Arizona Doesn't Feel So Far Away

It isn't that the weather here in Montreal is hot and dry (it rarely is). Or that the sky is huge and blue today (it's looking pretty grey right now).

The reason Arizona doesn't feel so far away this morning is because I have been in touch with a teen reader there. This development comes thanks to a program I've already written about in a previous blog entry -- the American Library Association's Teens' Top Ten Galley Review. Teens in selected libraries across the U.S., have been reading advance copies of new books, including Miracleville.

I "met" Taniya through Allison Burke, teen services librarian and media specialist at Perry Branch Library in Gilbert, Arizona. Allison forwarded Taniya's review of Miracleville to my publisher, who in turn, forwarded it to me.

I was very moved about what Allison had to say about the book, and she's kindly agreed to let me include an excerpt here: "understanding that humans cannot help the way they feel  no matter how much they try to control and better themselves.... there should not be shame in having to be human."

I'm not just pleased that Taniya enjoyed my book, I'm extra-pleased that it made her reflect about being human and our attempts to find a balance between who we want to be and who we sometimes are.

I've never met you, Taniya, but your words have really touched me... and you know what? You've made me reflect, too. Thanks for that.

Thanks also to Allison Burke (have I mentioned that I love librarians, especially ones who get teens excited about reading?) and to the ALA and to my publisher, Orca, for getting involved in this exciting program.

Wishing you all a good weekend wherever you are. Hope you'll find time to read and write!