Thalia Kids' Book Club: A Conversation with Laurie Halse Anderson

The two-time National Book Award finalist (Speak and Chains) talks with Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes) about the compelling novels that have earned her numerous awards and fans of all ages.  Her latest release, Forge (the sequel to Chains) is a gripping story filled with plot twists and unforgettable characters.  Ages 10 - 15.

Performance playlist:

Reading and Conversation
Laurie Halse Anderson and Maureen Johnson

Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous national and state awards, as well as international recognition. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Laurie was honored with the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award given by YALSA division of the American Library Association for her "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature...". Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes.

Maureen Johnson is the author of Suite Scarlett, Scarlett Fever, The Key to the Golden Firebird, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, The Bermudez Triangle, and Devilish. She has been an occasional participant and a "secret sister" on John and Hank Green’s Brotherhood 2.0 project and is the founder of the political networking site YA for Obama. Before she could spend all her days writing, Maureen served up hamburgers in the company of mad scientists and talking skeletons in New York, tended bar in Piccadilly Circus, nervously worked alongside live tigers in Las Vegas, and once got mixed up with the entire cast of a major West End musical. Her most recent book The Last Little Blue Envelope will be published next month.