Jen Bryant author

SEPTEMBER 2018

Back to School Hello and welcome to my back-to-class issue! I hope you enjoyed a book-filled summer—and perhaps had the chance to do a few fun things.

There will be multiple issues of my Flying Tidings newsletter in 2018-19, so stay tuned for some NEW book news, links to interesting sites and reviews, and of course, always an easy-to-enter contest where you can win signed copies.

And now you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram, too.

Here’s what’s ahead:


	National Writing Project updates

	Jen's recommended reads

	On reading, re-reading, and reluctant readers

	Author visits, events

	Contests

NWP's Write-Out—and NCTE, Houston, Texas

Summer is the time to get outside and write, write, write! This summer, NWP joined with the National Park Service to launch Write Out, an innovative collaborative effort to link 21st century learning, writing, and the great outdoors. You can read more about what they did—but also the MANY ways you can do the same fun, inspiriting activities with your own students here: https://writeout.nwp.org/

And here’s a fantastic audio poem inspired by Write Out that I shared on my Facebook page.

Did you know that NWP is hosting a brunch at NCTE in Houston, Texas? I will be there, along with many other members from host sites all around the country. Click here for more information.

Don't miss these titles

Girl Who Drew Butterflies and Hawk Rising

There are so many fantastic books out this year—and here are just a few that I recommend highly:

They Say Blue, by Jillian Tamaki

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science, by Joyce Sidman

Martin Rising, by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Getting Away With Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case, by Chris Crowe (previously published, now updated and re-released)

Hawk Rising, by Maria Gianferrari

No Truth Without Ruth, by Kathleen Krull

DANZA!, by Duncan Tonatiuh (actually, a 2017 book, but I just re-discovered it!)

And check out adult author and Nashville bookstore owner Ann Patchett’s blog posts “musing” and her staff’s frequent lists of recommended books.

Reading = gymnastics for the brain

It seems strange, in this age of data and long-term studies, that we still need to convince people of the unequivocal benefits of reading BOOKS! To find out more about what goes on in a child’s brain when you read them a story, click here.

I AM a re-reader … are you? Imagine listening to a toe-tapping song only once; or viewing a beautiful painting only once; or seeing a favorite film—only once! And yet … that’s often what adults directly or indirectly tell kids about their favorite books: “didn’t you already read that one?” “we have to make our goal of _______ books, so pick a different one” etc., etc. Here’s a great post from C. Watkins on the Nerdy Book Club blog about the value (the joy!, the passion, the thrill!) of re-reading.

And finally … Jason Reynolds tells us how poetry can win over kids who fear literature.

Events, etc. ...

I’m beginning to hear from librarians and teachers who are back in their buildings for Fall. My wonderful Winding Oak webmasters will be updating my calendar in a few weeks, but until then, click here to see a few places where I’ll be. If you’d like more information about my author visits and adult presentations, email me here.

Jen Bryant with a fabulous group of students

You made it to the end!

Thanks for reading this issue—and here’s my current contest: Two-fifths of my novels are focused on famous trials. Match the trial name (the common one, not the legal one) on the left with the year and topic on the right, send your matches to me in an email: jen@jenbryant.com by October 1st. I’ll draw two names from all of the correct entries and both winners will receive a signed copy The Trial and Ringside 1925. Good luck!

Sacco and Vanzetti	1979, gay rights / murder

Lindbergh Trial	1839-40, slavery

Scopes Trial	1951, school integration

Amistad Trial	1935, kidnapping / murder

Harvey Milk	1921, anarchy, anti-immigration bias

Brown v. Topeka	1925, evolution

Thanks for reading this issue of Flying Tidings!

Until next time, keep in touch:

Jen Bryant | e-mail | Facebook | Instagram