A fifth grader once told me — with all the blunt honesty that comes with being a ten-year-old — that her mother didn’t like any of my books. “I like your books, but she doesn’t. We just read You Go First and she didn’t like that one, either,” this girl...

In late 2018, I visited my local library to satisfy a very specific book mood. I wanted a rich, immersive, pitch-perfect middle-grade novel. I strolled to the children’s section and scanned the shelves. But there were so many choices! I needed a vetting process. Recommendations, maybe. I went to the...

I’d like to thank the ALA and ALSC. I’d also like to congratulate Derrick Barnes, Jason Reynolds, Renée Watson, Matthew Cordell, Jacqueline Woodson, and all the honorees. It’s incredible to be in such esteemed company. I’m convinced that I’ve entered an alternate universe and that in some parallel reality I’m...