Second Star to the Right...

Today is the official launch date of Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, which makes it very fitting to be able to celebrate the publication with ::drum roll please::

…TWO starred reviews!! One from Booklist, and the other from Publisher’s Weekly.

Publisher’s Weekly called it “…a perfect blend of mystery and humor.” And then, my favorite line, “Loads of evocative Egyptian history and an oh-so-plucky, resourceful narrator make this the first volume in a series to watch.” You can see the entire review here.

Booklist says “It’s the delicious, precise, and atmospheric details (nicely extended in Tanaka’s few, stylized illustrations) that will capture and hold readers, from the contents of Theodosia’s curse-removing kit to descriptions of the museum after hours, when Theodosia sleeps in a sarcophagus to ward off the curses of “disgruntled dead things.” Kids who feel overlooked by their own distracted parents may feel a tug of recognition as Theodosia yearns for attention, and those interested in archeology will be drawn to the story’s questions about the ownership and responsible treatment of ancient artifacts. A sure bet for Harry Potter fans, as well as Joan Aiken’s and Eva Ibbotson’s readers. This imaginative, supernatural mystery will find word-of-mouth popularity.” —Gillian Engberg

Book reviews are a fact of the writerly life, and in my own case, they’ve never been a very pleasant fact of life, but rather one of those aspects that must be endured.

Until now…

Frankly, I’m still in shock. But Oh-so-happy!

Also, I’ll be in Bakersfield for a signing at Russo’s Bookstore on Saturday, April 21. If any of you live in the area, feel free to stop by!