I’m pleased to share my interview with David Tabatsky about his YA book, THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR: HOW SALOMON KOOL ESCAPED THE NAZIS (Amsterdam Publishers, 2022). It tells the story of a teen named Salomon Kool, who survives against…
Tag: YA
2023 Sydney Taylor Book Awards
Congratulation to the authors and illustrators honored by the 2023 Sydney Taylor Book Awards. I am pleased to have interviewed some of the winners and notables this past year. Check out the interviews below. Interview with Mari Lowe, author of AVIVA…
Interview with R. M. Romero, author of THE GHOSTS OF ROSE HILL
THE GHOSTS OF ROSE HILL by R.M. Romero (Peachtree Teen, 2022) is a beautiful novel in verse about a teenager, Ilana, who visits her aunt in Prague. She discovers a cemetery and befriends a ghost boy named Benjamin. But befriending a ghost is not…
Interview with Sacha Lamb, author of WHEN ANGELS LEFT THE OLD COUNTRY
Sacha Lamb’s YA novel WHEN ANGELS LEFT THE OLD COUNTRY (Levine Querido, 2022) follows an angel, Uriel, and a demon, Little Ash, as they leave their shtetl and journey to America to rescue a young woman who has gone missing. WHEN…
Interview with Jonathan Sandler, graphic novelist– THE ENGLISH GI
Jonathan Sandler’s graphic novel, THE ENGLISH GI illustrated by Brian Bicknell, is based on the memoir of his beloved grandfather, Bernard Sandler. Bernard was a Jewish British teenager who was stranded in New York City in 1939 when the war…
Interview with Barbara Krasner, author of ETHEL’S SONG: ETHEL ROSENBERG’S LIFE IN POEMS
Barbara Krasner’s new verse YA novel ETHEL’S SONG: ETHEL ROSENBERG’S LIFE IN POEMS (Calkins Creek, 2022) offers insights into the life story of Ethel Rosenberg. Focusing on the lesser-known aspects of Ethel’s background, including her childhood and Jewish upbringing, Barbara’s…
Interview with David Michael Slater, author of THE VANISHING
David Michael Slater’s new YA novel THE VANISHING (Library Tales Publishing, 2022) is a unique blend of magical realism and historical fiction. Set during the Holocaust, the book centers around an invisible girl named Sophie who is determined to save…
Interview with Barbara Newman, author of THE DREAMCATCHER CODES
Happy Earth Day! In Barbara Newman’s YA novel, THE DREAMCATCHER CODES (Green Writers Press, 2021), four teenage girls are entrusted with saving the planet from environmental destruction. Along the way, they share and learn about their diverse backgrounds, gleaning insights…
Interview with Leah Scheier, author of THE LAST WORDS WE SAID
I am pleased to welcome author Leah Scheier, author of the novel THE LAST WORDS WE SAID (Simon & Schuster, 2021) which was chosen as a 2022 Sydney Taylor Young Adult Honor Book. The story focuses on a trio of…
Interview with Evonne Marzouk, author of THE PROPHETESS
Evonne Marzouk’s YA novel THE PROPHETESS (Bancroft Press, 2019) tells the story of Rachel, an American teenager who discovers her unique gifts, leading her to explore her own faith and what it means to her. This engaging story uniquely incorporates…