Here at Saint Ann’s we have an incredible community of readers and writers in the middle school. In an effort to encourage them, the library and the English department have joined forces. We proudly present The Middle School Author Series.
We try to have a fabulous author speak to each grade (or almost each grade!) every year. Below are our past speakers. Stay tuned for upcoming events!
2012-2013
8th grade
Michael Rubens read from his hilarious coming-of-age story Sons of the 613.
7th grade
Gabrielle Zevin taught us that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in something. She is clearly an expert young adult author―we enjoyed hearing about her Birthright series.
4th & 5th grades
R.J. Palacio, author of the highly acclaimed Wonder, spoke to both grades together about her inspiration for the book that won the 2013 Saint Ann’s Mock Newbery Award.
2011-2012
8th grade
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl visited the day Beautiful Chaos (the third book in the Beautiful Creatures series) was released. Hearing them talk about their writing process was interesting and inspirational.
7th grade
Robin Wasserman, author of Skinned, Crashed and Wired, read to the 7th grade. The books feature Lia Khan, a girl whose brain was downloaded into a computerized body after a terrible accident.
5th grade
James Howe, author of The Misfits, Totally Joe (which we read aloud in 5th grade library class!), and Addie on the Inside, remains one of the most memorable speakers we have ever had visit.
4th grade
Cathleen Bell read to us from her latest book, Little Blog on the Prairie. We loved the book and learned a lot about life as a pioneer in the late 1890s!
2010-2011
Leslie Stein conducted an illustration workshop in which she taught us how to tell a story in panels and gave us tips on how to draw a variety of characters. The workshop was open to any student who wanted to attend.
7th grade
Joan Bauer, award-winning author of Hope Was Here and Rules of the Road, read from her latest book, Peeled. We loved listening to Joan!
6th grade
Gitty Daneshvari read to the 6th grade
Gitty read from her latest book, School of Fear 2: Class is Not Dismissed. Her first book, School of Fear, was a big hit around here!
4th grade
Adam Gidwitz, who has taught lower school, language structures, and a high school seminar at Saint Ann’s, read from his critically acclaimed new book, A Tale Dark and Grimm. Not surprisingly, he was wonderful!
2009-2010
Misako Rocks, author and illustrator of Detective Jermain, Biker Girl and Rock and Roll Love, came for the second year in a row. We always have so much fun when she visits! The event was open to all students.
8th grade
Natalie Standiford read from her quirky literary hit How To Say Goodbye in Robot.
6th grade
Mitali Perkins, author of Monsoon Summer, The Not-So-Star Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, and Secret Keeper, read and spoke with our sixth grade.
4th grade
Michael Buckley read from his wildly popular The Sisters Grimm series, a modern twist on some old favorites.
2008-2009
Misako Rocks, author and illustrator of Detective Jermain, Biker Girl and Rock and Roll Love, talked about growing up in Japan and taught them how to draw their own manga. The event was open to all students.
8th grade
David Levithan, author of many popular young adult books, including Boy Meets Boy, Are We There Yet?, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (co-authored with Rachel Cohn), and How We Met, spoke to our eighth grade.
5th grade
Jack D. Ferraiolo read from The Big Splash, a hard-boiled detective story written in a Dashiell Hammett-like style. It’s a lot of fun.
4th grade
Cathleen Davitt Bell read from Slipping, a novel miraculously combining the supernatural and everyday life. We had a fantastic visit with Cathleen.
2007-2008
8th grade
E. Lockhart, author of Dramarama, Fly on the Wall and many other popular titles, read to us – we thoroughly enjoyed it!
7th grade
Libba Bray, author of A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing, read from her latest in a great visit.
5th grade
Pseudonymous Bosch, author of The Name of This Book is Secret, visited the 5th grade. Shhh! What happened is a secret.
4th grade
Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, visited the fourth grade. It was amazing!
2006-2007
8th grade
Scott Westerfeld, author of the Uglies trilogy, the Midnighters trilogy, Peeps, The Blue Noon and The Last Days, read to the eighth grade.
7th grade
Catherine Gilbert Murdock read from Dairy Queen, a novel about a teenage girl, a farm, an uncommunicative family, and more.
6th grade
Jenny Han read from Shug, a coming-of-age story about a girl who is pretty sure there’s nothing worse than being twelve.
5th grade
James Howe, author of The Misfits, Totally Joe and the childhood favorite Bunnicula, spoke to our fifth grade.
4th grade
Jon Scieszka, author of The Time Warp Trio series and dozens of other books, spoke to us about his books. He is also the creator of Guys Read, a website for book recommendations.
2005-2006
8th grade
John Green, read from his haunting new novel Looking for Alaska, winner of the Michael Printz award for young adult literature.
7th grade
Patricia McCormick, author of Cut, My Brother’s Keeper and Sold, read and spoke with our seventh grade.
6th grade
Rachel Cohn, author of Gingerbread, Shrimp, The Steps, and Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist (co-authored w/ David Levithan), read to our sixth grade.
5th grade
Lisa Papademetriou, author of Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks and Me, and M or F? (co-authored w/ Christopher Tebbetts), spoke to our fifth grade.
2004-2005
8th grade
Ned Vizzini, author of Be more Chill and Teen Angst? Naaah, read to the eighth grade.
7th grade
E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List: (15 guys, 11 shrink appointments, 4 ceramic frogs, and me, Ruby Oliver), read to the seventh grade.