Author/Book Spotlight: Backyard Witch #1: Sadie’s Story

About the Book: A must-have for newly independent readers and fans of Ivy + Bean and Clementine! The first of a new series, starring three young girls and a mysterious visitor who appears exactly when you need her–with just the right amount of magic.

Sadie has two best friends: Jess and Maya. But Jess can only take one friend on vacation with her, and Sadie is the one who gets left behind. How will she ever survive the days of loneliness and boredom? But wait . . . what is that in her old playhouse in the backyard? A witch has moved in! A kind and funny witch, who’s looking for her own two lost friends. Together, Sadie and the witch have a curious adventure, one that makes Sadie see her neighborhood–and herself–with new eyes. Acclaimed authors Ron Koertge and Christine Heppermann–writing together and for younger readers for the first time–have created a heroine to rival Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Ms. Frizzle. Short chapters, a satisfying mystery, gentle humor, magical dazzle, and adorable black-and-white illustrations throughout by debut artist Deborah Marcero make this an ideal pick for readers of Ivy + Bean, Just Grace, and Kate DiCamillo’s novels for younger readers.

 

• Age Range: 8 – 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 – 7
• Series: Backyard Witch (Book 1)
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Cost: $16.99
• https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062338389/sadies-story

 

Book Reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23460956-backyard-witch-1

 

 

 

About the Author: Christine Heppermann grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating from an all-girls Catholic high school she went on to study philosophy and literature at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She has a masters degree in children’s literature from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She has written about children’s literature for many years and currently reviews  young adult books for the Chicago Tribune. https://christineheppermann.com/

Christine lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her two daughters, two cats, and one husband. She can be reached via email at info@christineheppermann.com.

 

About the Author: Ron Koertge is the author of many celebrated novels, including Stoner & Spaz, Strays, and The Brimstone Journals, all American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults; Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, and American Library Association Top Ten Sports Books for Youth Selection; and The Arizona Kid, an  American Library Association pick for “one of the ten funniest books of the year.” A two-time winner of the PEN Literary Award for Children’s Literature, Ron lives in South Pasadena, California. https://ronkoertge.com/about/