2.24.2015: Book News! The Teacher's Pet

Here comes trouble....

Some book news I'm delighted to share (official announcement from the PW Rights Report):

This manuscript was a ton of fun to write, and I feel so lucky that my super agent, Meredith Kaffel, matched it with super editrix Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion, who brought the superb Zachariah OHora on board. (If you're not already familiar with Zach's illustrations, please check out his latest picture book, Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman. It will steal your heart. I'm such a fan.)

Here's to summer 2017!

2.14.15: Book Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

What better way to celebrate than by falling in love with a book? Here are a few that captured my heart.

• Tales Designed to Thrizzle, Vol. 1 by Michael Kupperman is expertly absurd. It became an instant favorite from page one.

• What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt grabbed onto my heart and broke it to pieces. A new friend gave it to me, and in return I gave her:

• The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison, which, yes, you've been hearing about everywhere, for excellent reasons. (Her novel, The Gin Closet, is wonderful too.)

• The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher by Jessica Lawson made me want to climb out my window in search of mischief and adventure (preferably with Becky by my side).

• Books & Islands in Ojibwe Country by Louise Erdrich is one to read slowly and savor.

• We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulaway is one to fly through, swept up in the story and the voice.

• Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman isn't out until April, but you should go line up outside the bookstore now--it's that great.

• This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki received both a Printz Honor and a Caldecott Honor for its excellent illustrations and storytelling. It's vibrant through and through.

• Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light: "I love art! It's my imagination on the outside." <3 <3 <3

What books are warming your heart these days?

2.11.2015: Big-Mouth Bet Cover Reveal!

Introducing...Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet!

I'm delighted to share the cover for Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet (S&S, Sept. 2015). This third book in the series was super fun to write, and I love Meg Park's cover art, especially Banana's expression. Big thanks to Meg and to art director Laurent Linn and editrix Kristin Ostby.

Here's the flap copy:

Anna has a loose tooth! It’s as wiggly as her dog Banana’s tail. But while Anna is poking at her loose tooth, class clown Justin keeps poking fun at Anna and her friends. 

Anna tries to make Justin leave them alone, and gets pulled into a high-stakes bet. If Anna wins, Justin has to play nice; but if Anna loses, she has to do something so jaw-droppingly embarrassing, even Banana can’t believe it.

There’s no wiggling her way out of this one. Anna has to win the bet and stop Justin’s annoying antics…before she gets in even more toothy trouble.

And would you like to read an excerpt? Here's one from Chapter Twelve: The Better Bettor.

I popped out of my seat, turned toward the coat hooks, and slammed straight into Justin. We both froze.

He looked at me with startled eyes for what felt like the longest second in the world. For a moment, I wondered if Justin was as worried about the bet as I was. 

Then he spoke. “Better rush home and practice your dance moves,” he said, “since tomorrow you’ll be performing in the middle of class. Bawk bawk!” 

I glared. “Better practice keeping your mouth shut,” I said, “since soon you won’t be allowed to open it at all.” 

I stormed off without waiting for his comeback. This tooth had to come out now.

Add it on Goodreads here. 

(Pssst, the first two books in the series are now available for pre-order! Here are the links to find Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split, which comes out on May 5: Indiebound | B&N | BAM | iTunes | Amazon | Goodreads. Thank you for your support!)

12.29.14: Triple Happiness

Blurbtastic news!

My almost-8-year-old niece, Anna Luiza, read an advance copy of Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split over the holidays, and my heart split open and oozed happiness at the sound of her giggling over it in the next room.

Two other wonderful people, Lauren Myracle and Megan McDonald, also gave the book an early read. Lauren and Megan are two of my favorite authors, so I am dancing around the room, wagging my tail with excitement over the news that they liked it:

"I've drawn rainbow sparkle hearts on every page of this book, because I love it that much. A perfect friendship story!" --Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of the Winnie Years

"Fast-paced, fun, and funny. Girls will lap up this easy-breezy friendship story like a banana split--and the happy ending is the cherry on top!" --Megan McDonald, bestselling author of Judy Moody

Thank you, Lauren and Megan!

And hey, Happy New Year, everyone. Here's to sparkles and joy and lots of great books in 2015.

12.17.2014: Manuscript "Rules"

Give the Reader Something to Wonder About

A few years ago, as part of a Writers Digest YA round table conversation on "YA today," I laid out some advice for writers hoping to rise to the top of the submissions pile. Those tips appeared in the magazine as a sidebar to the article and were later published on the Writers Digest website as "9 Must-Follow Manuscript Rules." I'm not responsible for that click-bait title, but I hope you'll find the list useful. 

(To read the full conversation on "YA today" with me, editor and author Aimee Friedman, editor Wendy Loggia, and agents Stephen Fraser and George Nicholson, you'll need to get your hands on the May/June 2010 issue of Writers Digest.)

Good luck with your revision!

12.7.2014: Do Not Eat It

Book of Poisonous Things

When I was in Maine for Thanksgiving, my mom pulled out some books I wrote when I was a kid. Book of Poisonous Things (dictated to my mother in 1983, the month I turned four) contains some good advice.

"This is playdoh: Do not eat it."

"These are leaves from rhubarb. Don't eat them!"

"This is dirt. Do not eat dirt; it is not good for you."

I'm currently hard at work on a 35th Anniversary Updated Edition, containing many more things you should not eat.

Being back in Maine for a few days was wonderful. Here are our Thanksgiving pies cooling in the kitchen window as the snowstorm begins. Neither the pies nor the snowflakes were poisonous.

11.23.2014: A Gander at Love

I'm honking and flapping with excitement!

"Geese are mean and geese are dumb. But this is not really about geese."

The New York Times just posted an essay I wrote about geese, family, and love. Here's the link: A Gander at Love. Thanks for reading!

Update 11.25.2014: The essay has climbed to number 16 on the NYTimes Most Emailed list. Thanks to all who have read and shared it!

11.22.2014: Happy Roogiversary

Still Crazy After All These Years

Six years ago today, I called my parents to say, "I'm going to be late. I'm adopting a dog."

"Bad idea," my dad said. "Call us when you know what train you'll be on."

Happy Roogiversary, dear Arugula Badidea Rissi. You are still my very best, most terrible idea.

(To see more Rooga photos, click here)

11.10.2014: Story Time

Confessions of a Fourth-grade Science Fraud

It’s World Science Day! If you’d like to hear a true story about fake science, here's my Story Collider tale, Confessions of a Fourth-grade Science Fraud. 

"Like most scientists, and most liars and fakes, I was motivated by the desire to impress girls...."

Anica Rissi realizes the true purpose of her science project: to increase her popularity. But how far is she willing to go?

10.29.2014: Cover Reveal!

Introducing...Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle!

I'm delighted to share the adorable cover for Anna, Banana book two! Coming in July 2015. Click on the cover to read more about the book.