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Author: Emma Otheguy
Illustrator: Kailey Whitman
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (An Imprint of Penguin Random House)
Publication Date: April 30th, 2019
ISBN: 978-1524773236
Ages 8-12

Praise for Silver Meadows Summer:

" Silver Meadows Summer, beautiful and wise, is a gem of a book. Its characters are sparkling and unique, its themes utterly universal. We are lucky to have Emma Otheguy writing books for children . . . and for all of us." -Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Inquisitor's Tale

"Emma Otheguy's exquisitely poetic novel, Silver Meadows Summer, is an absolute joy to read. Summertime becomes a magical season of discovery in her beautifully conjured and unforgettable story of immigration and hope for new beginnings. Every reader will fall in love with Carolina and her tender quest to create a home of the heart in an abandoned cottage in New York's woodlands after losing homes in both Cuba and Puerto Rico. Daring to address vulnerability on the deepest level, this novel cultivates empathy and compassion. With its stunning evocation of the poems of Frost and Machado, its attention to family ties and class tensions, and its faith in friendships that create cultural bridges, Silver Meadows Summer is a magnificent contribution to the diversity of the new American literature for young readers."-Ruth Behar, author of Lucky Broken Girl

" Silver Meadows Summer is a delightful story . . . framed by nostalgia and questions of identity." -Margarita Engle, Young People's Poet Laureate and Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree

About the Book:
Just right for fans of Pam Muñoz Ryan, this story of moving out and moving on is a touching portrayal of the experience of leaving one's home country and making new friends-sometimes where least expected.
Eleven-year-old Carolina's summer-and life as she knows it-is upended when Papi loses his job, and she and her family must move from Puerto Rico to her Tía Cuca and Uncle Porter's house in upstate New York. Now Carolina must attend Silver Meadows camp, where her bossy older cousin Gabriela rules the social scene.

Just as Carolina worries she'll have to spend the entire summer in Gabriela's shadow, she makes a friend of her own in Jennifer, a fellow artist. Carolina gets another welcome surprise when she stumbles upon a long-abandoned cottage in the woods near the campsite and immediately sees its potential as a creative haven for making art. There, with Jennifer, Carolina begins to reclaim the parts of the life she loved in Puerto Rico and forget about how her relationship with Mami has changed and how distant Papi has become.

But when the future of Silver Meadows and the cottage is thrown into jeopardy, Carolina and-to everyone's surprise-Gabriela come up with a plan to save them. Will it work?

Learn more about Silver Meadows Summer at Mr. Schu Reads!

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Author: Emma Otheguy Illustrator: Kailey Whitman Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (An Imprint of Penguin Random House) Publication Date: April 30th, 2019 ISBN: 978-1524773236 Ages 8-12 " Silver Meadows Summer, beautiful and wise, is a gem of a book. Its characters are sparkling and unique, its themes utterly universal.

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Cover Reveal: Silver Meadows Summer by Emma Otheguy

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Hello, Emma Otheguy! Thank you for stopping by to celebrate Kailey Whitman's gorgeous cover illustration for Silver Meadows Summer . W...

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When I was a girl the women in my family told me that we had magic in our blood. Magic to heal, to conjure, to change circumstances and the world. I tried so hard to awaken my "magical" powers. I'd lie in bed at night, fingers outstretched trying to turn off the lights with my mind. I'd make grand wishes and try to see ghosts. I even tried to dream the future. In a way, I did end up getting to use magic... in the stories I would tell many years later.

The Mexican culture is rich and imbued with myth, magic, and mysticism. I lived it every day. I looked for stories where this was illustrated. I found incredibly imaginative authors in White, Lewis, Cleary, Blume and so many more. But there was something missing from these stories: me and my experiences.

I look around today and I see the books I craved as a girl. Books of adventure, enchantment, and the supernatural. Books that reflect my culture. While there is still so much more work to do to bring many cultures' rich stories to life, I am heartened by what I see on the shelves and am confident that many MANY more shelves will be built to house the stories and the magic that still need to be heard. Here is a sampling of such books that I know will not only honor kids' experiences but will also open up worlds of possibility to them.

Blizzard Besties: A Wish Novel, by Yamille Saied Méndez
This sweet adventure took me back to what it felt like to be twelve, to want to fit in, to sell yourself short for the sake of "friendship." Vanesa is absolutely adorable in her role as big sister, even if she's stumbling through it all. She is a real kid facing real issues as she struggles with her social status among her peers, a group she so desperately wants to be a part of all while trying hard not to ruin another family vacation. Add in the wintry setting, a ghost, and an oncoming storm and get ready to see what these characters are made of. Kids are going to love this!

Feathered Serpent, Dark Hearts of Sky: Myths of Mexico, by David Bowles
While this book is recommended for 14 and up I have to add it here because I think younger kids will enjoy the mythology and folklore as well. So many of the stories took me back those I heard as a kid. An important, well-written, and compelling text that teaches us about a lost history and the rich and too often forgotten magic of various groups like the Aztec, Maya, and Toltecs.

Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble, by Anna Meriano
This lovely book took me back to my grandmother's kitchen and the magic that food brings to the Mexican culture. So often, I found myself smiling and nodding and thinking, "Yes, THIS" as I turned the pages. This story has all the elements I love: magic, mischief, and of course, sugar, so be prepared to have your mouth water. An absolutely wonderful debut. I can't wait to see what Anna comes up with next!

Silver Meadows Summer, by Emma Otheguy
Sometimes a book comes along that sweeps you along effortlessly with its poetry and beautifully drawn characters. You will at once love Carolina, want her to be your friend, and undoubtedly root for her to the end. This book is rich and wise beyond the pages with so many beautiful passages: "The yard was filled with earthy hues: the deep brown cedar of the deck and the orange of the sun, which drifted still lower on its June journey through the sky." There is a sense of longing in every sentence of this book.

Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Muñoz Ryan
I read this book many years ago, but it's still a favorite and one that has stuck with me not only for the lovely writing and rising stakes, but for the complex and nuanced relationships between Naomi, her gram, her brother, Owen, and others as Naomi struggles to find her own identity. Ryan is a master at creating characters and stories that pull you in and won't let you go and this one is no exception.

The Storm Runner is on B&N bookshelves now.

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feathered serpent dark hearts of sky: myths of mexico

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On Discovering Books that Reflect Your Culture: A Guest Post from J. C. Cervantes, Author of The Storm Runner

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When I was a girl the women in my family told me that we had magic in our blood. Magic to heal, to conjure, to change circumstances and the world. I tried so hard to awaken my "magical" powers. I'd lie in bed at night, fingers outstretched trying to turn off the lights with my mind.