For Teachers and Librarians

Dear teachers and librarians:

I am very grateful for your kind support and interest. I have had the chance to continue writing fiction because of your championing my first novel, Under a War-torn Sky. I am honored that so many of you use it as core or complementary reading in WWII units or as recommended summer reading. Others have incorporated Annie, Between the States and Give Me Liberty into their curriculum in similar fashion. Thank you!

I have tried to make this website as helpful and interesting to your students as possible. You will see that each individual book page has links to resources on the historic period featured in that book. Take a look! In this part of the site, I am posting things more specifically for you: Group Reading Guides produced by HarperCollins, sample lesson plans, and examples of projects or book club events other schools have done.

I am also including clips from the TV program "Meet the Author," and two wonderful articles that appeared in The ALAN Review (a branch of NCTE dedicated to YA literature):
1.) “Writing and Teaching Historical Fiction” (Summer 2009) by Ohio University professor Linda Rice, author of What Was It Like? Teaching History and Culture Through Young Adult Literature, about using novels to teach history and her specific use of my work to teach education majors. Featured are discussions on A Troubled Peace, Under a War-torn Sky, Annie, Between the States and Give Me Liberty.
2.) “Quiet Voices with a BIG Message” (Winter 2006) by youth services librarian Diane Tuccillo, author of Library Teen Advisory Groups: A VOYA Guide, about using YA novels to prompt student dialogue on social inequity. Included is a Q and A with me regarding Flying South, my novel set in 1968 with the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War.

When I visit schools, I am always amazed by your dedication, energy, and creativity. I come home from a day with your students feeling fulfilled and renewed, yet extremely tired! You are quite remarkable. Thank you for nurturing the next generation of readers, writers, and thinkers.