J. Anderson Coats's Blog

The Loss of the Burying Ground is a Junior Library Guild selection! Come for the pirates, stay for the difficult work of finding common ground with someone you’ve always been told is the enemy. Coming your way in September from Candlewick Press!

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The Loss of the Burying Ground is an action-adventure about two warring nations, one fragile peace treaty, a ruinous storm, and two girls who each grew up convinced their enemy was pure evil but now have to work together to rescue themselves from a desert island. Oh, and there are pirates. Coming your way in September from Candlewick Press!

There’s going to be a paperback edition of Spindle and Dagger! I’m proud of all of my books, but this one is near and dear to my heart. I’m so happy it’s going to be available to more readers in a new format – and with a new cover! Coming your way this September.

So excited to share the cover of The Loss of the Burying Ground, my YA action-adventure that’s coming out from Candlewick Press this fall! Jeff Langevin made the art; Martha Kennedy did the design. I love it so much, and I hope you do as well!

It’s gifting season, and books are a great choice for that young human on your shopping list! There are tons of great choices out there – I hope you’ll consider one of my books for the reader on your list. If you decide to gift one of my books to a friend or loved one, drop me an email with your mailing address and I’ll send you a signed bookplate and some swag!

Read on to find out which book would appeal!

Perfect for that reader who has ever felt like they had to prove themselves, who doesn’t back down from a challenge, who loved Catherine, Called Birdy (the book or the movie!)

Perfect for that reader who has already read every horse story in the library twice, and either 1) wishes like anything for a horse of their own, or 2) can’t spend enough time in the saddle.

Perfect for that reader who loves an immersive historical set in the middle ages that centers self-discovery and strong female friendships.

Perfect for that reader who loves a fairy tale retelling, anything weird or unexplained, something that’s creepy and unsettling, or all of the above.

Perfect for that reader who has a deep sense of justice and yearns to change the world, who loves a character ready to fight for what they believe in, who has ever dreamed about taking over their school.

Perfect for that reader who has ever been the new kid in town, who has ever struggled to find a place in an unusual family, who lives in Seattle or who might be curious about its history.

Perfect for that reader who loves to watch a character learn and grow and change, who enjoys two competing points of view, who finds it amusing when medieval teens behave badly.

PNW friends! Tomorrow is the Bigfoot Kids’ Book Festival, and you are invited! There’s a whole slate of events, including storytimes for the littles, activities for a variety of ages, and panels for everyone! I’ll be signing from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, then joining some talented folks for a discussion for all things middle grade from 1:30 – 2:15. The Bigfoot Kids’ Book Festival is hosted by Brick and Mortar Books at the Town Center in Redmond, WA, and it runs from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Midwest friends! I’m getting excited for the Columbus Book Festival, and I’m hoping to see some of you there! On Saturday, July 15th, I’ll be appearing at Author Speed Dating from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, then from 4:00 – 5:00 pm, I’m joining Federico Erebia (Pedro & Daniel) and Doan Phuong Nguyen (Mèo and Bé) for Kids Through Time, where we’ll talk all things historical fiction. The Columbus Book Festival is kid-friendly, free, and open to the public, and there’s going to be a ton of other stuff to do in and around the Main Library (96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215). It’s gonna be a blast!

A Season Most Unfair has been launched! Thanks to everyone who made this event awesome, especially my co-presenter, editor sib, and new writer-friend Joy McCullough, whose excellent new middle-grade, Code Red, is very much worth your time. Also a BIG thanks to the folks at Brick & Mortar Books – always friendly and welcoming. Yay books!

A Season Most Unfair is out today! Tick means to prove she’s just as good a candlemaker as any boy, even if it means breaking a rule or two. If you love kidlit historicals like The Beatryce Prophecy and Catherine, Called Birdy, this book may be right up your alley! Grab your copy today!

Booklist has nice things to say about A Season Most Unfair! Thanks, Booklist! Coming your way this June!