SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: CLIQUE HERE
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: www.annastan.com
CITY: Boston
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 350
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Surname pronounced “Stan-ih-zoo-ski”; born in Warsaw, Poland; immigrated to United States at age five; married Ray Brierly; children: one daughter.
EDUCATION:Sarah Lawrence College, B.F.A.; Simmons College, M.A., M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and educator. Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA, former member of staff; Simmons College, Boston, MA, instructor at Center for the Study of Children’s Literature. Writer-in-residence at Boston Public Library, Boston, 2006-07.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, bicycling, walking, traveling, spending time with friends and family.
AWARDS:Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award, PEN New England, 2009, for “The Tinkerers.”
WRITINGS
Contributor to Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors on Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself, edited by Luke Reynolds, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2013.
SIDELIGHTS
Anna Staniszewski is the author of several books for middle-grade audiences that blend humor with gentle life lessons. In her “Unfairy Tale Life” series, Staniszewski follows the exploits of a girl who gives aid to several magical beings, and her “Switched at First Kiss” books offer an inventive twist on paranormal romances. In her “Dirt Diary” novels for teens, she focuses on a high schooler who discovers that her new job comes with some unusual perks.
In My Very UnFairy Tale Life twelve-year-old Jenny has been an Adventurer for three years, journeying to magical kingdoms to help creatures like unicorns and dragons solve their problems. When she meets her match in the form of a horrifying clown monster named Klarr, Jenny opts for a “normal” life where her challenges are reduced to meeting new friends and passing the weekly math test. The teen finds the transition a difficult one however, as she must hide her true talents from her middle-school classmates. Staniszewski takes readers on an “amusing ride that displays a confident, on-the-mark … humor,” observed a contributor to Publishers Weekly, the critic praising My Very UnFairy Tale Life for its “inventive and lighthearted premise.”
In My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, Jenny must complete three incredibly complex tasks in order to save the Land of Tales from an evil witch. A third volume in Staniszewski’s “Unfairy Tale Life” series, My Sort of Fairy Tale Ending, finds Jenny venturing to Fairy Land to rescue her parents, who disappeared years earlier and are being held captive by the deranged Queen Fairy. “Staniszewski again keeps her tone light and frothy with plenty of wry humor,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews writer in praise of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, and Kate Quealy-Gainer stated in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books that “Jenny’s got clever witticisms and preteen sarcasm to spare.”
Staniszewski introduces a pair of supernatural protagonists in I’m with Cupid, the first book in her “Switched at First Kiss” series for ‘tweens. A soul collector who escorts the departed to the afterlife, thirteen-year-old Lena Perris transfers her powers to classmate Marcus Torelli after she kisses him on a dare. Lena also inherits Marcus’s gift for matchmaking and the duo’s inexperience with their new roles soon leads to chaos. “Staniszewski works ‘tween humor very well,” according to Stacey Comfort in Booklist, and a writer for Kirkus Reviews cited the “deft mix of comedy and sensitive, deeper themes” in I’m with Cupid, resulting in a novel that is “not only entertaining, but one that offers wisdom.”
The Dirt Diary centers on fourteen-year-old Rachel Lee. Needing to replace the 300 dollars she “borrowed” from her college fund, Rachel agrees to help with her newly separated mom’s house-cleaning business. Granted access to the homes of assorted classmates in order to clean them, Rachel becomes privy to several secrets and she faces an ethical dilemma when she accepts money to spy on someone’s girlfriend.
The “Dirty Diary” series continues with The Prank List, Rachel plans a series of ill-fated capers designed to fend off a competitor to her mother’s housekeeping service, and Staniszewski continues the teen’s adventures in The Gossip File and The Truth Game. Reviewing The Prank List, Quealy-Gainer noted in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books that “there is … heart and humor here, so readers looking for a heroine as flawed as themselves will commiserate with Rachel.” Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Rochelle Garfinkel predicted of the same book that “Rachel’s voice and her friends’ (and enemies’) actions will all ring true to middle schoolers.”
Dogosaurus Rex is a standalone illustrated volume for young readers. It finds a boy named Ben going to the animal shelter to choose a new pet. Instead of one of the dogs he sees there, Ben chooses a Tyrannosaurus rex and names her Sadie. Ben and Sadie become fast friends, but Sadie’s size and strength presents complications. People in Ben’s town begin resenting Sadie, but she turns her reputation around when she stops a robber from striking a fruit stand.
Julie Roach, reviewing the book in Horn Book, suggested, “The outrageousness of the story’s plot to create added humor and pleasurable incredulity.” A Publishers Weekly critic described the book as a “delightfully mischievous story.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews commented, “It may feel as though there are a few too many dinosaur picture books around, but … [ Dogosaurus Rex ] deserves a place on the shelf.”
In Secondhand Wishes, a middle-grade novel, Lexi Block is experiencing trouble at school and at home. Her grades, once stellar, have begun slipping, and she is worried about her four-year-old brother’s health. Additionally, Lexi has been feeling left out now that her best friend, Cassa, has been spending more time with Marina, the new girl. Lexi enjoys working at the secondhand store that Cassa’s mom owns because it gives her an opportunity to organize things and have some control. One day, she discovers a group of stones in a donation bag at the store. The stones are meant to grant wishes, and Lexi hopes they will help turn her life around. Meanwhile, she reconnects with her estranged aunt.
“Staniszewski’s take on the familiar trope of being careful with wishes is a sweet, heartwarming story,” asserted Elizabeth Norton in Voice of Youth Advocates. Booklist critic Carolyn Phelan remarked that “Lexi’s first-person narrative offers a very readable account of a seventh-grader’s thoughts, emotions, and insecurities.” A Kirkus Reviews writer commented, “In spite of some improbable coincidences, this will satisfy middle-grade readers who want to believe that wishes can come true.”
Set in a place called the Enchanted Kingdom, The Magic Mirror, which launches the “Once Upon a Fairy Tale” series, introduces best friends Kara and Zed. Zed has been working as a royal messenger, and Kara goes with him on a mission to fix a magic mirror owned by Princess Aspen, who is responsible for bringing about winter. Aspen believes her sister, Sola, broke the mirror and has its missing piece. Kara and Zed discover that the princesses have had a falling out over a pet monkey. They must facilitate a reconciliation between Sola and Aspen. A critic in Kirkus Reviews commented of this book, “The conflict is very gentle, posing no barrier to readers’ ability to grapple with the mystery.”
(open new)
The series continues with The Stolen Slipper, with Kara and Zed setting off for further adventures when Prince Charming loses both the girl and the glass slipper in this nod to “Cinderella.” Kara sees this as an opportunity to find the missing shoe and also the disrupt an evil plot. However, both Kara and Zed could end up in the dungeon if they fail. A Kirkus Reviews critic noted of this second series installment: “The mystery is well-structured for its age group, with all of the pieces (including red herrings) laid out early and then spotlighted at crucial moments, enabling readers to solve right alongside the racially diverse heroes.” The critic added: “Young readers will be enchanted.” The series continues with The Missing Dwarf and The Snoring Princess.
In her 2019 stand-alone novel, The Wonder of Wildflowers, Staniszewski, presents a coming-of-age fantasy novel about the desire to fit in and the plight of immigrants. Mira is ten and she and her family have lived in Amberland for the past five years. Soon they will become citizens and be able to sip the magical liquid, Amber, that transforms normal folks into extraordinary ones with the power to prevent illness. Mira is anxious to finally become a citizen, but her classmate Daniel makes no attempt to fit in. Then she learns that Daniel’s little brother is dangerously ill and she understands now that Amber should be reserved for those who really need it. When the supply of Amber begins to grow scarce, public opinion turns against immigrants, demanding they be sent back to their home countries and stop consuming the precious Amber.
Writing in Booklist, Selenia Paz had praise for The Wonder of Wildflowers, noting: “Mira’s story, told through intimate first-person narration, flows easily. Young readers will enjoy watching her self-realization bloom.” Paz further commented: “The futuristic setting presents a cautionary element through strong parallels to our own reality. A strong middle-grade novel recommended for all libraries.” A Kirkus Reviews critic similarly observed: “[T]he magical aspects of the story are well balanced with the realistic issues tackled such as bullying and immigration laws. … A light fantasy with a powerful message of hope.”
Staniszewski offers another picture book in her 2020 work, Beast in Show, illustrated by Joanie Stone. Julia loves her dog, Huxley, and when she hears there is soon to be a dog show, she enters it. Huxley is sure to win, she figures. He can run and jump and even do back flips. But the competition at the show is intense and it’s not only dogs that take part. Extraterrestrial pets, dragons, and robot cats steal the spotlight with their amazing abilities, and Julia ultimately learns about losing gracefully and keeping the bond with one’s pet. A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented: “As in her narrative Staniszewski never lets on that the competitors are other than canine, there’s a droll disconnect between the text and the pictures that even very young readers will enjoy.” The contributor further noted, “Julia discovers that there’s more than one way to be a winner.”
The author has also contributed several novels to the middle-grade series, “A Wish Novel.” Clique Here, from 2021, features young Lily, who enjoys hanging out with her best friend, Katie, and also loves science. However, a mean girl at her school and her clique make Lily’s life miserable, and she is very eager to change schools and start over. She has the summer to use her scientific skills to come up with a fool-proof plan to become popular and soon thinks she has the right formula. When school starts, Lily appears as cool Blake and is ready for instant popularity. But things do not necessarily go as expected in this experiment, and soon her old friend Katie appears at the school. Now things become complicated and it is unclear whether Lily or Blake is the winner of this experiment. A Kirkus Reviews critic had praise for Clique Here, commenting: “[T]he swiftly paced, first-person narrative keeps readers engaged, and the message that putting others down is wrong, no matter the reason, is valuable. Lily’s social awkwardness and lack of confidence will resonate with many tweens. Her growing ability to deal with whatever life throws at her is relatable and engaging.”
(close new)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, January 1, 2014, Diane Colson, review of The Dirt Diary, p. 112; May 15, 2015, Stacey Comfort, review of I’m with Cupid, p. 56; November 15, 2018, Carolyn Phelan, review of Secondhand Wishes, p. 58; December 1, 2019, Selenia Paz, review of The Wonder of Wildflowers, p. 62.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, April, 2013, Kate Quealy-Gainer, review of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, p. 395; January, 2014, Kate Quealy-Gainer, review of The Dirt Diary, p. 284.
Horn Book, July-August, 2017, Julie Roach, review of Dogosaurus Rex, p. 117.
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2011, review of My Very UnFairy Tale Life; February 1, 2013, review of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail; September 15, 2013, review of My Sort of Fairy Tale Ending; December 1, 2013, review of The Dirt Diary; June 1, 2014, review of The Prank List; January 1, 2015, review of Power down, Little Robot; May 1, 2015, review of I’m with Cupid; May 15, 2017, review of Dogosaurus Rex; November 1, 2018, review of Secondhand Wishes; June 15, 2019, review of The Magic Mirror; fOctober 15, 2019, review of The Stolen Slipper; December 1, 2019, review of The Wonder of Wildflowers; November 15, 2020, review of Beast in Show; April 15, 2021, review of Clique Here.
Publishers Weekly, September 26, 2011, review of My Very UnFairy Tale Life, p. 74; October 21, 2013, review of The Dirt Diary, p. 52; June 5, 2017, review of Dogosaurus Rex, p. 50.
School Library Journal, December, 2011, Alyson Low, review of My Very UnFairy Tale Life, p. 131; May, 2013, Gesse Stark-Smith, review of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, p. 128; December, 2013, Kefira Phillipe, review of The Dirt Diary, p. 119; June, 2014, Brenda Kahn, review of The Prank List, p. 108; May, 2015, Lynn Rashid, review of I’m with Cupid, p. 116.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2014, Rochelle Garfinkel, review of The Prank List, p. 72; February, 2019, Elizabeth Norton, review of Secondhand Wishes, p. 70.
ONLINE
Anna Staniszewski website, http://www.annastan.com (August 25, 2021).
Samantha M. Clark website, http://www.samanthamclark.com/ (October 25, 2013), article by author.
Simmons University website, https://www.simmons.edu/ (August 25, 2021), author faculty profile.*
Anna Staniszewski
Adjunct Faculty
Children’s Literature
Anna Staniszewski photo
Send an email
About Me
As an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College, Anna Staniszewski focused on writing for the theater, but when she later took a job at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, she realized she was meant to combine her passion for writing with her love of children’s books. Staniszewski went on to enroll at Simmons University where she earned an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children. She was the Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Staniszewski is the author of several novels for tweens, including the Dirt Diary series and Once Upon a Cruise, as well as the picture books Power Down, Little Robot (illustrated by Tim Zeltner) and Dogosaurus Rex (illustrated by Kevin Hawkes). You can learn more about Staniszewski and her work at annastan.com.
What I Teach
CHL 430 - Writing for Children I
CHL 431 - Writing for Children II
CHL 419 - The Art of Humor
The Short Version:
Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. She was a Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Currently, Anna lives south of Boston with her family and teaches courses on writing and children’s literature at Simmons University. When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time reading, daydreaming, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. She is the author of over twenty books for young readers, including the novels Secondhand Wishes and The Wonder of Wildflowers; the picture books Dogosaurus Rex and Beast in Show; and the Once Upon a Fairy Tale chapter book series.
The Long Version:
Born in Warsaw, Poland and raised in Westborough, Massachusetts, I grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. I spent many hours of my childhood churning out terrible poems and books (in English) on an ancient, Polish typewriter. I dreamed of being a writer, a teacher, an actress, and a ballerina.
After high school, I attended Sarah Lawrence College where I received a BFA in Theater. After some twists and turns, I found myself working at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, Mass. Being surrounded by people who were wildly passionate about children’s books rekindled my love of writing. I moved to Boston and attended Simmons University where I received an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children.
In 2006 I was lucky enough to be chosen as the Writer-in-Residence for the Boston Public Library. After my residency, I began teaching courses on writing and children’s literature in the Boston area. In 2009, my manuscript, The Tinkerers, was chosen as a winner of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. In 2011, my dream of becoming a published author finally came true with the release of my first novel, My Very UnFairy Tale Life.
These days, I no longer write on an old typewriter; instead, I have a small office where I sit at a tiny desk and type away on my slightly-less-noisy computer. I’m represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and I teach in the MFA Writing for Children Program at Simmons University. I am the author of over twenty books for young readers, including the novels Secondhand Wishes and The Wonder of Wildflowers; the picture books Dogosaurus Rex and Beast in Show; and the Once Upon a Fairy Tale chapter book series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce your last name?
In Poland you would say “Stah-nee-shev-ski” but the Americanized way is “Stan-ih-zoo-ski.” Mostly people just call me Anna.
When is your birthday and where were you born?
I was born in Warsaw, Poland on August 31. I'd tell you the year, but I don't want you to know how super old I am. :)
Where do you get your ideas?
Sometimes, an idea starts with something as small as an image or a sentence. When I first began writing My Very UnFairy Tale Life, I started with an image of a girl who discovers a talking frog in her bedroom. The idea for The Dirt Diary, on the other hand, came from a story I heard on the radio about a girl who had to clean the houses of some of her classmates. I started imagining what it would be like if those classmates were the popular kids who had already been making the girl’s life miserable, and what might happen if she discovered some of their secrets along the way. Thus, Rachel’s story was born!
What made you decide to become a writer?
I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. When I was young I wrote lots of poems and stories. I also wrote plays and made my (sometimes reluctant) friends perform them. Since I was shy, writing was a way I could still make my voice heard. As an adult, I had a hard time figuring out what my real passion was. For a while I thought theater was what I was meant to be doing. Finally I came back to writing and realized that I’d never stopped loving it.
What should I do if I want to be a writer?
Read a lot and write a lot. It may sound simple, but it’s true. Also, learn to love revising; remember that a story is never perfect the first time around. Most importantly, make sure you’re writing the kinds of stories you would want to read. Really think about the things in books that pull you in. If you write about what interests you, you’ll never get bored.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I read A LOT. I also teach writing at Simmons University in Boston. Teaching is a perfect contrast to writing because it allows me to interact with people (a nice change from the solitary profession of writing) and it also challenges and inspires me. I enjoy walking, traveling, going to the playground with my daughter, and spending time with family and friends.
What are some of your favorite books?
There are so many that I’ve enjoyed over the years but here are a few that come to mind:
Skellig by David Almond
Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
The Giver by Lois Lowry
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
What are some of your other favorite things?
My favorite color is dark purple (think eggplant). I love chocolate so much that I've stopped keeping it in the house! I enjoy exploring new places, but I also really like relaxing at home in my pajamas with a cup of tea and a good book.
Anna Staniszewski
Anna Staniszewski lives and works in the Boston area. She's the author of the My Very UnFairy Tale Life series and the upcoming Dirt Diaries series-both published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky-as well as the occasional dinosaur picture book.
Genres: Children's Fiction
New Books
June 2021
(paperback)
Clique Here
(Wish)December 2021
(paperback)
Double Clique
(Wish)
Series
My Very UnFairy Tale Life
1. My Very Unfairy Tale Life (2011)
2. My Epic Fairy Tale Fail (2013)
3. My Sort of Fairy Tale Ending (2013)
thumbthumbthumb
Dirt Diary
1. The Dirt Diary (2014)
2. The Prank List (2014)
3. The Gossip File (2015)
4. The Truth Game (2016)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
Switched at First Kiss
1. I'm With Cupid (2015)
2. Finders Reapers (2016)
3. Match Me If You Can (2017)
thumbthumbthumb
Once Upon a Fairy Tale
1. The Magic Mirror (2019)
2. The Stolen Slipper (2019)
3. The Missing Dwarf (2020)
4. The Snoring Princess (2020)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
Novels
Secondhand Wishes (2019)
The Wonder of Wildflowers (2020)
thumbthumb
Picture Books
Power Down, Little Robot (2015)
Dogosaurus Rex (2017)
Beast in Show (2021)
thumbthumbthumb
Series contributed to
Wish
Once Upon a Cruise (2016)
Clique Here (2021)
Double Clique (2021)
thumbthumbthumb
Anna Staniszewski is the talented and prolific author of over a dozen books for young readers, ranging from the novels Once Upon a Cruise and The Dirt Diary series, to picture books such as Dogosaurus Rex and Power Down, Little Robot. She was a Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Currently, Anna lives south of Boston with her family and teaches writing and children’s literature at Simmons University.
QUOTE: : "The mystery is well-structured for its age group, with all of the pieces (including red herrings) laid out early and then spotlighted at crucial moments, enabling readers to solve right alongside the racially diverse heroes." The critic added: "Young readers will be enchanted."
Staniszewski, Anna THE STOLEN SLIPPER Scholastic (Children's Fiction) $4.99 12, 3 ISBN: 978-1-338-34975-7
Mystery solvers Kara and Zed help crack the Cinderella case in the second Once Upon a Fairy Tale chapter book.
Handsome, dashing Prince Patrick and his cute puppy, Duncan, stop in at Kara's family shoe shop because the glass slipper left behind by the mysterious woman who captured his heart at a ball--his only clue to finding her--has been stolen from his library, and he's looking for leads on who made it. As it was fairy godmother-made, Kara's parents can't help, but Kara offers her sleuthing services, together with her best friend, Zed. When the offer is quickly rejected (after Patrick consults his adviser), Kara decides they'll solve the mystery anyway. While the villain (and motive) behind the crime is revealed early, setting a trap for and catching said villain is only half of the puzzle. The other half is finding the shoe so that Cinderella's story can proceed on schedule. The mystery is well-structured for its age group, with all of the pieces (including red herrings) laid out early and then spotlighted at crucial moments, enabling readers to solve right alongside the racially diverse heroes--in the black-and-white illustrations, Kara and Cinderella are pale while Patrick and Zed have dark skin. The art's expressiveness buttresses the characterization and highlights key amusing animal moments (a welcome carryover from series opener The Magic Mirror, 2019).
Young readers will be enchanted. (Fantasy/mystery. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Staniszewski, Anna: THE STOLEN SLIPPER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A602487645/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=21c9dc9e. Accessed 7 Aug. 2021.
QUOTE: "Mira's story, told through intimate first-person narration, flows easily. Young readers will enjoy watching her self-realization bloom." Paz further commented: "The futuristic setting presents a cautionary element through strong parallels to our own reality. A strong middle-grade novel recommended for all libraries."
The Wonder of Wildflowers. By Anna Staniszewski. Feb. 2020.192p. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (9781534442788). Gr. 3-6.
Mira's family has lived in Amberland for five years, waiting to become citizens and gain access to Amber, a magical liquid that makes normal people extraordinary and prevents illness. While Mira wants only to be like everybody else, her classmate Daniel doesn't even try to fit in. When she discovers how sick his little brother is, she realizes that Amber should be saved for those who truly need it. Meanwhile, the precious substance begins to grow scarce, leading to public protests, with citizens demanding that immigrants return to their countries and stop using up the local supply. Mira's story, told through intimate first-person narration, flows easily. Young readers will enjoy watching her self-realization bloom--like a lovely wildflower--as she comes to learn who she is without Amber and realizes that she never needed it at all. The futuristic setting presents a cautionary element through strong parallels to our own reality. A strong middle-grade novel recommended for all libraries. --Selenia Paz
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Paz, Selenia. "The Wonder of Wildflowers." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 7, 1 Dec. 2019, p. 62. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A609538892/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=04b9751f. Accessed 7 Aug. 2021.
QUOTE: "[T]he magical aspects of the story are well balanced with the realistic issues tackled such as bullying and immigration laws. ... A light fantasy with a powerful message of hope."
Staniszewski, Anna THE WONDER OF WILDFLOWERS Simon & Schuster (Children's Fiction) $17.99 2, 25 ISBN: 978-1-5344-4278-8
A young girl who wants nothing more than to fit in with her classmates learns to stand out instead.
Włodzimira--Mira for short--is the "least-athletic girl" and shortest person in her fifth grade class. She's also the only one who breaks a sweat when doing physical activity, and it's because everyone else in her class takes Amber: a magical substance that essentially makes people stronger, healthier, and smarter. Only citizens of Amberland have access to Amber rations, and the government is strict regarding whom they let cross their borders. Just when narrator Mira and her family finally become citizens, news of Amber's dwindling supply weaves panic into the community, causing protests and hate crimes. Staniszewski writes a fluid first-person narrative, providing valuable insight on Mira's thoughts and feelings regarding how she's seen as an outsider by her classmates and hopes for a better life in Amberland. While the worldbuilding feels thin at times, the magical aspects of the story are well balanced with the realistic issues tackled such as bullying and immigration laws. Naming conventions cue ethnicity in this analog America, which seems to be as diverse as the real one; Mira and her family are presumed Polish.
A light fantasy with a powerful message of hope. (author's note) (Fantasy. 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
"Staniszewski, Anna: THE WONDER OF WILDFLOWERS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A606964328/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=18b94ba0. Accessed 7 Aug. 2021.
QUOTE: "As in her narrative Staniszewski never lets on that the competitors are other than canine, there's a droll disconnect between the text and the pictures that even very young readers will enjoy." The contributor further noted, "Julia discovers that there's more than one way to be a winner ... ."
Staniszewski, Anna BEAST IN SHOW Henry Holt (Children's None) $17.99 2, 9 ISBN: 978-1-62779-126-7
Julia discovers that there’s more than one way to be a winner when she enters her beloved dog, Huxley, in a show.
What kind of a show? “Just a totally normal dog show,” says a judge—but considering that Huxley is up, in the illustrations anyway, against competitors like a dragon, a winged unicorn, and a floating green teddy bear with antennae, will Huxley get much attention? Backflips and barking on command don’t make much of an impression. Nor do Julia’s frantic attempts to up her outgoing pooch’s game with ribbons and other froufrou. But when the front-running unicorn takes a fall in the climactic round, it’s Huxley’s encouraging nose lick that gets him back on his hooves and on to the finish. In the end, even though the “Best In Show” wreath goes to the unicorn, it’s the helpful hound who brings the cheering audience to its feet and earns a ride on the grateful winner’s back. Stone depicts Julia and her dad with light-brown skin amid racially diverse background groups of owners and onlookers. As in her narrative Staniszewski never lets on that the competitors are other than canine, there’s a droll disconnect between the text and the pictures that even very young readers will enjoy. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 70% of actual size.)
A lick on the nose to all who lend a helping paw. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Staniszewski, Anna: BEAST IN SHOW." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A641314308/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d92918a4. Accessed 7 Aug. 2021.
QUOTE: "[T]he swiftly paced, first-person narrative keeps readers engaged, and the message that putting others down is wrong, no matter the reason, is valuable. Lily's social awkwardness and lack of confidence will resonate with many tweens. Her growing ability to deal with whatever life throws at her is relatable and engaging."
Staniszewski, Anna CLIQUE HERE Scholastic (Children's None) $7.99 6, 1 ISBN: 978-1-338-68027-0
Science-crazy seventh grader Lily Blake Cooper hopes that transferring to a new middle school will transform her from nerdy geek to social butterfly.
At Lily’s old school, mean girl Courtenay and her bevy made her life hell; looks and money seemed to be all that mattered. Before embarking on a fresh start, Lily devises a science experiment to try to solve the mystery of middle school popularity. However, science turns out not to be the ideal tool for making these life changes. Deciding to go by Blake and improving her wardrobe help, but the new school turns out to have plenty of pitfalls of its own. The coveted science club is superserious and less fun than the kitchen science Lily loves, not to mention that here the science-y kids rule, looking down on those who are less successful academically. A series of messy pranks target Lily and her classmates, and eventually a cruel prank which is hard to recover from socially is played on her. Although the characters tend toward two-dimensionality, the swiftly paced, first-person narrative keeps readers engaged, and the message that putting others down is wrong, no matter the reason, is valuable. Lily’s social awkwardness and lack of confidence will resonate with many tweens. Her growing ability to deal with whatever life throws at her is relatable and engaging. Most characters present White.
Shows readers that being kind is more important than belonging to the right clique. (Fiction. 10-14)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Staniszewski, Anna: CLIQUE HERE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A658194638/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0f3de2b2. Accessed 7 Aug. 2021.