Finding Ourselves

Marshall Point Light, Port Clyde, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

Yesterday, USA Today published a list of 100 Greatest Kids' Books.  I was honored to have Rules on that list (87 is now my favorite number), though any list like this is very subjective. 

But that is also true of the entire book industry:  awards, starred reviews, who gets published, whose book is deemed front-list and whose book isn't.  Writers control those things only up to a certain point and then it's the reader or the committee or the publisher who supplies that last leap  (or not).  I'm always grateful and honored when that happens, because it's a gift. 

But what I really live for are moments like this short, simple review by a fourth grade boy for Touch Blue that's running in a newspaper in CA today.

"My favorite part is when Aaron puts his head on Jacob’s (Tess’ dad’s) shoulder, because I like to do that with my GrandDad. I live with him and my Grandma, who adopted me and love me. I really liked this book because it reminded me of my life."

I often say in my speeches how powerful it is when we open a book, expecting a story, and instead, we find ourselves.