R264. Companioning Loss: The Role of Children’s Books in Difficult Times

C125-126, Oregon Convention Center, Level 1
Thursday, March 28, 2019
3:00 pm to 4:15 pm

 

A young reader writes to an author, “Before I read your book, I thought I was alone.” An author asks, “What book do we write for that child living in the back seat of a dark world?” From death to divorce, books have always helped young people grieve and find the way forward by mirroring and legitimizing their feelings. In these times of heightened crisis, such companionship is needed more than ever. Kid lit authors discuss writing books as witness, bibliotherapy, and lights in the darkness.


Participants

Moderator:

Elizabeth Leung is a student in the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program at UBC. She works as a research assistant examining young adult literature and a teaching assistant in creative writing classes. She is also writing a young adult novel about a sentient AI and teenagers with dyslexia.

Cecil Castellucci is the award winning young adult author of books and graphic novels including Soupy Leaves Home, Don`t Cosplay with My Heart, and Shade the Changing Girl. She was young adult editor of the LA Review of Books, Children’s Correspondence Coordinator for The Rumpus and a two-time Macdowell Fellow.

Sherri L. Smith writes award-winning YA and middle grade novels, including Flygirl, Orleans, The Toymaker’s Apprentice, and Pasadena. Sherri was a judge for the 2014 National Book Awards Young People's category. She teaches creative writing at Goddard College MFAW and Hamline University MFAC.

Carrie Arcos is a writer of young adult fiction. She was a National Book Award finalist for her debut novel, Out of Reach. An adjunct professor of English for many years, she returned to teaching High School English in 2017. She is currently working on her fifth novel for young adults.

Swati Avasthi is the author Split and Chasing Shadows. Split received the International Reading Association Award, Cybils Award, and nominations for fifteen state awards. Chasing Shadows was named a “Best of the Year” by Kirkus, CBC, and YALSA. She teaches at Hamline University.

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Kansas City, Missouri

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