Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 107

Author Interview & Giveaway: Angela Cerrito on The Safest Lie

"The Power of Poetry," an award-winning play!By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Welcome back, Cynsations reporter Angela Cerrito, and congratulations on the release of The Safest Lie (Holiday House, 2015). Could you tell us a little about the novel and what inspired you to write it? 

The Safest Lie follows the fictional Anna Bauman attempting to hide her Jewish identity and pass herself off as Anna Karwolska in Warsaw Poland during WWII. She confronts many of the same hardships and hor...

Cynsational News & Giveaways

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Native American Voices by Crystal from Rich In Color. Peek: "For November and all year round, this list is filled with some excellent books by Native authors." See also Recommended Native American Folk Songs by Debbie Reese from American Indians in Children's Literature.

Emotional Wounds Entry: Being the Victim of a Vicious Rumor by Becca Puglisi from Writers Helping Writers. Peek: "Characters, like real people, are unique, and will respond to wounding eve...

Guest Interview: Kate Hosford & Cynthia Levinson: Children’s Authors & Circus Fans (Part III)

By Kate Hosford & Cynthia Levinson
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Earlier this week, we interviewed each other about our respective new circus-themed book releases.

Don't miss the interview about Cynthia's Watch Out for Flying Kids! How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community (Peachtree, 2015) or the interview about Kate's Feeding the Flying Fanellis and Other Poems from a Circus Chef, illustrated by Cosei Kawa (Carolrhoda, 2015).

Here's our fi...

Guest Interview: Kate Hosford & Cynthia Levinson: Children’s Authors & Circus Fans (Part II)

By Kate Hosford
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Cynthia Levinson’s book Watch Out for Flying Kids! How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community (Peachtree, 2015) is an in-depth look at the world of social circus —a movement that brings kids from different cultures together to perform.

Cynthia follows the story lines of nine kids in two circuses: Circus Harmony in St. Louis (comprised of suburban and inner-city kids) and Circus Galilee in Israel (co...

Guest Interview: Kate Hosford & Cynthia Levinson: Children’s Authors & Circus Fans (Part I)

By Cynthia Levinson
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Kate Hosford’s book, Feeding the Flying Fanellis and Other Poems from a Circus Chef, illustrated by Cosei Kawa (Carolrhoda, 2015), is a complete delight.

The concept of combining cooking with circus is genius. Both activities are popular with and appealing to kids, and food brings circus, which can feel exotic and other-worldly, down to earth for children.

On top of that, the rhymes are varied, and the poetry is both fun and informative....

Guest Post & Giveaway: Lyn Miller-Lachmann on Presenting Contested Histories in Fiction

Dana on Writing from the MarrowBy Lyn Miller-Lachmann
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Last spring I interviewed Dana Walrath about her debut YA novel Like Water on Stone (Delacorte, 2014), a story of the Armenian genocide told from the perspective of three child survivors and an eagle that observes all.

The comments that I received on my review of this novel revealed that this is still a contested history, especially among some Turkish Muslims who continue to deny the genocide.

My own nove...

Cynsational News & Giveaways

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Teen Books by Native Writers to Trumpet Year-Round by Debbie Reese from School Library Journal. Peek: "...don’t confine the use of books by and about Native people—or any other group—to a single day or month. We are here, it must be said, all year-round—just like everyone else. The following works for young adults should be read, displayed, and celebrated in every collection." Note: I'm honored that my Feral trilogy (Candlewick) was recommended.

Racial and...

Last Call! WNDB Mentor Program

From We Need Diverse Books

The deadline for the WNDB mentorship program is Oct. 31. We are offering mentorships to four aspiring authors and one illustrator who are diverse or working on diverse books. This is an opportunity to work with some experienced and talented members of our community, and receive individual support and feedback on a work-in-progress.

What: WNDB is offering five mentorships, one in each of the following categories – Picture Book text (PB), Middle Grade (MG), Young Adult...

Book Trailer: Little Tree by Loren Long

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Check out the book trailer for Little Tree by Loren Long (Philomel, 2015). From the promotional copy:

In the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. 

Life is perfect just the way it is.

Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree’s leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. ...

Giveaway: Author-Signed Poster & The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, illustrated by Brandon Dorman

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Enter to win one of two copies of The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (Shadow Mountain, 2015) and an author-signed Fablehaven poster.

Caretakers of magical preserves need to visually identify dozens of mythical and magical creatures. This book will open your eyes to a secret world most humans know nothing about. Study these pages and learn about the many magical artifacts, potions, and weapons that could potentially save your life.

Furthermo...