All of us at Transatlantic are so very excited to see Tina Athaide, Eric Walters, and Kathy Kacer recognized on the Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Books of 2019 lists!
About Tina Athaide’s ORANGE FOR THE SUNSETS, recognized on the list of “Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction of 2019”:
★ “[T]his novel is timely, addressing the human complexity of literal borders and figurative walls and lives that are irrevocably and heartbreakingly changed in crises.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “This compassionate novel conveys the multiple injustices and tragedies experienced by both African and Indian Ugandans during this period, and the power of friendship to sustain hope in tumultuous times.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
Tina Athaide was born in Uganda and grew up in London and Canada. While her family left Entebbe just prior to the expulsion, she has memories of refugee family and friends staying with them in their London home. The stories and conversations she listened to through the years became the inspiration for her book ORANGE FOR THE SUNSETS. Tina now lives in California with her husband, Ron, and their daughter, Isabella.
Tina Athaide is represented by Andrea Cascardi.
About by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer’s BROKEN STRINGS, recognized on the list of “Best Middle-Grade Books of 2019 That Prove the Past Isn’t Past”:
★ “Shirli’s voice is true and strong as she narrates her own tale of rehearsals, her very ethnically diverse friendships, her deep distress as she witnesses Zayde’s pain, and her joy as he reconnects with his music. A beautiful, painful, heartfelt reminder that the past is with us still.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Walters and Kacer pull of this impressive feat of complex storytelling and make it look easy . . . . [It is an] honest, open and unflinching [story] about some of the more dark and traumatic aspects of history.” — Quill & Quire, starred review
Eric Walters is one of Canada’s best-known and most prolific writers of fiction for children and young adults. His books have won over 120 awards, including thirteen separate children’s choice awards, and have been translated into thirteen languages. In 2014, Eric was named a Member of the Order of Canada “for his contribution as an author of literature for children and young adults whose stories help young readers grapple with complex social issues.”
Kathy Kacer is the award-winning author twenty books of Holocaust fiction and non-fiction for young readers. Her books have been published and translated in twenty countries. She is the child of Holocaust survivors, and the parent of two actors and musical theater performers.
Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer are represented by Amy Tompkins.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2019/section/middle-grade/lists/