I had the honor of leading a workshop with author Liza Ketchum in conjunction with the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults this past month. The following titles arose during our discussions with students during the sessions:
The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud (Miramax, 2003).
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick, 2000).
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan (Scholastic, 2004).
Big Mama Makes The World by Phyllis Root (Walker, 2002).
The Counterfeit Princess by Jane Resh Thomas (Clarion, 2005).
Elephants Aloft by Kathi Appelt (Voyager, 1997)(author interview).
Freewill by Chris Lynch (HarperCollins, 2001).
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (Atheneum, 2002)(35th Anniversary Edition).
Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (HarperCollins, 1947).
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech (Joanna Cotler, 2003).
Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders (Candlewick, 2005)(author-illustrator interview).
The House That Jill Built by Phyllis Root (Walker, 2005).
How the Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Marc Simont (HarperCollins, 1982).
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch (Atheneum, 2005).
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (The Chicken House, 2005).
The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin (Delacorte, 1998)(author interview).
Knots and Crosses (An Inspector Rebus Novel) by Ian Rankin (Doubleday, 1987).
The Legend of the Valentine by Katherine Grace Bond, illustrated by Don Tate (Zondervan Publishing House, 2002)(illustrator interview).
The Liberation of Gabriel King by K.L. Going (Putnam, 2005)(author interview).
The Long Night of Leo and Bree by Ellen Wittlinger (Simon & Schuster, 2002)(author interview).
Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles (Gulliver, 2001).
Muskrat Will by Swimming by Cheryl Savageau, illustrated by Robert Hynes, featuring a Seneca traditional story retold by Joseph Bruchac (Northland, 1996).
Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood (Harcourt, 1994).
The New Policeman by Kate Thompson (Bodley Head, 2005).
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (Harcourt, 2003).
Peacebound Trains by Haemi Balgassi (Clarion, 1996)(author interview).
Preston Falls by David Gates (Knopf, 1998).
The Queen’s Knickers by Nicholas Allan (Red Fox, 2000).
Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith (HarperCollins, 2001).
Rosa Sola by Carmen A. Martino (Candlewick, 2005)(author interview).
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Viking adult, 2002)(Good Morning America edition).
Sketches from a Spy Tree by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, illustrated by Andrew Glass (Clarion, 2005).
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz (Harcourt, 1994).
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999).
Subway by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Karen Katz (Viking, 2004).
A Time of Angels by Karen Hesse (Hyperion, 2000)(revised edition).
The Trolls by Polly Horvath (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001).
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (Joanna Cotler, 1994).
What I Believe by Norma Fox Mazer (Harcourt, 2005)(author interview).
What Is Goodbye? by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Raul Colon (Hyperion, 2004).
What Jamie Saw by Carolyn Coman (Front Street, 1995).
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (Dial, 2000).
Additional authors mentioned: Jane Kurtz (author interview); Linda Sue Park (author interview); Valerie Worth.
Cynsational Notes
Unfortunately, the above listing isn’t complete due to title fragments, inaccuracies, and/or my occasional inability to read my own handwriting.
While I’m on the subject of bibliographies, please note that I’m seeking suggestions for a list of young adult novels featuring a protagonist from the United States whose story takes place in another country. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
Cynsational News & Links
An excerpt of Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown (Tricycle, 2006) is now available as a PDF file on her Web site.