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People can exclude you and make you want to find closure, in closure you can find hope maybe that hope can help you find friends.

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Reading

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Host

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Reading plan worked

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In the backstory, Caitlin is shown to think she is smarter when Devon cried after a character in the movie they were watching died.

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The grief that one of the characters felt led to closure for another character. In the story, the character was judged so the character felt grief. The character later found friends who accepted them.

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Throughout life, people face stereotypes made by communities that lead to judgment causing exclusion.

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-Caitlin can now add color to her pictures

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https://wordmothers.com/2015/04/10/interview-with-author-kathryn-erskine/

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WordMothers - for Women Writers & Women’s Writing

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Interview by Nicole Melanson ~

Kathryn Erskine spent many years as a lawyer before realizing that she'd rather write things that people might actually enjoy reading. She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland. The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although . . . how did the headmistress know that it was "the wee redhead" who led the campaign to free the mice from the biology lab?

Erskine draws on her life stories and world events to write her novels including Quaking, an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Mockingbird, 2010 National Book Award winner, The Absolute Value of Mike, a Crystal Kite winner, Seeing Red, a Jane Addams Peace Award honor book, and a Middle Ages adventure novel, The Badger Knight, a Junior Library Guild Selection.
Kathryn Erskine's website
Facebook: /kathy.erskine

Pinterest: /erskinebusiness/

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I think I've always written and certainly always enjoyed it but I probably first started thinking like a writer when I read my sister's diary, decided it was boring, and wrote one of my own that was highly, shall we say, embellished. Then, when I was eleven and a story I wrote was published in the school journal, I realized that others might actually want to read what I wrote. I ended up as a lawyer, probably because of the research and writing aspect, but when my mother passed away I realized I needed to follow my passion and write fiction for children.

My big break came when Patti Gauch, a renowned children's author and editor with Penguin, picked my manuscript off the slush pile and called me (right in the middle of a Destination Imagination session with screaming kids!). That was Quaking, and she published Mockingbird and The Absolute Value of Mike before she retired.

WHAT IS YOUR LATEST BOOK OR CURRENT PROJECT?

I have several books in the pipeline and am working on several more but the latest one that's out is The Badger Knight , a fun adventure set in the Middle Ages. The main character is not a badger; that's his nickname. Adrian is a small, sickly 13-year-old boy with albinism who runs off to battle to prove he's a man - which he succeeds in doing, but not in the way he thought.

WHAT IS YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT LIKE?

My desk is in the kitchen which is not a particularly good place, given the traffic, but I love the big window. I have to feel nature, hear the birds, see the squirrels - observing and daydreaming are important elements of writing.

WHEN DO YOU WORK? WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?

I don't actually have a typical day and I like that variety. Some days I get up at 4 or 5 am to write. Other days I'm traveling or have appointments and squeeze a little writing in - which may just be a random thought or single sentence. I always go for a long walk because that's part of my "thinking / writing" time.

WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

First, a voice starts in my head. Then that character starts talking with other characters. I know these people and I feel the setting from the very beginning. What comes later - sometimes a lot later! - is the plot line.

WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

I love story. I love books and reading and I love that I have the privilege of doing that myself. Mostly, I write for young people to try to help them navigate some difficult parts of their lives, think about the big issues, and see that no matter what happens there's always hope and you will get through.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I think my characters take shape from things that really bother me or that I care about deeply. Those are the stories I want to tell. My husband says it's my therapy and he may be right!

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF WHAT YOU DO?

Finishing a book. Really. It's easy to have a creative idea and charming characters and wonderful dialog and a great setting but actually molding all that into a story that makes sense can be very tricky. I have an arsenal of stories that need more work to get them to that point. It may never happen because I keep having new ideas and wanting to work on those instead!

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU STARTED?

It's what I tell kids when I visit schools - ask yourself what your character wants, and why? If you can answer that you have your story. It helps keep you focused. Also, what is your character's greatest fear, and why? That's probably very closely related to what he or she wants.

WHAT IS YOUR ARTISTIC OR PROFESSIONAL VISION?

I would like every book I write to be better than the last. I want to challenge myself in forms or genres I haven't yet tried - like the novel in verse and picture books I'm currently tweaking, and the adult novel I have on the back burner. As for the industry, I'm not actually too worried because I believe story is a human need so I don't think that'll ever go away, but I do hope we continue to have more diverse books representing all kids.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE AUTHORS?

Wow, there are so many - here are just a few of my favorites: Margarita Engle, Joyce Hostetter, Patricia McCormick, Mitali Perkins, Mary Quattlebaum, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Rita Williams-Garcia, Jacqueline Woodson, Sara Zarr.

WHICH FEMALE AUTHORS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE INTERVIEWED ON WORDMOTHERS NEXT?
Thank you, Kathryn Erskine!
- Nicole Melanson Like this author interview? Follow WordMothers or Subscribe to meet more great female authors!
Writer | Poet | Editor + WordMothers: The definitive guide for women writers View all posts by Nicole Melanson

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Interview by Nicole Melanson ~ Kathryn Erskine spent many years as a lawyer before realizing that she'd rather write things that people might actually enjoy reading. She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland. The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although...

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Xc5ERCy0v7Z5j70V-YjLlmY2csGa7TwpZ9YnjDcJRAY/edit#slide=id.gf5134289c2_0_73

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- Devon was a life scout (kind of like a boy scout)

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-Caitlin has improved her bond with Michael

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-Caitlin has a new potential friend, Emma

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What does the author mean when she says that the shooting happend in her own backyard?

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-Caitlin finds closure

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-Caitlin finishes the chest that Devon started

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Was the author directly involved in the shooting, meaning did she have someone she lost during the shooting or did she go the same school?

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- Society treated Caitlin as someone different for having a mental condition and not accepting her as a normal person
- People treated Caitlin as an autistic person even though she had ASD
- Students in her class and at her school avoid her because they think she is crazy and that anything she does involves her being weird so nobody wants to even get close to her

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-Caitlin and her father both feel grief after Devon's death
-Devon's death and other deaths impacted the whole community
-Michael also feels grief about his mother's death
- It takes a long time for Caitlin to move on from Devon's death because he was a big part of her life and she believes that she is still a big part of her life even though he isn't alive anymore
- Devon's actions before he died affects the actions Caitlin takes throughout the story
-Grief is a concept because it affects the emotions of the story

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- One of the key concepts is closure because after Devon dies Caitlin and her dad are looking for closure so they can live their life
- Closure basically means resolving a feeling and moving on from it, or getting over it
- For example, in the story, an example of closure would be when Caitlin and her dad finish the chest Devon was making and that gives them a feeling of completion and closure

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- Caitlin doesn't like loud noises and bright colors because of Asperger's Syndrome and we know this because of the backstory at the beginning of the book when the author gives clues of her early life

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- Caitlin is not excited to go to middle school (Virginia Dare Middle School) because that is where her brother was killed

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- The author uses flashbacks to explain certain behaviors and actions. For example, we know Caitlin is looking for closure because her brother was killed

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- she is pressuring herself to try to fit in with everyone else because she wants people to like her

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- Caitlin doesn't like loud noises and bright colors because of Asperger's Syndrome and we know this because of the backstory in the beginning of the book when the author gives us clues of her early life

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- The author uses flashbacks to explain certain behaviors and actions. For example, we know Caitlin is looking for closure because her brother was killed in the Virginia shooting

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Does the author write book only for young readers or for all ages?

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How was the author personally affected by the Virginia shooting?

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-Her mother died but Caitlin doesn't seem to mind because she doesn't remember her

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-Get It

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- Her brother's name was Devon

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- There was a shooting at the Middle school

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- Her brother killed during the shooting at the middle school since he was a 6th grader

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-The Day Our Life Fell Apart

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-Closure

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Why did the author choose Asperger's Syndrome when she could have chosen anything?

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-I Look At The Person

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- She was a lawyer for 15 years before becoming an author

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-May have clumsy uncoordinated movements, an odd posture

-May perform repetitive movements, such as hand or finger flapping

-May engage in violent outbursts, self-injurious behaviors, tantrums or meltdowns

-May be hypersensitive to sensory stimulation such as light, sound, and texture

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-It is also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Asperger's syndrome is a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. ASD is a disorder that makes it hard for people to socialize. Their thinking patterns are often the same and rigid. They can do well with homework and talk with others but have trouble understanding social situations like body language, humor, and sarcasm. Most cases of ASD are diagnosed at the age of 5-9 but others are sometimes diagnosed as early as the age of 3

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Treatments:
- Social skills and therapy: In the book even though Caitlin can speak she does not learn the more important parts of conversing such as making eye contact with the person she is speaking to, showing interest in what the person says, and learning to talk about a bunch of different things and topics without obsessing over one topic

- Physical Therapy: Some people diagnosed with this syndrome may appear clumsy. A physical therapist can help develop a person's core strength.

- Occupational Therapy: Helps people with their fine motor skills (anything that requires the use of hands). It can also help with coping with sensory issues. This might include noise, touch, smell, or visual stimuli.

- Medicine: There is no medicine to treat Asperger's syndrome. Most medicines treat anxiety, depression, or inability to
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy:

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- There is no way to prevent or avoid getting autism spectrum disorder because the cause of it is unknown

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Joanne: I'm really enjoying LILY'S PROMISE. I relate to Lily, with her shyness and lack of confidence about speaking up. I was like that myself growing up. Were you like that as a child? I know you had an unusual childhood, and lived all over the world. Please tell us more about it.

Kathy: I was very shy and, like Lily, I'd sit in class, knowing the answer, unable to raise my hand or call it out. I was a little more comfortable in all-girl schools, which I attended in 6th, 7th, and 9th grades, the first in Scotland, the second in Canada. My father was in the Foreign Service so I ended up at eight schools in six countries. It was a gift to experience different cultures-and different school subcultures, given that I went to public, private, religious, secular, all-girls, co-ed, uniform and no uniform schools. Unlike Lily, I didn't like wearing a dress, and I actually preferred uniforms because you didn't have to think about what to wear. And, to answer what kids often ask, my favorite subjects at any school were English, Chemistry, and P.E., and my least favorite was math.

Joanne: I found the Libro chapters in LILY'S PROMISE, where the book itself is talking to the reader, to be a clever way to get kids to think about books and reading. How did you come up with the idea?

Kathy: I'm not sure where Libro came from but, being writers, we let our minds wander and I found myself wondering what the book itself would think of my story, and if it would like to have a say. I was an "Imaginer," as Libro calls it, from way back, which is why I would get report card comments like, "Kathy needs to pay more attention in class." Libro was also a fun way to give some humor, provide short chapters for reluctant readers, give teachers an opportunity to discuss the writing process, and tell kids a little bit about me and how I write, which they always seem to want to know when I visit schools.

Joanne: You've written two picture books and seven novels, most of them MG (my favorites are MOCKINGBIRD, which won the National Book Award, and THE BADGER KNIGHT, a medieval tale). Do you have a favorite among all the books you've written?

Kathy: It's hard to pick a favorite book. I always say books are like our children and we love them equally. If I were to pick the one with a main character most like me, I'd have to choose THE INCREDIBLE MAGIC OF BEING. Julian's anxiety and curiosity and observations are very much like mine were as a kid (and probably even now!). The only difference is that Julian is a chatterbox and, like Lily, I thought the questions or comments but didn't say them. And thank you for reading my books, Joanne! THE BADGER KNIGHT was so fun to research-we could do a whole Q&A just on research, couldn't we?

Joanne: Yes, we could! I still remember you crawling around on the hard stone floor in the Barn to demonstrate to our class at the Highlights Foundation how you got into your character's head when Adrian was hiding under a pew in a cathedral! I have many fond memories of your mentorship at the Highlights Foundation. You made some insightful comments and suggestions that definitely helped make EVERYWHERE BLUE stronger. Thank you! What do you most enjoy about mentoring writers who are just beginning their journey?

Kathy: It was a pleasure working together at the Highlights Foundation, Joanne! I'm just delighted to hold EVERYWHERE BLUE in book form! What I most enjoy about mentoring is seeing people develop confidence in their voice. We all have a story, many stories, and we all have something important to say. We just need a little help shaping and clarifying our story so it speaks to others. I love seeing a draft come together into a story that has grown and deepened into something that truly comes alive.

Kathy: I love the ending of EVERYWHERE BLUE because it's both real and hopeful. That's often the hardest part to write. Did you always know what your ending would be?

Joanne: Thank you, Kathy! Yes, believe it or not, I did. I can't even begin writing a novel until I have at least a vague idea of how it will end. And since Maddie plays the oboe and wants a solo in the school's Winter Concert, I always knew the book should end with the concert. Having said that, I'll admit my editor, Sally Morgridge, helped me make it much stronger and more hopeful. I originally had an open ending, where the reader had to decide for themselves what happened to Strum. Several of the poems toward the end were late additions, giving the reader more details about Strum and where he ended up.

Kathy: Editors are the best! What was most challenging for you in writing this book?

Joanne: The verse, surprisingly enough, was NOT the most challenging part of writing it. Once I realized it needed to be verse instead of prose, it seemed to flow for me (for which I'm grateful!). This was possibly because I've always written poetry. I think the most challenging part of writing EVERYWHERE BLUE was making the secondary characters come to life in just a few poems. I did keep adding more poems so the reader gets to know Emma better, and Nico, and even Strum. I thought I already had enough flashback poems about Strum, but Sally wanted me to add even more.

Kathy: You have such alluring names for your characters. Besides the musical names of the three siblings, do any of the other character names have special meanings?

Joanne: Yes! Several of them do. I love researching meanings of names. The father's name, Hunter, is pretty obvious, because of the Peter and the Wolf connection. And the father is one of the antagonists. But readers may not know that the family's last name, Lovato, means wolf! That's why I chose it (and not because of Demi Lovato!). The mother's first name, Valerie, means "strong." If you've read the book, you're probably nodding your head right now. And Mr. Rimondi, Maddie's oboe teacher? Rimondi means "wise teacher" or "counselor" or "protector"!

Kathy: The cover of EVERYWHERE BLUE is striking. In particular, I'm curious about Strum and his shadow. Can you talk a little about its symbolism for the story?

Joanne: Isn't the cover gorgeous? Elena Megalos created this work of art. My editor, Sally Morgridge, told me she loved the symbolism of Strum's shadow. It took me a few weeks to realize exactly what she meant! If you look very closely at Strum's shadow, it's not behaving the way a normal shadow would! And no one has ever asked me about that! So thank you for this question. Strum's shadow has a lot to do with Maddie's theories about where Strum has gone. Could he have headed north to see polar bears? Or south to see blue morpho butterflies? Something to think about as you read the book.
You can purchase EVERYWHERE BLUE by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz, and LILY'S PROMISE by Kathryn Erskine, along with Kathryn's other novels and picture books, wherever books are sold.

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Authors In Conversation: Kathryn Erskine & Joanne Rossmassler Fritz | The Nerd Daily

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Joanne: I'm really enjoying LILY'S PROMISE. I relate to Lily, with her shyness and lack of confidence about speaking up. I was like that myself growing up. Were you like that as a child? I know you had an unusual childhood, and lived all over the world. Please tell us more about it.

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Causes for Asperger's syndome:
- Genes (if your parents or someone related had them)
- A mother's use of prescription medicines taken during pregnancy
- Having been born to older parents

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-There are less than 200,000 cases per year
-It can be chronic
-It can be called AS,AD, or ASD.

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Symtoms:
- Obsession over a single interest
- Craving repetition and routine (they don't like change and don't handle it well)
- Missing social cues in plays and conversation
- Not making eye contact with peers and adults
- Not understanding abstract thinking

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In the book it shows that Caitlin has a hard time socially and emotionally. She has a counselor, Mrs. Brook and she uses an emotion chart.

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Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder that results in communication and behavioral problems. People diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome typically have high intelligence and no speech delays. However, they tend to play, learn, speak, and act differently from others.

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People with Asperger's syndrome can have a hard time interacting with people/social problems.

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Asperger’s syndrome (also known as just Asperger’s) was once its own diagnosis. Now it is identified as one form of the autism spectrum disorder diagnosis (ASD). Despite this, many people still use the word “Asperger’s” to describe their diagnosis.

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https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/42755-q-a-with-kathryn-erskine.html

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Kathy Erskine's second novel, Mockingbird, sprang from the intersection of two life-changing events-a daughter diagnosed with Asperger's, and the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech near Erskine's home in Charlottesville, Va.

Your daughter, Fiona, has Asperger's Syndrome. When did you decide you wanted to write a novel about a character with that condition?

I had been jotting down notes, mulling over the idea of a main character who had Asperger's almost as an exercise-trying to see the world through her eyes, but I didn't have a compelling plot.

And an idea came to you after the Virginia Tech shootings?

I know it sounds like a weird combination. It was so horrific and so overwhelming and I spent a lot of time trying to process my thoughts on something like that could happen so close to home. [The shooter] was obviously deeply troubled. Maybe if somebody could have gotten him help before he got to that state. But, it was just such an incredible waste. And it wasn't something you could avoid thinking and even talking about. Everybody in Charlottesville knows somebody at Tech. It was everywhere. My thoughts went to what it must be like to be related to one of the victims and to how a kid like mine who sees the world so differently, who doesn't feel heard or understood, how frustrated she gets and how frustrated other people get with her because they don't understand how her mind works. Those two ideas gelled in my mind.

In your story, the brother of the main character, Caitlin, is a victim of a shooting incident at his middle school. Was this almost like Caitlin losing her translator?

Right. He was the person in her life who understood her best, her link to the outside world.

Has your daughter read Mockingbird? What was her reaction?

She's read it and she really likes it and she feels it's pretty accurate of the way she sees the world. She's very excited to have a book about someone like her. She's 13 now and suddenly she sort of likes the idea of being different. She's almost proud of her Asperger's. I don't know if that's going to change but at the moment she's okay with it and she likes that it's out there.

Does the "Facial Expressions" chart Caitlin uses in Mockingbird to understand how other people are reacting come right from personal experience?

I did social stories with Fiona, going through cartoons, and talking about various situations. I'd say, 'Here are some of the options you have on how to react. Which would you choose?' With Asperger's, part of the educational process is learning how to socialize. Fiona really needed to practice being in a group. It made me realize how much we take for granted about the way we interact with each other.

One of the really useful things about a book like Mockingbird is that it opens a window for kids on what the "different" kid in their class might be going through.

I hope so. I mean, one time, Fiona's whole school had art assignment to draw a flower. Fiona drew a dog with a Mexican hat and a ukulele. When I asked, 'Where's the flower?' she said, 'The teacher didn't say we had to draw a flower, she said she wanted us to draw a flower. I wanted to draw a dog.' So one of the things we had to stress with her teachers was not to couch things in polite terms. Be direct.

When I tell my kids, 'Bring your shoes upstairs,' they leave them on the top step of the stairs. When I complain, they say, 'But you said to bring them upstairs.'

Most kids can relate to the literal-mindedness, but it's something they associate with being younger. The difference with Asperger kids is that they don't grow out of that way of thinking without a lot of instruction.

Was this a hard story for you to write?

It wasn't. It came out very easily. In fact, it just all poured out. I am an overwriter. In revision, what I have to figure out is what to cut. There were some scenes that didn't need to be there. In researching Asperger's again to write this, I also realized how far Fiona had come and remembered how frustrated we had been. She's made so much progress. She's still brutally honest but we're working on that. She's not a kid who's ever going to have a ton of friends but she does have some and that's a huge step right there.

Do you like to revise?

(Heavy sigh) I like seeing the story improve. I like getting into a scene and finally managing to make it have the impact I want it to have. But my favorite part of the process is the creative outpouring at the beginning.

For all its sadness, Mockingbird has many really funny scenes.

Well, it is funny sometimes because the way she sees things can be so skewed. And I had to have some humor because the story is really heavy.

Though Caitlin is 10 in the story, can you see 10-year-olds reading Mockingbird? Who do you think the audience is?

My sister is a fourth-grade teacher and though she loved the book, she said, 'I can't do it for fourth grade,' and I agree. School shootings are really, truly scary. I think it's probably better for kids already in middle school.

You call yourself a "recovering lawyer." What kind of law did you practice?

Intellectual property and trademark law. It wasn't that I didn't like it-I did. But I started writing because my mom died in her 60s. She always wanted to get a book published. I intended to wait until I retired to start writing but after that I thought, I better start now. I liked being a lawyer but I didn't feel real passion about it. It wasn't hard to give up.

What are you writing now?

I'm working on a new book because the next novel, The Absolute Value of Mike, has gone to copy-editing.

Those are every novelist's favorite words, aren't they? "Gone to copy-editing."

They sure are! That book will be out in summer 2011 so right now I'm working on a novel set in Virginia in the early 1970s. It was about one thing but it's morphing. I'm also working on a novel set in the Middle Ages and I have something going that is contemporary, dealing with the economic downturn.

That's almost a pot on every burner. How do you keep them all straight?

If I'm in a serious mood, I work on the serious novel. If I'm feeling silly, I work on the fluffier novel. I'm also trying to write a picture book and I did NaNoWriMo and an adult novel came out, which I didn't expect at all. I think I have ADHD. I think in little packets all over the place.

Is it getting easier, now that you have two books published and one "gone to copy-editing?"

I have a little more confidence having gone through the process already. Both of my editors [Patricia Lee Gauch and Tamra Tuller] are very hands-off. They will say, 'I'm not really sure what you're trying to say,' without telling me what to do. They leave it to me to figure it out, which can be kind of scary, but I just keep telling myself if I did it before, I can do it again.

Mockingbird. Kathryn Erskine. Philomel, $16.99 Apr. 978-0-399-25264-8

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Kathryn Erskine's second novel, Mockingbird, sprang from the intersection of two life-changing events-a daughter diagnosed with Asperger's, and the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech near Erskine's home in Charlottesville, Va. Q: Your daughter, Fiona, has Asperger's Syndrome. When did you decide you wanted to write a novel about a character with that condition?

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https://wernickpratt.com/client/kathryn-erskine/

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Kathryn Erskine grew up in the Netherlands, Israel, South Africa, Scotland, and Newfoundland, as the child of a diplomat. After working as an attorney for 15 years, she decided life was too short to put off her dream of writing. So with the support of her family, she set out on her journey as an author. Her debut novel, QUAKING, was named a YALSA Top 10 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, and her second novel, MOCKINGBIRD, was the 2010 National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature, and was adapted to the stage by The Kennedy Center in 2014. Adding to the ever-growing recognition of Kathy's body of work are THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE (a Junior Library Guild selection, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and a Summer 2011 Kids' Next List recommendation), SEEING RED (a Jane Addams Peace Association Honor Book for Older Readers, a Bank Street 2014 Best Books and various State Reading Nominations), and THE BADGER KNIGHT (a Bank Street 2015 Best Books). Kathy is thrilled to add picture book author to her credentials with the picture book biography, MAMA AFRICA, illustrated by Charley Palmer (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, forthcoming). Kathy lives in Virginia with her husband, two children, and a dog.
www.kathyerskine.com

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Kathryn Erskine grew up in the Netherlands, Israel, South Africa, Scotland, and Newfoundland, as the child of a diplomat. After working as an attorney for 15 years, she decided life was too short to put off her dream of writing. So with the support of her family, she set out on her journey as an author.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Erskine

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Kathryn Erskine is a Dutch-born American writer of children's literature. She won the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the 2012 Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award for her novel, Mockingbird.

She was born in the Netherlands and has lived in South Africa, Israel, Canada, and Scotland. Erskine now[when? ] lives in Virginia with her husband, Bill two children, Fiona and Gavin and dog, Maxine.

She was a lawyer for many years before writing. She presents workshops at the Writer's Center.

Quaking, Penguin, 2007, ISBN 978-0-399-24774-3

"Seeing Red", Scholastic, 2013, ISBN 978-0545464406

"Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song", Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), ISBN 9780374303013

She has 2 children and 1dog and lives with her husband

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Kathryn Erskine is a Dutch-born American writer of children's literature. She won the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the 2012 Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award for her novel, Mockingbird . She was born in the Netherlands and has lived in South Africa, Israel, Canada, and Scotland.

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Thanks to the wonderful BOOKS OF WONDER in NYC for including LILY'S PROMISE in a middle grade book panel on Sat., Aug. 14, and ALL OF US in a picture book panel on Sat., Aug. 21!

Is this not the most adorable photo of two kiddos reading their bedtime story ...
ALL OF US?

​

ALL OF US is an Editor's Pick on Amazon! (Best Books for Ages 3-5!)

The Page 69 Test ... such a clever idea: Read p. 69 of your book and explain why (or why not) it's an apt example of the story and tone. Page 69 of LILY'S PROMISE was perfect! Thanks, Marshal Zeringue, Campaign for the American Reader!
May 3, 2021 -- ALL OF US arrived!!

​​This little bird always makes me smile. It takes me back to Edinburgh, Scotland as a kid, where Puffins were the first novels I bought with my own pocket money-before Puffin was even a Penguin imprint in the U.S. On rare occasions, I was even allowed to walk up to Princes Street myself and march into a bookstore or other shop that sold books, like John Menzies (pronounced Ming-ess), where I sucked in the new book smell and poured out my coins at the register. I didn't need any positive reinforcement to read but it still felt good to hear adults whispering after me, "Och, she's a clever one, that wee titch." Or I'd run down Circus Place, across the Waters of Leith and into the second hand shops in Stockbridge, where my coins went further, though the books didn't have the tell-tale fresh scent or make that spinal crack revealing that you were the first one to open this particular treasure.

I started with E. Nesbitt ( Five Children and It) and every Enid Blyton book I could get my hands on, to my mother's chagrin. "It's the same formula," she said, "Children go off on an adventure by themselves and come home again." My response: "Exactly!" I moved on to Arthur Ransome (more children going on adventures by themselves) and, as I left junior school, Richard Adams's Watership Down. In those days, there wasn't much of a "young adult" genre so I quickly moved up to Penguins with Nevil Shute and Agatha Christie, which were all over our bookshelves at home.

I'm grateful Penguin has been around for as long a I can remember, that I had such great access to books, and that I was given the freedom to read whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted (except for the occasional, "Turn that light off and go to sleep!"). I never dreamed I'd be an author one day, that I'd have that little bird on something I wrote myself. Hopefully, there's another wee titch out there who's enjoying these Penguin books as much as I did.

Thank you and hugs to Alexandra Boiger for her breathtaking illustrations in All of Us, to Jill Santopolo, Talia Benamy, and the whole Philomel/Penguin team for publishing this book, and to my agent, Linda Pratt, for patiently shepherding me, and my manuscripts, through the publishing process. I hope you enjoy All of Us, and that you have a chance to share it with your favorite wee titch.

April 26, 2021 -- So excited to announce book launches for ALL OF US (Philomel) and LILY'S PROMISE (Quill Tree) in May!

Tuesday, May 18, 7:00 pm: One More Page Books, Arlington, VA - focusing on All of Us (picture book)
**With award-winning author and long-time friend and mentor, Mary Quattlebaum

Friday, May 21, 6:30 pm: RJ Julia Bookstore, Madison, CT - focusing on Lily's Promise (novel)

Tuesday, May 25, 6:00 pm: Books of Wonder, New York, NY - focusing on Lily's Promise (novel)
**With award-winning novelist, Catherine Gilbert Murdock
​

Here is a marvelous video book review of LILY'S PROMISE from a young reader -- thank you so much, Val!

February 14, 2021 -- Happy Valentine's Day!
Check out the BAM (Books, Art and Music) Festival in West Palm Beach, FL (online) at www.bamwpb.org on April 10th (the main day, with more events on the preceding Thursday and Friday). I'm joining a panel and will put more on my Workshops/Events page when I have the details!

December 18, 2020
What a year! I'm looking forward to 2021 with THREE new books publishing: Lily's Promise (novel) and All of Us (picture book) both on May 18, 2021, and a little later in the year, My Dad's a DJ with co-author and illustrator Keith Henry Brown!
​Please check back for updates!

December 17, 2020
TWO workshops coming up -- I have really missed teaching and connecting with other writers. I hope you'll join me in one of these classes. The first is open to all; the second is more advanced (i.e., you've completed or almost completed the book but are stuck and/or want to make it as powerful as it can be). See details below and on my WORKSHOPS/EVENTS page!

March 12, 2019
​Here's an interview with The Writer's Story!

April 17, 2018
​On a day I'm visiting a school I always wake up smiling. It's a gift. A chance to connect with at least one child, hopefully many, whether it's about writing or reading or, more importantly, making them feel heard, cared for, and important. It's a job teachers, librarians and administrators do every single day, but for an author it's a special occasion. Today, as I was leaving a school, a young man (7th grader) saw me -- "Oh! It's you!" -- and ran over to shake my hand. "Thank you for coming and thank you for answering our questions." Wincing a little, he said, "I know not everyone was listening, but most of us were." He shook my hand again, saying, "Thank you for inspiring us."
Often it's me who receives the gift of feeling heard, cared for, and important. That's one of the many reasons we authors love school visits. Thank you.

April 11, 2018
​Golden Shovel Review of Richard Peck's THE BEST MAN
"Boys aren't too interested in weddings. Girls like them."

Who knows what boys
are into and aren't
You might be surprised, too
because some are interested
in friendships with girls, joy in the family, love between gay uncles and teachers, even in
gay uncles' and teachers' w eddings
so there are boys, not just girls
who like
to bring love to friends, family, and even to them

March 7, 2018
Virginia Festival of the Book! Come join us in Charlottesville! There are so many events and I'm happy to be on one of the panels with David Barclay Moore (THE STARS BENEATH OUR FEET) and Alan Gratz (REFUGEE) to talk about THE INCREDIBLE MAGIC OF BEING as we discuss Making Sense of the World through middle grade fiction at the Village School on Saturday, March 24th, from 12 - 1:30 pm.

March 7, 2018
Golden Shovel Review of THE FREEMASON'S DAUGHTER by Shelley Sackier

"He will never see my side of the story." In this case, I took the 1st line of the 2nd chapter because the first chapter starts with the character's name and I wanted something more generic.

Review:

Crackling historical adventure / romance, she and he

from warring Scotland and England, but will

they cross over or never

see eye to eye, see

that your, my

and our side

can come together of

our own free will, like The

​Freemason's Daughter, a teen Outlander story

January 31, 2018
Initiative for 2018 -- Golden Shovel Book Reviews, based on the poetic form created by Terrance Hayes. Here's how it works...

Take a line from the book and write a poem where each consecutive word in the sentence ends the line, e.g., "I am a coward," the first sentence of Elizabeth Wein's CODE NAME VERITY would be a 4-line poem, the first line ending in "I," the second line ending in "am," etc.
First up: LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds
Line from the first page (last stanzas of the first verse): This story is true / It happened to me / Really / It did / It so did
My poem/review:
The heart of this, the reality, feels achingly true

What might we be faced with, you and me?

Depends on our circumstances, and choices, really

A lurching, gut-wrenching elevator ride about what one person, many people, did

​Now, what will this kid (or you or me) do, and how will he (or we) look back on what he did?

January 15, 2018
​Thanks to Kristen Flowers of KOIT for interviewing me on her podcast!

November 13, 2017
​If you haven't received one in the mail, here's a link to the Discussion Guide for The Incredible Magic of Being!

October 10, 2017
​Today I had twins! It's the book birthday of The Incredible Magic of Being and my first picture book, Mama Africa! How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with her Song. I hope you enjoy them both as much as I enjoyed researching and writing them!

August 29, 2015
​Thanks, Scholastic for featuring me in the "Author Spotlight" for Seeing Red and The Badger Knight!

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Thanks to the wonderful BOOKS OF WONDER in NYC for including LILY'S PROMISE in a middle grade book panel on Sat., Aug. 14, and ALL OF US in a picture book panel on Sat., Aug. 21! Is this not the most adorable photo of two kiddos reading their bedtime story ...

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The Absolute Value of Mike:
YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2014
Crystal Kite Award, 2012
Bank Street Best Children’s Books (Outstanding Merit), 2012
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens Nominee, 2012
Junior Library Guild Selection, 2011
“Best Children’s Books of 2011,” BookPage
American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee, 2011

​State Award Nominations

2013-2014
Oklahoma
Missouri (preliminary list)
2013
North Carolina
2012
Pennsylvania

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Mockingbird:
National Book Award Winner, 2010
Shortlisted for the Redbridge Children’s Book Award (UK), 2012
Longlisted for the UKLA Award (UK Literary Association), 2012
Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award, 2012
International Reading Association Award, 2011
International Literacy Association Award, 2011
Crystal Kite Award, 2011
Golden Kite Honor Book, 2011
American Library Association’s Children’s Notable Book, 2011
American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2011
Bank Street Best Children’s Books (Outstanding Merit), 2011
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens, 2011
Southern Independent Booksellers Award, 2011
New York Public Library’s Children’s Books 2010:  100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Junior Library Guild Selection, 2010

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Novels She Has Written:
- Lilly's Promise: 2021
- The Incredible Magic of Being: 2018
- Badger Night: 2014
- Seeding Red: 2013
- The Absolute Value of Mike: 2012
- Mockingbird: 2010
- Quaking: 2007

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Picture Book She Has Written:
- All of Us: 2021
- Mama Africa: 2017

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- Sticking to the reading plan
- Taking time to update our padlet and share our thoughts and idea
- Take notes when reading the different sections so we can come together an write a summary
- Sharing our question to find answers and analyze the characters further

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Mrs. Brook is Caitlin's counselor who helps her be more social and shows Caitlin how to be nice with people. She is a very important character in this story because she is very close to Caitlin and calms her down.

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Devon is a boy scout who died in a school shooting. His death made his dad and sister go into depression. Devon is a Life Scout who was about to advance into the Eagle rank but sadly died before he could. He was a big role model for his sister who always cared for her and paid the most attention to her.

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Dad is the father of Caitlin and Devon. Dad was devastated by Devon's death during the school shooting. He worries about Caitlin's health and doesn't make a lot of money.

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Micheal is 7 years old and

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- She feels pressured to feel emotions and understand people and their expression
- She is pressured to take part in a group for a class activity
- To make friends

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In the first 25 pages of the book, we learn that Caitlin lives with her dad and she lost her mother at a very young age. We also learn that her brother has recently passed away but we don't know-how. In these pages, Caitlin also talks about how she interacts with people. I was also able to see the sorrowfulness her dad was feeling during the first 4 chapters.

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In these pages of the book, we learn that Caitlin's brother, Devon was shot by the cousin of a kid named Josh. In this chapter, we also learn that she loves reading and she is very good at it. In chapter 7 the author shows Caitlin interacting with Josh on the playground and the author explains how Caitlin hates the playground because it's loud and bright. In this section, she is also pressured to make friends, feel emotions, and work in a group, though those are things she is unable to do and has given up on.

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Caitlin has a schedule change is supposed to go to the little kid's playground for recess. There she meets a boy who talks to her until recess is over, he is recognizing Caitlin for who she is and not her autism. The name of the boy she meets on the playground is Micheal. Later in chapter 11, she thinks about the day their life fell apart, the day Devon died, and she goes to open Devon's chest when she hears her dad. On the same day, on the news, Caitlin hears about the boy who shot and killed Devon, and when her dad hears the news he throws up and feels very upset. According to the book, Caitlin and her dad are feeling closure.

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- She meets a friend, a boy, named Micheal at the little kid's playground when she got a schedule change

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- Her brother died because he was shot in the heart at school by the cousin of Josh from Virginia Middle School

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- understanding the emotions of people around her, especially her father who seems to try to hide his feelings from her

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- Has Asperger's Syndrome (Autism)
- She likes drawing
- Had an older brother
- Had a close relationship with her brother
- main character is a female
- Her brother was shot at school and killed
- She lives with her dad
- She does not have a mother
- Lives in Virgina
- She can memorize stuff
- Remember stuff other people forget
- Looking stuff up in the books and computer
- Being helpful
- Hearing stuff other people can't
- Being nice
- Being honest
- Reading
- Fixing cereal the right way
- Seeing stuff other people can't see
- Loading the dishwasher
- Being Persistent

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25 a Day
5 Days A Week
19 Days in Total = Until October 1

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She's Very Talented at drawing but can't add emotion or color