Praise for AUDACITY:
A 2015 National Jewish Book Award finalist
A Washington Post Best Children’s Books for April: Poetry Edition
An ILA Notable Book for a Global Society
A 2016 NCTE Children's Notable Verse Novel
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
An ALA Top 10 Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
An ALSC Notable Children's Book nominee
A BCCB Blue Ribbon winner
* "Crowder breathes life into a world long past....Compelling, powerful and unforgettable." Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "This book stands alone....an impactful addition to any historical fiction collection."School Library Journal, starred review
* "With a thorough historical note, glossary of terms, and bibliography, this will make an excellent complement to units on women’s rights and the labor movement, but it will also satisfy readers in search of a well-told tale of a fierce heroine."BCCB, starred review
* "This is an excellent title that can open discussions in U.S. history and economics courses about women’s rights, labor unions, and the immigrant experience."School Library Connection, starred review
"Based on the true story of Clara Lemlich, Audacity throbs with the emotions of this exceptional young woman who fought for equal rights and improved labor standards in factories. Melanie Crowder’s verses spit out Clara’s rage, cradle her longing and soar like the birds that are her constant companions."Bookpage
“Crowder’s (Parched) use of free verse in this fictionalization of Russian-Jewish immigrant Clara Lemlich’s life brings a spare poignancy to a familiar history.”Publishers Weekly
“Audacity is an evocative reimagining of a fascinating historical figure who should be remembered for her determination in the face of great odds and powerful opposition—and for her role in changing America. Melanie Crowder’s powerful verse reveals a long-past world, but the combination of hope and outrage that Clara Lemlich brought to her struggle should be both recognizable and inspirational to teen readers longing to right the injustices of our day.”—Margaret Peterson Haddix, critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Uprising
With the U.S. presidential race fully underway, most Americans are familiar with the highest-polling candidates—the Hillary Clintons, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trumps of the world. But few people seem aware that nine YA books are also running for the nation’s highest office. Sadly ignored as candidates by the mainstream media, these books all boast growing readerships and large […]
The power of poetry? The rhythm, the pacing, the language, the narrative—the storytelling, layered with meaning and subtext and suggestion. We’ve seen it celebrated recently with the success of award winners like Brown Girl Dreaming and The Crossover, two astounding books that also happened to be diverse reads. But they’re hardly the only ones on that list. So just […]
Something incredible happens when a story is told in verse. Poetry carries its emotional heart to the front and center, telling a tale with fewer words than most authors can manage. When combined with narratives about a woman’s experience, this emotional heart becomes a one-two punch of raw emotion and exquisite storytelling. These YA verse […]
These days, the times can feel dark. Literally, possibly, depending on what latitude you live on, but also figuratively. Feeling discouraged? These books will help keep you informed, knowledgeable, and invested in the things that matter most in today’s fast-paced, vitriolic, newsy world—and help keep the negativity to a minimum by doing so.