HWM: What made you realize you wanted to write children’s books? How did you get your “break” into children’s books? Without further ado, I give you Lorie Ann Grover. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that she is one accomplished woman. Hold Me Tight won the distinction of A VOYA Poetry Pick and A Kansas State Reading Circle Middle School Title. On Pointe has been awarded the Girls’ Life Magazine Top Ten Summer Read Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Finalist A Kansas State Reading Circle Middle School Title and A Missouri State Reading Circle Senior Title. Loose Threads has been recognized as A Best Book for the Teen Age, New York Public Library A Best Children’s Book of 2002, Bank Street College of Education A Washington State Book Award Finalist, 2003 A Top 10 Youth First Novel, Booklist A Best of the Best, Edmonton Public Libraries, Canada A Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth Washington State Book Award Finalist and Rhode Island Teen Book Award Finalist. Here’s what I wrote about On Pointe: What do you get when you combine a free verse style novel with a hopeful teen who dreams and sacrifices for the love of ballet? Add a bit of competition, an ambitious family, and a grandfather who was right all along and you get a beautiful flowing novel, On Pointe… for more, read here.Īnd talk about awards. How’s that for a strong mama? You cheer for Essie, who is a sweet girl who watches out for her brother and mother, worries about classmate Chris, speaks up for herself, finds ways to punish her dad, and has the strength to hold on to what she has. She throws his sorry butt out the door and gets the authorities involved. You cheer for Essie’s mom, who believes her daughter rather than Mr. Paul, Essie’s mom’s friend, tries to touch Essie in an inappropriate manner.

Second, Essie’s classmate Chris is kidnapped. First, Essie’s dad leaves his pregnant wife and two children. I wanted to protect 12 year old Essie and her family from everything that was happening to them. This was my thought on Hold Me Tight: Inspired by a true story, Hold Me Tight is an emotional story written in prose. Both books are on my list of Strong Girl Role Models in Children’s Literature. I’ve had the pleasure of reading On Pointe and Hold Me Tight. For those of you who are familiar with readergirlz and frequent the group forums, you know this readergirlz diva encourages teens to empower themselves. Lorie Ann is the author of four books: Loose Threads, On Pointe, Hold Me Tight, and When Daddy Comes Home. I am pleased to welcome Lorie Ann Grover to my blog.

On Pointe by Lorie Ann Grover