What's New?
Friends and readers, I am so sad to announce that Rudy passed away in December. You know our Beagle dog from my author photos, taken by Linda Joy Burke. He also appeared in my book Takedown as Lev’s dog, Grover. Rudy was an easy-going, funny pup and best friend to our Schnauzer, Sam. We will miss him.
“Fantastic, Flavor-Filled Food Novels for Kids” by Catherine Hong
Hong says of A Place at the Table, “For all the novel’s sober themes, there’s a lightness and brightness to the story borne out by the girls’ spunky quest to win the contest. And Elizabeth’s delight at the scent of popping cumin seeds and the taste of aloo tikkis ‘sizzling with the aroma of cilantro and olive oil’ will tempt the palates of even die-hard chicken nugget loyalists.”
Check out all of the wonderful books in this review:
MEASURING UP
Written by Lily LaMotte
Illustrated by Ann Xu
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
By Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
AMERICAN AS PANEER PIE
By Supriya Kelkar
THE SURPRISING POWER OF A GOOD DUMPLING
By Wai Chim
Teen Vogue named A Place at the Table one of “Ten Books with South Asian Characters You Should Read in 2020.”
A Place at the Table, Laura’s new book written with Saadia Faruqi, is about two very different girls who have one thing in common. They are both first generation Americans. Read about how this story is based on Laura’s own experience as the child of an immigrant at the website A Novel Mind.
The Amelia Bloomer Project was “impressed with Mikayla’s process for developing confidence in her abilities, and willingness to advocate for herself. She reaches out to a young girl who is an aspiring wrestler, maintains valuable friendships with girls who are both sporty and ‘girly,’ and bravely deals with concerning and toxic behavior from one of her older brothers. She’s exactly the kind of hero we want to seek out for our middle grade readers!”
About Me
Laura Shovan is the author of the award-winning middle grade novel, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. Her 2nd book, Takedown, is a Junior Library Guild and PJ Our Way selection.
