Interview
-
January 07, 2024
As a middle school teacher who has taught in inner-city Brookyln for almost 30 years, Torrey Maldonado’s wellspring of source material comes from his professional career and learned experiences growing up in a Brooklyn, New York project. Like every middle school student, Maldonado came to many crossroads in his young life, and had to decide which way he would turn— “End up like Luke Skywalker? End up like Darth Vader?” And with a mother like Yoda—very short, but full with The Force—Torrey had all kinds of unique influences who helped him learn how to use his hands for good.
-
November 09, 2023
Sometimes, when we think of bravery, we think of superheroes who can fly, read minds, or use their incredible strength to lift a car. Lisa McMann, author of Clarice the Brave and thirty-four other novels, believes we all have the capacity to be brave in our own ways, and through her caring and mindful storytelling, she reminds readers that their actions matter:
“…We must remember that acts of bravery occur every day. There are always people who need help, and being brave can look like stretching outside your comfort zone to help someone, whether it puts you in danger or not.”
In this author interview with Lisa McMann, we’ll learn more about Lisa’s love for animals (and mutiny!), the difference between loss and absence, and how bravery, cleverness, and the will to live come in all different shapes and sizes.
