How Much Do We Love Robin Palmer?

Robin Palmer, author of Cindy Ella and Geek Charming, joined us on Tuesday, February 10th at 2:15 p.m. in the school library to discuss her two young adult novels. We had an in-depth book discussion, Q&A, book signing, and photo op. Sixty of our students received a copy of her first novel Cindy Ella. See what Robin Palmer had to say about her visit on her blog, Keep Your Glass Slipper... I'd Rather Wear Flip Flops. She graciously mentioned our own, Chrissy Hirsch and her super, fantastic illustration of the cover of Cindy Ella. Watch part of the visit below.

Robin Palmer Hits the Halls of Mepham!

Robin Palmer, author of Cindy Ella and Geek Charming, will join us on Tuesday, February 10th at 2:15 p.m. in the Mepham High School library to discuss her two young adult novels. We will have a book discussion, Q&A, book signing, and photo op. The first 60 students to sign up with Ms. Stack will receive a copy of her first paperback novel Cindy Ella. Past author visits at Mepham High School have included Jen Calonita who wrote the very popular series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life, and Patrick Jones who has written many teen novels including, Things Change, which is on our ninth grade summer reading list. To learn more about Robin Palmer check out her Website and blog. Check back after her visit for a recap!

About Cindy Ella:
Prom fever has infected LA—especially Cindy’s two annoying stepsisters, and her overly Botoxed stepmother. Cindy seems to be the only one immune to it all. But her anti-prom letter in the school newspaper does more to turn Cindy into Queen of the Freaks than close the gap between the popular kids and the rest of the students. Everyone thinks she’s committed social suicide, except for her two best friends, the yoga goddess India and John Hughes–worshipping Malcolm, and shockingly, the most popular senior at Castle Heights High and Cindy’s crush, Adam Silver. Suddenly Cindy starts to think that maybe her social life could have a happily ever after. But there’s still the rest of the school to deal with. With a little bit of help from an unexpected source and a fabulous pair of heels, Cindy realizes that she still has a chance at a happily ever after.

Big Winners!

The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association (ALA). This year’s winner is Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

About the book: Haunted by the past, Taylor Markham reluctantly leads the students of the Jellicoe School in their secret territory wars against the Townies and the Cadets. Marchetta’s lyrical writing evokes the Australian landscape in a suspenseful tale of raw emotion, romance, humor and tragedy. Melina Marchetta lives in Sydney, Australia, and is the award-winning author of two previous novels. A former high school teacher, she is recognized for the authenticity of her teen characters’ voices. “This roller coaster ride of a novel grabs you from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. You may not be sure where the ride will take you, but every detail—from the complexities of the dual narrative to the pangs of first love—is pitch perfect,” said Printz Award Committee Chair Mary Arnold.

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The 2009 Newbery Medal winner is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean, and published by HarperCollins Children's Books.

A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.

"A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting and sometimes surprising," said Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Treviño.