Award Winning and New York Times Bestselling Author
Kirby Larson Visits Montana
Award Winning Author Shares the Story Behind Her Stories
Great Falls, MT —Oct. 5, 2010—Students in Montana will get a special treat this month when New York Times Bestselling Author Kirby Larson visits. Larson will visit with students from Denton, Harlowton, Hobson, Moore, Judith Gap, Winnett, Grass Range, Ross and Lewistown Schools the week of October 25, 2010. In a series of assemblies, she will discuss her writing background and explain how her award winning books The Fences Between Us, Hattie Big Sky, Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle, and Two Bobbies, A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival came to be written.
“I absolutely love writing and sharing my enthusiasm with students and because of Hattie Big Sky, Montana holds a special place in my heart,” said Larson. Larson has been doing workshops and presentations for schools for nearly 20 years. Her presentations encourage creative writing, imagination and are appropriate for school age students as well as adults. Larson will also be attending the Montana State Reading Council Convention in Great Falls in October.
ABOUT – The Fences Between Us (Dear America), ISBN 0545224187, Scholastic
With this sweeping tale of life on the World War II homefront, Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings her incredible talent to the Dear America series. When Pearl Harbor is attacked, America is finally unable to ignore the wars raging in Europe and Asia any longer. And one girl's entire life is about to change when everything she knows is turned on its head. After the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, where her brother, a navy sailor, is stationed, Piper Davis begins chronicling her compelling journey through one of history's most tragic and unforgettable eras.
Piper's father is the pastor for a Japanese Baptist church, and when its members are taken away to Minidoka, Idaho, to be interned, Pastor Davis moves his family from Seattle to Idaho to be with his congregation. Piper is jealous of her older sister, who gets to remain at home and go off to work. Her brother, who survived the Pearl Harbor strike, is stationed in the Pacific, while her brother-in-law is shipped off to Europe to fight. Piper, meanwhile, hates her new life, but soon, through her budding friendship with Betty, a Japanese-American girl who is interned in the camp, Piper learns how it important it is to bear witness to the events that were bound to change America. For more information, check www.scholastic.com/dearamerica.
ABOUT – Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle, ISBN 031605318X,
Little Brown
Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person of his own. He was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs’ life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis's willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before. Nubs became part of Dennis's human "pack" until duty required the Marines to relocate a full 70 miles away--without him. Nubs had no way of knowing that Marines were not allowed to have pets. So began an incredible journey that would take Nubs through a freezing desert, filled with danger, to find his friend and would lead Dennis on a mission that would touch the hearts of people all over the world. Nubs and Dennis will remind readers that friendship has the power to cross deserts, continents, and even species. “Nubs” received a starred review from Booklist, debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and was featured in the 11/16/09 issue of People Magazine. Major Dennis and Nubs were also guests on the Today Show, and the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Reviews or features have been published in Reader’s Digest, Military Officer magazine, AKC Family Dog magazine, The American Dog Magazine, Dog World, and Publishers Weekly. For more information, check www.thestoryofnubs.com.
ABOUT – Hattie Big Sky
The story, inspired by Kirby’s great-grandmother, is about 16-year-old Hattie Brooks and her drive to prove up on a claim in eastern Montana in 1918. The book’s received praise from Newbery Medal winning author, Karen Cushman; acclaimed author, Candace Fleming; and actress Jane Kaczmarek; was honored with the 2007 Montana Book Award, in addition to receiving a Newbery honor award, and has been nominated for more than a dozen state young Reader’s Choice Awards. The title was also a Junior Library Guild selection; School Library Journal named Hattie a Best Book of the Year, Starred review: School Library Journal, Starred review from Booklist.
About the Author
Kirby Larson’s portfolio includes the 2007 Newbery Honor Award book, Hattie Big Sky (Delacorte); and ASPCA Henry Bergh and Southern Independent Booksellers Award winner, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, (Walker), co-written with her good friend, Mary Nethery and illustrated by New Orleans resident, Jean Cassels. Kirby Larson lives in Kenmore, Washington. Look for Kirby’s new book The Fences Between Us: Dear America, in bookstores now. www.kirbylarson.com
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