Paul Acampora's Blog, page 3

Bringing A Book to Life: Linda LiDestri, Copy editor

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By the time copy editor Linda LiDestri received the manuscript now known as Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face, I'd been working on it for more than a year and a half. There'd been several big rewrites and revisions. A major plot line had been eliminated. Several dozen pages filled with Connecticut lore and history had been cut and sent back to my files and notebooks (That's where they should stay, but they'll almost certainly try to reappear in future work.) In short, the book that Linda received was a slimmer, fitter, more energetic manuscript than anything I'd written previously. That's why I thought it was done.

But I was wrong.

There was still room to make it better. But honestly, I'd looked at the manuscript so many times that I couldn't even see it any more. Fortunately, Linda made it possible for me to look at the writing with fresh eyes. Her notes and suggestions allowed me to revisit the choices I'd made so that I could be sure that the storytelling was as good as I could make it. Linda's work really made a big impact on the novel that readers finally get to see, and I'm very pleased that she has accepted my invitation to answer a few questions about her work.

Me: I always imagine that copy editors are driven by a passion for detail and a love of language. Do you think there are common traits among folks who do this job well?

Linda: Oh, sure. We are all hermits who stay indoors all the time poring over dictionaries.

Me: Huh?

Linda: Seriously, I think an attention (and love!) of detail is required. I'm sort of a detail junkie in everything I do. So copyediting and I are well suited.

Me: What kind of tools do you use for the job?

Linda: I love Adobe Acrobat, Word with Track Changes, and my dictionaries are even on my computer. It took a while to wean off of paper manuscripts. I prefer flipping from chapter to chapter to check on consistency. You can open several windows in a computer, but the scrolling is bothersome to me. Still, copy editors are not old-fashioned.

Me: What kind of educational background do you have that prepared you to be a copy editor?

Linda: I have a BA in English and a Writing minor and a History minor. I have a master's degree in Teaching and a teaching certificate from the state of Connecticut. I'd keep going to school if I could afford it; I love school. I do read a lot (in addition to working). I love everything about words: how they fit together, where they come from, how they change. Language is a living, breathing thing. It's organic.

Me: What about work experience?

Linda: After college, I worked at Harper & Row for a few years (college texts) and freelanced a little. I moved and kept freelancing in my new community. It never really paid the bills, so when I moved back east I got my freelance copyediting and proofreading business really going (1999).

Me: What does your work space look like?

Linda: I require quiet and not much else. My home office is cozy and warm. I don't like stark and/or modern. Oak desk, stone floor, lots of windows and light. And lots of books everywhere: reference books, schoolbooks, fiction, nonfiction and so on. On the walls are mostly framed art that my kids have made over the years.

Me: How many times do you read through a manuscript?

Linda: At least twice, usually more. First you read for sense, marking typos that don't disturb the flow too much. Then I do a really careful read; here is where all the typos get fixed and the usage and mechanics get taken care of. Do all the sentences make sense? Aside from fixing the details, do the sentences hang together, relate to the story and push the plot along? I will flag extraneous copy. Copy that doesn't drive the plot sticks out. The reader will notice. I often look at the text as a "regular" reader. How will the reader view the text? Will they care about the elements the author has put in front of them? I know that it's probably not typical of a copy editor, but if something is a little odd in the logistics of the story, I would be remiss in not flagging it (especially since I'm one of the last on the team to see the text).

Me: How many books are you working on anyone time?

Linda: I can juggle three projects without a problem. It gets a little hairy beyond that and I become difficult to live with.  The amount of projects also depends upon their size.

Me: Is it hard to keep them straight?

Linda: No. A calendar with due dates (each editor is a different color sticky note) is what keeps everything on track. Sticky notes are easily moved as deadlines change. Most often, due dates will overlap rather than hit at the same time, so there is always wiggle room. I'm a quiet person, but I'm not shy when it comes to jobs. If there is a scheduling conflict, that means you won't get the work you deserve from me. This is always addressed before the job is accepted. Then everyone's happy.

Me: Do you have any thoughts about the work you put into Rachel Spinelli? Did it need more, less or an average amount of repair work? (Thank you, by the way, for helping me to impose some sense on a few of the more chaotic scenes!)

Linda: "Rachel" was a sweet, sensitive story. I'm so glad you were able to incorporate some of what I'd suggested–what's coming to mind now is a kitchen scene where it was unclear who was sitting, standing or tipping back in a chair. (I hope I'm recalling correctly; much has crossed my desk since "Rachel.")

Me: There was more than one scene where you noticed that – without some kind of transporter technology or time-turner magic – my characters' locations were physically and temporally impossible. Somehow, neither I nor Nancy (my editor) noticed despite the fact that we'd both been through the manuscript a dozen times. I'm really glad you caught it.

Linda: The more eyes you can get on your manuscript, the better! My suggestions are meant as suggestions; you have the final say as the author. That's always my point of view going in. I'm never offended if you choose not to use something I suggest. (But remember, there are very few exceptions where I will let the phrase "whether or not" stand–it's redundant.)

Me: What are some things you do outside of work that make you happy?

Linda: I do like to enjoy my kids. One is in her school's marching band and the other is a boy scout. I read a lot of fiction. I love the theater (amateur and professional) and museums. Also, work makes me really happy lately. I'm always cheering for the book. I want it to make it to publication, so I will try my best to put every last detail in order. It's my job. If my name is somehow attached to it, I'm going to give you the best product possible.

Me: Thank you again. It's been a pleasure getting to know you a little better! By the way, we seem to have a lot in common. At our house, we've got marching band, scouts, theater and lots of time in Connecticut too. With luck, we'll get to work together again!

Bringing books to life: Shelly Plumb, Bookseller Extraordinaire!

As prom ised, here's my next conversation with another one of the great folks whose work brings RACHEL SPINELLI PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE to life. Today, it's my pleasure to introduce… SHELLY PLUMB, BOOKSELLER EXTRAORDINAIRE, of Harleysville Books in Harleysville, PA

Many years ago, it was my dream to own and operate a bookstore of my very own. I went as far as volunteering – yes, volunteering – at my local bookstore. It was B Street Books in Hayward, California. From there, I took several small business classes and even enrolled in "Bookstore Management" courses that were available during evenings at U.C. Berkeley. For lots of reasons – primarily fear – I did not leap off my own career path to start a small business. Fortunately, there are people who are braver than me.

People like Shelly Plumb. Five years ago, Shelly opened Harleysville Books. Her store is light and lively and a ton of fun. Harleysville Books has an awesome selection for both kids and adults. And Shelly brings a huge range of authors and events to the community. The coming month at Harleysville Books includes visits with Mike Lupica, Patrick Carman, Mo Willems and more!! If you want to know what a great independent bookstore looks like, get yourself to Harleysville.

Me: Hi, Shelly! Tell us a little bit about Harleysville Books.

Shelly: I am especially proud to say that Harleysville Books celebrated its 5th Anniversary this past summer! We've created a place that our community can gather, spend time with their children and get to know one another. Without a doubt, our strength lies in the events and authors we bring to our customers. We offer birthday parties for children, summer camps, summer reading and programs and story times all year round for every age. We also work with our local schools to bring author visits, book fairs and fundraisers. We offer special programs for teachers, including workshops that introduce them to new books. We're a general independent bookstore, so we haven't left out the grown-ups in our programming. We offer book clubs and special Skype discussions and dinners and lunches with authors. We even hosted an event with a Food Network Star this summer and partnered with our local independent supermarket to offer the program to both of our customers.

Me: WOW! It's like a party every day at your store. How do you come up with all these ideas?

Shelly: Behind the scenes, our customers don't really know that I volunteer on NAIBA's Board of Directors (New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association). I visit other independent bookstores, and I talk with their owners and staff. Booksellers love to exchange ideas, and I've gotten some of our best programming ideas from other booksellers. Since I didn't have much experience when we started, I have tried to immerse myself in the entire publishing world. Without some of the generosity of my sales reps, authors and illustrators and other booksellers I would never have made it this far.

Me: What are some jobs you had before becoming a book seller? And what experiences and skills from your work, school and life history help you now to be good at your job?

Shelly: Before I had my kids, I worked on both sides of local and state government – as an aide to a State Senator and a financial advisor helping municipalities issue bonds. When my children were young I taught business classes online with a local community college. The idea to open an independent bookstore stemmed from my desire to help the public. A friend suggested the idea of a bookstore. Our community lacked one, and the idea just took off – and oh yeah – I always loved to read. This is truly a family business. My husband and kids are involved every day. They are the emergency staff when I need help, my assistant buyers when I need a second opinion and my marketing people when new products come in. Booksellers don't get rich, but the experiences and responsibilities that owning a bookstore has offered my family and the community are priceless.

Me: Not including RACHEL SPINELLI PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE, what books are going to be especially fun and rewarding to put into kids' hands this year?

Shelly: Well of course RACHEL SPINELLI PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE will be one of our favorites through the fall! I especially think it will resonate with our teachers. But if I have to name other books I can say elementary readers are looking forward to the newest BAD KITTY CHRISTMAS by Nick Bruel. One of our favorite picture books is GRANDPA GREEN by Lane Smith. It's such a sweet story for grandparents to share with their grandchildren.

Me: I can't help but notice that all three of those titles are from the very awesome Roaring Brook Press! Why have you made books for children a central part of your professional life?

Shelly: I opened Harleysville Books because I had three things in mind: I wanted to make a difference in my community, I wanted to involve my children, and I wanted to enjoy what I did for a living. Selling books to children and their parents and grandparents has given me so much more than I ever expected. Many authors that come to our store talk about how it was their local bookstore or librarian that fed their love of reading as a child. Whenever I hear this, I think I could be that bookstore for one of our customers. It's an awesome responsibility to think I am helping to shape the memories of my young customers.

Me: What kind of advice would you like to give authors, illustrators and other publishing folks regarding publicizing books for the current year and creating new books for the future?

Shelly: Get out and talk with the readers and fans! Invest the money in author tours. The publishing industry is changing so quickly; e-readers and e-books are all everyone talks about, but we can't underestimate the power of personal connection. We sell Google eBooks through our website, and I'm not afraid of the changes or technology. But we are all human. We need physical contact. If we are talking about building a strong generation of readers, and if we want to encourage children to read, it has to include giving children the opportunity to talk with authors and discuss the process.

Me: What do you do for fun?

Shelly: Ha! That's a good one! Believe it or not, reading is still fun for me. Luckily I think my job is fun because there isn't much time left over for other things.

Me: Thank you, thank you, thank you for being great at what you do!!

If you want to meet Shelly yourself, go shop at her store! You'll find Harleysville Books at 674 Main Street, Harleysville, PA in the Salford Square Shopping Center. If you get lost, give them a call at 215-256-9311. Click here for directions!

***

Before I wrap up, I want to take a moment to say: PLEASE SHOP AT YOUR INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE! I am not adamantly opposed to big retailers, but just a little thought reveals dozens and dozens of tremendously compelling reasons to shop local. For example:

Your local bookstore will actually introduce you to more choices. Really! It may seem bigger, but an online retailer is just an opportunity to wander aimlessly around a collection of links and pictures.
When a human becomes part of your online shopping experience, there's generally a problem involved. At your local bookstore, human interaction is a pleasant, enjoyable and good thing! Isn't that how it's supposed to be?
Money spent at your local store stays local.  It sustains your local economy and creates local jobs for you and your neighbors.
Your local bookstores support local causes—your teams, schools, charities and arts organizations.
A local, independent bookstore builds community. It contributes to the distinct flavor, character and entertainment value of your neighborhood. It is a literary and cultural hub that brings people together to discuss books, exchange ideas, meet authors and just hang out. In other words, a local independent bookstore is good for you.

Visit indiebound.org to find a great bookseller near you!

The Making of RACHEL SPINELLI PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE: The Cover Story!

Recently, I promised a peek behind the scenes at some of the great people who worked to bring RACHEL SPINELLI PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE to life. Let's get started with… THE COVER STORY!

I am fascinated by book covers. One of my very favorite websites is THE BOOK COVER ARCHIVE. And I love to think about conversations and choices that must go into various books' designs and artwork. For my own books, I don't have (and I don't want) a ton of input into the covers, but it's a huge thrill to see how artists, editors and designers turn my words into something visually. That's why it was so much fun to talk to Mike Heath and Wyatt Cross about the cover on Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face. Wyatt, a 15-year old high school student, baseball player and model, posed for Mike Heath, the photographer/designer/artist who created the artwork on the book's cover.

Me: What did you know about the book before you started the project?

Wyatt: I was told the book was about a boy who had a crush on a girl named Rachel, and when she punched him in the eye, it made his crush even stronger. I thought the boy was crazy, but I hear that's what love does to a person!

Mike: This is actually one of those covers I have great memories of. It was a fun challenge for sure. This particular cover had very specific art direction from the publisher. My job was to find a story within those boundaries and tell it well.

Me: My own kids have done a small bit of modeling (Here's my daughter, Gabrielle, on the cover of an American Girl book.  [image error] And here's my son, Nicholas, on the cover of "Hothead,"  [image error] a middle grade novel by Cal Ripken, Jr. They have very mixed feelings about seeing their faces staring back at them when we visit bookstores. Wyatt, what about you? Do you like modeling? Is it fun to see yourself in pictures?

Wyatt: I liked modeling more when I was younger. I've been doing this since I was 7 years old. I normally don't tell my friends because they razz me about it, but it is fun to model cool clothes or do commercials. I did a bunch of voice-over commercials for Starz movie network, and it was a lot of fun to hear my voice on TV.

Me: What do you do for fun?

Wyatt: I play competitive baseball, traveling around the country playing in tournaments with my club team. I'm a catcher.   I also play competitive football, and I enjoy hunting and fishing with my dad when I have time.  I like to read non-fiction books. Currently, I'm reading about the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations. I'm focusing on continuing to get good grades in school, because I want to go to a Division 1 college and play baseball.  My earnings from modeling will help to pay for college. My mom always tells me I have to feed my brain with knowledge first, and the sports are just the icing on the cake of life… but I want both!

Me: You're mom sounds like a very smart lady! In the meantime, your work on the Rachel Spinelli cover is awesome. Mike, can you share a little bit about how you created the artwork? Were there other covers rejected before this one?

Mike:  I only did this one composition for the Rachel Spinelli. I toyed with having him on a bench but thought having him on the ground would exemplify the fact that he just got punched more effectively. Even though my style is photographic, the final images are usually made up from many photographs (hopefully) seamlessly blended together. Lighting is huge for me and I take great care to make sure all of my elements are lit the same way, which is why I shoot all of my own elements. Stock photography doesn't work for me. The models in my images are shot in the studio 90% of the time. It's much more time consuming to shoot on location, and you never know what the weather will do. The final steps for my images is the color. For this cover, I wanted the colors to be more primary and really pop off the page.

Me: It really captures so much of what I hope readers will find inside the story.

Mike: I'm so glad you like the cover. It's always a compliment when I'm able to capture something from the book. I actually studied Norman Rockwell when I did this cover. He was a wonderful artist and an even better story teller.

Me: I've used more than a couple Norman Rockwell pieces for inspiration and starting places that have led to full blown scenes for short stories and novels. I've loved visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum http://www.nrm.org/ in Stockbridge, Mass. When you're there, it becomes clear right away that he loved to tell a good story well and he really knew how to do his job.

Mike: What many people don't know about him is that he actually photographed his work first and then painted it. His photographs actually capture 90% of what his final paintings do. He was a great director over his actors. My photo style is illustrative. I try to capture a scene that will give people a certain feeling and tell an interesting story. I think about the scene in the context of model/subject, color, composition, lighting, setting, props etc.

Me: Where there actually squirrels in your photo shoot?

Wyatt: Isn't the picture cool?!  The only real items that were in the shot with me were the trumpet and the backpack. The grass, trees and squirrel were all added in later. Even the gum on the bottom of my shoe was added in!

Me: I think it's that attention to detail that makes me smile every time I see it. Mike, I know the people at MacMillan were very happy that you'd be working on Rachel Spinelli. My editor showed me your cover for Monika Schroder's Saraswati's Way.  [image error] I loved how the boy on that cover had so much life and personality. The same is true for the Rachel Spinelli cover. How did you learn to do that?

Mike: I went to school to learn what I do. I got a fine art degree and then studied photography on my own while I worked as an art director for a few magazines. After many years I was able to come up with a style that people wanted to hire me for, and I feel very fortunate to be doing this full time now!

Me: Thanks to you both for taking time to chat and for all your work on Rachel Spinelli. I'm very excited that readers will judge this book by your cover!

As a former kindergarten teacher and blues fan, I now feel compelled to end this with a song featuring two of rock 'n roll's all time greatest guitarists, Bo Diddley and The Duchess! Enjoy!

Judge A Book By The Cover

Bo Diddley & The Duchess: You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover

A SIMPLE PROPOSAL…

If there's one thing I could change about book publishing it would be this: Books should have credit rolls. In movies, you generally see an entire film crew listed on screen just a few minutes after the Death Star explodes, the monster is finally dead, and everybody's getting ready to live happily ever after. For a "book crew," which includes editors, artists, sales & marketing people, publicists, legal beagles, rights managers, accounting departments, payroll folks, production staff, technology experts, book sellers, librarians, reviewers, and a whole lot more… well, obscurity is often the rule.

I don't like that.

Making a book and then putting it into readers' hands is a team effort. There really should be more than just the author's name on the cover!

Don't get me wrong. I am not complaining. I'm a ham to the 999th degree. My favorite toy is still a Mister Microphone. But honestly, authors are just part of the picture. And often, they're not even the most interesting part. In fact, if you're looking for the smartest, the savviest, the funniest person on the crew, don't visit a writer's home. Some of us put on a good show, but in reality, a writer at work is an absurd creature. Personally, I stare at the wall a lot. I laugh out loud for no apparent reason. I mutter and drop incomplete sentences onto the page in odd bursts. Not only that, my "writing face" makes me look like somebody just hit me in the head with a brick.

During the next few weeks, I'll be tweeting and blogging conversations that I've been able to have with some of the great professionals whose work is bringing my new novel, Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face, to life. I'm doing this because first (and most importantly), I really, really, really want to say THANK YOU to all these amazing people. Second, part of my job as an author is to call attention to the fact that, um, I JUST PUBLISHED A BOOK!!!!! And I want to do that in a way that's not all about ME ME ME ME ME (Not that I mind talking about me. But even I get tired of me sometimes.) Third, I am really very curious about people. That's actually the reason I write in the first place. I'm trying to figure out what makes us all tick. Lately, I'm thinking it's some combination of laughter, candy, fear and humidity.

So, to wrap up:

1. THANK YOU to everybody for helping me to make a new book!

2. I JUST PUBLISHED A BOOK… PLEASE RUSH OUT AND BUY IT!

3. Book people are awesome. If you don't believe me, visit my blog over the next few weeks and see for yourself.

In the meantime, you'll find a few notes and quotes from my Rachel Spinelli book crew below. Enjoy!

I was told the book was about a boy who had a crush on a girl named Rachel, and when she punched him in the eye, it made his crush even stronger. I thought the boy was crazy, but I hear that's what love does to a person. –Wyatt Cross, teen model for the cover of Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face

I love everything about words: how they fit together, where they come from, how they change. Language is a living, breathing thing. It's organic. –Linda LiDestri, copy editor for Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face

For the cover, I wanted the colors to be more primary and really pop off the page… I toyed with having him on a bench but thought having him on the ground would exemplify the fact that he just got punched more effectively. I actually studied Norman Rockwell when I did this cover. He was a wonderful artist and an even better story teller. –Mike Heath, photographer/designer/artist for the cover of Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face

The idea to open an independent bookstore stemmed from my desire to help the public… This is truly a family business. My husband and kids are involved every day. They are the emergency staff when I need help, my assistant buyers when I need a second opinion and my marketing people when new products come in. Booksellers don't get rich, but the experiences and responsibilities that owning a bookstore has offered my family and the community are priceless. –Shelly Plumb, Owner, Harleysville Books, Harleysville, PA

Books haven't really changed that much in 200 years! Isn't that one of the many things that is beautiful about them? –Tom Nau, Executive Director of Production, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Created in the path of Irene

I was inspired by Kate Messner's invitation to put this piece together during the hurricane…

Allentown, PA (8/28/2011). It's 4 a.m. on Sunday morning, and I've been up all night. The last few hours brought rain that switches without warning from heavy lawn sprinkler spray to something that feels like the open end of a fire hydrant. A waterfall streams down the outside stairwell leading to our basement. During a regular rainstorm, the drain at the bottom of those steps would carry the water away, but this is too much. Fortunately, my trusty portable pump and I have been working since midnight to keep the hurricane away from the door.

Around me, winds howl, and the sky glows from fluorescent city street lights reflected off low, low clouds. A huge tree has come down just a dozen or so yards away from my yard. (In the photo above, that's my red, brick house on the right!) Somehow, it didn't hit a thing. That tree was planted here just after World War II when the houses in my neighborhood were all brand new. Now its trunk and branches are collapsed across the street. It is sad to see it down, but I am relieved that it seems to have caused no injuries or damage. All in all, this has been a bracing, awe-inspiring, amazing night. But I am exhausted and worried and even a little scared.

I jog around the house to check on the drain pipes (still flowing), my fence (still standing) and most important right now, my electric pump (still pumping). If my grandmother were here, she'd make me say a thank you prayer to Saint Florian, patron saint of flood protection. But my grandmother has been dead for years, and even if she were here, I'd make her go back inside. She was a tiny, French Canadian lady who could have been blown away by a big enough wind. And nobody should be out on a night like this.

That's why it's so surprising when a big white Crown Victoria turns the corner onto my street. I stand stupidly at the curb and watch the old sedan make its way toward me. Bit by bit, the car rolls through the dark and storm. Seeing me, the driver slows to a stop. He hops out of the car.

"ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" I shout over the wind.

"YEAH." He looks impatient. He wipes rain from his face. Then he pushes something toward me. "HERE'S YOUR NEWSPAPER."

"ARE YOU—" A huge gust of wind whips a bucketful of water into my face. I stumble back a step. "— KIDDING?"

"NOPE." He gets back into his car, makes a u-turn, and drives back into the night…

I can think of a dozen just-right ways to wrap up this story… if it were fiction. But it's not. So I'm a little stunned and confused and still very tired. When the rain stops, I guess I'll pour some coffee and read my paper.

A glimpse behind the scenes…

Goodbye LiveJournal

Goodbye, LiveJournal
Hello, WordPress
http://paulacampora.com/blog/

Stephen Sondheim quotes and moments

Here are a few Stephen Sondheim quotes and moments from this evening’s conversation between Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich:

 

"One of my favorite songs is Something’s Coming. It was written in less than 48 hours during early West Side Story rehearsals. The actor playing Tony just didn't have the kind of “weight” that made you want to follow his adventures. But he could sing a 2/4 song better than anybody. So I wrote the song thinking it would give him an opportunity to establish himself on the stage. And give him confidence. And then he would give the rest of the company confidence… and it worked."

 

"‘Lenny’ Bernstein had a 12 room apartment at the Dakota. It was all big, spacious rooms inside this old-style New York City building that looked like a castle. But his studio… it was the size of a throw rug with a window that looked out on an airshaft. No distractions... There was nothing to do there but work."

 

"The song I'm Losing my Mind from Follies is a torch song.  It started out as a total imitation of Gershwin’s The Man I Love. I knew I wanted a particular kind of song there. And I knew that I wanted to imitate a certain style and feel. So if I was going to imitate, I might as well imitate the best."

 

"When I write a song, I become an actor… Of course, the song has everything to do with me because I’m writing it. But it also has nothing to do with me. It’s for a specific character in a specific scene in a specific story."

 

"You have to write about what interests you… and you can’t get interested in something you can’t relate to."

 

"Two-thirds of all American theater is about yearning for a connection… the stage is home to a whole lot of yearning."

 

Regarding the song “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George:  "Studying the painting, I realized that these people don’t know… they’re going to be immortal… and when I wrote the word “forever…” I cried."

 

"The only reason to write is to write for love. Write for passion. If you have the privilege of being able to write, then don’t do it for any other reason."

 

“I like to speak in hyperbole. It’s my favorite language.”

A Very Short Meditation on Book Awards

Me: This book (Lizzie Bright & the Buckminster Boy) has one of my very favorite covers. I wish they didn’t cover it all up with the award stickers.

(Note: In addition to earning a Printz Honor and Newbery Honor awards, Lizzie Bright is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Notable Children’s Book, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and it was selected for a Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award. )

My daughter: I bet the author doesn’t mind.

September pictures from our house...

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