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Award-winning writer ANN MALASPINA writes about the environment, social justice, and history in her picture books, chapter books, and YA and MG verse novels. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
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Writing News
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On the shelves this summer, a new YA verse novel from West 44 Books. GHOST RUNNER is about an old dog, a girl who runs cross-country, and her brother's ghost who won't let go. Facing grief is only the beginning. Mountains still need to be climbed, but first, some questions need answers. Does every accident have an explanation? Is there always someone at fault? A 2025 Junior Library Guild Selection.
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Zeke is back from Kids Can Press in ZEKE THE WEATHER GEEK: THERE'S MUD IN MY FLOOD!, Book 2 of the STEM chapter book series. Zeke is an aspiring meteorologist who assists his town through severe weather events from blizzards to floods with the help of his pet lizard named Blizzard. With help from his backyard weather station, his new-found interest in weather satellites, and his friends, Zeke helps forecast a dangerous spring flood and leads the way in flood prevention and safety. Even the animals at the pet store downtown escape the rising waters, thanks to Zeke. Extra fun graphic cartoons about the science of meteorology and hands-on weather activities are included between chapters. |
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My children's poem "Vera's Questions," about the astronomer Vera Rubin, joins poems by Yeats, Blake and others in this "stellar" collection celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Published this spring by Macmillan Children's Books UK. |
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LIAM AND THE GIANT EELS, a middle-grade eco-mystery in verse
When giant eels invade the Jersey Shore town where Liam spends his summers, he must dig into his dead grandfather's past to come up with answers. An environmental mystery about eels, the climate crisis, and confronting loss. LIAM AND the GIANT EELS (West 44 Books is a hi-lo verse novel for middle-grade readers. Order now from your favorite bookstore. |
Something’s Wrong Gramps knelt down and peered closely. He shook his head. “Something’s wrong with that eel. Don’t know what it is.” Gramps threw the eel back in the creek and they watched it swim away. It looked like a long wave, rippling in the dark water. Later, Liam had to scrub extra hard to wash the slimy mucus off his hand. |
A SCARF FOR KEIKO
(Kar-Ben, 2021) The story of the friendship between a Jewish boy and Japanese American girl during World War II in California was named to the Vermont Department of Libraries' 2020-2021 Red Clover Book Award Honor List and the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award Nominations List 2021-2022. 
KIKI IN THE MIDDLE
(West 44 Books, 2022) Kiki is a teen artist living with her Greek-American family in Queens. After a man with mental illness is killed by police, protests fill the streets. Kiki is shocked when a protester lifts up a photograph of her brother, Stravros, and one word—#Murderer. Stavros, a police rookie in his first week on the job, says he was just defending himself. Kiki must decide who to believe, and what to do about it. Even artists can’t stand on the sidelines forever. |
ZEKE THE WEATHER GEEK:
THERE'S A LIZARD IN MY BLIZZARD (Kids Can Press, 2023) JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION "A likable protagonist, a fun premise, and science galore." - Kirkus Reviews With a weather station in his yard and a weather journal in his pocket, it's no wonder Zeke Abramovich is called Zeke the Weather Geek. What he really wants, though, is to be a Weather Warrior. He may get his chance when a big blizzard hits town and the lights go out The second book of ZEEK THE WEATHER GEEK comes out in 2025. Set during a dangerous spring flood,THERE'S MUD IN MY FLOOD follows Zeke as he once again uses his backyard weather station to help his family and friends (and his bearded dragon Lizzie) to avert disaster. |
