SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Don’t Judge Me
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/
CITY: Aloha
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 330
http://literaryfriendships.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/cupcakes-sprinkles-frosting-interview-with-lisa-schroeder/ http://jamarattigan.com/2011/12/15/loving-lisa-schroeders-sprinkles-and-secrets/ http://novelnovice.com/2011/09/20/surprise-treat-for-lisa-schroeders-sprinkles-secrets/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born February 5, 1967, in OR; married; children: two sons.
EDUCATION:Oregon State University, B.S.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, novelist, and children’s book author. Worked in human resources.
AVOCATIONS:Watching movies, baking, reading, traveling.
AWARDS:Quick Pick for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers selection, American Library Association (ALA), 2009, and Young Adults’ Choice selection, International Reading Association (IRA), 2010, both for I Heart You, You Haunt Me; Best Children’s Books listee, Bank Street College of Education, 2011, and Colorado Children’s Book Award nomination, 2014, both for It’s Raining Cupcakes; Oregon Book Award finalist, Quick Pick for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers selection, and IRA Young Adults’ Choice selection, all 2011, all for The Day Before; Rita Award finalist, Romance Writers of America, 2011, for Chasing Brooklyn.
WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals, including Highlights for Children. Books have been translated into foreign languages.
SIDELIGHTS
An award-winning writer of books for children and young adults, Lisa Schroeder is perhaps best known for her verse novels I Heart You, You Haunt Me and Chasing Brooklyn. “I wanted to become an author because I loved books when I was a kid, and books are one of my most favorite things,” Schroeder commented on her website. “Between the pages of a book, we can visit new places, make new friends, and when we’re having a hard time, perhaps feel a little less alone in the world.”
I Heart You, You Haunt Me, Schroeder’s debut novel, centers on Ava, a fifteen year old whose boyfriend recently died in a tragic accident. Overwhelmed by guilt for her role in Jackson’s death, Ava begins to sense his presence soon after the funeral—her room grows cold, his aftershave lingers in the air, she hears his voice whispering in her ear. Unable to resolve her feelings, Ava desperately holds onto her lost love, until she realizes that she must forgive herself and move on with her life. “Although the narrative in verse suggests a quick read,” Debra Mitts-Smith noted in Kliatt, “the storyline is anything but easy.”
Chasing Brooklyn alternates point of view between two haunted teens: Brooklyn, whose boyfriend Lucca passed away a year ago and whose friend Gabe recently died of a drug overdose, and Nico, Lucca’s brother. While Brooklyn is troubled by constant visitations from Gabe in her dreams, Nico receives messages from Lucca urging him to reach out to the girl. Guided by these spirits, Brooklyn and Nico find comfort and solace through their burgeoning friendship. A Kirkus Reviews contributor praised Chasing Brooklyn by citing the narrative’s form and structure, noting that both “energy and emotion” contribute to the novel’s “drama, underscoring the sorrow and … strengthening its final message of hope.” In a review for School Library Journal, Karen E. Brooks-Reese wrote that, “while the wrenching impact will leave readers raw, the ultimately hopeful ending is comforting.”
Schroeder’s Far from You is also presented in the verse form. Sixteen-year-old Alice still mourns the passing of her mother, who died of cancer years earlier. When her father remarries and his new wife gives birth, Alice has difficulty accepting the changes and becomes increasingly withdrawn from her family and friends. On a particularly wintry Thanksgiving Day, Alice, her stepmother, and the new baby take a drive and become stranded during a snowstorm, forcing the teen to take drastic action to save their lives. In a School Library Journal review, Jill Heritage Maza commented that in Far from You the work offers a “roller coaster of emotions to which many teen readers will relate.”
Schroeder offers another young-adult novel in verse with The Day Before. Amber’s life comes undone when she discovers that she was switched at birth, that the girl who went home with her birth parents died, and that her birth parents now have legal joint custody of her. Before a forced visit with them, Amber decides to spend the day alone at the beach to collect her thoughts. There she meets Cade, a boy who is also avoiding a fearful prospect, and the pair quickly forges a close bond. Connie Fletcher wrote in Booklist that Schroeder’s use of free verse “gives Amber’s revelations an immediacy and economy” that contributes to the book’s tension. In another review for School Library Journal, Maza predicted that The Day Before should “appeal to teens looking for a good, fast-paced whirlwind love story with a happy ending.”
In Falling for You Rae finds an escape from her troubled home life through Nathan, a good-looking and attentive new schoolmate. When Nathan becomes possessive and controlling, Rae turns to kindhearted Leo for support and also finds solace in writing poems that she submits anonymously to her school paper, sparking a “poetry revolution.” According to Maza, in School Library Journal, “Rae is a well-drawn, strong-willed heroine,” and Rebecca Denham noted in Voice of Youth Advocates that the poetry subplot of Falling for You “gives readers a chance to peek into the depths of Rae’s soul and adds dimension to her character.”
Schroeder turns to younger readers in the middle-grade novel It’s Raining Cupcakes. Here twelve-year-old Isabel is determined to win the Baker’s Best Baking Contest and earn a trip to New York City. While Isabel believes she has a tart recipe worthy of the top prize, her mother complicates matters by asking her to instead create a special treat to promote her new cupcake store. “This story about making dreams come true may encourage young girls to set goals and go after their own dreams,” remarked Tanya Boudreau in a School Library Journal review of It’s Raining Cupcakes, while a Kirkus Reviews contributor dubbed the novel “a deft portrayal of the frustrations of a functional child tethered to a dysfunctional adult.”
In Sprinkles and Secrets , a companion volume to It’s Raining Cupcakes, an upcoming audition for a commercial poses the chance of a lifetime for twelve-year-old aspiring actress Sophie. When she learns that the advertisement is for Beatrice’s Brownies, a rival to best friend Isabel’s family business, she feels torn and her decision to lie about the gig places the friendship in further jeopardy. “Schroeder skillfully evokes the turbulence of pre-adolescence,” commented a Kirkus Reviews critic, and in School Library Journal Terry Ann Lawler wrote of Sprinkles and Secrets that “Sophie’s creative solutions to her problems are realistically kidlike.”
In Frosting and Friendship aspiring musician Lily Hubbard decides to spread her wings and join a mother-daughter book club populated by baking enthusiasts. Although Lily’s culinary skills are woefully lacking, she agrees to host a surprise birthday party for Sophie that requires an irresistible dessert. When the party planning interferes with her band’s rehearsals for an upcoming school show, Lily feels overwhelmed and realizes that she must follow a course of action that meets her own needs. “Ultimately,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews critic, “Lily’s choice to celebrate her unique abilities and interests affirms readers’ rights to do the same.”
Picture books count among Schroeder’s varied writing credits and among them is Baby Can’t Sleep, a humorous bedtime tale. Here a father attempts to lull his newborn to sleep using the methodical tactic of counting sheep, but he dozes off before the infant does. When his wife takes over, she also falls asleep, leaving the family dog to devise a clever solution to the problem. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly remarked that Schroeder’s “playful singsong rhymes … suggest that even the job of getting baby to sleep can be fun.” In Little Chimp’s Big Day a young primate wanders the jungle under the watchful eye of his mother. “The rhyming text reads aloud well,” Lauralyn Persson commented in appraising this picture book for School Library Journal.
Schroeder is also the author of the “Charmed Life” series of books for children. The series revolves around four girls, Caitlin, Hannah, Mia, and Libby, who meet at a summer camp and think they have found a lucky bracelet. A book is dedicated to each one of the girls. In a review of Caitlin’s Lucky Charm, a School Library Journal contributor noted that Schroeder “features protagonists from diverse backgrounds.” In her illustrated book for young readers, The Girl in the Tower, Schroeder features Violet, a ten-year-old girl who is locked away with her mother in a castle’s tower. Violet has never been outside of the tower and has developed a vivid imagination that she uses to amuse herself. However, Violet’s life changes drastically once an evil queen takes an interest in her, leading Violet to make life-changing decisions. The question is will the decisions be made based on Violet’s fantasies or on her true character? A Publishers Weekly contributor remarked: “Kids will find it easy to root for determined Violet.”
Another children’s novel, Sealed with a Secret, is a sequel to an earlier book titled My Secret Guide to Paris. The sequel finds twelve-year-old Phoebe keeping it secret that she has a beautiful antique compact, which she found while antiquing in Paris with her family. Inside the compact is a letter from the World War II era containing a spell that can help people come closer together and which puts Phoebe on a path of discover in London. “Schroeder is at her best when bringing the city of London to life,” wrote Gesse Stark-Smith in School Library Journal. Keys to the City features twelve-year-old Lindy has a summer assignment from school, that is, to find out what really arises passion in her. Linda ends up in New York City thanks to a neighbor who takes her and his grandson there. While in New York, Lindy begins to explore what makes her passionate. The novel includes writings by Lindy, from her journal to poems and stories. “Sweet and familiar Lindy makes this story hard to resist,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor. School Library Journal contributor remarked: “Readers may be inspired by the protagonist’s poems and stories.”
The Bridge from Me to You is a young-adult novel revolving around high-school senior Lauren, who goes to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a tiny Oregon town. When she meets the football hero at her new school, she discovers that Colby is not a typical high school jock but is sensitive and really wants to quit playing football, which he can only do if he confronts his father. “This light, fast-paced story will delight romance fans looking for a fun, hopeful read,” wrote Whitney LeBlanc in School Library Journal. A Publishers Weekly contributor commented that readers “will find a familiar mix of tragedies, obstacles, and misunderstandings to surmount.” The young-adult novel All We Have Is Now finds two teenagers contemplating suicide when they learn that an asteroid is going to devastate Idaho. Emerson is a runaway seventeen-year-old, and her friend Vince is homeless as well. They meet a stranger named Carl, who is also contemplating suicide and ends up giving Vince a large sum of money. Carl rethinks his suicidal thoughts, however, when he learns his wife wants him despite her parents’ objections. The three protagonists end up supporting each other through the turbulent times. “The complicated structure includes prose chapters which flashback and shift from Vince and Emerson to Carl,” wrote Lucy Schall in Voice of Youth Advocates. Melissa Moore, writing in Booklist, noted: “Schroeder deftly explores a variety of themes.”
[open new]A divorce prompts a move to a beachside cottage in See You on a Starry Night, as art-loving eleven-year-old Juliet, older sister Miranda, and their mother try to start life anew in San Diego. Friendship starts to blossom when Juliet joins spunky local girl Emma, whose parents run an ice-cream shop, in tossing message-filled bottles into the sea. When Juliet gets an anonymous response with a challenge, she sets about trying to make someone’s wish come true so she can join the Starry Beach Club. In School Library Journal, Sarah Wethern declared that Schroeder “nicely balances the emotions Juliet is tackling” over her parents’ divorce, her new community, and new friendship, making her “highly relatable.” A Kirkus Reviews writer found that “advice for children experiencing a divorce comes thick and steady,” making See You on a Starry Night a “useful, even soothing choice for children undergoing a common transition.”
Juliet and her family and friends return in Wish on All the Stars, which finds the trio of Emma, Juliet, and Carmen trying to do good deeds through their Starry Beach Club. With the Mission Beach bookmobile endangered, the girls plan an art fair to raise needed funds. Things gets more complicated when Juliet comes to realize that Carmen’s Guatemalan mother might get deported and wants to everything she can to help out. A Kirkus Reviews writer appreciated Juliet’s characteristic “social activism, kindness to others, and compassion” and summed Wish on All the Stars up as a “breezy read with fine pacing” and a “simple yet appealing plot.”
In Don’t Judge Me, twelve-year-old Hazel and best friend Tori are trying to get a grip on the sixth grade, with all its middle-school discomforts of dress codes, body-image issues, and hyperactive boys—including two who trip her every day. Hazel realizes that boys’ actions and attitudes alike are far from harmless when she stumbles upon a journal in which boys are rating girls’ attractiveness and disparaging those they dislike. Knowing something must be done about such toxic masculinity, Hazel must decide just how to stand up for herself and her friends. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that Hazel’s “journey to finding her voice is brimming with lessons,” while her “actions may inspire readers to stand up for what’s right.” The reviewer deemed Don’t Judge Me an “empowering read.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, June 1, 2011, Connie Fletcher, review of The Day Before, p. 79; June 1, 2015, Melissa Moore, review of All We Have Is Now, p. 94.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, March, 2010, Deborah Stevenson, review of It’s Raining Cupcakes, p. 304; April, 2010, Deborah Stevenson, review of Chasing Brooklyn, p. 352; March, 2013, Karen Coats, review of Falling for You, p. 351; December 15, 2015, review of The Girl in the Tower; April 1, 2017, review of Keys to the City.
Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2008, review of Far from You; December 15, 2009, review of Chasing Brooklyn; February 15, 2010, review of It’s Raining Cupcakes; May 1, 2011, review of The Day Before; August, 2011, review of Sprinkles and Secrets; November 15, 2012, review of Falling for You; June 1, 2014, review of The Bridge from Me to You; April 1, 2015, review of All We Have Is Now; April 15, 2018, review of See You on a Starry Night; May 1, 2019, review of Wish on All the Stars; September 15, 2020, review of Don’t Judge Me.
Kliatt, January 1, 2008, Debra Mitts-Smith, review of I Heart You, You Haunt Me, p. 17.
Publishers Weekly, November 28, 2005, review of Baby Can’t Sleep, p. 50; May 26, 2014, review of The Bridge from Me to You, p. 62; December 14, 2015, review of The Girl in the Tower, p. 85.
School Library Journal, January 1, 2006, Suzanne Myers Harold, review of Baby Can’t Sleep, p. 113; March 1, 2008, Jill Heritage Maza, review of I Heart You, You Haunt Me, p. 209; April 1, 2009, Jill Heritage Maza, review of Far from You, p. 141; February, 2010, Karen E. Brooks-Reese, review of Chasing Brooklyn, p. 124; February, 2010, Tanya Boudreau, review of It’s Raining Cupcakes, p. 124; January, 2011, Lauralyn Persson, review of Little Chimp’s Big Day, p. 84; August, 2011, Jill Heritage Maza, review of The Day Before, p. 120; October, 2011, Terry Ann Lawler, review of Sprinkles and Secrets, p. 149; February, 2013, Jill Heritage Maza, review of Falling for You, p. 113; June, 2014, review of Caitlin’s Lucky Charm, p. 134; June, 2014, Whitney LeBlanc, review of The Bridge from Me to You, p. 129; May, 2015, Allison Silva, review of All We Have Is Now, p. 124; October, 2015, Pilar Okeson, review of The Girl in the Tower, p. 94; May, 2016, Gesse Stark-Smith, review of Sealed with a Secret, p. 101; May, 2017, Mary Kuehner, review of Keys to the City, p. 92; May, 2018, Sarah Wethern, review of See You on a Starry Night, p. 87.
Voice of Youth Advocates, February 1, 2008, Barbara Johnston, review of I Heart You, You Haunt Me, p. 550; April 1, 2009, Jenny Ingram, review of Far from You, p. 58; April, 2010, Paula Brehm-Heeger, review of Chasing Brooklyn, p. 62; December, 2012, Rebecca Denham, review of Falling for You, p. 475; August, 2014, Jen MacIntosh, review of The Bridge from Me to You, p. 72; August, 2015, Luch Schall, Lucy. review of All We Have Is Now, p. 83.
ONLINE
Adventures in YA Publishing, http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/ (August 2, 2014), “Author Interview with Lisa Schroeder!”
Cynsations, http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/ (May 22, 2008), Cynthia Leitich Smith, interview with Schroeder.
Jama’s Alphabet Soup, https://jamarattigan.com/ (December 15, 2011), “Loving Lisa Schroeder’s Sprinkles and Secrets.”
Lisa Schroeder website, http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com (April 29, 2021).
Literary Friendships, https://literaryfriendships.wordpress.com/ (September 12, 2011), Audrey Vernick, “Cupcakes, Sprinkles, Frosting: Interview with Lisa Schroeder.”
Novel Novice, https://novelnovice.com/ (September 20, 2011), “Surprise Treat for Lisa Schroeder’s Sprinkles and Secrets.”
Official Bio:
Once upon a time, Lisa Schroeder wanted to join Encyclopedia Brown on his fun adventures. Since that didn't work out, she decided to be an author instead. Lisa's written over twenty books for kids and teens including the popular verse novels for teens I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME and CHASING BROOKLYN, and her most recent YA novels, THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU and ALL WE HAVE IS NOW. She's also the author of the middle grade novels IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES, MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS, SEE YOU ON A STARRY NIGHT and WISH ON ALL THE STARS. Her books have been translated into foreign languages and have been selected for state reading lists. Lisa is a native Oregonian and lives with her family outside of Portland.
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers:
(If you are doing a report on me, please read through these questions before contacting me. Thanks!)
Where do you live? In a suburb outside Portland, Oregon. Oregon is a beautiful place and I love living here (although around February, I do get tired of the rain and am ready for sunshine!)
Are you married and do you have kids? Yes, I am married, and I have two sons. For safety reasons, I will not give out names or ages. Thanks for your understanding.
What books have you written? On the home page, you can find tabs with LOTS of information about the books I've written for both teens and kids, but I'll list them here too. Click on the links and you can order them from Powell's bookstore. They'll ship them right to you!
For ages 13 and up, I currently have seven books published:
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME
FAR FROM YOU
CHASING BROOKLYN
THE DAY BEFORE
FALLING FOR YOU
THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU
ALL WE HAVE IS NOW
For ages 8-12, I have ten books published:
THE GIRL IN THE TOWER
IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES
SPRINKLES AND SECRETS (a companion to the cupcake book)
FROSTING AND FRIENDSHIP (another companion to the cupcake book)
Charmed Life #1: CAITLIN'S LUCKY CHARM
Charmed Life #2: MIA'S GOLDEN BIRD
Charmed Life #3: LIBBY'S SWEET SURPRISE
Charmed Life #4: HANNAH'S BRIGHT STAR
MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS
SEALED WITH A SECRET (a companion to the Paris book)
KEYS TO THE CITY (another companion to the Paris book)
SEE YOU ON A STARRY NIGHT
WISH ON ALL THE STARS (sequel to SEE YOU ON A STARRY NIGHT)
What awards have your books won? If you go to the pages on this site called "Books for Teens" and/or "Books for Kids," I have listed the state lists where the various books have been finalists. A few of my books have also been on lists sponsored by the American Library Association, International Reading Association and others.
What genre do you write? Most of my books are realistic fiction, but I've a couple of my YA novels might be classified as paranormal, and one of my middle grade novels, THE GIRL IN THE TOWER, is fantasy.
Do you have any pets? Yes, we have a black kitty named Luna and a black and white dog named Alfie. They are both very cute!
Can you tell me your birth date for a report I'm doing or a competition I'm in? For authors who are living, I think we need to be careful about giving out too much personal information. Identity theft is real. But I understand some of you really need at least the year in order to use my books in interpretive competitions. So here is the year I was born: 1967. Thanks and good luck!!
Can you tell me some interesting and fun stuff about yourself?
I went to elementary school in Salem, Oregon, and the Salem Public Library is one of my most favorite places in the world - lots of fond memories there. I graduated from Lebanon Union HS in Lebanon, Oregon. I went on to college at Oregon State University and majored in Business Administration. I received my degree, and currently work part-time at a hospital in addition to being an author.
Things I enjoy doing: walking in my neighborhood while listening to music or podcasts, watching movies, baking yummy things, reading, and traveling. Our first trip outside of North America was to Paris in 2017 and it was such an amazing trip. I can't wait to do more in the years to come.
My favorite movie is "The Sound of Music." I don't know if I have a favorite band?? I really love singer/songwriters and some of my favorites are Matt Nathanson, James Bay, Taylor Swift, Pink and Julia Michaels. I'm inspired all of the time by music,and can't imagine my life without it!
How long have you been writing? Why did you become an author?
I've been writing books since I was a young girl. I still have one I wrote and illustrated, called "The Lion's Valentine," that my grandma saved for over 30 years. She gave it to me when I told her I was writing books and trying to get them published. But I seriously started writing for kids in 2003. I sold my first picture book in 2005, and my first novel in 2007. I wrote a lot of bad stories and got a lot of rejections (like over 100) before I finally sold a book.
I wanted to become an author because I loved books when I was a kid, and books are one of my most favorite things. Between the pages of a book, we can visit new places, make new friends, and when we're having a hard time, perhaps feel a little less alone in the world. I wanted to write books that would connect with kids and teens and that might do those things for them like books have done for me throughout my life.
Can you read a story I'm writing? I'm sorry, but I'm really busy. Occasionally I will help a student for a big senior project by providing feedback on a story and answering questions about being a writer. But it's incredibly time consuming and I can only do one per year. If you want feedback on your work, you might think about forming a critique group so you have a group of fellow writers who can give each other critiques.
Why does it take so long for a new book to come out? The publishing business is slow! I am a fairly fast writer, but once the book is done, there are still many rounds of edits working with the editor, someone has to design the interior of the book, someone else has to come up with the cover, they have to print galleys for review, and on and on.
What advice do you have for young writers? Mostly, it comes down to three things. Read a lot, write a lot, and don't give up!
If you want more specific advice, I wrote a blog post that gives my top ten things you should do if you want to write a novel. You can read it HERE.
Can you tell me anything else interesting about yourself? I'm so boring. Really. But here are some things I love: Pretty flowers. The smell of lilacs. Sweet treats. Cute animals. Tea and cookies. Music. Summertime. Freshly picked strawberries. Hikes with my family. Books and reading, of course! Here are some things I don't like much: Mean people. Cleaning the house. Scary movies. If you are looking for one interesting fact for your report, here's one: I won a trip to Las Vegas once for myself and a friend by writing a poem for a radio contest.
Did you like school? Most of the time, yes. Sorry for those of you who don't like it much. Get involved in something you enjoy is my best advice. And if you don't know what kinds of things you enjoy, try new things. I didn't know I liked theater or marching band until I decided to try them in middle school. And I had so much fun once I did!
Any books you can recommend on writing? Yes!
If you are a serious writer, you’d be wise to invest in a few books to help you with your craft. I’ve found the first three on the list to be invaluable.
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books by Harold Underdown
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
Picture Writing by Anastasia Suen
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Take Joy: A Book for Writers by Jane Yolen
On Writing by Stephen King
Happy reading and writing!
Email This
BlogThis!
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to Pinterest
Lisa Schroeder is the author of the teen verse novels The Day Before; I Heart You, You Haunt Me and its companion novel, Chasing Brooklyn; Far from You; and the teen prose novel Falling for You. She is also the author of the middle grade prose novels It’s Raining Cupcakes, Sprinkles and Secrets, and Frosting and Friendship. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon. Find out more about Lisa and her books at LisaSchroederBooks.com or on Twitter at @Lisa_Schroeder.
Lisa Schroeder
CURRENT CITY
Beaverton
CURRENT STATE/PROVIDENCE
Oregon
CURRENT COUNTRY
United States of America
Lisa Schroeder is the author of the teen novels The Bridge from Me to You; I Heart You, You Haunt Me and its companion, Chasing Brooklyn; and The Day Before, an Oregon Book Award finalist. She is also the author of the middle-grade Charmed Life series and the It's Raining Cupcakes trilogy.
Lisa is a native Oregonian and lives in Beaverton with her husband and two sons. When she's not writing, she can usually be found reading, walking the dog, baking yummy treats, or at www.lisaschroederbooks.com.
SCHROEDER, Lisa. See You on a Starry Night. 256p. Scholastic. Jun. 2018. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781338195767.
Gr 3-6--After her parents' recent divorce, 11-year-old Juliet; her older sister, Miranda; and their mom move from Bakersfield to Mission Beach in California. Juliet is unhappy with all the changes in her life and now, to top it off, she has to start at a new school after spring break. Escaping from her new home and heading down to the beach, Juliet meets Emma, who instantly draws Juliet into her latest adventure: writing messages to put into a bottle and toss into the ocean. Juliet thinks the idea is a bit wacky but she immediately likes Emma and won't turn away a potential friend. Juliet is shocked to discover an email from "Some Kid" later in the week claiming to have discovered her message in a bottle. Some Kid invites Juliet to be part of the Starry Beach Club if she can help make someone's wish come true. Juliet has her work cut out for her. Schroeder nicely balances the emotions Juliet is tackling as she dwells on her parents' divorce, starts a new friendship, and becomes part of the Mission Beach community. Juliet's love of lists, her passion for art and Vincent van Gogh, and her jealousy at observing Emma's "perfect" family are highly relatable. VERDICT Collections in need of stories about making new friends and the emotional aftermath of divorce in white middle class families should consider this title.--Sarah Wethern, Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Wethern, Sarah. "SCHROEDER, Lisa. See You on a Starry Night." School Library Journal, vol. 64, no. 5, 2018, p. 87+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A536987999/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=03dc7a12. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.
Schroeder, Lisa SEE YOU ON A STARRY NIGHT Scholastic (Children's Fiction) $16.99 6, 26 ISBN: 978-1-338-19574-3
Juliet loves glitter, painting, cookie-dough ice cream, Van Gogh's The Starry Night, and writing lists. She doesn't love that she and her older sister, Miranda, have had to move away from Bakersfield to a beachfront San Diego cottage because her parents are divorcing.
The 11-year-old is immediately befriended by same-aged Emma, whose family lives near the beach and runs an ice cream shop. Together, the girls cast bottles with messages into the sea. Someone--using the signature "Some Kid at the Beach"--responds to Juliet's message, challenging Juliet to try to make a wish come true for someone, both setting up a minor mystery and leading to a small, touching subplot. Advice for children experiencing a divorce comes thick and steady, making this a useful purchase for that group, if they are willing to overlook the rather slight storyline. Juliet is a likable-enough character, and her narrative voice mostly rings true as she alternately rages against her new situation and competently navigates it, assisted a great deal by extremely nice Emma and her remarkably pleasant family (whose mostly smooth road contrasts poignantly with Juliet's new bumpy one) and by her older sister's kind and calming advice. Nearly all the characters appear to be the white default.
A useful, even soothing choice for children undergoing a common transition. (Fiction. 9-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Schroeder, Lisa: SEE YOU ON A STARRY NIGHT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A534375066/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f9ef4a4e. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021
Schroeder, Lisa WISH ON ALL THE STARS Scholastic (Children's Fiction) $16.99 7, 9 ISBN: 978-1-338-19577-4
Juliet and her new friends have founded the Starry Beach Club to distract them from their problems and grant wishes to those in need.
In See You on a Starry Night (2018), narrator Juliet's parents divorced and she and her sister moved with her mother to San Diego from Bakersfield, California. Juliet frets that everything back home is changing. Her best friend is starting to like coffee and dancing, and her father has started dating a woman from his work. She attempts to distract herself with new friends Carmen, who is Latinx, and Emma, who is white, like Juliet. Understanding that happiness comes by helping others, the three of them decide to work together to save the Mission Beach bookmobile. But as they develop their plan to raise money with a neighborhood art fair, Juliet realizes Carmen has secrets that can't compare to her own. Can she use her writing skills to help her new Guatemalan friend, whose mother might be deported? And can she find the courage to use her painting skills to sell artwork at the fair? A breezy read with fine pacing, the story doles out plenty of wisdom about overcoming one's fear of failure. With social activism, kindness to others, and compassion for those in need, Juliet sets a fine example of what it means to be a friend.
A story that tackles immigration issues as part of a simple yet appealing plot. (Fiction. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Schroeder, Lisa: WISH ON ALL THE STARS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A583840493/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9e7335fc. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.
Schroeder, Lisa DON'T JUDGE ME Scholastic (Children's None) $17.99 11, 10 ISBN: 978-1-338-62854-8
Sometimes sticking your neck out is the only way to move forward.
Twelve-year-old Hazel misses the comfort of fifth grade when clothes didn’t matter, looks didn’t matter, and the boys weren’t such huge jerks. Fortunately, she still has her best friend, Tori, who understands why this year is the worst. The school dress code shames girls, two boys deliberately trip Tori and Hazel every day, and Tori’s brother, 13-year-old Ben, no longer wants to hang out with them. Hazel is resigned to spending the rest of sixth grade eating lunch in the library, writing haiku, and looking after Pip, the tortoise she found, until she stumbles across a journal. Some of the boys are rating the girls’ attractiveness and leaving awful comments about the ones they don’t like. Her new friend, Dion, is also being bullied by other boys. Hazel knows she must do something, but what? Hazel’s journey to finding her voice is brimming with lessons on toxic masculinity, sexism, bullying, and how students can work together to make change. The anxiety of transitioning to middle school and Hazel’s insecurities about her changing body are equally relatable. Schroeder’s slight nods to racism and homophobia are a bit anemic but do not detract from the overall theme. Hazel’s actions may inspire readers to stand up for what’s right. Characters follow a White default; Dion is cued as Black. Tori has two lesbian moms.
An empowering read. (Fiction. 10-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Schroeder, Lisa: DON'T JUDGE ME." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A635239967/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=51f05c76. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.