When Stars Are Scattered

My lastest graphic novel (April 2020) is co-written with Omar Mohamed. This book tells the story of Omar's childhood spent in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Omar and his younger brother Hassan fled their homeland of Somalia when civil war broke out, and spent the next 18 years in Dadaab.

Omar now lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is the founder of the non-profit organization Refugee Strong, which delivers school supplies to students still living in Dadaab.

The colors in this book were provided by Iman Geddy, an artist living in Atlanta. You can visit her website to view her beautiful artwork.

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Roller Girl

ROLLER GIRL follows the story of Astrid as she navigates the hard-hitting worlds of junior roller derby and middle school friendships. It's based on my own struggles fitting in in middle school- as well as the home I found while playing roller derby as an adult. 

A Newbery Honor book
2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award winner
A New York Times Bestseller
A Spring 2015 Indie Next Pick
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2015
A New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing of 2015
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2015
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2015
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015
A Top 10 Latin@ Book of 2015
A Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of 2015
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2015
A Texas Bluebonnet Award 2016-2017 nominee
A 2016 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers selection
A 2016 YALSA Popular Paperback selection
An ALA Notable Children's Book of 2016
A 2015 Nerdy Book Club Award Winner for Best Graphic Novel

The book is in full color, but here's a peek at the very first black and white version that I sent to my editor!

All's Faire in Middle School

This is the story of Imogene, who works with her family at the Florida Renaissance Faire. She decides she is ready for the most grueling, the most dangerous quest of her young life... enrolling in public middle school.

A New York Times Editor’s Choice
An Autumn Kids’ Indie Next List top pick
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book 
A New York Public Library Notable Children's Book
A Southern Living Best Children’s Book 
A Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List book
An ALA  Notable book
A VOYA Top Shelf pick
A CCBC Choices book

The Great Pet Escape and The Great Art Caper 

These are also full-color graphic novels, but at 64 pages, they're shorter and intended for a slightly younger audience (approximately ages 6-10). George Washington (the hamster, not the president) and his fellow classroom pets at Daisy P. Flugelhorn Elementary must escape their cages at night to protect the school from Harriet and her evil mouse minions. I had a LOT of fun making these books. They were inspired by my childhood visits with my mom to her classroom during the summer and weekends (she was an elementary art school teacher). I loved roaming the deserted hallways of the school, and thought it was a setting ripe for adventure!

Olympig!

A picture book starring Boomer, an unathletic pig. Boomer has been training his entire life for one moment: the chance to win gold at the Animal Olympics.

Finally, the big day arrives.
He runs.
He jumps.
He dives.
He... loses?

This story is based on my own heartbreaking loss in the gymnastics competition at the 1984 Langhorne Avenue Block Party Kid Olympics.