Erin Entrada Kelly was awarded the Newbery Medal for Hello,
Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space. She grew up in
Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. She is a
professor of children's literature in the graduate fiction and
publishing programs at Rosemont College, where she earned her MFA,
and is on the faculty at Hamline University. Her short fiction has
been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for
Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. Before becoming a children's
author, Erin worked as a journalist and magazine editor and
received numerous awards for community service journalism, feature
writing, and editing from the Louisiana Press Association and the
Associated Press.
Erin Entrada Kelly's debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best
Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALSC Notable Book, and
an Asian/Pacific American Literature Honor Book. She is also the
author of The Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific
American Award for Literature; You Go First, a Spring 2018 Indie
Next Pick; Lalani of the Distant Sea, an Indie Next Pick; Those
Kids from Fawn Creek, named to numerous best-of-the-year lists; the
acclaimed The First State of Being and four popular novels for
younger readers, Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, Surely Surely Marisol
Rainey, Only Only Marisol Rainey, and Felix Powell, Boy Dog, which
she also illustrated.
Erin Entrada Kelly was awarded the Newbery Medal for Hello,
Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space. She grew up in
Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. She is a
professor of children's literature in the graduate fiction and
publishing programs at Rosemont College, where she earned her MFA,
and is on the faculty at Hamline University. Her short fiction has
been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for
Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. Before becoming a children's
author, Erin worked as a journalist and magazine editor and
received numerous awards for community service journalism, feature
writing, and editing from the Louisiana Press Association and the
Associated Press.
Erin Entrada Kelly's debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best
Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALSC Notable Book, and
an Asian/Pacific American Literature Honor Book. She is also the
author of The Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific
American Award for Literature; You Go First, a Spring 2018 Indie
Next Pick; Lalani of the Distant Sea, an Indie Next Pick; Those
Kids from Fawn Creek, named to numerous best-of-the-year lists; the
acclaimed The First State of Being and four popular novels for
younger readers, Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, Surely Surely Marisol
Rainey, Only Only Marisol Rainey, and Felix Powell, Boy Dog, which
she also illustrated.
"[Marisol] makes lists of favorite and least favorite things, with
gym class--specifically the kickball unit--topping the latter. . .
. Kelly shows her deep understanding of the emotional lives of her
characters. . . . The action takes place over two weeks, during
which Marisol tries a variety of techniques to first avoid and then
overcome (at least a little) her fears. . . . A lively, realistic,
and emotionally honest story." -- Horn Book (starred review)"Erin
Entrada Kelly tells the sweet story of a girl who is afraid of
taking risks in this delightful stand-alone follow-up to Maybe
Maybe Marisol Rainey. . . . When Coach Decker announces that
they're going to learn how to play kickball for the next two weeks,
Marisol feels unsettled. . . . Newbery Medalist Entrada Kelly tells
the compassionate story of a girl who is afraid of taking risks. .
. . Entrada Kelly delicately covers topics of friendship,
self-esteem, and perseverance through difficult and uncomfortable
situations. Surely Surely Marisol Rainey is an excellent book."
-- Shelf Awareness (starred review)"Both Marisol and Jada, her best
friend, keep lists of their favorite and least favorite things.
Topping each girl's 'Least Favorite Things to Do' list is gym
class. . . . An engaging choice for independent readers or for
teachers reading aloud to their classes." -- Booklist"Gym class is
Marisol's least favorite thing. She's not great at sports, but for
once, she'd like to hear 'Way to go, Marisol!' rather than 'Nice
try, Marisol!' or 'Great effort, Marisol!' When their gym teacher
announces that they'll be doing a unit on kickball, Marisol and her
best friend, Jada, get nervous. . . . But with some helpful ideas
and advice from her friends and family, Marisol eventually faces
kickball with fewer worries and a little more confidence. . . . A
charming, delightful story . . . Surely surely a book readers will
enjoy." -- Kirkus Reviews
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