Featured Guests

Robin Wasserman  -   Sharon Flake  -   Raina Telgemeier

Robin Wasserman - Sara Siebert Memorial Keynote Speaker

Robin Wasserman grew up outside of Philadelphia and graduated from Harvard University and UCLA.  Before she was an author she was an associate editor at a children's book publisher. She is the author of several series: The Seven Deadly Sins series, The Chasing Yesterday series, and The Skinned Trilogy. She has also written other popular titles, including Hacking Harvard. Her most recent, The Book of Blood and Shadow,

was included on the 2013 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults and Kirkus Reviews’ Best of Teen’s Books 2012.

From her biography on Scholastic’s site, she writes, "Instead of inventing imaginary friends, I invented whole imaginary worlds," says Robin. "They were elaborate scenarios about spies and adventurers and top secret missions. I crawled along my swing set, searching for escape routes from my maximum-security prison; I biked through the neighborhood, the wind in my hair and a fleet of evildoers on my heels. I never forgot the stories that I told myself, or the reason they appealed to me so much-in my boring suburban life, nothing seemed more comforting than the idea that a normal girl could be plucked out of obscurity, sent into battle against the forces of evil, and emerge triumphant."

Robin’s next book, The Waking Dark will be published in September, 2013.

Accolades for Robin Wasserman’s work:

The Book of Blood and Shadow
“Readers who enjoy fast-paced, bloody, historically inflected thrillers in the vein of Dan Brown will be riveted.” --Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

"Here's something refreshing—a religious-historical thriller . . . serving up shivery suspense, sans fangs or fur . . . A classy read that repays reader effort." --Kirkus Review

Frozen (The Cold Awakening Trilogy)
"A spellbinding story about loss, rebirth, and finding out who we really are inside." -- Scott Westerfeld, author of the Uglies series.

www.robinwasserman.com

back to top

 

Sharon Flake - Featured Speaker

Sharon Flake is an award-winning author of books for teens, including two Coretta Scott King author honor awards and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for her first book, The Skin I’m In. She writes on her webpage:

"I have written many books and received numerous awards and recognitions. You may read about them under the books section of this site. However, there’s one thing you should know—authors are more than the books they write and the recognitions they receive. We’re people too. For instance, I’m a mom as well as a daughter. I was raised in Philadelphia and have two older sisters, two older brothers and a younger brother, who by the way used to have tea parties with me when we were young. I was shy growing up, but I’m over most of that now. I’m still a little bit quirky though, so if you’re ever in Pittsburgh and see me walking in my neighborhood trying to catch raindrops on my tongue, or laying in the snow chilling out, don’t worry. I’m just being me."

Sharon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she majored in English.

Accolades for the work of Sharon Flake:

Pinned
"The unflinching honesty with which Flake approaches her characters is what sells this story; the romantic tension and fiery back-and-forth between these headstrong teens and their respective efforts to make the most of their lives, only sweeten the deal." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This brilliantly realized story is told alternately in their two distinctive voices, and readers will cheer Autumn's spirit and Adonis' drive...An uplifting story that convincingly celebrates the power of perseverance." —Kirkus, starred review

Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives
Characters are vividly present, as each story seems to jump into life exploring not just the sexual tension, but race and class as well. Honest and valuable. -- Kirkus, starred review

www.sharongflake.com

back to top

 

Raina Telgemeier - Featured Speaker

A critically acclaimed comics artist, Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Francisco, then moved to New York City, where she earned an illustration degree at the School of Visual Arts. She is the creator of Smile, a graphic memoir based on her childhood, which was named to the ALA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, a New York Times bestseller, and winner of the Will Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. Raina also adapted and illustrated the graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-sitters Club books, which were selected for YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens list and Booklist’s Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth list. She also coauthored X-Men: Misfits, which was a New York Times bestseller. Her latest graphic novel for Scholastic is titled Drama.

Raina lives in Astoria, New York, with her husband and fellow comics artist, Dave Roman. You can visit her online at www.goRaina.com

Accolades for the work of Raina Telgemeier

Drama
“In this realistic and sympathetic story, feelings and thoughts leap off the page, revealing Telgemeier’s keen eye for young teen life.” - Booklist, starred review

Smile
"An utterly charming graphic memoir of tooth trauma, first crushes and fickle friends, sweetly reminiscent of Judy Blume's work. . . . Irresistible, funny and touching–a must read for all teenage girls." --Kirkus, starred review

www.goraina.com

back to top