By Tamara Ellis Smith Today we're pleased to welcome Kacen Callender back to the WNDB blog to discuss middle grade novel Moonflower, out September 6, 2022! Moon’s depression is overwhelming. Therapy doesn’t help, and Moon is afraid that their mom hates them because they’re sad. Moon’s only … [Read more...] about Q&A With Kacen Callender, Moonflower
mental health
Q&A With Erika L. Sánchez, Crying in the Bathroom
By Nawal Qarooni Erika L. Sánchez is the best-selling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. We connected this week to chat about her latest collection of honest and humorous essays gathered as an adult memoir titled Crying in the Bathroom, which comes out July 12th. The pieces range … [Read more...] about Q&A With Erika L. Sánchez, Crying in the Bathroom
Q&A With Rachel Lynn Solomon, See You Yesterday
By Aleah Gornbein Today we're pleased to welcome Rachel Lynn Solomon to the WNDB blog to discuss young adult novel See You Yesterday, out May 17, 2022! Barrett Bloom is hoping college will be a fresh start after a messy high school experience. But when school begins on September 21st, … [Read more...] about Q&A With Rachel Lynn Solomon, See You Yesterday
Of Pozole, Masks, and Beauty Marks: Talking and Writing About Depression
Content note: Mentions of depression, a suicide attempt, and suicidal thoughts Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narváez Varela is on sale now. Order it here! By Alessandra Narváez Varela Quiero morirme y ver como la vida de los demás se facilita despues de mi ausencia…El inicio de una … [Read more...] about Of Pozole, Masks, and Beauty Marks: Talking and Writing About Depression
Q&A With Niki Smith, The Golden Hour
By Michele Kirichanskaya Today we're pleased to invite Niki Smith to the WNDB blog to discuss her upcoming middle grade graphic novel The Golden Hour. First of all, welcome to We Need Diverse Books! Could you tell us a little about yourself and your upcoming graphic novel, The Golden … [Read more...] about Q&A With Niki Smith, The Golden Hour
How Picture Books Can Normalize Anxiety and Make Kids Feel Understood
By Manka Kasha Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster by Manka Kasha is on sale now. I was an extremely anxious child. Saying “hello” or “thank you” to adults, phone calls, interacting with other kids—all these day-to-day activities were my personal hell (and, who am I kidding, in many ways they … [Read more...] about How Picture Books Can Normalize Anxiety and Make Kids Feel Understood
Reading Widely Was the Best Research I Did for Writing
By Julia Drake The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake is on sale now. While I was on a book tour for my debut novel The Last True Poets of the Sea, a person attending an event asked me a question that began, “Did you do a lot of research?" Why, yes, I thought, and gleefully began to … [Read more...] about Reading Widely Was the Best Research I Did for Writing
How Laura Taylor Namey Wrote a Book About Grief After the Loss of Her Grandmother
By Karis Rogerson Laura Taylor Namey describes herself as someone who was always a writer, if not an author. She was a teacher before transitioning to full-time writing, and though she says she was good at the job, it didn’t bring her joy the way writing does. “I’m obsessed with writing,” she … [Read more...] about How Laura Taylor Namey Wrote a Book About Grief After the Loss of Her Grandmother
Why Fiction for Younger Readers Needs to Talk About Suicide
Content warning: Graphic mentions of suicide/self-harm and discussions of mental health, bullying, racism, and suicidal ideation By Rukhsana Khan When I was eleven, I nearly committed suicide. I’d said something so silly during sex ed. class, I thought my life was over. I remember it … [Read more...] about Why Fiction for Younger Readers Needs to Talk About Suicide
