Episode 158 - Author Spotlight with Andrea Wang and Debbi Michiko Florence

What this episode covers

We had the joy of sitting down and talking with writers and besties Andrea Wang and Debbi Michiko Florence at the United Theatre in Westerly, Rhode Island. Andrea Wang was in town for an event at the Savoy Bookshop and Cafe for her picture book, WATERCRESS (Neal Porter Books, 2021). It’s the story of Andrea’s embarrassment over her Chinese immigrant parent’s having the family harvest watercress in a roadside ditch in their new home in rural Ohio. This scene ultimately helps the young girl understand her parents more and connect to her heritage. Andrea has written both nonfiction and fiction for children and a middle grade novel. WATERCRESS is a moving story beautifully illustrated by Jason Chin. It won a Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a New England Book Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and more. Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of middle grade novels, chapter books, and a picture book. Her new middle grade novel, SWEET AND SOUR, is coming out on September 6, 2022 (Scholastic) and is available for pre-order now. Set in Mystic, Connecticut it’s the story of Mai Hirano whose family is visiting from California for their annual family vacation with the Koyama family. Mai had been best friends with their son Zach who betrayed her the last time the families were together. Her planned revenge on him is complicated because they are both changing.

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