"Henry has become a leading light in YA mystery." - Booklist
"April Henry’s crime dramas are consistently smart and satisfying.” - Kirkus
"A must-have for YA mystery-thriller collections." - School Library Journal
"Legendary mystery author Henry is back at it again" - Barnes & Noble blog
"Another one to add to the collection of Henry's fast-paced thrillers." - YALSA
"April Henry’s crime dramas are consistently smart and satisfying.” - Kirkus
"A must-have for YA mystery-thriller collections." - School Library Journal
"Legendary mystery author Henry is back at it again" - Barnes & Noble blog
"Another one to add to the collection of Henry's fast-paced thrillers." - YALSA
Welcome to my little corner of the Internet. I'm a New York Times bestselling author who loves Brazilian jujitsu, salty snacks, and all things scary.
Sneak peek from my 2022 book: Two Truths and a Lie
What difference does it make if you write in first or third person? It's more than just changing all the instances of "she" to "I" or vice versa. When you're starting a new book, especially if you only have one main character, try writing it in both first AND third. Here's what I did.
Third Person
Sunday morning
How Many Dead?
Chapter 1
A scream trailed behind Nell Basden like a spent comet. The still air absorbed it as if it had never been.
With her hand over her mouth, Nell stared down at the body she had almost tripped over. In the last thirty-six hours, she had seen far too many. Bodies. Parts of bodies. Bodies and blood.
How many dead now? She had lost track.
Had it only been thirty-six hours since the Ouija board had tried to warn them? Since they shivered and clutched each other when they learned about the old murders? Hidden around corners and then jumped out at each other, laughing when people shrieked? Now it was all deadly serious.
On Friday night fourteen of them had flirted and laughed and a few of them had kissed. Now it was Sunday morning and there was no guarantee that any of them would be alive to see Sunday night.
Pulling off her glove, Nell made herself touch the side of the pale throat. She rolled her fingertips until she found the dip that held the carotid artery. Wait—there! She stopped breathing. Did she feel the faintest flutter?
First Person
Sunday morning
How Many Dead?
Chapter 1
A scream trails behind me like a spent comet. The still air absorbs it completely, like it never happened. Did anyone else hear it?
I press my hand over my mouth, staring down at the body I almost tripped over. It’s half hidden by a low bush.In the last thirty-six hours, I’ve seen so many bodies. Bodies and blood. Blood splashed on walls. Pooled under still forms. And here, staining the snow like a scarlet halo.
How many dead now? I’ve lost track.
Was it only Friday night that a blizzard stranded us—thirteen high school students—at this old hotel in the middle of nowhere? When we flirted and laughed and a few of us even kissed? Now it’s Sunday morning and there’s no guarantee anyone will be alive by sunset.
“Come on, Nell,” I whisper to myself. “Get it together.”
Pulling off my glove, I make myself touch the cool skin on the side of the pale throat. I roll my fingertips until they find the dip that holds the carotid artery.
Wait—there!
I stop breathing.
Did I just feel the faintest flutter?
Third Person
Sunday morning
How Many Dead?
Chapter 1
A scream trailed behind Nell Basden like a spent comet. The still air absorbed it as if it had never been.
With her hand over her mouth, Nell stared down at the body she had almost tripped over. In the last thirty-six hours, she had seen far too many. Bodies. Parts of bodies. Bodies and blood.
How many dead now? She had lost track.
Had it only been thirty-six hours since the Ouija board had tried to warn them? Since they shivered and clutched each other when they learned about the old murders? Hidden around corners and then jumped out at each other, laughing when people shrieked? Now it was all deadly serious.
On Friday night fourteen of them had flirted and laughed and a few of them had kissed. Now it was Sunday morning and there was no guarantee that any of them would be alive to see Sunday night.
Pulling off her glove, Nell made herself touch the side of the pale throat. She rolled her fingertips until she found the dip that held the carotid artery. Wait—there! She stopped breathing. Did she feel the faintest flutter?
First Person
Sunday morning
How Many Dead?
Chapter 1
A scream trails behind me like a spent comet. The still air absorbs it completely, like it never happened. Did anyone else hear it?
I press my hand over my mouth, staring down at the body I almost tripped over. It’s half hidden by a low bush.In the last thirty-six hours, I’ve seen so many bodies. Bodies and blood. Blood splashed on walls. Pooled under still forms. And here, staining the snow like a scarlet halo.
How many dead now? I’ve lost track.
Was it only Friday night that a blizzard stranded us—thirteen high school students—at this old hotel in the middle of nowhere? When we flirted and laughed and a few of us even kissed? Now it’s Sunday morning and there’s no guarantee anyone will be alive by sunset.
“Come on, Nell,” I whisper to myself. “Get it together.”
Pulling off my glove, I make myself touch the cool skin on the side of the pale throat. I roll my fingertips until they find the dip that holds the carotid artery.
Wait—there!
I stop breathing.
Did I just feel the faintest flutter?
Join me on Facebook Live!
I'll be talking about writing on my author Facebook Page every weekday at 10 am PST.
To watch previous videos with writing tips, click here.
To watch previous videos with writing tips, click here.
School closed and looking for a writing activity?
Looking for a writing activity for middle and high school students? Find some story starters here.
More Corona Virus info
With many schools around the country closed, and more closing daily, Macmillan wants to support teachers, librarians and parents as they work to keep their students and children engaged with reading and learning via virtual classrooms and other forms of remote learning. During this emergency and when their schools are closed, we have no objection to: (1) teachers and librarians live streaming or posting videos reading our children's books to their students, provided it is done on a noncommercial basis and (2) authors live streaming or posting videos reading their children's books, provided it is done on a noncommercial basis.
Please refer to the link below for further assistance:
https://us.macmillan.com/macmillan-content-use-guidelines/
More links
How to help booksellers [http://publun.ch/supportBooksellers]
How educators can get publisher permissions [http://publun.ch/permissions]
How students can access educational books for free [http://publun.ch/students]
That list of stores that are closed to traffic but still shipping and/or delivering orders [http://publun.ch/stores]
Please refer to the link below for further assistance:
https://us.macmillan.com/macmillan-content-use-guidelines/
More links
How to help booksellers [http://publun.ch/supportBooksellers]
How educators can get publisher permissions [http://publun.ch/permissions]
How students can access educational books for free [http://publun.ch/students]
That list of stores that are closed to traffic but still shipping and/or delivering orders [http://publun.ch/stores]
Glowing Booklist and School Library Journal reviews
for The Girl In the White Van
"Savannah’s ramshackle life—drifting from home to home with every new boyfriend her mother finds—has forced her to become tough, physically and mentally. It’s no wonder she’s drawn to the teachings of Bruce Lee, who espouses serenity and flexibility above all. She has to use everything she’s learned when she is forcefully abducted by a mysterious man who calls himself “Sir.” Taken to an unknown location and locked inside a darkened RV, Savannah must rely on all her skills and wits—as well as the help of a previous kidnapping victim—to free herself before “Sir” enacts his ultimate plans. After setting up the basic cast, the story immediately settles into the main plot of Savannah desperately trying to escape her makeshift prison. Heightening the tension is Henry’s choice to tell the story from the alternating first-person perspectives of all the characters, from Savannah’s potential love interest to the kidnapper himself. With a simple plot and relentless pace, this thrill-ride of a book will absolutely satisfy readers looking for pulse-quickening action and smart, resilient heroes."
—Booklist
"Living with her mom’s abusive boyfriend in a new city isn’t easy for teenager Savannah Taylor, but she has an outlet: her kung fu class, where she is developing friendships as well as her own strength and skill. Then one night after class, a stranger accosts her in a deserted parking garage and takes her to a mobile home where she meets Jenny, another girl he kidnapped months before. Together, Jenny and Savannah must figure out a way to escape—or die in the process. This tight, fast-paced thriller forgoes deep character exploration in favor of action, keeping the narrative moving at breakneck speed from the first page until the last. It’s ideal for striving readers, particularly those who favor adventure or survival stories. Savannah is a capable but fallible protagonist; though her martial arts training does not prevent her kidnapping, it plays an essential role in protecting herself and Jenny, and her commitment to her own self-sufficiency creates believable tension with her mother’s boyfriend. VERDICT Sure to satisfy fans of Courtney Summers and Caroline B. Cooney, this book is a solid purchase for libraries with widely circulating thriller collections"
—School Library Journal
—Booklist
"Living with her mom’s abusive boyfriend in a new city isn’t easy for teenager Savannah Taylor, but she has an outlet: her kung fu class, where she is developing friendships as well as her own strength and skill. Then one night after class, a stranger accosts her in a deserted parking garage and takes her to a mobile home where she meets Jenny, another girl he kidnapped months before. Together, Jenny and Savannah must figure out a way to escape—or die in the process. This tight, fast-paced thriller forgoes deep character exploration in favor of action, keeping the narrative moving at breakneck speed from the first page until the last. It’s ideal for striving readers, particularly those who favor adventure or survival stories. Savannah is a capable but fallible protagonist; though her martial arts training does not prevent her kidnapping, it plays an essential role in protecting herself and Jenny, and her commitment to her own self-sufficiency creates believable tension with her mother’s boyfriend. VERDICT Sure to satisfy fans of Courtney Summers and Caroline B. Cooney, this book is a solid purchase for libraries with widely circulating thriller collections"
—School Library Journal
I love to do school visits
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School visits are a great way to get students interested in reading and writing.
I love to visit schools and share with students the joys of reading, writing, and research. I also talk about the vital importance of tenacity. To learn more, check out my school visit page. I am excited to announce that I am now booking all my speaking engagements through TheBookingBiz.com. And the good folks at my publisher have put together a teacher's guide for my books (which can be used with Common Core state standards). You can get it here. |
School visits in Troy, Missouri
School visits in Greendale, Wisconsin
Librarians create escape room based on The Girl I Used to Be
Librarian Barbara Holland, Barton Middle School, (shown with multiple students) with the assistance of Amy Schutze, who works at McCormick Middle School (both in Texas) created an escape room based on The Girl I Use to Be, including recreating the contents of an old cigar box that the character finds. While I was on tour, I got to see the elements of the escape room. It was amazing and kind of surreal!
Foreign rights sold in Russia for two books
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Foreign rights have been sold in Russia for both my 2010 book, Girl Stolen, and my 2020 book, The Girl in the White Van. This will be the 13th foreign country that has published at lease one of my books.
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School visits in Nevada, Iowa
School visits in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
A deadly serious message: please consider sharing your DNA files with GedMatch.com
Have you had your DNA done by Ancestry.com or 23andMe? In just a couple of clicks you could also share it with Gedmatch.com - and check the box that helps law enforcement solve horrific murders. Thanks to the hard work of genetic genealogists who build family trees back to the 1800s or sometimes even earlier, law enforcement has been able to put the names to both victims and killers.
Here's a video that explains why people should upload their DNA to Gedmatch to help solve unsolved killings.
Here's a video that explains why people should upload their DNA to Gedmatch to help solve unsolved killings.
School visits in Sterling, Virginia
School visits in St. Louis, Missouri
Article in my hometown paper, the Medford Mail Tribune
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For April Henry to write her 24th mystery-thriller novel, she said three things had to happen: Her father, Jackson County Commissioner Hank Henry had to be stalked by gun nuts, the economy had to be awful when she graduated college in 1982, and mass shootings had to become a familiar nightmare in American society.
Her new book, “Run, Hide and Fight Back,” published by Macmillan/Henry Holt, explores the thoughts and actions of six teenagers who find themselves trapped in a mall while a trio of terrorist-bombers hunt them — after blowing away everyone in sight with assault weapons.
Henry, 60, said she experienced terrorism when her father, a former KTVL anchor-news director, served in the 1980s on the county Board of Commissioners and got death threats from the then-notorious Posse Comitatus. They believed no government above sheriff had any authority over them, says Henry.
“They threatened him on the phone, saying they were coming to kill him,” Henry said. “My dad talked about buying a gun. I was shocked. He was a gentle, loving man, and it was like he said he was getting a kangaroo. It just wasn’t him.”
In schooling herself for writing about terrorism, Henry, studied the Posse Comitatus, The Order (a violent white-supremacist group in the ’80s), Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and a 2013 terrorist attack on a mall in Kenya that killed 71.
About her new book, Henry says, “It can feel frighteningly real now that random mass shootings are becoming commonplace in America. But I started the book in 2013, after the terrorist attack on the Kenyan mall. The 2015 Paris terrorist attacks made me think even more about what I would do in such a terrible situation. Then I gave that problem to six teens. When domestic right-wing terrorists kill shoppers and then take more hostages, the teens end up hiding in a storeroom. They must decide whether to run, hide or fight back. Spoiler alert: they do all three. Think of it as ‘Die Hard’ meets ‘Breakfast Club.’”
Asked if, after her research, she has any advice for us if caught in a mass shooting, Henry says “Follow the title of the book — run, hide, fight back, in that order. That line is from a Texas Homeland Security video, which shows a real workplace and is very scary. Make yourself a difficult target, shove things in front of a door. It might be enough to save you and make them move on. If you have a phone, of course, call 911. If it’s bad reception, text someone and tell them to call 911.
“Be aware of your environment. Register where exits are, also windows. If you have a weapon, know it can be turned on you. They are ready to hurt you. So it’s better to try and find a way out.”
In her research, Henry brainstormed with a range of security experts, mall managers, got a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and even hung out at malls, noticing procedures around doors and locks. But she didn’t want to interview survivors of mass shootings.
“I don’t know if I could ask someone to recount that. Like, I couldn’t interview a rape survivor. What are you going to say to them, ‘How was that?’ I just read about it, that’s all.”
In researching leaders of terrorist attacks and their manifestos, she came away feeling they were all intelligent, but deluded about reality. McVeigh thought his bombing would trigger a revolution, but “what they want to happen doesn’t make much sense. In my book, they had a charismatic leader, but what did McVeigh or my characters accomplish? Just killed a lot of people.”
In forging her plot, Henry wanted to avoid the oft-used fallback of Islamic terrorists, so, in a twist — a twist is always desirable in mysteries — they’re domestic bad guys, creating a diversion to draw police while they heist a gold-laden truck. This device she “borrowed” from a 2016 heist of $4.8 million in Florida and includes their use of remotely triggered pepper-spray launchers to disable drivers.
Not just her novels but life itself has unpredictable twists, and for Henry, it was the big recession just as she graduated in 1982 from Oregon State University with a degree in business and minor in labor relations. There were few jobs, and her try at labor relations left her with an impression it was “guys yelling at each other in smoke-filled rooms.”
As a result, she took a job as a hospital receptionist during the quiet swing-shift hours and, with little to do, she started writing novels, horrible at first, she says, but by the fourth book, her agent finally sold it.
From then on, she’s sold well. Her favorite is “Girl Stolen,” about a blind girl who happened to be in her mother’s car when it was stolen. Another is “The Girl I Used to Be,” which was up for an Edgar Award, “the coolest of awards for mysteries, judged by other mystery writers.” It’s about the revenge planned by a woman for the killers of her parents when she was a toddler.
Her new book, “Run, Hide and Fight Back,” published by Macmillan/Henry Holt, explores the thoughts and actions of six teenagers who find themselves trapped in a mall while a trio of terrorist-bombers hunt them — after blowing away everyone in sight with assault weapons.
Henry, 60, said she experienced terrorism when her father, a former KTVL anchor-news director, served in the 1980s on the county Board of Commissioners and got death threats from the then-notorious Posse Comitatus. They believed no government above sheriff had any authority over them, says Henry.
“They threatened him on the phone, saying they were coming to kill him,” Henry said. “My dad talked about buying a gun. I was shocked. He was a gentle, loving man, and it was like he said he was getting a kangaroo. It just wasn’t him.”
In schooling herself for writing about terrorism, Henry, studied the Posse Comitatus, The Order (a violent white-supremacist group in the ’80s), Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and a 2013 terrorist attack on a mall in Kenya that killed 71.
About her new book, Henry says, “It can feel frighteningly real now that random mass shootings are becoming commonplace in America. But I started the book in 2013, after the terrorist attack on the Kenyan mall. The 2015 Paris terrorist attacks made me think even more about what I would do in such a terrible situation. Then I gave that problem to six teens. When domestic right-wing terrorists kill shoppers and then take more hostages, the teens end up hiding in a storeroom. They must decide whether to run, hide or fight back. Spoiler alert: they do all three. Think of it as ‘Die Hard’ meets ‘Breakfast Club.’”
Asked if, after her research, she has any advice for us if caught in a mass shooting, Henry says “Follow the title of the book — run, hide, fight back, in that order. That line is from a Texas Homeland Security video, which shows a real workplace and is very scary. Make yourself a difficult target, shove things in front of a door. It might be enough to save you and make them move on. If you have a phone, of course, call 911. If it’s bad reception, text someone and tell them to call 911.
“Be aware of your environment. Register where exits are, also windows. If you have a weapon, know it can be turned on you. They are ready to hurt you. So it’s better to try and find a way out.”
In her research, Henry brainstormed with a range of security experts, mall managers, got a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and even hung out at malls, noticing procedures around doors and locks. But she didn’t want to interview survivors of mass shootings.
“I don’t know if I could ask someone to recount that. Like, I couldn’t interview a rape survivor. What are you going to say to them, ‘How was that?’ I just read about it, that’s all.”
In researching leaders of terrorist attacks and their manifestos, she came away feeling they were all intelligent, but deluded about reality. McVeigh thought his bombing would trigger a revolution, but “what they want to happen doesn’t make much sense. In my book, they had a charismatic leader, but what did McVeigh or my characters accomplish? Just killed a lot of people.”
In forging her plot, Henry wanted to avoid the oft-used fallback of Islamic terrorists, so, in a twist — a twist is always desirable in mysteries — they’re domestic bad guys, creating a diversion to draw police while they heist a gold-laden truck. This device she “borrowed” from a 2016 heist of $4.8 million in Florida and includes their use of remotely triggered pepper-spray launchers to disable drivers.
Not just her novels but life itself has unpredictable twists, and for Henry, it was the big recession just as she graduated in 1982 from Oregon State University with a degree in business and minor in labor relations. There were few jobs, and her try at labor relations left her with an impression it was “guys yelling at each other in smoke-filled rooms.”
As a result, she took a job as a hospital receptionist during the quiet swing-shift hours and, with little to do, she started writing novels, horrible at first, she says, but by the fourth book, her agent finally sold it.
From then on, she’s sold well. Her favorite is “Girl Stolen,” about a blind girl who happened to be in her mother’s car when it was stolen. Another is “The Girl I Used to Be,” which was up for an Edgar Award, “the coolest of awards for mysteries, judged by other mystery writers.” It’s about the revenge planned by a woman for the killers of her parents when she was a toddler.
First school visits of the year - in the Houston area
Hanging out with forensic scientists to get new book ideas
I spent the last week in August at the the annual meeting of the Northwest Association of Forensic Scientists. My favorite part was getting to meet CeCe Moore, a self-taught genetic genealogist. When DNA testing became more widely available, she started helping adoptees find their birth families. Then she began to wonder if those same skills could be put to use identifying unclaimed/unknown bodies (mostly murder victims - and spoiler alert, they could). Then she began to think about cold case DNA. Her techniques have helped solve more than 160 other unsolved crimes.
As someone who has been doing genetic genealogy for six years (ever since my mom died) I found her fascinating. In a room filled with scientists, I asked the most questions.
I also got to attend classes on fingerprints (faking them as well as using pictures of hands to identify killers, pedophiles and drug sellers) and document examination. I'm sure the things I learned will end up in my books!
As someone who has been doing genetic genealogy for six years (ever since my mom died) I found her fascinating. In a room filled with scientists, I asked the most questions.
I also got to attend classes on fingerprints (faking them as well as using pictures of hands to identify killers, pedophiles and drug sellers) and document examination. I'm sure the things I learned will end up in my books!
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Another great review for Run, Hide, Fight Back
When a Portland, Oregon, mall is attacked by multiple armed shooters, six teenagers end up hiding behind a store’s security shutter, and 17-year old Miranda, addicted to Oxy, finds herself their unlikely leader. Henry’s vivid portrayal of the all-too-relevant issue of active shooters will have many readers riveted—and sadly doubles as relevant training for possible steps to take to survive a shooting incident. Although character development is somewhat limited, with members of the large cast being primarily defined by their ethnicity, religion, substance abuse, or other “issue,” the swift pacing and short chapters (which supply a minute-by-minute chronology) create a breathless, suspenseful read. As the disparate group of teens struggles to evade, escape, and subdue the killers, bonds are formed. It is both believable and heartwarming to see characters move beyond prejudice in order to aid one another. A map of the mall precedes the text, providing context for the very specific action. The title alone will grab readers, and the content feels chillingly real.
—Booklist
—Booklist
The Girl in the White Van - due out May 12, 2020
I don't have a cover to share yet, but I do have a description for The Girl in the White Van, which publishes May 12, 2020.
When Savannah disappears soon after arguing with her mom’s boyfriend, everyone assumes she's run away. The truth is much worse. She’s been kidnapped by a man in a white van who locks her in an old trailer home, far from prying eyes. And worse yet, Savannah’s not alone: ten months earlier, Jenny met the same fate and nearly died trying to escape. Now as the two girls wonder if he will hold them captive forever or kill them, they must join forces to break out—even if it means they die trying.
When Savannah disappears soon after arguing with her mom’s boyfriend, everyone assumes she's run away. The truth is much worse. She’s been kidnapped by a man in a white van who locks her in an old trailer home, far from prying eyes. And worse yet, Savannah’s not alone: ten months earlier, Jenny met the same fate and nearly died trying to escape. Now as the two girls wonder if he will hold them captive forever or kill them, they must join forces to break out—even if it means they die trying.
Got my blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu!
I got my blue belt in BJJ!
Getting this blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu (which is like wrestling + choking + joint locks) represents the hardest I have ever worked for anything. It was harder than finding an agent. Harder than getting published. Even harder than labor. It took me nearly five years. At this rate, I’ll be a black belt at 75.
Until I found martial arts (first kajukenbo, then kung fu, then BJJ), I have never liked any sport. in fact, the only reason I didn’t have a 4.0 GPA in high school was because of Cs in PE. BJJ turned out to be my true love, even though in many classes I’m the only lady on the mat, and I’m almost always the oldest. I do not have youth, athleticism, energy, flexibility or strength on my side. About all I’ve got is stubbornness and the occasional flash of “Hell no.”
Getting this blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu (which is like wrestling + choking + joint locks) represents the hardest I have ever worked for anything. It was harder than finding an agent. Harder than getting published. Even harder than labor. It took me nearly five years. At this rate, I’ll be a black belt at 75.
Until I found martial arts (first kajukenbo, then kung fu, then BJJ), I have never liked any sport. in fact, the only reason I didn’t have a 4.0 GPA in high school was because of Cs in PE. BJJ turned out to be my true love, even though in many classes I’m the only lady on the mat, and I’m almost always the oldest. I do not have youth, athleticism, energy, flexibility or strength on my side. About all I’ve got is stubbornness and the occasional flash of “Hell no.”
First review for Run, Hide, Fight Back is amazing!
"The author brings to life modern-day teen concerns in this suspense-filled depiction of an active shooter situation. Through the perspectives of six main characters, the story touches on current issues for teens, including religion, drug use, immigration, cancer, guns, and families. Miranda, the main character, kicks off the story, shoplifting as the shooting at a Portland shopping mall begins. As the narrative evolves, so do the characters, and their relationships to one another. They set aside their differences as their common goal of survival brings them together. Well-done character development, even pacing, and the gripping premise will keep teens turning pages. VERDICT Purchase multiple copies of this timely thriller."
.--School Library Journal
.--School Library Journal
School visit in Chicago
Student writing
I love to work on creative writing with students. Recently I met with middle and high school students from West Oso school district. We were working in just a 50-minute block. At one point they were given no more than ten minutes and told to use as many words as they could from a list that included crack, halt, honey and feet. Here are the beginnings of two of the stories I heard.
Tom stood up on his feet and looked out the window in wonder. Everything before the escape was a blur, but it was a miracle they were safe. Tom was starting to see the bigger picture. He was adrift in space with two other people he was sure were crazy. He saw the two said people, DeeDee and Emmett, sitting in their chairs and staring at him, their eyes filled with confusion and fear. Tom was about to say something but came to a halt, because he realized he had nothing to say. He looked out into the infinity of space. He started to feel sick to his stomach. “Look,” Tom said with a slight voice crack, “we’re probably the last humans in the universe, so let’s just take a minute to think about what just happened.”
—Isaac M.
The day Willa Rodriquez died, honey was dripping from my front door. It wasn’t a surprise. In my heart, I knew it was a miracle it didn’t happen sooner.
The decision wasn’t easy, but the darkness had begun to spread throughout Orion, a whisper plaguing my dreams: choose, choose, choose.
—Delia P.
Tom stood up on his feet and looked out the window in wonder. Everything before the escape was a blur, but it was a miracle they were safe. Tom was starting to see the bigger picture. He was adrift in space with two other people he was sure were crazy. He saw the two said people, DeeDee and Emmett, sitting in their chairs and staring at him, their eyes filled with confusion and fear. Tom was about to say something but came to a halt, because he realized he had nothing to say. He looked out into the infinity of space. He started to feel sick to his stomach. “Look,” Tom said with a slight voice crack, “we’re probably the last humans in the universe, so let’s just take a minute to think about what just happened.”
—Isaac M.
The day Willa Rodriquez died, honey was dripping from my front door. It wasn’t a surprise. In my heart, I knew it was a miracle it didn’t happen sooner.
The decision wasn’t easy, but the darkness had begun to spread throughout Orion, a whisper plaguing my dreams: choose, choose, choose.
—Delia P.
Taking my Brazilian jiujitsu on the road
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I love to do Brazilian jujitsu (think wrestling plus chokes plus joint locks) and try to roll at a local school whenever I do school visits. Every school has its own special way of doing things - and with luck I can pick up a trick or two to try at my regular schools in Portland.
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The things I do for research!
Best Note Ever from a Middle School Teacher
Just wanted to let you know for a 3rd year in a row you are making my life easy – and creating a bunch of new readers. I am still lucky enough to teach an advanced reading class along with my Intensive class and across the board your books are the motivators. Here is one of the book projects done by one of my 7th graders! I can’t keep enough copies of your books on my shelf. |
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