Michelle d kwasney biography

I grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, the oldest of three girls.
Michelle D. Kwasney has written two middle grade novels: Baby Blue, named a Booksense Pick and New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and Itch, released in 2007.
Born 1960, in Elmira, NY. Education: B.S. (art education); M.S. (education).

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About Michelle

I have the honor of writing novels for teens and tweens. My third novel, BLUE PLATE SPECIAL, honored as Chronicle Books' first YA novel, was a CYBILS finalist, a BBYA nominee, and will be available in paperback in 2011. My second novel, ITCH, (Henry Holt, 2008), named to the Kansas State Reading Circle and chosen a Bank Street Best Book, is now in its 4th printing. ITCH is also available as an audio book (Recorded Books, 2008) and as an Amazon download. BABY BLUE (Henry Holt, 2004) was named a New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age and a Booksense Pick. Stop by my Facebook Author Page and click "LIKE" to be entered in a monthly drawing for a free book give-away. And visit my website to listen to audio excerpts of my novels, preview work in progress, print book group and classroom discussion guides, and much more! www.michelledkwasney.com.

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Kwasney, Michelle D. 1960–

Personal

Born 1960, in Elmira, NY. Education: B.S. (art education); M.S. (education). Hobbies and other interests: Reading, oil painting, photography, playing Scrabble, home-repair projects, computer games.

Addresses

Home—Northampton, MA. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Henry Holt & Co., 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Elementary art educator in western MA; writer.

Awards, Honors

Book for the Teen Age designation, New York Public Library, 2004, for Baby Blue.

Writings

Baby Blue, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2004.

Work in Progress

Itch, a middle-grade friendship novel, for Henry Holt.

Sidelights

Michelle D. Kwasney is the author of Baby Blue, a "powerful first novel" according to Hazel Rochman in Booklist. It is the summer of 1976, and Blue, the thirteen-year-old narrator of Kwasney's debut, finds herself trying to muster the courage to help her fragile mother escape a dysfunctional relationship with the
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woman's abusive second husband, Jinx. Ho

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Itch

Itch. Michelle D. Kwasney; Henry Holt and Company, 2008.

Grade Level: 6-8

ISBN & Cost: 9780805080834 $16.95

Synopsis:

It is 1968 and Delores Colchester, known as “Itch,” moves from Florida to Ohio with her grandmother after her grandfather's death. Life is not the same. She struggles to make friends until she meets Gwendolyn and her hoity-toity friends. Gwendolyn seems perfect on the outside. She is pretty, smart, and a talented baton-twirler, but in reality she is hiding a big secret that Itch uncovers. Itch decides she needs to speak up about this secret.

General Review:

Kwasney does not shy away from themes about abuse. In her first novel, Baby Blue , she tackles domestic violence. In her latest work she explores psychological and physical child abuse. Readers will be touched by different relationships in this work. The relationship between Itch and her grandfather almost bring tears to the reader's eyes. Readers will not be able to put this novel down until they discover whether or