes place in the woods very difficult to write because it got scary for me: those kids from the other school were so mean. As the situation unfolded it all felt so real to me, and that made me sad. But one of my absolute favorite moments in the book happens then, too. It’s when Auggie wants to thank Amos and the other guys for coming to his rescue, and he lifts his hand to give a high five though he has no idea if Amos will high five him back, given that these were the same boys that had avoided getting near him for months. That Auggie could find the courage to raise his hand for the high five—not knowing if it would be reciprocated—is such an extraordinary act of courage to me. That moment moved me. And when he wept in the woods and those same boys comforted him.

 What do you hope readers come away with after finishing WONDER?

 I hope that readers will come away with the idea that they are noticed: their actions are noted. Maybe not immediately or directly or even in a way that seems obvious, but if they’re mean, someone suffers. If they’re kind, someone benefits. And the choice is theirs: whether to be noticed for being kind or for being mean. They get to choose who they want to be in this world.  And it’s not their friends and not their parents who make those choices: it’s them.

I also hope parents take heed and do more interfering in their kids’ lives. I’ve talked to so many parents, friends of mine, who kind of stood back and shrugged off their kids’ behavior in middle school, as if being mean were an unavoidable evil that they “hope” their kid would grow out of. I had one dad tell me once about his son, “Well, he doesn’t listen to me anymore so I stopped wasting my time trying to tell him what to do.” To me, that’s exactly when your kid needs you the most: when he acts like he’s not listening anymore. What I think is that deep down inside, we’re so grateful that it’s not our kid who’s being picked on we look the other way when it’s someone else’s kid. So long as it’s not your kid at the bottom of that ladder, you know? But parents have to resist that way of thinking. They need to remind their kids to be kind and do right exactly because it’s the hardest thing to do at that age.

In the end, I just hope that readers will come away with more self-awareness. If they can relate to how Auggie feels, they might think twice before saying something thoughtless should they ever encounter someone different from them. I’m hoping they’ll find a character they can relate to and say, “Hmm, that’s kind of like who I am in my school.” It might make them rethink who they are. Are you more like Jack or more like Julian? Are you Summer or are you Charlotte?  If a kid like Auggie were in your class, how would you treat him? These are good questions to ask yourself if you’re ten or eleven years old. I don’t see why children—even young ones—shouldn’t be aware of what they put out in the world.

 Which of the characters were you the most like as a child?

I wish I could say I would have been Summer or even Jack, but unfortunately, I don’t think I was that good. If a kid like Auggie had come into my class when I was in the 5^th grade, I think I would have been most like Charlotte: nice enough, never mean, but never really extending myself, either. Or I might have been a bit like Amos. I would have defended the underdog, but it would have taken some kind of drama to get me there.

In terms of character and temperament, I think Via is very much like I was at fifteen.

 You never write from the point of view of the parents or any grown-ups. Why?

 I wanted to keep this in the realm of kids. If we had heard from the parents, I think the story would have taken a different arc. It would have widened the storyline, and I wanted to keep it simple. One year in the life of this extraordinary boy and his loving family.

I love the mom and dad. I know the mom’s a bit idealized, but that’s because she’s only ever seen from the point of view of her kids. I think she’s careful to only show them one side of who she is, though I’m sure she has another side to her, a fiercer side. In temperament I think she’s probably a lot like Via. But life has taught her to be patient. Life has taught her to have faith in the goodness of people. And the dad’s the kind of person who will make the best of every situation and try to find the humor in it, in life.

WONDER has already been licensed by a number of publishers around the world. The Random House sales reps chose the book as their “spring rep pick” and booksellers from all over have embraced Auggie’s story. Did you anticipate this response from readers?

Not in my wildest dreams! But I love that people are responding so well. I love that they’re getting that this really isn’t just a book about a kid with a facial anomaly: it’s a celebration of kindness. The impact of kindness. I think that’s why people are so moved by parts of the book. We like to see people doing good, rising beyond our expectations to do something noble. It’s not the big heroic gestures but the small moments of kindness that shape the world.

In addition to writing, you work in book publishing. Can you talk about your experience as an author versus a publisher?

I’ve spent my entire adult life in book publishing. My husband’s in publishing.  All my best friends are in publishing. I still get excited by launch meetings and BEAs and talking to librarians and booksellers—even after twenty years in the business. It’s what I love. And I know firsthand how hard people work to make books. The truth is, I think some authors don’t realize that when they get a book published, it’s not really just about them: we’re ALL publishing their book. We ALL have a vested interest in its success. When an author hands in a manuscript, it’s the beginning of this great, amazing collaboration. The best authors I’ve ever worked with are the ones that know this. And that’s what being in publishing has taught me: how to be that kind of author, the kind I’ve always loved working with.

Do you have any words of advice for aspiring writers?

I would sum it up with another precept I wrote down when I was a teenager. It was from The Agony and the Ecstasy: “The most perfect guide is nature. Continue without fail to draw something every day.” Substitute the word “write” for the word “draw,” and that would be my advice. Just write. Don’t wait for the perfect moment: there’s usually no such thing.

What were some of your favorite books growing up? What do you like to read now?

The first book I remember loving was D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths, which I read when I was seven. Later came Edith Hamilton’s Mythology and W.H.D. Rouse’s The Illiad. Then more normal preteen books like Little Women and everything by Judy Blume. As a young teen I gobbled up books like Shogun and Centennial —all those superlong epics that were so popular in the 70s. Hawaii. The Thorn Birds. One summer it was The Lord of the Rings and all the Dune books. And, like Via, I read War and Peace when I was fifteen.

As for now, unfortunately I don’t read nearly as much as I did when I was a teen. I’m into Cormac McCarthy, Robert Olmstead. The Land of Spices by Kate O’Brien. Margot Livesey’s Eva Moves the Furniture. I loved The Book Thief. Brideshead Revisited will always be a favorite. If I had to choose three books to take with me on a deserted island, it would be The Little Prince, Cosmicomics, and Ficciones.

 What is your writing process like?

 I have a fulltime job and a husband and two children, so I don’t have the luxury of waiting for a free moment to write. I have to grab my time and be very disciplined about it. My routine when writing Wonder was this: I would come home from work, have dinner with my family, help with some homework, watch some TV—usually fall asleep around ten—and then wake up around midnight and write for two to three hours when everyone was asleep. It sounds hard but it really wasn’t. I was so into the story and the characters I couldn’t wait to get back to them.

 What are you working on next?

I was about a hundred pages into an urban fantasy series when I stopped that to start writing Wonder. I thought I would get right back to that after Wonder, but something else has taken hold. It’s called That Was the River. I can’t explain what it’s about yet because it’s so nascent.

Here’s just a taste of the early praise for WONDER:

“You’ll laugh out loud and cry joyful tears following Auggie.  This is one of the most moving and purely uplifting books I’ve read in a long while.” -Rachel Hochberg, Children’s Book World

 “Prepare yourself.  Your eyes will open, your heart will warm and you will find yourself cheering for August.”  -Judy Hobbs, Third Place Books

 “This unforgettable story, told from different points of view, has the power to change the way people think.”  -Joyce Tiber, Next Chapter Books

 “I finished it in two sittings and LOVED it! This book will be the perfect read aloud for 6th, 7th or even 8th grades.”  -Mary Yockey, Library Director of Crone Middle School

 “I haven’t been this moved by a book in quite some time. Absolutely beautiful. It… lends itself so well to starting amazing, open discussions about kindness and empathy.”  -Nicole Yasinsky, The Booksellers at Laurelwood

 “Wonder is a book everyone should read.”  -Caitlin Baker, University Bookstore

At Random House, we fell in love with Auggie, his friends and his family. Many Thanks to R. J. Palacio for joining us today and for Auggie and his story.

WONDER will be in bookstores and libraries on February 14th, but if you just can’t wait, you can: Visit Edelweiss or Net Galley to request an e-galley!

Wonder will touch everyone who reads it. What does it mean to you?   #thewonderofwonder (don’t forget to use this hashtag-thanks!)

And that’s not all!

Psst…we hear the book trailer for WONDER is expected soon! It was filmed in Brooklyn with real students from the Berkeley Carroll School. Can’t wait to see how they interpreted this WONDERful read!

At RAoR we always welcome your feedback–if you have comments post them here and share them on Twitter and Facebook too. #thewonderofwonder

MOON OVER MANIFEST by Clare Vanderpool

Winner of the 2011 Newbery Medal. A story of loss and redemption, beautifully told by our heroine Abilene Tucker whose search for clues about her father’s past uncovers more secrets than she even imagined. And of course when she’s told to “leave well enough alone” that’s the last thing she’s going to do.

 CONDOLEEZA RICE: A MEMOIR OFMY EXTRAORDINARY, ORDINARY FAMILY AND ME

In her memoir for young people, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shares her remarkable childhood. Lovely to see the early years of a little girl who would grow up to be an extraordinary woman, a positive role model, an accomplished musician and scholar. Also included is a 16 page photo insert.

 TURTLE IN PARADISE by Jenni Holm

Winner of a 2011 Newbery Honor! It’s 1935, money is tight for Turtle’s family (and pretty much everyone else too) and due to circumstances beyond her control, Turtle is sent to Florida to live with ” the relatives”. She finds lots of rambunctious boy cousins, and some family secrets that are just about to unravel, but she finds fun and real family too. A family story with a lovely dose of history. Perfect for your 8-12 year old.

For Young Graphic Novel Fans there’s a new volume in the Stone Rabbit Series: DRAGON BOOGIE by Erik Craddock

What more could you ask for than a hefty dose of swords, sorcery and silliness? In this adventure Stone Rabbit and his friends are unwittingly transported to a medieval realm filled with nerdy knights, wacky wizards and deranged dragons! Will they find their way out, or be lost forever in the “dungeons of despair”? Fast-paced and wickedly funny, Stone Rabbit is for anyone age 7 and up! Yes, grownups too.

And a brand new addition to our Graphic Novel line:

THE FLYING BEAVER BROTHERS by Maxwell Eaton III

Not one but 2 adventures of The Flying Beaver Brothers, beavers who are brothers who love extreme sports and any kind of adventure. On top of it all they are Environmental Defenders–Bub and Ace have fun and protect our natural resources. Guaranteed to keep you laughing.

BADD by Tim Tharp

The latest  novel from National Book Award Finalist for The Spectacular Now, is the story of a teen whose brother returns from service in Iraq and isn’t the same anymore. Before, Bobby was charming and wild and everybody loved him, now he’s different, before he was her hero, now he’s just a shell of his former self.  An affecting story of the aftereffects of war on a family, this book shows that true strength comes from unexpected places. Age 14+

THE DEVIL’S BREATH by David Gilman

Book 1 in the Danger Zone Trilogy introduces us to a bold resourceful teen hero, Max Gordon. Great action and adventure as Max and his friends fight environmental evils using their quick reflexes and even quicker wits. Imagine a young MacGyver. Age 12+

DIZZY IN YOUR EYES: POEMS ABOUT LOVE by Pat Mora

Just in time for Valentines Day and Poetry Month! This collection of 50 original poems is a showcase of impressions of love. It’s a lovely gift book for someone you care about or a great book for teachers to have in the classroom to share with their own budding poets, and in creative writing classes. And bonus, some of the poems are in Spanish and French, so there’s a lovely multicultural language lesson too.

OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

You say you’re looking for a little romance? You’ve found it here. Other Words for Love takes place at an elite Manhattan prep school where Ari is a transfer student, and there she meets Leigh and Leigh’s hunky cousin Blake. Totally out of her league? Or not? Ari and Blake get involved, but is she in over her head? Her family and friends think so…Will it last? Will hearts be broken? You’ll have to read this realistic and intese love story to find out for yourself.  Age 14+

Your comments are always welcome. let us know what you think about our latest releases in paperback!

“It was a dark and stormy night.”  Is that not one of the best first lines in a novel, ever?  So simple and mysterious.  As one of my favorite books from childhood, A Wrinkle in Time travelled with me when I moved to New York for my first job in publishing.  It’s an old dog-eared paperback, and I can’t remember the first time I read it, because I must have read it (and the two sequels) about five times as a kid.  But it was only after I started working at Listening Library that it dawned on me that A Wrinkle in Time was a treasured book for so many people.  It has long been one of our most popular audio titles, and knowing that the 50^th anniversary was coming in 2012, we started thinking about doing something special with the audiobook to celebrate.  And the funny thing was, the more we talked about A Wrinkle in Time, the more I began noticing references to it everywhere.   Many writers cite it as an influential favorite, including Rebecca Stead.   But it pops up in popular culture too – like when Sawyer is seen reading it on the TV show LOST.  (Apparently, an entire book club was spawned based on the books that Sawyer read.)  I believe the enduring appeal of this book is the unique blend of fantasy and science fiction, and it’s beautifully written.

Timed with the anniversary, we decided to give A Wrinkle in Time a brand-new recording, expertly read by the talented actress Hope Davis.  And to help promote it, we came up with a contest that pairs two amazing audiobooks together: A Wrinkle in Time and When You Reach Me.  To enter, contestants must write a postcard to their future or past self.   Visitors to our website can listen to clips from these two time/space traveling classics for inspiration…and the lucky grand prize winner will get a new digital camera.

Rebecca Stead and Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis will determine the winners based on the writing and poignancy of the entry.  We’re very excited to be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time, and the Newbery Award-winning When You Reach Me.  If someone you know (young or old!) hasn’t discovered these great audiobooks yet, please encourage them to take a listen…and enter the contest at www.timetravelcontest.com! 

For those who get hooked on Madeleine L’Engle, we’re also delighted to announce new recordings of the sequels: A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet, read by Jennifer Ehle.  A fun bit of trivia… some of you may recognize Jennifer Ehle from her terrific portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC Pride & Prejudice miniseries.  Hope you enjoy!

Horowitz began her career in the Editorial department of Little, Brown, in Boston. Curious from the start to learn all aspects of the publishing business, she held positions as Publicity/Promotion Director at Bradbury Press and Academic Marketing and School and Library Marketing Director at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. After gathering this varied experience early in her career, she returned to her passion for editorial work and has been at Delacorte/Dell/Bantam/Doubleday/Random House for more than two decades. Horowitz edits Judy Blume, Louis Sachar, Caroline B. Cooney, Reza Aslan, Adeline Yen Mah and many other beloved and debut authors. Throughout her career, she has been an advocate of First Amendment rights and has fought against censorship.

Youngification: a made-up noun. The adaptation of a carefully selected work of adult nonfiction, restructured or rewritten appropriately to entertain and inform a young reader.

When you read a book and find it fascinating, you often want to share your excitement with others. Our Delacorte Press “youngifications” began when I found myself excited about an adult book published by Random House colleagues. I felt it would be worthwhile to adapt it for a younger audience, while retaining the expertise of the author’s work. This became one of many youngifications, from some bestselling adult nonfiction authors published by our company.

Pictured here are a number of our youngifications, with the adult books below them. As you can see, sometimes we change the title and the jacket art, and sometimes we don’t. Each project has its own story, and we give careful attention to every detail.

Here are a few backstories about how some of our books were youngified.

Flags of Our Fathers: A Young People’s Edition

When this book was published on the adult list, I thought it was important to adapt the work for young people. Flags of Our Fathers tells the story behind one of the most famous moments in American military history—the raising of the U.S. flag on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945—and the immortal photograph that lifted the hearts and spirits of our nation at war. The adult book then follows the flag raisers after they returned from the war. In this case, we hired Michael French, a writer for young adults, to work on the adaptation.  A review in VOYA said, “French’s abridgement loses none of the horror of battle or the impact of the famous photograph.” We did not change the title or the cover art for this project, and when the Clint Eastwood film came out, we used the same movie tie-in art as the adult book. This is a classic backlist seller.

China’s Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution

The story of how Da Chen came to rewrite his adult memoir, Colors of the Mountain, for young people is rather odd but fun. It started at a mall in Westchester, where I had taken my daughter to find a pair of shoes early on a Sunday morning. We were really in a hurry, but across from the shoe store I noticed a man sitting at a table in front of a bookstore, surrounded by books and totally alone. I told my daughter that we had to walk by the bookstore and make an effort because I hate to see a sad-looking author. There sat Da Chen with a stack of his memoirs, waiting for someone to buy the book and get his autograph. I read the flap and realized it was an inspiring story about his triumph during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. I introduced myself and casually suggested that he consider doing a version of his book for young people. Da was thrilled with this idea. He was so moved that he wanted to play his flute for us, and he picked it up from the table and played a song. I admit, my daughter made a comment or two about her mom always working! That Tuesday, I got a call from Da saying he was eager to rewrite his memoir for young people. For this book we changed the title as well as the art and the structure of the content, but the details are the same. The Booklist review called it “highly readable and very personal.” With all the interest about China today, this work is a more important read than ever.

Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me came to us because Condoleezza Rice felt that her remarkable childhood might inspire young people. We agreed. In this case we changed the text, title, and jacket from the adult version. We decided to restructure the adult memoir to follow her life in chronological order. It began in the 1950s in Birmingham, Alabama, where black people lived segregated from their white neighbors, and moved into her childhood during the violent and shocking 1960s, when bloodshed became part of daily life in the South. Rice’s portrait of her parents’ sacrifices for her and the challenges she faced are eye-opening. This volume won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens.

Many of our other youngifications, such as Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah and No god but God: The Origins and Evolution of Islam by Reza Aslan, are assigned in schools to encourage understanding and tolerance.

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I am thrilled that we will be adding Outcasts United by Warren St. John to our youngification list, and we have more truly wonderful adult bestselling non-fiction titles coming.

I believe our adaptations have helped spotlight important nonfiction by highly acclaimed authors. I am often told that adult readers find our youngifications interesting too!

We’d love to hear from you - please let us know if you’ve read one of these novels or any other adaptation of an adult book for a younger audience!

Kate:

My Heart Will Not Sit Down by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Ann Tanksley

I call this “an important book”. My Heart Will Not Sit Down is inspired by true events and presented in the simple and accessible story of one child, Kedi who in her own small way in her own small African village finds a way to make a difference.

Through her teacher Kedi learns about the devastating financial times in New York City during America’s Great Depression and she asks the people of her village to do what they can to help, and they do. Ultimately they contribute $3.22, pocket change to some now and maybe it didn’t go a very long way during the 1930s, but this story shows us that every contribution matters, no matter the size.

The Katerina Trilogy, Vol. 1: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

While I was early for an appointment I started this, read the first chapter and realized I was late for the appointment—but what better real excuse to be late for a bookselling appointment than “I got so caught up in this story that I lost track of time”? Robin Bridges has written a terrific fast-paced thriller that includes romance, history, supernatural powers and bonus(!) it’s set in 1888 in St. Petersburg, Russia. This one is hard to put down and I can’t wait for Volume 2. It’s a perfect read for girls who like historical fiction, with a little romance and magic.

Dandy:

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Curtis has given readers a real heroine in Deza Malone in this companion to Bud Not Buddy.  As I read about Deza’s family and their hardships during the Great Depression I found myself cheering and crying-depending on the circumstances.  It made me want to go back and re-read Bud as soon as I finished it.

Erin:

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

Yes, we just interviewed the author last week, and we also featured a rave review from a bookseller in November. Clearly, we all love this middle grade novel, a fierce, thoughtful depiction of a young girl stranded at a stranger’s homestead over a brutal prairie winter. Fans of the Little House series will enjoy this stark but lovely story, while kids will be astonished by life for an average 11 year old during this time period. Rose has created a strong, amazing young female character that readers will root for.

Sarah:

Crow by Barbara Wright

In her first novel for children, Barbara Wright nails it with this touching and honest portrait of an 11-year old boy coming of age in a thriving African-American community in 1898 North Carolina.  Based on historical events that helped define race relations in the 20th century, this book is full of discussion topics that are perfect for the classroom, and with 4 starred reviews to its name, it is definitely one to watch! 

Click on the following link to read a more in-depth review by one of our regular blog followers, Kathy from BermudaOnion’s Weblog – thank you Kathy!

Q. What book made the strongest impression on you as a child?

A. This is always such a hard question for me! I have so many strong, positive memories about all sorts of books. I will say so that the Little House on the Prairie series made a profound impression on my life — so much so that I’d talk about Laura as if she were someone I knew personally. I’d tell my mother things that Laura had done or said, and she’d assume Laura was a classmate of mine.

Q. As an author, how do you feel about the role social media and blogging plays in your writing life?

A. I started blogging two years ago and have really enjoyed the experience. Writing can be a solitary activity, so it’s been fun to make connections with others and have almost instant feedback on the things I post about.

I love “talking” about what I’m reading, things I’m discovering about writing, and — now that I’m no longer in a school setting and miss teacher conversations — ideas for the classroom.

It’s possible I’m the last author on the planet not on Twitter. I’m sure it’s a wonderful way to connect with a variety of people, but I’m a bit resistant to add in another social media commitment. I want to do well the things I do online; I also want to guard my writing time.

Q. Are you working on a second book?

A. I’m working on a couple of things: a picture book about the Louisiana Wetlands, a contemporary middle grade about a girls’ club, and a historical verse novel that is just in the beginning stages.

Q. What was your favorite genre to read as a teenager?

A. As a teen I read adult books. I don’t remember there being many books for teens when I was a girl, or at least not many that interested me. I read a lot of Agatha Christie mysteries and ate up classics — I was one of the few kids at school who loved almost everything we read in English class.

My grandfather, mother, and I exchanged a lot of titles. From them I learned of The Shell Seekers (Rosamund Pilcher), Crossing to Safety (Wallace Stegner), and Cold Sassy Tree (Olive Ann Burns). Many of the books I read as a teen I still count as favorites today: The Count of Monte Cristo, A Separate Peace, Gone With the Wind (I read this the summer before sixth grade and the summer after eighth), Katherine, and Desiree.

Q. What inspired you to write in free verse?

A. May B. didn’t start at as a verse novel. My first few attempts at writing the story felt distant and lifeless. It wasn’t until I returned to my research (and specifically a book called Read this Only to Yourself: The Private Writings of Midwestern Women, 1880-1910) that I saw the patterns these women’s writings had in common: terse language, stark circumstances, a matter-of-fact tone in all things — whether talking about laundry or the death of a child. It was if the heavens had opened for me, and I was able to climb inside May’s world, using the voices of the women I’d encountered through research.

A confession: I’d read only two verse novels before writing May B. — Karen Hess’s Out of the Dust and Sharon Creech’s Heartbeat. This both terrified and liberated me. I didn’t let myself anywhere near Karen Hesse’s Newbery-winning book while writing, for fear of crumbling into a heap of worthlessness (though I felt I understood for the first time why she told her story this way — the immediacy verse brings speaks volumes, especially in trying times). On the other hand, I wasn’t bound by patterns or rules. Several readers have said May B.’s pacing reads more like prose (swifter than the typical verse novel), which ultimately served the story.

Q. How did you get the inspiration for May B? Why did you choose to make her dyslexia a focus of the book?

A. Because of my Laura Ingalls love, I wanted to create my own strong pioneer girl. I was also curious how someone might write about solitude and challenged myself to experiment with a storyline that would confine one character to a limited space (believe me, there were many times I didn’t feel up to this challenge!). I’d also fallen hard for Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet and wanted to create a survival story told from a girl’s perspective.

May’s name, Mavis Elizabeth Betterly, came to me before I did any character development. I liked the way I could shorten Mavis Betterly to May B. and loved the way her name hinted at the wishy-washy word “maybe” (which is a word like mediocre or okay; it doesn’t carry a lot of conviction), but also contained the strong word “better”. Though I wasn’t quite sure of the specifics, I determined there had to be something in May’s life that made her feel mediocre, something she longed to do better and something that spoke not only to her lack of ability but also her sense of worth.

As a teacher, I’d always wondered how children with learning disabilities had fared at a time before their challenges were understood, especially in the days when recitation and reading aloud were the major means of instruction. Dyslexia became a perfect obstacle for a child striving to do better and mirrored nicely May B.‘s the theme of isolation.

Q. Do you plan to continue writing for children or do you think you might write for adults down the road?

I can’t imagine writing for any other age group.

Q. What is one piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring authors?

A. I started writing in 1998 and sold May B. in 2010. There were a lot of years of rejection in between. During that time I held onto the belief I had something unique to say and if I kept working at it, my writing would improve.