Oh hello. Yes, it’s been a minute. I’m bad at updating my blog but here I am, excited to squawk about my new book, BIRD BRAIN. More about it on the dedicated page here. Plus, check out this page where you can learn more about parrots, including my bird, Gabby, who was the inspiration for the book. Hint: her poop had a lot to do with it. Want more about that? Check out this post over on L.E. Carmichael’s blog for the inside poop. I mean, scoop.
If you’re in the Burlington, Ontario area on Saturday March 23rd, I hope you’ll join me for my book launch at A Different Drummer Books. It’s a joint launch with Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge, who are celebrating their new book, SUPER SWITCH. There will be cake!
Great news! I have a book out today. *throws confetti*
The truth is that I wish I hadn’t felt the need to write a book about a kid who has to deal with antisemitism and other forms of prejudice but as long as there is hate out in the world, well, here we are. It hurt my heart to write this book and it hurt again to edit and reread it in preparation for release, but I hope it does a little good out in the world.
This book, my response to antisemitism, is also full of hope, a few laughs, and even a recipe that kids can try, lest you think it’s all doom and gloom.
More about why I wrote it can be found in my Teen Librarian Toolbox guest post here.
THE BOOK OF ELSIE is a book that I think all kids (and adults) can enjoy and learn from but don’t take my word for it:
“Strong first-person narration thoughtfully explores experiences of antisemitism and prejudice…Levy presents a realistic, gutsy, problemsolving youth navigating difficult situations with the love and support of community, friends, and family.” – Booklist
“Both Jewish and non-Jewish readers will be inspired by Elsie’s bravery while learning about Jewish holidays and community support.” – Jewish Book Council
“Allows readers to find the space to ask questions and have conversations about racism and antisemitism in society. Recommended.” – CM: Canadian Review of Materials
And my favorite review so far from the awesome E Train:
Elsie Rose-Miller loves celebrating the Purim holiday and can’t wait for the annual costume party at her local synagogue.
Elsie plans to dress up as the fierce and smart Queen Esther, who saved all the Jewish people. But when financial hardship and a terrible incident of hate-inspired vandalism threaten not only the party but the synagogue too, Elsie, like Queen Esther, takes action to bring her entire community―Jewish and non-Jewish alike―together.
It’s been 10 years (!!!) since my debut, SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE came out in the world. Since then, a lot has happened – the book was a Red Maple Nominee, a MYRCA Honour, a Sydney Taylor Notable, and got in the hands of a lot of kids (the best part, honestly).
Since the book has been out for a while, I gave it a bit of a refresh and released it in paperback (links below for paperback and ebook versions).
But in today’s very exciting news – SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE is now available as an audio book. It’s read to you by MacKenzie Cahill and I couldn’t be more pleased. Want a sample? Sure you do.
The Small Medium at Large audio book is available wherever you get your audio: Google Play, Kobo, Apple, Audible and Amazon – also available at many libraries. If you don’t see it at yours, please request it.
The paperback is available directly through me via my Etsy shop (signed and personalized!), Bookshop.org or you can ask for it to be ordered in at your local indie bookstore – they should be able to get it in for you. It’s also available at Amazon. This updated version also includes a teaser for the sequel, SMALL MEDIUM TAKES CHARGE which is coming soon-ish. Stay tuned for more news on that. Until then, happy listening!
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS has been out in the world for a couple of weeks and I have been amazed and humbled by the wonderful feedback it’s gotten. So many reviewers have loved the book and while that’s so gratifying, I have to say that reviews from young people provides the kind of validation that authors really appreciate. To that end, I’m so excited to share this awesome video review by Ric of Ric’s Book Reviews.
Thank you so much to Ric for reading and talking about SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS (and totally getting the book!). “A beautiful book that’s masterfully written.” No higher praise!
But Ric isn’t just a great reviewer but an excellent interviewer! His questions are so thoughtful and smart – it’s a true pleasure to be interviewed by him. Watch the interview he did with Lisa McMann and I about our connections, working together, our books, and more:
AND check out Ric’s great review for Lisa’s latest, CLARICE THE BRAVE:
Well, friends, it’s been a week already. Whew! I’ve been so incredibly overwhelmed with the book love (and author love!) that I’ve received already and as I’m writing this, it’s only Wednesday. I’ve been so consumed with this book and getting the word out, that I actually forgot to do a release day post.
Here it is, just a day late. Still counts and now I can include some of the assorted media and posts.
In case you’re new to these parts, my book, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS came out yesterday (October 12). *throws confetti*
Here are a few of the celebrations – first with the upcoming things so you can hurry to register/get your ticket.
October 14 at 7pm PST/10pm EST is the triple-author launch extravaganza in partnership with Changing Hands Bookstore.
Event details are here. If you purchase one of my books as part of your ticket, you’ll get a signed bookplate and one of these cool wood and paper bookmarks.
NOTE: Changing Hands Bookstore is in the US but they will ship anywhere. Ticket price includes US shipping.
If you are in Canada and would like to purchase a book and bookmark directly from me, please head on over to my Etsyshop.
October 20, 11:30am – I’ll be doing a virtual public reading from SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS and will then be discussing the book and doing Q&A with award-winning author and psychiatrist, Tziporah Cohen. Free but registration is required. Sign up here.
And here’s some media/posts about me and the book:
The Nerdy Book Club – The story behind SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – includes a giveaway open until October 19.
A post I wrote about how Jewish funerals are inherently green funerals over at L. E. Carmichael’s Cantastic Authorpalooza.
More to come but until then, I hope you’ll join me at one of my events. If you enjoyed reading SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, please support the book by giving it a review at Goodreads and/or the place you bought it. More importantly, please pass it along to someone else who may enjoy it.
If you’ve read this far, you are the best. Thank you.
We’re getting close to the release of SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS in October, but I’m hearing that it’s already shipping out to stores. Thank you if you’ve already pre-ordered – hopefully that means you’ll get your copy soon!
In the AMAZING news category, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS just got a starred review from Kirkus Reviews:
“A heartfelt and expertly written tale of loss, family, and friendship that will have readers blinking back their tears…Beautiful and sincere.”
If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet and are feeling lucky, you can enter this Goodreads giveaway for a paperback copy:
SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE first came out in 2012 and while it’s had a great run as a hardcover, it’s time for a refresh AND a paperback version. Behold the brand new cover:
Don’t you just love it? A huge thanks to Megs McIsaac for the incredible original art. There’s also a little bonus and some exciting news: there will finally be a sequel. It’s called SMALL MEDIUM TAKES CHARGE and it will be out soon-ish. There is a teaser in the back of this updated version of SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE.
I’m still working on getting the paperback available everywhere but, so far, you will be able to get the paperback directly through me via my Etsy shop, Bookshop.org or you can ask for it to be ordered in at your local indie bookstore – they should be able to get it in for you. It’s also available at Amazon.
It’s not just a hope for the future, but soon it will be a book! My next book, (formerly called Queen Bea Makes a Buzz) will release on April 13, 2021 and is called, as you may have guessed: The Sun Will Come Out. It’s sort of a play on the song from Annie but is also so perfect on many levels for this cute summer camp book about a very shy girl who finds herself going to camp by herself.
And my goodness, look at the awesomeness that is this cover:
A huge thanks to Orca Book Publishers and artist Brayden Sato for capturing Bea so, so, so perfectly.
What’s the book about? Mean girls, crushes, stress hives, betrayal, new friendships, Annie – it’s all in there!
Exciting news! FISH OUT OF WATER is available NOW as an ebook! If you’re too anxious to wait for the paperback (Out September 22) you can purchase the ebook at your local ebook retailer. See links below.
If you prefer to be able to hold paper books in your hand, or you’re ordering for a library or classroom, I encourage you to pre-order from A Different Drummer books in Burlington, Ontario. I will be going into the store to sign copies in September, so if you’d like a personalized copy, please pre-order and let the staff know how you’d like it signed.
“Highly Recommended” – Kirkus
“All readers will appreciate this book’s nuanced messaging around gender roles and trusting yourself.” – CM Reviews
“Definitely a must-have for my classroom.” – Laurie (Goodreads)
“It had great Jewish representation and a great takedown of toxic masculinity, while still being aimed at a younger audience. This book should go in every middle school classroom! ” – Hallie (Goodreads)
Add to Goodreads – don’t forget to review after you’ve read it!
AND NOW, because you are awesome, here is a downloadable beginner knitting project – a bookmark. This pattern assumes you know the very basics of knitting – casting on, the knit stitch, and casting off, but if you don’t, you should be able to find tutorials online to get you started.
There’s been a lot going on lately, between the OLA Superconference and the online events: Get to Know Hi-Lo and #IReadCanadian BUT I am super, SUPER excited to announce that I have more books coming, all with Orca Book Publishers.
First up is Fish Out of Water coming this August. Go here to read about it, but all you really need to know about it at this point is that it’s about a boy who wants to learn to knit as part of his bar mitzvah project but faces a lot of pushback, even from the people who love him the most. Do you love the cover? Yeah, you do. Ordering links coming soon, but until then, add the book to your Goodreads TBR.
Later, in Fall of 2021, the book of my heart, Tree of Life will release. This book has been a long time coming and is so, so, so important to me. Here’s my pitch for it:
Twelve-year-old Evelyn—Evie—Walman is not obsessed with death. She does think about it a lot, though, but only because her family runs a Jewish funeral home. At twelve, Evie already knows she’s going to be a funeral director when she grows up. Even if it means kids at school call her ‘corpse girl’ and say she smells like death. They’re just mean and don’t get how important funeral directors are.
Evie loves her part-time job at the funeral home. She cleans—dusting caskets, polishing pews, and vacuuming the chapel—and on funeral days, she dresses up and hands out tissues and offers her condolences to mourners. She doesn’t normally help her parents with the grieving families, until one day when they ask her to help with Oren, a boy her age who was in a tragic car accident that killed both his parents. Evie is to keep him company while they make the funeral arrangements with his uncle.
Evie knows all about funerals and is ready—even eager—to help the boy. Until it all goes terribly wrong. She quickly realizes that while she may know a lot about funerals, she doesn’t know very much about grief at all. She’s perplexed that her attempts to console and comfort the boy don’t work. He won’t speak, doesn’t care about her attempts at condolences, and even slams a door in her face.
Determined to make it right, and with a little help from her parents, Evie learns better how to deal with the grieving boy and they even develop a friendship. She’s committed to helping him heal as much as she can. Even if what he wants is for her to take him behind the scenes at the funeral home, showing him a side of the operation that few people ever see. And something she’s never seen—a real dead body.
TREE OF LIFE is a heartwarming, honest, respectful, and sometimes wry look at the inner workings of a Jewish funeral home through the lens of a tween who simply sees it as the family business.
What do you think? I’m so, so, so excited to share this book. Still early days so no cover or order links yet, but some kind soul has put it up on Goodreads so you can add it there.
More news coming soon, if you believe it, but until then, thanks for celebrating with me.
If you’re in the Burlington, Ontario area on Saturday March 23rd, I hope you’ll join me for my book launch at A Different Drummer Books. It’s a joint launch with Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge, who are celebrating their new book, SUPER SWITCH. There will be cake!
“A heartfelt and expertly written tale of loss, family, and friendship that will have readers blinking back their tears…Beautiful and sincere.”
