The Lerner Podcast Lerner Books

Today I chat with Ginger Garrett, author of Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters, about inspiration, bullying, and selfies, and how to start a teen writer's club in your school or library. Twelve-year-old Lizbeth always has a plan, and those plans have usually worked—until now. No matter what she tries, she can't get rid of her dad's new girlfriend, Claire. And when she and her mom move, Lizbeth has to join a sixth-grade class already in progress, where her teacher makes her wear a name tag and she's seated with three notorious "weirdos." When faced with mandatory participation in a school talent show, Lizbeth and the Weirdos decide to create self portraits. Reluctantly, Lizbeth finds herself becoming friends with people she thought she had nothing in common with—and coming to terms with the things she can't control. Praise for Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters "Disasters averted in this realistic yet amusing take on sixth grade life."—Kirkus Reviews "Fun, funny, and fully heartfelt. Everyone needs true-blue friends like Lizbeth's. SuperChicken for life." —Kristin L. Gray, author of The Amelia Six and Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge "One of those books that explores difficult topics—divorce, a new school, being dubbed a "weirdo"—with grace and good humor." —Rebecca Petruck, author of Boy Bites Bug and Steering Toward Normal "This hilarious and heartfelt gem is moving straight to my "favorites" shelf." —Lisa Lewis Tyre, author of Last in a Long Line of Rebels and Hope in the Holler You can find Ginger online at her website, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and don't miss her resources on Pinterest. Music credits "Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Today on the Lerner Podcast, I’m pleased to welcome Whitney Stewart, a science author, and Hans Andersson, a clinical geneticist, who together wrote Genomics. Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, the field of genetic studies has transitioned into an era of discovery. Whitney and Hans explore the scientific breakthroughs in genetic research that currently inform our understanding of ancestry, inheritance, epigenetics, health, and medicine. Through fascinating case studies, the authors explain how DNA mutations pass from parents to children and how genetic disorders affect real people’s well-being. The authors’ case-based approach makes this topic accessible to readers and encourages student interest in the burgeoning fields of genomics research and healthcare. Praise for Genomics "An excellent bridge between real-world technology applications of biotechnology and what students learn in their biology classrooms."—starred, School Library Journal "High-quality, curiosity-sparking brain fuel."—Kirkus Reviews "A clear, understandable, and well-sourced look at how advances in genomic medicine alter the treatment of diseases, with thought-provoking ideas to consider regarding the ethics of human genetic modification."—Booklist You can find Whitney online at her website, or on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Music credits "Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Just out this month, Like Spilled Water is a gripping tale of a young woman in modern-day China. Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents' cherished son. Years ago, Na's parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything to his education. But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really kill himself because of a low score on China's all-important college entrance exam? Na learns that Bao-bao had many secrets and that his death may not be what it seems. Na's parents expect her to quit her vocational school and go to work, forcing Na to confront traditional expectations for and pressures on young women. Today, we hear from Jennie Liu, author of Like Spilled Water and Girls on the Line, about her inspiration and process for writing her novels. Praise for Like Spilled Water "[A] powerful tale of a brave young woman who dares to question when others simply accept."—starred, Booklist "[F]ilters detailed depictions of filial piety, funeral rites, grief, romantic relationships, and parental support through a modern teenager's perspective. . . . Will lead readers through a quiet revolution."—Kirkus Reviews Praise for Girls on the Line "[E]xplores a moment of contemporary history and a culture that is underrepresented in YA realistic fiction. . . . Recommended purchase, especially for YA collections serving older teens or new adults."—starred, School Library Journal "Both poignant and agonizing, Girls on the Line is a must read."—starred, Foreword Reviews "[A] much-needed look at the people who produce the goods we rely on worldwide and the hardships they face. . . . Readers will learn much from this absorbing and realistic tale."—Booklist "An affecting and original thrill ride . . ."—Kirkus Reviews Catch up with Jennie on the web, on her website or on Twitter. Music credits "Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Today on the Lerner podcast, I am joined by Connie Goldsmith, a retired registered nurse with a master's degree in health who writes books about history, health, and science for older children. Her most recent book has just come out: Kiyo Sato: From a WWII Japanese Internment Camp to a Life of Service. In 1941 Kiyo Sato and her eight younger siblings lived with their parents on a small farm near Sacramento, California. The Satos were an ordinary American family. Until they weren’t. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day, US president Franklin Roosevelt declared war on Japan and the United States officially entered World War II. Soon after, in February and March 1942, Roosevelt signed two executive orders that paved the way for the military to round up all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast and incarcerate them in isolated internment camps for the duration of the war. Kiyo and her family were among the nearly 120,000 internees. In this moving account, Sato and Goldsmith tell the story of the internment years, describing why the internment happened and how it impacted Kiyo and her family. They also discuss the ways in which Kiyo has used her experience to educate other Americans about their history, to promote inclusion, and to fight against similar injustices.

Chris Monroe is back on the Lerner Podcast! We last spoke in April, about how Chico Bon Bon's book and Netflix series came to be. Now she's back, talking about the latest picture book, Monkey with a Tool Belt Blasts Off, out this month. Oh no, the Moon Malt machine at the Superstar Space Station and Snack Bar is broken! The ever-resourceful Chico Bon Bon and his trusty sidekick Clark the elephant ZOOM to the rescue. While working on the malfunctioning Moon Malt machine, they discover myriad other things in need of fixing, including a hatch and a latch and a droid's underwear. And then—FWHOOSH! KA-BOING!—what was that? It's the cutest alien in the universe, and she's stranded at the space station due to a broken down spaceship! Thanks to Chico's know-how and his extensive tool collection there's a fix for every problem under the sun—and beyond! "[L]ighthearted and silly but has enough heart to merit space on the shelves of space lovers, handy kids, and anyone looking for a giggle and a smile. . . . A fun and satisfying journey." —Kirkus Reviews You can find Chris on the web, follow her official fan club on Facebook, get a sneak peek of Monkey with a Tool Belt Blasts Off on the Lerner website, see the Chico Bon Bon trailer on YouTube, and watch the whole series on Netflix. Music credits: "Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Dash! Hide! Splash! Ride! Exuberant text celebrates all the different ways animals play, from rhinos taking mud baths and parrots somersaulting through the air to kangaroos boxing and dolphins diving through the surf. Today we chat with Play Like an Animal author Maria Gianferrari about how playing benefits animals and what inspires her to create books.