kathryn erskine

Hey, hey!

The clock on the wall says it’s time to celebrate Kathy Erskine’s brand new middle grade novel, The Absolute Value of Mike (Philomel, 2011)!

Before we proceed any further, please select your party shoes. You may choose between yellow sneakers,

or duck slippers (quacking optional).

Heck, let’s go all the way. Put on this pink “Life is Good” cap while you’re at it.

There now! Ready?

I was very excited to read Kathy’s new book because I absolutely adored her National Book Award winner, Mockingbird (Philomel, 2010). Maybe you’re thinking what I was thinking: How could she possibly top that? By showcasing her versatility and writing something completely different, of course!

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“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” ~ Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)

photo by fallen..angel.

Today we’re celebrating one of the finest, most praise-worthy middle grade novels of the year, Kathryn Erskine’s Mockingbird (Philomel, 2010)!

It was released just about a month ago following lots of Newberyish buzz, but because of the Poetry Month Potluck, I was unable to serve soup on its official pub date. I simply couldn’t let another day go by without expressing my enthusiasm and full-out love for this incredibly moving literary gem.